I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July. We had a quiet day at home, barbecuing in the backyard, watching the kids swim, and enjoying a slower pace. It reminded me how much I've come to appreciate the simple things that quietly make life better...which, as it turns out, is exactly what today's post is about!
A Few Things I Keep Buying
I’ve noticed something about myself.
The older I get, the less interested I am in trying every new beauty product that comes along, and the more interested I am in finding a handful of things that quietly earn a permanent place in my routine.
Maybe it’s because I’m almost fifty. Maybe it’s decision fatigue. Or maybe it’s just that I’ve finally accepted that I don’t actually enjoy having a drawer full of products I use twice and then forget about!
For years I assumed beauty, and honestly wellness too, required more effort than it probably does. I always felt like there was another product to compare, another ingredient to research, another routine to perfect. Every new launch looked like it might be the thing I was missing.
It turns out I wasn’t missing much at all. What I was really craving wasn’t perfection but simplicity. I didn’t want to be obsessive. I just wanted to be thoughtful about the things I used every day.
I still appreciate quality. I like products that are made well, and I care about what I’m putting on my skin. But I’ve become a lot less interested in collecting products, and a lot more interested in finding the ones that quietly make my mornings easier.
So these aren’t necessarily the trendiest things in my makeup bag.
They’re simply the things I’ve used enough to know I’ll probably buy them again.
1. Mascara I Don’t Have to Think About
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Brown Balm Mascara (Brown)
This is my current favorite because it does exactly what I want, and nothing more. It gives just enough volume, just enough definition, without tipping into “too much.” It’s soft, buildable, and it doesn’t flake all over my face by two in the afternoon.
And the brown is key for me. I’m a redhead with fair skin and freckles, so black mascara can sometimes feel a little harsh. Brown still gives me definition, but it looks softer and more natural, which is exactly what I’m after these days.
I also like that it leans a little cleaner than a lot of drugstore mascaras, with a high percentage of naturally derived ingredients. And when I ran it through the Yuka app (which I use as a guide, not a religion), it scored 83/100.
For something this affordable and easy to grab at Target, that feels like a pretty great find!
2. The Hair Clips That Quietly Save the Day
Kitsch Creaseless Clips
If you know me at all, you know I wear my hair in a ballerina bun most of the week. Between coaching, writing, running errands, and Mom life, I’ll usually wash my hair, let it air dry a bit, and twist it into a high bun. It’s easy, it’s practical, and honestly, it’s become my signature look!
To keep my bun from loosening and the little pieces in the back from slipping throughout the day, I discovered these Kitsch creaseless clips, and I absolutely love them. They’re cute, they’re comfortable, they hold everything neatly in place without leaving a crease, and somehow make my hair look just a little more polished with almost no effort.
They’re one of those little purchases I didn’t think much about at the time, but now I use them almost every day. They’ve quietly earned a permanent spot in my routine.
3. The Lip Balm That’s Always Within Reach
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This one isn’t exciting. But guess what?
That’s exactly why I love it!
I almost always have one within arm’s reach. There’s one in my makeup bag, one sitting on my desk, one in my purse, and usually another floating around somewhere in the car.
My favorite flavors are Pink Grapefruit, Coconut & Pear, and the original Beeswax. I tend to rotate between them depending on my mood, but Pink Grapefruit is probably the one I reach for most.
Living in the dry Southern California climate, lip balm is one of those things I use constantly. I don’t have to think about this one, and I never find myself wondering if there’s something better.
I checked it on the Yuka app too, and it scored 98/100, which makes sense considering how simple the ingredient list is.
Sometimes the best products are the ones that quietly do their job every single day.
The Point (Because There Is One)
For a long time, I believed I needed more.
More products.
More steps.
More effort to get it “right.”
Maybe that’s the same voice that used to tell me I needed to be a better Mom, a better woman, a better version of myself before I could finally relax.
These days, I’m a lot less interested in getting it perfect. I’m interested in what actually works. I want a few products I genuinely love, a routine that doesn’t drain me, and a makeup bag that feels familiar instead of becoming one more decision to make every morning.
I’ve learned that simplicity isn’t settling, but trusting yourself enough to stop searching.
Love,
D
Shop This Post
If you’d like to try the products I mentioned:
👁️ L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Brown Balm Mascara
💋 Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
✨ Kitsch Creaseless Hair Clips
🌸 Browse My Beauty Favorites I Actually Buy Again
Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and love.
About Me:
I’m Dr. Danielle Dowling—a therapist-trained life coach, speaker, author and Mom.
My book, Good Girl, Bad Mom: For Every Mom Who Has Ever Felt Imperfect, explores the invisible emotional labor of Motherhood and invites us to honor not just the joy of Motherhood, but the job, too.
After more than 15 years of coaching women through anxiety, perfectionism, relationships, and life’s biggest transitions, I created Pretty Serious as a place where beauty, personal growth, and honest conversations can live together.
Thank you for being here!
