Hi Ooh! readers, long time no talk. I’m sorry for the radio silence — my life kinda fell apart in the last month! Nevertheless, I shopped, tried some trends, and have some things to recommend you that helped me get through some struggles, both mental and physical. I hope you’re taking care of yourself. Make an appointment to see your doctor, tell your support system you love them, and don’t be afraid to say “I need to focus on myself” when you are short on spoons.
What I Loved Last Month
J. Hannah Nail Tint in ‘Gamay’. I’ve had this nail tint on repeat the last month because it is truly so effortless. It’s a buildable formula, so you can take it from a wine-stained single coat to a deeper, juicier tone with two coats.
Warmie Manattee. A beloved Ooh! subscriber gifted me my dream gift last month—a weighted manatee that doubles as a heating pad. It’s an excellent comfort companion to help combat loneliness, and I’ve found myself sleeping with it every night.
Makeup Forever Lip Pencil in Whatever Walnut. Been talking myself off the proverbial lip filler bridge again lately, so I’ve turned to overlining instead. This pencil, beloved by TikTokers and Hailey Bieber, has a comfortable budge-proof formula and comes in a variety of colors. I find Whatever Walnut to be pretty versatile.
Papier Planner. I was looking for a habit tracker last month and ended up with a whole-ass planner… that features a habit tracker! This customizable hardcover planner is such a joy to work with and may be helpful for anyone looking for some structure this fall.
Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck. If you are into reading tarot or receiving guidance from oracle cards, the Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck is a great oracle deck that helps you look at the alchemy of your life. Be forewarned, some of the concepts are a little advanced, but it comes with a guidebook to walk you through.
Sydney Hale Co. Coconut + Vetiver Candle. Late entry! I found this candle in the “candle cabinet,” and decided to give it a quick burn last night despite it belonging to my roommate. Not to worry though, Nico—I will be buying another one, because I loved the sophisticated tropical scent, which reminds me of cozy vacation nights.
Amish Draw Salve. Told my doctor about how much I love this one today and she said, “I’m not surprised, those Amish folks really know what they’re doing.” I won’t go into detail, but I’m having some skin issues and this solved them. Great for ingrowns, splinters, poison ivy and more.
Flex Discs. I am a firm believer that all folks with a uterus should try Flex Discs. A cousin to a period cup, these discs sit directly over your cervix, right behind your pubic bone. They’re disposable (with a reusable version!), last for 12 hours (and can hold the equivalent of 5 super tampons), and are virtually undetectable after you put them in. Oh, and you can wear them during sex. You’re welcome!
Knockoff Furminator. I was at home in Minnesota for the entire month of August, which meant a lot of time with our beloved Australian Cattle Dog mix. I got really into buying things for him, as any pet owner does I suppose, and my favorite was this Furminator dupe. His old brush wasn’t cutting it, and this took out any lingering undercoat in one sitting.
Ippodo Matcha. After a month of medical maladies, I am trying to take a bit better care of myself. Which means finally admitting that coffee hurts my tummy and I’m better off finding my caffeine elsewhere. I love all the matchas from Ippodo, but if you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with Horai.
Stonewall Lemon Drop. My mom picked up a bottle of this lemon drop mix on a whim, and we proceeded to repurchase it three times over during my month home. While it comes with a number of recipes on the bottle, I made up a goofy little amaretto cocktail to use up a couple bottles that had been hanging out in their pantry for way too long. (Equal parts amaretto and lemon drop mix, splash of whiskey if you will, plenty of ice. Pairs well with sunsets listening to Soco Amaretto Lime by Brand New and wondering how you got so fcking old.)
Allie’s Banana Bread. Speaking of my roommate, she also sent me a lovely gift during my Month From Hell TM: A loaf of Allie’s chocolate chip banana bread. It was moist and decadent and made me feel oh-so-special. Definitely something to consider the next time you need to send some love to a loved one far away.
Also, heads up, Prime Day 2.0 is coming in October. Do not ask me how I feel about it, for fear I will break down in tears. But nevertheless, I’ll have deals for you, because repeat after me: There is no such thing as ethical consumption under capitalism! :-) If you have any purchases you’re thinking about making, maybe wait a few weeks.
Talk to you sooner than later, promise.