The Lineup is a monthly series where we're giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and aestheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can't-live-without products that make their worlds go 'round.
Everyone has that one friend they can talk to about anything, and for me, that's Michaela d'Artois. We've been close friends for nearly 15 years—we lived across the hall from each other freshman year of college—and in that time, we've gone through some questionable phases. (I'll spare you the details.) But each phase has brought us one step closer to where we are now: me, a beauty director, and Michaela, a sexologist and certified sex coach. She's always been an overachiever, so it's no surprise that within a few months of completing school, she launched Inner Eros, her private practice for intimacy coaching and sexology.
If you don't know what a sexologist is, you aren't alone. But it's not nearly as risqué as you might imagine. "I study human sexual behaviors, but beyond that, I'm fascinated by how we connect on platonic and romantic levels," says d'Artois. "My goal is to create a judgement-free community in which we can share helpful resources and educational materials surrounding intimacy, connection, and desire as well as have community dialogue surrounding what these concepts mean in this day in age."
For d'Artois, the desire to learn and share her knowledge about physical intimacy was always there. "In middle school, I used to joke that I wanted to be a cool sex-ed teacher when I grew up," she tells me. "I think I also realized at a young age that the teachings were outdated and lacked relevancy." And as an adult, she continues to see an unsettling pattern. "The lack of understanding surrounding our anatomy and sexual functions is disempowering our ability to exercise those functions to their brilliant and full capacity. The more I immerse myself in the world, the more I realize we aren't really taught or given the tools to connect and build intimacy (physical and cerebral), which really is, in my opinion, the purpose of life."
Arguably, the most important person you need to build intimacy with is yourself, and there's no better time to do that than now, with Valentine's Day just around the corner. (And if you aren't into celebrating the holiday of love, at least take this opportunity to celebrate yourself for a moment.) So instead of asking for relationship advice, I asked d'Artois how to best practice self-love. "Self-pleasure," she told me. "Whether you're reaching for your favorite decadent chocolate or pleasure device, I always suggest people offer the love they would like to receive on Valentine's Day to themselves—coupled or single. Carving out time to not walk through life on autopilot but to really be present and enjoy yourself is a little act of self-celebration that can refill your cup. When choosing the self-love practice you want to embark on, I suggest opting for something that engages multiple if not all of your senses! This can be a great way to drop back into your body and connect with your surroundings."
And with that, I leave you with 18 products d'Artois recommends for practicing self-love.
Face and Body
"As someone whose skin leans dry, I love that this both cleanses my skin and leaves it with a dewy glow."
"These Femmue drops are a game changer. I dab a little bit on my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, and around my lips so that light will catch in all the right places."
"Wearing SPF is sexy. This Dune SPF smells like sea salt and has a gel-like texture that goes on so smooth and only enhances the skincare beneath."
"This mask is one of my holy-grail skincare products. I use it as an overnight mask and wake up looking refreshed. It's also my go-to if I got a little too much sun on my skin that day. Any remnants of a sunburn are gone by the morning."
"When I'm in need of a little extra pampering in mind, body, and soul, this sheet mask puts in work."
"Swathing yourself in this body balm is like a religious experience. It smells divine and leaves itchy, dry skin plump and rejuvenated."
"I am nothing if not a blush girl, and this Make Beauty blush is the perfect coquettish pink to give you that afternoon-delight flush."
"I've never seen anyone give this drugstore lip liner the spotlight it deserves. It's the perfect neutral and leaves lips looking velvety and extra kissable."
"I feel the like a goddess when my nails are freshly cleaned and painted with this milky-pink Sally Hansen shade. It's the simple things."
"When I need some time to think, I always take to the waters. My bathing ritual has been taken to a whole new level by this floral bath milk. Scents of jasmine and plumeria transport me to other worlds. It never fails to ease a tired mind and body."
"Barely there (just the way I like my beauty products), this lip balm is always within reach. It's thick enough but never sticky, and it layers seamlessly over my lip liner."
Pleasure Products
"A good one to have at the bedside, this CBD-infused arousal oil is like a little trip for your erogenous zones. The CBD promotes blood flow and helps relax muscles surrounding your genitals, encouraging lubrication and stronger orgasms!"
"Our vagus nerve is in direct collaboration with our libido. If our vagus nerve is distressed, it's very likely that will effect our ability to sleep well, digest properly, or get turned on! I massage this oil into my neck and earlobes (massaging our ears can also massage our vagus nerve) when I'm preparing my body to transition from productivity mode to rest or romp mode."
"Everyone needs a reliable, rechargeable pleasure accessory they can trust. Mine is (and has been for years now) the Maude flutter-tip vibrator. I especially love its neutral design—it's refreshing among a sea of purple and pink toys."
"Nette candles are my go-to. They gracefully transform a room and always have the most beautiful scents, but Queen is my ultimate. She's the smell of honey hives and a romp in the hay. I love this candle so much that I even dab a little of the vegan soy wax on my wrists so it's with me all day."
"This cocoa powder is the perfect sweet treat to share with your lover. Cacao is an infamous aphrodisiac, but the adaptogenic ingredients can fire up your cerebral and physical arousal as well. I like to throw in a few pinches of paprika, cinnamon, and cardamom to further warm the senses."
"I think scent is one of the sexiest senses. A few dabs of this Kandilli perfume oil with notes of tuberose, jasmine, and sandalwood, and it's all golden-hour skin for me. Victorians believed tuberose had the power to prompt spontaneous orgasm. I'm not saying they were right, but I'm not saying they were wrong, either."
"Oat Straw is an herb that supports our nervous system and can be used to coax stressed bodies into relaxation. But it's also a powerhouse for promoting circulation to our genitals and aiding in the production of lubrication. Use wisely—this one can be like putting a love spell on yourself."
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