With Covid and the inauguration (and the ensuing chaos of executive orders) happening in January, I definitely looked for joy wherever I could. Sometimes, that took the form of retail therapy. So some of last month’s favorites are little things I picked up as a treat, and others are things that I’ve been testing out in my routine for a bit but how now earned a permanent place.
Clinique Black Honey Lip Gloss
Clinique’s “Almost Lipstick” in Black Honey has been one of my go-to’s for over a decade at this point. But I only recently learned they also have a lip gloss version. I am definitely more of a lip gloss person than a lipstick person – I just love the ease, and I always love a little shine on my lips. This gloss adds that shine and keeps the perfect subtle tint of the original Black Honey shade.
Scalp Comb
This is maybe a little bit gross, but honestly so cool at the same time. This comb collects dandruff / product build-up inside the little hollow tines… and then you press down the button at the top to get rid of it. It actually works, too, and it’s so satisfying to see what’s been collected. It’s a great way to get rid of product build up easily, and it’s under $10.
Boar Bristle Brush
Another hair product! I really, really want a Mason Pearson brush, but I’m not quite ready to make the investment. This brush is a much more affordable alternative, and has the mix of nylon and boar hair bristles that I’m looking for. Since my hair is super thick, the nylon bristles help actually make it through my hair, but the boar bristles help spread the oils from the roots of my hair so that it doesn’t look greasy. I’m really impressed.
Concert Ticket Charm
I finally gave my friend her Christmas/birthday gift, so I can show off the matching charms I got for me and her! It’s this little customizable concert ticket charm from Jet Set Candy. You can put in the actual information of a show you went to – the date, the concert name, even your seat numbers! I did it for the Eras Tour, of course, but it’d be such a cute gift to commemorate any event.
Glossier Black Cherry Balm Dotcom
I am very late on the Balm Dotcom hype, but it’s great. A tiny bit of red tint, and super thick and moisturizing, too. I was honestly surprised how thick it was when I first squeezed it out – it took a little effort from me! But it’s super nice and actually does soak into your lips, too. Definitely great for the cold air outside and dry air inside.
Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum
I have been looking for the perfect vitamin c serum for me for a while. The most standard formulation of vitamin c is tricky for me to use, because I have oily, breakout prone skin, and vitamin c can typically make that worse. But recently, they’ve come out with some new forms of it that are more stable and more gentle. I’ve been using this one from Drunk Elephant for a few months now and feel like my skin has been a lot more even overall.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Demon Copperhead was such a standout of the books I read last month – it not only lived up to the hype, but actually exceeded it. It’s a modern day retelling of David Copperfield set in Appalachia, and it’s incredibly heavy, but also incredibly moving and also funny at times. I’ve actually never read David Copperfield, but was still able to appreciate the story. The narrator, Demon, has such a unique voice and point-of-view – it was just a really, really powerful book.
Dermaflash Luxe+
I have wanted to try out dermaplaning at home for a while, but always kept hesitating for some reason or another. I picked up this Dermaflash Luxe+ during the Sephora Sale last fall, and have been using it once a week for over a month now. I am pretty obsessed with it – it really does get rid of my peach fuzz, and hasn’t irritated my skin at all. I’ll have a full review post later this month!
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