On Repeat in March
Casual tops you'll actually wear, an honest review of Celisse nails, book and TV recs, and more
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!
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.
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.
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!
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…
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!
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.
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!
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).
have you tried the eadem gloss? wondering how it stacks up to the others you mentioned. love the sweater + cowboy hat combo!
Obviously I'm fine buying the Isla lip balm without the Priyanka10, but FYI that the code wasn't working for me at checkout.