It's the little things for spring

The Mid-Season Rotation

There are so many incredible write-ups about fashion and style in the Substack zeitgeist right now that anything I try to write feels almost pedestrian. I really want to share my take on Fashion Week, but there are so many great articles already out there that I’ve decided to wait a bit to truly digest my thoughts before sharing.

Instead, I’m doing a semi-”five on the fly” by sharing what is currently in heavy rotation in my life.

1. The Gap T-Shirt

Okay, a tiny story: I came across a gorgeous boatneck t-shirt and fell in love. Then I saw the price tag and fell right back out of love. I show my shopping here without any shame, but I just can’t justify $120 for a basic top!

So, I went on a hunt and found this one and guess what, I’m in love again! I got it in grey and brown. I really love a boat neck and it’s fitted but not tight - the fabric mix is Cotton 58%, Modal 39%, Elastane 3% . Oh also, it’s also on sale right now! I’m considering getting it navy (really want the black, but it’s sold out in my size). I really don’t have basic tops and would love a few to rotate while wearing more statement jackets and/or pants and this style just fits that bill and an easy solve for spring/summer.

2. Sweed Brow Serum

Like most fellow millennials, I sadly tweezed my eyebrows into extinction in the 2000s. But I am obsessed with eyebrows. I can leave the house with just SPF and no makeup (especially as the weather gets warm) but I can’t leave without making sure my brows are neat. I’ve spent the last decade working hard to grow them back, but a few bald spots still persist. I’ve tried many growth serums and wasted a lot of money in the process.

Then I tried Sweed. This is the first serum that actually worked for me. I’m seeing actual brow hairs growing in the bald spots, making them much less obvious (which means I have to pencil them in less). Because your hair can fall out when you stop using it, I’m on the hook for the foreseeable future, though I’ll probably reduce the frequency from daily to every other day. It’s expensive, but it’s better than buying something cheaper that doesn’t do anything. I just finished the first tube and bought my second one. (Also, their Mascara is amazing, and it is now my go to. Little to no flaking and hold a curl well).

Notes: 1) Always consult with your healthcare provider when trying products like this to make sure it’s safe for you! Just because it works for me doesn’t guarantee anything. 2) The one I buy is a rollerball meant to be for your hairline but I use it for my brows. There is a brow specific tube but the formula is the same and I just prefer rollerball style of application.

3. Tower 28 Concealer*

Full transparency: this was gifted. I didn’t really “get” concealer when I first started wearing makeup. Then, in 2024, I tried one and liked it. I started using it instead of foundation, thinning it out with moisturizer to get the exact coverage and consistency I wanted for my whole face.

But you know what I always found hard? Finding the right undertone. Most brands offer three: Warm, Cool, and Neutral. None of those really fit my skin. I’ve always known I have an olive undertone, but most brands don’t offer that. UNTIL! I saw that Lisa Eldridge had an olive option in her skin tint, and now I see that Tower 28 has it in their incredible concealer.

Coming across actual olive-toned foundations and concealers is like hearing angels sing. This concealer (my shade is 9.0 MDR) has a great consistency and works so well with my temperamental skin. For days when I am meeting people IRL, this is my go to for helping me with my hyperpigmentation. I use it sparingly and I am obsessed.

4. Blank Beauty

I love having my nails done, but I hate going to the salon. I’ve shared my love for this other nail polish brand before, but when I want color, I usually go for Blank Beauty. I have bought a lot of colors from them and formula is great. Oh, you can even design your own custom color if you want!

Their new Jelly collection looks so fun, I just bought two more colors. The brush is nice and wide, which allows me to get a clean dispersion of color with one swipe every time. Two coats of color and one top coat, and I’m good to go. It usually lasts 6-7 days, which is the same as a professional manicure for me. I’m a nail picker, so when I’ve tried gel in the past, I ended up peeling it off and taking a layer of my nail with it, EEEEEKK! Regular polish is all I can handle, and this brand has fab colors for spring. These Jelly shades look dark in the bottle but if you watch the videos on the site, you can see how it turns into more of a tint rather than a solid shade.

5. Seed Cycling

Have you heard of Seed Cycling? I first heard about it on the podcast and was intrigued. I won’t go into the science since I can’t do it justice, but the premise is eating a combination of two specific seeds for 15-ish days based on your menstrual cycle to help regulate hormones.

Who doesn’t want a natural way to do that without more supplements and pills? I’ve been on this train for two months. To be honest, I have no clue if it’s changed my life yet, but I don’t mind the habit because it’s increased my seed intake, which is healthy anyway, and it makes my morning smoothie feel much more filling. I am all for improving and increasing my plant points so thought it would be worth sharing. Definitely listen to the podcast if you are curious!

AGAIN Note: Always consult with your healthcare provider when trying products like this to make sure it’s safe for you!

In My Cart For Spring

This is a new section that is exactly what it sounds like: things in my virtual cart that are waiting for a “sign” before I hit buy. If you have strong feelings on whether I should or shouldn’t, holler!

• Almina Concept Jacket: The weather is weathering right now. It’s chilly in the morning, but by the time I leave work, I’m sweating. Most of my jackets are heavy-duty, so I need a lightweight layer that works for the day but packs away easily for the commute. I’m 90% sold on this.

  

• Chava Studio Top: Unless you are brand new here, you know my absolute obsession with Chava Studio. Their new collection dropped and I am obsessed with this top. It’s the perfect color and shape. No notes. I wear my sweater and shirts from Chava all the time, so I know it will be well-loved, but I’m trying to pace myself!

  

• Fara Homidi Foundation: This foundation is stunning from a packaging standpoint, and I love the combination of the glossy balm that lets you “choose your own adventure” (glass skin with the balm vs. velvet skin without). I’m trying to wait until I finish my current makeup before buying more and I don’t see a specific olive undertone listed so I am hesitant but wish I could play with it at a store to see if there is a shade that would match me well.

Also loved this video from Lisa Eldridge talking about olive undertone, if you are equally intrigued:

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*Occasionally brands send me gifts. I will note these with an asterisk, but I would also never feature anything I don’t genuinely love and use.

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