Love Notes: Six Things Keeping Me Sane Right Now
The vibes are off but these are helping.
Welcome to the latest installment of Love Notes, a short and sweet roundup of the delectable treats I’m loving most right now. From the luxurious hair care accessories I use every single day to the new releases living rent free in my mind, the lip products I can’t stop applying, the new-to-me finds I’m (still) obsessing over, the little luxuries that have become my necessities, the sweater I always get compliments on, the skincare products that have already made the shortlist for my best of 2024 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. Don’t miss a thing, read it here!
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Love Notes: Page Three
If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may have noticed I’ve been pretty quiet lately as I was traveling for the better part of the last two weeks (among other things). But when I finally arrived home a few days ago, I was reminded of the universal feeling of overwhelming relief that washes over you after finally dropping your bags at the end of a long, tiring travel day. Not only was I welcomed home by my perfect cat and endless cuddles, but also a series of delightful packages that were graciously sent to me while I was away. And of course, despite my skepticism, I unexpectedly fell head over heels in love with this cleanser. While you wouldn’t know it based on what the name suggests, this deliciously balmy, hydrating cleanser is actually fragrance-free. And while I don’t mind a touch of fragrance here and there, this is one citrus scent I don’t want anywhere near my face. A little goes a long way and it foams like an absolute dream (as seen in the photos above). While eye sting is unique to each person, this doesn’t sting my sensitive eyes and you get quite a lot of product for the price. And despite my unrelenting reluctance to give the brand much praise, the new cleanser is an undeniably great product and I absolutely love it. If you buy one thing from this post, get this.
It seems like every single brand has decided to launch a lip treatment, balm, gloss or oil in the last month or so. It’s ridiculous and the mere notion of keeping up with all of them is enough to bankrupt you. But when I saw that there were new shades in a a widely adored lip treatment, I finally decided to give it a go. And I immediately understood why everyone loves this formula — it really is that good and easily stands out from the pack. I included some thick swatches of the three new “flavors” and Original in the photo above, beginning on the bottom with Strawberry Sorbet, followed by Cocoa Creme, Blood Orange Spritz and Original at the top (FWIW: none of them appear nearly as pigmented on the lips). If you’re debating which one to get, I’d recommend Strawberry Sorbet — it’s a crowd-pleaser. But then again, Cocoa Creme is the perfect pinky brown and Blood Orange Spritz has an intoxicating scent (Original is fine). But whatever shade or flavor you fancy, the formula is simply amazing. It’s not too thick, not too thin, not at all sticky, it’s easy to apply, it’s pigmented but not too pigmented, it provides immediate and lasting hydration, the applicator is the perfect size and shape, it’s incredibly comfortable, it lasts and everything else you’d want in a lip treatment. Honestly, this might be my new favorite lip treatment.
Despite having skin akin to an arid climate in a record-breaking drought, I’ve never been a fan of face oils. Although I enjoy using the one from Furtuna Skin (save w/ myskinterest20), I’ve been hoping to find one that’s even lighter on the skin. And as a fervent fan of U Beauty, I had a feeling that their newest launch, The Super Intensive Face Oil, would be everything I’ve been looking for (save w/ myskinterest). And as always, U Beauty eclipsed my ridiculously high expectations. With The Super Intensive Face Oil, it was love at first drop — so much so that when I first used it I audibly gasped and said “wow” aloud several times. And the more and more I use it, the more I believe it’s in a league of its own. It provides immediate and lasting hydration, feels incredibly nourishing and is even lighter than I could have imagined. While even the best face oils sit on top of the skin, U Beauty’s doesn’t and truly feels like it becomes one with my skin almost immediately. I apply it as my last step in my nighttime skincare routine and continue to wake up with the best skin I’ve had in months. It’s amazing. While pricey, The Super Intensive Face Oil is worth it and you only need one drop (plus, my code gives you 20% off). — save w/ myskinterest
I’m in the sophomore year of my Hair Care Era (a topic I really should write a post about — right?) and as I continue my journey to care for my strands, I’m trying to avoid heat styling whenever possible. I know it’s not the end of the world or some cardinal sin but it’s something I’m trying, when the weather allows. While I’m lucky that my hair is easy and always dries pin straight, it has absolutely no volume. And I’ve gotten pretty good at using this to make up for said lack of volume. However, I finally feel like I’ve mastered Dianna Cohen’s method for adding volume to my hair while it’s air-drying. How? The Clips. Handcrafted, elegant, durable and luxurious, each clip has a smaller set of “teeth” hidden within the opening, making them remarkably effective at holding hair in place without slipping. For me, these are the best way to air-dry my hair for many reasons but particularly because they aren’t fussy. Unlike many popular contraptions that help add volume to your hair without heat, The Clips can be worn out and about while my hair is still air-drying and require no prep. Plus, I always end up wearing them throughout the day as well whenever I want to pull back my hair. I have so many pairs of The Clips and they truly are a staple in my hair care ritual. Also pictured is my favorite sweater that I always get compliments on — it’s the best. I take a size small.
Snif recently sent me a few of their fragrances including Vanilla Vice, which has quickly become the perfume I can’t stop reaching for. While I’ve always been a fan of a vanilla scent, I don’t like vanilla perfumes that are too sweet and I’ve had a hard time finding one that sticks around for more than an hour. But there’s some kind of magic in Vanilla Vice because I can still smell it on my skin after a full day of wear (and even the following morning). It’s kind of incredible. Admittedly, I don’t think the notes really translate on the skin — so if you’re looking for a vanilla that smells like the ice cream from your childhood, I’d look elsewhere. Since I don’t want a perfume with that classic, overly sweet vanilla scent, Vanilla Vice is perfect for me. It’s currently only available for pre-order (which is weird??) but I highly recommend pre-ordering if you also love a vanilla scent. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if it sells out pretty quickly when it is released.
And lastly, I’m feeling extra thankful for my closest friends — especially the ones who help get me out of my own head and make me feel better no matter how off the vibes are. Steph of
and I recently got matching “forever” bracelets and we may have to get matching piercings next…
And Now, Over to You
Let me know what’s keeping you sane right now and how you’re getting through the start of the year in the comments below. I always love hearing from you!
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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You might be the singular person who can convince me to actually get the tattoo(s) I've dreamed about
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