A bright, refreshing Argentinian‑inspired agua fresca infused with tart cranberries, warm spices and a hint of citrus. This ruby‑toned drink is vibrant, hydrating and perfect for summer afternoons, holiday gatherings or wellness‑focused sipping. It’s a modern twist on Latin American fruit waters — light, aromatic and beautifully seasonal.
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 4 cups water ¼–⅓ cup sugar (to taste) 1 tbsp honey or agave 1 cinnamon stick 2 cloves 1 strip orange peel (optional) 2 cups cold water (to finish) 1 tbsp lime juice Ice Fresh mint (optional)
Instructions
Make the Spiced Cranberry Base Combine cranberries, 4 cups water, sugar, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel in a saucepan. Simmer 8–10 minutes until cranberries burst and liquid turns deep red.
Strain Remove from heat and cool slightly. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing gently to extract juice.
Build the Agua Fresca Combine cranberry concentrate with 2 cups cold water and lime juice. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity.
Serve Pour over ice and garnish with mint or a thin slice of orange.
Vitamin C from cranberries and citrus supports collagen and brightens the complexion.
Hydration‑forward drink helps maintain skin plumpness and glow.
Antioxidants protect against environmental stressors.
Warm spices may support circulation for a subtle radiance.
Low‑sugar option compared to bottled juices.
Health Benefits
Immune‑supporting antioxidants from cranberries.
Hydrating and electrolyte‑friendly for daily wellness.
Anti‑inflammatory spices (cinnamon + cloves).
Digestive support from warm spices and citrus.
Naturally caffeine‑free and refreshing.
Storage
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: Concentrate freezes well for up to 2 months
Make‑ahead tip: Keep concentrate separate and mix with cold water just before serving
Substitutions
Cranberries: Sour cherries, raspberries, or hibiscus
Sweetener: Maple syrup, agave, or coconut sugar
Spices: Cardamom or star anise
Citrus: Lemon or orange instead of lime
Add‑ins: Sparkling water for a bubbly version
History + Cultural Context
Agua fresca is a beloved Latin American drink made by blending fruit, water, and gentle sweetener. While cranberries aren’t traditional in Argentina, their tartness mirrors fruits like sour cherry and red currant, making this fusion feel culturally aligned.
The addition of cinnamon and cloves nods to South American holiday flavours, creating a drink that feels both refreshing and festive — perfect for modern Argentinian‑inspired cooking.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Atomic Blonde × Bésame: A Collaboration Born From Rebellion
Bésame designed their latest collection in close collaboration with Debbie Harry, the legendary frontwoman of Blondie. The result is a highly limited‑edition release named Atomic Blonde — a title pulled from the 1979 song Debbie wrote, and a tribute to the late‑70s moment she helped define.
This collection isn’t nostalgia. It’s homage — to rebellion, glamour and the woman who turned downtown grit into global stardom.
Get to Know Debbie Harry
As the lead singer of Blondie, Debbie Harry helped carry punk rock out of downtown New York and into the world. With hits like “Heart of Glass,” “Call Me,” “One Way or Another,” and “Atomic,” she became one of the defining voices of the era — a musician who could move effortlessly between punk, pop, disco and new wave.
But Blondie was never her name. It was a catcall — shouted at her from passing cars and city streets. The band claimed it, transformed it and the world said it back in a different tone.
The Style That Became a Blueprint
The music made her famous. Her style made her iconic.
Debbie Harry’s look — platinum hair, graphic contrasts, leather, denim, minimal silhouettes and a camera‑ready face — became one of the most influential aesthetics of the late 20th century. Photographers chased it. Designers referenced it. Women who came after her built entire identities from its DNA.
She curated a blueprint for cool. A study in contrasts. A reminder that rebellion can be beautiful.
Check out The Atomic Collection:
The Atomic Lip Set/Photo is from Besame Cosmetics/besamecosmetics.com
The Atomic Lip Set Three Lips. One Decade. Everything She Wore — and Everything You Can Build From It.
The Atomic Collection presents the complete lip wardrobe co‑created with Debbie Harry. Three shades pulled directly from her late‑1970s looks, crafted in the signature formulas Bésame built its reputation on, and housed in silver striped bullets designed exclusively for this collection.
A capsule of colour. A study in era‑defining glamour. A decade, distilled.
This Set Includes
1× Dressing Room Red Lipstick The backstage classic — a deeply saturated red in the award‑winning Classic Colour formula, colour‑matched to the shade she wore on tour.
1× Hot Shot Pink Lipstick The other side of the same decade — a high‑voltage magenta in the Luminous formula that applies like a balm and reads like a statement.
1× Liar Liar Gloss A fragrance‑free, non‑sticky shine suspended with pink and gold micro‑shimmer. Worn alone for a soft shift or layered over either lipstick for added depth.
Worn separately, three distinct looks. Worn together, the full range of a woman who understood that the mouth does the talking before the voice does.
Why You’ll Love It
Three formulas, three finishes: semi‑matte, luminous and glass — the complete range in one set
Co‑created with Debbie Harry: every shade hand‑selected and color‑matched to her own late‑70s looks
Built to layer: Liar Liar Gloss is formulated to sit seamlessly over both lipsticks, giving you five looks from three products
Enriched with jojoba, shea butter, and vitamin E
Meticulously formulated for sensitive skin
Collector’s packaging: exclusive silver striped tubes with graphic metallic striping and Debbie Harry’s signature mark
The Atomic Compact Set/Photo is from Besame Cosmetics/besamecosmetics.com
The complete compact set from the Atomic Collection — a refillable metal compact designed from Debbie Harry’s own hand‑drawing, paired with two exclusive refill shades: Mirror Mirror Highlighter and Pretty Baby Blush.
A piece of art you can carry. A piece of history you can wear.
A compact she drew herself, and the two shades that go inside it.
The complete compact set from the Atomic Collection — a refillable metal compact built directly from Debbie Harry’s own hand‑drawing, paired with two exclusive refill colours created for this collection alone.
The compact is the object. Heavyweight silver with a raised swirl pattern and a Swarovski crystal at its centre, drawn by Debbie and engineered to last a lifetime rather than a season. It arrives nestled in a velvet‑lined presentation box, stamped with her reminder to make it magnificent.
Inside it, two shades built from her stage looks.
Includes 2× Atomic Collection Refills
Pretty Baby Blush Refill A deep berry‑rose blush in the high‑contrast style that defined late‑1970s stage makeup. Finely milled and fully buildable — from a soft flush to a sculpted drape.
Mirror Mirror Highlighter Refill A champagne‑gold highlighter formulated to catch light the way stage lighting did. Weightless enough to sit over cheekbones and brow bones without finding texture.
Both pans snap magnetically into the Atomic compact — and into every Bésame refillable powder compact made after 2019 — so the compact keeps working long after these two are gone.
Turn touch‑ups into a high‑glamour statement with the Atomic Refillable Metal Compact. Designed directly from an original hand‑drawing by Debbie Harry, frontwoman of Blondie, this heavyweight, high‑shine silver compact features a hypnotic raised swirl pattern anchored by a Swarovski crystal at its centre.
A true object of design — built to be held, seen and remembered.
A wearable piece of rock ’n’ roll history.
Turn touch‑ups into a high‑glamour statement with the Atomic Refillable Metal Compact. Designed directly from an original hand‑drawing by music and style icon Debbie Harry, this heavyweight, high‑shine silver compact features a hypnotic raised swirl pattern anchored by a Swarovski crystal at its centre.
Housed in a luxe presentation box stamped with Debbie’s reminder to “Make it magnificent,” this keepsake‑worthy compact is built to last a lifetime. Effortlessly sustainable, it’s fully compatible with all existing Bésame powder refills as well as the exclusive new Atomic Collection blush and highlighter pans.
Why You’ll Love It
Iconic Design: Crafted directly from Debbie Harry’s personal sketch
Premium Weight & Finish: Solid metallic construction with a sparkling Swarovski crystal
Refillable & Sustainable: Holds all current Bésame powder refills plus the new Atomic blush and highlighter
Collector’s Packaging: Velvet‑lined display box and black protective pouch for touch‑ups on the go
Includes
1 × Debbie Harry Compact 1 × Powder Refill (Choose Your Own)
Price: $153
The Atomic Eyeshadow Palette
The Atomic Eyeshadow/Besame Cosmetics/besamecosmetics.com
Channel the electrifying style of the late ’70s with this five‑shade eyeshadow palette. Hand‑picked by Debbie Harry and her personal makeup artist, this ultra‑pigmented edit captures the exact tones that defined Blondie’s most iconic era.
Every shade is a snapshot of stage lights, club nights and the high‑contrast glamour that made Debbie’s look unforgettable — wearable now, without losing the voltage of where it came from.
High‑pigment rock ’n’ roll glamour, curated by an icon.
Channel the electrifying stage style of the late 1970s with the Atomic Eyeshadow Palette. Hand‑picked by Debbie Harry and her personal makeup artist, Guy Furrow, this ultra‑pigmented five‑shade palette captures the exact tones that defined Blondie’s most iconic era.
From effortless daytime looks to dramatic, smoky disco‑punk eyes, each velvety shade delivers smooth, high‑impact payoff in a single swipe. Encased in a sleek mirrored chrome compact decorated with graphic ’70s‑inspired artwork and Debbie Harry’s signature style, the palette includes a full‑length interior mirror for seamless application anywhere the night takes you.
The 5 Iconic Shades
Spotlight — A luminous base and brow‑bone highlight
Love 1 — A rich, molten copper‑bronze for warmth and dimension
Slush AF — A moody, shimmering berry‑wine for glamorous depth
Atomic Blue — Debbie’s signature pop of vivid, show‑stopping blue
Ashes to Ashes — The ultimate dense black for bold liner or smoky, dramatic blend‑outs
Honey has always carried a sense of a subtle form of luxury — a beauty ingredient treasured in ancient rituals and a kitchen staple that feels both comforting and elegant. Victorian women used honey salves to achieve a glowing complexion, while today it remains one of the most beloved ingredients in modern wellness.
Honey is one of the oldest beauty ingredients in recorded history. Cleopatra famously used honey to soften her skin, while ancient Greek women applied honey masks before festivals and ceremonies. In medieval Europe, honey was used as a healing salve for the skin — prized for its antibacterial properties long before modern science confirmed them. Victorian women used honey in homemade cold creams, believing it preserved youthfulness.
Honey’s beauty legacy spans continents and eras, always associated with luxury, femininity and natural radiance.
Beauty Benefits of Honey
Skin: Honey draws moisture into the skin, supports barrier repair and has natural anti-bacterial properties. Hair: A honey mask adds shine and softness especially when mixed with oils. Body: Its antioxidants support overall wellness and glow. Mood: Warm, floral, comforting — honey is a sensory cue for calm and sweetness.
The Recipe Critic: Inspired Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
Sticky, savoury‑sweet, pan‑seared chicken with that classic glossy honey‑garlic finish.
Historical Context Honey‑garlic sauces trace their lineage to Cantonese lacquered meats, where cooks used honey to create a glossy, caramelized finish on roasted pork and poultry. As Chinese culinary techniques traveled globally, home cooks in North America adapted the sweet‑savory profile into quick skillet meals — especially during the 1970s and 1980s, when “30‑minute dinners” became a cultural phenomenon.
By the 1990s, honey‑garlic chicken had become a weeknight staple, appearing in community cookbooks and family‑friendly food magazines. Its appeal was universal: minimal ingredients, maximum flavour, and that irresistible sticky glaze. The Recipe Critic’s modern version continues this lineage — approachable, bold and designed for busy households who still want something delicious.
Beauty Benefits of This Recipe
Honey
Hydrates the skin from within
Antioxidants help reduce dullness
Supports immune balance, which can reflect in clearer skin
Garlic
Rich in allicin, a natural anti‑inflammatory compound
Supports circulation, giving the skin a subtle internal “glow”
Helps regulate bacteria in the gut, which often improves complexion
Chicken
Supports collagen formation
Strengthens hair and nails
Helps maintain skin elasticity
Green Onions + Sesame Seeds
Provide minerals and antioxidants
Support healthy cell turnover
Add anti‑inflammatory benefits
Honey has always been a quiet form of luxury in beauty and wellness—simple, natural and endlessly versatile. This recipe is one more way to bring that softness and radiance into everyday life, using ingredients that feel comforting. If you enjoyed this treatment, explore the rest of the Honey Series for more historically inspired, modern‑friendly recipes.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Bésame Cosmetics has always stood apart for one reason: authenticity. While many brands borrow from vintage aesthetics, Bésame reconstructs them — shade by shade and detail by detail — with a level of historical accuracy that feels almost museum‑grade. Their packaging isn’t inspired by the past; it’s a faithful revival of the glamour and craftsmanship that defined cosmetics from the 1920s through the 1960s.
Founder Gabriela Hernandez approaches each product like an archival restoration. Every lipstick tube, compact and powder case is shaped and decorated using references from original vintage pieces — the kind found on old Hollywood vanities or mid‑century dressing tables.
Their iconic gold lipsticks are modeled after 1940s and 1950s tubes: slim, elegant and weighty. The floral engraving echoes motifs from wartime and post‑war cases and even the click of the cap mimics vintage metal tubes.
Powder compacts follow mid‑century design language with rounded shapes, enamel‑style finishes and deep red‑and‑gold palettes. Each piece feels like it could sit beside a bottle of Evening in Paris.
What makes Bésame special is how packaging and shade work together. A 1930s red arrives in packaging that reflects 1930s glamour; a 1950s pink comes dressed in 1950s elegancy.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Holding a Bésame product feels like holding a piece of beauty history — a small, elegant reminder of the artistry that defined cosmetics before minimalism took over.
Red lipstick is one of the most enduring symbols in beauty history — a shade that has represented glamour, rebellion, confidence and identity for thousands of years. No other cosmetic has carried as much cultural weight or evolved as dramatically across eras. To wear red lipstick is to participate in a lineage of power, femininity and self‑expression that spans civilizations.
Ancient Beginnings
The story of red lipstick begins long before modern beauty brands. Ancient civilizations used red pigments to signal strength and allure.
Ancient Sumerians crushed gemstones to tint their lips.
Egyptians, including Cleopatra, used red pigments made from carmine and henna.
Greeks and Romans associated red lips with luxury and seduction.
From the very beginning, red lips were a statement.
Medieval and Renaissance Symbolism
During the Middle Ages, red lips were controversial — sometimes associated with witchcraft or vanity. But by the Renaissance, red lipstick returned as a symbol of aristocratic beauty. Queen Elizabeth I famously wore bright red lips made from beeswax and plant dyes, cementing the shade as a marker of power.
Victorian Restraint
The Victorian era pushed cosmetics into secrecy. Makeup was considered improper and red lipstick was worn quietly, often by actresses or women who defied social expectations. This period gave red lipstick its association with rebellion and independence.
The Birth of Modern Lipstick
By the early 20th century, red lipstick became mainstream thanks to:
Hollywood actresses
beauty advertisements
the rise of commercial cosmetics
Brands like Max Factor and Revlon popularized bold red shades that photographed beautifully under studio lights. Red lipstick became synonymous with glamour.
Wartime Strength
During World War II, red lipstick took on a new meaning: courage.
Women wore red lips as an act of emotional resilience. Even when cosmetics were rationed, they found ways to tint their lips. Red lipstick became a symbol of hope, dignity, and determination.
Post‑War Glamour
The 1950s cemented red lipstick as the ultimate beauty staple. Icons like:
Marilyn Monroe
Elizabeth Taylor
Rita Hayworth
turned red lips into a global symbol of femininity and allure. The era’s advertising celebrated red lipstick as essential — a finishing touch that completed a woman’s look.
A Shade That Never Leaves
Today, red lipstick remains timeless because it represents something deeper than beauty. It embodies:
confidence
elegance
rebellion
sensuality
identity
Red lipstick is not just a cosmetic. It is history.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Bésame Cosmetics has always been more than a makeup brand — it is a historical archive disguised as a vanity table. Their lipstick line, especially the original shades, reflects founder Gabriela Hernandez’s commitment to preserving beauty history with museum‑level accuracy. Each shade is a revival of a real colour worn by women in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 950s, 1960s and 1970s, re-created from vintage samples, advertisements and cosmetic artifacts.
These lipsticks are not “retro‑inspired.” They are authentic restorations of the shades that defined entire eras of glamour.
The Philosophy Behind the Shades
Bésame’s original lipstick collection was built on a simple but radical idea: Women should be able to wear the exact colours their mothers, grandmothers and Hollywood icons once wore.
To achieve this, Hernandez sourced:
vintage lipsticks from estate collections
original cosmetic bullet molds
mid‑century colour charts
archival makeup advertisements
Hollywood studio makeup references
Every shade is matched to its historical decade, giving each lipstick a story as rich as its pigment.
The Iconic Shades
1920s – Deep, Dramatic Reds
The 1920s favoured bold, deep reds — shades worn by silent‑film actresses and flappers. These colours were dramatic, matte and un-apologetically expressive. Bésame’s early‑era reds capture the rebellious spirit of women who were redefining beauty and independence.
1930s – Blue‑Based Hollywood Reds
The 1930s introduced cooler, blue‑under-toned-based reds that photographed beautifully under studio lighting. These were the shades worn by early Hollywood icons, giving lips a sculpted, glamorous look. Bésame’s 1930s reds recreate the elegance of pre‑war cinema.
1940s – Victory Reds
The 1940s were the decade of Victory Red — a patriotic, morale‑boosting shade encouraged during wartime. Women wore red lipstick as a symbol of strength, resilience, and national pride. Bésame’s 1940s reds are historically accurate to the wartime formulations and tones. Lipsticks of this era if it weren’t Victory Red, it was true reds, perfect balance between orange and blue under-tone-based red lipstick.
1950s – Bright, Feminine Reds
The 1950s were the decade of polished glamour. Beauty advertising exploded, Hollywood was at its peak and red lipstick became a symbol of confidence and femininity. Shades were bright, saturated and camera‑ready — the kind worn by Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Dorothy Dandridge, and Grace Kelly. These reds were designed to complement the era’s creamy foundations, powder‑matte finishes and sculpted brows. Post‑war optimism shaped the palette: cheerful cherry reds, vivid blue‑reds and classic Hollywood crimsons. Bésame’s 1950s reds re-create these exact tones, capturing the decade’s blend of elegance, playfulness and iconic femininity.
1960s – Mod Reds and Youthquake Brights
The 1960s introduced a completely new attitude toward lipstick. Beauty shifted from classic Hollywood glamour to the bold, graphic “Mod” aesthetic — and red shades evolved with it. Instead of deep, sultry reds, the decade embraced brighter, punchier hues with clearer undertones. These were the lipsticks worn by fashion icons like Jean Shrimpton and early‑era Jane Birkin: vivid, youthful reds that photographed sharply in colour film and complemented the era’s clean lines and dramatic eye makeup. Bésame’s 1960s‑inspired shades capture this transition perfectly, offering crisp, lively reds that reflect the decade’s playful, modern spirit.
1960s – Mod Reds, Pink‑Nudes, and the Graphic Eye
Alongside vivid reds, the 1960s also embraced soft pink‑nude lipsticks designed to balance the era’s bold, graphic eye makeup. These shades were intentionally understated — the perfect complement to heavy liner, defined creases and the iconic Twiggy lash look. Bésame’s 1960s‑inspired pink‑nudes re-create this exact pairing, offering historically accurate hues that match the beauty aesthetic of the Youth culture era.
1970s – Earthy Reds and Bohemian Warmth
The 1970s shifted beauty away from the polished glamour of the 1950s and the graphic Mod look of the 1960s. Makeup became more natural, sun‑kissed and in some cases bohemian, however this wasn’t the only trending make-up look of the decade, there was also disco and the Californian sun-kissed, tanned look as well, and red lipstick followed suit. Instead of bright, high‑contrast reds, the decade embraced warmer, earthier tones — brick reds, terracotta reds, and soft russet shades that complemented tanned skin, feathered hair and the era’s effortless aesthetic. These were the lip colors seen on icons like Ali MacGraw and Lauren Hutton: relaxed, wearable reds with a grounded, lived‑in feel. Bésame’s 1970s‑inspired hues capture this shift perfectly, offering warm, muted reds that reflect the decade’s casual elegance and free‑spirited beauty philosophy.
The Packaging That Completes the Story
Each lipstick is housed in Bésame’s signature gold bullet — a reproduction of mid‑century metal lipstick tubes. The floral engraving, the weight of the metal and even the click of the cap are designed to mimic vintage cosmetics exactly.
Holding a Bésame lipstick feels like holding a piece of beauty history.
Why These Shades Matter
Bésame’s original lipstick shades are more than colours. They are:
historical artifacts
cultural symbols
decade‑specific beauty signatures
wearable pieces of nostalgia
For collectors, vintage lover and beauty historians, these lipsticks offer something rare: the ability to wear the exact shades that shaped beauty culture for over half a century.
Bésame doesn’t just recreate lipstick. It recreates eras.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
