New Additions 2019
Better late than never? I know this post is super late—please forgive me! As you may know if you follow me on Instagram, the last few months have been super busy with singing gigs, and of course, my Bachelor recaps always bog me down in terms of blog content. But this post has been niggling at me for awhile, so I’m thrilled to finally get the latest round-up of New Additions out to you guys!
It’s no secret by now that I have a mini-obsession with researching, buying and trying products with the ability to improve my beauty, fashion, and day-to-day life games. My New Additions 2017 and New Additions 2018 blog posts were big hits—you guys enjoyed what discoveries I had made and swore by, and I LOVED reading about yours in the comments, too. It’s a big sharing fest of the latest and greatest!
So, without further ado, here is New Additions 2019. These are the products that I not only discovered in 2019, but that I fell in love with enough to keep in the rotation and recommend to you all.
As always, nothing here or in any of my New Additions posts is sponsored!
BEAUTY
Supergoop! Shimmershade Illuminating Cream Eyeshadow with SPF 30 in Golden Hour ($24): The first time I saw this was in Spring 2019, at Sephora in Meatpacking. It struck me: Shouldn’t we all be wearing sunscreen on our eyelids all the time? How had this never even occurred to me?? I loved the idea of an SPF combined with a pretty cream shadow and, given I was about to go on a sunny cruise vacay, I promptly tossed this product in my shopping basket.
Truthfully, I half-expected this shadow to disappoint. My history with cream eyeshadows is spotty and I’ve often found them too susceptible to creasing for me to fully hop on the bandwagon. That said, this is a really fantastic product. It almost never creases; sometimes I’ll get one lone crease shortly after applying, but after I smooth that over once, no creases ever resurface throughout the day. It’s not too glittery (a peeve of mine). I love that I’m protecting my eyelids from the sun’s famously damaging (and aging-accelerating) rays, just as I love that the main protectant is zinc oxide, a mineral (not chemical) sunscreen. (More on sunscreens below!) Finally, one jar lasts FOREVER. It says something that I would have repurchased this shadow by now if I’d needed to, but I’m still not even halfway through (as you can see from the photo above). This was a great buy as well as a seamless (and feel-good) addition to my daily makeup routine.
That Clean Feeling
Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk ($20): I have tried just about every dry shampoo on the market so let me tell you, when one stands out as being good enough to repurchase multiple times, it’s New Additions-worthy. I’d been on the hunt for my next HG dry shampoo after my go-to, Got2B’s Rockin’ It dry shampoo, was tragically discontinued (if you’re curious, you can still buy it some places but its availability is dwindling big time). My biggest requirement in a dry shampoo is that, after I apply it, I forget I’m wearing it. I HATE any kind of residue, especially when I wear my hair down and can feel it every time I touch my own head. Ugh, the worst!
Why do I love this particular dry shampoo so much? In short, it’s the closest I can get to my hair feeling legitimately clean, period. Of course, after a few days, nothing’s going to save me from the grossness that is a dirty head of hair, but in terms of day two and day three, this is hands-down the best I’ve found. It gives a nice bit of lift and lasts a reasonably long time (about on par with your average aerosol dry shampoo). It soaks up oil flawlessly and is particularly good for keeping bangs and face-framing wisps of hair (aka, pieces of hair you touch a lot) from looking greasy and stringy. But terms of leaving a tackiness, a chalkiness, a feeling—this is simply the least offensive dry shampoo I’ve ever tried. It sprays an ever-so-faint white cast (as with most dry shampoos, I’ve found the harder I shake to begin with, the less white there is), but that is easily rubbed away and I’m left with legitimately clean feeling hair. To top it off, it has a really lovely, faintly floral (yet not sickening) scent.
Full disclosure, I was first sent this dry shampoo along with other Klorane products by the PR company that reps the brand. As I’ve mentioned many times before, though, I am sent many dozens (possibly hundreds?) of products a year and being gifted items has no impact on whether or not I end up recommending something. (If anything, I think I’m harder on products I’ve been gifted because I’m very conscious about being “bought”.) I did enjoy the other products but this dry shampoo simply stole the show. I’ve since recommended it to friends and re-purchased it multiple times with my own money.
PS—If you’re more of a powder dry shampoo person, my favorite of the moment is Playa’s Soft Volume Powder. It does provide the lift it promises, and I love that it has Sephora’s “Clean Beauty” stamp of approval.
Got You Covered
The Ordinary Coverage Foundation ($6.70): The Ordinary gets a lot of hype for great products at affordable prices but honestly, I wasn’t sold on them until I tried this foundation. I’m still on the fence about their skincare products (MANY of which I’ve tried), but I’m here to confirm that hype around these foundations is REAL. What’s particularly amazing about this foundation is how much I would spend on it, yet how it costs a whopping 7 bucks. WHAT.
This foundation is dreamy. I don’t know what more you could want in a foundation, really. I’ve got a perfect color match in this which is most important in any foundation. Despite it being full coverage, it’s on the liquid-y side and blends effortlessly. It lasts all day. It gives fantastic coverage but never feels cakey—it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything. A little bit goes a freakishly long way, making a little tube of this stuff last over 6 months. I honestly wonder how this company makes money on these, this foundation is such a good value.
By day, I mix a drop with my tinted moisturizer for sheer, barely-there coverage. By night, I use it on its own for what really gives a flawless, porcelain finish. I’ve only repurchased this once, but that’s only because it really does last an insanely long time.
FYI: I wear 2.0 YG which has the perfect blend of warmth and yellow for my difficult-to-match half-Asian complexion.
Pop Of (Forever) Pink
Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Stain in Forever Pink ($28): I’m not a big lipstick wearer and if you’ve been reading this blog for awhile you probably know my go-to is a sheer gloss (Buxom’s Pink Lady). That said, I’ve been using this stain more frequently over the last year, mainly because I get compliments EVERY. TIME. I wear it. Case in point, when I wore it in a certain The Morning After video last summer, many of you wrote to ask what lip color I was wearing.
I don’t know what it is, but this color just adds a subtle something to my face when I wear it, but while still looking natural and not makeup-y. It goes on pretty sheer but is buildable, and though I wouldn’t say it lasts all day, but I don’t find myself desperate to reapply either.
I first received a sample size of this in my monthly Birchbox delivery and since running out of that, I’ve repurchased it twice.
Holy Grail Sunscreen
Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream with SPF 30 ($50/1oz; $85/2oz): My interest in the Josh Rosebrook line has come from my increasing interest in “clean” skincare/beauty products. As much as I love Sephora and their ever-growing "Clean line, there is a huge wealth of clean products beyond their aisles; in the past year or two I’ve been paying retailers like The Detox Market and Credo Beauty more visits for skincare.
I was first introduced to the Josh Rosebrook brand by Caroline Hirons, a British skincare blogger and Youtuber I follow. She recommends a lot of his products on her site/channel and over the last year I’ve dabbled with several of them, including the Hydrating Accelerator, the Active Infusion Serum, the Cacao Antioxidant Mask, and the much-raved-about Vital Balm Cream. But it’s actually the Nutrient Day Cream that truly won my heart. (I do like the Vital Balm Cream, though, and have repurchased it!)
I’ve made a concerted effort in the past year to not rely on chemical sunscreen since new findings suggest the major players—avobenzone, oxybenzone, ecamsule, octocrylene—are kind of sketch. They’ve been proven to penetrate the skin far beneath its surface (not a great thing when you consider its purpose is only surface-level, to protect you from the sun) and even enter the bloodstream. To top it off, chemical sunscreen has been proven to be less eco-friendly. In short, if you haven’t already been making the switch to mineral (or physical) sunscreen—products with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—you should start thinking about it.
The catch with mineral sunscreens is they’re known for that telltale “white cast”, and this is where the Nutrient Day Cream really shines. It goes on white but blends in beautifully and without a trace of white. It truly lasts ALL DAY and is undeniably effective (even on hottest Summer days, I never got the slightest burn or hint color, and this is without reapplying). It lasts a surprisingly long time for daily wear (I get 2.5-3 months out of a 2 oz bottle). It leaves a great finish, pre-makeup finish (I don’t even wear a primer by day when I wear this) and never leaves my face looking oily the way sunscreens often do. It is scent-free, not greasy (but not drying either), and just a very solid, very elegant product.
There are two cons: First, I find that, depending on my eye cream, it has the tendency to pill around that area. However, I’ve found patting it in that area (as opposed to rubbing) avoids this problem altogether, regardless of which eye cream I use. Second, the price is steep for a sunscreen, no denying that. That said, I simply love it and have yet to find a better, wallet-friendlier dupe. It says something that I’ve re-purchased this 4 TIMES since first discovering it!
FASHION
Rather incredibly, I didn’t have a fashion discovery in 2019 that I deemed New Additions-worthy.
The one item that came close was Calzedonia’s Seamless 20 Den tights; they combine my recent desire for super sheer tights with a flattering, smoothing, non-control top waistband, and with surprising durability. That said, I still get only about 3-5 wears per $15 pair. (Not bad but not amazing.) I’ve been very tempted by SheerTex’s “unbreakable” sheer tights—has anyone tried them??
Anyway, I hate to force anything on these posts and won’t recommend something I don’t genuinely love, so no fashion New Additions this year! :/
The Holy Grail thermos! | Photo: Kevin Tun
LIFE
Have Beverage, Will Travel
Nespresso Vertuo Travel Mug ($25): As ridiculous as this may sound, my thermos just may be the biggest life changer on this list. As I mentioned in an Instagram post while back, I was once the kind of person who regularly got teas and coffees on the go, always in a paper cup with a plastic lid. It now makes me cringe to think about how many cups I thoughtlessly used and tossed. Beyond paper cups, I’ve completely stopped buying bottled water since I can just fill this while on the go. I bring it everywhere with me, whether I’m working out or going to the movies.
So, full disclosure: I received this thermos while doing a sponsored holiday campaign with Caila around Christmastime in 2018. Nespresso kindly included a bundle of additional accessories along with the sponsored product. (That said, as I will continue to repeat: I never, ever recommend something just because it was gifted to me!) It would be another few weeks before I even cracked open this thermos, but instantly, my tea drinking and beverage toting habits were transformed.
Why so much hoopla over a thermos? First, as long as you close it correctly, it really is completely leak-proof. I can toss it in my handbag the way I would a water bottle and not worry about an unpleasant wet surprise later. Second, the size is simply perfect—not too big, not too small. The sip function opens with a tab, so I don’t have to manually unscrew it to take a quick sip. Finally, the insulation is insane. A piping hot drink will remain piping hot for hours. One time I forgot about an iced coffee I’d bought—8 hours later, the ice cubes were still fully in tact! I realize there are plenty of similar options out there, from Yeti tumblers to the ever-popular S’well bottles. But for me, especially with hot beverages, I prefer to sip out of a small hole (the size of a plastic coffee lid opening), I hate unscrewing a cap to take a quick swig, and I don’t want to worry about glass. I can’t claim to have tried every option on the market, but for me, the size, function, and efficacy of this thermos has me hooked.
I bring mine with me on every singing contract I do and you’ll never see me at rehearsal or performance without it. It’s GREAT for throwing in your carry-on empty and then filling with water before boarding the plane. I ended up losing the one Nespresso gifted me but was quick to buy a replacement. I’ve also bought a few as gifts. I just freaking love this thermos!
Mirror, Mirror On The Go
Simplehuman Sensor Compact Mirror ($99): This one’s the sequel to the device that prompted my first ever New Additions post. I use the Simplehuman 8-inch sensor vanity mirror every day and continue to love it, to the point where I even got the wall-mounted version for my sister for Christmas. I branched out to this compact version when I found myself frustrated doing my makeup on every trip I went on. Depending on my hotel/housing situation and what the lighting was like, I’d either find myself doing my makeup with horrible hotel bathroom lighting, or squinting into my powder mirror while seated on the bed, trying to take advantage of whatever decent natural light I could get.
Enter this compact mirror. Given I was already sold on Simplehuman’s sensor mirrors, it wasn’t a difficult sell to get me to drop $100 on this. I’m torn between being embarrassed to admit that and also being proud because this purchase was so worth it. I know $100 sounds like a crazy amount to spend on a compact mirror so hear me out…
First, the size is perfect. It’s significantly larger than your average compact mirror but still very much a travel item—I often have it in my tote while on the go. The magnification is subtle (3x) but just enough to clearly (almost too clearly!) see every stray eyebrow hair and pore. The sensor turns the light on the second it leaves its case and it stays lit until it returns to its home. The light is bright but not blinding (there are two settings), and it truly means that can you tweeze/do your makeup/check on things regardless of what light (or lack thereof) you’ve got to work with. (It’s dreamy for touching up in those many restaurant bathrooms with dreaded “mood lighting”.) The little kickstand makes it handy to prop up for hands-free use, but I also like latching it onto my left hand while I use my right to apply and blend makeup. Finally, a full charge lasts a reeeeally long time. Actually, I have no idea how long a charge lasts, which in and of itself says something about how rarely I’ve had to charge it.
In short, if you travel a lot and have ever found yourself frustrated with mirrors and lighting, this gadget’s for you. I’ve already bought this as a gift and will likely gift it again in the future.
Packing A Punch
Pro-Master Leather Hole Punch ($20): This is one of those devices that, once you have it in your life, you can’t believe you ever lived without it.
The backstory to this (admittedly weird) purchase: I had splurged on a designer belt (second-hand, but still!) and it was a size larger than I’d normally buy. However, the size was perfect for wearing both with jeans and for cinching the waist; all I’d need to do is get an extra two holes punched. I went to a shoe repair place and asked the shop owner to be SUPER CAREFUL to make the holes look like the others, perfectly straight and perfectly sized. He nodded, seeming to understand of the value of the item he held in his hands. But then, to my horrible dismay, he carelessly and dismissively punched two too-large, off-center holes into my fancy belt. I was PISSED and vowed to never let that happen again. Lesson learned.
I bought this hole puncher towards the end of 2018 and put it to excellent use throughout 2019. I’ve added holes to countless belts (including one of Andy’s), to handbag belt straps, and have even converted one crossbody into a belt bag by adding extra holes. It’s been brilliant for customizing anything belt-like to fit me just right, and without needing to leave the house. In short, after all the years spent making trips to leather shops and paying other people to punch a simple hole for me, it now seems crazy that this isn’t a common household item. I only wish I’d thought to buy it sooner.
That’s it for my 2019 favorite finds!
Any discoveries of yours I should know about? I am always on the lookout, so let me know in the comments below...
Thanks for stopping by!
