Eyes on the Prize
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
No Etsy links in today’s newsletter, in support of the Etsy seller strike. I’ve been trawling Etsy since 2012, and over time I’ve definitely noticed a shift on the platform towards prioritizing more wholesale and mass-produced items — not for the better, in my opinion! If you can, please hold off on shopping on Etsy through April 19th, to show solidarity with the small and independent business owners who are protesting the company’s recent policy changes. They deserve everything they’re asking for and more!!
Keep an Eye Out
EYE OPENING LINER - UZU ($16)
I’ve gotten a bit weary of my everyday makeup look. It’s nothing special — just a tinted moisturizer, an all-purpose balm for my eyes, lips, and cheeks, plus eyeliner, mascara, and eyebrows. Hey, it works, and, most importantly, it takes less than 10 minutes. But since the weather is getting warmer, now’s the perfect time for me to switch up the ol’ routine and start getting a bit more experimental with my makeup. These bright eyeliners from Japanese brand UZU have me very intrigued; they come in all sorts of eye-popping shades, from eggplant purple to Capri blue to dandelion yellow. I simply can’t decided which colors I want — maybe I should just get them all and recreate the look above?
Stir the Pot
BUBBLE CASSEROLE POT - MOMA DESIGN STORE ($80)
I recently acquired some very nice, very expensive cast iron cookware and I am…… not using it. It’s out of character for me, as I really, truly believe that you should enjoy your nice things — your fancy soaps, your gourmet salts — rather than letting them collect dust. Don’t save that shit for a special occasion, just use it! Except I’ve got some sort of mental block that’s preventing me from cooking with these pots; I think it’s because I’m not very seasoned nor very confident in the kitchen, so there’s a real possibility that I’ll somehow ruin them. However, I would have no such hangups with this colorful bubbly MoMA cookware, which someone on Twitter aptly called “Rollie Pollie Ollie kitchen supplies.” They’re very cute, and not at all intimidating — I feel like I could treat them as training tools, to help me master the art of slow braising before I graduate to the real deal.
Bar None
TERRAZZO BAR - NECTROUS BOTANICALS ($14)
Speaking of fancy soaps, how fun are these terrazzo soap bars from Nectrous Botanicals? I try not to buy any liquid soaps in plastic containers these days, just because, well, why would I contribute to plastic waste when I could just use up a bar of soap until it’s dwindled down to nothing? Infused with all-natural ingredients such as spirulina, french pink clay, and carrot powder, this bar is specially formulated for your face with a fizzy lavender orange scent and would look très chic lounging sinkside. Plus, as writer Rachel Syme recently declared, a soap bar always makes for a delightful gift, whether for a friend or for yourself.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!