The List: New 'It' Moisturizer, Pam Anderson's Makeunder, and MTV Spring Break 1999
From Daytona Beach maximalism to Sag Harbor minimalism.
Pop culture has resurfaced a lot of things from my Y2K youth lately: Paris Hilton, Britney Spears… NSYNC is apparently making a lukewarm go of it. Even Pamela Anderson is back — and chic! I watched a Net-a-Porter video produced around her new collaboration with Re/Done, which is full of capital-G Good looks and styled with Proenza and The Row.
It sent me down a Google rabbit hole, where I found photos of her former Malibu home (also chic) that immediately inspired me to move some furniture around in my living room. It's all white furniture and fresh flowers, very pulled-back but inviting. It’s a far cry from the aughts-era Pam I remember from MTV Cribs, showing us her Shabby Chic megamanse. I love a comeback!
Speaking of Pam, remember MTV Spring Break? I think it reached its climax in 1999 in Daytona. That ideal was such a thing back then, wasn’t it? There was this expectation that you’d go to some trashy beach, get wasted, and make out with a stranger. This was more normalized by near-naked people grinding each other on MTV while Carmen Electra gyrated onstage near some boy band. Was Carson Daly there, too? God, that era of MTV!!
I was squeaky-clean back then; even my own trips to Destin with friends in high school were extremely tame by comparison. In my senior year, aside from my friend Julia, I was the only person in the group who had turned 18. She and I got all gussied up for Club La Vela — the very height of hilarious vulgarity. I hated nightclubs then and still do to this day, but our primary motivating factor was that two cast members from The Real World were being advertised as guests: Mike “The Miz” and some dude named Randy, who I barely remember. To us, they were bonafide celebs.
I remember exactly what I wore: a green Hollister tank top layered over a white one, with an Abercrombie denim skirt. And Sperry boat shoes with no socks. What a look.
I felt so awkward, but we did end up talking to them for a while. Julia was far braver than me, who wanted to melt into the wall. I remember Mr. Miz being like, “So, do you like beer? What’s your favorite beer? I love beer. My favorite beer is Miller Lite.” I wonder if this is how girls at the College of Charleston feel today when they run into one of those old letches from Southern Charm at the bar.
Spring Break looks different these days. My birthday always falls around the same time, so it’s a good excuse to take a little trip, even as a grown-up on a zero academic schedule. This year, my guy got us a house in Sag Harbor for the week, and I’m a hundred times happier watching my dogs run the beach than the promise of Club La Vela ever made me.
Instead of a cheap string bikini from Charlotte Russe and a sherbert-hued Lacoste polo, I packed chill, beachy things that swaddle me in comfort: worn-in jeans, a favorite sweater, and a tight edit of yummy skincare in lieu of makeup. Pamela Anderson, style kindred. Who knew?
INNBEAUTY (whom we have partnered with for the letter today!) is stirring up a lot of online chatter for their new Extreme Cream moisturizer, which is a worthy ($48!) competitor for a certain $300+ blue bottle. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and love it so much that I didn’t even bring the other stuff. During a trip like this, when I want to pack as little as possible, it’s been a workhorse: it lifts and firms on those puffy post-rosé mornings (this is because of a groovy peptide in the formula called Versillin) and leaves a glossy glow behind — exactly that expensive skin, no-makeup vibe I’m going for. Looks chicest with wet beach hair and your favorite jeans.
Speaking of wet hair, the only hair product I brought was Anablue’s treatment oil because I have no intention of getting near a hot tool this week. What’s the fun of the beach if you can’t air-dry? (JESS15 for 15% at AnaBlue).
A little makeup for dinner has been equally restricted: evening out my complexion with a quick swipe from Fara Homidi’s new palette, a dab of Ilia blush, and a spritz of this perfume that’s been chasing me down on Instagram ads called aptly, Vacation, which manages to properly bottle that resort-y beach smell.
It’s chilly here, but I’m being a climate denier and wearing shorts. I found this spray-on moisturizer from a brand called Hanni that smells incredible and gives my leg a glossy sheen without greasing me down.
I brought two chunky-knit Jenni Kayne fisherman sweaters, a pair of sunglasses, one trusty sweatshirt, a pair of chi chi flip flops, some Comme Si boxers, and my Toteme field jacket. A denim Alex Mill top and jeans are carrying me through the rest of the week. One bag for all social outings from Underwater Basket Weaving. One tote, made by my friend Joyce as a birthday gift. A bathrobe, pajamas, two books, a sun hat, and a Chuck-it for the dogs. Done. (JESS15 for 15% off at Jenni Kayne).
Back to the beach! If you like videos of deliriously happy Cavapoos chasing a tiny orange ball, I’ll be over on Instagram.
Ingredients on Inn beauty that give moisture are basically olive oil and glycerin. Id like to try this to see how it sinks in. Glycerin can actually dehydrate skin after it first feels moisturizing. It then robs skin of its moisture. Something I learned recently. A lot of mixed reviews on Sephora. If you have oily skin it won't be for you either.
The Innbeauty moisturizer is truly excellent!