I’ve recently had occasion to re-stock some of the less glamorous categories of products in my life: cream for dry hands and feet, facial cotton, underwear, makeup setting powder, running socks and shoes, and the like. I love doing research into these seemingly boring purchases because — why not get the best or ferret out the secret wonderproduct with a cult following? Today, thought I’d share some of my latest finds in this category…
HAND CREAM: AESOP (A RETURNING FAVORITE OF MINE) AND NEW-TO-ME LANOLIPS HAND CREAM IN ROSE INTENSE
UNDERWEAR: PEOPLE SAY JO & BETTE’S OR FELINA ARE AS GOOD AS HANKY PANKY…BUT FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE
THE BEST BRA EVER (ON SALE IN SELECT COLORS HERE)
RUNNING SOCKS: TESTING WELL-HYPED BOMBAS AND FEETURES (THANKS TO ALL THE MAGPIES WHO WEIGHED IN ON THIS SUBJECT)
RUNNING SHOE: NIKE FLYKNIT EPIC REACT — WOULD LOVE TO TRY THESE BUT AM HAVING A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN IN A COLOR I LIKE IN MY SIZE
BOLL & BRANCH SPA BATH TOWELS — WE NEED MORE PLAIN WHITE TOWELS IN OUR LINEN CLOSET…WE HAVE RUINED A TON OF FANCY ONES BY LETTING OUR CHILDREN PAINT/EAT/ETC WITH THESE AROUND AND THESE GET GREAT REVIEWS
I SEEM TO HAVE MISPLACED MY BELOVED MASON PEARSON BRUSH AT SOME POINT IN THE LAST YEAR (IN THE MOVE?)…THEY ARE 25% OFF AT BLOOMIES IN A POCKET SIZE, BUT HAVE ALSO HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS LESS EXPENSIVE BRAND
NEW PAJAMAS: THIS BREEZY EILEEN WEST, THIS OR THIS SHORTS SET FROM LAKE, OR ANYTHING IN THE ROSE PRINT FROM POLKADOT
HAND WASH: RHUBARB AND ROSE FROM MOLTON BROWN IS MY LONGTIME FAVORITE; ALSO WANT TO TRY BYREDO
THE VERDICT IS IN: MUJI’S INEXPENSIVE FACIAL COTTON IS JUST AS SOFT AS MY LONG-STANDING FAVORITE SHISEIDO — FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE…THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THAT MUJI HAS A KIND OF NATURAL “GRAIN” TO IT THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE PAD IS “USED” BEFORE IT ACTUALLY IS
THIS “LIGHTING POWDER” IN THE ETHEREAL FINISH IS UNBELIEVABLE — COMPLETELY LIGHTS UP YOUR FACE
FOOT CREAM: LA ROCHE-POSAY — MY FEET ARE SO HORRIBLY DRY AND I NEED TO GET THEM INTO SHAPE WITH SANDAL SEASON AROUND THE CORNER
THESE CRACKERS IN THE CAYENNE PEPPER FLAVOR ARE SO, SO GOOD
HAVE BEEN LOVING ORIBE’S VOLUMIZING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS (SMELLS GREAT, AFFORDS HAIR MORE BODY AND LIFT)…BUT CURIOUS ABOUT THIS DETOX SHAMPOO FOR SUMMERTIME
Post-Scripts: Something for Everyone.
And, unrelated to the above, I field lot of inquiries for chic finds in the following categories, so thought I’d offer a round up more regularly…
MATERNITY: I wore a black dress like this (also love this scoopneck style) about every third day of my third trimester — so comfortable and so easy to style up or down. I love this brand and one of my favorite maternity/nursing dresses was from here. Also love this $28 jumpsuit in the black for the same reason. Pair with huge black shades and statement sandals/slides/flats.
NURSING: I wore this button-down Sleeper dress all the time while nursing Hill last summer, and it’s currently on sale! Also obsessing over this (might order for myself though I am NOT nursing) — the smocking and shoulder ties make access easy — and this button-down maxi in crisp white (ignore the weird styling on the site — this would look so Grace Kelly chic with brown leather slides).
UNDER $30: This weekend tee dress, which I’d wear with Golden Goose sneakers or leather sandals.
PLUS: This dress is beyond gorgeous (goes up to size 20) — love the print! — and this white dress is elegant but on-trend with those full sleeves and bracelet cuffs.
BRIDAL: Still love the Self-Portrait vibe, and this is a showstopper.
FORMAL: This is a TKO.
FUN TREND FIND: Legitimately dead over these $60 bow-topped mules. They remind me of my beloved Newbark sandals!
SPLURGE: Anything from Coco Shop!!! Dying over all of their dresses right now.
GIFT FOR THE GAL WITH EVERYTHING: Scalloped Liberty London napkins.
HOME: Stunning peony print stool and pretty mixing bowls.
BABY GIFT: Heirloom: stunning hand-embroidered pillow; practical: ultra-soft sleepsack.
P.S. My favorite beauty products here and my favorite affordable beauty products here.