In For a Treat - by Kitty Guo
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
It’s no secret that this newsletter exists partly as a way for me to indulge in my champagne tastes without actually dropping any cold hard cash. (This is why my dream job is to be a personal shopper for some eccentric heiress who allows me carte blanche access to her credit card.) But for the rest of us working with a budget, a good little product that doesn’t break the bank is worth its weight in gold; here are a few fun, inexpensive treats, all of which I’ve tried personally, that have brightened up my daily life. Since these are going to be quick hits, I’ve graced you all with six picks instead of my usual three. I hope you enjoy as much as I do!
DRIED PEARL GUAVA - YUN HAI ($10)
I’ve sampled all the dried fruit options Yun Hai has to offer — golden diamond pineapple, Irwin mango, green mango, wax apple — and while they’re all delicious, the dried pearl guava is the clear stand-out. I buy them in bulk because I can mindlessly go through a pack in, like, 30 minutes.
LOCAL WOMAN - UNIVERSAL FLOWERING (C$9 FOR 1ML SAMPLE)
Universal Flowering is the new D.S. & Durga for the real fragheads — IYKYK. I ordered a handful of samples, and while a few were sure-bet favorites (sparkly, citrus-y Burst, cream-soda-sweet Venus in Tuberose), I was surprised by how much I liked Local Woman, which has a salty, shrubby, rocky-Maine-bluffs sensibility.
PEACH MOSCATO HYDRATING TINTED LIP OIL - PROVENCE BEAUTY ($9)
Provence Beauty’s lip oils have all the juicy shine but none of the viscous tackiness of lip gloss. Brushing on a coat of the Peach Moscato reminds me of when I religiously carried around Lime Crime’s Wet Cherry gloss back in the summer of 2019 (were we ever so young??)
SMILEY TRIO - TOUCHLAND ($30)
Don’t tell, but sometimes I’ll spritz myself with a bit of Touchland’s sanitizer, because the scents are that good. These smiley face-branded ones are so bright and cheerful and smell just like summer, with notes of mango, citrus, and coconut. (You can also just buy the mango individually for $10.)
KRYPTONITES RASPBERRY SOFT - BON BON CANDY SHOP ($4.50 FOR 4OZ)
I’ve been a black licorice hater all my life, until I tried these Kryptonite candies from Bon Bon, a Swedish candy shop based in Brooklyn. Something about the licorice/raspberry flavor pairing, plus the chewy texture, is just insanely addictive. Next time I visit, I’m shoveling at least five heaping scoops into my bag.
PETITE PRODUCE TATTOO SHEET - TATTLY ($11 FOR 2)
I’m far too indecisive to ever get a real tattoo, which is why I love Tattly, a temporary tattoo brand that works with professional artists like Oliver Jeffers and Lorien Stern to create actually-chic, non-juvenile designs. Catch me rocking a full sleeve of itty-bitty asparagus, peas, and Swiss chard this summer.
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!
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