What No-Makeup Makeup and Weed Have in Common
This beauty trend explains a lot about the rise of cannabis.
“Welcome to the party, ladies.”
- Nicole Brown
Rachel Strugatz’s excellent article in Harper’s Bazaar about the rise of no-makeup makeup has gotten me thinking. You know the look—fresh skin, brushed brows, and a little tint where you want it. It’s a quieter take on beauty, not a performance. So much has changed in the past ten years in beauty, and even more has changed in how we relax, socialize and connect with each other.
A decade ago, if you wanted to try cannabis, chances are it meant smoking. It was something you did in private or outside at the party, if you even admitted to it at all. Now, you can discreetly drink it, eat it, microdose it—and legally choose exactly how you want to feel. Cannabis is finally making its way into the mainstream.
Much like choosing between Kardashian-style contouring or a clean, dewy face, we now have more choices when it comes to winding down or going out. You don’t have to drink alcohol to socialize. You can sip a THC-infused spritz, take a low-dose gummy, or enjoy a probiotic soda or an NA mocktail.
It feels modern to embrace a more custom and personal experience. One of the great joys of getting older is knowing yourself and having a toolkit of choices. With my makeup, sometimes I want super glam mascara or a dramatic blush, while other times I prefer just my favorite tinted SPF and a nude lip liner. And similarly with cannabis, I know that a few hits of an Acapulco Gold joint will make an outdoor concert feel magical, and that my best way through social anxiety before a big event is a 20:1 low-dose edible.
Women are rethinking how they want to look and feel and having fun trying new things. Whether it’s makeup or better sleep, sex, or new ways to manage stress, the shift I see is reconsidering old habits and finding a new path forward. Cannabis is becoming an option that fits into modern life—with less (and less!) stigma and more freedom to choose what works.
In this week’s podcast, I talked with NYC-based innovation expert Nicole Brown about the data showing more women are choosing cannabis than men—for the first time ever. We discuss what’s driving this shift and why it’s about a lot more than getting high.
Are you feeling confused about where to start with cannabis, or how to fine-tune what’s working? I’d love to hear your questions. Please comment, DM me or reply to this email. I hope you’ll tap the heart on this post and consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support truly makes all of this possible. Thank you for being here!
Warmly,
Ellen