I shared in my first post that I was nervous about starting a Substack, because I am famous for starting things and abandoning them, which I think is a common quality amongst ADHDers. And here I am on week two, and didn’t get around to a second post last Thursday. The good news is, I already have a post in the works— I am answering a subscriber question on Thursday about hyperpigmentation. Starting a piece of content is truly the hardest part for me— it’s like I can only do it in one sitting, only in perfect conditions, instead of squeezing in writing here and there throughout the week. It’s truly one of the most frustrating things for me about navigating my ADHD, but I am trying to push through it.
In other news, my MIL was in town last week helping out while my husband was out of town for most of April. It was so nice to have a second set of hands, and help with Fitz and all the household things. We did tons of spring cleaning, and organized many drawers and cabinets that we haven’t touched since we moved here (our two year anniversary in CT is this Memorial Day!). So thankful that we moved and now have a family support system. Fitz was so sad about Grandma leaving (and still is, tbh) four days later, despite my husband coming home early Monday. I was hoping to jump right back into work on Monday, but Fitz didn’t want to leave my side the rest of the weekend, and I majorly needed to regroup, and do things [like wash my hair] that he wouldn’t let me do over the weekend. Wild times over here!
What I’m reading
I’m currently ready Seven Summer Weekends by Jane Rosen, and enjoying it, despite it being more of a slow build than most romance books I read. I’m 50% in and the FMC has had only a small handful of interactions with her love interest. It’s equal parts women’s fiction and romance (I think?) but haven’t gotten to that part yet. The premise is fun— Addison was up for promotion, but a zoom disaster upends her career at the same time the inherits a beach house on Fire Island from her estranged aunt. There are a lot of themes around self-discovery, love, friendship and family.
Up next I am reading How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang. Yulin is a screenwriter, who is directing Emily Henry’s film adaptation of Beach Read— which I am very excited for (despite this being my least favorite Emily Henry novel). This is Yulin’s debut novel, and I’ve heard this is fantastic.
What are you reading right now?
What I’m eating
I am going through an egg phase, in addition to my obsession with cottage cheese. I obsess over eggs, then don’t eat them for three months, and then get back into them. I wanted to share two egg recipes?? (They’re more like directions), that are SO GOOD! My MIL made these hard-boiled eggs and they were perfection.
Hard-Boiled Eggs (that are SO easy to peel!): pour just enough water to cover the eggs in a pot. Add in a teaspoon of distilled white vinegar. Add six eggs. Cook until boiling, continuing to boil for 2 minutes. Turn off heat, cover and leave for 10 minutes. Get an ice bath ready for the eggs, put them into the ice bath after your 10 minute timer goes off. Leave until cold, peel and store covered in the fridge.
Jammy Eggs: pour enough water to cover eggs in the pot. Bring the water to a boil, gently placing the egg in the boiling water. Boil the egg for 7 minutes. Prepare an ice bath ahead of time. When the timer goes off, immediately take the egg out of the boiling water and place into the ice bath. Once it’s cold, you can peel and eat. You can adjust the time, based on how gooey you want them.
What I’m wearing
I just did a bit of a swimsuit overhaul at Aerie, which I haven’t done in about three years. All my other suits had become stretched out, and faded from pools/sun/washing. I didn’t love a lot of the styles they’ve had the past few years, or they were always sold out of the ones I did love, so I decided to get on this early this year. I bought all three of these (the fourth one I bought is already sold out), and I am truly obsessed with all of them!
Purple Suit (cheeky). Green top. Green bottoms (cheeky). Blue suit (full coverage). For size reference, I am a size 10 and wear a large in all of these (regular length). Love that they have long sizing, for those with longer torsos.
What’s in my cart
I am majorly getting an itch to try + review a new concealer, and one that I’ve been eyeing since it launched and got so many rave reviews is the Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer. The shade range is pretty impressive, and I’ve heard they’ve done neutral and cool tones justice. I think I’d pick up shade 4N which is fair neutral. If you’ve tried or we are a shade twin, let me know your shade! And let me know your thoughts below. I swatched Saie’s newest concealer in store last week, and it runs sooo yellow, and I just don’t get how everything but yellow undertones are so hard, when there are so many shade ranges with great examples.
My current everyday makeup routine
I tend to rotate products frequently given that my collection is much larger than the average person’s— mostly depending on the weather and the current state of my skin. Here’s what I’ve been reaching for daily right now:
Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen (shade 05 Fairfax)- I use about one finger length of this, and dot it all over the face. This leans dewy, so I love this over another natural or matte finish SPF (like Summer Fridays Shadedrops). I really want extra SPF coverage lately, because I want to get rid of some hyperpigmentation on my forehead. This also helps even out my skin tone and is perfect for every day.
Givenchy Prisme Libre Concealer (I’m sort of between shades C105 and C180, so I mix them)- If I want a bit more coverage over some rosacea redness, I use this on top the Tower 28. They both have silicone and mesh really well together. This is so blurring and looks incredible on the skin.
Jones Road The Face Pencil (Shade 1)*- I love this for tapping onto blemishes, because it makes them completely disappear. It has a really similar texture to the NARS Soft Matte concealer. So easy to throw in your bag for touch ups too.
Pixi Beauty On-the-Glow Bronze (Beach Glow)- this bronzer stick looks really natural, is easy to blend and so affordable. The color is perfect, and I reach for it often.
Ciele Blush & Protect SPF 50 Liquid Blush (June) - I love a slightly sunkissed but really natural blush look in the summer, and I’ve been reaching for this one because for a liquid, it’s quite long wearing and it’s so easy to blend. Don’t be scared of this shade- just apply two little dots to each cheek and blend!
Make Beauty Diffusion Set Translucent Setting Powder (Fair)- I go back and forth between this powder and the Kosas, but I love that this never hard pans no matter what (unlike Kosas which I have to scratch almost dail) and it doesn’t look heavy or cakey. Lately I’ve been powdering a lot more than usual, because I’ve been hating the feeling of SPF/makeup feeling super tacky on my skin but I don’t want to look dry either.
Kosas Brow Pop (Medium Brown)*- still my go-to brow pencil for everyday. I just finished one and opened a new one. It’s not too creamy, or too hard- it’s like Goldilocks.
Kulfi Free the Brow Volumizing and Laminating Brow Gel* - lately, I’ve been loving the more natural look of a clear brow gel paired with my brow pencil. This gel is EXCELLENT. It comes with a comb and brush so you can set your brows your preferred way (like if laminating isn’t your thing). They hold all day but never flake or look crusty, shiny, etc.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner (Pillow Talk Fair)- I tried this one in a reel here, if you missed it. It’s a dusty cool rose for those of us that the OG pillow talk turned orange on! It’s perfect. I love how long wearing this formula is.
Innbeauty Project Lip Glaze (Raspberry Rose) - I really need for Innbeauty to make this limited edition shade permanent because it’s the perfect hot pink that I want to wear all summer. You can still grab it on their site, as a part of their collab with Poppi.
*Denotes product was sent as PR sample
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I have tried the blush, and I loved it! I love an illuminating blush. The color I was sent was just not personally one I reach for. I believe Credo is sending me the bronzer in beachwalk Betty, and I will share as soon as I get it! I’ve also heard great things and if it’s similar to the blush, I’m sure it’s fantastic.
Loved this post, thanks for sharing! I’m currently eyeing the RMS Re-Dimension blushes and bronzers. Seems like everyone is loving them right now! Curious if you’ve tried them? 💜