Things We Can’t Live Without — Part II
It’s been two years since we soft-launched Gingergeist.
In the early days, our posts looked a little different. Before the industry insights, beauty deep dives, retail strategy breakdowns, and forecasting, we were simply sharing things we loved—books we were reading, places we kept returning to, objects that quietly made everyday life better.
As Gingergeist evolved, we naturally leaned further into industry intelligence across fashion, beauty, wellness, and retail. But the truth is, those two worlds were never really separate. The things we notice professionally often start with the things we’re personally drawn to: a product we keep repurchasing, a wellness habit that actually sticks, a book that shifts how we think about an industry. Recommendation and intelligence constantly inform one another.
Along the way, we also created a little internal shorthand for the kinds of things we love sharing: GINGER—a shifting acronym that lets us celebrate the things currently in our orbit: Gorgeous, Interesting, Next, Gourmand, Easy, and Read.
So two years later, it felt right to revisit where we started!
Consider this Part II: a snapshot of a few things we’re currently enjoying and recommending. Some beauty and wellness, some accessories, some cultural rabbit holes. All things we genuinely can’t stop talking about. Of course, at the very top of the list are our husbands, children, families, and each other. But since this column celebrates the slightly more material pleasures, here are a few things currently bringing a little beauty into everyday life.
Jamie: Hard to believe two years of sharing the joy in collaborating with Michelle, but believe it or not, I have discovered some recent new favorites for getting gorgeous as I approach a big number. I may sound very Nora Ephron (I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being a Woman), however, I’ve been dabbling in the exosome skin technology Michelle and I have been reporting on, via SickScience Labs and their ShapeShift V-line Jaw Defining Serum (consider DropOff for on-demand body sculpting). Interestingly, on a week-long trip to Paris, I decided to bring only the travel-size Beekman 1802’s similar exosome technology for face/neck, and I was pleasantly surprised (although, @beekman1802, I would appreciate airless jar packaging to protect the formula). Also a winner for travel (or commuting): Tarte’s new mini Tartelette Tubing Mascara, a full-size brush at half the size/weight. Since we started Gingergeist, my favorite Victoria Beckham San Ysidro Drive now comes in a convenient 10 oz. Travel size. size.
Michelle: In our original list, I mentioned Diptyque Vanille candles, which I still love. Every now and then, I swap one in for Portable Fireplace by D.S. & Durga, which has a slightly smokier, woodier feel that’s perfect in the colder months. Another Diptyque staple I keep coming back to is their wax oval, especially the 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain scent. I usually hang one in a closet where it lightly perfumes clothes and linens without feeling overwhelming. It’s a small detail that makes getting dressed feel a little more luxurious.
And while I don’t love my handwriting, I do love the act of scribbling in a beautiful notebook. This one from Alix D. Reynis, which I picked up in Paris, has become a favorite. I’m especially drawn to the beautiful covers and the gold-lined paper: it somehow makes even the messiest notes feel a little more considered. On the beauty side, one product that has quietly earned a place in the routine lately is the medicube Age-R Glutathione Glow Capsule Cream. The texture feels light yet hydrating, and the little capsules dissolve into the skin, making it feel slightly more luxurious than your average moisturizer.
Jamie: While Michelle is focused on fashion, I’m appreciating the Beli app for restaurant suggestions and honest reviews (and female-founded establishments). We’re always game for a new spot or trusted standby. Plus, my daughter earns “points” through the app, which serve for restaurant-tracking, ranking, and social connections with other foodies
Michelle: One small discovery lately has been the Vogue app, which I’ve been enjoying more than expected. The Runway Genius game is a surprisingly addictive way to test your fashion memory, and the shopping edits are quite well done, useful for a bit of scenario planning when thinking about lifestyle and wardrobe. I’ve also been gravitating toward the editor's wish lists, which surface the pieces Vogue editors are currently eyeing. It’s a quick way to see how fashion, beauty, and accessories are being curated in real time. It’s rare that a fashion app manages to feel both entertaining and genuinely useful, but this one comes pretty close.
Jamie: While I probably need to work harder, I’m all for the easy route (basically lazy maintenance). I discovered Miranda Esmonde-White and Essentrics during the pandemic and have found the 22-24 minute workouts completely doable in my everyday schedule. Plus, they combine my previous passions and studies of ballet, karate/Tai Chi, and gentle stretching for mind/body balance. Add in some occasional weight sessions, and I’m stronger and functional.
Michelle: Pilates seems to be everywhere right now and somewhat polarizing in the press. Much of the conversation lately has focused on the aesthetics of boutique studios or the culture surrounding reformer classes. But what often gets missed is the very real role Pilates can play in healing and rebuilding the body, particularly postpartum. There’s so much that new mothers aren’t told about pelvic floor therapy, rebuilding core strength, and the slow process of reconnecting with their bodies after pregnancy. Personally, I’ve found Pilates to be incredibly helpful during this phase, particularly for strengthening the transverse abdominis and rebuilding core stability, not just for appearance but for overall support and alignment.
More broadly, the current conversation around Pilates may signal something larger: a growing interest in movement that supports longevity and strength, rather than purely aesthetic workouts. Whether that’s Pilates, weightlifting, yoga, or something else entirely, the real shift seems to be toward exercise that helps people feel stronger and more supported in their bodies over time. And that feels like a healthier direction. It’s also a topic we’re hoping to explore further soon in our Counter Intelligence Confessional series with a Pilates instructor.
Jamie: Since we have a family history of osteopenia, I’m strengthening my bones with all the food-sourced calcium I can. My favorite is Bellwether Farms Sheep Milk Yogurt, which is easily digested and among the highest in calcium. We’re also enjoying Proper’s Daily Boost, an apple-flavored veggie powder superfood with wheatgrass, spirulina, chlorella, and probiotics. A daily drink mix for wellness and digestion. As a warm-up to The Devil Wears Prada 2, consider Stanley Tucci’s health-conscious cooking sets in partnership with Green Pan. To cook in the pans as a side, Tasty Bite’s 2 Minute Organic Basmati Rice, with a little cold-pressed olive oil and Himalayan salt!
Michelle: At our house, one staple that seems to appear almost every morning is a yogurt bowl. For years, I was loyal to 0% FAGE, but lately I’ve switched to FAGE Total 5% Whole Milk Greek Yogurt, which feels a little richer and more satisfying. From there it becomes a bit of a ritual: usually layered with Purely Elizabeth granola, though I’ll occasionally splurge for granola from Round Swamp Farm—a drizzle of acai honey from NetCost Market, and whatever organic berries we have on hand: raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. I’ve also started adding a few wellness extras over time: Wegman’s Bee Pollen, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, and occasionally colostrum powder, which makes the whole thing feel a little more nourishing while still tasting indulgent. It’s simple, but a small routine that anchors the morning and somehow makes the day feel a little more organized before it even begins. Even better when shared with my sister Aliza and my son.
Jamie: Since I discovered Chris McMillan’s hair products (cutting my previous five-product system down to The Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray for Frizz and The Major Shine Hairspray for Buildable Hold), I find it time and $ saving to have them on auto-delivery. Occasionally, the Smooth and Tame Hair Wand comes in handy for taming my FAB or CLB Bob, depending on the day.
Michelle: One convenience I’ve come to appreciate recently is Target Circle 360 delivery. Look, I was never an especially avid Target shopper, though they were a client of ours for many years, but that changed when I found myself in a newborn pinch. We were running low on diapers and formula, and I realized all the clothes I had bought were for three months and up, so my son was essentially swimming in everything. Within about two hours, Target delivered newborn clothes, diapers, formula—the works. Since then, it’s become a household safety net. If we’re running low on coffee creamer, water, kombucha, eggs, laundry detergent, or even the occasional beauty product, it’s usually the fastest solution. The service costs $99 a year (or $10.99 a month) and includes unlimited same-day delivery, which in a pinch feels very reasonable. It’s also a reminder of how much retail has shifted toward speed and convenience, a topic we often discuss at Gingergeist.
Jamie: Since we joined Substack, Michelle has encouraged me to start following and subscribing to a wide variety of authors and topics. Two of my polar favorites, WEARSTLERWORLD by interior designer Kelly Wearstler, and Ice Cream Before Dinner by Ingrid Nilsen, of The New Savant (decadent candles made in Brooklyn by queer founders). One new one I’m looking forward to receiving in my inbox is L'ÉDIT CARLA, by Carla Rockmore, dubbed “the Carrie Bradshaw of TikTok.”
Michelle: In our first list, I mentioned Air Mail and the Morning Meeting podcast, which was always a favorite Saturday listen. Sadly, Morning Meeting is no longer being produced, but one of its voices, Ashley Baker, now writes a Substack called Out of My Element, a mix of cultural observations, rants and raves, and dispatches from a longtime New Yorker living in London. I also continue to rely on Puck, particularly The Line Sheet, the fashion and beauty vertical written by Lauren Sherman, Rachel Strugatz, Sarah Shapiro, and, most recently, Malique Morris, who consistently bring a sharp perspective to the business side of the industry. And when I want the audio version of that world, the Fashion People podcast has become a favorite morning listen, a quick, informed way to catch up on the latest conversations shaping the industry.
Two years in, the list looks different from what it did at the start. The categories have shifted, the discoveries have gotten more specific, and the rabbit holes have gotten deeper. But the impulse behind all of it remains the same: share what's actually worth your attention. The list changes. The instinct behind it doesn't!
