additional mayonnaise

All the corporate controversy at The Ordinary has caused a lot of stress in my skincare group chat lately. We all love The Ordinary (I’ve placed five orders since August and am dangerously close to my sixth), and are terrified the company will implode. The only solution seems to be to stock up ASAP. Here are the things I can’t live without (hyperbole not intended):

Niacinamide + Zinc - If you are fighting acne and can only buy one product, get this. I apply twice daily and it does an amazing job of preventing zits from forming, instead of leaving my scrambling for every spot treatment once a confidence-killing pimple is already blooming. It also doesn’t try out my skin the way salicylic acid does.

Plant-Derived Squalene - I’ve been wearing this oil under my moisturizer for an extra layer of hydration all winter long. As someone with combination skin, I was nervous that a heavy oil would cause breakouts, but it didn’t. It’s been a lifesaver and the single best antidote to wind-chapped winter skin. Since it’s April 2 and snowing, I’ll probably keep up with this through memorial day. PS hyaluronic acid doesn’t do much for me but this shit does.

My Sephora wish list

Is it just me, or is everything on the whole internet sold out all the time? Since “drops” became the preferred mode of retail, the physical objects I desire seem to appear and disappear faster than I can consult my budget spreadsheet. While my credit card is thanking me, it’s honestly really frustrating to fall victim to influencer marketing and the not actually be able to *buy* the product in question.

First on my list is the Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30. I have pretty consistent redness around my nose, which I usually hide with concealer, but it would be nice to actually treat the issue and not feel guilty when I skip separate SPF. I initially read about this product line on Into The Gloss, and all of a sudden it seems like it’s everywhere. Note: of course the larger size is in stock for a cool $52, and I know I can return it if I don’t like it, but I’m just not ready for that level of commitment.

A month or so ago, it seemed like every beauty editor I follow on Instagram was on an Ole Henriksen press trip at Amangiri, site of my ultimate dream holiday for many years. Since then, the Banana Bright Eye Creme has been included in a bunch of product roundups, and it’s stayed at the top of my iphone note wish list. Whenever I’ve used eye cream before I’ve been up milia and down any tangible brightening or plumping, but I have confidence that this one will come through.

Dreaming of redecorating my living room

Hamilton Sofa, West Elm

Gold And Marble Leilani Tulip Dining Table, World Market

Mid Century Josef Hoffmann 811 Prague Chairs by Thonet, Home Union

Adrian Rug, Revival Rugs

Like everyone else in the world right now, I’m obsessed with Kate Young’s styling for Selena Gomez. Sadly, the wrap dress is vintage, the top (from Alexa Chung’s new clothing line) is $370, and the orange slides are $475. 

Hear me out – the Costco beauty section is one of my favorite places to shop. There are discounts on luxury products (think SKII essence, Lancome serum, Natura Bisse moisturizer), and random things you’ve never heard of before. Costco also has an amazing return policy – you can basically return anything, even if it’s used/broken/you’ve had it for five years, and you don’t need to save receipts. 

I always thought conditioner was one of those products that didn’t really matter as long as you used something. I’ve tried a million different ones, and the fancy, high-end products never made my hair look any better than the drugstore brands. I was previously using a different conditioner from Costco, but decided to try this one from Eva NYC because it’s $6.99 for a 34 oz. bottle, which is a quarter of the price-per-ounce of Neutrogena conditioner on walgreens.com. 

After only one wash, I noticed a huge difference in my hair. It was smoother, less frizzy, and softer than it’s ever been. I have fine but thick hair that is very long, dry towards the ends and prone to frizziness. I prefer air drying my hair because it takes too long to blow dry and style, and had pretty much accepted that my hair was my hair, and I was stuck with it. The Eva NYC conditioner gives me a much nicer air-dried texture, and I’m actually wearing my hair down, which is a rarity for me. Usually, my air-dried hair is pretty puffy and verges on triangular, especially on the days I shampoo. 

After I had such great success with the conditioner, I went back and researched the brand a little bit. All the products I looked at were super affordably priced and have great reviews. I just bought the Hungry Hair Oil and can’t wait to try. 

I’m not even a perfume person and I’m in love with this scent

There’s a collection of cast-off beauty products in the ladies restroom at my office, mostly hand lotions and stuff someone bought at a Bath & Body Works sale. None of it usually piques my interest any more than the industrial hand soap. 

A few weeks ago, I noticed this Fresh perfume among the glittery plastic labels and had to try. The name Cannabis Rose seemed totally at odds with that would usually end up the bathroom of my ultra-conservative office, so naturally I spritzed away. When first applied, the scent is a little sour, but it quickly settles into a sexy, musky smell with a rosy undertone. The rose isn’t the synthetic floral scent I would usually associate with a perfume; it actually smells like a rose, which is a little more complex and layered and not so sweet. 

Usually, perfume is my least favorite cosmetic. I have several beautiful perfumes sitting on my bathroom shelf -- they’ve been there for years and they’re three-quarters full. There are just so many perfumes on the market, and they mostly smell pretty good, but I’ve never had that “you’re the one for me” feeling until now. 

File under “things I would buy if I didn’t have to pay the rent” (which is also a stellar newsletter from Anna Gray)

To deal with the hot outside but freezing inside New York summer - Black & White Striped Off the Shoulder Top from The Frankie Shop

To hide a hangover - Luxury Wig sunglasses from Raen

To alter into a knee-length bed jacket and wear open over jeans - Vintage Silk Kimono from Etsy

To wear to work when I just don’t feel like making an effort - The Kick Flare Pant from American Giant 

To wear with everything - Chloe Top from Brandy Melville 

To fill the denim hole in my closet because I got rid of all my skinny jeans - Classic Indigo Slim Legion Pant from Rachel Comey

My top picks from Reformation... 

Casablanca Top

Ace Top

I previously mentioned wanting to try Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer Rich, and you can stop reading now because it’s that good. Just go buy it. 

I’m about to order my third tub of a moisturizer that categorizes itself as heavy when it’s 43 days from the official first day of summer. That didn’t sound as dramatic as I wanted it to because summer is still pretty far away and its 50 degrees in New York, but whatever. 

Zara picks I can’t get out of my head.. 

Skirt