Photo: Valerie Dayan
Stories
On a Few Things That Changed My Life in 2025
The editor-in-chief of exaggeration returns with a fresh list from the past year, where casual lunches create big shifts, beauty items carry emotional weight, and the smallest things turn into life-altering joy.
Text Valerie Dayan
-Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Foundation: A skin makeup product from Natasha Denona enters the list for the second year in a row. She’s just that good. I initially purchased it for my wedding upon makeup artist Fezi Altun’s recommendation. Turns out it’s a keeper. Lightweight yet with considerable coverage, the liquid foundation has a blurring effect and a barely-there, skin-like finish. Not too dewy, not too matte. Just natural. Perfect. And I’m saying this as someone who’s never been a fan of foundations, but they’ve evolved enough to change my mind. And yes, I’m still using the Natasha Denona Color Correcting Concealer every single day.
-Sophie Carbonari “Sur Mesure” Facial: A skincare experience to cherish for a long, long time. It’s not easy to put into words, as this facial really needs to be experienced to be understood. Sophie’s ease, her innate ability to give comfort and joy, the self-formulated products she uses, the heavenly textures, the rather magical way her hands work on one’s face. And of course, the results. There’s nothing and no one quite like it, and her, in the world. I’m very much looking forward to my next “Sur Mesure” with Sophie.
-Maison Caillau three-toothed comb: I’ve always admired the way my maternal grandmother effortlessly put her hair up with toothed combs. Although my chignons got, and can have, nothing on hers, purchasing a three-toothed comb from Parisian hair accessory house Maison Caillau got me started somewhere. I now have one in almost every bag, and even got a black one adorned with Swarovski crystals for nights out. In a hair-clip-girl world (which I’m not against), it feels chic to be a hair-comb girl whenever I need to put my hair up. From the looks of their Spring/Summer 2026 campaign, it seems my grandma, The Row, and I are all on the same page, too.
A quick note: I really recommend a three-toothed comb over the more common two-toothed version, as it holds the hair much better. And that brings us to…
-Embracing the nonna in me: My love for grandmother style doesn’t end with hair combs. I’ve spent almost the entire year exclusively listening to Mina and Ornella Vanoni. Normally this would live on a private Spotify account, but I just don’t care anymore. I’ve embraced the nonna in me, and I love it.
-Being more active on TikTok: Although I always thought my character, and the arbitrary way my brain works, would fit the platform very well, I never really had the time for a personal presence on TikTok. This year, though, I’ve been rather active on Wonderflaw’s account. Since it’s technically for work and for our platform, there’s a limit to how much character I show there. Still, I’m fully aware that those videos are some of my most personal and sincere editorial work. The responses we get are more real and specific than before, and it feels genuinely nice to be constantly creating there.
-And less active on Instagram: 2025 was a busy year, personally and workwise, and I couldn’t find the time, nor the will, to be as active on Instagram as I used to be. At first, it felt “wrong,” because of what I do. The less you post, the less visible you become, and my industry thrives on visibility. Oh well. After a year of choosing quality over quantity, and real life instead of digital showcasing, I’ve started curbing my FOMO and feeling better about where I go, what I post, and who I engage with. That said, I do hope to find a better balance in 2026.
-A lunch in Ponza: Some of the best days of 2025 were spent in Ponza, and the best lunch I had all year was there too. We took our little rental boat to Enzo’s (the only way to get there), struggled to anchor, and got help from Enzo himself, who welcomed us into his casual dreamland by turquoise waters. The freshest seafood, the vongole that had to be ordered twice, the salty air, the ease of everything, the people jumping from cliffs into Ponzese waters. A life-altering memory I often revisit in my mind, and hopefully IRL next summer.
-Another lunch in Ponza: On the morning we sailed to Palmarola, I joined the Ponzese seriously shopping for their charcuterie for a day at sea. Naturally, I bought a little too much mortadella and just enough local wine for our adventures with Umberto, our captain for the day. Eating it all with a bit of focaccia during our stops, with nothing to do but swim in crystal-clear waters or take a little siesta, was a dream. The simplicity of that day, and the taste of mortadella in my salty mouth, earns its rightful place on this list.
-A dessert buffet: From the moment we started wedding planning, I knew I wanted a dessert buffet. I’m not generally a fan of buffets at big events, but an intentionally prepared dessert table can be one of the most joyful additions to the atmosphere. What Five O’Clock created, with direction from our planner Aytül Ayke Weddings and special touches from The Marmara, was beyond anything I could have imagined. Not only did everything look otherworldly, every single dessert tasted incredible too. It’s rather sad that I can’t beam myself back to that table whenever I want.
@aytulaykeweddings & @fiveoclockpastry
-Staying true to myself for my wedding (and beauty decisions): It’s fascinating how easy it is to lose touch with your true self while planning a wedding. The industry just sucks you in, especially during dress shopping. While a sales manager was trying to convince me to buy a poufy dress, I firmly decided to make the entire experience as “Valerie” as possible, down to the smallest detail, like the color of my lip liner (Sweet Talk from M.A.C.) Best decision ever. Thank you to Aytül Ayke Weddings, my makeup artist Fezi Altun, hairstylist Nuri Şekerci, and everyone involved in making the night feel unmistakably me.
-Violette Bisou Balm: It happens rarely, but I do love a serendipitous encounter with a product I’ll cherish for a long time. Velvety and semi-matte, this perfect je-ne-sais-quoi lipstick became a 2025 staple. I finished at least three or four sticks. I love a creative woman in beauty, and Violette Serrat, you are an absolute makeup angel. My shade is Bêtise.
-Deciding to have breakfast: After years of skipping breakfast in favor of coffee, I never craved it, but I also wasn’t seeing results from my workouts. I realized I was putting my body under too much stress by being perpetually hungry, masked by caffeine, and decided to add a small morning ritual. Usually, a chia and unsweetened almond milk shake with Saf Sports protein. It may sound inconsequential, but it was a big deal for me. Better muscle formation, better energy, better mood. Being kinder to myself in this way was a real game-changer.
-Actually using the products I buy: I have a bizarre scarcity mindset when it comes to nice things, especially candles and fancy beauty products. While moving out of my old apartment, I was shocked by how many beautiful things I’d hoarded because I felt bad about using them. How absurd. Especially coming from someone who lives for momentary pleasures. I’ve officially ended this chapter by slathering myself in Buly 1803 rose oil. No more pleasure delay.
-Getting better at blush application: I never really thought about proper blush placement until I saw a video of myself absolutely botching it. I became more intentional about how, and where, I apply blush, and it made all the difference. I now blend the product on the back of my hand, then tap it onto the upper mid-cheek toward the temples.
-Buying good makeup brushes: Another life-changing upgrade. It’s absolutely worth investing in a few great brushes. They elevate every product you use. In 2025, I splurged on Lisa Eldridge and Hourglass brushes. Well done, me.
@lisaeldridgemakeup & @hourglasscosmetics
-The mortadella platter at Roscioli: Yes, another mortadella mention. But what can I say? A massive plate of handmade mortadella with shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano will always be a life-altering, joyous experience for me.
-Augustinus Bader SPF: A truly stellar product. Serious protection, hydration, skincare benefits, and after-sun care in one. I love turning something as ordinary as daily SPF into a more luxurious ritual. One of the best launches of the year, without question.
-Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder: Buying this powder was a major makeup upgrade. Soft, subtle, effective. No look feels finished without it. And it was a flawless 10/10 retoucher on my wedding night.
-Using ChatGPT as my additional trainer: Although I cannot bear certain uses of AI (please spare me another AI-written caption), it turned out to be a surprisingly good workout assistant. I uploaded photos, shared my equipment, injuries, and goals, and trained with it for months. It was helpful and practical, though I also checked in with my real-life trainer and tried not to get too irritated by the occasional silly mistake.
