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All the corporate controversy at The Ordinary has caused a lot of stress in my skincare group chat lately. We all love The Ordinary (I’ve placed five orders since August and am dangerously close to my sixth), and are terrified the company will implode. The only solution seems to be to stock up ASAP. Here are the things I can’t live without (hyperbole not intended):

Niacinamide + Zinc - If you are fighting acne and can only buy one product, get this. I apply twice daily and it does an amazing job of preventing zits from forming, instead of leaving my scrambling for every spot treatment once a confidence-killing pimple is already blooming. It also doesn’t try out my skin the way salicylic acid does.

Plant-Derived Squalene - I’ve been wearing this oil under my moisturizer for an extra layer of hydration all winter long. As someone with combination skin, I was nervous that a heavy oil would cause breakouts, but it didn’t. It’s been a lifesaver and the single best antidote to wind-chapped winter skin. Since it’s April 2 and snowing, I’ll probably keep up with this through memorial day. PS hyaluronic acid doesn’t do much for me but this shit does.

AHA/BHA Peeling Solution - A serious burn-this-grime-off-my-face mask, and not for the sensitive skinned. I’ve honestly never felt cleaner. It’s an excellent dupe for the Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial, which actually contains a lower concentration of AHA and is $80, not to say it’s not on my wish list.

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My Sephora wish list

Is it just me, or is everything on the whole internet sold out all the time? Since “drops” became the preferred mode of retail, the physical objects I desire seem to appear and disappear faster than I can consult my budget spreadsheet. While my credit card is thanking me, it’s honestly really frustrating to fall victim to influencer marketing and the not actually be able to *buy* the product in question.

First on my list is the Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30. I have pretty consistent redness around my nose, which I usually hide with concealer, but it would be nice to actually treat the issue and not feel guilty when I skip separate SPF. I initially read about this product line on Into The Gloss, and all of a sudden it seems like it’s everywhere. Note: of course the larger size is in stock for a cool $52, and I know I can return it if I don’t like it, but I’m just not ready for that level of commitment.

A month or so ago, it seemed like every beauty editor I follow on Instagram was on an Ole Henriksen press trip at Amangiri, site of my ultimate dream holiday for many years. Since then, the Banana Bright Eye Creme has been included in a bunch of product roundups, and it’s stayed at the top of my iphone note wish list. Whenever I’ve used eye cream before I’ve been up milia and down any tangible brightening or plumping, but I have confidence that this one will come through.

I’ve pretty much worked my way through every salt spray on the market, but I have a feeling Sachajuan’s Ocean Mist Spray will be the one that makes me commit. All I want is perfect beach waves every single day with no effort or frizz. Totally realistic. I’ve heard Ocean Mist doesn’t have the best scent, which is how you know it really works.

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Dreaming of redecorating my living room

Hamilton Sofa, West Elm

Gold And Marble Leilani Tulip Dining Table, World Market

Mid Century Josef Hoffmann 811 Prague Chairs by Thonet, Home Union

Adrian Rug, Revival Rugs

Mid Century Teak Credenza with Square Pulls, Home Union

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Like everyone else in the world right now, I’m obsessed with Kate Young’s styling for Selena Gomez. Sadly, the wrap dress is vintage, the top (from Alexa Chung’s new clothing line) is $370, and the orange slides are $475. 

Images via Vogue

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This conditioner from Costco is the best I’ve ever had

Hear me out – the Costco beauty section is one of my favorite places to shop. There are discounts on luxury products (think SKII essence, Lancome serum, Natura Bisse moisturizer), and random things you’ve never heard of before. Costco also has an amazing return policy – you can basically return anything, even if it’s used/broken/you’ve had it for five years, and you don’t need to save receipts. 

I always thought conditioner was one of those products that didn’t really matter as long as you used something. I’ve tried a million different ones, and the fancy, high-end products never made my hair look any better than the drugstore brands. I was previously using a different conditioner from Costco, but decided to try this one from Eva NYC because it’s $6.99 for a 34 oz. bottle, which is a quarter of the price-per-ounce of Neutrogena conditioner on walgreens.com. 

After only one wash, I noticed a huge difference in my hair. It was smoother, less frizzy, and softer than it’s ever been. I have fine but thick hair that is very long, dry towards the ends and prone to frizziness. I prefer air drying my hair because it takes too long to blow dry and style, and had pretty much accepted that my hair was my hair, and I was stuck with it. The Eva NYC conditioner gives me a much nicer air-dried texture, and I’m actually wearing my hair down, which is a rarity for me. Usually, my air-dried hair is pretty puffy and verges on triangular, especially on the days I shampoo. 

After I had such great success with the conditioner, I went back and researched the brand a little bit. All the products I looked at were super affordably priced and have great reviews. I just bought the Hungry Hair Oil and can’t wait to try. 

Edit: the conditioner is now sold out. Clearly, I was right and it's the best. Good thing I have approx 31 ounces left...

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I’m not even a perfume person and I’m in love with this scent

There’s a collection of cast-off beauty products in the ladies restroom at my office, mostly hand lotions and stuff someone bought at a Bath & Body Works sale. None of it usually piques my interest any more than the industrial hand soap. 

A few weeks ago, I noticed this Fresh perfume among the glittery plastic labels and had to try. The name Cannabis Rose seemed totally at odds with that would usually end up the bathroom of my ultra-conservative office, so naturally I spritzed away. When first applied, the scent is a little sour, but it quickly settles into a sexy, musky smell with a rosy undertone. The rose isn’t the synthetic floral scent I would usually associate with a perfume; it actually smells like a rose, which is a little more complex and layered and not so sweet. 

Usually, perfume is my least favorite cosmetic. I have several beautiful perfumes sitting on my bathroom shelf -- they’ve been there for years and they’re three-quarters full. There are just so many perfumes on the market, and they mostly smell pretty good, but I’ve never had that “you’re the one for me” feeling until now. 

To see if this atypical scent was as intoxicating to other people as it was to me, I did a quick poll at my best friend’s memorial day bbq, and three out of four testers liked the scent. “Love” and “sexy” were two of the descriptors used. 

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File under “things I would buy if I didn’t have to pay the rent” (which is also a stellar newsletter from Anna Gray)

To deal with the hot outside but freezing inside New York summer - Black & White Striped Off the Shoulder Top from The Frankie Shop

To hide a hangover - Luxury Wig sunglasses from Raen

To alter into a knee-length bed jacket and wear open over jeans - Vintage Silk Kimono from Etsy

To wear to work when I just don’t feel like making an effort - The Kick Flare Pant from American Giant 

To wear with everything - Chloe Top from Brandy Melville 

To fill the denim hole in my closet because I got rid of all my skinny jeans - Classic Indigo Slim Legion Pant from Rachel Comey

To wear with said non-skinny jeans - Drapey Oversized Boyshirt from Madewell

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I have been stalking this Zara hat for weeks and it never seems to be available, ugh. 

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My top picks from Reformation... 

Casablanca Top

Ace Top

Valero Jacket

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I recently bought this skirt, which I’m absolutely nuts for, from Lisa Says Gah and I have no clue what to wear it with. “A t-shirt like in the picture, duh,” is the obvious answer, but I really want to make it work appropriate to justify the purchase, and t-shirts do not fly at my job. I’m not sure that an egg yolk colored satin skirt is work appropriate no matter how I style it, but I can always chalk it up to financiers don’t understand Fashion, capital F. 

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I’m fairly certain this $20 white tank top from Free People will solve all my summer wardrobe problems. It satisfies that bra requirement for workplace wear, and will also render white shirts acceptable without the extra sweaty camisole layer that inevitably bunches up around my waist. I can also see wearing its own at night with loose, high waisted denim and fun shoes. 

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A blush tip I wish I’d been smart enough to figure out on my own

I read a blush tip a while ago (pretty sure it was on Byrdie, that’s where I get most of my tips tbh) that was so simple I couldn’t believe I’d never thought of it on my own. The makeup artist in the story suggested applying blush starting at the top of your cheekbone, towards your hairline, and then blending towards your nose. I (and I imagine most others) had always done the opposite, applying first on the roundest part of my cheeks and then blending outwards. It turns out that doing it the outside-in way is much more flattering, especially if you have a wider face like me. My face somehow looked brighter and better in a way I can’t explain, and this way the rosy blush didn’t interfere with my efforts to conceal redness around my nose.

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I really want these ruffle-hem pants from Who What Wear’s Target line. I’ve heard great things about the line, and it’s the top-selling collab in Target’s history, so they’ve got to be good. Plus for $33 how could I go wrong?

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Pretty please I’d like this Staud bucket bag for summer. It’s so, so darling and from a young designer and $350 is not that bad for a pocketbook, right?

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It’s a good thing this $105 bra top from The Line by K is sold out in my size, otherwise I’d be doing some very irresponsible spending. If you haven’t heard, The Line by K is a super sexy, relatively affordable, made in LA line by blogger Karla Deras. I’ve been a fan of Karla’s style forever, and she’s the only blogger I know who shares my body type so she’s always given me great ideas about how to flatter my shape rather than squish it into clothes that were meant for more straight-and-narrow types. 

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I found my one true love and it’s moisturizer

I previously mentioned wanting to try Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer Rich, and you can stop reading now because it’s that good. Just go buy it. 

I’m about to order my third tub of a moisturizer that categorizes itself as heavy when it’s 43 days from the official first day of summer. That didn’t sound as dramatic as I wanted it to because summer is still pretty far away and its 50 degrees in New York, but whatever. 

I can sometimes get uneven texture and dryness, so I like a heavier moisturizer, plus everyone wants *that wet look* these days anyways. Other thick creams have clogged my pores and given my forehead that congested look, or straight up broken me out. Glossier’s just gave me smooth dewiness all day, and unlike most other creams it seemed to calm post-face-washing redness, rather than prolong it. It provides a smooth base for makeup, and smells like lavender which is quite soothing. I say this after having liked, but not loved, the original priming moisturizer. 

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Zara picks I can’t get out of my head.. 

Skirt

Shoes