Cheryl Shops

Let's face it, makeup is getting more and more expensive. (I'm looking at you, $160 Louis Vuitton lipstick.) But while the luxury brands are luxuriating, thankfully, there are a lot of brands looking out for us girls on a budget. One of my favorite drugstore, or mass, brands is Versed. I never hesitate to recommend their skincare products—you can read my honest review here—which have been around for several years and top out at about $21. Versed recently branched out into makeup, and while I haven't tried the entire line yet, I've definitely found some favorites. Versed sent me a bunch of products to try for free, but the following are my honest and unfiltered opinions. 

Once upon a time, I spent thousands of dollars on laser hair removal for my underarms and bikini line. Not only was it a financial commitment, but a time commitment as well: 6–8 appointments every 6 weeks, including schlepping to a salon, waiting for numbing cream to take effect, then the procedure itself. It's been about 15 years since I went through this whole rigamarole, and while most of the hair removal was permanent, I have a few stubborn hairs that refuse to go away, so I just keep shaving them occasionally. Speaking of shaving, I really hate doing it and always have. I had contemplated laser hair removal on my legs, but even with all of the competition and advances in laser hair removal over the years, I'd be looking at a four-figure bill. What's really been holding me back, however, is that my leg hair is blonde—yes, I am a real blonde—which tends to have mixed results with laser hair removal (it works best with a high skin-hair contrast). But then Nood reached out to me and offered to send me The Flasher 2.0, their at-home IPL device and I figured I had nothing to lose, except maybe some hair. While I received The Flasher free of charge, the following are my honest and unfiltered opinions. 

I recently started working in an office for the first time in five years, and I realized that on those days, my skin could probably use a little extra help. I really haven't worn foundation in years, but the harsh fluorescents lights in my workplace definitely don't do any favors for my pores or broken capillaries. I don't like anything heavy—I have very dry skin and thick foundation does not sink in very well—so I tend to prefer lighter, more blendable formulas. It also happens to be summer right now, so when I'm warm and sweaty, I really want something that lets my skin breathe. I've been testing a bunch of products lately in search of the perfect no-makeup look for summer; here are my favorite lightweight options. 

The first thought I had while starting to write this post was, "Wait, how is it already time for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?!" Is it me or is this year flying by? The second thought I had was that this year's selection was a bit...underwhelming. People have been complaining about the decline in offerings for years now—most commonly that there's not enough quality merch, and the good stuff tends to sell out in the first day or two, when only high-spending cardholders are allowed to shop—and I was honestly a bit worried, given that Nordstrom has a new owner. It's true, the sale has changed over the years: It used to be where I'd jump on statement pieces like coats, boots, and sweaters for the upcoming season, but it's evolved into more of a way to replenish your basics at good prices. That has definitely become my strategy—more on that below—but after a thorough examination of literally everything that's on sale this year, I got pretty excited for the 2025 event. First, here are my top picks for this year's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

As I've said many times before, I'm not a mother, but I have one (as we all do) and many friends who are. This year's gift guide contains products I actually own and think any woman—your wife, your sister, your mother-in-law, your dog mom, your mom figure, or you yourself—would like to receive. Some of these products you've seen before (whoops to the L'Occitane gift set below, which I featured last year), some are totally new, but all are highly recommended Mother's Day gifts. Read on for why. 

1. I own quite a few belts, but this is by far the one I've been wearing the most lately—it anchors your look, emphasizes your waist, and makes whatever else you're wearing look more elevated, thanks to its shiny gold details. It is a Khaite dupe, which is a bonus if Mom is into le fashion. 

Madewell Triple Metal Keeper Belt $78

2. As I was writing this post, I realized I featured an almost-identical gift set last year, but hear me out: the shower oil is one of my all-time favorite products, the hand lotion and body cream are really good, and there's a bonus soap. I gave my mom a set of L'Occitane hand creams last year for Christmas that she absolutely loved, so anything from this brand is a home run if you ask me. 

L'Occitane Almond Luxury Set $89 (c/o)

3. A friend came over recently and said how nice our apartment spells and to divulge my secrets, it's because of this very expensive candle. I try to burn it only on special occasions or when I really need a pick-me-up, but I will say the ceramic vessel is so gorgeous, I save mine and use them to store various trinkets—so it's really like two gifts in one. 

Fornasetti Scented Candle $255 (on sale from $340 through 5/4)

4. This book is incredibly analog—for one, it's a book, and instead of photographs of storefronts, it has very charming illustrations of them. Flipping through it will make you want to go to Paris like yesterday; I suggest saving your favorites to your Google Map for next time, as a nice digital counterpart. 

Paris Shopfronts book $23.67 (c/o)

5. Like everyone else on the planet, I am trying to drink less alcohol, but sometimes I really need to take the edge off. When I know I'm going to be spending an evening unwinding at home, I will open a Cann instead of a glass of wine; it has a similar relaxing effect, minus the ensuing night sweats and hangover. It has 2 mg of THC and 4 mg of CBD and does not make me at all paranoid. 

Cann 12-pack $66

6. I vowed not to buy any cheap jewelry in 2025, so I was nervous when I received this paperclip-link necklace for a collaboration. Turns out whatever kind of alchemy they used to make it was solid, because I almost never take it off and it's still bright and shiny, no flaking or greening to be seen. Highly recommend. 

Ana Luisa James paperclip necklace $63.75 (on sale from $75) (c/o)

7. Every influencer over the age of 40 has been raving about Sarah Creal's (rather expensive) makeup line; I couldn't stomach $50 for a lipstick, but this primer has been a godsend in preventing my lipstick from sliding around my face and disappearing into the ether. Even better: it still works during a midday re-application. 

Sarah Creal Lip Grip Peptide Priming Treatment $36

8. Ok, I don't own this product (yet), but if it's anything like the Illuminator Drops, I'm guessing it will be a non-negotiable part of my summertime makeup routine. The Illuminator gives you a your-skin-but-glowier finish, so I'm assuming this will have a similarly bronzy effect. And how gorgeous is the bright turquoise bottle?!

Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops $46.40 (on sale from $58 through 5/4) 

9. I was going to feature this in my holiday gift guide, but it sold out; it's back but on backorder until July. Alas, I think it's a gift worth waiting for. The dish is a lot more substantial than you'd expect for the price (it's quite heavy) and all of the little sections are handy for storing earrings, rings, bracelets, etc. Plus, it looks super cute on your dresser. 

Anthropologie Bumblebee Trinket Dish $24 (c/o) 

10. Is it weird to get Mom shoes as a present? I don't think so, especially when they're so comfy. I've been wearing this pair so much lately—they're like a slightly more refined Birkenstock with a sturdier sole. 

Frankie4 Hunter sandals $188 (use code LTK_CHERYL15 for 15% off)  (c/o)

11. I own a longer version of this nightgown and it's the only one that doesn't give me the night sweats (hello, perimenopause). This one comes in a bunch of really unique prints (all of the leopard variations are amazing) but I'm partial to the champagne bottles.  

Printfresh Cami Nightgown $98

12. Having professional laser hair removal is great and all, but schlepping to the 6–8 in-office treatments is not easy for a busy Mom, nor is it cheap. I've been using this at-home device and am amazed at how effective (and not at all painful) it's been already. I'll be doing a full review on this once my treatment is complete. 

Nood The Flasher 2.0 + Serum $199 (use code cherylshops for $50 off)  (c/o)

13. Whenever anyone describes something as "Botox in a bottle" that makes me think they've never had Botox. These patches aren't that, but they're close—I've found they help lessen the appearance of crow's feet (which I don't Botox) and my elevenses in between treatments (which I do). Because doesn't every Mom want to look well-rested? 

Karuna Age Rewind XL Microneedle Patches $15 (c/o)

 For women of a certain age, I tend to think of makeup before Bobbi Brown and after Bobbi Brown. In BBB times, women wore bright, garish colors on their lips and eyes, heavy allover foundation, and everything was just a little overdone, not to mention mismatched in tone. Bobbi Brown was a makeup artist who favored a more natural look, and she launched her line at Bergdorf Goodman in 1990 with 10 revolutionary, neutral lipsticks that sold out immediately. Estée Lauder bought the line in 1995, and Bobbi herself ran it until 2016, when she stepped down (and later started the excellent Jones Road). There have been many makeup lines launched ABB, but you can't ignore how influential it's been. We have Bobbi Brown to thank for the no-makeup makeup look, neutral- and yellow-toned foundations, and the undeniable power of blending. And while it's been nearly 10 years since the founder herself left her namesake line, Bobbi Brown continues to make some of my favorite makeup on the market. While I haven't personally tested the entire line, I counted 14(!!!) products in my medicine cabinet that I use on the regular, many of which are holy-grail status for me. While I received all of these items for free from Bobbi Brown, this is not a sponsored post, and the following are my honest and unfiltered thoughts. These are the best Bobbi Brown products. 

For my birthday a few years ago, I decided to try eyelash extensions for the first time ever, and I loved them. I got a volume set (e.g. 3–4 additional lashes to each natural one) but kept the length and curl more natural-looking so it didn't look like I had tarantulas stuck to my eyelids. The best part was the "I woke up like this" effect plus the fact that I had to wear very little makeup otherwise, and it was enough to convince me to keep up with the habit for a few months, getting the lashes "filled" every 3 weeks at $90 a pop (plus tip). At some point, I realized this was not the most cost-effective beauty routine, so I sadly let it go. Of course, ever since then, I've tried multiple lash serums in the hopes of achieving a similar effect by way of growing my own lashes. While some have done...something, none have worked nearly as well as Revitalash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner. After years of it not being available in California (more on that in a minute), I finally got my hands on a tube in November of last year. Revitalash provided me with this product for free with no obligation to review, however the following are my honest and unfiltered opinions. 

Normally I'd combine my best buys of the year into a single post, but I had so many good products I wanted to tell you about, I decided to break it into two. Last week I recapped my favorite clothes, shoes, and accessories of 2024; this week, it's the best beauty products I tried in 2024. In full transparency, because I receive so many gratis products, I haven't actually paid for all of these with my own money, but I am noting which ones I received for free. That said, I highly recommend (and would spend my own money) on all of the following, so let's dive in.

The Sephora Beauty Insider Sale starts today for Rouge (VIBs and Insiders get to shop 11/5–11/11), so instead of rehashing my usual content (PSA: you can see all of my Sephora recommendations here), I decided to do a deep dive on one of my favorite skincare brands, Paula's Choice, which is of course sold at Sephora as well as on Amazon and a bunch of other sites. I've been using Paula's Choice for years and while not everything has been a success for me, I am incredibly loyal to several of their products. Thankfully, the appreciation is mutual and Paula's Choice keeps sending me new stuff to try. While I received all of the products pictured here for free, the following is a completely honest and unbiased review of Paula's Choice skincare. 

While I will try everything when it comes to skincare, I tend to be more loyal to my makeup brands, and I really don't switch things up often. But if someone is raving about a certain product or line, I do like to try it for myself. I had heard great things about the clean brand Iris & Romeo—especially their Weekend Skin tinted moisturizer—so I was excited when they sent me a box of products. Iris & Romeo's tagline is "less makeup, more you," which as someone who usually goes for a "no-makeup makeup" look, I can get behind. So far, they have a pretty limited range of makeup, but I like a brand that takes its time and doesn't rush to launch a bunch of stuff just because. While Iris & Romeo gifted me these products without any obligation to post, the following are my honest and unfiltered opinions. Here's my review of everything I tried from Iris & Romeo. 

I have always had very fine, thin hair, but in the last year or so, I've noticed in photos that it looks even thinner than ever. Thinning hair can happen for a number of reasons—illness, stress, diet, over-styling—but for many of us, it's a natural part of aging. Which doesn't make it any easier. There are a ton of products on the market to address this, with varying degrees of efficacy. The most proven ingredient for hair regrowth is minoxidil, which requires a doctor's prescription and comes with its own set of side effects. The question is, can you rely on more natural, plant-based methods to help address hair loss? Vegamour kindly sent me a package from their highly regarded GRO line to try, and the following are 100% my own unfiltered opinions. Here's my honest review of Vegamour GRO. 

I have a complex relationship with Amazon; I find shopping it to be a frustrating experience if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, because there's so. Much. Stuff. I've also really dialed back the amount of clothing and accessories I buy on the site, because, really, most of it is junk. That said, Amazon sells many legit brands and products that I use on the regular, it's incredibly convenient, and to be honest, I probably order from it two or three times a week. And because I am human—or maybe just because I'm a shopping blogger—I do get a little excited about the deals they offer during Prime Day, which happens to be today and tomorrow. As with shopping any sale, it's best not to get too emotional about it; the thing I always ask myself is whether I'd still buy something if it were full price. Which is why Prime Day is a great time to stock up on staples: beauty products, kitchen items, and gadgets that you need to replenish and won't get all dopamine-boosted about. You can shop all of my Prime Day Picks in my Amazon shop (there are more than what I've listed here), but read on for more on the items I own, use, and would highly recommend. 

It's that time of year again: the time when influencers take a stand about not covering the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale...then a few days later, cave in and share their picks. I, on the other hand, will proudly cover it from the get-go, because, let's face it, I always end up shopping this sale—proudly. First, some key dates to know:

• Icon cardmembers can shop starting today, 7/9
• Ambassador cardmembers can shop starting tomorrow, 7/10
• Influencer cardmembers (that's me!) can shop starting Wednesday, 7/11
• Everyone else can shop starting Monday, 7/15 through Sunday, August 4th. 

Nordstrom seems to have fixed their pandemic-era stock issues, or at least they did last year—I ended up buying most of what I featured—so I'm following the same format this year. First up: my shortlist Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks for 2024. 

 

I am not on TikTok, but thanks to people resharing the most pertinent stuff on Instagram, I tend to find out what's getting a lot of buzz. While there is a lot of dubious information on that platform (ahem, Tide Pods), I appreciate the no-gatekeeping spirit, and once in awhile, you uncover a life-changing gem. Versed is an L.A.-based affordable clean beauty brand that's only been around for a few years but has become incredibly popular on the platform; it's now sold in Target. Most products in Versed's line are under $25, all are vegan and cruelty-free, and they formulate to EU standards, which are the strictest in the world in terms of avoiding potentially harmful chemicals. All of which is great, but that leads us to the all-important question: Is Versed skincare actually effective? I've been using a bunch of their products for the last several weeks and I have some thoughts. While Versed sent all of these products to me for free, the following opinions are 100% my own. Here's my honest review of Versed skincare. 

The concept of clean beauty—products formulated without potentially harmful ingredients—has been around for several decades, and while the market has been flooded in recent years, I always enjoy seeking out new and independent brands that are bringing something fresh (and effective) to the table. One Love Organics is not necessarily new (they've been around since 2010) but unlike some of the bigger brands that have sold out to, say, Unilever, you get the impression that they're still a founder-driven company focused on making really effective, cleanly formulated products. I've had the pleasure to partner with them a few times on social media but wanted to share my frank and unfiltered thoughts on their products. While I received all of the following items for free, this is an unsponsored post, and all of the following opinions are my own. Read on for honest reviews of One Love Organics products. 

Updated April 5, 2024.

It's that time again for the Sephora Savings Event, which seems to be creeping up earlier and earlier every year. And now that it's been a full year since I left Sephora and am no longer getting showered with new product on a regular basis, I've found I've become much more particular about what I spend my own money on. So instead of recommending a whole bunch of new stuff, I thought I'd focus on my all-time favorite products from Sephora. If you don't know what to buy during the event, hopefully this list will help! The sale started today with 20% off for Rouge members, and VIBs and Insiders get 15% and 10% off respectively starting Tuesday, 10/31. Plus all Sephora Collection is 30% off for the entire event, which runs through 11/6. Here are the products I'd recommend trying.

It's been awhile since I've done an honest review of any skincare, for several reasons. I got a series of IPL facials earlier this year, which I would not entirely recommend because they've made my already reactive skin sensitive AF, and literally every new product I've tried since then has given me a rash. This bummed me out on many levels, because, one, no one wants to go through life with splotchy, irritated skin, and two, I really enjoy finding skincare products I love and telling you about them. So it was with an understandable amount of trepidation that I cracked into a box that Elemis sent me earlier this year. Elemis is a high-end British skincare brand that's been around for years; while not impossible to find in the U.S., it's a little more under-the-radar, e.g. not in Sephora or most department stores. But it turns out that, like many foreign brands, Elemis feels like a little secret that Britain has been keeping for themselves. In other words, this is a really good skincare line. Here are my honest, unfiltered thoughts about the three products I've been using nonstop lately.

This is my actual skin, in good lighting, with no filter. I am wearing only mascara and lip gloss.

Ok, I really got burned last year with my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks—after hours of poring over everything on the website, making collages, and writing careful assessments, nearly everything I featured sold out on the first day, before I was even allowed to shop. (I guess that means I have good taste?)  I was so irritated that I vowed never to cover the sale again...until the catalogue arrived and I thought, Ok, I'm giving this one last shot, but doing things a little differently this time. Instead of diving deep into every category, I picked my top 8 items that I am actually hoping to buy. And since the NSale is usually a good time to stock up on tried-and-true wardrobe classics and beauty essentials, I'm sharing my top 10 items that I actually own and highly recommend. Icons, Ambassadors, and Influencers (e.g. Nordstrom cardholders) get to shop now through the 16th of July, and the sale opens up to the public on July 17th. Let's hope everything stays in stock until then!

Now that it's been over six months since I left Sephora, I'm slowly adjusting to normal civilian life where I'm not constantly showered with free products (although I do still receive quite a bit for the blog). I've also found I'm a lot pickier when I actually have to buy something myself—it's amazing what not having a discount will do. That said, Sephora's Spring Savings Event starts today for Rouge, on the 18th for VIBs and Insiders, plus all Sephora Collection is 30% off for the entire event, now through the 24th. If you want to try something new, here are my recent favorites, plus what I'm planning to buy for myself.