Aftersun, Part II

This is the second &fini send in July, riding off the Aftersun feature earlier this month (read it here if you missed this month’s empties). 

Alas, July treads on (and yes, it’s almost over). This month has been hot, booked, and busy…in all the best ways. Offices are empty, clothing is minimal, and everyone is flocking to the nearest body of water (myself included). 

Between the nail-biting breaking news in politics and persistent Brat Summer memes (which have officially collided into one), I present to you some lighthearted beauty, fashion, and beverage commentary for your day.

Confessions of a Glossaholic 

Her purse fell on the floor, but my eyes stayed locked on her, not the messy spill below us. A thousand emotions crossed her face in two seconds. Her cheeks flushed. She looked embarrassed. My eyes moved from hers to the floor to see what spilled out (could it be tampons? A lighter? Condoms? I quickly ran through the possibilities of what a 24-year-old woman would secretly stash in her purse). To my surprise, it was something else—not better, not worse: A handful of lip glosses—maybe 10—all different brands, colors, sizes. 

“I’m testing them for work, I promise!” she utters—possibly a lie, but I didn’t want to make the flush on her cheeks evolve from the already present baby-doll pink to a deep maroon, so I nodded, “Of course! Which ones do you like best?”

And here we are folks. It’s me, the woman in the story with 10 lippies on board. This in-my-bag photo shows my very favorites (at the moment). I’ll probably have new favorites next year because everyone is launching a lip balm these days, but let’s walk through current the all-stars. 

💄EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm in Bissap Glaze

The distinct hues and buildable color make this lip balm worth the price already, but the skin benefits are equally impressive. Packed with exfoliants from hibiscus enzymes and lactic acid, your lips are treated to gentle buffing to relieve dry, flaky skin and steadily lift hyperpigmentation. The peptides and plant butters help to soften and plump the lips in the moment, too. 

The shade Bissap Glaze is particularly worth writing home about. The buildable berry hue can look surprisingly minimal and couple perfectly with a no-makeup look. Or, with a few layers, it can become the perfect statement lip that isn’t cheesy or predictable. 

💄Tower28 OneLiner Lip Liner + Eyeliner + Cheek Pencil in Check Me Out

This lip liner doubles as a cheek pencil and eyeliner—a true testament to its blending power. Admittedly, I don’t use it in all the ways I could, but it still takes the cake for one of my most used liners to date (I’ve gone through 3, 4, maybe 5?). 

The brand recently launched new shades, which include this beauty—Check Me Out—a warm rose that deepens my natural lip color without looking artificial. If your lips tend to flare up from liners or glosses, take note here, as all of Tower28’s products are formulated for the most sensitive skin types. 

💄iNN Beauty Sun Balm SPF 30 in Rosy Brown

Yes, this lip balm is a sunscreen and gloss in one, but you wouldn’t know it’s such a functional makeup product. The finish isn’t sticky or grainy like other lip sunscreens I’ve tried. Instead, it feels like any other longwear gloss. The Rosy Brown shade is my favorite, but it’s more pigment than some people may prefer at the beach (which is fair). If that sounds like you, go for the Latte shade instead.

💄Ortega Soft Contour Lip Liner in Nubes

When I heard that Lana Del Rey’s makeup artist was launching a makeup line, I knew I had to run to the lip liners. To no surprise, master MUA and founder Etienne Ortega did not disappoint. Of the list of SKUs (and there’s plenty to go around), my favorite is this specific lip liner in the shade Nubes—the only nude-ish color I’ve enjoyed using. 

Typically, I find that nude liners make me look washed out or sickly, but this one has the perfect touch of warmth. On my skin, it simply evens out my natural lip shade and defines the shape without looking like filler gone wrong. The texture is creamy, blendable, and surprisingly hydrating for a liner, thanks to the vitamin E in the formula. For the anti-lip liner crowd, consider the same shade in their Glow Color Stick which can also be used on the cheeks.

Inspo Expo: Styling the latest trends with Sophie Reiten 

Sophie Reiten is a fashion stylist currently working with Funny Pretty Nice, a New York City vintage store favored by celebrities, influencers, and Gen-Z fashion fanatics. She’s also one of my dearest girlfriends, so naturally, I had to ask her: What trends are you backing these days? Below, her response: 

#1: Varsity Girl

“The Varsity girl aesthetic has my heart and I don’t plan on giving her up anytime soon <3 I cannot fathom the thought of leaving my favorite vintage store without every piece that has a giant number on it, sue me! Recently I wore the most beautiful tutu of all time & paired it with a vintage varsity long sleeve and felt like two worlds of my personality were colliding!” 

#2: The Capri Boom

“I think we are all aware that the capri moment is very polarizing, but I am so here for it! There is just something about them that brings me back to when I was in the 6th grade begging my mom to go to Justice & pairing my favorite capris with a corny graphic tee. The thing I love about styling capris is you really can’t go wrong- there is something for the dressy girl, the sporty girl, the classic girl & even for the girl who swore away cropped pants years ago!” 

⭐Connect with Sophie: 

• Follow her on Instagram: (@sophiereiten)

• Shop her closet on Depop (@sophiezclosett) 

• Watch her TikToks (@princesssophhh) 

Better beverages: Local Weather Sports Drink

I have yet to review any food or beverage products in this newsletter, but this drink is a fitting first. Welcome, the Local Weather Spots Drink—a beverage that quickly became indispensable for me, especially on a Saturday morning after wine club.

Think of this as a lower-sugar version of Gatorade (6 grams in these bottles compared to 28+ grams for the other guys). Inside the aluminum bottle, you’ll also find adaptogens and nootropics for mood support—an obvious need when you’re hungover, tired, or dehydrated.

I like to pour half a bottle over ice and enjoy it as frigid as possible.

The only downside is that this brand isn’t available everywhere…yet. You can find it at Whole Foods, or save yourself a trip and order a case online.

To be fair, I am a bit of a Gatorade hater to begin with. I think their products taste like cough syrup. So, you can trust me when I say these flavors, while they are fruity and even kid-friendly, don’t taste like medicine.

💌 Until next time

That’s all my sweet finis. Thanks for reading, I hope you love this newsletter as much as I do. More to come soon!