shit i bought and liked no. 15: influencing is fun!
Shitters, it’s Election Day. If you’re like me, you probably have 8000 emails from various lists, orgs, and candidates about this occasion. This is not one of those emails, but go vote if you have an election today—it is very important. Then make a couple impulse buys over here. It will help your anxiety, election-related or otherwise.
As they say, there is a first time for everything, so without further ado, welcome to the first-ever SHIT I WAS GIFTED AND LIKED! The time has come—I have been discovered by the #brands. Can my adoration be bought? Not yet! But it can be earned, and OSEA Malibu ROSE TO THE OCCASION!
OSEA is a clean skincare line that’s all over LA. I was stoked when a member of their team (a shitter herself!) reached out, because I’ve known about their stuff for a while. Not only are their products free of any toxic and/or synthetic ingredients (no parabens or sulfates, my g’s!), they’re cruelty-free, vegan, sustainably grown/harvested, EWG-approved, and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly given all of these things, they work!
As you all probably realize, the shit you put on your face/body goes into your bloodstream. Whether you’re a double cleansed, serum-obsessed dew drop of a human or you slap on some Cetaphil and call it a night, we’re all already putting shit on our faces. Might as well try to clean it up if we can? Especially if the clean stuff works! I’ve been using these for a couple months now and can very much confirm:
Ocean Cleansing Mudd ($48 full, $18 travel): You know how some lists are in “no particular order”? This list is very much in order, and this is first because it’s THE SHIT. This is an exfoliating cleanser, and not in the way some cleaners say they’re “exfoliating” but are just soap. It’s a (plant-derived!) chemical exfoliant, so there are no little scrubby bits, but expect tingles. I’ll usually follow it up with their Blemish Balm, a hydrating tea-tree oil moisturizer that’s still pretty light, and call it a night. That’s it—visible improvement in eight hours (I, a growing girl, need my sleep). I like using this when I feel something coming on deeeeep under my skin, but it works as a preempt or after the fact.
Ocean Cleanser ($48 full, $18 travel): So this OSEA’s “standard” cleanser for normal/combination skin, but again, NOT JUST A SOAP. There’s a light lactic acid in there (cc: Sunday Riley Good Genes obsessees—this is a fraction of the cost) that gives you a poreless vibe. It’s a cooling gel-cleanser with a phenomenal texture and the scent is very refreshing! It’s my go-to in the AM, plus the travel size is great in a gym bag.
Atmosphere Protection Cream ($48): Jojoba, Macadamia, Avocado, Shea Butter. You get it, this is the good stuff. And I swear to you, it will not break you out. It’s light, it’s hydrating, it works for pretty much every possible skin type, and unless you’ve been scouring EWG for the safest products, it’s pretty much guaranteed that these ingredients are way better for you than whatever you’re using at the moment.
Essential Corrective Complex ($32): A breakout spot treatment that isn’t full of scary shit? Who knew it was possible?! I love that this is a rollerball, and that your face doesn’t feel like the Sahara desert afterwards.
Pro-tip: Don’t underestimate the travel size. You get more bang for your buck with a full size product, BUT if you’re hesitant about committing, this is a good way to test for a month or so (plus, OSEA has a sweet lil deal on the travel-sized cleanser and cream). Then, once you confirm it works for you, get the big guys (and please dear god use my links). If for whatever reason it doesn’t work out, you won’t be left with a gigantic bottle of unused product that you feel too guilty to get rid of, and if it does work, you can be 100% confident that you’re blowing through your Mint budgets on something that’s worth it.
If you are in LA, I *HIGHLY* recommend paying OSEA a visit at their spot on Abbot Kinney. It’s a gorgeous Venice bungalow (with parking!!! huge!!), the estheticians seriously know their shit, and the brushes they use to put the masks onto your face are so INSANELY SOFT that I haven’t stopped thinking of them since.
Are you a brand? This Shit I Was Gifted and Liked situation does NOT have to be a one-time thing. In fact, I really hope it’s not! Influencing is fun! For everyone else, thanks for being loyal shitters. We have some big things coming soon and I am very excited for you to see them! If you’re not hanging out with us already, sign up to get these straight to your inbox at shitiboughtandliked.com.