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In the age of PR gifting and paid influencer partnerships smattered all over social media, it's hard to know whether a recommendation is wholehearted or winking. Is this product actually a must-have? Or did you get it in a gift bag and, yeah, it's not too shabby. Or worse (but understandably)—did your friend found a company and you’re giving her free press?
We want to know: What do people spend real dollar dollar bills on? We're dying to hear what you buy and re-buy, what you recommend with every fiber of your being, what your hard won earnings go toward. With brands sending free stuff to the microest of influencers, we decided it's high time for a roundup series that includes exclusively products that have been purchased and loved outright. Think of Receipts as a fun-things-only money diaries.
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Having written for the likes of NY Mag, Vogue, and the Wall Street Journal, Brooklyn-based writer and brand strategist Erika Veurink knows “good” when she sees it (and uses it). She gave us the full rundown on her favorite things that she actually spends money on when she’s not being sent products for free, and we’re essentially adding all of them to our future wish lists as soon as possible.
Prompted by pandemic mask skin irritation #NeverForget, Veurink has sworn by Tower 28’s soothing spray as her OTL for the past three years. “Ever since then, I’ve kept a mini bottle in every bag I own.” It’s her go-to when she washes her face or just needs a refresh post-workout, touting the spray as a total “skincare reset.”
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For the scrunchie lovers out there, this is for you. Sick of the regular black hair ties that kept stretching out (IYKYK), Veurink opted to add a dose of style to her hair maintenance with her “signature shade of red.” She’s been in the luxe hair tie game for the past four months and has no plan to revert back to the basic tie anytime soon. Does she love a clip moment? Of course, but “they can be super uncomfortable by the end of the day.”
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“I’ve been dedicated to crew socks for over a decade. I wanted a sportier pair that didn’t give me Nike Elite flashbacks from high school.” Veurink has been on the crew socks train for the past five months, wearing them with sneakers and loafers alike. Her advice? “Try these if you, too, are bored of your plain white socks.”
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Inspired by Crown Affair founder Dianna Cohen, Veurink has committed to journaling once a day for the past year. “If you love journaling in public, why not do it in a monogrammed notebook?” It doesn’t hurt that the pages are refillable on the cheap as well.
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Even though Veurink was initially intimidated by the Leaf Razor, she immediately had a change of heart two years ago, after asking friends at a dinner party for a razor rec. She bought this bad boy on the cab ride home. For Erika, “it’s the most economical choice I’ve ever made for personal care. Blades cost almost nothing.” And if you’re nervous about trying it, Veurink proclaims that “there’s way less of a learning curve than you’d expect.”
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There is nothing better in this life than a tee that gives more to you than you ever have to give to it. For Veurink, that tee belongs to Lululemon. “This has been my go-to tshirt for a while now. Especially in the summer, nothing beats it.” Whether she’s wearing it with jeans, skirts, or shorts, Veurink insists that “this shape is great for people who want something a little oversized that still feels polished.”
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When it comes to bedtime, Veurink “rides hard” for magnesium. “I mix a spoonful in water before starting my bedtime routine…this helps me calm down before sleep.” As magnesium fans, we fully subscribe.
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According to Veurink, “there’s no comparison. This sunscreen is the best on the market.” For six years, she has applied it “every damn morning,” insisting that this product makes it stupidly simple to be consistent about applying sunscreen. She refuses to be without it, keeping six in her closet at all times.
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A year-and-a-half ago, Veurink wrote a story about these Mary Janes, and “to this day, they are my most-worn pair.” Not only are they versatile enough to be paired with jeans or a skirt, but they are an “ultra-comfortable alternative for the days you’re pounding the pavement, and need to leave your loafers at home.”
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After years of using Biologique Recherche’s P50, “Elizabeth Hand at Stallë Studios put me onto this product. I now talk to everyone I know about this product. It’s life-changing, no exaggeration.” Veurink advises heading straight to Sofie Pavitt’s serum if you’re curious about gentle chemical exfoliation.
We like
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Prompted by pandemic mask skin irritation #NeverForget, Veurink has sworn by Tower 28’s soothing spray as her OTL for the past three years. “Ever since then, I’ve kept a mini bottle in every bag I own.” It’s her go-to when she washes her face or just needs a refresh post-workout, touting the spray as a total “skincare reset.”
We like
We don't like
For the scrunchie lovers out there, this is for you. Sick of the regular black hair ties that kept stretching out (IYKYK), Veurink opted to add a dose of style to her hair maintenance with her “signature shade of red.” She’s been in the luxe hair tie game for the past four months and has no plan to revert back to the basic tie anytime soon. Does she love a clip moment? Of course, but “they can be super uncomfortable by the end of the day.”
We like
We don't like
“I’ve been dedicated to crew socks for over a decade. I wanted a sportier pair that didn’t give me Nike Elite flashbacks from high school.” Veurink has been on the crew socks train for the past five months, wearing them with sneakers and loafers alike. Her advice? “Try these if you, too, are bored of your plain white socks.”
We like
We don't like
Inspired by Crown Affair founder Dianna Cohen, Veurink has committed to journaling once a day for the past year. “If you love journaling in public, why not do it in a monogrammed notebook?” It doesn’t hurt that the pages are refillable on the cheap as well.
We like
We don't like
Even though Veurink was initially intimidated by the Leaf Razor, she immediately had a change of heart two years ago, after asking friends at a dinner party for a razor rec. She bought this bad boy on the cab ride home. For Erika, “it’s the most economical choice I’ve ever made for personal care. Blades cost almost nothing.” And if you’re nervous about trying it, Veurink proclaims that “there’s way less of a learning curve than you’d expect.”
We like
We don't like
There is nothing better in this life than a tee that gives more to you than you ever have to give to it. For Veurink, that tee belongs to Lululemon. “This has been my go-to tshirt for a while now. Especially in the summer, nothing beats it.” Whether she’s wearing it with jeans, skirts, or shorts, Veurink insists that “this shape is great for people who want something a little oversized that still feels polished.”
We like
We don't like
When it comes to bedtime, Veurink “rides hard” for magnesium. “I mix a spoonful in water before starting my bedtime routine…this helps me calm down before sleep.” As magnesium fans, we fully subscribe.
We like
We don't like
According to Veurink, “there’s no comparison. This sunscreen is the best on the market.” For six years, she has applied it “every damn morning,” insisting that this product makes it stupidly simple to be consistent about applying sunscreen. She refuses to be without it, keeping six in her closet at all times.
We like
We don't like
A year-and-a-half ago, Veurink wrote a story about these Mary Janes, and “to this day, they are my most-worn pair.” Not only are they versatile enough to be paired with jeans or a skirt, but they are an “ultra-comfortable alternative for the days you’re pounding the pavement, and need to leave your loafers at home.”
We like
We don't like
After years of using Biologique Recherche’s P50, “Elizabeth Hand at Stallë Studios put me onto this product. I now talk to everyone I know about this product. It’s life-changing, no exaggeration.” Veurink advises heading straight to Sofie Pavitt’s serum if you’re curious about gentle chemical exfoliation.
We like
We don't like
What are you spending your hard-earned cash on? Let us know @thequalityedit.