Mess Recs: Leo Season Edit

Featuring many birthday gifts to myself.

Hello! Yes! ‘Tis I once again!

As promised, I’m back with some more deeply random recommendations of stuff I’ve been into lately. I realized over my birthday hiatus that it’s been an eon since I last endorsed anything and I actually have quite a few items that I feel compelled to tell someone about and no one in my life cares to hear it, so I turn to you, dear reader. If a little credit card statement voyeurism is not your vibe at the present moment, no worries, feel free to delete and meet me back here on Friday for the usual celebrity shenanigans.

But for those who enjoy perusing others’ digital shopping carts, here’s some stuff I’m currently obsessed with.

Dries Van Noten Fleur du Mal perfume

To begin, the aforementioned gravely indulgent birthday gift to myself. There’s nothing I hate more than getting a free sample of something and then falling in love with it to the point that I will accept any exorbitant fee. This is not the last time you will hear this sad story in today’s letter. But the perfume does smell amazing and unlike anything else I’ve tried. And the good news for New Yorkers is if you go to the Dries store in person, they will give you free samples of whatever you want. Just be warned, you will get addicted!

Benefit Juice Stick in Jam

Yes, I know. Every time I write this email, I come to you with some fresh blush du jour, and for that I apologize, but such is my life. This is my truth and my cross to bear. Because of that, I actually resisted this blush stick for so long before succumbing. But after three completely unprompted glowing endorsements of this product from three separate women, I finally said, you know what, FINE. I will live to flush anew. What I love about this one is it solves my age-old complaint with the original Benetint, which is that it’s incredibly easy to overdue, and once you have overdone you are locked in perma clown mode. The stick, on the other hand, has a similar formulation but is so normal and not scary to build. And so I must now join the chorus of my peers in singing this blush’s praises.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

I’ve recommended this Anastasia clear brow gel before, but I just bought a new tube, and so I must recommend it again. If you use this stuff, your brows will stay exactly where you tell them to until you say otherwise. I actually had to stop using this stuff on my baby hairs because it was doing its job way too well.

Cou Cou Intimates The Slip Dress

Here’s another thing I was gifted by a brand a couple of month ago and now need to purchase in bulk. I’ve always just slept in giant ratty t-shirts, but I have to admit there’s something so fancy, so clean girl, about tucking yourself into your bed made for giants in a crisp, white cotton shift. I’ve actually been thinking that what I really need is seven identical night dresses each embroidered with the day of the week in a different color……..Cou Cou, literally, call me. Let’s link and build.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads

And again, I got got by my Sephora birthday sample last month. I was buying the aforementioned jam blush and brow gel and then got this amazing, and amazingly pricey, product foisted upon me. It has completely changed the texture of my skin and, despite what the name may imply, you definitely do not need to use it daily. In fact, I would say I use one to two wipes a week. And I like that for those interested in dabbling they sell a 5 pack of them so you can test it out and see if you actually like it before taking the plunge. But just like the perfume, you don’t truly understand the Pandora’s box you’re opening here.

Nike Tempo Shorts

I believe this rec actually came from Madeline Hill’s newsletter, and thank god I acted impulsively on it and immediately hit purchase. Buying the right pair of athletic shorts is the bane of my existence. I am only ever buying the wrong pair in the wrong fabric and the wrong cut. These, however, are perfect. I do not understand how or why they’re so great, and I’m not asking any questions about it. They’ve simply become the new core staple of my summer wardrobe.