The 4-ish Things I’m Compulsively Texting My Friends About This Week
Including the new-to-me skin device that is my YCOHO for life.
Hi everyone! Just wanted to take a second to say thank you for all of your incredible responses to last week’s inaugural You Can Only Have One story. I don’t know what I expected from this phenomenal community, but you very much surpassed my most optimistic hopes. I’m truly touched by the generosity of your YCOHO comments, and now have a whole list of products I want to try, like this Victoria Beckham mascara and Jones Road balm. (Also, I loved that there were so many comfy undies suggestions. Unexpected! Delightful!)
Today, I’m excited to share a handful of things that I’m legitimately texting my friends about, which is often my early indicator of what I want to cover in this newsletter. I’m absolutely bonkers about all of the items, and if you like them even ¼ as much as I do, I will still consider that to be a success.
One more thing: Since so many of you are moms, aunties, and friends with people who have little kids, I’m wondering if you have any medium-haul travel entertainment ideas for preschool/kindergarteners? I keep getting served IG ads for different airplane kits, and I’m wondering if anyone’s tried them?
Just kidding, I’m not done, I have one more thing to discuss: You! So in the next few days, this incredible subscribership will cross the 20,000 mark, which feels wonderful and wild. It’s a cliche, but time is such a precious resource, and I deeply appreciate the fact that you open and engage with this newsletter, and share it with your own communities too. In celebration of this milestone, I’m thinking about doing another giveaway for subscribers, and am open to any suggestions about what would be meaningful or exciting. So let me know if you have any thoughts!
As always, if there’s an item you’re shopping for or you need help sorting through the zillions of options out there, please don’t hesitate to drop me a comment and I will add it to my to-do list. (And why am I prompting you to comment? Because while I love DMs and always try to answer you there, my inbox is messy, and comments here are much easier for me to find and use as source material as I’m working on new things. Also, I love comments; they make me feel seen.)
1. Lip Gloss Is Dead; Long Live Lipstick
Okay so technically, lipstick never went away for some portion of the population, but fashion/beauty/always-online people have been living in a lip oil and lip gloss world for a number of years. Which is why I am so excited to see signs that the tide is turning and lipstick—specifically a nouveau matte lipstick—is poised for a comeback.
What are my data points? Primarily the fact that my two favorite clean beauty brands—Westman Atelier and Merit—launched lipstick in the past few weeks. Westman Atelier just debuted their first-ever proper lipstick line, the 10-shade Lip Suede Matte Lipstick ($50) is currently only available on the brand’s site, but will be in Sephora stores starting March 22nd. Meanwhile Merit just launched the Signature Lip Lightweight Matte Lipstick ($26) in eight shades. Also worth noting: Celine just announced the brand is launching a makeup line in Fall 2024, which will start with a 15-shade lipstick line, followed by new product collections each season.
While I couldn’t get my hands on the new Celine shades, I did try a number of Westman Atelier and Merit lipsticks, and am happy to report back on my findings.
Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick ($50) in LFG + Pip
Oh, I love it so much. The lipstick is unquestionably pigmented, lightly matte, and feels dreamy to put on. I’m not normally a matte lip sort of person, but this one is super soft, almost more like a balm? It doesn’t make your mouth look or feel dried out, probably thanks to a formula that’s made with peptides and three different sizes of hyaluronic acid. The packaging is super luxurious and elevated, as you’d expect from a luxury brand. Oh, and they’re refillable, which is nice. I like a bright lip, so expect to see me in both the shocking pink LFG and the poppy red Pip.
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Matte Lipstick ($26) in Court
Honestly it’s so wild to me that this lipstick is so pigmented, yet also feels like you’re not wearing anything at all (in the best way possible). For me, this new formulation from Merit is extremely easy to wear, plus the shades are extremely approachable, and will work in a wide variety of situations. Definitely a daily driver. I’m wearing the brick red Court the most right now, but I think the natural pink shade Sunday is going to be my next favorite…if only it wasn’t consistently sold out at Sephora!
2. The Things We Do High Frequency Wand ($98)
Okay, so I know that high-frequency wands have been around for a second, but I had limited experience with them (Shani Darden has incorporated them into her signature facials for years) in general, and zero experience with one outside a professional skincare setting.
Color me obsessed.
Vanessa Lee, the CEO and founder of The Things We Do (who is also a cosmetic RN and beloved medical aesthetic provider) gave me this wand recently and I honestly cannot recommend it enough. The device comes with four attachments—two argon (violet) wands that are ideal for reducing breakouts and killing bacteria, and two neon (red) wands that improve blood circulation and promote cellular turnover—including a comb wand that helps stimulate hair follicles.
Does It Work? While I’ve only had mine for a couple of weeks, I’m already absolutely floored by how well it works, specifically the argon wands for breakouts. I had a couple of little comedones—whiteheads, if you’re nasty—on my chin, so I used the point wand on them for a couple of minutes before bed and POOF. Gone. Vanished. Like an actual miracle. WHERE HAS THIS BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE?!?!
As for the rejuvenating neon wands, TBD! It’s going to take longer to see results on that front, which is normal, but I’ve been using it on my forehead on some wrinkles and around my eyes, plus the comb attachment too.
Can Everyone Use It? Nope! There are a number of contraindications, so definitely check with your derm and read the tool’s notes.
Does It Hurt? Not for me, but if you’re super sensitive, then maybe? The wand uses low electrical current, so it does feel a little zappy, but the tool I used has an adjustable dial, so you can keep it on low if you want.
How Do You Look Right After? Immediately after, my skin sometimes looks a smidge red, and the tool can be a little drying, so I use it at night, and make sure to really moisturize when I’m done.
Note: The wand has a short wait time until it ships (2-3 weeks, per the website), and I think it’s worth it. If you can’t wait, there are other options, but I haven’t personally tested them.
ELLE, my alma mater, likes StackedSkincare’s High Frequency Wand for Acne ($130), which is available on Amazon. It only comes with argon gas wands, which makes it different from The Things We Do’s version. Meanwhile Harper’s Bazaar recommends the NuDerma Professional Skin Therapy Wand ($99) which has six wands, three neon and three argon. (There’s also a newer version that’s $150 and includes both argon and neon in each wand.) But again, I haven’t tried these options, so cannot speak for them.
3. Capulette Velvet Bambina Mary Janes ($81)
When it comes to Mary Janes, I really didn’t have a choice. First of all, I’m a lifelong devotee of all things Alice in Wonderland, and this style is her signature footwear, at least in the 1951 Disney film, which is canon. Secondly, when I was in high school in the late ‘90s, I spent a couple of months living in New York where, like every other woman who resided in the West Village, I wore floral embroidered Mary Janes from Pearl River Mart.
To say I have a soft spot for these shoes is an understatement.
So naturally when I spotted a very in-the-know friend (hi Brooke!) wearing a pair of adorable Mary Janes whilst in Paris for fashion week, I immediately DM’d her to inquire about her footwear, and found myself ordering a pair in—you guessed it—olive green velvet for myself, and parrot green for Wilder. I found the sizing to be spot on for Wilder (her favorite shoes are dusty pink La Coqueta Mary Janes, which come in European sizes, so it was easy to get the same). For me, I was less certain, but the website notes that this style for adults runs small, so I went up to a 39, which is perfect. (Normally in flats I’m a 7 or a 7.5, which is a 38, for reference.)
A few things to note: The shoes are handmade in Italy, which is just charming. Also, this style snaps at the ankle, which is great and makes it feel very secure on the foot. And finally the soles are made traditionally, which means they’re constructed from recycled bicycle tires.
All of that said, if you love the idea of a Mary Jane, but want a sturdier sole, Le Monde Beryl makes some cool options, but they’re quite a bit more expensive. Additionally, I really like the options from Vibi Venezia, a better-priced Italian brand created by Venetian sisters, as another option.
4. The Period Company The Thong Period. In Microfiber ($12)
A handful of my wonderful friends are new moms, and I was talking to one of them recently about period underwear. Specifically: How much I wish that The Period Company had existed when I was having babies, as I would have loved using the brand’s incredible undies when I was postpartum, instead of the horrible pad-and-disposable underwear that’s standard in those first few weeks. Oh my god, it would have been a game changer.
Also game changing? The brand’s amazing thongs, which are pretty darn absorbent and ideal for working out. I know, it seems crazy to imagine a thong keeping everything contained, especially when one is sweating and flailing around (yes, that’s how I imagine myself looking whilst on my tiny trampoline), but they do. And apparently the sporty stretch ones are awesome too. Both styles are meant for medium-to-light flows, and are the absorbent equivalent of two tampons.
If you don’t know the brand, it was started by the incredible stylist Karla Welch (full disclosure: she’s also a friend) and is super inclusive, with prices that range from $9-24, and sizing from XS to 6X. There are a slew of styles, including adaptive undies, sleeper shorts, boxers, bikinis and more. In addition to the website, The Period Company is also available at Walmarts around America and Amazon too. (And yeah, that’s me posting about them, below!)
Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
Hillary, this newsletter is very dangerous for my attempts to control my impulse shopping. I might have to buy those lipsticks to try to spice things up a little bit.
Also, can we talk about cute shoes to wear that won’t kill my feet? I can barely do a heel these days and particularly my work outfits are feeling very flat because I wear the same pair of black ankle boots every day. I just don’t know what shoes cute but comfortable and appropriate for office life anymore! Thank you so much for the work you put into this newsletter. It’s become my favorite Sunday morning treat!
Giveaway idea: The Ness membership for X amount of time…the trampoline….thank you for such a delightful newsletter, I look forward to reading it every week!