My friends and I have a lot in common, including a high standard for coffee and croissants, a tendency to share often unreliable horoscopes in our Instagram group chat, and an intense interest in all things beauty. We spend the majority of our time together talking about the latter—discussing the pros and cons of certain products, cross-referencing opinions, and swapping blushes for perfumes and serums for moisturizers.
Recently, they came to visit me and my massive beauty collection (as a beauty editor, product samples are in no short supply). After sorting through hundreds of bottles, tubes, jars, and palettes, they left with eight items…and I kept five of theirs. Ahead, see all of the best beauty products worth swapping with friends.
8 Items They Took from My Collection
ZILAMPU
Heatless Curler Wrap
My main gripe with heatless curler sets is that they’re almost always bulky and made out of silky material, which means they’re uncomfortable to sleep with and never stay put in my hair—especially not when I’m tossing and turning. This one is different. It’s made from a flat, velour material, so I can sleep on my side and it won’t budge.
I start by positioning the headband on the center of my scalp, and securing it with the included claw clip. Then, I wrap my hair around each side, cross the tail ends at the nape of my neck, and tie them together at the top of my head. Come morning, the whole thing is intact. When I take it out, I have perfect, damage-free curls. I’m so passionate about this heatless curler set, that I convinced Hansi and Ella to try it.
Rhode
Barrier Restore Cream
Rhode’s Barrier Restore Cream is one of those rare skincare products that hasn’t left my bathroom counter since I first tried it. I love the not-too-thin, not-too-thick texture. I love the fragrance-free formula. I also love the effective combination of ingredients like shea butter, squalane, and niacinamide. It moisturizes the skin in an effective, no-frills way, and my friends agree. It’s since become a staple among us.
Blue Lagoon Iceland
Algae Bioactive Concentrate
I use this face oil as part of my morning facial massages. It contains Icelandic Blue Lagoon microalgae, which is soothing, nourishing, and antioxidant-rich. Over time, it stimulates, preserves, and protects the skin’s collagen levels. Plus, it has a silky texture that doesn’t clog my pores or leave an oil-slick residue on my skin.
Peach & Lily
Glass Skin Ginseng Collagen Mask
Use this as an overnight mask, and by morning, you’ll see plump, hydrated, “glass-like” skin. Each mask is concentrated with an entire 40-gram bottle of serum that contains 25 ingredients, including 2% ginseng extract, nine peptides, and a vegan collagen complex. I’m not being dramatic when I say it gave me the glowiest skin of my life, which is why I’m keeping one (or three) of these on hand to use before my next big event—whether that’s a work trip, a wedding, or something else.
Athena Club
Gentle Sugar Scrub
Good body scrubs are surprisingly difficult to find. Some are too grainy and abrasive. Others are too gentle. Some are drying. Others leave a thick residue behind. Athena Club’s Gentle Sugar Scrub strikes the perfect balance. The plant-based formula uses sugar crystals to slough off dead skin, while lightweight moisturizing oils replenish moisture. Oh, and it smells so delicate and lovely, like lychee, rose water, and vanilla.
PHLUR
Father Figure Eau De Parfum
If there’s one thing all three of us love to do together, it’s smell perfumes and share our thoughts with one another. I’m a devoted Phlur fan (I have about 12 bottles of the brand’s perfumes), so whenever Hansi and Ella come visit, I ask them to test the latest and greatest scents with me. This is one we can all agree on. With notes of fig, jasmine dew, and sandalwood, it’s a woody, earthy, and slightly herby scent.
PHLUR
Tangerine Boy Eau De Parfum
If Phlur’s Father Figure Eau de Parfum is our fall and winter pick, then Tangerine Boy is our spring and summer one. The fresh citrus scent combines notes of tangerine, lemon, and amber. It’s simple, but I’m obsessed (and so are my friends).
Phlur
Mango Mood Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
Yep, not one, not two, but three Phlur perfumes made the list. This one, which is a Hair & Body Mist, is like a sun-soaked tropical vacation in a bottle. The three key notes of mango, jasmine, and brown sugar basically scream “summer.”
6 Items I Took from Their Collection
D.S. & DURGA
I Don’t Know What Eau De Parfum
Technically, this is a “fragrance enhancer,” meaning it can be combined with any fragrance to give it a little something extra. However, many people, like my friend Hansi, wear it alone. Notes like bergamot essence, vetiver, and ambrox give it a unique, sheer quality. It’s one of those fragrances that will get you compliments like, “You smell so good!” instead of “What perfume are you wearing?”
My friend Ella deals with TMJ just like me, so I trust her puffiness-reducing and lymphatic-drainage-boosting recommendations. She introduced me to this skincare tool with rave reviews. It uses a combination of magnetic and cryo technologies to lift, sculpt, and contour the skin in mere minutes.
Rhode
Pocket Blush in Piggy
Hansi very graciously came to visit me with her Rhode Pocket Blushes in tow. She knew I would fall in love with them as she did, thanks to their highly pigmented formulas, creamy textures, and spot-on shades. Per Hansi’s recommendation, I applied the baby-pink shade, called Piggy, to the apples of my cheeks. Then, I applied the terracotta color, called Toasted Teddy” to my upper-outer cheekbones, before blending them together. It gave me the most effortless sun-kissed look. Now, it’s my go-to blush combo.
Westman Atelier
Mini Petite Baby Cheeks Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick in Dou Dou
Hansi also brought Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks Blush in Dou Dou. This limited-edition rose shade flattered each one of our (different) skin tones. Like the aforementioned Rhode blush, it has a butter-like texture that’s easy to swipe and blend on the skin.
Ami Colé
Lid Joy Matte Liquid Eyeshadow in Los Angeles
Last but not least, Hansi left this cream eye shadow in my bathroom. I tested it with the full intention of returning it to her, but it was too good….so I may or may not have kept it. Not only is the sky-blue shade, called Los Angeles, seriously stunning, but it also has a long-wearing, crease-resistant formula. I’m obsessed.
Josie Maran
Topless Tangerine – Whipped Argan Oil Refillable Firming Body Butter
Even though I just recently tested this at the recommendation of my friends, it’s become one of my top three favorite body butters of all time. It has a whipped texture that feels lightweight yet luxe and my skin can’t help but drink it up. Plus, it’s infused with one of the best citrus scents I’ve ever sniffed; it’s bright, fresh, and sophisticated.
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