Savannah Chess

Barcelona-based fashion and beauty writer. Grad student at Global Business School Barcelona.

My Recent Work

Renée Rouleau Skin Care •

Does Tea Tree Oil Really Help with Acne? Here’s How We Tested It

Originating in Australia, but now found in parts of India, New Zealand, and China, tea tree oil has an illustrious history in medicine and beauty. A result of steam-distilling tea tree leaves, this ingredient is known for its versatility across skincare. In fact, long before we learned how to extract tea tree oil, the aboriginal people of Australia used tea tree leaves to treat bruises, skin infections, wounds, and insect bites.

Much like other plant-based compounds, such as willow bark, chamomile extract, and witch hazel, there are a lot of studies backing tea tree oil as helpful for acne-prone skin. Derived from the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia, tea tree oil has three important features that make it beneficial for skin: it is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and it can work as a solvent to help break up buildups of dirt, oil, or debris clogging the pores.
Renée Rouleau Skin Care •

Is Your Skin Getting Burned From Your Vitamin C Serum?

Vitamin C, when used topically in a serum, is widely acclaimed as one of the best ingredients for brightening skin, boosting collagen production, and protecting skin against environmental damage. It’s so popular that even at the 2024 Medical Spa Show that I attended, vitamin C was a huge topic of conversation. However, not everyone is as positive about it as you may think. Whether you’re an esthetician, dermatologist, or just a skincare enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of one major downfall when it comes to this ingredient: the vitamin C acid burn.
Renee Rouleau Skincare Blog •

Why Your Sunscreen Is Pilling (And How To Prevent It)

Clean face? Check! Favorite Serums? Check! Daily application of sunscreen… and wait, what are those white blobs? We all know that wearing sunscreen is a must at this point, so it’s not too surprising if some of you have started to notice small white blobs, or “pills,” occasionally forming after application. At the bare minimum, pilling is a waste of product, but it’s generally pretty frustrating as well. When something so integral to your daily routine causes such an unattractive result, it leav...
Renee Rouleau Skincare Blog •

How This Esthetician Achieves Glowy Skin With 'Less is More'

What started as a Korean beauty trend now reigns as one of the buzziest trends of 2023. You may have heard it called glass skin, glazed donut skin, jello skin, or some other dewy-sounding variation, but it all focuses on one main goal: glowy skin with a natural-looking gleam. Korean Beauty was the catalyst for this movement, known for its thoughtful skincare routines and an almost ethereal glow. But with audiences across the globe sharing their how-to’s, tips, tricks, and DIYs on social media, t...
Slay Away •

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS Review – Wake Up and Take Control

Savannah Chess says Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a stunning and classic science-fiction horror film that will open your eyes in more ways than one.

Based on the novel The Body Snatchers and a remake of the 1956 film, director Philip Kaufman creates a successful rendition of the importance of individuality in his sci-fi horror Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978). Starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, and Jeff Goldblum, this film brings back the horror of parasitic pods, sleep deprivat
Slay Away •

VIVARIUM and the Horrors of Suburbia Provide a Bleak Outlook on the American Dream

Savannah Chess says Lorcan Finnegan splits from typical suburban horror to bring us a film more focused on psychological scares and societal pressures.

Trapped somewhere between heaven and hell, Lorcan Finnegan’s science fiction thriller Vivarium brings a fresh perspective to suburban horror. A popular backdrop for horror films, the suburbs have become a common setting for masked killers and supernatural entities to take hold. However, writers Finnegan and Garret Shanley chose to take a differe
Slay Away •

VIVARIUM Review – A Fresh Spin On Suburban Horror

Savannah Chess discusses how Vivarium depicts suburbia, children, marriage, and the horrific trap of it all.

Many view the American suburbs as a utopia between the bustling city and the tranquil countryside. Co-writer and director Lorcan Finnegan and writer Garret Shanley reveal the true horrors behind those picket fences in the science fiction mystery Vivarium. Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots, the story boasts captivating visuals and a unique spin on suburban horror tropes.
Slay Away •

OFFSEASON Review – Aquatic Demons, Sinister Townies, and an Island to Remove From Travel Itineraries

Savannah Chess says Off Season is the journey of a grieving daughter facing the demons of her late-mothers past in this atmospheric horror film.

As eerie as the empty streets and bleak weather of a beach town during its off-season, writer and director Mickey Keating successfully depicts the horrors of this secluded island with a dark past in Offseason. The Shudder exclusive stars Jocelin Donahue, Joe Swanberg, and Melora Walters in a Lovecraftian horror story with somewhat rocky dialogue. Howev
Slay Away •

GOOD MADAM Review – Reclaiming and a Character Driven Exploration of Post-Apartheid South Africa

Savannah Chess says Good Madam is a socially conscious horror film illustrating colonialism's problematic past and present.

Jenna Cato Bass and Babalwa Baartman explore the genuine horrors of post-apartheid life in the South African Shudder Original, Good Madam. The film was co-written with star Chumisa Cosa, and the entire cast has been credited for the script, making it a hugely collaborative effort. The narrative delves into themes of reclaiming and the racial and economic tensions still pre