Letter no. 106 - Elizabeth Grace Hand's Signature Things
Plus a peek inside my beauty cabinet
Dear Reader,
As I write this, rain is pouring down outside my window while I sit at my desk with a sheet mask on and a candle burning beside me. There’s something about days like this that makes me slow down and reach for a little extra care. Fittingly, this week’s newsletter is all about beauty.
For letter no. 106, Elizabeth Grace Hand, the Soho aesthetician behind the cult-favourite Ställe Studios, shares her current essentials: from Swedish Grace interiors and glossy lips to cardamom buns and kitten heels. And because beauty inspiration is best when shared, I’m also opening the doors to my own beauty cabinet to show you a few of my everyday favourites, the skincare staples, base products, and glow-boosting essentials I reach for time and time again.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
Love,
Carolina
Please note: This newsletter is long, and filled to the brim with inspiration, so if your email platform trims it down, make sure to open it in your browser to savour every detail!
A Peek Inside My Beauty Cabinet
From holy grail foundations to the lip pen I’ve sworn by for nearly a decade, consider this a glimpse into my beauty bag and the products I reach for day after day.
Skincare
On mornings when I have a little extra time, I treat myself to a few minutes with my Ziip Halo device for a gentle lift and de-puff. I then start with Merit’s Glow Serum followed by face cream.
For the past year I’ve been using a mix of Canoderm and Propyless, two affordable pharmacy finds recommended to me by beauty wizard Anna Calderon, and they’ve completely transformed my sensitive, dry skin. This duo outperforms anything I’ve tried, luxury brands included. I finish with Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun SPF 50, the only sunscreen that doesn’t break me out and layers beautifully under makeup.
Base
Westman Atelier’s Vital Skincare Complexion Drops have been a favourite for years, but two new staples have joined my routine this year: Saie’s Slip Tint Moisturizer and Merit’s The Uniform, which has a surprisingly matte finish for an SPF product.
For touch-ups I use Merit’s Perfecting Complexion Stick, and on “no-makeup” days I just apply it where needed. Westman Atelier’s Vital Skincare Concealer is another favourite, but since it’s very rich, I put a little on the back of my hand first and then dab it on very lightly with my finger because you only need the tiniest amount. I finish with Westman Atelier’s translucent Vital Pressed Skincare Powder on shiny areas using their Powder Brush.
Cheeks
Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks in Petal has been my go-to for years (Chouchette is also lovely). This year I’ve also started using Merit’s Flush Balm in the shade Archival for a soft, healthy glow, especially paired with Westman Atelier’s Beauty Butter Bronzer. Another favourite is Caia’s Soft Melt Blush Balm in Lady Plum, which looks quite dark in the pan but goes on as the perfect sheer berry.
When I want a little extra definition, I reach for Westman Atelier’s Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit. For highlighter I rotate between Westman Atelier’s Lit Up Stick in Nectar, Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter in Peau de Santé, and Saie’s Glow Sculpt in the shade Pinkglow.
Eyes & Brows
My lashes are straight, so Kevyn Aucoin’s Eyelash Curler is essential. I tint them every three weeks, and even without mascara, a quick curl makes my eyes look awake. I fill in my brows with Rapide’s Brow Twist and brush them through. My current eyeshadow favourite is Make Up by Mario’s Master Mattes The Neutrals Palette, which truly has every shade I need.
For liner, I love Chanel’s Stylo Yeux in Espresso paired with Xlash Drama Tinted Primer (technically a primer, but great as mascara). Another favourite is Caia’s black Pencil Eyeliner in combination with their Twist Me Up Mascara. To separate my lashes, I use this genius MAC brush recommended by my friend Sania. A little Caia Wake Me Up highlighter in the inner corners instantly fakes eight hours of sleep.
Lips
Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Pencil in Pillow Talk has been a staple in my bag for nearly a decade. It’s the perfect pinkish nude with great staying power. I often add a dab of Westman Atelier’s Petal on top. For a red lip, Merit’s Signature Lip in Power is my current favourite.
Evening Ritual
My nighttime routine has become simpler, and my skin is better for it. I remove makeup using Eucerin’s DermatoCLEAN & Bioderma Sensibio and follow up with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. Occasionally, I use Murad’s Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial which always leave me with a beautiful glow the day after. I finish with my trusted Canoderm and Propyless mix, and that’s it.
Signature Things with Elizabeth Grace Hand
Elizabeth Grace Hand has turned her Ställe Studios into one of Soho’s most coveted destinations for glowing skin. Married to a Swede and inspired by Scandinavian design, she collaborated with Madeleine Asplund Klingstedt to bring the refined minimalism of Swedish Grace to her own space, a reflection of her effortless, quietly polished approach to beauty. For this week’s letter, she shares the beauty rituals, style notes, and small pleasures that define her world.
1. Swedish Grace Design
I worked with Stockholm-based interior designer Madeleine Asplund Klingstedt to design both my apartment and my facial studio in the spirit of Swedish Grace—the country’s quietly glamorous take on Art Deco from the 1920s. Think minimal elegance accented with a whisper of shine: pewter, crystal, and perfectly measured symmetry. It makes me feel like I live and work in an actual Swedish dollhouse.
2. Anfisa Glosses
I adore a mirror-like lip. Anfisa’s glosses are the shiniest; ultra-hydrating with a cooling applicator that feels decadent every time. The new Spice Cake shade is fall perfection, simultaneously flattering and polished with just the right depth of warmth.
3. Kitten Heels
My obsession started in seventh grade with a baby-pink BCBGeneration briton, and I’ve never looked back. Forever chic and endlessly comfortable, they’re the ideal marriage of grace and ease.
4. Vintage Skirt Suits
I’m a true devotee of the tailored skirt suit. I’m always combing eBay, The RealReal, and Vestiaire for rare vintage finds—each one a small masterpiece of structure and femininity.
5. Westman Atelier Everything
Gucci Westman can do no wrong. Her Complexion Drops and the highlighter in Nectar are my daily skin couture, effortless, luminous, and quietly transformative.
6. Annabelle’s Birthday Cake
Notes of balloons, warm frosting, and cake-just-out-of-the-oven, Annabelle’s Birthday Cake is sweetness distilled to its most elegant form. It makes me feel like a sophisticated 6 year old. Think Eloise at the Plaza.
7. Bioeffect 3x Serum
I’ve trusted Bioeffect for years for the most hydrated, bouncy skin imaginable. The new 3xGF Recovery Serum is the pinnacle, potent enough to deliver baby-soft skin overnight.
8. French Farmacie Exfoliant
For instant polish with minimal effort, I smooth on French Farmacie’s Elixir Exfoliant before bed and wake up to an unmatched glow. The scent is soft and exquisite, like a spa in a dream.
9. Cardamom Buns
I chase the world’s best cardamom buns. Favorites so far: Smør in New York, Lillebrors in Stockholm, and Lille Bakery in Copenhagen. Each one a perfect swirl of spice and softness.
10. Laser Genesis
The ultimate skin ritual. Monthly Laser Genesis treatments calm redness, prevent breakouts, and leave my complexion lifted and radiant—so effective I need Botox far less often. It feels like a warm stone massage with zero downtime and delivers both instant and lasting results.
Don’t forget to follow @elizabethgracehand on Instagram.
On My Mind
ALWAYS IN MY BAG. Cold weather always leaves my skin parched, but Rose Balm from Mantle is my secret weapon. It’s perfect for rescuing chapped lips and dry hands, and it has the most intoxicating scent of roses.
BLUSH. The beauty gods have blessed us with a new Baby Cheeks blush from Westman Atelier. Exclusive to the Petite Trio set, Jam is a vibrant berry hue that promises that perfect snow-kissed flush. Can’t wait to try it!
HAIRCARE. My sister-in-law recommended the Kérastase Gloss Absolu Insta Glaze conditioner to me a few months ago, and now I can’t live without it. Even my hairdresser remarked on how healthy my hair looked. Not bad for someone who hadn’t had an appointment in almost six months!
SOS. If you, like me, are prone to get Perioral Dermatitis around the mouth during the winter months, Face Formula’s SOS Paste is a must. It saved my skin last winter and now it’s a staple in my beauty cabinet!