Shitters!!! It feels like I’ve been sent every buzzy new SPF under the sun over the past few months, so I figured I would put them to the test and report back on what’s worth trying and buying!

To me, a good SPF needs to do a few things:

1. Provide solid protection*. Duh. Daily SPF use is the single most effective way to protect against skin cancer and premature signs of aging. I’m not a stickler for mineral vs. chemical, but I look for broad spectrum and at least SPF 30.

2. Blend easily with no white cast. It’s 2026—your sunscreen can’t just work for white people to be considered a good product.

3. Feel GOOD on the skin. This one is harder to quantify exactly, but you know it when you feel it (or when you don’t). My ideal SPF feels hydrating and lightweight, and can replace moisturizer as the last step in my AM skincare.

*Some quick context: The sun has two kinds of rays. UVB is the more superficial kind that burns skin and causes skin cancer. UVA is deeper penetrating and ages the skin. SPF is the measure of protection against UVB rays. The difference between SPF 30 (97% of UVB rays) vs. SPF 50 (98% of UVB rays) sounds minimal, but most people don’t wear the recommended amounts of sunscreen, so higher SPF can make a difference. Broad spectrum means that a product protects against both UVA and UVB rays (all of the following products are broad spectrum). There’s a lot of hoopla about mineral vs. chemical formulas—the difference is in the ingredients and how the product works. Chemical formulas use chemical filters to absorb and release UV rays, while mineral formulas use zinc or titanium oxide to physically block them. Mineral is known to cause less irritation for sensitive skin and work immediately, but many can be thick and leave a white cast. Chemical is known to be lighter weight, easily blendable, and water-resistant, but they take 15 minutes to kick in. One isn’t better than the other—according to dermatologists, the best SPF is one you use consistently.

Best of the Chemical Formulas

Chemical sunscreens are my personal favorite—they offer great protection, blend and wear super easily, and I tend to reach for them first for day-to-day wear.

Sofie Pavitt Screentime, SPF 30 (chemical), $38/50ml (Code: PRIYANKA15)

My daily driver. This has been my new favorite SPF since the day I tried it. It’s hydrating without looking or feeling greasy, has zero white cast or tint (makes it easy to reapply/share with the boys), won’t break you out, and wears beautifully on its own or under makeup. Could the SPF be higher? Sure. But the texture makes this one a standout and everyone I’ve shared it with has been head over heels.

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, SPF 50 (chemical), $18/50ml

My OG. Before Sofie, this was my MVP (I’ve been known to buy four tubes at a time to stock up). It’s hydrating, lightweight, inexpensive, KOREAN (you don’t need to be an expert to know that they’re doing it so much better than the rest of us). My sister prefers this lightweight version, but the OG will always be my favorite. It feels hydrating and gentle on the skin, takes the place of moisturizer in my AM routine, and SPF 50 is the cherry on top.

Eadem Sunsuede Stick, SPF 50+ (chemical), $32/20 grams

An easy-to-use new formula and godsend for reapplication. This looks like a mini deodorant stick, which originally baffled me, but I LOVE it for reapplication. It’s just so easy. The texture is soft and suede-like (not greasy at all), it goes on colorless without any white cast or rubbing in required, plus it fits easily into purses or beach/sport bags to reapply on-the-go. The only downside is that it’s tough to know if you’ve applied enough with a solid formula, which is why I typically only use this for reapplication, but it’s a great pool/beachside companion.

Best of the Mineral Formulas

A mineral sunscreen without a crazy white cast is harder to find (especially if you prefer ones that don’t double as foundation), but I’ve been really impressed with some of these new options!

Sarah Creal Brilliant Repair Shield, SPF 50 (mineral), $64/30ml (Code: PRIYANKA15)

My new favorite mineral SPF! This REALLY impressed me! It has a thinner, serum-like consistency, and comes out slightly tinted (I was originally nervous that it only came in two shades, but it seems like the tint is there to mitigate white cast rather than requiring an exact shade match). Unlike most other tinted SPFs, it’s not makeup-y and full coverage, which I really liked, and it blends into the skin SO easily (RARE for a mineral formula). It’s on the pricier side, but if you’ve been struggling to find a mineral formula you like, this is worth a try.

Live Tinted HueGuard Tinted, SPF 50 (mineral), $42/40ml

A mineral SPF that looks like the best makeup of your life. WOW. This is genuinely a beautiful product! I put this on and couldn’t stop looking at my skin—I looked airbrushed! It has coverage and a flawless, gorgeous finish. I could wear this and nothing else and feel made up enough for a night out. Texture-wise it’s perfect—not too thick or too thin, and the finish is very pretty and makeup-like. If you want a barefaced style product, this probably isn’t for you, but I could see this simplifying a LOT of daily makeup routines. The shade range is incredibly inclusive, and in the voice memo I recorded of myself first trying it on, I said the word “beautiful” no less than six times. Shoutout to founder Deepica Mutyala on this one—it really does feel on par with higher end cosmetics.

Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 45 (mineral), $38/50ml

A mineral SPF that replaces your daily skin tint. This was one of my favorite new discoveries of the past year—it’s a mineral SPF with a soft matte, tinted finish that makes your skin look even and perfected. Tbh it’s as good of an SPF as it is a makeup product, and I’ve turned so many people in my life onto it for this reason! If you want an all-in-one product, this (and the previous version from LiveTinted) are the ones to check out.

Other Good Recs

Tatcha The Milky Sunscreen, SPF 50 (chemical), $50/50ml

This has a very thin, liquid-y consistency, as opposed to the thicker texture I’m used to. It blends in and absorbs super easily, has no white cast, smells refreshing and vaguely botanical, and has a finish that’s glowy, but not greasy (I would definitely feel comfortable wearing this barefaced). I typically prefer a thicker texture myself, but if you like a lighter feel, you should try this.

Dr. Idriss Major Fade Disco Block, SPF 50 (chemical), $38/50ml

This chemical sunscreen has a super unique, whipped texture that blends in easily. If you run on the oilier side, it might not be for you, but if you have drier skin or like to glow, this is definitely worth a try. I fall on the former side myself, but I have a few friends who really love this one. Extra points for high SPF!

Colorescience Face Shield Flex (tinted), SPF 50 (mineral), $58/55ml (Code: PRIARIBI)

This was one of the most interesting sunscreens I tried. It comes out of the bottle an off-white color with lots of tiny dark flecks, but as you rub it in you can literally see it change color and become a tinted SPF. It blends easily (no cast), and has a perfected, makeup-like finish similar to Live Tinted’s. Plus SPF 50 is great! I’m not a tinted SPF person personally, but if you are, this is worth considering.

Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream, SPF 30 (mineral), $50/30ml (Code: PRIYANKA15)

This is technically a tinted sunscreen, but it’s not makeup-y (again, feels like the tint is there to mitigate white cast instead of replacing makeup). It took me about a minute to work it into the skin, but the cast dissipated well and it dried down to slightly matte finish. The only issue to me is that it did feel a little heavy. That might take a minute to get used to (and maybe means it’s better for fall/winter), but it’s a solid option for people looking to switch to a mineral formula.

Skips

These got plenty of buzz, but IMO they didn’t stand up to the wear test.

Live Tinted Hue Guard, SPF 30 (mineral), $36/50ml

I know this is a line formulated for people with darker skin tones, but I still thought the white cast was more noticeable than I wanted it to be (I much preferred their tinted version above). The cast dissipates a little more quickly than many other mineral brands as you rub it in, but my skin did look and feel a bit chalky still. I would wear it under makeup, but likely not on its own.

Le Prunier Plumscreen, SPF 31 (mineral), $80/60ml (Code: SIBAL15)

When I first tried this SPF, I LOVED it. It feels nice and hydrating on the skin, like a cream rather than a traditional SPF, blends into the skin nicely, and smells like marzipan thanks to the line’s hero Plum Beauty Oil (I use that and this from the line regularly). BUT my issue is that SPF isn’t a “little goes a long way” kind of product—if you use the recommended amount here, it feels like way too much product and will pill on your skin/under makeup.

Ultra Violette Future Screen, SPF 50 (mineral), $40/50ml

This wasn’t bad—it just wasn’t my favorite. It’s actually one of the better mineral sunscreens out there. It’s pretty lightweight, you still have to work it into the skin, but the cast does dissipate, and it comes out of the bottle looking slightly tan, which makes it easier to blend in. It felt a little greasy on me, and I looked slightly paler than normal, but it would likely be fine under makeup.

Lesse Every Tone, SPF 30 (mineral), $60/50ml

This looks crazy when it goes on (VERY white/purple), but within 30 seconds of rubbing in, it dissipates a lot. You really do have to work it in there though, and for skin tones like mine, it still had a bit of a cast (my skin tone isn’t even that deep, so I can’t imagine it on deeper tones).

Good Weather Skin The One Daily Sun Cream, SPF 30 (mineral), $48/30ml (Code: PRIYANKA15)

This is a classic mineral sunscreen—it takes a while to rub in, and you really have to work it into the skin. They pride themselves on leaving the skin dewy and hydrated, which is true (it’s definitely not chalky or drying), but it still had a little cast, and the protection level is relatively low. This was ultimately better than I expected, but I still wouldn’t reach for it first among other choices.

Tower 28 SOS Faceguard, SPF 30 (mineral), $32/50ml

This comes out of the bottle a pale, orange-y color, and definitely needs some time to work into the skin (still had mild cast around my temples, mouth, etc.). Texture-wise, this felt normal—a little greasy around the nose, but you can get better protection elsewhere with less of a cast.

Ultra Violette Supreme Screen, SPF 50 (chemical), $36/50ml

This is perhaps my least favorite chemical sunscreen. The main issue is that it smells like chemicals in the way that none of my other SPFs do, and I get a weird taste in the back of my throat when I use it. I LOVEEEE this body sunscreen by the brand, but this one was a skip from me.

Shiseido Urban Environment Mineral Clear, SPF 50 (mineral), $39/30ml

This was VERY thin and liquid-y out of the bottle. It goes on white/purple like you might expect from a mineral sunscreen, and for something that’s oil-free, it still feels pretty oily. The cast didn’t dissipate as well as some of the others (it was still very noticeable IMO), and it was just not a winner in my book.

UBeauty Multimodal Sheer Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 25 (mineral), $98/50ml (Code: PRIYANKA15)

I love most things UBeauty, but I gotta be honest—this was impressively bad. Chalky, white cast, low SPF, and more expensive than any other option on this list. This, this, and this from the line are far more worth the splurge.

Related Reading:

Shitters! I thought my birthday wishlist last month would cover everything in the “in my cart/heart” category. Nope. In the month since, so many genuinely, gobsmackingly GOOD things have come across my desk. What follows is essentially a peek into my open tabs, screenshots, etc.

Starting strong with this magenta set via Suzie Kondi (pants here). Normally I’m a neutral girl, but I crave a little color come summer, and this specific shade is one of the best I’ve ever seen. NEED need need need (and wouldn’t say no to her splurge sandals of the summer either)!

There have been three simple staples sitting in my cart for ages: This ballet-style 3/4 sleeve, this relaxed henley t-shirt, and this ribbed boatneck.

Once again, I’m uninterested in most new bags out there (except for a this special edition mini Andiamo I’ve seen a few people find in store—how good???!!), but these vintage Hermes totes have been popping up on all the cool fashion girls, and I’m such a fan! Simple, chic, functional, not crazy expensive—what’s not to love? (Inspo pics via and !)

I’ve found myself deep in interior design TikTok recently, and am feeling inspired! I’ve always had a lot of dark/black wood and creamy boucle and shearling going on in my home, but I love the contrast that materials like silver, chrome, and glass can have against those textures. These feel like a low-lift way to bring more of that into my space for under $80.

More home finds, jewelry, summer style, and hats below the fold + the latest in my long-running internal debate over fine china (obviously there’s a poll involved):

Read more

Today’s issue of Shit I Bought and Liked is presented by Swap. Swap replaces static e-commerce sites with AI-led storefronts to sell directly to each specific customer. They also create (free!) insight reports on everything from tariffs and compliance to integrating AI into your business. Whether you’re a marketer, a merchant, or just want to learn more about using AI tools, I highly recommend checking out their work, especially their most recent report, Agentic Commerce 101 (I work with the Swap team on their content and wrote that one myself!). I think what they do is so innovative—thank you to Swap for supporting SIBAL! If you’d like to work together, reach out at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com.

Shitters! I know I was just in your inboxes earlier this week, but somehow it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve sent a good old fashioned letter of favorites?! The following are my best finds/ MVPs/ most frequently used products as of late—basically, shit I love and think you all will too!

The Going Out Top

Stop what you’re doing. I’m serious. This is THE going out top. The 8pm first date at a cute little bar top. The former flame RSVPed yes on the Partiful and I thiiiink we’re both single top. The fuck it, I want to look GOOD tonight top. It has all the hallmarks—sheer but not too sheer, off the shoulder, slouchy but fitted in the right places, and is still comfortable, soft, and easy to wear. I think everyone needs one. Mine is black (duh), but there are plenty of other neutrals/colors to pick from. I tend to waffle a little with new clothing purchases, but there was zero waffling here—instant keep.

The World’s Best One Piece

I’ve tried a lot of swimwear in my life (including a recent Eres impulse order to try this nearly $500 suit that is supposedly the best on the market). This one’s better. Hands down, by FAR. The fabric is soft and comfortable (that feels bizarre to say that about swimwear, but it’s true), they’re smoothing and flattering, but not a full on compression garment, they come in a million and one styles and colors (this one is my personal favorite—the cut and neckline feel similar to the Eres—but they have other options geared towards larger cup sizes, longer torsos, pregnancy, etc.). I first discovered the brand last summer, and they were VERY popular with you all then, but I’m here to confirm that they really are the best out there. They also have an easy return/ exchange policy, which is key for swimwear. I order a size up from my usual in clothing, which is what I typically do in swim.

The Five Minute Event Face

It’s wedding season, and if there’s one thing I don’t want to do after I’ve traveled a long way and am reuniting with a bunch of long-distance friends, it’s retreat to my hotel room to spend hours getting ready. My five minute event face is simple, but it delivers. Skin prep (moisturizer + Rhode milk), underpaint (I like this concealer and this easy cream bronzer, though Rhode’s new one is even better), and buff it all in with this sheer, perfecting foundation on top (it never looks cakey, but still gives you coverage—truly a miracle foundation). Follow up with blush* (Garconne), mascara* + a touch of eyeliner*, and a lip (Overdrive), add powder + spritz this to finish and you’re golden! Five minutes might be exaggerating with waiting for things to dry/settle, but there’s no way this takes me more than 10, and it looks like an event-worthy step up from my normal routine! *PRIYANKA15 always works at Violet Grey!

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The Big Workout Tee

This sounds simple, but for the longest time I didn’t have a go-to lightweight tee that I could throw on over leggings and a sports bra for a walk, run, workout, pickleball, etc. In an ideal world, I would have an arsenal of perfect vintage t-shirts for this, but the going rate for the soft/fun ones feels mismatched for things I just want to sweat in, and the array of Comfort Colors that I do own are heavier than what I want to run/sweat in. I did a big Shopbop order recently in an attempt to remedy this, and this was my winner! Bonus points for price point and 100% cotton. (I also kept this set from Splits59—very flattering!).

Bed Accents!

I love love love my bed (outfitted in these sheets and this cotton blanket for when it gets a little too hot with the duvet), BUT I got the itch to make things a little less plain white recently. I picked up this quilt (on even better sale now) and this XL bolster pillow + insert, and the whole room feels transformed as a result! The bolster is super supportive to lean on while you read or watch TV in bed (I know TV in the bedroom is supposed to be the biggest no-no, but to me it’s one of the greatest luxuries of being an adult!). And speaking of the bedroom, I may or may not have another big addition en route as we speak…!!!!!!!

Nostalgic Notebooks

Who remembers these?! I had completely forgotten about them up until recently when I was searching for a spiral notebook that was this size and not ugly, but kept coming up short. These are obviously not spirals, but they lay flat and fold easily (the main selling point of a spiral to me), and feel vintage-y and nostalgic for those among us who grew up using them in grade/middle school (I don’t even want to know what the iPad babies are using these days). For my fellow journalers, these are a godsend. They’re so much less expensive than the “cute” notebooks out there (most of those are either overcomplicated on the inside, or cutesy in a way a 10-year-old would like), and feel chic and writerly to me!

The Most Comfortable Underwear

I’ve said it before, but these continue to be my favorite thing in my underwear drawer. So soft, so comfortable, genuinely well made and constructed (I’m not just saying that—you’ll feel the difference when you try), and 100% organic cotton. I just feel cute when I wear them! 90’s girl meets Coppertone baby vibes. Their signature light purple color is my personal favorite—it’s fun, but still light enough of a shade that you can wear it under most light colored dresses and pants. I like their thongs too, but this style has become my new favorite (these cloud cotton ones from Negative are nice too!).

SIBAL Favorites on Sale:

• This is the only thing I care about on Prime Day (plus, some fresh Shopbop hearts for anyone taking advantage of the Prime discount). After years of getting us to expect Prime Day in July, shifting to June was stupid.

• My go-to chic hand soap is 20% off (even with the shipping cost, it’s cheaper than anywhere else). I stock up on the refill sizes when they run sales.

• I never shut up about my electric toothbrush (I’m sorry, find me another that lasts for a month on a single charge), and now it’s 20% off. It’s literally half the weight of my last one, and so much sleeker/easier to travel with.

• Our favorite rugs are 15-20% off (I like this Scalamandre collab, but have yet to tire of my burgundy).

• My ride or die for fighting jet lag (and whenever I just can’t fall asleep) got a price cut too.

• This clean brand is my skincare (and candle!) obsession of the moment, and 20% off goes a long way (discount shows up in the cart).

• And not on sale, but I finally got my hands on some Salomons (it’s generally impossible to find good colors in stock, but somehow these are in most sizes?!), and I love them. Call me the latest adopter of all time, I know.

Related Reading

Today’s letter was written in partnership with Poshmark! OG’s know how excited I am about today’s partnership—I’ve been shopping and selling on Posh for 6+ years now, and it’s been responsible for SO many of my best finds (and the money I’ve used to buy them!). If you’d like to partner on a future newsletter, drop me a note at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com.

Shitters! If you’ve been here for a minute, you know I love shopping on resale sites. I’ve found so many of my favorite pieces, vintage finds, wedding guest dresses, old Doen (the best Doen!)—the list goes on and on and on! But what I love arguably even more than shopping on these sites is selling on them.

To me, it’s a two birds situation. I get to clear out the pieces that I’m no longer using (and give them a second life with someone who is excited about them!), and make pretty decent money back doing it. But not all resale sites are created equal!

For the past six years, my favorite place to sell has hands down been Poshmark. In the past year alone, I’ve made thousands of dollars simply from cleaning out my closet and then selling there. That should be enough on its own to entice at least some of you, but as I said, I’ve been at this game for YEARS, and I have some secrets to making the most of the platform!

My Poshmark Selling Secrets

The number one complaint I hear from people about reselling things online is that they get terrible payouts on things that are worth so much more. I’ve been there! $12 in exchange for dresses or shoes I spent hundreds on... still shuddering at the thought. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Compared to other resale sites, the fees for sellers on Posh are low (and very straightforward!). For a sale under $15, Poshmark takes a flat $2.95 fee, and for ones over $15, the seller keeps 80% of the profits (the best cut of any resale site I’ve ever used). As a seller, you can negotiate directly with buyers, reject offers that are too low, and make sure that if you’re going to part with something, you’re getting an amount of money that you’re actually comfortable with.

I’ll be honest, you do have to put in some legwork listing your pieces in order to make a sale, but to me, the difference in what you make back is worth it (if only to put the money towards your future finds!). After years of selling, these are my tips to maximize your earnings and make it easier:

1. Do your homework on what to sell. This doesn’t take long—just look up the brand or piece you’re trying to sell on Poshmark before listing. Pretty quickly you’ll understand if people are buying/selling/listing it there, and for how much. Brands that I’ve made the most from reselling on the platform include Doen, Daily Drills, Staud, AGOLDE, and Reformation.

2. Batch the listing components. I always dedicate a couple hours at the start of the year (sometimes at the end of spring or summer too) to cleaning out my closet, and I find that treating the photographing and listing process the same way is helpful. Yes it takes time, but batching each part (first all the try ons, then all the photos, then all the listings) is an efficient way to knock it all out in one afternoon.

3. Set your prices strategically. I start with finding the original price and what I spent on an item, looking it up to see what it or other items from the brand have sold for or are listed at on Poshmark and elsewhere, and then checking if anyone else has it listed in the same size/condition, and at what price. In my experience, most users on Poshmark expect to negotiate, so I always price things a bit higher than what I’d want to accept.

4. Let Posh do the work! I love negotiating with buyers myself (talk about love of the game), but Poshmark has a feature where you can set the lowest price you’d accept and they’ll negotiate with any interested buyers on your behalf. If you don’t have time for all the back and forth, let them do it for you.

5. Give buyers the 411. Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes—what would make you feel confident buying something secondhand online? For me, it’s information. When I list something on Posh, I start by pulling up my original email receipt of the item so I can run a search on the product name. Even if it’s not sold anymore, you can often find the product info archived online. I copy that product name and description along with the fabric contents and measurement info into the description field on Poshmark so buyers have all of the relevant information in one place. I’ll usually also add a line about the condition or any specific notes (“new with tags!” “no signs of wear,” “small mark on hem, as pictured,” “perfect for a summer wedding!” etc.) to give them as clear of an idea as possible.

   P.S. Resale sites have their own language. NWT= new with tags. NWOT= new without tags. TTS= true to size. EUC= excellent used condition. Use these in your listings, or to help you shop!

6. Put the most effort into your photos. This is what has the highest payoff, IMO. Take pictures in good light (daytime is best), wash the clothes beforehand and take a minute to steam or remove any lint or pills, lay it flat (I prefer these to hanging pictures because you can see all the fabric), and take at least four photos of each piece (the tag with brand and size, front, back, any detail shots, etc.). Again, this takes a little extra time, but put yourself in the buyer’s shoes—more high-quality pictures and information means more confidence and willingness to spend, aka more $ in your pocket.

7. Don’t be afraid to negotiate back! Even with decent offers from buyers, I tend to negotiate unless the difference in commission is truly marginal. The worst that happens is that the buyer rejects your offer, and in that case, I’ll find their username, tag them in the comments on the product page, and say “I’ll accept your last offer if you make it again.” Easy!

8. Keep your listed pieces together. Keeping all of the items I’ve listed in one place separate from the rest of my closet makes it easy to find and ship them out as soon as they’re sold (Posh sends sellers free shipping labels once the piece sells, making that process very easy!).

My Poshmark Shopping Secrets

Shopping is more straightforward than selling, but I still have tips to get the best deals on the things you like!

1. Reuse your earnings!!! Oftentimes when I make a sale, I keep that money in Poshmark instead of transferring it to my bank account, so that the next time I go to buy something on the platform, I can use that credit instead of “real money.” Is that girl math? Definitely. But you know what it’s not—another Chase charge!!!

2. Always “like” first. Oftentimes sellers will offer buyers a discount in the first few hours after they’ve liked an item, or they’ll make private offers to likers with further discounted prices. It’s always helpful to understand how willing they are to negotiate (and they’ll likely become more flexible on price the longer it’s listed, so I revisit my older likes often!).

3. Again, negotiate. Most people on Poshmark expect you to make an offer rather than purchase at list price. There’s no harm in starting on the lower end—sellers will either reject it outright (in which case, make a better offer!), or counter (which you are allowed to counter as well!). I only jump to buy something right away when I KNOW it’s a hot commodity/ underpriced.

4. Take advantage of saved searches. You need to download the Poshmark app to do this, but it’s WELL worth it (and I’m not even an app person). If you’re looking for something specific (a particular dress that’s past season, or even just pieces from a specific brand), type it into the search bar, apply the relevant filters, and then tap the bookmark icon in the upper right corner. This saves the search so you can revisit it easily, and it’s how I’ve found SO many pieces that I’ve hunted down for years!

5. Double check the photos! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to make an offer on something only to realize that the only pictures in the listing are screenshots from Shopbop or Revolve instead of pictures of the item IRL. Don’t risk it! I go to the comments and ask for real photos. And if they don’t respond or post them, don’t buy!

6. Train your algorithm. The more you use the platform (with likes, purchases, sales, searches, etc.), the better it gets to know your taste and surface brands and pieces that you like in your feed.

7. Know that Posh has your back. One time I bought a pair of vintage brand name sunglasses at a waaaay too good to be true price (select luxury items over $500 go through Poshmark's authentication process, but these were under $50). Turns out they were too good to be true—they arrived and were definitively fake! I flagged it to their team and was refunded very quickly. In general, if you have issues with an order—something was off about what you received, a seller isn’t shipping on time, the package got lost in the mail, etc., Poshmark’s Support team is genuinely helpful.

Those are my best tips and tricks, but I want to hear from you! Do you have any Poshmark secrets? Tips of your own? All time favorite finds?! Now you have to tell me!!

Leave a comment

And now, a few of my picks for everyone shopping/browsing!

Shitters! I’m back stateside after six days in the Atlas Mountains and Marrakesh and I feel REBORN. It’s amazing what being an ocean away from your regular life and off of your devices will do to your brain! I already miss the all of the amazing scents, the lamb tagines, the cats everywhere, and of course my friend Dana, who let me tag along on her incredible work trip!

My general vacation dressing philosophy is to lean on favorites I love instead of buying a bunch of new things for a trip, but I’ll admit I fell prey to some panic ordering a few weeks before we left. As I probably could’ve anticipated, a grand total of zero of them worked out, so the pieces I ended up packing were the old faithfuls I’ve worn and reworn for years. I was feeling a little meh about that going in, but over the course of the trip, SO many of them got compliments, requests to borrow, and/or a “was this in Shitters??!!!” from Dana, that I thought they were worth sharing (and in some cases, re-sharing) with all of you!

Starting strong with this little bag—a HUGE hit and such a workhorse on this trip! This was actually a recent purchase, but I know it’ll be in the rotation for years. It’s a small nylon shoulder bag with long skinny leather straps, and I wore it pretty much everywhere—daytime tours, nicer dinners, poolside, etc. It’s easy to dress up or down, zips at the top (key for travel), holds a good amount for being on the smaller side (lip liners and balm, a 10ml fragrance, my wallet, passport holder, sunglasses, and phone), and the nylon material is easy/ low maintenance. I was originally on the fence about buying—I have a million and one black bags and didn’t reeeally need another—but it has very quickly earned its keep! The size especially is perfect. It works for day and night, but it has much better capacity than most other small bags I own. I’m pretty sure Dana bought the brown version for herself before we even left Marrakesh! More styles/sizes here—this one in particular reminds me of The Row Park Tote at a much better price.

This wide-brim bucket hat. The compliments on this one started well before this trip! I pulled it out at Sofie Pavitt’s studio to wear home after a treatment recently and the girls in the office immediately asked about it. It makes sense—it’s the perfect protective brim to shield your face from the sun without being too wide to wear comfortably or too beachy to wear in the city. With 95 degree temps in Marrakesh (which is apparently cool for this time of year?), this was a must.

This simple linen daytime dress is so old that it’s no longer available, but there are a few on resale sites (1/2/3). I’ve brought this one on almost every vacation for at least four years. Once I shrunk it in the wash (because I didn’t want to pay for dry cleaning—dumb) and fully REBOUGHT IT, which I felt very silly about until I realized how much I wear I get out of it. To be honest, I would so much rather splurge a little on a dress like this that you get tons of wear out of than an event dress you wear just once. Here are some other options that fit the same bill via COS, La Ligne (PRIYANKA10), Jenni Kayne, Ref, and Malene Birger.

This simple linen dressy dress (more colors here). I somehow have no photos in this one, but trust me—it’s good. Obviously it’s chic, but it’s also comfortable and easy to wear (a through line in my style, vacation or otherwise). The a-line gives it shape, but it isn’t fitted in the body, which makes it perfect for a big dinner out. I’ve also worn it to wedding welcome parties and summer evening events, and I’m planning to style with a low pony and a cuff like this next! I would trust Mikoh 1000x more on quality, but Quince makes a similar option at a lower price point.

Also black linen, but if you haven’t gotten these pants yet, what are you doing??!!! I wrote a whole newsletter about them—that’s how good they are! Yes they’re on the pricey side, but IMO worth it for something you can wear casually or dress up, and I swear they have the best fit/shape.

And last piece of clothing—the verrrry old red Doen dress pictured above that continues to be a hit with friends/the good people of Instagram. There aren’t any perfect one-to-ones available at the moment, but if I were shopping now, I would look at this, this, and this for a similar feel.

Other hits from the toiletry bag:

This toothbrush!!! (PRIYANKA gets you 15% off) The month long charge is a godsend for travel, the case is sleek and doesn’t get all gross inside, and I love the new red color too!

Orebella fragrance: A total surprise hit! Celebrity fragrance lines have a (mostly deserved) reputation for being tacky, sickly sweet cash grabs, but Bella Hadid’s has some differentiating factors—it’s clean and made without alcohol or anything synthetic (a big plus in my book!). I was sent a sample of this recently and was really impressed. It combines rose, jasmine, tonka bean, and lemon for a scent that’s floral but not too floral, fresh but not too fresh, feminine, wearable, and SO nice, especially for summer. I wore it every day of my trip, and have no plans to stop! I am extreeeemely picky when it comes to fragrance, so the fact that I’m so into this surprised me more than anyone! It’s well-priced, causes zero headaches or irritation, and is noticeable, but not overpowering. I also love the 10mL size—it’s easy to bring along for travel or to just throw in your bag.

These sunscreens for face (PRIYANKA15) and body. My favorites, hands down. I brought bottles of both for Dana and she loved them immediately too. This came as no surprise—they blend in easily with no white cast, so they’re easy to reapply poolside, on a hike, or on-the-go without a mirror, don’t feel greasy, and don’t break you out. I’ve been religious about facial sunscreen for at least a decade, but this is the first body SPF that I actually reach for beyond beach or pool days, mainly because it’s so easy to use.

This lip balm (worn over this liner in Balance, ofc). I cannot tell you how excited I am to get into the new Rhode bronzers, lip products, and brush the minute I’m back in New York!!!

And this little nightgown! Not from the toiletry bag, but perfect for hot summer nights!

As is tradition, I’ve taken it upon myself to compile a list of 32 ideas for anyone who might find themselves in need of a gift for a certain 30-something in the near future…! Whether you’re browsing for someone discerning in your own life, shopping for me (a girl can dream!), or just want to treat yourself, the following ideas—some a tad more realistic than others—are guaranteed to surprise and delight!

1. This Ginori teacup and the matching saucer. I know—I’ve talked a lot of shit about Ginori’s Oriente pattern over the years, BUT this sweet little pistachio colored teacup for my matcha…? I take it all back!!!!

2. A go-to travel agent. Can I roll up my sleeves and make an itinerary? I’d venture to say pretty well, actually. But is that something I want to do? HELL no. To me, there’s nothing worse than being the person saddled with the details while everyone else gets to be blissfully unaware of the plan, asking incessant questions about what we’re doing and where we’re eating and what time is the reservation and actually can we do something else entirely even though this has been the plan for weeks and you could’ve just SAID SOMETHING WHEN I ASKED??? (I think I just described being a mom?) A collaborative itinerary booked by a pro is the truest kind of vacation—one for your BRAIN—and it’s probably not just me who thinks so! If you’re traveling in Africa, Indalo Travel is an expert on the ground, but you have someone you like working with for other spots, drop them in the comments!

3. Speaking of vacations, I will make it to Ett Hemm before I turn 33 if it’s the last thing I do!!!!

4. A jar of ’s Matcha Kokoro. Best matcha I’ve ever tried!

5. Am I a true, long-suffering Knicks fan who deserves tickets to the NBA Finals? Absolutely not. But as far as bandwagon fans go, I never pretend to be an OG and I always bring a good vibe, so I feel like I can get a pass??? If this is a touch beyond the realm of possibility (fair), I will also accept a 7th Street cheeseburger and an XL Landry Shamet t-shirt.

6. A leather Memoire notebook. The single most beautiful notebook to ever exist (even better if you address it to the single most beautiful writer to ever exist!!). Criminally expensive for what it is, but I’m sorry, who wants to be practical on their birthday?!

7. Cool girl flowers always.

8. A vintage Tankissime (shoutout to my friend for the inspiration!). I will always have a soft spot for vintage Cartier, and this one is such a unique style. It’s almost closer to jewelry than it is a traditional timepiece, which is what I love about the Bagnoire too. This is a bit closer to a push present than your run of the mill birthday gift, but I am getting a cat (!!), so I will in fact be a new mom!!

9. A little lounge outfit. I will never not love lounging around in something cute and cozy! On my eye at the moment: These in organic cotton, this henley + pants set (how good is Cloud??), and the perfect light blue nightgown!

10. A trainer. By now we all know that strength training is important for women as we age—bone density, building muscle, looking better naked, etc. (ok, the first two are objectively important, but the last one is important to me!)—but I think it’s time to bring in the big guns. I’ve been on the fence for a while, wondering if 1-on-1 attention is worth it for something I pretty much do on my own already. BUT trusting the process is considerably easier to do when the process is tailored to your actual body by someone who knows what they’re doing, rather than a generic plan, class, or video. I read this by recently and I think I’m drinking the Kool Aid.

11. A massive, mesmerizing painting that is WAY too big for my current apartment, but I’m playing the long game! I unfortunately must gatekeep for now—they sell at auction and are already wildly expensive, but if I secure the one of my dreams, you will be the first to know!

12. This insane Jessica McCormack chain that has lived rent free in my brain since I started getting served this ad on Instagram. Obsessed. I started wearing a longer chain like this earlier this year and I LOVE the way they look—so effortless, and so cool.

13. $30 to McNally Jackson to pick up a new thriller. A staple on the list every single year, and truly the perfect gift!

14. A jeweler who will suffer through my detailed/semi-deranged CAD notes to make the perfect The Devil Wears Prada necklace dupe (or $10,000 cash in a brown bag on my doorstep to buy the real thing—either works).

15. One single Tracy Anderson class where I get to be on aux.

16. Ferrane Bakery princess cake! I’m sorry, the Sant Ambroeus Princess Cake SUCKS and more people need to say it. Ferrane’s is the best I’ve tried, and if I were having a birthday party, this would 100% be served!

17. This perfect dress to come back in stock so I can wear it to the wedding that’s on my birthday and look cool and take a good birthday Instagram and feel buoyed by the validation of your likes (too real?).

18. A diamond pinky stack. Do I even need to explain this one?

19. Alex Eagle Studio Mosaic Glasses… for my iced matchas! I swear I have not made liking matcha my entire personality, despite much of this list implying otherwise…

20. Last matcha-adjacent thing, I swear. These little glass straws fall into the category of cute but annoying to buy for yourself but also relatively inexpensive, which IMO is the sweet spot for a good gift. More in this category: Westman’s Hydrobalm (PRIYANKA15), Crown Affair’s hair mask (PRIYANKA15), and a good old hole-in-the-wall NYC foot massage.

21. Unfortunately I need the FreeCity sweatshorts with every fiber of my being, but they seem a bit impossible to get your hands on at the moment. I would also happily accept a fresh pair of the full length ones—they’re fun and colorful and make me feel like a Malibu mom about to hop in a G Wagon to pick up alfalfa.

22. A table at Theodora (as you know, I am firmly Team Table, but I’ll even settle for bar seats at this point). I’m making abysmal progress on my restaurant shortlist so far this year, and I can use all the help I can get. Also on the list: Ha’s, Or’esh, The Snail, and Lucali, in case you know a guy who knows a guy!

23. Frosted Strawberry Cookies. My friend Margaret mentioned these in a voice note weeks ago and I have been salivating ever since!

24. Speaking of girlfriends, in lieu of a gift I will HAPPILY accept a 15+ minute voice note with hot goss, a crazy story, shit talk about someone we dislike (or better yet, a person I have never liked and am coming to learn you’ve never liked either), or some combination of the above. How is this #24 on the list, it really should be #1.

25. The PERFECT teal satin Bottega clutch that I will have almost certainly bought myself off of TRR by the time this list is published (Ed note: Had to.)

26. By now we know I will never say a nice candle is a bad gift. I mostly work from home, and lighting one in the evening feels like shifting the mood from work mode to something more relaxing. A few on my list this summer: Milan in bloom by Flamingo Estate, summer special edition Diptyque, and Le Prunier’s plum, almond, and sweet fig combo (SIBAL15).

27. Chanel Baume Essentiel in Sculpting. One time I tried to ask if they had this at a duty free in Paris… never a great idea to say “baume” in an airport.

28. I am once again asking for your psychic, reiki, woo woo people!!!! Heal me!!!!!

29. Horseback riding lessons?! 32 feels as good a time as any to go full horse girl, plus I need an excuse to wear this baby in the wild.

30. A looooong afternoon at a Moroccan hammam. I’m spending the week before my birthday in Morocco (shoutout Indalo Travel!!), and this is at the top of my personal to-do list. (Once again, I have revealed my future location on the internet—I would ask you to be chill, but if you go all the way to Morocco to try and kidnap me, I think I’d be flattered?). At home I’ll never turn down a trip to The Hotel Chelsea Spa, and I’ve been meaning to get to Spencers one of these days too!

31. A rainy Saturday afternoon trying a million and one wines in the Roscioli cellar. FYI, they are GENEROUS with those pours. 10/10, perfect weekend activity.

32. A sunny Sunday afternoon playing Uno with friends at Drift Inn! Heaven!

Shitters! HOW in the world did we get to MDW already?! I’m staying put this weekend—after three weekends away from home, I couldn’t be happier to get a little reset. But whether you’re also lying low or doing the exact opposite, I wanted to send some light reading material your way!

What follows are a few very practical recommendations that I’ve found myself giving friends and family often lately—so often, that I felt like they were worth sharing (or in some cases, repeating) with you all! We’ll go rapid fire so you don’t get motion sickness if you’re reading this on a plane, train, or car, and we’ll finish with the best of the (many, many) MDW sales!

Aarke Water Filter (currently 20% off)

I went down the rabbit hole on water filters a year or so ago, and this is what I came up with. This water filter/pitcher is made entirely of glass and stainless steel—microplastics who?! The design is beautiful, the whole thing is dishwasher safe, and their refillable filter granules are available in an alkaline version, so if you’re concerned about the mineral content of filtered water, you no longer have to be! It’s a bit more expensive than your basic Brita, but better safe than sorry IMO.

Sidenote: Speaking of water, I was recently sent a few bottles of Loonen, which seems to be the new hot new water brand these days?? I’m fully aware that that is an insane thing to say let alone put into writing, but it’s kinda true. Anyways, I actually really do like the taste—if you’re a bottled water person, it’s worth a try.)

Lay-Flat Steamer

This is quite literally revolutionary. Every time I use a crappy hotel steamer I’m reminded of how much I love it. You can use it on hanging garments like a traditional steamer, but you can also lay something flat on your bed or ironing board and go to town, which IMO is so much easier. It heats up in seconds (essential for someone like me who’s always getting ready last minute), has a large surface area so it works super quickly, and it never sputters all over your silk like the cheap ones do.

Last Call (SIBAL for 20% off)

Every time I have more than one and a half drinks lately, I come home and take a Last Call. It is simply the only hangover prevention product that’s actually worked for me, thanks to DHM (a plant extract used widely across Korea to boost alcohol metabolism and help your body recover after drinking) and ingredients like theanine, prickly pear, and milk thistle that help with nausea, hydration, and liver support. I wouldn’t dream of going to a wedding without it, tbh.

My Dinner List

I’ve talked about my restaurant list here before, but I don’t think I’ve shared this one. This is a note I keep on my phone of dinners and lunches that I’ve made for myself and actually enjoyed. I break it into categories by protein and include the dish, a link to the recipe if I used one (or where to find it if it’s in a cookbook), sides I pair with it, etc. I use it to jog my memory when I have no idea what I want or will want to eat, or what to buy for the week ahead. There’s a lot of shit we have to stay on top of already—for me, keeping a bunch of quick, healthy, easy recipes that I know I like somewhere that’s easy to reference feels like an assist for my brain, and keeps me eating healthy/ saving on unnecessary delivery orders.

Grandmas Secret Stain Remover

Yes this is the kookiest branding in the world, but this stuff WORKS (just don’t ask what’s in it—I don’t know and don’t want to!!!). It’s revived pricey white tees that you inevitably spill on the first time you wear them out, prized sweatshirts with next to impossible grease stains, wine stained shirts that you (I) let sit at the bottom of the hamper for a week before mustering the energy to do anything about it… My friend Christie went so far to say this saved her marriage once, so if you don’t trust me, trust her!!!

MDW Sale Radar

There are a LOT of sales happening this weekend—this is an edit of the ones I actually shop/browse, plus things I’ve mentioned in earlier letters that are now on sale!

Net-A-Porter: I wrote about this summer dress last weekend and it’s already on sale? Call it manifesting! If you also can’t resist buying staples off season, 40% off Suzie Kondi cashmere and this chic Toteme coat might be calling your name. I ordered the sweater, but might have to go back for this brown Lisa Yang number too…. In things you’ll actually wear this summer: This poplin maxi skirt, a denim overshirt over mini dresses/skirts, and Baywatch red Hunza G. And I need someone in their bridal era to buy this immediately.

Almina Concept: Everything’s 20% off, doesn’t get easier than that. This dress is a dead ringer for the Matteau one I linked above, not exactly summery, but I do love this anorak, and I LIVE for an oversized button up + shorts combo in the heat, and Almina does them perfectly.

Toteme: Ok, fewer options to wear over the next few months here, but they did mark down a lot of staple outerwear and fall/winter pieces. Do I pull the trigger on this shearling coat and call it my birthday present?? This little pouch reminds me of The Row, but it’s under $300, this powder blue dress is one of those things that’ll save you when you need to dress up for a bridal or baby shower in a pinch, and who doesn’t love simple summer sandals?

Dermstore: Most things here are 20-25% off with code SUN. The assortment’s all over the place—from classics like BeautyStat’s brightening eye cream and our go-to blowdry brush, to newer discoveries like Jillian Dempsey’s kohl eyeliner (I sat down with Lila Childs for her podcast recently and she shared my enthusiasm for this one!), plus fun extras like Marvis toothpaste and Agent Nateur’s pearl + marine collagen powder (I use that in my matcha and loveeee it).

Other things worth browsing: Poplin pull on shorts for under $40? Obviously. 111Skin’s face masks could bring me back from the grave, and at 20% off, the price won’t send you there in the first place! (These give 111’s eye patches a run for their money and are currently $30). Sales where you have to spend a certain amount to get the discount are mostly annoying, but the thresholds are easy to hit at ROZ and Retrouvé (linked my favorites from both). I just packed up a bunch of OSEA goodies for a girlfriend who’s expecting her first baby in a few days, and they’re throwing in a free full-size of this with purchases over $125 (PRIYANKA10 still applies). These rugs continue to be some of the most popular things I’ve ever written about, and they’re up to 25% off. And once again, to anyone who spent the past few nights overheating in bed, there’s still time to get an EightSleep before summer really begins!! (Maybe order one for me too while you’re at it?!)

Shitters!! This is a jam-packed (and very belated) letter, but I come bearing SO many good things (and sales!!), so please forgive me!

I used this red clutch the whole time and it was perfect! But enough about vacation—there are a few very good sales that are worth browsing this weekend:

Violet Grey: I adore Violet Grey and their (aptly named) Put It In The Bag Event is one of my must-hits every year—most all of their splurge-worthy products are between 20-25% off. My MVP of the moment is this exosome goodness. It’s splurgey (so get it while it’s on sale), but it immediately calms my skin and makes it look SO even and lit-from-within. I use it after Vitamin C (I’m still hooked on this one via Sephora), and before SPF (that + the rest of Sofie’s line is worth stocking up on too).

Other VG highlights: UBeauty’s insanely good body hydrator (I call it my supermodel moisturizer—it’s always on my chest, arms, and legs before every event or night out and it makes me feel airbrushed), 111Skin’s holy grail eye and face masks (my fridge currently has more masks than food, and these are without a doubt the best ones), Lilis’s impressive body peel (good for limbs that are newly on display after months of jeans and heavy sweaters), Fara Homidi’s simple summer skin (who wants their face to melt off in the summer heat?! Not me!), and Madame Grey’s Zodiac candles for any summer birthdays! If your sauna habit doesn’t break for summer, 20% off a sauna blanket is also a steal.

J.Crew: J.Crew’s markdowns vary by what seems like the day, but at the moment they’re offering 40% off of summer styles. My favorite from the sale is this pair of striped shorts, but there are a few others pieces worth checking out too. I’m obsessed with the summer weight version of their viral rollneck sweater (I’d style exactly how the model does). I get so much wear out of this simple boxy long sleeve—feels perfect to throw on over denim shorts for a Saturday morning. Their sandal collaboration with TKEES comes in THE perfect vintage green (yes I paused writing to add to cart). And this sweet sleep set reminds me of The Great!

Brooklinen: At this point I am not convinced Brooklinen hasn’t been running a 25% off sale for the past six months?? But for you hot sleepers, these particular sheets and this cotton blanket (pull it up instead of the duvet at night) are a godsend for summer nights. And not Brooklinen, but for the hot sleepers who are really at their wit’s end, it might be time to call in the big guns. It’s an investment, but on sale and right before temps rise is the best way to get your money’s worth.

Other things I loved in April/early May:

• I am a full on string bikini convert! They’re more comfortable than thongs, cuter than basic briefs, and made of 100% organic cotton.

• These clear protein + electrolyte packets. They’re especially helpful during travel when you’re feeling dehydrated and being more lax with food/protein.

• It’s finally mesh flat season again, and my favorites have already gotten three compliments in the wild! The sticker price is also suspiciously $100 less than when I originally purchased?? Run.

• I’ve never counted the number of lip balms I own, but know that it’s up there! Of all of them, this is my undisputed favorite (PRIYANKA10). It’s in my bag every time I leave the house—the velvety texture and finish is just so good.

• My pink plates!!! They just make me happy every single time.

• I’m currently writing this on a plane in these linen pants. I tried a few other pairs this week, but none were even close in terms of fit, feel—all of it. They’re on the pricey side, but effortlessly put together, so comfortable, and easy to dress up or down.

What’s on my eye this month, you ask? Well, approximately one minute into The Devil Wears Prada 2, this stunning Jemma Wynne necklace skyrocketed to the top of my wishlist, where I imagine it will remain for quite some time. Any patrons of the arts care to treat me???

More summer-ready finds and wishlist-worthy pieces below the fold:

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Today’s letter was written in partnership with East Fork, the makers of truly incredible artisan homeware. If you’d like to partner on a future newsletter, drop us a note at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com

Shitters! Like most people, I didn’t think THAT hard when I was shopping for dining sets for my first solo apartment years ago. I picked something neutral and simple and that was that. I admired beautiful plates at restaurants and hotels, formed strong opinions on popular china patterns (longtime readers know exactly what I’m talking about…), but I never came across anything that inspired me to upgrade my daily dishes. That is, until I was introduced to East Fork.

East Fork is an artisan pottery brand from Asheville, North Carolina known for their beautiful, high-quality ceramics (they’re also non-toxic and dishwasher-safe, which is important for pieces you’re using every single day!). They’re distinct in their feel—rustic, earthen, substantial (a stark contrast to the sharp lines and factory slim construction of most run-of-the-mill plates), as well as their array of colors and signature speckled finish (my favorite detail!). From a craftsmanship perspective, their pieces really are special and perfectly considered—once you see and feel them, you understand the difference from most other options out there.

They have seven core colors, and several more that they introduce in seasonal runs. I fell hard for one of those in particular—a dusty mauve called Thistle.

If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever buy pink plates, I probably would’ve looked at you sideways. Most pinks out there are poppy and bright, or light baby pinks that just never meshed with my style. But these to me are the perfect Parisian mauve, and I found myself drawn to them immediately. Still pink, but cooler in tone and vibe (for the New Yorkers among us, they reminded me of the accent color at Fouquet’s—one of the most beautiful hotels in the city). Though the color was a big departure from a neutral, I felt like they could become a real personality piece in my apartment. Something that would at once look at home with the creams and darker woods in my interiors, while also standing out as a special signature.

I deliberated it for a while—it was a BIG change, and if I was going to go for it, I wanted it to be something that would last and I would love really for a lifetime. But now that they’re here, I really couldn’t be happier! For one, they’re a high utility change. Dishes are something you use and enjoy every single day, so you are 100000% getting your money’s worth. I love the weight and feel and how they make even basic meals (like the sardines on toast above) look beautiful. And the injection of color and personality just makes me happy every single time!

I decided to start with their (aptly named) Starter Set, which includes four of each of their Dinner Plates, Side Plates, and Everyday Bowls (perfectly sized if you like a hybrid plate-bowl situation like I do). While they also have traditional place settings with more pieces, this felt like the best combination for my actual lifestyle (mostly 1-2 people eating at home, sometimes hosting or cooking for a few friends, etc.), and the set discount is a nice bonus! I tend to use the Side Plates and Everyday Bowls most often, and the Dinner Plates come out for bigger meals.

And, the cherry on top—they’ve gotten SO many compliments since I’ve brought them home. I hosted a few girlfriends recently (which felt like the perfect way to debut these!), and one of them actually lifted a plate off the table to see the logo at the bottom. Could there be a more telling sign than that?! Sidenote: If you’re in the market for a spring dinner party menu, this one was pretty perfect. We started with a romaine and radicchio salad with spring peas, shaved fennel, walnuts, and All Time’s salad dressing, ’s Pasta al Limone (so easy and such a hit!), and a simple lemon & dill salmon (plated on a bed of radicchio, which may be my new favorite serving trick!).

I also jumped at the chance to upgrade my serveware situation (I was arguably even more excited about this than the plates!). Before I had a hodgepodge of different serving plates and platters that didn’t match each other or my style, so I was excited to finally find pieces that felt as considered as the others in my home. I debated going for a contrast color at first (Black Mountain really is stunning—that and Morel are my favorites in their core collection), but Thistle won out in the end. I just couldn’t resist!

The Weeknight Serving Bowl is the one I use most often—it’s great for serving pasta, veggie sides, smaller protein servings, etc. But the Oval Platter is the showstopper, and the one I was most excited about. It’s just stunning and makes for a real statement piece, especially in this color.

If you’re moving, making a wedding registry, or just in the market for dishes and serveware that you actually love, this obviously is up your alley, but even if you aren’t, East Fork makes a bunch of other pieces that are worth checking out. I use their Bitty Bowl to hold my supplements and allergy medicine, and it also makes for a good bedside companion to hold jewelry while you sleep. Their mugs are adorable (the small one is my favorite!) and a well-priced gift. And a set of their Cake Plates is an easy way to get the accent color look without having to overhaul your whole dining set!

Other Recent Home Additions

It’s Taurus season, which means it’s time for my favorite candle in the whole Madame Grey collection! Bamboo and violet, nutty praline, and light citrus notes make for the perfect spring-y combination (PRIYANKA20). I treated myself to this set of three ceramic baking dishes, and now it feels like my bakeware collection is complete. And my woven umbrella basket sold out, but this one looks even better! Such a nice (and practical!) addition to an entryway, and looks so good against the deep burgundy of everyone’s favorite rug (PRIYANKA15).

Shitters. ‘Tis the season for a good beauty sale, and thank God because if there’s one thing that I HATE, it’s paying full price for something I know can reliably be found on sale at least a few times a year.

If you’ve been here a minute, you know I love the Credo sale for a few reasons:

1. It’s the same 20% off discount for everyone. No spending tiers to unlock higher discounts, no Rouge status necessary.

2. It’s GOOD stuff. They stock so many of the best skin, body, hair, beauty, and fragrance brands—oftentimes the same things we’re all racing to buy during the S*phora sale, but can get at a better price right here.

3. They do the vetting for you. I don’t live and die by the “clean” label—most of my beauty products are, others technically aren’t—but Credo has rigorous clean standards, meaning that if that is something you prioritize, they’ve done the work of vetting ingredients for you. That doesn’t automatically mean every single product will be a fit for your needs, but it does mean that you can rest a little easier about some of your concerns while browsing.

Tbh, this is the sale I tell my friends to wait it out for. What follows are the things you shouldn’t miss (and a few other good sale finds too!):

Tata Harper Mask: Top of the list for a reason! This BHA and enzyme mask gently exfoliates (and I mean GENTLY) with zero burning or irritation. 15 minutes with it is a one-way ticket to brighter, more even-looking, happy skin. I like it just as much before a night out as I do on a night in. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve repurchased over the years—we have to be into double digits.

Le Prunier Mask + Face Oil: This brand is newer to me, but I’ve loved everything I’ve tried by them so far (this candle is sold out on their site, but was my intro to the line and one of my favorites for summer/fall!). Their hero ingredient is plum, which in addition to being delicious, is nourishing and rich in antioxidants for the skin. The mask itself is very similar to Tata’s above—it use enzymes to exfoliate super gently. On paper it’s pricier, but it comes in a larger size—per mL, it’s actually slightly less expensive (girl math turned real math!). Plus it’s purple, which is just fun! I believe the Face Oil is their hero product—it’s rich and hydrating, but completely non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts (huge!). And I love the way it smells—just like marzipan! Sidenote: The founder’s gorgeous wedding was in Vogue recently. I’m a sucker for a good Vogue Weddings feature (paging , we must discuss), and this was one of my favorites!

Habelo Hand Serum: I’ve mentioned this here before—it’s a hand serum/ treatment that’s meant to tackle fine lines, crepe-y skin, loss of firmness and elasticity—all the fun things that happen to our hardworking hands over the years. Unlike other treatments, this one doesn’t include retinol, but I actually prefer that. I find that those ones tend to make my hands feel dryer afterwards, whereas this just feels deeply nourishing and hydrating. A little goes a long way—I put a dime-sized dollop on my hands before going to bed, and it feels like a little luxury that my hands get to marinate in all night. It also comes in a set with a pair of gloves that help lock in the benefits overnight.

Jillian Dempsey Kohl + Kosas Eyebrow Pencil: I prefer this eyeliner to queen VB’s cult-favorite, which is really all you need to know (plus the fact that the ingredients are better for you feels important for something that’s going in and around your waterline). And once again, this is the only brow pencil I’ve found that doesn’t make me look like I have cartoon eyebrows. (P.S. If you’re looking for a concealer, this is the one Hailey Bieber is always using in her GRWMs!!)

ROZ everything: I know I’m a broken record at this point, but their Salt Scrub and Root Lift Spray are my true holy grails. (I feel like I really figured out my hair in the past few years—this routine has yet to fail me.)

Saie Powder Bronzer + Brush: This is a PRIME example of something people run for during the Sephora sale, but can find right here for a better discount. I for one am here for the return of powder bronzer. Theirs is smooth and perfecting—I wear shade Portofino. And whether or not you use their powder, don’t skip their brushes. They’re so well made for the price. Their setting spray is also one of my favorite new discoveries—I always buy the small size and theirs is under $15.

Westman everything: Old news at this point, but my queen Gucci Westman can truly do no wrong. My forever GOATs are the foundation stick (I spot conceal with this daily and have never felt better about my skin) and this highlighting stick in Nectar, but I also love their mascara (perfect for everyday wear), this tinted lip balm/stick hybrid (currently torn between Glogg and Bob), and these matte bronzing drops (a true tan in a bottle).

DedCool fragrance: This cool-girl layering fragrance is one of your (the readers of SIBAL’s) favorite products of ALL TIME. Seriously, you guys LOVE this stuff, and I don’t blame you! Lately I’ve been using it to layer with sweeter fragrances to make them a little more wearable day-to-day. If you’re ready for the next step up, they also make scented detergent (still clean!)—I’ve tried all of them, but this is the one I always come back to.

More Credo Favorites

Other sale finds: Idk about you, but it feels like Brooklinen has been running a 25% off sale for the last month and a half?? As someone who always ends up forgetting to grab things I need during sales, this is very welcome IMO. (I already know this bed blanket will be replacing my comforter on hot summer nights.) 20% off diamonds?! Technically the discount’s for mom (code is literally 4MAMA), but if you use it to treat yourself I won’t tell! I finally grabbed one of these stackable mats a few months ago and have loved it for at-home workouts (I prefer the XL size personally—I hate feeling confined to a tiny mat). They’re rarely on sale, but MOM15 gets you 15% off. And not technically on sale, but Margaux will give you $40 off your first pair, so if you’ve been eyeing these wrap sandals (literally the only comfortable pair in existence), now’s not a bad time!

Related Reading

Several of the products in these newsletters are from Credo as well!

Today’s letter was written in partnership with OSEA Malibu—they’re forever one of my favorite clean beauty and body care brands, and VERY popular among the moms I’ve spoken to over the years! If you’d like to partner on a future newsletter, drop me a note.

Shitters! Mother’s Day isn’t until May 10th (mark your calendars!), but if there’s one person who’s always prepared, it’s mom, so why not take a page out of her book and get ahead on your gift ideas!

This year I went straight to the source and talked to a bunch of mom friends to bring you the things at the top of their wishlists. Moms aren’t a monolith, but there were a few common threads: Most of the expecting moms were primarily interested in things for the baby. The new moms loved gifts that involved pampering, but they emphasized being mindful of the logistical and childcare burdens that come along with enjoying those things. The moms of school age kids… most of them just wanted a break! Think staycation, girls trip, time that they could safely turn their brains off without having to worry about everything at home. And when in doubt, know that you can’t go wrong with jewelry—it was mentioned by almost every person I spoke to. Diamonds are a mom’s best friend!

Plenty of ideas that cover all of the above and more follow—I hope you find something fun to treat a special mom in your life!

Starting strong with OSEA’s Body Glow Trio (PRIYANKA10). This specific body oil has been mentioned by name by several new mom friends over the years! Most told me that they savored nice skin and body care products, especially in the early postpartum days. I had always assumed that new moms would be too busy to really enjoy that stuff, but so many said that they appreciated little things that elevated the few minutes they have to themselves. This trio from OSEA does exactly that—their hero Undaria Algae body oil is deeply hydrating and nourishing, the citrus-y body wash is gentle with a bright, uplifting scent, and I love to layer their lightweight body lotion first and then lock in the moisture with the oil. The price is a steal ($68 for two full size products, plus the travel size lotion), and our discount works on top of it! It’s worth grabbing a few to treat all the moms in your life!

To that same end, ROZ’s sets have gotten rave reviews from new mom friends (it’s what I’ve sent a couple of them!), Glamsquad (SIBAL for $25 off) is a great way to gift an at-home mani/pedi or a blowout (why not both?!), and this Mane brush helps style otherwise lifeless hair in five minutes or less!

You know we love diamonds, and this list has plenty of options! This solitaire is simple, stunning, and $500ish (an astonishingly good price for real gold and a natural diamond—I’m not a mom but I might have to grab for myself…). These lab diamond tennis bracelets are beautiful in person, and easier to wear on the playground than the real thing. Sophie Bille Brahe’s initial necklace is cooler than most for the mom who wants to keep her baby’s name close. And if she’s wearing a giant diamond pendant, she’s my kind of mom!

Judging by how many times my own mom has not so subtly hinted that I should bring my sauna blanket home for her, I think I know what she wants this year! I imagine it would also be a hit with other moms of adult children (just don’t forget the towel inserts!). My mom is also obsessed with manuka honey—I just know she would finish this face mask in a week and a half or less.

This chic gathering basket was made for the moms who love to garden, and this packable visor pairs perfectly. Plus it rolls up and fits right into diaper bags for trips to the playground! Le Prunier (SIBAL15) makes a luxe mineral SPF and a fabulous set for the moms who are into clean beauty—their gentle exfoliating mask is one of my favorites! And for the mom who’s never sacrificing style, try these snakeskin slingbacks (I love these sandals by them too!).

Other ideas that didn’t make the collage cut: Audiobook credits, the ultimate travel companion (PRIYANKA20), massage gift certificates, a solo night at a nice hotel, and class packs to her favorite workout studio.

Flowers? For Mother’s Day? Groundbreaking. But if you know she really loves them, spice up her life with a cool girl florist! I did that one year, and my mom couldn’t stop talking about how amazing they were! For the same scent without any of the upkeep, the XL version of this candle is a showstopper.

Most washable silk PJs are not so great IRL, but these ones are an exception! They’re SO soft, lightweight, and insanely luxurious, and I love the stripes! For the mom who prefers a bolder look, these fun bath robes are another favorite (currently on sale, and available in a summer-ready length too!), and this brand makes another very popular mom bag option (seriously—it was mentioned three separate times by various friends!).

Most moms could use a martini, but that doesn’t feel like enough on its own, so pair it with Goop’s Martini Bath Soak and let her enjoy it in the bath while you handle dinner/bedtime. Throw in some Naked Beauty eye masks (PRIYANKA15) for good measure. At $50ish, Furtuna’s lip balm (PRIYANKA15), Chanel’s lip & cheek, and Hermes’s rosy lip oil also make for sweet little treats for the mom with luxurious taste.

Splurgier: A full red light panel (when the Venn Diagram between almond mom and biohacker overlap), this red light helmet (for the mom who misses her hair pre-kids and doesn’t mind looking a little insane to get it back), and a calendar charm (for the sentimental mom who’s decidedly less newfangled!).

A good night’s sleep and motherhood don’t always go hand-in-hand, but OSEA’s Bio-Retinol Body Serum (PRIYANKA10) can help with that! The bio-retinol works to firm and smooth, while lavender and magnesium promote relaxation and better sleep. The texture feels like a lightweight moisturizer and I love it after a hot shower right before bed.

If you want to know what’s at the top of every mom’s list this year, it’s this perfect tote (paging my friend Margaret’s husband—this one’s for you!!). She also mentioned these Petite Plume PJs…! Other popular pairs: These from Negative (splurgy, so they make a good gift) and this breast feeding-friendly pair by Lake Pajamas (a new mom favorite).

Fewer Finer’s jewelry box is always a good idea—even better if you plan to fill it over the years! Some ideas: Cutout charms of your kids’ or family’s zodiac signs (these are petite, so you can wear multiple together), these stunning birthstone charms, or the ultimate mom watch (don’t shoot the messenger!).

For the moms who love tea, Forgrave does sweet customizable canisters and tea sets (PRIYANKA15). For the ones who like a little whimsy, why not wear a Loewe watering can?! On the more practical side, this fun pearl cord was made for the mom who’s always losing her phone. And my friend Juliet says this is the only hair clip that has survived her two young daughters—she keeps one in every bag.

And last but never least, Venus et Fleur’s forever flowers are a forever favorite for moms at every stage! Whether she’s an empty nester who spends half the year traveling or a brand new mom celebrating a new arrival, go the extra mile and make sure the flowers will still be beautiful when she has a minute to enjoy them!

More Ideas:

Shitters! First things first, the Sephora sale is now open to all! In case you missed it, here are my favorite new releases, plus a peek at what’s in my cart so far:

Ok, back to business! I wrote the first installment of a letter like this last fall, and thought that the change in season could be a good time for another! The premise is simple—these are things that just make me feel good. Maybe you do some already, maybe a few are new to you, but here’s hoping you find something that makes you feel the same!

1. Rose-scented everything. Just lifts my mood!

2. My morning matcha. What a genuine JOY in my day. I use cashew milk, maple syrup, and this matcha powder, and I swear it’s the most delicious matcha latte I’ve ever had.

3. A spontaneous weeknight dinner out. Bonus points for a Monday or Tuesday! I’m all for starting the week strong with healthy dinners and early nights, but sometimes there’s nothing better than ditching the routine, especially on a warm spring night—that’s living!

My hot take of the day. Say whatever you want, but I know in my soul that I’m right about this one!!!

4. Putting my phone on a charger in the kitchen by 10pm. I held out on doing this for yeeeears, but my sleep has gotten so much better from not having a phone to reach for while I’m trying to wind down.

5. Similarly, having to get up to turn off my alarm because it’s in the kitchen. Makes it impossible to hit snooze and sleep in (even on my most tired days I’m already out of bed, so I’ll just roll into my morning routine), and has changed my natural wake time. Doesn’t feel amazing in the moment, but makes me feel sooo much better long term.

6. Crossing spots off of my restaurant list! I love the feeling of finally going somewhere that I’ve been meaning to try. A few I’ve tried recently: L’Veau D’Or (the mains were amazing, but I wasn’t crazy about the rest of the meal and it really didn’t feel worth it for the price tbh), Clemente Bar (I LOVED this one—great drinks and much easier walk-in situation than I anticipated, I’ll definitely be back!), and Ambassador’s Clubhouse (an impossible table, but if you can get one, go and order literally everything!).

7. Trying something you wanted on in-person and realizing it’s not for you! Feels like dodging a bullet, tbh! This happened to me recently with an Hermes bag I tried via Vivrelle, a service that lets you borrow luxury bags and jewelry. I always thought I would get so much use out of it, but once it arrived, I realized I just didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. Now imagine if I hadn’t done that and saved to buy it for real…! I’d be pissed! This is one very specific scenario, but the same applies to shopping for anything (though if you’re curious about Vivrelle, they did give us a code for a free month to try it—PRIYANKA. I plan to use it to test drive other pieces I’ve had on my eye!).

8. Watching the buds start to spring up on trees. My apartment is at tree level, which I love because it lets me keep an eye on how the trees change throughout the year. The leaves on the one outside my widow have just started to sprout, and seeing the green after months of bare branches makes me feel like our six month winter is finally ending!

9. When the 70% off final sale gamble pays off! I’m not one to play final sale roulette often—it usually feels higher risk than reward—but this dream skirt and Loretta Caponi dress were rare exceptions, and both worked perfectly!

10. 10 minutes with my legs up on the headboard before bed. It’s supposed to help with digestion, but to me it just feels good, especially on tired legs!

11. Learning more about our brave new world. If you had asked me a year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you much of anything about AI. But between my TIME podcast (linked to one of my favorite episodes of the season!) and a new content strategy client, I’ve learned SO much about innovation in the space and what to anticipate in the future. It’s easy to feel like things are too complicated or that you’re too far behind to catch up, but time and time again I find that turning towards those things—politics, AI, personal finance, wine, whatever it may be—feels SO much better than staying stuck. And frankly, a lot of people who are dumber than you do it, so there’s no reason that you, a smart person, can’t! That wisdom comes courtesy of my dad attempting to help me with high school math, but has been very widely applicable!

12. Fun workout class of the week! Exercise is mostly a solitary activity for me, but lately I’m trying to mix it up by going to a new class a few times a month. It’s a fun way to try something I’m excited or intrigued by (Tracy Anderson, anyone???!) and be around/inspired by the cool girls of NYC.

13. Prepping breakfast. When it comes to lunch or dinner, I usually always make enough to have leftovers, but breakfast was always made to order by me/ for me every morning. Especially on days when I have things to do on the earlier side, it’s nice to have something prepped and easy to reheat (I tend to prefer cooked things over cold foods like yogurt or overnight oats in the AM). Lately I’ve been doing simple frittatas—6 eggs, a cup of cottage cheese, s&p, and a mix of cooked veggies (this week its leeks and squash!) in the oven at 350 for 30 mins. Easy, healthy, and very yummy!

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14. The warmth of the sun combined with the cool breeze from the Hudson that you get on warmer evenings on the West Side Highway. One of the weirdest and best combination of feelings!

15. “Strawberry milk.” I always forget that you can just have protein powder with water or nut milk instead of in a full blown smoothie. I’ve been loving this one over ice as a little afternoon beverage—tastes just like strawberry milk!

16. A few miles, push pace, club rat music. I’m not normally a club rat kind of girl, but nothing gets the endorphins going quite the same way!

17. Finding the perfect pair of vintage Levi’s. Sifting through piles of jeans yourself is one way to do it, but I love places like Sorbara’s in Williamsburg or RLT in LA that pull pairs based on your sizing and guide you through the process (I’ve found dream pairs at both!).

18. Keeping a running donation bag. Getting rid of shit you don’t need, use, or love anymore is FREEING! I keep one of the countless free tote bags I always seem to acquire ready to fill with items around the house to donate. When it starts to get full, I walk it over to Housing Works. Rinse and repeat!

19. Similarly, giving things to people who love them! My sister was visiting this weekend and commented on a bag in my closet (this is similar). Guess whose day was made when I replied “that one?? You can have it!” Where you can/it makes sense, make someone’s day! It feels good and opens space for things that are better suited to come to you.

20. Sending and receiving a LONG ass voice note. I used to be anti-voice note, but I’ve done a total 180 in the past six months, especially for long distance friends who are hard to catch on the phone. I’ll listen to them instead of a podcast or music while I cook, commute, or get ready, and now there’s nothing I love more than seeing a 10+ minute voice note come in.

21. A 10 minute feeling dump. I wrote about this in an earlier newsletter, but when I’m feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or am ruminating on something, etc. I set a timer for 10-15 minutes, open a blank Google doc (or Notes app page), and go to town. It’s not for the purpose of documenting, it’s just to let out the feeling. I think I have a pretty good read on how I’m feeling and why most of the time, but this practice has helped me put words to some of the layers that are harder to fully access or articulate while they swirl around in my head, and then to move forward after instead of stewing.

22. BLASTING OLD JB. Apologies to all of my neighbors—post-Coachella there is no end in sight!

23. A productive morning, preferably at a window seat in 12 Matcha. Locking in for a few hours of concentrated work before noon makes me feel SO accomplished. (Once again, please be chill and do not kidnap me—no one will pay a ransom to get me back, and I will probably annoy the hell out of you. It’s a lose-lose situation!!!)

24. 40 minutes roasting in my sauna blanket (preferably while reading, but most likely while scrolling...). Aside from being something you can plug in whenever you want, sauna blankets keep your face and hair safe from pigmentation and damage, while still giving your body the infrared sauna benefits. PRIYANKA15 also sweetens the deal!

25. Homemade Twix Bars. My new obsession on the nights I need a little sweet treat. Kiki’s Greek cheesecake on the nights I need a bigger one 😏

Shitters! How do you measure a year? In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee?? (Now is probably a bad time to admit that I’ve never actually seen Rent, but thanks to middle school girls chorus, this song is ETCHED into the wrinkles of my brain.)

As it turns out, my years are measured Sephora sales. There are two big ones every year, and every time one comes around, I always find myself reminiscing on what was happening in my life during the last one. Now that’s not something I’m particularly proud of (nor do I do that with any old sale), but for whatever reason, Sephora’s has become a true anchor in the passage of time in my life... perhaps something to unpack at a later date.

These musings were brought on by none other than Sephora’s Spring Savings Event (code SPRINGSALE). It starts today for Rouge members with 20% off (this is the first year in a while that I don’t have Rouge status, and though that’s probably because I’ve made it onto a couple PR lists, I would like to think that nature is healing!), and it opens on Monday for everyone else with 10-15% off.

Think of these as the highlights—the new releases that are worth the hype, the hidden gems worth checking out, and the old faithfuls that I always add to cart. (Protip: The code works throughout the duration of the sale, so use it as many times as you like!)

New Standouts

m.ph Le Skin Weightless Foundation + Brush

I have a weakness for complexion products, but dare I say this one is the very best. It has a thin, serum-like consistency and super lightweight feel with medium coverage and an absolutely gorgeous finish. It isn’t no makeup-makeup—it’s what a no makeup-makeup girl would wear if she wanted to go out but not look too done up. I’ve worn it to every special event, big night out, hot date, less hot date, etc., and it has never once made me look cakey or pulled a disappearing act. Most of the time you don’t need a new brush for a new foundation, but I will say, this one is helpful for the best application. It’s fluffier and much less dense than traditional foundation brushes, which is ideal for this formula. I went into the line expecting their underpainting palette to be my favorite, but to me it’s this foundation and Lip Ciggy in Overdrive for life.

Sofie Pavitt Face Screentime Sunscreen SPF 30

Daily SPF use is the single most effective way to protect against skin cancer and premature signs of aging. Read that again. You’re not stupid, so don’t do something as stupid as skipping sunscreen! This is the SPF for the skincare lover, the sunscreen hater, and everyone in between. Zero white cast. Feels like your favorite moisturizer. Won’t break you out. Easy to reapply. It’s hydrating without looking or feeling greasy, has no tint (which my preference for daily wear and makes it easy to share with the boys), and it doesn’t pill under makeup. Boom, one and done, the one product everyone needs.

Eadem The Mark Advanced Dark Spot Concentrate

I’m always hesitant about adding new things into my skincare routine, but this targeted dark spot treatment came recommended to me by Sofie herself. If you deal with with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, or age spots, this is worth trying. It’s formulated as a spot treatment with high concentration of tranexamic acid along with brightening ingredients like kojic acid and alpha arbutin that work to fade dark spots quickly. I’ve only been using it for a month, but I’ve noticed improvements in stubborn areas already.

InnBeauty Project Pro C Serum

This is another skin standout. It has 15% vitamin C and ferulic acid, similar to SkinCeuticals’ cult-favorite (and vastly more expensive) CE Ferulic serum, but with ingredients like tranexamic acid, alpha arbutin, peptides, and growth factors specifically to brighten the skin and target dark spots and hyperpigmentation. If those are the results you’re looking for, this is a really good option. In general, this brand excels at delivering effective formulas (their Extreme Cream has long been a SIBAL-favorite) at much better prices than their comps.

Saie CitySet Setting Spray

Setting spray is nothing new, but Saie is a clean beauty brand, and it’s really impressive to me that this longwear version works better than my old one with their higher standard for ingredients.

More Highlights

Skincare

I never used to buy any skincare at Sephora, but they’ve really stepped up their selection! My favorites include Dieux—I’ve tried a million cleansers, but I always come back to theirs, Sofie Pavitt Face—her hero Mandelic Serum embodies her low and slow approach to clearing skin and you already know how I feel about her SPF, and EADEM—their lip balm is the OG, but the dark spot concentrate mentioned above is my new favorite. They also stock U Beauty now, so this is a good time to save (their neck cream is my new obsession). InnBeauty Project’s Vitamin C serum from above is a hidden gem. And don’t forget my favorite Rhode moisturizer (now under $30), and these Shiseido cotton rounds either.

Base Face

Putting makeup on dry skin is miserable—I moisturize beforehand (either with Sofie’s SPF or this), or rehydrate/prime with Rhode’s Glazing Milk. For foundation, I switch between this Westman Atelier stick for everyday and m.ph’s foundation when I want to step it up. I prefer spot concealing during the daytime as opposed to wearing a full face of product, but if you like a tinted moisturizer, Merit’s tinted mineral SPF is worth your attention. It has a slightly matte, perfecting finish that’s surprisingly similar to Dior’s foundation stick, great shade matches, and SPF 45. It’s as much of a standout makeup product as it is standout sunscreen, which is HARD to pull off. Haus Labs concealer does the job if I need some extra coverage, and I top everything with Saie’s powder and setting spray.

Blush, Bronzer, and Highlighter

Aka the stuff that makes you look alive! I’m a big fan of Rhode’s Pocket Blushes—they’re relatively inexpensive and are easy to apply. My favorite is Sleepy Girl, but I like Tan Line for the summer—it wears like a blush/bronzer combo. Westman Atelier’s Garconne is a more upscale, clean version, but they’re in a similar color family. Three bronzer recs depending on your preference: Makeup By Mario is the OG and truly foolproof (I like it for underpainting), Westman’s bronzing drops are the most natural-looking tan (but note that the shades run dark—I wear #2), and Saie’s new bronzer is bringing powder back! I like to dust it on top of simple makeup, or use it to set cream bronzer (I wear shade Portofino). And don’t forget a little highlight. I use this mini by Westman to bring a little glow back to the skin at the end. Trust me, you don’t need the big size.

Eyes, Lips, and Extras

The fun stuff! I love Rhode’s lip liners (Twist is super flattering, but if you like a lip contour shade, try Lean), Merit’s Satin Lipstick in 1990 is my dream 90’s brown, and m.ph’s sheer balm in Overdrive might be my favorite lip product of all time. If you like a plumping gloss, Fara Homidi’s works without stinging, and Eadem’s exfoliating balm is the best for my fellow chapped lip girls. Eyes-wise, I’ve been really impressed with Kulfi’s mascara for everyday, Kosas makes the only brow pencil that doesn’t make me look like a cartoon villain, and Merit’s Solo Shadow in Glacé is super flattering. And I don’t love most of the fragrance at Sephora, except for DedCool’s. Milk is their classic you-but-better scent, but their new Mineral Milk is my favorite. It’s more marine and serene.

Brushes

You don’t need a million of them, but the right brushes change everything. My old faithfuls are these by Makeup by Mario (1/2)—you can do a whole face with just those. This one in particular is the only reason I can blend cream or liquid blush. I mentioned m.ph’s earlier—it’s different than most other foundation brushes and pairs really well with their formula for light application. Haus Labs makes an amazing concealer brush, and Saie’s brushes are so well-made for the price. This fluffy one in particular is my go-to for powders.

Hair

You know I love ROZ’s Shampoo and Conditioner (the sale applies to that already discounted set), and their Salt Scrub is a newer favorite (but be careful using it with keratin or color-treated hair!). For the days you have less time, Crown Affair’s dry shampoo has your back, and now they make a refillable travel size so you don’t have to lug the big one everywhere. I’m loyal to this blow dry brush for styling (sorry Dyson!), and I’m curious about this brand too—I’ve heard lots of good things! This OG by Kerastase is still my heat protectant of choice, and I will never say no to more of these green silk scrunchies.

Body

A few girlfriends were asking me about body moisturizers recently—my favorite is hands down Kate McLeod’s body stone. They’re solid lotion bars without the dilution of traditional liquid lotions and the extra packaging that goes to waste. They feel super luxurious and are my favorite thing post-shower (I like the Daily and Grounding stones best). Hanni does a similar concept that’s easier to bring on the go/on travel. Soft Services makes a mean buffing bar, and they do fun scent collaborations (the latest one is with the sunscreen brand Vacation). And speaking of sunscreen, Ultra Violette makes the single best body SPF I have ever tried. Lightweight, water-resistant, absorbs easily, no white cast. If you go to the beach, play sports or exercise outside, or just like having fun in the sun, you need.

More Sephora Picks:

Shitters. I need you to raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by the Toteme flip flop heels. I wore them out to dinner on Friday and now I can’t even take a shower without wincing, that’s how many open wounds there are on my feet! Why did no one warn me?!! Praying that a little moleskin under the straps will help because they really are a perfect-looking casual heel, but if that doesn’t work… straight to the curb (or perhaps the ER to get my feet amputated).

Those were not a new addition to the closet, though it was clearly my first time breaking them out! As I said in an earlier letter, there have been fewer new additions lately (minus a simple longsleeve from the J.Crew sale and this fun transitional sweater, aka my answer to dopamine dressing. PRIYANKA20 still works on all W&W, which we love!). Instead, my focus has shifted more towards purchases that make my life easier, better, or more comfortable. Call it high maintenance things to be low maintenance?

Think keratin to make my hair easier to wear down on a daily basis without having to blow it out or stress about preserving it. I feel more confident when my hair is down and done than when it’s up in a frizzy bun, and this is making it easier for me to do that (though I do have thoughts about the version I tried). Microneedling to improve my skin quality and texture instead of trying new skin products (not a knock on skincare—your home care routine is one of the most important things for your skin—but you have to be realistic about the results you’re looking for and whether you can actually get them from a bottle). Home upgrades that are way less fun in the moment than say a new pair of pants (bad example—more comfy casual pants actually would make my life easier!), but have a bigger payoff in the long run. I would argue that even The Row tote I scored during a recent TRR promo falls into the same category by giving me something a little more elevated than my go-to Boat and Tote when I want to cart my water bottle and other odds and ends around (I love the long strap version of the latter, but one of the two straps always falls down my shoulder without fail).

I saw Monique at Jenna Perry for a formaldehyde-free keratin (Cezanne). It tamed the frizz without changing my hair’s curl pattern, meaning it still dries wavy, but without any frizziness or sensitivity to rain or humidity. A couple initial downsides though—your hair smells funky when it’s wet for the first few weeks (no one warned me about that!) and I’m noticing more flakes than usual in my dark hair (residue?). Jury’s still out, we’ll see how the next few months go. And Sofie Pavitt is my go-to for skin always. Fair pricing, super knowledgeable staff, and they never upsell you on unnecessary things.

Similar themes are carrying through to my current obsessions. While they’re less treatment/ investment-oriented than the above, they all serve to make my day-to-day life a little easier and myself a little more comfortable in it. More below for your perusing pleasure!

In My Cart/Heart

Lacquer Box: This isn’t even jewelry, but it’s one of my favorite Fewer Finer pieces yet! This gorgeous lacquered box in two green tones makes for a perfect jewelry box, keep-all for your trinkets, accent piece, etc. I rarely get that “need to have it immediately” feeling, but this was one of those. I love that it’s something I want to have out in my space rather than stuffed into a closet or cabinet somewhere. That makes for a better jewelry box in my opinion—things that are out of sight also tend to be out of mind, and I think that having this out will inspire me to switch up my pieces more often (aka get better use out of investments I’ve already made. Girl math?!). P.S. FF’s jewelry is rarely ever on sale, but it will be later this week for anyone in the market!

The top of my jewelry wishlist on Alison Loehnis. One thing about me—there is no demo I get more style inspiration from than rail thin, wildly rich 50+ year old white women. Gucci. Suzie. Alison. Sorry, but there is no one doing it better.

Activewear Tops: I have to be honest, I need serious help in this department. I have a decent collection of leggings and sports bras, but one thing I don’t really have are things to wear on top of them during a workout. If I’m streaming a class at home, who cares—sports bra and sweats or bike shorts, easy. But for the most part, when I go to the gym or run outside, I don’t like being out in just a sports bra. Even on my best body image days, it just makes me feel exposed. These long sleeves are easy in colder weather, but once it warms up, I’m at a loss.

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Shitters! I don’t know about you, but it felt to me like March was a big behind the scenes month. I wrote a little less frequently. I had a fewer events and big things on the calendar (and was doing less shopping than usual, too). But SO much has been in the works—in work, in life, everything!—laying the groundwork for a full and exciting spring ahead! Today’s letter is a quick rundown of the things I came back to time and time again that are carrying me through into April.

Sidenote: While you’re here, Shopbop is currently running their 20% off spring sale! I used to shop there more frequently than I do lately, but they have a great selection of basics, and stock so many newer brands that frequently sell out on their own sites—think Leset, Still Here, Renggli, etc. IMO, it’s worth a browse! Linking to my Shopbop Hearts (hello real influencer alert?!) here!

1. Charcoal Sweater: March is technically late in the game to add a new sweater into the rotation, but it was still freezing half the time, so I felt an exception was allowed. This wool-cotton gem became my new hyperfixation—I had to keep myself from reaching for it by the end of the month because it quickly became the only thing I wanted to wear! It’s the quintessential charcoal color that I’m always searching for (dark/neutral, but less harsh than black), and the chunky knit gives it dimension without getting too bulky in the shape/fit (I wear the small). No less than three friends asked about it at some point (that’s how often I was wearing it…), but that means something had to be right! They’re a newer-to-me brand (they say the name is pronounced “four four zero,” which makes zero sense to me!), but I’ve been impressed so far.

2. My Cooking Shows! Top Chef is back, but that’s not all!!! This year, Padma Lakshmi (former Top Chef host) is hosting a new cooking competition show called America’s Culinary Cup. I feel like they’ve done a really bad job publicizing it, but it’s a bunch of VERY decorated chefs (too many Michelin stars/ James Beard awards among them to count) competing for $1 million dollars (which is 4x the Top Chef prize money)… tell me you’re trying to get people to watch the new CBS without telling me. Don’t get me wrong—CBS sucks, I do not fuck with Bari Weiss (never did!), and it’s kinda wild watching Tony Dokoupil torpedo his previously normal reputation (was he always like this???), but on the other hand, I do like having two cooking shows in my rotation... very Kombucha-girl-meme situation (it’s a JOKEEE don’t cancel me!!!!). Of the two, Top Chef is still the better watch.

3. Tshirt Cardigan (PRIYANKA15): This is another newer-to-me brand that I really like so far. In general, I love a cardigan-style top made from t-shirt material (this one isn’t nearly as cropped on me as it is on the model). I tend to reach for these more often than regular tees or long sleeves because they’re slightly more interesting, but they pair just as easily with jeans for casual outfits, or loungey pants at home or traveling. This is exactly what I would wear on a lowkey night in with a friend (or a boy!). It’s comfy and relaxed, but not frumpy or shapeless like sweats can be, a little playful with the neckline, but not trying too hard. Plus it’s light enough to wear in the summer, but not that paper-thin weight you sweat through within five minutes. They also make nice-looking men’s basics too if you’re in the market!

4. My New Phone Routine: At the ripe age of 31 I have made a serious stride towards real adulthood—putting my phone away before bed!!! I’m not perfect about it, but especially early in the week I try to put my phone on a charger in my kitchen by 9:45pm and get into bed with a book or episode of TV (I tore through Forget Me Not last week if you’re in need of a rec!). It’s not at all revolutionary advice, but it really has helped me get to bed more easily and not be tempted to reach for my phone when I can’t fall asleep. (It also turns out that you really don’t miss much on your phone during those hours other than AI fruit slop TikToks…). Less fun in the morning, but having to get up and go to the kitchen to turn off the alarm also forces me out of bed on days when I otherwise would’ve hit snooze for longer than I care to admit…

5. Electric Toothbrush (PRIYANKA for 15% off): I’ve raved about this thing repeatedly recently, but it’s worth it—the lightest/ sleekest/ least visually offensive electric toothbrush that I’ve ever seen with none of the unnecessary bells and whistles (no app to download or 15 different settings to toggle through)—just a simple two minute timer, perfectly firm-but-not-too-hard bristles, and a month long battery life (life-changing, tbh). Oh, and the travel case doubles as a charger and connects directly to an iPhone cord, because who the hell remembers to bring their toothbrush charger with them on vacation (not me!). Couldn’t love it more if I tried, and it’s on sale!

6. At-Home Manicures: Everyone is asking about Celisse lately, and I have THOUGHTS! First of all, it really is as easy as everyone says. I have never had the patience to do my own nails consistently (respect if that’s your thing, it’s NOT mine), but this is the only product that has remotely changed that. Their polish dries REALLY quickly (under two minutes), and it takes me a max of 10 to give myself a full manicure, including trimming/ filing, buffing, adding two coats of polish and a top coat, to end up with fully dry, pretty decent-looking nails. Cut that time in half if you just need to paint (this is forever my polish remover of choice). BUT the downside is that it does chip pretty quickly. I would not do my nails with this once and expect it to stay looking good for a full week. This is closer to four days. If you don’t mind doing a quick fix every now and then, go for it. It’s way less expensive than getting regular manicures—I have friends who stash theirs at their desk and touch up between calls (I do it while I watch Top Chef). But if you prefer a one-and-done, lasts a full week and half or two without having to think about it situation, I’d stick with Dazzle Dry manis at your local spot. I use mine a decent amount, which is why it’s here, but that may not be the case for everyone! Also, if your skin is my tone or darker, Camisole is probably the only color you’ll actually use.

7. New Lip Shit: Two things I’ve been loving lately: First is this new release by Isla (PRIYANKA15). I’ve tried every lip balm under the sun, but never something quite like this. It’s hydrating and smoothing (not at all glossy or gloopy), and feels velvety on the lips. The metal applicator is a nice touch too (especially at this price point—$25 with our code!). It feels like it’s actually hydrating your lips rather than just sitting on top of them, and has a subtle sheen/finish that just makes them look good. The second is this hydrating gloss by Anfisa. It’s technically a lip treatment (similar to UBeauty’s, though I actually prefer this one). It’s lighter/pinker than I’d normally go for, so I’ve been so surprised by how much I love it! It has a slightly frosted finish, which always reminds me of a metallic-y lip crayon that I would steal from my mom as a kid. It also tastes DELICIOUS—truly like an angel food cake! I rarely finish lip glosses because I have SO many, but I’ve made a serious dent in this one already!

8. Mini Dry Shampoo (PRIYANKA15): Crown Affair’s aerosol-free dry shampoo was the first of its kind to go mainstream (and an OG SIBAL favorite). Now that same formula is available in a pint-sized travel spray. Huge news for me, because I was previously lugging the full size along with me whenever I’d go away for a weekend! It fits easily into small purses (or already overstuffed toiletry bags).

Shitters! When I started this newsletter, the goal was to share the Shit I Bought and Liked with you, the (my) people! The recs have run the gamut over the years, but some of my favorite letters have been about the more random shit that I love, and I’d like to think that today’s falls into that same category.

I’d say that I’m a casual tea drinker. It’s not always what I go for, but I do like my morning matcha and something herbal/caffeine-free most nights, especially when it’s cold out. Over the years, I’ve found a few brands and blends that I love, and I thought it would be fun to share some of them! Disclaimer: I’m definitely not a tea expert. I haven’t tried all the brands and blends out there—not even close! These are just ones that I’ve enjoyed!

Kiwami Matcha: A lot of matcha can taste grassy or earthier than I like, but not this one. The notes are naturally creamy and sweeter, which lends itself nicely to matcha lattes. Making them at home means I can control the amount of matcha powder that goes in (I always use a little less than one teaspoon because I’m really not a caffeine person), and can use my preferred milk combo (I froth this cashew milk with 2/3 a scoop of this marine collagen/pearl blend* for protein/skin benefits, plus a little maple syrup for some sweetness). I get my perfect latte every single time, which is NOT the case at most cafes, and don’t have to spend $10+ per drink. (It’s definitely a decent up-front cost between the matcha powder and the tools, but the packets lasts me around three months. I started with the smaller size before I committed to the bigger one, but trust me—it’s GOOD). As far as tools go, I treated myself to one of Matchaful’s sets around my birthday last year, but there are plenty of less expensive versions out there too.

P.S. If you’re in need of an electric kettle, I’ve turned most of my family onto this one—it heats up SO quickly and quietly and lets you set specific temperatures down to the degree.

Soba Cha: This buckwheat tea is the newest-to-me tea discovery! It has such a warm, toasty flavor, and slightly sweet, nutty finish—if you see it on a menu somewhere (I found it at Gem Home recently), try it! It’s so nice, and different than your usual herbal tea. To me, it’s perfect for colder weather—I love it in the afternoon, or as a little taste of something sweet after dinner. Their loose version is the same ingredient and way less expensive per serving than the tea bags.

Chamomile: You’ve heard me rave about this brand before. This was the first tea that I’d tried where the inside of the tea bag wasn’t just uniform brownish mush. You can see full ingredients instead of finely ground shavings, and the vibrant yellow of the chamomile is visible within the sachet (it’s also SO unbelievably fragrant!). Plus their tea bags are entirely plant-based. You’d never guess from the packaging and quality that they’re still a relatively new business. You can find the brand in cool stores all over the place now, but I still prefer to order a few boxes at a time directly from them—this set is my favorite.

Mint: This is the brand that’s in all the high-end hotels and restaurants. Short of freshly brewed Moroccan mint tea, this is THE most fragrant mint tea you’ll ever find, and the individually wrapped sachets make them very travel/ on-the-go-friendly. I first picked this up on a whim at a local bakery on a week when I was deathbed-level sick (needed a sugary treat to keep me going, I guess). Even in my sick haze I was floored by how strong and fragrant this was. Instead of bitter like some versions of mint, this runs very fresh. It can be harder to find in person, but very worth stocking up on when you do (and if you see it on a menu at a restaurant, order! It’s such a nice way to close out a meal).

Rest + Digest: The new tea on the block! This is different from most of the other teas here in that it’s decidedly savory in flavor (the ingredients are commonly used in Indian cooking, so I was familiar with them, but it might take a little getting used to if you’re not). It was formulated by a popular LA acupuncturist with the goal of aiding digestion and bloating, and is my go-to after an indulgent meal out. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that ingredients-wise, it’s only made of two things—organic cumin and organic coriander. A box of this is pretty expensive ($45 for 30 tea bags), but you can buy both of those ingredients in bulk and easily replicate the same thing—either in a pot for several servings, or in a single-serve strainer if you just want a quick cup for yourself. The more you know!!!

Bengal Spice: My OG sweet tea! My acupuncturist first recommended this to me years ago. Not for anything hormonal—just because she knew I loved a sweet treat at night, and this offers some of the same flavors minus the actual dessert. It includes roasted chicory and carob along with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, and the natural sweetness always surprises me considering there’s no actual sugar in it. I have it on its own with hot water, but you can add milk/ honey if you prefer a caffeine-free chai-style drink.

Chic Tea Gifts!: It wouldn’t be a tea letter without Forgrave*, which makes the most beautiful personalized tea caddies! The caddies on their own make a special gift for a tea lover, but I also like this set featuring their signature glass cigar infuser along with five of their classic teas, and for the host with the most, this set of the cigars is perfect for serving/sharing with friends and family. IMO, they make the most elevated tea-themed gifts out there.

*Codes mentioned in today’s letter: Forgrave - PRIYANKA15, Madame Grey - PRIYANKA20, Violet Grey - PRIYANKA15, UBeauty - PRIYANKA20 (first time), Crown Affair - PRIYANKA15. As always, more right here!

Those are my go-to’s, but I would love if you could share any teas you feel passionately about with me (if you are my friend IRL, preferably in the comments section instead of in a text!!!). If you have favorites you’re always buying, blends/ brands you recommend, another matcha I should try (is Rocky’s worth the hype??! Which are the best ones?!), etc., drop them below! Spill the tea on your teas, I beg of you!!!

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Other things I’m loving lately: The J.Crew x Lee collab???!!! I ordered this jacket from the men’s section + the jeans… at this rate, I’ll be looking like an extra in a Taylor Sheridan show by the end of the year. My favorite activewear brand finally makes a non-racerback sports bra?!?! Hallefuckinglujah! Did I, like every other girl on the internet, immediately place an order for this outfit after seeing it? Duh. And stop the presses (tresses?) because Crown Affair* FINALLY makes a travel-size version of their insane/ amazing/ can’t-live-without dry shampoo. It’s mini and adorable and fits into almost every purse I own (except the Nano Baguette, but that’s for when you have a plus one to carry all of your shit for you). They teamed with UBeauty* on a darling mini kit, and speaking of, UBeauty’s whole site is on sale starting tomorrow, which makes now the perfect time to tell you that this cream is working wonders on my semi-egregious tech neck lines…

Related-ish Reading

Shitters! When it comes to skincare and beauty, it’s easy to share what I’m eyeing, trying, or buying. But to me, the ultimate display of what someone really thinks is worth it are the empties—empty bottles that serve as proof that you used a product until the very last drop (preferably repeatedly!). Over the past several months, I started saving some of my empties with the goal of showing you, the people, the things that I really believe are worth the hype.

The Highlights

1. Three Rhode moisturizers: Not particularly surprising because I never shut up about this stuff. It’s simple, soothing, and hydrating, the perfect happy medium between lightweight and rich, and around $30 a pop. Easy rebuy in my book! I’ve cycled through a few others (there’s a whole fall and winter’s worth of hydration in here)—UBeauty’s Super Hydrator* is incredible (it’s richer and more hydrating than Rhode’s, but it’s considerably pricier). Worth it if you can swing it, IMO. It’s no surprise that a refill of this popular firming cream is also in the mix—I’m using it less often lately because I have a strong retinal* in my routine, but it’s still great. And this from Eighth Day wasn’t super memorable honestly—if you’re going to splurge on something from them, I much prefer their growth factor serum* (*PRIYANKA15 works across Violet Grey).

2. Two Retrouve Nutrient Face Serums: This Vitamin C serum is my ultimate skincare indulgence. I don’t buy it always (it’s a sale-time super splurge when my skin is in dire straits), but it’s my favorite over all the other Vitamin C’s I’ve tried (including the OG SkinCeuticals* and cult-favorite Jan Marini,* both pictured here). My skin is glowier, happier, and more even when I’m using it, but I’m forever guinea-pigging other options for us. Re: Jan Marini, people RAVE about this stuff, but maybe you need to use the full “system” to see results? My skin wasn’t much different after from when I started, though my sister credits the line big time for turning hers around. (*PRIARIBI gets you 15% off at Dermstore)

3. Goop Salt Scalp Scrub: This is an OG favorite that lasted me over a year, but that was before ROZ’s new Scalp Scrub was released (PRIYANKA15). That one has become my new go-to—the formula is more sophisticated, it meets the same clean beauty standards as Goop’s, and the pricing is considerably better for the same amount of product.

4. My Little Green Monsters: For some reason, every cleanser I love comes in green packaging? Dieux is my #1 tried-and-true—the texture is my favorite for a cleanser and it’s thorough without leaving your skin feeling dry afterwards—though Sofie Pavitt’s always lives in my shower for post-workout (PRIYANKA15 works across both brands—while you’re at Sofie, don’t skip her new SPF. I got my hands on it early and it’s rapidly making it’s way to this empty pile!). Not green, but Furtuna’s Cleansing Oil Balm is worth a shoutout too. It’s just the best for a double cleanse after makeup, and also lasts quite a while.

5. My Bigger Orange Ones: If my cleansers are all green, my hair styling products are all orange. These Kerastase + ROZ sprays are my ride or die at-home blowout duo (PRIYANKA15 works on ROZ). I use the Kerastase as pre-blowdry brush heat protectant (nothing else I’ve tried works better), and the ROZ lifts the roots to make it look like you’re a pro with a round brush. My blowouts with this stuff can last at least half a week, if not longer, and the bottles last me around 10-12 months in case you too like to mentally amortize a purchase (tell me you took one single Accounting class in college without telling me).

Honorable mentions: I am ride or diieee for this gentle exfoliating mask. Try it one single time and you’ll understand why. She washes her hands (this scent is a forever rebuy in my book)—I’m on my third bottle, but the hand lotion lasts way longer, so that’s more of a one-and-done. It’s no surprise that melatonin gummies are in the mix, but I’ve started going for this kid’s version instead. They’re a much smaller dose (.5mg per gummy vs 2.5mg), and I find that I feel way less groggy in the mornings when I take them. I’m missing at least five tubes of Beauty of Joseon here and all the candles that got me through winter, oops. And Xtra Milk for sheets & towels, duh (PRIYANKA15).

*We have discount codes on so many of the things pictured above, including from Violet Grey, ROZ, Dermstore, and more. I included them throughout, but the rest of our codes can always be found right here!

Other Things I’m Loving Lately:

• Longtime Shitters know I was very passionate about my electric toothbrush, but dare I say this recent discovery is even better?! One charge lasts a whole month, it’s super light and sleek, and the travel case doubles as a charger that works with the same cord as an iPhone. Doesn’t get better than that! (Plus code PRIYANKA gets you 15% off).

• I had a phenomenal meal at Roman’s in Brooklyn last week. The reservation was fairly attainable (especially by NYC standards!), everything that hit the table was delicious, and it had the best cozy, neighborhood feel.

• Did I watch Rob Rausch’s season of Love Island (US Season 6) while I was under the weather last week? Yes. Did it confirm that a crush is truly a lack of information. Also yes! But tbh, GREAT television.

• This Chicken Pot Pie Soup has no business being as hearty and delicious as it is for how clean the ingredients are. It’s the perfect warm meal with all the rain/cold we’ve had lately.

• I went a little too long between haircuts, which meant I had to get more dead ends chopped than I was bargaining for. I would be freaking out, but I know that a month or two with this stuff will bring it all back (plus they’re running a great sale if you buy a few months worth at a time).

• And you all seriously cannot get enough of these washable rugs, omg!!!! (PRIYANKA15)

Shitters! Maybe it’s my attempt to get a head start on the promise of spring ahead (I have a whole new lease on life thanks to NYC’s current 48 hour fake spring, I can’t even tell you), but I’ve found myself on a big cleaning/ sprucing/ home improvement kick lately. While that has included a few new additions (I had to make it fun for myself somehow!), it’s also meant breathing some new life into the things I already have. Think rearranging my bookshelves (memoirs now have their own shelf, as does fiction I did not enjoy, so as not to irritate me by mingling with the fiction I DID enjoy), polishing the antique silver inherited during my grandmother’s move (that’s on being the oldest grandkid—the rest of them have no idea what they’re missing), redoing framing that I never really loved, etc.

It felt fitting for the cocoon that East Coast winter forced us, or at least me, into for the first few months of the year. Last month was spent reinforcing my foundations—in a literal sense at home, and through the routines and habits that underpin my daily life. I haven’t gone full wellness girl on you yet, but I am feeling better than usual! Planning to write more soon about some of the things that have stuck!

Never been much of a Balenciaga girl, but apparently there’s a first time for everything…!

In the meantime, here’s a peek at some of my favorite new home additions! A signature scent (perhaps an unexpected pick for me, but a welcome burst of life in the past few dreary months!), these fun little tassels (a star from our letters last month), a re-up of my favorite niche hand soap (put down the Aesop, it’s time to branch out!) these XL bath towels (their whole site is on sale, so if you’ve needed something, now is the time), this insanely plush bath mat (I’ve never loved a bath mat before, but that one is GOOD), and a linen table cloth that I’m praying scratches the recurring itch to replace my dining table (so far, not bad!). Did I maybe also treat myself to a fancy cocktail shaker? If only to wash away some of the horror I felt after going out with a full adult man who mixed drinks in a protein blender bottle…

Also on the radar lately: All things Western, apparently! Finally allowing myself to hit checkout on this little Doen number. Loving The Great x Stetson for a little cowboy energy (meets Year of the Fire Horse?!). This + barrel leg denim feels like my new weekend uniform (those run TTS and are surprisingly flattering on), and this belt looks like a popular Ralph Lauren style for less than half the price. This low scoop neck sweater looks just like a style from Interior NYC I found on TRR a few years back (one of my go-to’s for winter weekend dinners when I want to be cozy, but still look Saturday night-appropriate)—this version seems less bulky in the body, which is even better. They really got me with this pony hair?!! I did a double take thinking it was the Toteme version that has looong been on my wishlist. And I didn’t think I needed a hat like this, but I paid a visit to their Soho store recently and was surprised/impressed by how much I loved it…

Now that it’s March and (fake) spring is in sight, I’m letting myself spring for the whites I’ve been so ready to add back into the rotation! Flowy pants, gauzy tops, maybe an errant sweater or two if they’re too good to pass up (one such option here via GP—you know I live for a good chunky turtleneck!). Plus, a new secondhand goosechase enters the chat, and some fitness-focused additions 👀 Here’s everything else that’s on my eye:

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Shitters! We are currently living through several cultural phenomenons, but I want to direct your attention to one that’s been the center of my attention recently: Our Underwear Renaissance.

As someone whose spent the better part of the past 20 years in women’s locker rooms (first in school, and then in various gyms and boutique fitness studios), it seemed that for years, the thong reigned supreme among the cool girl cohort. Not necessarily for sex appeal—while the old school G-strings (their heyday was before my time) and the colorful array of lacy Cosabellas and Hanky Pankys from the 2010’s (much more my speed, though I was definitively team Cosabella) may have been, by the early 2020’s, those had given way to Kim K’s simple cuts and smooth fabrics in various shades of nude (and while I’m not saying that those can’t be sexy, they weren’t overt in the same way). It was the promise of relative ease and invisibility under clothing that seemed to make them the go-to option.

Frankly, they seemed like the only style that I and most of the people around me wore. Full butt underwear (I’m aware the word “briefs” would suffice, but this is just always how I’ve thought of them in my head) were “granny panties.” Something you might wear to sleep or maybe on certain days of your cycle, but that was pretty much it.

But if you’ve been looking around lately and seeing a lot more options with much more coverage than you were once used to, it’s not in your head! A quick text to veteran underwear designer/ friend of the letter Allie Kriz of The Collection Atelier confirmed—there is a real shift going on out there! People are ditching the thongs and moving back to options with more coverage, specifically in materials like cotton.

The evolution in materials makes sense—it’s born from the same attention that we’ve been paying to what’s in everything from our food and cosmetics to our period products and activewear (yes it’s freezing, but that’s not the only reason the cool girls are wearing FreeCitys to pilates—no one wants to sweat up a storm in plastic anymore!). Not all cotton is created equal (some can be treated with real nasty stuff), but it’s been my personal fabric of choice for underthings (and across the rest of my closet + home too!) for a while now, and the move specifically towards organic cotton is the next step up.

And the coverage—well, apparently thongs aren’t quite as comfortable as they’re cracked up to be?! I’ll admit this was news to me. I’ve been wearing them since I was probably 15, and never really thought of them as uncomfortable. But as it turns out, there’s a whole wide world out there with options that are actually considerably most pleasant to spend a full day in! What follows are a few of the pairs that have opened my eyes to the Underwear Renaissance unfolding before our eyes:

The Gateway Drug: Eby Mesh Briefs*

This wasn’t the first pair of briefs I bought in recent history (I was influenced by a Skims model to pair these with their ribbed tank for a monochromatic sleep set a few summers ago), but the recent popularity of these Eby briefs was the first thing that tipped me off to the shift in what people were gravitating towards. They offer thongs in the same fabric, but it seemed like all anyone cared about was their famous mesh bra + brief set, myself included. While they are certainly comfortable, I had to do a little digging to find the fabric makeup (red flag), and as it turns out, their micro-mesh is made up mostly of nylon, which if you’re paying closer attention to materials, is likely what you’re trying to avoid (though the gusset itself is cotton). They’re not my pick of the bunch for this reason (also if you are eyeing, know that they do stretch out a bit—I’d size down if you’re in between sizes), but they were the first pair that tipped me off to the shift. *PRIYANKA15 gets you 15% off of all things EBY.

The New Favorite: Negative Underwear Whipped French Cut

I wrote about these last month, but I want to reiterate—these are the most insanely comfortable underwear I have ever tried, and it seems like a lot of you now agree! The pricing is steep, but if you’re on the fence, know that they really are incredible. The cotton/modal blend is soft and buttery and feels like you’re wearing nothing, minus any of the discomfort of wearing nothing, and the French cut is the perfect stepping stone for the recovering thong addict—they’re cheeky, just without the perma-wedgie. (Though if you’re not ready to make the jump, they do make thongs in the same whipped fabric too.) The packs give you the best pricing, but more color options are available in singles here, and don’t skip the matching bra—you know I’m a sucker for a set! (Because of the cut/wireless construction, that one is likely best for smaller chest sizes IMO.)

The Organic Option: Iris Undies

This is a new line launched entirely in organic cotton, and their tagline, “Protective, pretty, pure,” encapsulates exactly what they’re doing. They offer a few different styles—traditional briefs, a cheekier option, a classic thong, and a 90’s-style string bikini (not to get caught up in the CBK-mania sweeping the internet, but there was a shot in Love Story of her traipsing around in a cotton tank and black string bikini, and it singlehandedly convinced me that I need to have a pair). I just placed an order, so I can’t speak to the fit and feel quite yet, but I’ve heard nothing but good things, and am looking forward to their arrival! I went for their signature light purple, and even though the last thing I needed right now was more bras, you know I had to complete the set!

These are just the ones I’m familiar with, but if you have other favorites that are worth checking out, let us know!

Other things I’m loving lately: I wasn’t sure what to expect from 440ME, but I’ve really liked their knitwear, especially this wool/silk blend tee. I’d normally consider this time of year past the point of sweater shopping, but seeing as there was a literal blizzard three days ago, I felt it was justifiable to place an order for this delicious-looking charcoal crew. I’m newly obsessed with all things from this plum-focused clean skincare line (SIBAL15)! The hero ingredient smells like marzipan, is completely non-comedogenic, and has been making my skin look/feel quite nice, if I say so myself! Did we know Ruggable did a collab with Scalamandré because I sure didn’t?! (PRIYANKA15) There are a lot of brands making tubes of hair gel with mascara-style wands for taming flyaways and hairlines, but Ceremonia’s is the first one I’ve tried that doesn’t leave residue on dark hair (a BIG no-no!). And speaking of hair, Crown Affair’s Air Dry Cream lives up to the hype! Tbh, this is what I was hoping for from their Air Dry Mousse (which was really not for me personally)—this one gives a much smoother, more polished dry IMO (PRIYANKA15).

Related Reading

A portion of today’s newsletter was written in partnership with Brooklinen, whose sheets and robes (and now towels!) are staples in my home/life! If you are interested in collaborating with Shit I Bought and Liked on a future letter, drop me a note at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com. All the cool brands are doing it!

Shitters! I’m coming to you live this morning two Advils and a matcha deep while marinating in a sheet mask—I believe this is what they call a flow state? On the docket today is a little belated Galentine’s Day party prep—“party” is perhaps the overstatement of the century, it’s four girlfriends having a drink before dinner!—but still, couldn’t let a good theme go to waste!

Earlier this week, I wrote to you about the newest addition to my jewelry collection. I hoped that the idea would resonate with a few of you, but I’ve been so happy to see so many people I love and admire getting excited about the idea and wanting to recreate something similar! For the record, I would love nothing more than for you all to take the inspo and run with it—all that I ask is that you send me pictures of the cool charms and clusters you come up with!

I started this “On Repeat” series on a whim last month, and decided that I want to make it more of a regular thing, so once a month on a weekend AM/afternoon, look out for this little rundown of things/practices/etc. that have been in heavy rotation! Here’s hoping you enjoy them as much as I do!

1. Brooklinen Plush Bath Sheets: My old towels were cute, but they snagged on my rings without fail every single night, so after a couple years, they were looking worse for the wear. In true SIBAL-fashion, this kicked off a search for a superior replacement, which obviously took me straight to Brooklinen! I’ve been a repeat customer of their bedding for years, but beyond their robes, I hadn’t actually explored the towels. Going in, I assumed I would go for the Super Plush ones—who doesn’t love an ultra thick, spa-style towel?! But after feeling them in person, I was surprised to find that I actually preferred their (non-super) Plush version?! While the Super Plush is indeed thicker, I found the Plush ones to be softer to the touch while still being thick and luxurious (and impressively durable—zero snags so far!). This is why I love seeing things in person—I would’ve never known had I just browsed online! Plus I preferred the thin stripes of this version as well. I ended up grabbing this bundle with the matching hand towels (if you haven’t upgraded to bath sheets yet, you’re not living!). Their whole site is on sale through the weekend (starting at 20% off, but some bundles are up to 50%!), so if you’ve been considering, now’s a great time!

   

2. Nightly Brain Dump: I got this idea from who writes often about JournalSpeak, a practice that involves regurgitating painful emotions with the goal of reducing chronic pain. I don’t suffer from chronic pain myself, but I do have a lot of difficulty falling asleep, and after hearing about this, I wondered if a version of it could be helpful for me. Basically what I do is this: Sometime in the evening before bed, I’ll open my laptop to a blank Google doc, set a timer for 15 minutes, and unleash the feelings and anxieties on my mind with brutal honesty (ex: “I’m so FUCKING FRUSTRATED that xyz,” etc.). Sometimes the feelings are about other people and things, oftentimes they’re about myself. When the timer goes off at the end, you delete the page, never to be seen again. Unlike a journal, the point isn’t to document your life—it’s to release thoughts and feelings that are stuck in your brain/ body. And without fail, usually with a minute or so left on the timer, I’ll let out an involuntary sigh. It’s happened enough times now that I don’t think it’s a coincidence—I feel like it’s my brain and body experiencing a little release. Afterwards, it’s easier for me to get to sleep without ruminating on a million and one different things like I tend to do otherwise. I do this on my laptop because my thoughts move quickly and I can type much faster than I can keep up by hand, but there’s no one right or wrong way (I do wear blue light glasses when I do this at night though!). It’s not a daily practice for me right now, but I have liked having it in my arsenal a few times a week—to me it feels like a controlled burn, or releasing a steam valve on everything going on inside.

3. Tata Harper Face Mask: I love a good face mask when I have the time, but there are very few non-sheet masks that I use regularly. This is the one exception—it’s seriously a miracle worker. (Dare I say the Anne Sullivan of masks, unless you find that offensive, in which case, I would not dare!!). It’s the only exfoliating mask I’ve ever tried that’s actually gentle and doesn’t make my skin feel like it’s burning (I tried one from a derm-founded line recently that made my face feel like it was on fire…), and it always leaves my skin looking incredible. To me, it’s the secret weapon I pull out whenever my skin is looking dull or uneven—after 15 minutes with this, it looks noticeably brighter and more even, and it lasts for days! I promise I would not vouch this hard for something that wasn’t this good.

   

4. Le Skin Serum Foundation: I mentioned this earlier this week, but this foundation is seriously insane. SO thin and lightweight, so luminous and beautiful on the skin (and not to mention the hero product behind Hailey Bieber’s flawless face at the Grammys!). I try a lot of beauty products, but this is the one that I’ve been raving about to my girlfriends lately—it’s very much worth investigating for yourself! I wear shade 220C (information that is likely helpful to none of you unless we have the exact same skin tone?), but I’ve found Sephora’s shade matching tools to be surprisingly good!

5. Party Coupes: I bought this set of twelve coupes before hosting a Christmas party last year because I wanted to make sure that all of my guests would be able to use actual glassware instead of plastic, and they’ve come in handy often since! They’re cute and easy for serving cocktails, aren’t super delicate or flimsy (dishwasher-safe too!), and I kept the box they came in so I can store them without having to sacrifice prime kitchen real estate. Wins all around!

6. At-home blowouts: There was just something about February and the freezing temps in the city that had me feeling so low-energy. Even something as small as doing my hair felt like such an undertaking. Being able to have someone come to my home and blow out my hair while I’d finish up a newsletter or catch up on email or even just page through a book or magazine I’d been meaning to read was SO nice. I love Glamsquad for this—the booking process is seamless, everyone whose come has been someone I felt safe being alone in my apartment with, and I get at least four good hair days out of it after! SIBAL always gets new customers $20 off.

7. Beyond Yoga Leggings: I have a few pairs of these now, but I find myself doing my laundry earlier than necessary so I can always have a fresh one ready! They’re SO supremely soft and comfortable, and my favorite charcoal color is actually on sale! (I really hope they’re not discontinuing it—it’s a little something different than black, but still flattering and easy to pair with other things in your closet.) Hands down my favorite leggings to date!

8. Holi(Mane) (PRIYANKA15): Again, insert every caveat about this brand’s founder, but I haven’t found another version of this that I prefer. This combines marine collagen with pearl powder for a shot of protein alongside a beauty-boosting ingredient prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I add a scoop to my cashew milk before heating/frothing it for my matcha (it dissolves into it and I don’t taste a difference), but you could just as easily do the same for your coffee. The discount via Violet Grey doesn’t hurt either!

9. Acne Boots: If there’s one thing I overindex on, it’s little black boots with low heels (sue me!!!), but these continue to be my most worn pair. They’re comfortable and easy to walk in while still being chic, polished, and elevated, and I always get compliments on them! They’re a few seasons old now, but IMO they’re still worth picking up. I’ve gotten WAY more than my money’s worth, and I bought them while they were still full price! Sizing runs true.

10. The Olympics!!! What am I going to do without my nightly Tara & Johnny fix, complaining about Mac Forehand and the American ice dancers being ROBBED (they were!!!!!), and critiquing things I could never do in my wildest dreams?!?! In all seriousness, watching the Olympics makes me feel like I should stand up and salute every single athlete who has trained and competed—what an extraordinary, amazing thing. I feel lucky just to get to watch, and am already counting down until LA!!!