five things on a friday

Five things on a Friday.

Parenting hacks.

1. This cooking spray works as a moisturizer for freshly bathed babies. Your little ones can simply spread arms and legs and turn slowly while you load it on like sunscreen, pat it in, and send them on their merry ways. Beware of the greasy floor, but it’s nothing a little towel or dog tongue can’t fix.

2. Pajamas and toothbrushes should accompany you on evening outings. Friend’s house? The pool? Church function? Fancy restaurant? Just kidding, maybe. But for real, taking five minutes to get kids ready in someone’s else’s bathroom before the return trip home makes all of the bedtime difference.

3. Never, ever order kids’ meals when you’re at a sit-down restaurant. Well, I mean, you can. But you don’t have to. Try a big appetizer or one entree for the little ones to share. This might save you money and help your babies grow to enjoy new foods, eating a little of whatever the grown-ups can’t finish.

4. Lay out everything the night before. I mean, EVERYTHING. While you’re tucking your kids in (or just throwing air kisses across the room because you just can’t with story time tonight), arrange every single article of clothing for tomorrow on the floor, including shoes and jackets. Apply toothpaste to toothbrushes, place the hair stuff within reach, the whole nine. It makes the before-dawn hustle so much easier.

5. Sign up for vacation bible schools. As many as you can. My best friend taught me to research early (like late winter) and set alarms for registration. Do it! And don’t feel pressured to volunteer. If you’re already serving elsewhere in life, use the time to work or rest! (Do consider sponsoring a child from your kid’s school, specifically low-income families who might not have access to internet or know about the magic of VBS, as well as donating to whatever generosity drive the church is doing.)

life lately the whole & simple gospel

The problem with performance.

At my worst, I’m obsessed with improvement. Addicted to movement. My allegiance is to the forward progression. I find solidarity with the ones who believe they can be better tomorrow than they are today. One step forward, even a shaky step or a baby step, feels better than standing still (forget about sliding backwards).

Part of this mindset is due to the way I was raised. Part of it comes from the way I was wired. None of it is wrong, unless or until it comes from the wrong place. And for most of my life, it has come from the wrong place.

I recently sat across from a friend and told her that if my flesh was given the option, it would choose to follow a guru with a ten-step plan to fulfillment over a Savior who promises only His presence as I stumble through this life.

“But when you got to the end of those steps, you’d still feel empty, right?”

Of course, I told her. But I’d be happy to start over. A hamster on a wheel doesn’t repulse or repel me. My flesh is happy to be a hamster on a wheel. My flesh wouldn’t mind waking up each day with a to-do list that leads nowhere.

Why? Because the journey of walking with Jesus can be a long one. Aside from the very small (very important) salvation part, it doesn’t produce instant results. And thinking about it like that? Thinking about the life-long process discipleship entails? It makes me tired. It makes me uncomfortable. It doesn’t fit neatly into my predilection for improvement, movement, and forward progress.

Much of my journey as a Christ-follower has consisted of trying to unlock and achieve the next level, whatever I’ve made up for that to mean. I’ve been following Jesus my entire life, and it’s looked different but the same at every stage. Early on, I tried to just stay out of hell. In my teen and young adult years, it became about fixing my problems so that God could use me. Later on, I scolded myself for needing Him daily. I hid my sin from the people I loved most. I felt that for the sake of movement and progress, I should only have to apply the gospel to my life one time, not every waking moment. That would be weak and needy. And God didn’t need weak and needy. He needed me to perform, right?

To look back at this point is hilarious, considering I perceived my worldview to be a less tiring option than abiding with Jesus daily. And what’s worse, I thought my performance-based living actually saved God some time and effort on me. You know, for when I’d really need it.

Pointless? Yes. Wrong? Sure. Twisted? Absolutely. But for some reason, none of those things changed my heart. Exhausting? That’s what did it. I got too tired. God let me wear myself out, like a toddler after a tantrum. And then he scooped me up and wiped my tears and smoothed my hair and whispered sweet somethings in my ear. Stuff about grace, abundance, and transformation.

Improvement and movement and forward progress are not bad things. They are typically part of the package of walking with Jesus. But the idea that I can do it on my own, without ever screwing up or taking a time-out or backing up a few steps… that is just ludicrous. Because even at my best, I am weak and needy. I always need the gospel, the good news that God is only too happy to remind me of, every waking moment. Praise Him for that.

household management motherhood

this is how we do it: SUMMER

First – ground rules.

Second – #summertothrive workbook (emailed to you when you sign up). Also, #powersheets.

You cannot, will not, get good rhythms going if you can’t clear your head and produce organized thoughts and goals. You don’t have to BE an organized person; just fake it with a brain dump. Sort it all out for thirty minutes, and share with your roommate or husband or mom or kids. I promise, it’ll make a difference.

What is a rhythm? It’s like a routine, for the heart and the soul. It’s that feeling when you wake up and breathe easier because you have a general idea of how the day is going to go, and how you’re going to treat people, and what’s expected of you, and what you expect from others. It’s that sense of being connected to the Father, because you’ve already cast your cares upon him and his burden is light.

What do our summers look like? I continue to work full time out of the home. Chris continues to work full time in the home. The big kids kind of do their own teenage thing and the little kids are in as many vacation Bible schools as possible. Chris and I wake up at the same time every morning and do the Bible thing together. We still go to the gym, because the free hour of childcare gets a facelift in the summer. They turn it into a mini camp with extra activities and staff. At home, the kids play outside a lot. We try to hold off on screen time until the afternoons (they do use their tablets early in the morning if they wake up before our alarm). We still eat dinner at the same time, and the bedtime routine stays the same. All of the kids sleep wherever they want in the summer, typically in a pile on the floor of their room or in each other’s beds. Everyone’s chores and household expectations stay the same. Nobody is assigned anything specific or additional, but we expect everyone who lives here to help out at the bare minimum. My motto for a healthy work environment (or school, or government or household) has always been that if everyone would just do the bare minimum, systems would work.

We don’t take long vacations; just a few day trips and short vacations spread throughout the summer. Everyone agrees it’s more fun that way, and it’s easier to pay for and take time off of work. Some of our greatest memories have been crammed into a car for a quick getaway and a yummy meal somewhere.

Last year, I focused on three words to infuse throughout the summer – contentment, peace, and joy. I wanted these words to be dripping out of my heart and family and work and play all summer long.

This year, I wrote down more specific goals for the summer – a vibrant and powerful family prayer life, a sense of fun and adventure incorporated into everything we do, and to get prepared for grad school (physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually).

I also selected a verse to memorize and spout off to my family and write into the nooks and crannies of my life. “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

One new rhythm we’re adding in this year is the family time we named “Summer Sabbath.” Every Saturday morning that we’re able, we’ll make time to have fun and reconnect. Sometimes two or three days go by where we don’t see each other during the week, because some of us are coming and going while others are sleeping. Instead of trying to force a family dinner every night, we’ve decided to focus on Saturday mornings. The rules are as follows: it’s just the family, no phones allowed, the activity is only one hour long, and breakfast always follows. This can look like anything from tennis to a family walk around the park to a historic site tour. I’m really excited for this one.

The prep work only takes a little effort and time, but it’s so worth it. If I know I want to get to the end of the summer with a stronger prayer life and adventures with family under my belt, then I know how to make daily decisions that will help get us there. If I know the next three years are going to be challenging with grad school, then I know how to spend the next few months getting ready with help from others. Everything in life just feels easier and more purposeful if I have vision for it. And isn’t that what life is supposed to look like anyway? As a follower of Jesus, I believe everything SHOULD have purpose and vision. Every move I make should be one that shares the Light and Life I carry. Everything means something. Otherwise, what else am I here for?

health & wellness household management motherhood

this is how we do it: FOOD

Alright alright, let’s talk meal planning and grocery and all of the food things! First, read the ground rules. All set? Great!

We’ve been following the same food rhythms for nearly four years now. It works great for us, and you guys have asked lots of questions regarding. I’ll try to hit all of the main points but as always, but feel free to email!

The planning.

I meal plan on Saturdays. I use Pinterest and a pretty notebook. The hope is that someday, my very-grown kids will stumble upon the notebook and flip through their childhood menus in weekly chronological order, remembering me fondly as they recognize my slightly-awkward-but-very-neat handwriting.

No, but seriously, I use a new page for each week and date it at the top. I write down the menu for dinner each night, and list the ingredients below. I loosely stick to a goal of one easy meal per week, one meat-free meal per week, and one new meal per week. Ever since we did Whole30 a few years ago, I feel zero pressure to serve carbs (or even three items) with each meal. Sometimes, it’s just a meat and a green. There is always at least one vegetable.

The planning process takes only an hour tops, but sometimes I drag it out. I may start it Saturday morning, and pick it back up during an afternoon on the couch or before bed. I regularly ask the kids and Chris for feedback. I like Pinterest because I can search using ingredients I already have, or even a vibe or category of food I’m in the mood to try. I write the menu on a chalkboard in the kitchen and the whole family really thrives with the routine. The goal for planning is to know exactly what we’re going to eat every night of the week, which should complement our family’s schedule.

The shopping.

I make the official list on Sunday afternoons using Wunderlist. Chris and I run through the fridge and the pantries one more time, adding any staples to the list that are running low. We shop as a family on Sunday evenings, just before bedtime. This is when stores seem the least crowded and we’re most likely to be struck with the Sunday blues.

We shop at three places around town, which allows us to get everything we need for the entire week. Our main spots are Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and a typical regional grocery store (Harris Teeter). Our weekly household budget is $300, but this includes things like toilet paper and soap or a random school supply and my crazy-expensive probiotics. We typically spend right around $200 each week on food. This covers six dinners per week, and then a general supply of breakfast and lunch and snack food. Our budget allows us to eat out once per week, but you can read more about that here. The goal for shopping on Sunday nights is to prevent random stop-ins at stores throughout the week.

The eating.

Both Chris and I cook, depending on who’s home during the two hours leading up to dinner. We eat around the dining room table most nights, but sometimes in a pile on the floor in the kitchen. We try to eat every night at 6pm. This is the only time throughout the week that we slow down and connect, and it’s very important to us. We protect it fiercely. Whoever is in the house is expected to join. Guests are always allowed, even with little or no heads-up. For some reason, there’s always enough to go around. Phones are not allowed at the table.

We do not offer anything outside of what’s on the menu for dinner. If the kids don’t eat it, they go straight to bed after we’re done. They don’t have to eat seconds, but they have to finish what we serve them. If it’s questionable, we give them a very small serving. Nobody leaves the table until everyone is done, and everyone helps clear the table. All of our children help with dishes and wiping down the table. We don’t own a dishwasher, and Chris won’t let us get one. He says he’s had the best conversations of his life with his kids over a soapy sink.

The nitty-gritty.

We’ve gone all organic before, and we’ve also bought a ton of cheap and processed foods to save money. Right now, we focus on whole foods and healthy options but we aren’t going to go broke in the name of organic. If it come from the ground, we’re happy to eat it. We try to restrict the amount of refined sugar and dairy that we consume. We drink almond milk and coconut creamer, but you can find yogurt squeezers and cheese in our fridge. Our meat is the highest-quality we can get, but we also eat a lot of tofu and beans.

There is one section of our kitchen that is fair game for the kids to eat at any time, the corner that holds the fruit basket and the jars full of Trader Joe’s bars. The little ones need to ask beforehand, but we typically say yes. Both are great options for growing children to grab a quick snack without a battle. This area is also where we keep their water bottles. We only buy juice for special occasions.

Meals we frequently make: tofu/rice/broccoli/seaweed snacks, taco salad, spaghetti/salad, beans/rice bar, neat combinations with wanton cups, zuppa toscana, BBQ sammies/broccoli, grilled chicken/anything, beef/veggie stew, sweet potato chili, and a wide variety of salads.

For breakfast, we do a lot of eggs. The chickens keep us well stocked! We also keep basic cereal and oatmeal in the house. For lunch, we eat a lot of finger foods like turkey roll-ups, pickles, plantain chips, and fruits and veggies. Dessert isn’t every night, but we typically serve the little kids a small cookie treat and the big folks like popsicles and ice cream sandwiches. We get all of our sweets from Trader Joe’s.

It may sound silly, but we take this stuff seriously. As a follower of Jesus, we feel called to steward everything we’ve been given –  our bodies, our time, our money, and our habits. This means that quite frankly, I ain’t got time to stress about what’s for dinner. I want to make as much room as possible in my brain and heart for the Spirit’s leading and the work of the Kingdom of God. It’s incredible how much more margin we have when we already know what we’re eating, when we’re shopping, and how much we’re spending.

Hope this helps. Happy meal planning, food shopping, and eating to you!

health & wellness marriage the whole & simple gospel

Fighting. Sharing. In Jesus’ name.

It’s mental health awareness month and I already have the victory, so I am just going for it right here.

I tend to handle hard seasons like the nurse that I am – I triage, I treat, I tend to others. I am think critically, I react swiftly and efficiently, and I handle effectively. And then months later, I crash. I find myself flat on my back. Everything feels dark and stormy. It’s too hard to brush my teeth and read my Bible and stay close to my people.

I’ve been there for the last little bit. I saw the red flags here and there for the last few months, with the tiniest triggers and the smallest setbacks throwing me for a loop. It came to a head last week, thanks to friends and family pressing in. At one point, my husband physically pulled me out of bed and put my shoes on so I could get moving one morning. I spent several days lamenting and analyzing. What went wrong? I’ve been preparing my heart, disciplining my body, digging into Scripture and community, and running on mission both in my city and on the Internet. My marriage is great, my kids are awesome, and things feel pretty healthy overall. Why the sudden physical symptoms of depression? This felt like failure.

But the truth is it’s not failure. It’s just not. This is simply my life, in seasons. And it’s futile and foolish to think I’ll ever outgrow my need for the gospel, or even move on to a new problem instead of my usual struggle with pride and performance. I’m wired a certain way, I’m born into sin, and I’m made new only in Christ. And only on a daily, forever basis.

So the last few weeks were hard. But this week? This week, we fight. And this time? This time, I share as I go. Because His resurrection power is made positively perfect in my weakness. And I’m ready to boast in it.

This week: move body every day (gentle is okay), drink at least a liter of water each day, sex three times this week, be honest when people ask, no meeting with girls/women this week, memorize Isaiah 32:15-20, worship music or audio books only, and remember that this could end tomorrow and that there’s still joy in the midst.

household management marriage

this is how we do it: BUDGET

SPOILER ALERT: You will not find nitty gritty stuff in this post. You will find no discussion of numbers, income, or expenses. Below is simply a collection of thoughts that has brought my husband and I together on a hot topic issue. Carry on!

Chris and I put our money together right around the time we got engaged, I think. The details are fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure we decided it made sense to learn how to manage our money together from the get-go. He had a little debt from his divorce and was in the process of getting out from underneath his house before it foreclosed. I was in nursing school and nannying for cash on the side. Since there wasn’t a lot of money to go around anyway, we just threw it all into one bank account. We had no savings. We had no credit cards. I hadn’t yet learned how to go into debt, nor had I learned the secret of being content. We were just a little bit broke and a whole lot in love.

Over the next several years, I managed the finances. I did so very, very poorly. I am great with details and schedules, but I was neck-deep in fear and panic. Chris is a peace-keeper by nature, but he had a hard time saying no and he avoided conflict at the time. So we struggled along for years before things came to a head. I dropped the ball at least once a month, and he gave me far too much grace. During a particularly rough season, we agreed that Chris should take over the finances and also that he should keep things to himself for a few months while he found his footing. Three years later, we are in a much better place. While both of our names are on everything, he handles the day-to-day details as well as an overall vision for where we’re headed. We connect at least once a week and touch base about the future, both goals and anticipated needs.

As a married couple, we’ve gotten into and out of debt several times. We’ve always had a mortgage. We’ve opened credit cards and paid them off. We’ve switched banks. We built a house, bought another house, used the first house for rental income, and then eventually sold it. We bought land adjacent to our current house.

We’ve taken out small cash loans for old cars and paid them off as fast as we could. We’ve learned how to save. We’ve learned how to get out of and stay out of debt, though I’m not sure we’ll ever be completely free of it. We’ve never filed for bankruptcy. We’ve wept over medical bills. We’ve contributed the maximum allowed to retirement funds. We’ve given a lot of money away. We’ve been on food stamps and Medicaid. We’ve enjoyed family vacations.

I get asked about money more than any other question I receive on the internet, which is understandable but difficult since neither of us are experts. However, I want to honor the questions by giving y’all a little glimpse of how we handle money around here. The ground rules will be particularly helpful for you on this one! There’s no way we all have the same amounts of money and income, or the same type of bills and expenses, or even the same beliefs about how to handle it all. Okay? Okay! Let’s get started.

Because my husband manages our money, it only felt right to ask him to contribute to this post. So recently I asked him, “If you were going to tell someone three things you do with finances that make you feel both secure and freed up, what would they be?” He answered fairly quickly, which is actually quite unusual for him. This must mean these are important nuggets. So listen up, and grab ’em while they’re hot.

Thoughts from Christopher:

Balance your checkbook. “This relieves stress because it leaves me with no surprises.”

He keeps a Microsoft Excel spread sheet (color-coded, of course) with all of our income and bills and expenses, divided up into categories that work for us. There are sections for regular monthly bills, budgeted areas like food and automotive and self-care, money coming in, giving and saving, etc. He says this took him about six months to nail down, and he works on it every day for about five minutes. During the months where he lets a week or two go by, he says it takes him several hours to catch up. Every morning, he pulls up the spreadsheet and compares it against our bank account. Sometimes he texts me or yells down the hall to talk about it, but most of the time it’s just a quick check-in that he handles by himself.

Prepare ahead of time. “I try to make arrangements when I see something coming down the pipe.”

Now that we don’t live in fear about what’s coming next and whether or not we’ll have enough, we’re able to look at the future with clear eyes. Now that we’ve learned how to say no and how to save, we don’t stress about the random school fees and unexpected car repairs. At the same time, though, we’re able to tighten things up if we know we’re headed into an expensive season. For example, we won’t eat out for two weeks if we know we’re traveling at the end of the month.

Get on the same team. “My no doesn’t crush you because it’s our no.”

We used to try to talk about finances, but it felt too hard and awkward and overwhelming and embarrassing and so we’d avoid it for months. Once we forged ahead and got through the hardest conversations, we got on the same page. We committed to staying on the same team, and we unified our goals and our language. To jump start, we did a spending freeze for one month while Chris learned how to track everything and got a rough version of a budget set up. We agreed on what felt most important, and how we wanted to attack things together. Things have been smooth(ish) sailing ever since. This means I might not ever get a new kitchen, but it also means that someday we might have enough cash to pay for three new kitchens, and that is just as powerful.

Thoughts from Rach:

We loosely follow the Dave Ramsey program. We attended Financial Peace University several years ago and we used his cash flow budget sheet as a starting place for our budget. I agree with his wisdom and cheer on the folks I know who subscribe to it explicitly, but we’ve found a better fit in taking some parts and leaving others.

I use cash for “blow money” and it’s literally changed my life. Every Sunday night, I get cash back from the store when we pay for our groceries. It’s mine to use on food, coffee, skincare, whatever I want for the week. It makes me feel empowered and not policed, and it keeps the swipe count down on our bank account so Chris doesn’t have to muddle through it all each day. Outside of that cash, I check in with him before I swipe the check card for anything. It felt awkward at first, but now it just feels right and honoring and freeing.

We recently quit my employer-sponsored health insurance plan and picked up a policy with Medishare. It has been an adjustment, but so far so good! And we’re saving money in premium costs, so that’s helpful.

I contribute the maximum allowed toward my retirement fund.

As Jesus followers, we believe that it’s important to resist. We resist what culture tells us to care about in regards to money. We refuse to idolize the American Dream, but we take it a step further. We also refuse to idolize financial freedom. We believe our salvation is secure regardless, and we want to focus more on the Kingdom of God than on anything else. This means we practice financial responsibility, but we do not give into that late-night, sleep-deprived obsession and worry that pretends like there isn’t a God out there who cares about his kids.

We have life insurance.

We recently decided to spend a certain amount of money of groceries and household items (like soap and toilet paper) per week, which leaves enough room for us to eat out once per week. This means we have to choose – either a date night or a meal out as a family or a couple of quick takeout runs. This has been a particularly helpful and fun part of the process.

We tithe. No matter what. Every month. As of right now, we tithe to our church every time we get paid, and then we give a little extra to other various charities and ministries. We are currently supporting Preemptive Love and Shama Women with a monthly subscription. Sometimes Chris hands a server our check card and tells them to pay for another person’s meal, or we’ll write a check to a friend’s church plant. It’s been so cool to watch him lead us in radical generosity.

We do not have it figured out. Some of this information will be outdated by next week. We are not experts in anything other than being needy children of God, trying to learn stewardship as we grow old together. I hope it helps a little! Hit me up with any life-changing tips you’ve got regarding finances!

skincare

I bought every product from Glossier… a review.

-updated February 2022 with more products and more opinions

I started using Glossier  several years ago, after seeing the brand on Instagram. I have since fallen in love with it, as both a skincare + makeup company and as a force of nature + empowerment in the beauty world. I love Glossier’s slogans, their branding, their packaging, and the fact they use a diverse range of models and real-life women in their campaigns. I visited their flagship store in NYC the week that it opened (previously-planned trip, promise) and was not disappointed. Their real-life vibe is just as cool and genuine as their online one. I am impressed that in a world of full-face and drawn-on and more is more, Glossier is planting its flag firmly in the camp of natural is beautiful; let’s just tidy it up a bit.

In this post, I’m going to review everything Glossier currently sells.* I’ve literally pulled up their site up in a different browser window and will simply work my way down their product offerings, giving you a little snippet of what the item is supposed to, and how I use and like it. Let’s get started!

SKINCARE

The Supers – “supplements for your face.” You can buy these three serums separately or in a trio at a discount. I bought the trio. I did not notice a huge difference, such as a crazy glow or plumped skin. However, adding these into my regimen was the turning point, when I began to notices the subtle changes in my skin overall. My face was smoother, my makeup went on easier, and everything just felt brighter and healthier. I also experienced drastically fewer breakouts. However, the bottles are deceivingly small and don’t last long. I have also since found other serums and oils that work just as well for me.

Will purchase again: NO

Priming Moisturizer – “light and buildable moisturizer for a dewy, smooth canvas.” This is marketed as a lightweight priming moisturizer. It goes on easily and does not irritate the skin. It is unscented, and I like the packaging – you don’t have to squeeze hard to get it out. I use it in the morning on top of the face mist. I actually bought this again after thinking I might not, so that’s saying something.

Will purchase again: YES

Milky Jelly Cleanser – “one face wash to rule them all.” I cannot disagree with this. I use it only in the morning after the gym, but I could easily use it multiple times a day. It’s so gentle! And it smells like heaven filled with roses. Sometimes I apply it on a dry face, and let the water suds it up. Other times I get my face wet first.  I plan to never run out of this stuff. I use it in the evening for makeup removal before a tougher cleanser, and as a morning cleanser at the gym after a workout. If I’m not exercising, though, I don’t wash my face in the morning.

Will purchase again: YES

Priming Moisturizer Rich – “a supremely lavish hydrating experience.” Yes, a thousand times yes. I’m so glad Glossier came out with a heavier option. This goes on like a night cream, but I’ve found myself using it in the morning, as well. It is packed with hydrating ingredients and my face feels soft hours after applying. However, I have found similar benefit from other moisturizers on the market at a similar price point, so I have not repurchased. I have not tried the matte version, called Priming Moisturizer Balance. I do not plan on it. I want skin so dewy you can almost see your reflection in my face. I have no desire for balance.

Will purchase again: NO 

Balm Dotcom – “cult favorite do-everything salve.” I first saw this product being applied in a video, on a girl’s lips and nose and even cheeks. It really does work that way! It’s like the new Vaseline, with better ingredients. I use it on my eyelids and lips. I’ve tried the unscented, rose flavor, cherry, coconut, and birthday. The flavored ones have a nice little tint, and the birthday has some shimmer!

Will purchase again: YES

Mega Greens Galaxy Pack – “a juice cleanse for your face.” That sounds about right! This mask goes on smooth and little chunky, with actual pieces of leafy greens and who-knows-what that never quite rub all the way in. It also never totally dries like a typical clay mask, but I have to grown to enjoy that feature. I can apply it more often without it feeling super harsh. I haven’t repurchased only because I have a seemingly endless supply of clay masks in sample or trial-sized form from various companies that I must get through first.

Will purchase again: YES

Moisturizing Moon Mask – “the most intensely hydrating treatment we could make.” Packed with hyaluronic acid and a bunch of other super-moisturizing ingredients, this has become much more than a mask for me. In fact, I haven’t washed it off once since purchase. I apply it at the end of my nighttime routine as a sleeping pack, and leave it on while I sleep. This is the juiciest, plumpest my face has ever felt. That’s a good thing.

Will purchase again: YES

Soothing Face Mist – “for fresh, glowy skin all day long.” I’ve used rosewater sprays before, and they’ve never really made me dewy or glowy. This one isn’t an exception, but it does have extra ingredients (aloe, for one) that make my face feel much softer and refreshed after use. I spritz in the middle of the day, as well as first thing most mornings beneath my moisturizer.

Update! There is a new formula, which I thought was only a packaging change at first. However, it makes me cough every time I spray it, and my kids and spouse have verified something is different.

Will purchase again: NO

Invisible Shield – “sunscreen for people who hate wearing sunscreen.” I’m already borderline obsessed with sun protection, so I didn’t need to be convinced to add sunscreen to my routine. This stuff smells amazing and goes on very smoothly. A little really does go a long way. The only reason I don’t plan on purchasing again is because I prefer a higher SPF and a tinted moisturizer combination.

Will purchase again: NO

Solution – “exfoliating skin perfector.” There’s not much else to say other than that. I use it instead of a toner, after washing and before serums and moisturizer. It has AHA, BHA, and PHA in it, which is more than most chemical exfoliators include. Usually, brands only include one or two of those acids. For the price, you cannot beat it.

Will purchase again: YES

Milky oil – “tough on makeup, nice on skin.” I appreciated the effort here, and I really wanted to like it. A waterproof makeup remover oil? It sounds too good to be true. It worked fine, but it burnt my eyes no matter how I careful I was.

Will purchase again: NO

Zit stick – “your blemish emergency plan.” I don’t have an explanation for why I like this so much. It’s got all of the usual ingredients for blemish control. But it is the only thing I reach for when I have a bump, and they seem to go away faster when I use this twice or more per day.

Will purchase again: YES

Bubblewrap – “white glove treatment for skin’s most delicate areas.” I absolutely loved the idea of an eye cream that also serves as a lip balm. I find it incredibly convenient and I keep it in my gym bag toiletries, for the duality of purpose. However, I didn’t find it thick enough for my liking, for either the lips or the eyes.

Will purchase again: NO

Futuredew –  “an instant dewy glow that lasts.” This stuff came with a bit of a learning curve, only because people weren’t quite sure how to use it. Is it skincare? Is it makeup? Yes! It’s described as an oil serum hybrid, and it’s applied after SPF as the final skincare step. However, it gives a little glow and color to the skin, as well. I can honestly stay I only wear undereye concealer most days now, because this acts as a smoothing and dewy coverage for the rest of my face! I don’t go a day without it.

Will purchase again: YES

Hand cream – “always have hydration on hand.” It’s a sweet gesture, especially for Glossier to release this during the Covid-19 pandemic and encourage folks to give it to healthcare providers. It also smells like the You perfume, which is nice. But the packaging is anything but environmentally-friendly, and the amount just doesn’t justify the price.

Will purchase again: NO

Cleanser Concentrate – “exfoliates, clarifies, and re-energizes in 60 seconds.” Agree! It foams nicely and washes off completely. It gives much more a squeaky clean feel, and I usually use it as my second step of a dual cleanse. I follow Milky Jelly with this cleanser. It’s too large to travel with, though, and the price point is a bit high.

Will purchase again: NO

Universal Pro-Retinol – “a nightly retinoid made for just about everyone, that does just about everything.” This one has been a long time coming. It goes on creamy and soaks in nicely, but I prefer more medical-grade retinol. This one is Retinyl Sunflowearte. No complaints thus far; perhaps a great intro for someone wanting to try retinoids!

Will purchase again: NO

After Baume – “moisture barrier recovery cream, for very dry and/or sensitive skin.” Love it more than any other nighttime moisturizer Glossier has done yet. Love the packaging, as well as the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. The size is too small for the price, in my opinion, though, and they certainly need to work on their language regarding clinical trial claims. The brand performed a survey on users, not a legitimate trial, and that wording could certainly be misleading.

Will purchase again: MAYBE

MAKEUP

Cloud Paint – “a new way to blush.” This is Glossier’s newest product, a gel-cream that goes on in four vibrant shades that ease up into a natural tint when applied. I own Haze and Puff, and I am pleased with both. I particularly enjoy the little tutorials Glossier has released for each color, and I’ve tried to emulate those looks. However, I just don’t like getting messy. I’ve never been a “make a palette on the back of my hand” kind of girl, and my fingers get a little stained from this. Although, I could try a designated sponge blender for this. And I do really want to try Dusk. Maybe in another formula, someday.

Will purchase again: NO

Haloscope – “the galaxy’s first dewy effect highlighter.” Praise God for this baby! I have it in Moonlight and Topaz. Sometimes I stack one on top of the other. I love the ease of use, and they last all day long without looking too shimmery or sparkly. It has a moisturizing quality to it, too, which I adore. This product is one of my top two favorite products by Glossier.

Will purchase again: YES

Generation G – “lip color that gives the look and finish of just-blotted lipstick.” That is exactly how it looks. I own Like and Zip. The colors are vibrant but easy to wear wherever, with as much or as little makeup alongside it. I bought my second one after they modified the formula a bit, but I still find they lack staying power and tend to crease pretty quickly. They go on best with a little Balm Dotcom on top.

Will purchase again: NO

Boy Brow – “our all-in-one brow filler, fluffer, and shaper.” This is my absolute favorite product at Glossier. It does everything it says, and it stays in place for hours. I have tried all of the shades and they each do great for different purposes. I use Brown the most. I cannot recommend this one enough.

Will purchase again: YES

Perfecting Skin Tint – “more skin, less makeup.” This concept is a new one for a lot of us makeup and skincare connoisseurs. It’s not a tinted moisturizer. It’s not a foundation. It’s not a sunscreen. It’s literally the layer between moisturizer and whatever other skin-covering makeup you put on your face. It evens out the tone and adds a little dewy sheen to your face. I wear it on top of a tinted sunscreen, and these days those two things form my foundation step. Update! I’ve stopped wearing this only because I prefer the Futuredew alone or with a tinted sunscreen, leaving no room for this.

Will purchase again: NO

Stretch Concealer – “makeup that lets skin look like…skin!” I’d agree with this claim, and it’s why I cannot buy it again. It goes on smooth and lasts for hours. The color is a great fit, too. But it just doesn’t provide the full coverage I’m looking for under my eyes. That’s the only area on my entire face that I want a nice thick layer of help. This one also creases considerably on me, but maybe I’m not priming correctly. I’m wondering if maybe it does better with color correction around noses and on chins, instead of a heavy layer on my undereye circles. Update! I tried a darker color and am much happier.

Will purchase again: YES

Wowder – “cut shine, blur the appearance of pores, set makeup, look like skin.” Yep, it does all of those things. I don’t wear it every day because I like a dewy look and it provides more of a full-face, made-up look, but it also covers imperfections and smooths everything out. I have been just as impressed with this as any competing mineral makeup, even more with Wowder so than most of the other brands I’ve tried. I do wish it came in a compact, instead of a loose powder. The only reason I won’t repurchase is because I don’t wear powder enough. However, a friend taught me to wet a little bit and use it as concealer over blemishes, and it works great for that!

Will purchase again: NO

Lip Gloss – “cushiony, crystal clear shine.” So true! This stuff gives me a long-lasting glossy look, without any tacky or sticky feeling or residue. It originally came in a holiday collection, but now Glossier has added it to stock for good.

Will purchase again: YES

Lidstar – “less shadow, more glow.” I love the formula! It stays on for hours and hours, which includes my finger tips if I use it to apply. I never wear eye shadow and this has not convinced me to start, but I will keep it for special occasions. I like the shade range the shimmer vs. glitter factor.

Will purchase again: NO

Lash Slick – “what Boy Brow does for brows, but for lashes.” I have only used this mascara once and will definitely report back if it’s anything less than what’s promised. I got to sit in on a live call about the product before launch and I’m impressed with all of the details that went into it – fiber technology-infused and vegan, but with a mink lash extension vibe to it. So far, so great. It spreads and lengthens my lashes, without a single clump. The brush literally goes on like a comb. Also, the product comes off easily with warm water. However, I found that it flaked throughout the day.

Will purchase again: NO

Pro Tip – “get a smooth, precise line every time.” I have used this several times, and I have no complaints. I feel like for a liquid eyeliner, it goes on smooth and stays in place for hours. However, I don’t use eyeliner enough to justify a repurchase, and I can’t really compare it other brands. I have also used it to fill in my eyebrows in a pinch.

Will purchase again: NO

Brow Flick – “more brow for your brow.” I use this regularly with Boy Brow. They call it a microfine detailing pen for your eyebrows, and I couldn’t agree more. I use a few flicks in the areas I’m probably guilty of overplucking in the 90’s, and things looks full and even again.

Will purchase again: YES

Ultralip – “the rich moisture of a balm, the sheen of a gloss, and the buildable color of a lip tint.” Agree, agree, agree! Finally, Glossier gets it right in the lip department. Many a friend have loved the other offerings, but none of them Glossier’s lip products have ever gone on and/or stayed on the right way for me. This baby moisturizes and gives just the right amount shine and color. I have it in two shades, and I wear it more often than anything else in my lip color collection.

Will purchase again: YES

Solar Paint – “a weightless bronzer designed to capture the warm glow you get from spending a day in the sunshine.” I was surprised to see this product launch, because Haloscope does much of this already. Both bronzer products are a bit sparkly and shimmery, and this new one is much more pigmented than I’m used to. I don’t wear foundation, so it’s a little more obvious on my skin. Regardless, I’m enjoying learning how to use it!

Will purchase again: NO

OTHER

Body Hero Duo – “for the other 90% of you.” I am very pleased with Glossier’s first step onto the body skincare scene, although I don’t have a need per se. The wash goes on like an oil but foams up easily when wet, and the lotion starts out thick but also spreads very well. A nickel-sized amount of each product works for my whole body. I wasn’t crazy about the scent at first, but it’s grown on me. It sticks around most of the day, and the lotion really does produce a subtle shimmery glow. It’s a nice indulgence to keep in the bathroom, and I have restocked.

Will purchase again: YES

Glossier You – “creamy, sparkling, clean, warm. That’s You.” I only recently began wearing perfume and decided to go with one signature scent that my kids picked out, but I was happy to try out a sample of this fragrance. I am crazy about it! It’s actually similar to the one I already wear, but just different enough to keep things interesting. I agree with the claim that the base notes lead out – there’s nothing too overpowering about this scent but it fits pretty much any scenario. Available in spray and a cute little solid, a heavy metal disk that fits in your hand and seems to double as a fidget gadget.

Will purchase again: YES

Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist – “dry oil spray that moisturizes in a flash.” I love the scent. I love the scent. I love the scent! However, their claim regarding mess-free application is false. The bottle top never seems to stay screwed shut. It’s also difficult to spray more than once, as your hands become oily. Lastly, it takes more than 10 sprays just to get good coverage.

Will purchase again: NO

There you have it! If you choose to buy, I highly recommend trying the kits, so you can experience several products at once and save a little money. As far as new products go, I hope they release an eye cream soon. I hear SPF is already in the works. It happened! And I bought it, of course.

I assume by now that you can tell I am a fan. Been there, done that, bought the actual sweatshirt. Well, my best friend bought the sweatshirt for me for Christmas. But now my husband has one, too. We’re super fans; it’s fine. Overall, I’m just really into the Glossier message. I love that they have democratized beauty (founder Emily Weiss’ words) in a way that makes it both simpler and more accessible to women like me. Glossier is about beauty in real life. I can get down with that.

*As of February 2022, I own every product currently in production 
(except Skywash/monochromes; not crazy about eyeshadow) by Glossier. 
Because of my intense purchasing passion, Glossier brought me on 
as a brand rep several years ago and I occasionally receive free products or coupon codes. Shop through any of the links on this post to access my rep page 
and score 10% off of your first purchase.