Six Years of Shit!
A look back at some of our greatest hits!
Shitters! Can you believe that this newsletter has been around for six whole years?! Turning people onto things I’ve found and loved is my favorite thing to do, and I couldn’t have found a better community to do it with—thank you all so much for being here!!
Today I want to take a quick trip down memory lane to revisit six all-time favorites from deep in the archives! OG Shitters may have picked up a few of these over the years; newcomers—know that these are our tried and trues! And no, Maldon isn’t on the list because everyone knows about it now, but at least six of the friends I texted about their favorites responded with our very first rec* from back in 2019, so it seems like we were onto something!!!
*Upon clicking this link I realized our birthday is actually at the beginning of MAY, not the beginning of April like I somehow thought….???? Whatever, we’re celebrating early!!!!
Gap PJs: We here at SIBAL have become PJ connoisseurs over the years, but these are the OGs. They’re SO soft and comfortable and breathable and are practically indistinguishable from their more expensive counterparts (Eberjey who?!?!). As I said way back in 2021, the only difference is the money that I would rather spend on things that I actually leave the house in...
Grandma’s Secret Stain Remover: My life was CHANGED when I found this kooky little stain spray, and I’ve heard the same from so many of you (shoutout to my friend Christie, who single-handedly revived her husband’s favorite white shirt from a brunch mishap just this week thanks to this stuff). I know the branding is bizarre, but it works wonders on the tricky stains that regular detergent is just no match for—think oil, grease, food, wine, etc.—and it’s out pretty much every single time I do a load of laundry, especially whites. Trust me, it’s a lifesaver, and considering how many pieces of my clothing it’s revived, a money saver too.
The toothbrush™: If you are using a manual toothbrush, you are living in the Stone Age, but I am here to bring you out of it!!! I was originally averse to getting an electric toothbrush—what did I need another gadget for??—but the difference in performance is actually wild. My teeth have never felt so clean!!!! There are a couple of easy-to-use bells and whistles that help you use the right pressure and adjust for sensitivity (check out the original letter for the full rundown), but I turned to my friend Roya Shariat of Consumed to recap our favorite highlight: “The best bit? There is a smiley character on the screen of the toothbrush that gives you a sense of the quality of your toothbrushing. I strive to get the top rank, the starry-eyed smiley, as an innately competitive Capricorn. Never has a toothbrush made me want to strive before!” She’s not lying. Even when it’s late, I never skimp on my two minutes because when you don’t brush for long enough it FROWNS! Cuteness factor aside, it’s also very practical—the charge lasts at least 2.5 weeks, making it so easy to travel with. 100/10 recommend!!!!
Alo Yoga Mat: There are several yoga mats out there and this one isn’t cheap, but to me, it’s a one and done investment—the only mat you will ever need for yoga or really any exercise. It’s THICK, so it keeps your knees and hips comfortable while you’re kneeling or on your sides, especially if you’re on a hard floor at home or in a studio, but it’s also grippy, so it doesn’t slide around or scrunch up while you’re moving, or cause you to lose your grip/footing (some of my biggest gripes with the cheaper cushioned mats I had before). It’s slightly bigger than your average mat, meaning that you have lots of space to move comfortably, plus it’s sweat-wicking, antimicrobial, and PVC free. I originally bought this for at-home workouts during quarantine in 2020 and it’s still going strong FIVE years later. It’s so good that it convinced my roommate at the time to upgrade from her Lulu mat. Per Alex, “My back is sensitive so I’m not going to give up a mat that lets me roll like a ball.” If you’re a yoga or at-home sculpt person, you need this.
Butter Soft Bralettes: This is a more recent recommendation, but after trying my first one, I immediately added three more to my underwear drawer—that is how much I like them. They’re super soft and comfortable, lay smoothly on your skin (as opposed to pinching or creating unflattering bumps under clothing), and they give you nipple coverage without being overly padded. This version also has adjustable straps and a back clasp, so you have more control over the fit. It’s my go-to almost always, especially for tighter/thinner tops. It really is invisible under clothing. When I was talking to my sister about writing this roundup, she asked if I was going to including my “nursing bras” (aka these)—they are certainly not the sexiest ones I own, but they are far and away the most comfortable! Even she agreed that they deserved to make the cut!
Microcurrent Devices: And finally, a true hall of famer. Sometimes you want instant gratification, and with a microcurrent device like a ZIIP or NuFace, you GET IT. They stimulate the muscles in your face via a microcurrent/ conductive gel combo (ultrasound gel works just the same as the fancy stuff) and they work over time to lift and sculpt your face, but IMO, the difference in appearance is immediate. After using the ZIIP for just a few minutes, my face is noticeably lifted, my skin looks more even, and for lack of better words, I just looked “snatched.” Don’t just take my word for it—my parents, who are mostly uninterested in my finds, were wowed by this within the first minute and half. I started with the NuFace, and it works well, but if were a first-time buyer, I’d go with the ZIIP. It’s stronger and it uses both micro and nanocurrent, which offers additional skin benefits (code PRIYANKA gets you 10% off). When people ask me about facial devices, this one is always the first one I recommend.
As I was putting this together, I texted a few friends to hear about their favorites. Here’s some more of what they said: “UBEAUTY UBEAUTY UBEAUTY.” (We have a discount—PRIYANKA20!). “Parachute robes—I now have one for winter and summer.” “Went all the way back to the beginning and my oldest convert is Birch Benders pancake mix, which I still use every weekend.” “Salt and Stone deodorant.” “I’m still a diehard Steve Madden ankle boot gal with and without the strap.” “Have literally meant to text you how much I’m enjoying the Beauty of Joseon SPF.” “I remember you wrote something about having a lamp in the kitchen, and I put a lamp in my kitchen after that LOL”
If you want to make me smile, jump in the comments with something you’ve found here and loved over the years!
(Also, I made a little “Best Of” tab on Substack to make it a little easier to peruse past favorites!)
Other things I’ve been loving lately: I had the best facial with Katy at SYK Skin in Soho last week! All the heavy duty things like microcurrent, peels, and LED are included instead of being listed as pricey add-ons, and in a city of wildly expensive treatments, this one delivers on luxury AND value. My birthday isn’t in October, but that didn’t stop me from picking up this tourmaline birthstone bracelet (I liked the colors, ok!). The brand makes so many beautiful beaded pieces. Looks like you all liked this body serum as much as I do! Should we do more bath/body favorites next?!
Thank you for reading Shit I Bought and Liked! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider hitting the heart-shaped like button at the end or leaving a comment on this post—it helps other people find this newsletter and is so very appreciated! ♥️
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Feeling so validated reading this in my new Gap pj set!
Thank you for bringing this toothbrush and so many other gems into my life!!!