Behind the scenes with Pamela Anderson...
And the Michelin-star dinner with a postcard-perfect NYC skyline.
To say last week was busy would be an understatement. Between one call, two coffee meetings, three hour-long interviews, and ten events—yes, ten—all while putting the finishing touches on Into The Gloss’s upcoming holiday gift guide (our best one yet, coming soon!), I’m still trying to make sense of what happened. And that was just Monday through Friday. The weekend brought its own kind of chaos, capped off with a reading by Jenny Slate from her book Lifeform at the Cherry Lane Theater. Keep reading for the highlights…
Sonsie in Soho
Pamela Anderson’s skincare brand Sonsie hosted its first pop-up in Soho. To kick it off, the brand held a two-hour preview with a conversation between Pamela and her son Dylan Jagger Lee—and custom Sunlife Organics matchas. The space was overflowing with fresh greenery and flowers and perfumed with Flamingo Estate Tuscan Rosemary candles.
When I say Sonsie is basic, I genuinely mean that as a compliment. The cleanser… cleanses. The moisturizer… moisturizes. The products aren’t trying to do anything overly complicated and I genuinely appreciate that in a market where products often promise a whole new face after just one use. (As a lip snob, I can confidently say their lip balm is great—it’s the last thing I put on before bed; there’s a limited edition sugar-dipped rhubarb version, too.)
It was exciting being in the room with Pamela but even more thrilling: After a year and a half (!!) of trying to make an Into The Gloss story happen with her, it finally did. I interviewed her for seven minutes, and our photographer, Shana Trajanoska, shot her for—no exaggeration—less than one. It was chaotic: panicked texts after the first photographer fell through; watching the clock as Shana got stuck with delayed Ubers and trains; negotiating every spare minute with Pamela’s manager; and anxiously hoping Shana would make it in time. She did—because she literally got out of the car and started running. Read the story here.
Amouage at One Summit Vanderbilt
I’ve been to plenty of impressive dinners, but Amouage’s latest might take the cake. The fragrance brand teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud for a six-course dinner at One Summit Vanderbilt. Cocktails were served in Amouage bottles, minis were tucked into dessert, and the room looked out onto insane views of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. Floral-ambery Guidance is one of my go-to scents, but I left with a deeper appreciation for Decision. It’s technically marketed for men, but who cares—if I like a scent, I wear it. I was blown away, and then it made sense: It’s made with juniper berries. I have a nostalgic relationship with that note thanks to a Very Important Person in my life who introduced me to it. I now have a cutie, tiny bottle I’ll treasure.
Merit at St. Jardim
Merit launched The Sheens—shimmery new shades of their solo shadows—with a happy hour at St. Jardim. I love a beautiful eyeshadow palette as much as the next person, but I almost never use any of the shades outside the neutrals. These feel genius: a realistic, intentional way to use eyeshadow instead of letting palettes sit on your vanity long past their expiration date (hi, it’s me). I’ve been doing a wash of Glacé on my lids for a sparkly little something when the rest of my makeup is minimal (so, 99% of the time).
Guests also got to make bag charms with Don’t Let Disco. Founder Ashley Moubayed has been trying to get me to adopt a cat for ages—sometimes she even sends me listings. jamie from lazy jamie, she’s coming for your job. People say not to put the cart before the horse, but what if I told you I already have the cat’s name picked out?
Aunu at Cafe Cluny
Call it being jaded, but it’s rare these days that a brand truly excites me. Enter: Aunu. I had lunch with founder Jenn Krouse, formerly of Victoria Beckham Beauty, at Cafe Cluny. The line centers on mānuka honey, an ingredient I’ve been obsessed with since Elizabeth Grace Hand got me hooked on Activist’s mānuka mask. Mānuka is soothing, hydrating, reparative, and antibacterial—a great choice for acne-prone skin like mine—so I’m thrilled to see it used as the backbone of a full routine.
The brand launched with five products: a cleanser, an essence, a cream, a salve, and a mask. Admittedly, I don’t always love the smell of honey—it’s a little saccharine for my taste—but I’ve been loving how bouncy my skin feels after patting on the essence. The cleanser immediately went to my shower. I’ve only used the salve once, but I’m already thinking about it as a potential replacement for my beloved Futurewise slug balm, which was tragically discontinued (someone please bring it back, I’m begging).
Evolvetogether at Hotel Chelsea
I’ve had a more physically intimate relationship with Donald than with any man this year. Don’t get it twisted: Donald is a masseuse at the Hotel Chelsea, and an excellent one. I always end up in his very strong hands, and I’ve now seen him at least a handful of times. This time, Evolvetogether invited me in to experience their partnership with the hotel: a massage featuring the brand’s nutrient-rich body cream. It would make a great holiday gift—and so would their new hand wash.
More soon—there’s always something on the horizon.
x DB
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