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Welcome to How I Pick My Picks — a kind-of-regular newsletter series in which we check in with the Strategist staff on the stuff they’re using day-to-day, the products they’re testing for stories, and the things their friends and family won’t stop asking them about. Consider it a peek into the always-whirring brain of a Strategist writer. Now, meet our beauty writer, Tembe Denton-Hurst.
I’m very into lip balms right now. Over the past months, I’ve tested the good, the TikTok-famous, and one horrific cayenne-pepper lip balm that I won’t name out of respect for its creator. But I keep coming back to Aquaphor and Vaseline. I wanted so badly to love the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, and I did, for a while, but after a few weeks I had such a strong reaction to it that my lips were recovering for weeks. This was also the case with the balms from Laneige and Ilia — two other standouts with well-deserved cult followings that didn’t work for me.
Ultimately, I’ve realized I’m sensitive (in every sense of the word) and have to be picky about the stuff I put on my lips, or stick to the basics. There has been one pretty surprising (and non-irritating) addition to my rotation, though: Ourself, which makes a lip-filler-like serum we’ve previously penned an ode to, also has a post-lip-filler-serum balm that’s meant to extend the results of its ridiculously expensive hero product. Turns out that balm is more of a gloss (though surprisingly nourishing), and I’ve found myself using it every day. It has a hint of peppermint oil that offers a slight plump (I swear my lips look juicier and fuller) and comes in this pretty translucent-pink shade, which pairs beautifully with a brown lip liner (Victoria Beckham’s liner in the shade 06, in case you’re curious). It holds up decently well to talking and light snacking, and I’ve been carrying it constantly. At $45, it’s pricier than a tube of super-sticky and shiny beauty-supply gloss, but it’s more conscionable than a $118 serum with mixed reviews.
As a beauty writer, what’s the product that friends and family always ask for your advice on?
Probably moisturizer, foundation, or concealer. Base makeup is notoriously tricky to judge, so I always recommend checking the ingredients. Something that contains heavy oils and butters might not work well for someone with oily skin, while a gel-cream moisturizer might not be rich enough for someone who’s notoriously dry.
What’s the least amount of money you should spend on, for example, a foundation?
When it comes to drugstore brands like NYX, L’Oréal, and Maybelline, I always know I’m getting a solid product. For example, L’Oréal Lumi True Match is famously billed as a dupe for Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation. It makes sense, given that the two brands are owned by the same parent company — L’Oréal USA—and have a near-identical ingredients list.
What are you currently testing and researching?
Hand cream! I’m testing against Nécessaire’s practically perfect hand cream. So much so that I’m always telling my editor, Crystal, that nothing compares. It’s deeply moisturizing and unscented, and it leaves my hands with a subtle sheen without going greasy. I can apply it and go about my day without rubbing my hands against themselves, fretting over an icky film.
What product do you think is a total waste of money?
Eye cream. Unless you’re targeting a specific concern like dark under-eyes or puffiness from a late night out, just use your moisturizer underneath there.
What’s the most expensive product you own?
I have multiple NuFace devices (both the body and mini-face one) and Dysons. They’re my nest eggs. I am horrible at using the NuFace daily like you’re supposed to, but even with occasional use, it provides pretty noticeable results. It snatches my jaw and de-puffs my face, which is crucial for me before an event.
What’s the last thing you bought?
Owyn protein shakes. My fiancé and I go through them like water. It’s crazy how quickly we run out of a case.
What’s the last thing you bought for yourself?
An Aesther Ekme bag at Bergdorf Goodman. It was on supersale and I couldn’t resist!
What are some open tabs on your computer right now? What’s on your list but you can’t bring yourself to buy it just yet?
I have about a million rugs open because I need a new one in my bedroom. We bought a checkered cream one a few years ago, and that was a big mistake. I think I’m better at keeping things pristine than I really am, and I’ve had to cave and admit that I need to just let a dark rug into my life.
If you had $1,000 to spend at Sephora, what would you buy?
If I have a grand, I’m stocking up. For starters, two tubes of Kosas concealers. That’ll run me $60, which leaves me with $940. I’m generally skeptical about celebrity beauty brands, but Rare Beauty’s products are some of the best I’ve tried — especially the bronzing sticks. The undertones, particularly for brown skin like mine, are spot-on. That’s another $78 in bronzer sticks alone. Then with whatever money I have left over, I’d spring for whatever new thing Dyson has to offer, because its products get me every time.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
