Love Notes: Six Things I'm Obsessing Over Right Now
Affordable and luxury makeup, skincare and body care products you need.
Welcome to the latest edition of myMusings, a meticulously curated newsletter about skincare, beauty and everything in-between. Thanks for clicking on the latest installment of Love Notes, a short and sweet roundup of the delectable treats I’m loving most right now. From the tried and trusted skincare products on my shelves to that one pair of jeans that always fits just right (you know the ones!), the new-to-me makeup products that immediately earned a spot in my everyday makeup bag, a cheaper and better than expected alternative to the Jenni Kayne sweater you’ve been eyeing, body care worth caring about and everything in-between. Love Notes is a collection of brief yet passionate entries about a few things that are filling my cup to the brim and other miscellaneous delights. You can find every installment of Love Notes here. Let’s dive in.
Programming Note: This post includes more goodness than an email can handle and may get cut off. Don’t miss a thing, read it here!
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Love Notes: Page Four
As someone with rudimentary makeup application techniques (to put it mildly), I am constantly on the hunt for makeup formulas that apply themselves. But particularly when it comes to eyeshadow because that can go south very quickly for me. And recently, I haven’t been able to put down the Beyond Beige quad (save w/ myskinterest15). While the brand’s powder eyeshadow formula does all the work for you no matter the shade, Beyond Beige is undoubtedly the most practical and intuitive quad in my collection. Though I admittedly don’t use the darkest shade all that often, I use the other three shades obsessively. The shade Griege (top right) is a perfect one and done shadow with nuance, dimension and truly blends itself out beautifully. The shade Cuivre (bottom left) is a bit richer and warmer with some shimmer (read: not glitter) and both shades look stunning on their own or layered together. You really cannot go wrong with this palette and I simply cannot recommend it enough. It’s earned a spot in my everyday makeup bag (spoiler alert: updated daily makeup look post coming soon!) and even if this color story isn’t for you, Surratt’s eyeshadow formula is easily one of the best out there and you can build your own palette! — save w/ myskinterest15
With an overwhelming deluge of new releases hitting the shelves since the year began, it can be easy to overlook some new products as you wade through countless posts and ads about the latest lip balm. I don’t blame you. However, if you happened to miss the latest launches from Prequel, I highly recommend checking them out. While I’m not one to get passionate about a hand cream, the Hand Wrap Shielding Lotion is truly innovative. According to Prequel, it’s able to lock in moisture for hours on end — even after washing you hands (I think that’s magic?). Prequel’s founder, Sam, made a great video on how to apply it and it literally feels exactly how she describes. But not to be outdone, Prequel also released the Foot Rescue Advanced Restorative Treatment — and it’s a game-changer (particularly when paired with the socks). I thought it would be just like their Skin Utility Ointment or any other moisturizer but it’s so much better. It’s made to exfoliate, soften and hydrate dry/cracked feet and it really works. My feel have never felt softer and I’m so excited to keep using it. You’re going to love these.
In the last installment of Love Notes, I talked about one of my favorite new lip treatments. And I’m still obsessed with it and of course, I love many other treatments, balms, glosses and all the rest. But sometimes, I really just want my lips to look really pretty. Sure, the Hermèsistible Infused Lip Care Oil won’t keep your lips plump and moisturized for hours on end (no lip oil will) but that’s not what I’m looking for when I reach for this product. It’s about the luxury experience. And trust me, the Hermèsistible Infused Lip Care Oil will make you feel just as iconic, timeless and chic as its packaging every time you take it out of your favorite bag to apply it. That’s quite a feat in my book. While pricey, it’s worth every penny if you’re in the market for a little luxury. Trust me on this one. Although the shades appear rather vibrant online, in person they range from beautifully sheer to a perfect, subtle wash of color that never looks overdone. Like all Hermès Beauty products I’ve tried so far, this is a luxurious user experience from start to finish and your lips will never look better. I recommend 01 and 05.
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I had absolutely no idea what melasma was until last year when I started to notice darker splotches on certain areas of my face and went to my dermatologist — because when in doubt, consult a physician you trust. And since then, I’ve loved researching and testing new-to-me products with the potential to minimize and/or maintain the appearance of my melasma and other pigmentation — it’s become my own personal form of catnip. Enter the Molecular Hero Serum from Mother Science, a brand I had never heard of but decided to try out of curiosity (save w/ myskinterest). And while my personal experience should not be perceived as or mistaken for claims made by the brand, clinical trial results or any sort of controlled study — I started to notice a difference after one bottle. However, take that with a big grain of salt. A million and one factors could have contributed to the results I personally saw. I’m not saying the serum “cured” anything (you cannot cure melasma). I still have melasma and other pigmentation. But I have noticed that new pigmentation fades more quickly since I started using the serum consistently, along with other protective measures. At this point, I’ve gone through countless bottles and it’s become an absolute staple in my skincare routine. And as I’m currently enjoying my fair share of acne-related pigmentation, I’m even more thankful to have the Molecular Hero Serum on hand. — save w/ myskinterest
There’s something you should know about me: I am completely and utterly obsessed with knitwear. Cashmere is my love language and I have an emergency cashmere sweater in my bag at all times, even in the swampy summer months. And while I don’t mind paying an obscene price for a truly perfect piece of knitwear, I also love a deal — particularly on a high-quality cashmere sweater. Not only is this cashmere sweater nearly identical to the bestselling version from Jenni Kayne, but it comes in more exciting colors (brown is my favorite!!) and is a fraction of the price. While I think the quality is just as good as Jenni Kayne’s, I also like the cut much better. I’ve had this cardigan (another Jenni Kayne style for less) and it’s held up perfectly. I really can’t recommend they're cashmere enough, especially if you can’t stomach paying $425 for a sweater (and rightly so). Whenever I share any cashmere sweater recommendations here or on Instagram, I always get asked about pilling. Here’s the thing: cashmere will always pill — it’s the nature of the fabric and many others. I recommend getting a “sweater shaver” (there are a ton of great options under $20 on Amazon) and following the care instructions provided by the brand. The photo above really doesn’t do this sweater justice but you’ll have to trust me. I take a size small (or extra small).
I feel like I’ve been talking about cleansers a lot and with so many delightfully decadent and wonderfully bubbly cleansers out there, it’s hard not to talk about them. But this week I was reminded of the cleanser that truly started my deep love and slight obsession with skincare, the Cleansing Complex (save w/ myskinterest). It was about a decade ago when I reached a breaking point with my skin. Despite investing in expensive serums, moisturizers and a cleanser that’s still quite popular (eye roll), my skin looked unhappy and unhealthy. I was constantly breaking out, prone to texture and other irritation, my skin looked dull (to put it kindly) and there always seemed to be more mascara leftover no matter how many times I washed my face. So I became determined to find a cleanser that cleansed and hydrated my skin, that refined and nourished and actually just worked. Fast forward through endless trial and error and I stumbled on the Cleansing Complex, which is still my favorite cleanser I’ve ever used. It takes me months to finish a bottle and it never fails to make my skin feel refreshed. And it wasn’t until a few years ago that I even bothered to try other cleansers for the sake of science — that’s how much I love it. So while I enjoy testing all the other cleansers I rant and rave about, there’s still nothing like opening a new bottle of the cleanser that started it all. — save on Dermstore w/ myskinterest
Now It’s Your Turn…
What filled you with untamed joy and bliss this week? What have you been loving?
Until next time, follow along on Instagram and browse all of my favorite things. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.
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