Archive - Soft Power by Marisa Meltzer

The cosmetic chemist that made Hailey Bieber a billionaire

What do cosmetic chemists even do? Do we need to wear a vitamin C serum? Which one? Does it have to smell like hot dog water?

21 hrs ago •

June 2025

Feeling hot, looking cool: heatwaves that make me write like a '90s magazine editor

perfumes that smell like sunscreen on purpose, looking "experienced", a rare matte moment

Jun 26 •

Texting with a friend who just got facial feminization surgery

Including: new noses, the mental game of it all, getting fat from your knees put into your face, meeting a new guy the night before, extremely…

Jun 19 •

The Soft Power Mailbag, Part Two

I still have strongly held opinions

Jun 12 •

The Soft Power Mailbag, Part One

we have questions and we have opinions

Jun 5 •

May 2025

I feel weird about everyone's new faces

And I had to write a whole essay about it

May 29 •

Where the boys are

Porn stars and finance bros alike are seeking out these niche clinics for penis filler and anal botox... and status

May 22 •

The Lipstick, the blush, the perfume

And I snuck into the new Violet Grey and have the report

May 15 •

Covid for wellness people was like the rapture

And other insights from Amy Larocca, including the best secret massage place in Manhattan

May 8 •

How to do your own makeup for a headshot

Especially if you want to look like the most inviting version of yourself

May 1 •

April 2025

Britney Spears' Midnight Fantasy Perfume Will Teach You About Womanhood

And other things to learn in the world of celebrity scents

Apr 24 •

The wellness pioneer reckoning with a MAHA world

A long conversation about politics, owning a business, wanting to be healthy, and feeling weird about it all

Apr 17 •

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