10/10 would buy again
Recommendations from a human woman
Actually Good Things is a weekly newsletter covering products that are as fun to talk about as celebrity gossip.
This week—while slogging through a semi-smoky heat wave and finishing Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (humorous and unexpectedly heartwarming)—I’m thinking about all-star cosmetics.
I’m very, very lucky to get the chance to test a superabundance of products. I’ve discovered some real gems over the years (along with many duds and mids).
Here are actually good things I’ve tried, loved, and would absolutely buy again with real money.*
Queens of the makeup drawer
I have fair skin and prefer a cool-toned contour, which can be frustratingly hard to find. My go-to for five years has been Fenty’s Match Stix in the shade amber.
This makeup brush is crazy. It’s the best thing I’ve ever used to blend cream contour. I love it so much that I got another one to replace it after it wore down—but now I have two in my drawer because I couldn’t bear to get rid of the first one. And I’m really, really sorry that it’s $50.
Though it doesn’t look like much, this highlighter balm is a f*cking boss. Not shimmery nor pigmented, it just gives you dewy glass skin anywhere you tap it on (cheekbones and upper brow, personally).
A couple newbies but goodies:
KS&Co Microfeathering Brow Pen (super-fine tip and works on oily skin)
One/Size by Patrick Starrr Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray (lives up to its name)
Naturium wins
Naturium is good at its craft. Based on the accessible prices, effectiveness, and user experience, I’d no doubt purchase some of its products if I had to refill my medicine cabinet from scratch today.
This milky sunscreen fluid is ahh-mazing. I forgot how much I adore it and just bought another one for my Miami trip next week.
The brand’s SPF 45 lip balm is a hard yes—in clear or red (a sheer wash of color).
I’m also fond of this simple, gentle, under-$20 face wash. She’s perfect.
Worth-it hair stuff
Kérastase Magic Night Serum makes your hair noticeably better by morning. (Okay, my hair—can’t speak for the masses.)
La-la-looooove Philip B.’s Imperial Volumizing Mousse. Hate that it’s $60 but will devoutly cough it up when my bottle runs out.
I air-dry my hair 95% of the time. But when I wanna look more polished, I grab the T3 AireBrush, a blow dryer-round brush hybrid—surprisingly easy to use and delivers what looks like a salon blowout. I accidentally left it behind on a trip once and didn’t hesitate to buy a new one.
Also highly recommend this flat iron from T3. It actually lives up to the “single pass” claim—one swipe through each hair section is all you need.
This list is far too short, but I’m out of time this week!
*Some products with affiliate links might earn me a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
PS: Substack has this new “scan for AI” feature. I ran it for this post, and the results suggest I’m a mortal—not in cahoots with a clanker.
AI could never.💅🏻
What I’ve written lately:
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What I’m reading lately:
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder, a novel by Nina McConigley
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The New Yorker | How Mary Kay Built an Empire Out of Other Women’s Dreams
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