I thought this would be an interesting rubric for sharing some of my absolute favorite purchases over the past few years with you: which products do I urgently text my sisters about? Amidst pictures of Josh Hartnett (our curious sisterly obsession), stirring and provocative articles, inside jokes, and check-ins, you will nearly always find me evangelizing on account of some product or other.
I am certain I have mentioned all of these across the blog at some point, but here they are, in shortlist form:
THE BEST BRA (WORTH INVESTMENT)
INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO HANKY PANKIES (MY SISTERS AND I OTHERWISE RELY ON THE PAIRS MY MOM STUFFS IN OUR STOCKINGS EACH YEAR — HA!)
HARNEY AND SONS SOBA TEA (WELL, MY SISTER RECOMMENDED THIS TO ME FIRST AND I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT NOW)
KINDLE PAPERWHITE (CHANGED MY LIFE)
ARTIS ELITE MIRROR OVAL BRUSH (HOLY COW, THIS IS AMAZING — I THINK I’VE BEEN APPLYING TINTED MOISTURIZER WRONG MY WHOLE LIFE)
DAVEK MINI UMBRELLA (SO LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMPACT, YET SO STURDY)
LONG IPHONE CHARGING CABLE (I WAITED WAY TOO LONG TO BUY ONE OF THESE — I LOVE THAT I CAN ROLL AROUND IN BED WITH MY PHONE CHARGING WHEN USING IT)
SPEAKING OF CHARGING – THIS CUBE POWER STRIP, WHICH SITS ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE AND IS SUCH A DELIGHT FOR EASILY UNPLUGGING/PLUGGING THINGS
THE ABSOLUTE BEST MASK FOR GLOWING SKIN (LEAVE ON OVERNIGHT)
COMPRESSION CUBES WHEN SPACE IS AN ISSUE; CLEAR PACKING CUBES FOR EVERYTHING ELSE
NONE HAVE HAD A C-SECTION, BUT I WOULD SEND THEM A PACK OF THESE POSTPARTUM UNDERWEAR (SO SOFT AND BLESSEDLY HIGH-WAIST) AND A PRETTY STEPSTOOL FOR GETTING INTO AND OUT OF BED
BABY BJORN MINI FOR ITTY BITTIES
WEEZIE SHORT ROBE AND MAKEUP TOWELS
HHH NAP DRESS (THESE ARE SO COMFORTABLE – I WAS WORRIED THE SMOCKING/CINCHING WOULD BE ITCHY BUT IT IS SO, SO SOFT AND THE FABRICS JUST GORGEOUS)
GLYCOLIX ELITE 15% TREATMENT PADS
ANY OF THESE BOOKS AND THE BEST CONTEMPORARY BOOK I’VE READ THIS DECADE (…?!)
J. CREW BLACK ELSIE PUMPS (<<ON SALE HERE) — THE PERFECT HEIGHT, THE PERFECT POINTED TOE, IN TIMELESS BLACK SUEDE YES YES YES
I’m sure I’ll think of others…
What else have you urgently texted your sisters (or girlfriends) about?!
P.S. On the topic of sisterhood: this series of 40 portraits of sisters taken together every year for 40 years was moving and beautiful and I’m totally in love with stylish sisters Shelcy and Christy.
P.P.S. Currently in my shopping cart: this belt, these Nicholas Kirkwood sandals, this breezy day dress, one of these totes with my initials on the side, and this happy cocktail dress.
P.P.P.S. On siblinghood.
I use SuperGoop Glow SPF 40 all over my face mixed with Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi. This has been my go-to all spring/summer as my foundation.
During the winter months I use Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. (Nordstrom or Blue Mercury)
I also use Cle de Peau Beauté Concealer Broad Spectrum 25 when I want have a little bit more coverage for those those dark circles. (Nordstrom)
I like Ilia Illuminator in Polka Dots & Moonbeams as my highlighter (Sephora).
xx
Oo thanks for all of these recs!!!
Nancy,
I think a product with retinol is probably your best bet. I think the banana eye cream is good for fine lines, and hydration. The ROC or the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle repair eye cream might be a better fit for dark circles. Both products are under $20.
Nothing glamorous, but the “Original Stretchlace” shoelaces have been a gamechanger for me as a new(ish) mom. They’re available on Amazon and you can get them in different colors and lengths for your sneakers. I never have to tie and untie my laces now! Great quality — mine have not lost their stretch despite 2-ish years of frequent use.
I also love spreading the word about Biossance (squalane rose oil, retinol) and Farmacy products (Clean Bee cleanser, Deep Sweep toner, Green Defense sunscreen are my faves). And Follain (the website and product line)!
MZ Wallace metro tote and backpack!
Baggu reusable bags and “3d zip pouches” to organize everything in my bag, since I don’t like my pouches to add to the overall weight — these weigh next to nothing.
I try not to purchase single-function kitchen items as we have a small kitchen, but I make the exception for the Colonel Popper silicone microwave popcorn popper. It has been an absolute delight especially during shelter in place. I’ve always preferred making popcorn at home, and had to bring out the big heavy pot. I love that the Colonel Popper is collapsible for storage (and on that note, I love collapsible everything — colander, salad spinner etc). It just takes 3 minutes in the microwave now, and I love to add olive oil, grated parmesan, dried parsley, salt and pepper at the end (or pecorino romano for a “cacio e pepe” flavor).
Aveda hand cream or L’Occitane shea butter hand cream.
Yes to the kindle paperwhite and long charging cables!
Ooh, those Baggu 3D pouches caught my eye. I have so many pouches but still find a need for additional ones. I used the MZ Wallace pouches that come with the totes/backpacks on this recent trip to keep one stocked with all sunscreen and bug spray and the other with first aid stuff. So handy because they are similarly weightless and the fact that they are different colors made it easy to quickly grab the right one. I think I’d like these Baggu ones for my bulkier cosmetics — there are always a few things (like my face pads, brush, etc) that just don’t fit in my cosmetics bags and so they just float outside. Perfect. Thank you!
I did not know about the Colonel Popper but am intrigued because Emory LOVES popcorn and I’ve done a few special movie showings where we serve popcorn and make it a special treat. I want that cacio e pepe popcorn!!
Can you elaborate on the mirror oval brush??
Hi Hannah – YES! Will do a more complete review in an upcoming post BUT I am so obsessed with these oval brushes. I can’t even tell you how much product I was losing/wiping off my face by applying with my hands or even with a beauty blender. It’s astounding how much further these brushes make your cosmetics go. They do not absorb any product and blend the product into the skin so perfectly — I am just astounded. I had assumed the bristles would leave little track marks on my skin but they don’t — they somehow just blend it in. The trick is using short, swift brush strokes rather than swirling/patting. I use this daily, which is saying a lot because I really hate having to add new steps to my regimen, and this feels like YET ANOTHER thing to introduce, whereas applying with fingers is so much faster. Anyway, totally worth the small addition.
xx
Frankly LA MER eye cream is the best, but if that is too expensive, OLE HENRIKSON Banana Bright eye cream is also very good, as is ROC Retinol correcting eye cream.
Hi Mimi- Yes unfortunately LaMer is out of my price range. Do you think the Banana Bright would help with volume loss in the lower orbit area? Any ideas of how this one compares to the ROC? I have not used either. Thanks,
Thanks Mom!
Agreed on so many of these products (likely because you introduced me to them in the first place!) I would add Drunk Elephant d-Bronzi drops to this list.
Also, I found a couple of mattifying moisturizers to try — LRP Effaclar Mat, which I like so far, and Glossier’s new Priming Moisturizer Balance, which is en route to me. 🙂
Finally, given the current crisis, I’d add my favorite face masks from Le Lion and Clare V! The Clare V ones are perfect for kids & petite adults, but the Le Lions are my favorite (nose grip, generous size, lightweight for summer, and what can be better than a Liberty print?!)
xx
Hi MK – So funny you mention Drunk Elephant because I just spent a week with my sister and she is their greatest advocate. She literally owns every product they make. Intrigued by the Bronzi drops. Thanks also for the mask recs! Didn’t know about Clare V. Looking into it immediately.
xx
OK update – literally just went to the Clare V site and bought one of their masks because of you. Thank you! I was enticed by your comment that they fit “kids and petite adults.” So many of the ones with the elasticized loops are way too big for me! Thanks!
Oh, yay, you’ll have to let me know how you like it! I’m the opposite — I like the ones with elasticized loops best — but these are the ones I have: https://www.clarev.com/products/bisous-face-mask-assorted-4-pack
The ties get a little annoying unless I have my hair up (it’s easiest to position the ties above & below a bun or pony) but I guess I can try tying them into loops to wear behind my ears as well! That’s an idea…
xx
Will explore. The ties do sound tedious but I’m game. So cute! Thanks!
Thank you so much for the foot cream recommendation! I purchased a tube for my husband and oh my goodness, what a game changer! His feet look so much better so thank you, thank you, thank you!
YAY!!! Miracle worker. xx
Good Morning – I hope its not too late for me (late 50s) to start eye cream…I have volume loss which looks like dark circles. Use a good concealer but its not not enough…need to treat the problem itself. Recommendations please (from your mom or readers my age) of products they have used and saw results. Maybe I am incorrect on this but guessing what helps someone in their 30s is not “enough” for me. Love todays post…so fun to read and discover new “must haves”. So glad you were able to get out of the city and have fun with your family.
Another 50+ reader. I have been taking HUM Wingman Supplements (sold online at Sephora) for under eye dark circles and use Naturopathica Vitamin K Brightening Serum as my daily eye cream (sold at Follain or Derm Store).
Also loving the Revlon One Step Dryer, Shiseido Facial Clothes and Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi (add it to SuperGoop Glow SPF 40).
Thanks, KC! Do you apply the Supergoop Glowscreen all over your face or just use it as a highlighter?
xx
Hi Nancy! So glad you enjoyed this post and thanks for the well wishes. We had a great time getting out of the city 🙂 I’m going to let others comment on the eye cream question, or maybe I’ll pose it in a new blog post soon to solicit some new suggestions. xx