Bonjour! My name is Stephanie Broek and I’m a fashion journalist from Amsterdam. For four years I worked as a fashion features editor for Glamour, but I recently decided to go freelance. As much as I loved my job (and the fashion closet full of designer pieces), I knew it was time for a change. So far freedom tastes good, especially now that it’s Spring. On sunny days I write on my balcony or at my favorite spot overlooking the Amstel river surrounded by 19th century architecture.

Blonde Angel conditioner - Kevin Murphy

When I grew up my dad always used to say: “your hair is your number one piece of jewelry”. After I cut all my hair off at the age of 12, I finally knew what he meant. I love short hair on other girls (like the gorgeous @celinebernaerts), but I felt naked. My hair is like my armor. I love hiding behind it. It makes me feel strong, sexy and safe. I wash my hair every 5 to 7 days. My miracle product is the Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel conditioner. It makes my manes soft and gives them this ashy blonde color that I like. I sleep with a braid and all I do in the morning is pray my hair looks good. It almost always does, expect when it rains. Then I turn into a poodle.

Hyaluronic Acid Booster - Paula’s Choice

Exactly one year ago my skin was at it’s worst. Suddenly I had a lot of break-outs, redness and large pores. I begged everyone I met with great skin to tell me their secret. A lot of girls recommended Paula’s Choice to me. To be honest, at that point I didn’t believe in skincare anymore. I thought even, glowing skin was just a matter good genes. That was until I tried the Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster. I use it twice a day. It costs a fortune if you use as much of it as I do, but I finally have the skin I always wanted. In the evening I use the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant. I let it do it’s job for an hour before I apply my moisturizer. After I apply the gel I slowly see my face turn into baby skin. It blurs fine lines. The combination of the exfoliant and the booster changed my life.

Raaw by Trice Blackened Santal

People can’t stop smelling me when I wear this perfume. They literally stop me on the street to ask where it’s from. It’s a blend of sandalwood and cedar wood with hints of cardamom, vanilla, violet and iris. My boyfriend wears it too, which I love. I can’t stand ultra masculine scents.

Balm Dotcom Cherry - Glossier

Cherries are my favorite summer fruit. This balm is thick and stays on your lips for hours. You only need a tiny bit of it to nourish your lips. I gave up on lipstick years ago. Somehow it always ends up on my teeth, no matter what I try. The Cherry Balm Dotcom is tinted so I still get a little bit of color on my lips.

Hinoki Body Cream - Le Labo

Six years ago I made the transition of vegetarian to vegan. Ever since then I feel much more comfortable in my own skin. Partly because I have a clear conscious, but it’s physical too. I only use vegan and cruelty-free beauty products. At first it was hard to find good alternatives, but after a while I found amazing brands. Le Labo is one of them. I love every single one of their products (and the minimal packaging), but this body lotion is my absolute favorite. The cream blends so well with my skin and nourishes it like no other product I’ve ever tried. Goodbye dry legs.