Tag: skincare

Week Links [22 February]

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

Good morning, America! I can’t tell if COVID Mondays are worse (because the proverbial weekend will never come) or easier because they’re hardly different from any other day. I wish I had anything interesting to report, but I sat around knitting and bingeing Gossip Girl all weekend so I’m even boring myself. The weather where I live is going to inch into the 40s and 50s this week, which may sound horrible to people in most climates, but in New England? It’s a mitzvah after a cold and snowy winter.

Stay warm, stay safe, and as King Diamond would say, stay heavy!

megan on the season premiere of snl
  1. SNL may never top this sketch. She’s got a healthy belt! Rick Beato’s reaction to “drivers license” made me feel extremely justified in my opinion that this song is perfect.
  2. My favorite sweater is on sale. I have it in 2 colors.
  3. Megan Thee Stallion showed her nighttime skincare routine on Instagram and I didn’t think it was possible for me to love her more than I already do.
  4. I just found out that Jenna Lyons has a show and I may need to reconsider my disdain for all reality-based television series.
  5. I bought this bag bundle during their 25% off Valentine’s Day sale because I’m obsessed with jinxing myself. I am truly like two purchases away from becoming a Victorian ghost, haunting the moors while my soul is trapped between earth and the afterworld.
  6. You do have to laugh.
  7. Excited to try these non-alcoholic cocktails.
  8. I caved. In my defense, it took almost a year to get me to crack. And yes, I had a coupon code.
  9. There is no one I stan harder than Deb from Smitten Kitchen, so when I was on a cooking tear on Saturday, I made this macaroni & cheese and these brownies. I slightly burned the brownies because I got distracted after turning the timer off (never do this if you have ADHD!), but overall my kitchen was the place to be this weekend. Don’t worry—I served roasted broccoli to balance out the utter lack of nutritional value.
  10. I just started using this toothbrush. I’ve been using their flat body scrubber for ages, having received it in a subscription box. Loving this anti-microbial eco option! I’m a really vigorous brusher, so I’m skeptical of any toothbrush that boasts a replacement head (quip utterly failed me), but these are actually up to the task! And the best part is that they only need to be replaced twice a year and are recyclable.
  11. I might get a few of these to brighten up a room I’m redecorating. Definitely a different style for me! This one isn’t as much my taste, but goes perfectly with the color scheme.

Week Links [5 July]

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

Good morning! I’ve made an extremely controversial decision and started writing the date the British way, because (I capitulate) it makes more sense and is more aesthetically pleasing. This, from the same woman who changed her iPhone to 24-hour time in England and was perpetually confused for 3 weeks. Don’t worry, I’m not conceding in the aluminum vs. aluminium debate. Also, what a fuck-you thing to do on “Independence Day” weekend, innit?

Anyway, it’s been a big week for culture, so let’s get to it:

oh the cleverness of you — Adele Dazeem™ at the 92nd Academy ...

    1. The most important thing that has ever happened in my entire life happened this week, and it’s the TRILOGY of Las Culturistas‘ “Top 200 Moments in Culture History.” It has moved me. It has shaped me. I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I gasped.
    2. Miel’s album is coming out on 22 July and we simply have to stan! Her new single, “Must Be Fine” is avail to stream on Spotify right now!
    3. The last thing I need is an excuse to drink, but I love a lemon drop.
    4. I finally got the crossbody of my dreams for a ridiculous price. Call me basic all you want, but it’s a classic MJ shape. One day I will have the finances to justify a full-price, current season, actual Marc Jacobs bag, but today is not that day. Okay okay okay, maybe I also got this one too, but literally how could I not at that price??
    5. I got this moisturizer in my Causebox and I really like it. It’s super lightweight, smells great, and has SPF 30. I also got this serum, which I haven’t tried yet, but apparently I’m supposed to be using hyaluronic acid all the time now? All of my products seem to have it. I guess 28 is old in skincare years.
    6. Currently binge-eating these lentil chips, and concerned about the subscription option…quitting wheat (based on my Everlywell results) has been a journey!
    7. Please don’t judge me for the particular retailer, but I may have gotten this case set for my new MacBook, and this ergonomic mousepad set for my work computer. Between the computer, my phone case, and my ribcage tattoo, I am way, way too on brand. Perhaps next is just blowing this print up and hanging it in my office?
    8. Love these earrings from TalkUniqueDesigns on Etsy.
    9. I read The Cactus by Sarah Haywood this week and in spite of myself, really liked it. The Eleanor Oliphant comparison is apt; they both have wildly unlikable protagonists. Like, truly, awful people you’d never want to be around. I will say, I think Susan’s about-face is a tad abrupt (I know motherhood is a moment, but like, probably try therapy instead of having a baby).
    10. We finally set up our AppleTV (and by we, I mean my husband bought it off a friend over a year ago and it sat unused in his office, until I got frustrated attempting to screen mirror with our TV on Friday and set it up), so we will be using that to watch Hamilton on Disney+ (which we have a year free trial of through our mobile provider).
    11. Speaking of D+, anyone else just counting down the minutes until Black Is King?
    12. Save Stereogum.

au revoir, les enfants

-c

Sunday Scaries: Father’s Day, I Guess?

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

Morning! From the title, it may seem like I’m ambivalent about my father (hardly the case), but I am deeply ambivalent about “Hallmark holidays,” because I am a joyless person. Mother’s/Father’s Day just feels like a marketing scheme for bougie brunch places, my favorite of all the places that I’d prefer not be clogged with toddlers while I’m trying to enjoy my mimosa. See? Joyless! And now I’ve made myself crave a mimosa, though I have neither orange juice nor sparkling wine. Chardonnay and lemonade? Y/N? (I’m writing this on Saturday morning, so it’s not out of the question that I may nip off to the store.)

Speaking of the store, I still haven’t returned to grocery shopping, but I plan to resume in the very near future. I have gone to Target briefly a couple of times. I hate wearing the mask—it gives me so much anxiety and for some reason, I clench my jaw really tightly underneath. Is that a thing? But obviously, as I’m not a MORON WHO DOESN’T CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, I rock a mask 100% of the time I’m out in public. Which brings me to my next gripe:

People BE going to restaurants with outdoor seating and not wearing masks! What the actual hell? I have been isolated in my house for 100 days! Do you know how emotionally difficult that is for someone with depression? I’m simultaneously living my best and worst lives, missing my friends and family, for what? So that a few absolute knobs can cause a spike in infections that keeps us home until I’m in my mid-thirties? Absolutely not! I haven’t been able to get my teeth cleaned or my glasses prescription updated, but you can have fried clams overlooking the beach? Please eject yourselves into the sea.

Have I complained sufficiently? Haha, it feels good to be back on this, my public private place to talk to myself.

Screen Shot 2020-06-20 at 12.55.34 PM
source: printsandgiggles on etsy

  1. This piece about self-love by Aisha Mirza is really moving.
  2. Eric Andre’s new special drops Tuesday and I couldn’t be more excited. If you want a teaser, check him out on Good One: A Podcast About Jokes.
  3. This leather goods shop on Etsy is magical. Please give me one of everything, and please do not lecture me about the ethics of leather.
  4. I might actually die without a pair of hammered hoops from The Pink Locket!
  5. I found SPF 110, baby! I didn’t even know they made SPF higher than 100, but I was rewarded for my diligence! The sun can actually try to burn me! I’m using this face sunscreen, this body sunscreen, and this SPF 50 daily moisturizer.
  6. Speaking of my delicate skin, unable as it is to produce melanin, I have given myself over to the gods of Curology. A friend recommended it to me, as my prior attempts at skincare consisted of occasionally using an oil cleanser and forgetting to take my eye makeup off at night. It’s only been three days, so I’m not seeing a visible difference, but my skin feels really soft and I’ve actually started to maintain a nightly skincare ritual, which is a small miracle.
  7. Speaking of custom products designed specifically for me, I also caved and ordered Prose. I heat process my hair twice a week (or so) to varying degrees, I dye it, and my hair is naturally very curly and dry, so I’m giving actually taking care of it a go. I went all in and ordered the oil too, because why not? I truly can’t believe it took until I started going gray for me to actually give a shit about taking care of my hair, but there’s no sense in dwelling on the past.
  8. I have tentatively begun home workouts. I have a legitimate phobia of exercise or movement generally (I legitimately talk about this in therapy, it’s a long story). I have sobbed in gym parking lots, unable to walk in. I successfully completed this video without having a panic attack, so I’m going to see what else Miss Adriene has to offer. I’d really like to check out some body-positive yogis, so plz lemme know whomst to Google. I’m not averse to a paywall!
  9. Gonna have to purchase that one.
  10. Even though it’s 14,000 degrees out, I was in the mood for a really big Cab the other day, so I tried out Bread & Butter‘s. When I drink reds, I tend to like them less bold, like Pinot Noirs, but I began my wine journey as a Cab girl and I’ve gotta honor my roots! Also, we’re chilling our red wines, right? The hill I will die on is that we all drink whites too cold and reds way too warm.
  11. We finally bought *actually good* Bluetooth speakers and it has been a game changer. We got this one for me (super portable!) and this one for our house. In addition to awesome sound quality, they’re such fun pops of color against our mostly black-and-white decor. And big bonus, they have a “party mode,” so you can play music from both of them at the same time. Surround-sound!
  12. I’ve been on something of a health journey lately; without going into too much detail, I’m trying to be more mindful about food and making sure I’m actually nourished. I customized a May Designs notebook to keep track of my meals, water intake, and, yes, exercise. It’s super cute, and I feel like it will be something I keep reordering.
  13. And of course, last but not least, a tribute to all the dads out there.

My Favorite Beauty Brands

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

2019 is the year I get into makeup, baby! I mean, I’ve been saying that for ages, but now that I’m almost 30 (haven’t even hit 27.5, I’m just dramatic), I feel like skincare and makeup are suddenly important. I’ve always been one for mascara and lipstick, but I’m not sure I knew what a serum was until, like, yesterday. Getting a beauty box subscription helped me branch out and try a bunch of new things. These are some of my new faves!

Glossier

I’m sorry (I’m not sorry). I know this is such an eye-roll-y brand to be into, but fuck if I don’t love their products. Glossier rocks. It’s a great price point, and I have yet to be disappointed in a single product. Little by little, my entire cabinet is being taken over. I have the Perfecting Skin Tint, Zit Stick, Stretch Concealer, Boy Brow, Super Bounce Serum, Solution, and I’m getting Glossier You (the solid and the spray) soon (it smells so freaking good). In addition to selling kick-ass products, their packaging game is so strong. The pink pouch has become iconic, and they always add some fun stickers.

BITE Beauty

I’ve been #blessed to receive a bunch of BITE products as free samples with cosmetics and in my FabFitFun box (that will come up quite a bit in this post). I have their Amuse Bouche lipstick in Meringue & Chai, two Matte Creme Lip Crayons, a Lip Pencil, and a set of Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipsticks! Needless to say, I’m a super fan.

PÜR, Be Your Selfie eyeshadow palette

Thus far I’m loving this palette that I got in my FabFitFun winter box. It’s a bunch of great neutrals with just enough sparkle for the holidays. I love it so much that I look forward to checking out what else the brand has to offer!

Too Faced

I’m new to Too Faced (I got their Melted Matte lipstick in Queen B as a sample), but I just snagged their Better Than Sex mascara in full- and mini-sized. I can’t wait to try it out. If their mascara is half as good as their lip products, I’m in good hands!

Juice Beauty

This one’s hardly a surprise—Juice Beauty is a pretty popular favorite beauty brand. I’ve used a bunch of Juice samples (thanks to my awesome friend, Gilly, who hipped me to the skincare game), but I’ve never actually owned a full-sized product until this season’s FabFitFun box (I added it on for a fraction of the retail cost).

HAN

HAN’s cheek and lip tint is possibly my favorite product ever. It’s super versatile (and clean!) and I use it almost every day. If you blend it, it’s such a subtle touch of color. I also have their eyeshadow in either Golden Glow or Chocolate Bronze (forgive me, I’m away from my arsenal of goodies). It’s super pigmented and perfectly shimmery.

OSEA

OSEA is a skincare and wellness brand that uses bioavailable organic seaweed in it’s nontoxic formulas! If you’re not obsessed already, I can personally vouch for the Essential Hydrating Oil, which I got in my Oui Fresh box. Plus, it smells amazing! Take their skincare quiz here!

Johnny Concert

Vegan. Cruelty-free. Amazing. I have their eyeshadow in a super-bright platinum white (I think it’s Skull? It came in the October Oui Fresh box.) Typically this whole aesthetic (the Kat Von D thing, Suicide Girls, fetlife.com, lol) makes me puke, but this makeup is actually pretty legit. I’m looking to make sure everything in my life is cruelty-free (except my Madewell bags, don’t @ me), so I dig any brand that’s committed to this. Plus, most eyeshadow is honestly garbage, so finding an awesome, pigmented one is a clear sign from the cosmos that a brand is good.

e.l.f. cosmetics

Yeah, that’s right. The stuff you can buy at CVS. It’s good! And it’s so GOSH DARN CHEAP. e.l.f. is my starting point for trying anything new and adventurous. Remember when gel eyeliner was a thing? My first ever primer was from e.l.f. All of my makeup brushes are e.l.f. (why pay more than $3 for something I barely know how to use?). When you’re a makeup neophyte, it feels good to be able to try out a trend for a few dollars rather than investing, say $20 in a Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (which, incidentally, rules, but she is an anti-vaxxer, so…) Pro tip: check out their actual website—there’s a way bigger selection there than at your local Target.

Pacifica

I’ve used a lot of Pacifica products before (I love their nail polish!). The Kale Detox face wash is excellent, their spray sunscreen is amazing for the price point, and their Aquarian Gaze mascara does the trick in a pinch (I’m still looking for a clean mascara that performs as well as conventional). As mentioned before, I love a brand that is vegan and cruelty-free, and this one is available at Target! They also have a fragrance line, if that’s what you’re into!

Thrive Causemetics

Another FabFitFun find! In this season’s box, I got a Brilliant Eye Brightener, and I absolutely love it! I suffer from the very serious ailment of dark circles, so anything that helps add some brightness to my dead-eyed stare is a huge plus. I love highlighting under my brows and in the corners of my eyes! It’s adds a tiny bit of shimmer to my usual mascara-and-lipstick only look.

Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever is a Parisian brand (I don’t think anyone’s surprised that I’m a Francophile) that I just discovered by a mild Sephora spree. I snagged this super fun eyeshadow palette that I can’t wait to use for all my holiday events! I’ve never really branched out with eyeshadow before, so it should be a trip!

Stay tuned for another roundup!