Shit I Bought and Liked No. 78: Getting Ready Must-Haves
Shit I Bought and Liked No. 78: Getting Ready Must-Haves
Shitters!
HI!!! There are so many new faces around here courtesy of Leslie Stephens and her gem of a newsletter Morning Person—welcome!!! It was such a treat to chat with her for her newsletter, and I’m so excited to have you around, especially for what I feel like is a particularly useful edition of our humble newsletter! Now sometimes we cover one specific item, sometimes it’s a category or a collection, but all of it is shit that I (hi, I’m Priyanka!) bought and liked and immediately rushed to tell you all about.
Today we are discussing my must-haves for feeling and looking your best before an evening out (though tbh, these will work their magic any time of day). Now, I’m sure this list will continue to evolve and grow over the years, but the good thing is that you all will be the first to know as soon as it does. These have been in my rotation for several months now (in some cases, years), and I really swear by each and every one.
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter: You may have heard of this already. It’s a cult-favorite, perennially sold-out at Sephora, and a staple in TikTok GRWM videos, and I am here to tell you that it is 1000% worth the hype. It’s often described like a filter in a bottle—it smooths your skin, gives it a glow, and I really like the way my skin looks when I pair it with foundation. I apply two lines on my cheeks, a couple dabs on my forehead, and one on my chin. I follow it up with a few dabs of liquid foundation, and blend it all in together (more on that below). I don’t wear foundation or tinted moisturizer that often these days, but when I do (dinner out, events, etc.), I always pair it with this stuff. One bottle has lasted me over a year with this level of use, and it’s a definite rebuy in my book! I recommend going into a store where you can try shades on in-person.
Sara Happ Lip Scrub: My lips chap easily, and for years I felt like I was just putting balms and hydrating products onto dead skin, rather than getting rid of it, but I just didn’t know how. Enter this miracle lip exfoliator. You take some on your finger, spread it in circular motions around your lips, and voila—they’re perfectly exfoliated, with a little extra flush of color, and ready for a balm or color or your lip product of choice (this is such a good way to prime your lips for lipstick/liner—it’ll go on super smooth and stay on longer). I was introduced to this by NYC facialist Elizabeth Grace Hand back in March and have been using it ever since, though I feel like it’ll be especially handy during the colder months.
It Cosmetics Brush: Confession: I am not a Beauty Blender girl. I’ve tried several times with SEVERAL of those sponges, but I’ve never felt like the finish was all that great, and it always seemed like most of the product ended up in the sponge rather than on my face? But this rec (courtesy of Mally Goldman) gave me everything I hoped for every time I came home with another one of those sponges. It blends easily (which is especially helpful when you’re combining two products—in my case, Flawless Filter, and my current foundation of choice), gives you a gorgeous finish, and I love that the second side eliminates the need for a separate concealer brush. This is more than I’d typically want to spend on a makeup brush, but I’ve realized over the past few years that the right tools are very worth the investment. (PSA, please clean your brushes! I use this very basic soap and it works like a charm).
Nippies: Our sticky boob prayers have been answered!!! These are stick-on nipple covers and truly the best I’ve tried in my past decade of sticky boob use. They have more surface area than most other nipple covers I’ve tried, which is great because they cover the nips AND blend seamlessly into the rest of your boob (breast? Whatever your preferred terminology is). Most pairs I’ve tried before would sit on top of the nipple, but wouldn’t exactly blend in to the rest of your body, which is NOT flattering when you’re wearing a tight or a light top. Personally, I find nipple covers to be worlds more comfortable than the traditional stick on bras, so I really only use these (they offer different sizes based on your cup size, and colors based on your skin tone, which I really appreciated), but I know this isn’t the perfect solution for those in need of more support. If you have suggestions in that department, please drop them in the comments! Also! Critical info: I learned that you’re supposed to clean these to help them maintain their stickiness, rather than just peeling them off of your body and chugging a LiquidIV before getting into bed. Oops. I rinse them off with water and a little dish soap and let them dry overnight before putting them back into their plastic cover, which has extended their life substantially.
SmileActives Gel: There is a lot going on in the teeth whitening space. There are in-office treatments (pricey!), whitestrips (these never actually worked for me), aggressive toothpaste marketing (I used Optic White for months but my teeth looked no different at all…). But when I tell you that this stuff works, I am 1000% not bullshitting. It not only works, it works VERY QUICKLY—within a week there was a visible difference in the color of my teeth. Plus it’s super easy to use. You just add a bit of the gel to your regular toothpaste and brush as usual. I never thought teeth whitening was a necessity (still don’t!), but knowing you have a brighter smile does give you a little boost of confidence. (Sidenote: I don’t have sensitive teeth, but I do get a little sensitivity with cold liquids when I use this. It’s very manageable for me, but just a warning if you’re already sensitive.)
NuFace: If you’ve been here for a while, you’ve heard me talk about this before, but it’s a go-to before an event or big night out in my home (my boyfriend insists on using it too, it’s THAT visibly effective). This is an at-home microcurrent device that lifts the muscles in your face so you look as snatched as possible, and the microcurrent helps them stay lifted long-term. I wrote a more in-depth review earlier this year if you’re finding yourself intrigued. It’s a bit of a splurge, but very worth it IMO (and is currently on sale here!).
Other things I bought and/or liked recently but will never get around to writing a full newsletter about so I might as well share them now: My new babies via The Row’s sample sale (though I will say, along with being chaotic as hell, sample sales encourage people to buy things they wouldn’t normally just because they’re deeply discounted, so I try to be very judicious while I’m shopping that way). A Shitter-approved pair of classic black boots (the strap is removable!). This hot water bottle with the world’s softest cover. French butter. My comfort movie (I know…). Al*son R*man’s Stew on repeat. This gorgeous (and sale-priced!) coat rack. This APC belt bag. And ofc, a great voting resource to help you get prepped for everything on your ballot—Election Day’s around the corner people!
Now that you’ve heard my getting ready musts, I’d love to hear yours! Drop a line, respond in the comments—sharing is most definitely caring. And as always, please reach out with any thoughts/comments/feedback. I’d love to know what you’re on the lookout for, if you try any of these, and what you think!
Xo,
Priyanka