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    What James Ensor Knew About the Masks We Wear

    Seventy-five years after the artist’s death, the grotesque masquerades he painted aren’t so far from the manipulated faces of the present day.In our age of cheek fillers, makeup contouring and Snapchat filters, the face we show the world is often not our own. When it is this simple to manipulate how we look through cosmetics and digital media, have our masks become our selves?As unlikely as it may seem, James Ensor, a Belgian painter born in 1860, may have understood our lust for masking long before these face manipulation tools came along. Ensor painted figures whose real faces are grotesquely covered, and their new guises reveal their ugliest traits. His works offer us a society full of clowns, who know little about themselves.The case for Ensor’s prescience is being made this month in Antwerp, Belgium, where several simultaneous exhibitions are exploring the artist’s fascination with masks and masquerade as part of the 75th anniversary commemorations of Ensor’s death. Although he isn’t an international household name like his contemporaries Claude Monet, Edward Munch or Vincent van Gogh, at home in Belgium, Ensor is revered as a national treasure.Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts, or K.S.M.K.A., which owns the largest collection of Ensor’s paintings, is presenting the lead exhibition of the commemorations, “In Your Wildest Dreams: Ensor Beyond Impressionism,” which runs through Jan. 19, 2025.Herwig Todts, a modern art curator at K.M.S.K.A., said he wanted to show that Ensor was a “game changer,” who used Impressionist brushwork techniques and colors, but then pushed them into new realms of avant-garde expressionism.One of Ensor’s most famous works, his 1890 picture “The Intrigue,” on display at K.S.M.K.A., hovers somewhere between the realistic and the Expressionist: It might be a group-portrait of carnival merrymakers, or a congregation of ghouls.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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    Nara Smith’s Homemade Sunscreen Gives Experts Pause

    Nara and Lucky Blue Smith make sunscreen and toothpaste from scratch. Experts have thoughts.Last month, the model and influencer Nara Smith said she had recently run out of sunscreen. Instead of buying more, she asked her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, to make some from scratch.Mr. Smith’s process, which Ms. Smith posted to TikTok last month, looked more like a cooking video than anything else. Wearing an unbuttoned shirt and holding a toothpick between his lips, he combined ingredients including coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil and zinc oxide powder in a clear bowl.In a certain pocket of social media, Ms. Smith has become known for such do-it-yourself content. It began with her posting recipes to satisfy food cravings, but grew to include videos of her husband making personal care products such as sunscreen, toothpaste and moisturizer from scratch.Some commenters admire the couple’s D.I.Y. cosmetics, while others wonder whether their content is satire. But cosmetic chemists, dentists and dermatologists agree that making beauty products from scratch isn’t always a good idea. Homemade moisturizer presents few risks, but homemade sunscreen is far less likely to offer protection, and D.I.Y. toothpaste may be bad for tooth enamel, experts said.Ms. Smith, who did not respond to requests for comment, has at times nodded to the limitations of her experience. In the toothpaste video, for example, she acknowledged that she is not a professional dentist. But at other times, as in her sunscreen TikTok, she assured viewers that her husband “is a baker, so he makes sure that everything is very precise.”Cosmetic chemistry is not the same as baking, said Marisa Plescia, the vice president-elect of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Experts make products according to precise formulas; attempting that process at home when you’re not a chemist can lead to D.I.Y. products that are ineffective, don’t last long or react poorly with your skin, she said.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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    Scarlett Johansson Shares Her Beauty Regimen

    Plus: a new hotel in Oxford, England, door knobs with personality and more recommendations.Step by StepFrom Sunscreen to Lip Balm, Scarlett Johansson’s Favorite Skin Care and Makeup ProductsLeft: Scarlett Johansson, actress, co-founder of the skincare brand the Outset and Prada ambassador. Right: clockwise from top left: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, $21, anastasiabeverlyhills.com; Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Makeup Remover, $39, lancome-usa.com; Goop Beauty Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo, $55, goop.com; Prada Beauty Monochrome Hyper Matte Lipstick in B05 Fauve, $50, Sephora.com; The Outset Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, $32, theoutset.com; Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer, $32, Dior.com; The Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream, $54, theoutset.com. Left: courtesy of The Outset. Right: courtesy of the brandsIn the morning I wash my face with The Outset’s Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser and then I use the Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum and Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer. My last step is our sunscreen coming out this month. It’s super hydrating so you get the protection and skin care benefits. At night I use the cleanser and Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream. I wish I knew about dermaplaning sooner. I do it with a Tweezerman Facial Razor and my skin feels so soft after.I like Molton Brown body washes — my husband and I share the Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel one. I like the Goop Microderm Instant Glow Body Polish, too. Sometimes I use their Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo. I just switched over to using Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector because my hair has had a lot of breakage from getting it colored.I usually use Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer, Diorshow Maximizer 4D Lash Primer and Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara. I sometimes mix a few drops of the Dior concealer with our serum as a sheer cover. I’ll do my brows with an Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. I don’t usually wear lipstick in the daytime but sometimes at night I’ll use Charlotte Tilbury’s lipstick in Very Victoria or Pillow Talk. When I went to the Prada show in Milan they handed out their new makeup and it’s gorgeous. The Monochrome Hyper Matte lipsticks are stunning. I loved the first Prada makeup back in the day, so I was pretty excited that they relaunched. I’ve been using Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Makeup Remover forever. I have very sensitive skin and that’s one product that doesn’t burn and removes all of my makeup after filming.My husband just bought me a great Gabriela Hearst perfume she made with the niche fragrance house Fueguia 1833 called Paysandú. The Outset Botanical Barrier Rescue Balm started out as a lip balm but I was using it on my cuticles and flyaways, so we made it enormous. In the summer, I use it as a moisturizer, lip balm, everything.I don’t really know how to do my hair that well. I don’t blow dry it or anything like that. I just started seeing Dana Ionato at Sally Hershberger for my color and I’ve liked working with her because the color grows out well.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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    Chelsea Hotel’s Cast of Characters, Captured by Its Resident Photographer

    Plus: a chef’s guesthouse in Bali, art that explores girlhood — and more recommendations from T Magazine.Step by StepThe Fashion Executive Alison Loehnis Shares Her Beauty RegimenLeft: Alison Loehnis, the President of Yoox Net-a-Porter. Right, clockwise from top left: Jennifer Behr Velvet Bow Barrette, $128, jenniferbehr.com; NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder, $40, narscosmetics.com; Augustinus Bader the Cream, $300, net-a-porter.com; Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask, $200, net-a-porter.com; Macrene Actives High Performance Tinted Moisturizer, $165, net-a-porter.com; Oribe Intense Conditioner for Moisture & Control, $52, oribe.com; Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower Eau de Parfum, $380, net-a-porter.com; and Sisley Paris Nutritive Lip Balm, $100, sisley-paris.com.Left: courtesy of Net-a-Porter. Right: courtesy of the brandsIn the morning I tend to wash my face before I get in the shower. I usually use the Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser; it’s lightweight so is great for travel and comes in a powder form you mix with water. I’m a longtime user of Biologique Recherche and swear by Lotion P50. On my eyes I use the Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum, which is firming and lifting. My moisturizer depends on the season: When it’s cold I’ll use Augustinus Bader the Cream. If it’s humid I’ll use the Light Cream. About a year ago, I discovered this desert island product, which is Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Sheer Eye cream — it’s a tinted eye cream that makes you look rested. After the shower, I use the Augustinus Bader Body Lotion. When I need it, I’ll use either Biologique Recherche Masque Vernix, which is a bit rich, or Auteur’s retinol serum. For flights, I always take the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Evening Mist with me — the flight attendants will usually ask for a spray. Sisley has this Black Rose Cream Mask that’s always in my travel bag, too.For makeup, I love Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint or Macrene Actives Tinted Moisturizer. If it’s humid, I use the Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare setting powder. It leaves no chalky finish whatsoever. I’m an eye person — I love the Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Liner for the top lid and, on the bottom, I’ll use Sisley Phyto-Kohl Perfect pencils. For mascara I use Tom Ford Extreme Mascara. NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder, to me, is just perfect. Sisley also has two products that I’m obsessed with, one is the Nutritive Lip Balm and the other is their Phyto-Lip Twist in nude. At night, I’ll go more pronounced on the eyeliner and apply much more mascara. I might use a Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat pencil.Hair-wise, I use Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo. If you have dark hair with highlights, it’s the one thing that counters warmth supersuccessfully. For conditioner, I’ll either use Oribe Intense Conditioner for Moisture & Control or Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner, which is a brand I adore. I use a GHD dryer and a Mason Pearson hairbrush. I also have a Dyson Airwrap that I use just to make sure that I don’t have so much heat on my hair. Oribe has this great product called Imperial Blowout, and I use K18 to repair damage. My style tends to be very pared back, but I absolutely love Jennifer Behr hair accessories — I have her bows in a whole bunch of colors, and I’ll wear one in a low ponytail or a little tortoiseshell clip.I’ve been a Diptyque customer for a long time. The one that I came upon a few years ago and haven’t left is Eucalyptus. You don’t smell it everywhere, and I adore it. I have a really strong sense of smell. My dad worked in the fragrance business and I remember reading about Carnal Flower from Frédéric Malle when it launched, and they described it as this tuberose with a hint of eucalyptus. I bought it without smelling it and I’ve worn it ever since.This interview has been edited and condensed.Stay HereA Guesthouse in Bali With a Seven-Course Tasting MenuLeft: the pool at Shelter Island, a new eight-room guesthouse in Bali from the American chef Will Goldfarb and his wife, Maria. Right: bunk beds in the family room at Shelter Island.Martin WestlakeThe pastry chef Will Goldfarb studied with Ferran Adrià, the chef of El Bulli in Spain, before opening his own restaurant, Room4Dessert, in New York’s NoLIta in the mid-aughts. It was well- known for its eight-course dessert menus (the New Yorker writer Bill Buford described it as “dessert as performance art”). But two years into the project, Goldfarb closed his pioneering restaurant and eventually relocated to the island of Bali. In 2014, he reopened Room4Dessert just outside of Ubud. Its dining experience has always been immersive — during a meal, guests move between the property’s orchard, medicinal herb gardens and a multiroom restaurant with a terrace — but as of this month, visitors can spend the night at Goldfarb’s new eight-room guesthouse, Shelter Island, which he and his wife, Maria, transformed from an abandoned Balinese homestay, upcycling as many materials as they could. Rooms are decorated with locally made paintings, and an umbrella-lined pool is bordered by gardens with fragrant frangipani trees and a traditional shrine. The restaurant, which is next to the guesthouse, serves a seven-course meal preceded by seven snacks — which might include a creamy ricotta-stuffed squash blossom drizzled with a black shallot sauce — and followed by seven petits fours. Once you’ve had your fill of food, there are trails to follow through the nearby rice fields, and cooking, permaculture and ceramics workshops at Goldfarb’s academy. Rooms from $75 a night (including breakfast); room4dessert.com.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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    A New Baltimore Chocolate Shop With a Signature Drink

    Plus: a guide to LED bulbs, an elegant hotel in Majorca — and more recommendations from T Magazine.Step by StepThe Dutch Designer Sabine Marcelis’s Beauty RegimenLeft: Sabine Marcelis has collaborated with La Prairie since 2021, mentoring young artists and creating objects and installations for the brand. Right: clockwise from top left: Davines Oi conditioner, $47, us.davines.com; Diptyque Paris Mimosa candle, $74, diptyqueparis.com; La Prairie Skin Caviar Harmony L’Extrait, $860, laprairie.com; Susanne Kaufmann Bath for the Senses, $70, susannekaufmann.com; Byredo Blanche eau de parfum, $205, byredo.com; Davines Minu hair serum, $30, us.davines.com; MAC Cosmetics MACStack mascara, $28, maccosmetics.com; Chanel La Palette Sourcils brow wax and brow powder duo in 02 Medium, $52, chanel.com.Left: courtesy of La Prairie. Right: courtesy of the brandsI shower and wash my face with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo Milky Cleanser. I like to use body washes that I bring back from my travels to remind me of those trips: I have this Kokum Almond Cleansing Shower Oil that I got on a trip to India that smells so good. Because I dye my hair, it’s quite thirsty — I use L’Oréal Professionnel Purple Shampoo to keep the yellow out, and Davines Oi Conditioner. I always use Davines Minu Hair Serum when I blow dry my hair and finish with Oi Oil.La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Liquid Lift wakes my skin up. For moisture, I use Skin Caviar Luxe Cream and then every second or third day, I’ll put on Skin Caviar Harmony L’Extrait. I feel like it’s feeding my skin. For makeup, I basically only wear a light bronzer to even out my skin tone, mascara and a little bit of an eyebrow wand. This New Zealand brand called Thin Lizzy has a 6in1 Professional Face Powder Compact that I’ve used for 18 years. I’ve tried to find fancy alternatives, but there’s just nothing as good as this. For mascara, I use MACStack; the eyebrow wand is MAC Eye Brows Big Boost Fibre Gel. If I’m going out, I like to wear Chanel lipstick in a hard-core vampy red, like the shade 57 Rouge Feu, with a gloss. Or I have a Chanel brow product that I’ll put on my eyes quite heavily. All day long I wear Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. I was recently on a work trip to Atlanta and picked up a new flavor, Cucumber Mint. I use Byredo Vetyver Lotion on my body, and in the studio I have La Prairie Cellular Hand Cream to give my hands a bit of attention after I’ve done labor- intensive stuff.At night, I wash my face with water, and just before going to bed I put on Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil. I love the way it smells. For perfume, I’m currently wearing Byredo Blanche. I like the fresh cottony smell of that. My friends have this brand called Aeir and my boyfriend wears their Virgin Olive scent; another one we like is Grand Rose. He layers them. I’m a big bath person and I have this supernice oil from Susanne Kaufman. I smell delicious afterward and my skin is so nourished. My favorite scent in the whole world is mimosa. When I can’t get that smell from the flower itself, I like to burn Diptyque’s candle. I also have this maple syrup candle that is insanely good. A lot of wintry smells are spicy and this doesn’t have that at all — it’s still fresh.Stay HereA 17th-Century Palace Turned Serene Small Hotel in Palma, MajorcaThe lounge, and behind it the open kitchen, at Portella, a 17th-century palace that’s been transformed into a 14-room hotel in Palma, Majorca.Bárbara VidalMajorca’s creative renaissance might be easiest to access in its capital, the city of Palma, a short direct flight from European cities like London and Paris. Ambitious restaurants, world-class galleries and independent boutiques are tucked between Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture and, in the last decade or so, several historic palazzos have been transformed into exceptional boutique hotels. The latest is Portella, a 14-room property opened this week by the brother-and-sister team Enrique and Inés Miró-Sans (she previously launched Casa Bonay, a fashionable hotel in Barcelona) and designed by the Paris-based design duo Festen. Hugo Sauzay, a co-founder of Festen along with his partner, Charlotte de Tonnac, says the couple intended to create “an oasis of calm and green in the city.” They drew on the history of the 17th-century palazzo, which is near Palma’s 11th-century Arab baths. Ten of the bedrooms include a small kitchen, but otherwise each is unique. One has a Joan Miró lithograph hanging over a long, cobalt blue couch surrounded by vintage Moroccan chairs. De Tonnac and Sauzay worked with local artisans such as the heritage glass company Gordiola to create a number of bespoke pieces. Visitors can spend time in the larger open kitchen on the ground floor or in the leafy courtyard, both closed to the general public. “We want guests to feel like it’s their home,” says Inés Miró-Sans, “but the most idealistic and indulgent version of one.” From about $320 a night, portellapalma.com.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More