shit i bought and liked no. 74: yours, mine & our facelifts
Shitters!
I’m thrilled to unveil Shit I Bought And Liked’s facelift!!! Like Lara Devgan says, subtle is the new dramatic (Dr. Devgan, if you’re reading this, big fan of your work). We’re on Substack now, and though the basics are still the same (if you’ve already subscribed to this newsletter, you’ll keep getting it, you can still find all of my recs on shitiboughtandliked.com), I’m really excited for this new look, COMMENT THREADS so we can interact with each other, and the fact that for the first time ever, I can offer paid subscriptions!
Here’s the deal: This newsletter and our archives will always be free. BUT if you fancy yourself a patron of the arts and want to support me and my writing, you’re welcome to upgrade your subscription for the price of a latte circa 2010. As a bonus for our paid subscribers, you can reach me directly for a personalized recommendation or gift suggestion or really whatever you want! I’m excited to try this out, connect with more of you, and mint some brand new super shitters ;)
In the spirit of our new look (and a very good sale), today’s rec is also of the face-lifting variety! And let me tell you already, it’s really fucking good. I need you all to know that I was incredibly tempted to gatekeep this rec—the last thing I need is even hotter people running around God’s green Earth—but alas, my commitment to giving you all the best beat out the temptation.
Today we’re talking about the NuFace—more specifically the NuFace mini, which I have owned and loved for three-ish months now. NuFace is a microcurrent device, meaning it tones and lifts the muscles in your face using an electrical current. Now, if this sounds too intense for you, don’t get the device. As I said, my ego and I really don’t need more sculpted faces around here! But you may be happy to know that it’s entirely painless and somewhat simple to do at home.
Basically, you slather your face in conductive gel (the device comes with a tube of NuFace’s, but I like to use this much cheaper sonogram gel once it runs out), and run the device along the your face and neck to lift the muscles (linking here to a TikTok by Charlotte Palermino which demos how to use). If you’re familiar with gua sha, the movements are fairly similar.
According to experts, to get lasting results from microcurrent you have to be VERY consistent with use—NuFace itself recommends you use it FIVE days a week for the first two months before dropping off to 2-3x/week for maintenance—but here’s the thing, I had noticeable results the very first time. I then proceeded to use it on my parents (who are in their mid 50s and generally have no patience for my shopping addiction), who saw the same lifted and sculpted results. My dad went from “what is this crap?” to “do more!” in approximately three minutes. My mom made me use it on her again that week before she went out with friends. In short, a hit!
I’m less regular with it than I was when I first got it—it takes about five minutes total, but putting the gel on and taking it off can be a bit of a hassle, especially in the morning—but I love to use it before nights out or big events (or after a big night when I’m feeling puffy and blah), and I am genuinely obsessed with the results.
There are two main NuFace models out there—the Mini and the Trinity, which is the original. They have the same power, which is why I personally opted for the Mini (I also wasn’t sure at the time if it would work for me, so I didn’t want to spend the extra cash). But the Trinity is the better option for anyone who wants the separate eye/lip and wrinkle reducer attachments.
Strength-wise, these at-home devices aren’t the same as what you’ll get from doing microcurrent with an esthetician, though the price of one session with them is generally the same or more than the NuFace device itself, so I’d say this a really good place to start/maintain microcurrent results. And if you’re on the younger side (this feels pretty unnecessary for anyone mid-20’s and under) or have less desire to spend, you can also get great depuffing results with an ice roller. They’re relatively inexpensive and feel reeeeallly good, especially in the summer months. Pro tip: If you’re traveling for a wedding or event, stick yours into a Stasher bag and pop it into the hotel mini bar or Airbnb fridge an hour before you have to get ready. You’re welcome!
That is all for today’s shit, but lots more coming soon! As Instagram followers found out earlier this week, there are approximately 13 pairs of black biker shorts in my living room at the moment and I am METICULOUSLY assessing each to find the very best one. There’s one pair I’m still waiting on to arrive, so I expect that the rec will have to wait until after Labor Day, but that’s just because I am committed to finding you all the absolute best out there.
As always, if you have thoughts, questions, concerns, comments, please let me know! You can respond to this email or start a COMMENT THREAD (how exciting!!!)—I’d love to hear from you. And, as always, if you like this newsletter, forward it to a friend! And if you are that friend, feel free to sign up at shitiboughtandliked.com.
Enjoy your taut new faces!!!!
Xo,
Priyanka
Yay!
Yay, welcome to Substack!