Something has been missing on B&B. As much as I love reviews and listing off oodles of sale items for us to collectively devour, I still don’t feel like I’m delivering an accurate representation of the fantastic products that I encounter on a daily basis. So once per week (God willing), we’re going to do What I’m into on (some) Wednesdays. Well, we’re going to do that until I start to hate that name and we’ll figure it out from there.
In the meantime, there are no boundaries on the contents of this post. As embarrassed as I am to tell you this, it’s an important truth: only about 10% of the things I try make it to the blog. I know! The horror! The PR and general compulsive shopping habits can get overwhelming. Sometimes I only have like five things to say about a product, and that doesn’t warrant an entire post taking up space on your feed or in your inbox.
What I’m into Wednesday lets me just have a freeform, aimless gush session about the things I love but don’t think about all the time, you know? Anyway, let’s get on with it, because some of these products have been lingering in my head for weeks!
This Week I Love…
Tom’s of Maine Sweet Orange Body Wash & Soap
Soap! Yes, the first thing is soap – are you excited for this thrilling new feature? But really, the soap part of this soap isn’t what I’m here to talk to you about. It’s the scent. This floral, citrusy, springy scent. If you’re a morning shower person, I encourage you to grab a bar for $4 and wake up feeling like Snow F@#king White while you’re getting ready for the day. It’s not the kind of oranginess that hurts your eyes with its scent, you know what I mean? It smells like oranges in the way that Sunny D tastes like orange juice. It’s soft, floral, and puts the nicest spin on an energizing classic.
The soap part is also awesome, though, for the record. As you can see from the label, it has argan oil in it which is as good for your skin as it is for your hair.
These are actually fairly recent releases for Tom’s of Maine, but you can find them just about everywhere. The cheapest bar, to no one’s surprise, is at Walmart for $2.88, but I’ve seen them most often for about $3.99. The body wash is also dreamy, but it doesn’t last as long as the bar, plus it costs more at $5.99. If you’re a strictly body wash person, though, I still recommend getting it. They have other scents, too, but when orange blossom is present, they don’t matter.
My OG Matty M’s from Swap.com
Matty M Leggings
The first place I tried Matty M leggings was during my review of Swap.com. With the money they sent over for me to try their service, I picked up a pair of maroon, high-waist leggings. They changed my freakin’ life. Then, because The Broke are a gifted people, I found them again… at Costco. For $15. In many colors. *choir of angels*
Not only are they high-waisted, they have a wide waistband that does an amazing job shaping my squiggly silhouette. They’re also very, very long, so there are no droopy crotch or exposed ankles to deal with. I have a very pants-fall-down-prone body shape, and leggings usually end up stretching out and sagging on me. These… are perfect. Literally perfect.
Next time you’re in a Costco, definitely look out for Matty M leggings! You can also find them on Poshmark in pretty much every size. I’ve also spotted them at Marshalls & TJ Maxx from time to time.
Photo via Good Eggs
Alter Eco Dark Blackout Chocolate
As I mentioned in my gigantic list of the best Food YouTuber, my diet is severely sugar-limited. As in… I try to avoid it like the plague. This gets really hard when my body requires no less than 4 oz. of chocolate every day. I’ve dabbled in low-sugar milk chocolate, but my heart is 70% cocoa. Dark chocolate is my jam. This Alter Eco Blackout chocolate bar is 85%, and has only 12g of sugar in the whole bar!
Not only is Alter Eco just about the most ethically badass chocolate company around, but it’s made in Switzerland, where the good chocolate comes from. And, in addition to being fair trade, single origin, organic (if you’re into that), and certified gluten-free – it’s also a carbon neutral product! Alter Eco is so good at being sustainable, they also function as a sustainability consulting firm for other businesses.
I’ve found Blackout bars are Haggen stores (Pacific Northwest, I think?) and Whole Foods for about $3.99 each. You can also buy a box of 12 on Amazon for $40 (amazing deal, tbh), or buy them directly from Alter Eco.
Matchy-Matchy NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner
You’re probably already aware that NYX lip pencils are a great drugstore buy at $4. Their quality rivals some prestige products, and the expansive color selection makes them indispensable if you’re a lipstick fiend. But I discovered NYX Suede Matte Lip Pencils. NYX is now making lip pencils that perfectly match popular lip colors from their various lines.
I’ve seen matches for Liquid Suede shades, Soft Matte Lip Cream shades, and classic matte tube lipsticks. As you may or may not know, I’m obsessed with NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar. Recently, I was shopping on the NYX website and spotted a classic lip pencil in the same shade. They don’t have every shade (…yet? maybe?), but they definitely have a few dozen colors to choose from. And, yes! They have a black! It perfectly matches the Liquid Suede shade, “Alien.”
These are at Ulta for $3.99, the NYX website for $4, and at Target and Walgreens for only $2.69 each!
Lumene Klassikko Nordic Cotton Gel Cleanser
A billion years ago (two), I reviewed Lumene’s waterproof makeup remover, which I dug. Fast forward two years, and they sent over some items from their new Klassikko collection made with Nordic spring water and Arctic Cotton. Lumene is Nordic AF, and I swear their products feel cooling, like the cold you feel on your face when standing in the snow. Creepy-awesome.
The Klassikko Collection will probably get its own review post, actually, but I want to talk about the cleanser. You only need a dime-sized amount of the Deep Purifying Gel Cleanser to get a full, exhaustive lather. I keep mine in the shower, and when the steam mixes with the incredible scent of this cleanser, I just want to live in there. Plus, my skin feels amazing afterward, and the rest of the products are pretty great, but no spoilers, no spoilers.
The best part is that you can get it for less than $10 at freakin’ Walmart of all places.
That’s all I’ve got for this time! Tell me a few of your favorite things down below.