Weekly Pickups: Protein crackers, eco-friendly toothbrush, and more...
Ft. Doak Sergent (VP Brand Partnerships at IPSY)
Welcome back to Weekly Pickups!
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And now, onto our weekly pickups… →
Nate’s Pickups
Desert Dust - Original Spice Blend
I'm always on a mission to find that perfect spice blend. And hot damn! this 👏 is 👏 it👏. Desert Dust has officially dethroned every other spice blend in my pantry.
Quick Facts: A smoky, earthy spice blend that gets its sweetness from organic Coachella Valley date sugar instead of brown sugar. Created to bring "California Desert magic" to your kitchen.
Reasons to love:
Dates > Brown Sugar, always. The #1 ingredient is organic ground dates, which gives this blend a depth and complexity you just can't get from regular sweeteners. It's low-glycemic and nutrient-rich, but more importantly, it adds this subtle caramelized sweetness that perfectly balances the heat and smokiness. And as someone who uses dates to sweeten my smoothies and always has date syrup in my pantry, finding them in a spice blend feels like the natural next step. It's that same rich, complex sweetness I love, but in savory applications.
Actually all-purpose. I've used it on morning avocado toast, grilled chicken, roasted veggies, even as a popcorn topping (game changer). It goes really hard in a tomato and cucumber salad.
Where to buy: Online and in Select retailers
Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
Okay, this isn't technically a new pickup, but my refill heads just arrived and it reminded me that I've been gatekeeping this incredible toothbrush for way too long. Two years in, and I'm still obsessed.
Quick Facts: An eco-conscious electric toothbrush with recyclable plant-based heads and bristles, wrapped in a sleek aluminum body. Delivers 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute, 40+ day battery life, and actually looks good on your bathroom counter.
Reasons to love:
Sustainable AND actually works. This is what I call accessible sustainability. You don't sacrifice performance for the planet. The sonic motor removes 5x more plaque than a manual brush (my dentist actually commented on the improvement), while the plant-based materials mean less plastic waste and fewer microplastics in your system. The heads are made from corn starch, bristles from castor oil, and the aluminum body is built to last forever. Plus, Suri recycles the heads for free in the US!
Thoughtfully designed from materials to end-of-life. Every component can be recovered, recycled, or reused. After 2+ years of daily use, mine still looks and works like new. The aluminum body feels premium (not plasticky), and knowing that even the brush heads will be properly recycled takes away that guilt of tossing plastic heads every few months.
Where to buy: Online
Jenna’s Pickups
A.N. Other - Ultimate Patchouli WF/2020
I first discovered this perfume at a little boutique in upstate New York two years ago, where I spritzed the tester on my neck, thoroughly enjoyed it for a moment, and then went on with my day. The next day, I found myself constantly catching a whiff of the most delightful, enticing scent and wondering, “who is that?!” before realizing it was ME—the scent had stuck to the strap of my crossbody, and I was hooked. Needless to say, I went back and scooped it.
I’ve been rationing it ever since, and recently pulled it out only to be reminded that it is easily one of my favorite scents of all time—and more than deserves its time off the bench.
Quick facts: A modern interpretation of a secret 19th-century patchouli formula, featuring notes of bergamot, French rose, and patchouli cœur (whatever that means…). I tend to be drawn to an ambrette/musk vibe (think: Glossier You), and this perfume is the perfect combo of woody, feminine, and fresh.
Reasons to love:
No-nonsense approach. A.N. Other is refreshingly straightforward—they put their money where their mouth is, investing in exceptional ingredients and craftsmanship instead of flashy marketing gimmicks. Their whole “shtick” is the craft of perfume, always putting the perfumers and their creation front and center, keeping the branding and bottle incredibly simple and sleek (which looks great on a counter, too).
Only the good stuff. This brand is committed to sustainability—100% plastic-free packaging made from plant-based materials, and all fragrances are free from parabens, phthalates, and animal products. And about their ingredients… A.N. Other’s description of a single ingredient tells you everything you need to know about their commitment to quality:
“Picture a dark and chilly early morning in Grasse, as the French farmers harvest a special rose before sunrise. They handpick the tender petals while the fresh morning dew still clings to them, following a tradition that has run in their families for generations. And just as ancient is the artisanal process they use to manually extract the oil from the petals. It takes 1 ton of these rose petals – enough to fill a barn – to make only 1kg of the rose you have in Ultimate Patchouli.”
Where to buy: Online. If you’re interested in a few, I’d rec starting with samples (the cost gets deducted from a full-size purchase)!
Milton's Protein Crackers - Zesty Ranch
For every high-brow rec, I must balance with a low-brow one. My new fixation? Milton's newest protein crackers.
Quick facts: High-protein, gluten-free crackers that pack 10g of plant-based protein into each serving (33 crackers, 130 calories).
Reasons to love:
Crackers as a Meal (CaaM). Do we really need high-protein crackers? Answer (political): Technically, no, we do not. Answer (emotional): Yes, and these are a game-changer for me. I always say I wish crackers and dip could count as a meal, and this product takes them one step closer. Crackers are literally one of my favorite foods (embarrassing yes, but real) because I'm a true grazer at heart who loves the textural contrast of something super crunchy with something creamy. That 10g of plant-based protein per serving makes these feel more like a substantial meal component than mindless snacking. Massive W.
Bold flavor. The Zesty Ranch flavor tastes like Cool Ranch Doritos, but all grown up—zingy, herby, and sophisticated enough that you won't feel like you're eating childhood snacks for dinner (even though you totally are).
Where to buy: Available online for now, joining the rest of the lineup at national retailers soon!
Bonus pickup: Ithaca x Graza Olive Oil & Sea Salt Hummus
I've been pairing these with the Ithaca x Graza Olive Oil & Sea Salt Hummus! Ithaca makes my favorite hummus ever (so creamy, high-quality, the most innovative flavors). But in all honesty, I thought the Graza collab would be more of a branding gimmick than an exciting product—why olive oil-flavored hummus when olive oil is already in hummus? Turns out, I was very, very wrong.
This collab is now one of my favorite Ithaca flavors (just after Lemon Garlic and Lemon Beet). It packs in an extra olivey punch—buttery, nutty, tangy, and rich in a way you simply need to taste to understand—and pairs perfectly with nearly any dipper, but especially these Milton’s!
✨ Special Guest ✨ Doak Sergent
We're thrilled to have Doak Sergent, VP of Brand Partnerships at IPSY. Before joining Ipsy six years ago, he spent 13 years at Condé Nast working in brand partnerships across iconic publications like Vogue, W, and Lucky. Needless to say, he knows a lot about a lot of brands—so we certainly trust his judgment.
Let’s dive into his weekly pickup! →
What was your favorite pickup this week? Moss by Commodity Fragrances
What about this product intrigued you? Commodity's fragrances all have these really simple, almost pedestrian names...Juice, Milk, Velvet...but the payoff is complex and elevated without being overwrought. I first got introduced through their scent Paper, which is crisp and neat, like paper...I've also had the opportunity to get to know Commodity's founder (or re-founder as he calls himself, since he bought the brand and re-fashioned it), Viken Arslanian. He has a great story and is a visionary in the fragrance space.
Where did you purchase it, and why that channel? I bought it at their beautiful NYC flagship store on Crosby street...which is saying a lot because given my job, I don't often need to actually buy beauty products. Their website is also beautifully designed and does a great job of explaining their philosophy and fragrances.
Why do you love it? I'm not sure that I'm qualified to be describing a scent (editor’s note: same, see above 🙃), but to me Moss smells earthy, woodsy and verdant (not a scent?) but is also fresh and not heavy. Commodity's fragrances all come in three levels of intensity, so not only can you choose the best scent for you, but you can choose how it expresses itself.
Anything else you'd like to share? I like to buy multiples of the 10ml spray vials so that I can keep them handy in my gym bag, dopp kit, etc. They also sell great discovery kits so that you can explore without a big commitment.
Stay tuned for a Checkout Chat featuring Doak, coming soon.
Thank you again to our friends at Artet for supporting Weekly Pickups. Get 15% OFF an Artet Starter Pack + free shipping with code XPRESS15