SHOP MY BAG: ASHLEY MOUBAYED
If you’ve recently noticed—on social, at all the right parties—distinctly chic combinations of rock crystals, Murano glass beads, the odd Lego piece, Snoopy charm or baroque pearl dangling on wrists and necks, swinging in chunky charm configurations from the straps of a well-worn Birkin or re-issued Motorcycle bag, or threaded through the laces of a new pair of Nike Cortez sneakers, there’s a good chance Ashley Moubayed had something to do with it. The NY-based jewelry designer behind the cultish brand Don’t Let Disco has made herself the girl to go to for bespoke pieces that telegraph personal style, add a little oomph to the ordinary, and are guaranteed to start a conversation.
When Moubayed is not talking about vintage and one-of-kind beads—like the rare resin pieces she recently sourced from an African antiques dealer—she likes to talk beauty. She has the type of perfect skin that looks like it has been airbrushed, though it’s nothing more than her trusty Macrene Actives Tinted Moisturizer (a staple she discovered at a VIOLET GREY event, thank you very much) layered over Eighth Day’s Rejuvenating Moisturizing Primer with SPF. She is a multi-tasker at heart, dabbing Ami Colé’s Desert Date blush stick on both her cheeks and eyelids, and using Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Vast Lash Mascara on not only her lashes, but her brows, too. She is perfume-obsessed, to the point where she has a fragrance fridge hidden in the back of her closet. “For me, fragrances are similar to beads, in that they have a silent language,” says Moubayed. “Fragrances are like tiny little movies: They take me somewhere; they are transportive and mood-elevating. My brand is so associated with nostalgia, and fragrance really embodies that for me.” See below for more of what’s in this burgeoning style star’s BAG.
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A scent that’s both a whisper and a proclamation, Room No. carries an air of the clandestine. The blend of bergamot’s brightness with the dusky seduction of vanilla creates something almost too poignant for public consumption. It’s my personal secret.
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Everyone knows I don't gush often, but when I do, it's about something worthy. Macrene's tinted moisturizer isn't just good, it's an epiphany. As a person of color, to find a shade that doesn't require a mixologist's precision is nothing short of revolutionary. It also masters that elusive no-makeup-makeup look, effortlessly.
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Tucked beneath that flawless layer of Macrene Actives’ Tinted Moisturizer, you'll find Eighth Day’s Primer with SPF 30 on my skin every day. It seamlessly blends in without leaving any cast—a feature more magical than you might imagine. It's a treasure: a primer that also serves as a mineral sunscreen and respects your natural tone.
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Every morning (and evening), I faithfully apply this serum. It promises to hold back the years—a promise I welcome!
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If you’re looking for a mascara that delivers on its promises, this is the one. Lightweight, volumizing, and doesn’t irritate my eyes. Plus, it’s fortified with nourishing ingredients that help strengthen and condition lashes.
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