Everything I finished in April
Last month's beauty empties, plus a Mother's Day gift guide on the blog.
Greetings from NYC! Well, technically I’m writing this en route (what did we do before wi-fi on planes?!) but by the time you read it, I’ll be in Manhattan, savoring my daily pumpernickel bagel with lox and cream cheese. We are spending a whole week in the city—I’m tagging along on Sean’s work trip, with a few extra days tacked on—and in spite of the fact that it’s supposed to rain the entire time 🥴, I’ve been really looking forward to it. It’s been 12 years since I left, but I come back to visit at least once a year because NYC is like that charming yet toxic boyfriend who breaks my heart over and over and yet I can’t seem to stay away. Our last visit was right before the holidays when I was at a very low point energetically, and while it was a great trip as always, I feel like I spent most of it blowing off steam, e.g. eating and drinking like it was going out of style. I will still do both of those things, of course, but with less work baggage weighing me down, I’m hoping I can spend more time absorbing the energy of the city, getting inspired, and just vibing. You can follow along on IG, but in the meantime, here’s everything I finished in April.
Left to right:
Credo Deep Thirst Vetiver Root + Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer $51.20 (on sale from $64 through 5/4) (c/o)
This is a good all-around moisturizer for those of us with dry skin, and it kept me feeling adequately hydrated during the winter months (the bottle lasted quite awhile). It does have a few drawbacks, however: the vetiver scent is VERY strong (although it did not irritate me) and the pump, while very eco-minded in its materials, is wimpy and gets stuck as you get to the bottom 10%. I will give Credo props for this (rather heavy) glass bottle, however I’d prefer it in a jar.
Paula’s Choice Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil (c/o, no longer available; try this one instead)
This was a limited-edition product that Paula’s Choice sent me last summer; I had stopped using it awhile back, then decided to finish it up in an effort to clear my medicine cabinet of about-to-expire products. It’s no longer available, and I can understand why—you can’t really wear any makeup on top of it, as it makes everything slide off your face, so it’s not the most practical formulation. I do, however, recommend PC’s other sunscreens, especially the Vitamin C one.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base $65 (c/o)
The older I get, the more I appreciate a good eye cream, especially one that’s designed to go under the under-eye concealer that I now so desperately need to prevent me from looking like the Crypt Keeper. No matter what product I use on top of this, it doesn’t settle into my fine lines, and that is more than half of the battle (the other half is actually getting a good night’s sleep and not waking up sweating at 3 a.m.).
Caftari Scent of Nirvana Candle $46.40 (on sale from $58 through 5/4) (c/o)
I work from home and burn a candle most mornings, especially gloomy ones, which are frequent in San Francisco. This has an agarwood and cedarwood blend that’s supposed to lower cortisol levels; I can’t verify that it does that, but I will say that this warm, woody scent was a very pleasant way to get me through a rainy, fairly stressful winter.
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum $10 (c/o)
This is one of of the products I recommend most IRL, and it’s a Cheryl Shops top seller too. For such a lightweight serum, it packs a very hydrating punch, and the super-clean formula is unscented and won’t irritate your skin. I tend to blitz through a bottle in about 4–6 weeks—it’s not very big, but it’s also $10, so you can’t really complain.
L’Occitane Almond Cleansing Oil $29 (c/o)
You’ve seen this product here before and you will definitely see it again, as L’Occitane keeps sending me a seemingly unlimited supply. That said, I keep using it because I love it—my skin is normally so dry it hurts, and this keeps me so well moisturized that I almost don’t need body lotion after I shower (almost). It also smells amazing, and you can use it to shave too.
This week on the blog
I’m not a mom, but I have a lot of moms in my life, and they definitely deserve to be spoiled with gifts (hint: Mother’s Day is a week from today!). So my Mother’s Day Gift Guide is filled with my top product recommendations—things I have and, more importantly, love.
Thanks for reading!
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