Weekly Pickups: Unisex fragrance + viral lip balm

+ Some ramblings on our "why"

We have the most fun job of all time—we literally get to write and yap about consumer products every day (pinch me?). But, like any late-20-something with a pulse, we often get ourselves in a tizzy contemplating the bigger why of it all.

This week, Nate and I sat down (IRL!) to really nail down our “why,” and we kept coming back to something I wrote in a LinkedIn post a few weeks ago:

At the end of the day, we’re really just talking about... stuff. We could choose to dismiss the value of stuff in the name of downplaying capitalism (fair). But we could also choose to accept that we all consume things—and if we don’t find value in them, we’re simply missing out on an opportunity for an added dose of meaning in our lives.

We hope Express Checkout and The Curious Consumer shed light on the incredible people behind the stuff we buy and the humanity underlying every consumer trend.

We hope it changes the way you see obtaining everyday goods—from a monotonous, obligatory chore into an exciting, thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be a consumer, what it means to be human. - Jenna

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If you haven’t yet checked out The Curious Consumer (our podcast), whatcha waiting for?! We’re dropping new episodes weekly, and will be debuting a new, very special interview format soon. 👀 Subscribe on your podcast ~platform of choice~ so you don’t miss it!

Now, let’s get into what we’ve been loving this week →​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Nate’s Pickup:

Ranger Station - SANTALUM PERFUME

Finding your signature scent is such a good feeling, ya know? I’ve talked about Ranger Station on here before (I love their candles), but not their unisex perfumes! Ever since falling in love with their candles, I was pumped to try their fragrances—many of the same scents—and they didn’t disappoint. I think Santalum has already become my new signature.

• Quick Facts: Unisex fragrance from my fave candle brand Ranger Station, (a previous Weekly Pickups favorite). Clean formula all around—paraben-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and made with phthalate-free fragrance oils.

• Reasons to love:

  • Long-lasting scent. This stuff sticks around. Through trekking through the subways, happy hours, dinners….still there.

  • Match your candle. Most of their candles have matching perfume scents, so you can literally smell like your apartment. Build a whole world of scent for yourself. There’s honestly something satisfying about that fragrance continuity. Now I just want them to make some body wash and shampoos in MY scent.

  • Well-crafted across the board. Much like their candles, these perfumes are thoughtfully balanced. When I stopped into their West Village storefront, I didn’t find many scents I couldn’t see myself wearing. Even the ones that weren’t quite me, I still enjoyed the smell of them! That’s definitely not always the case with fragrances.

Where to buy: Online or in retail

Jenna’s Pickup:

STARFACE Star Balm Lip Balm - Watermelon Squeeze

STARFACE is a brand primarily known for its iconic star-shaped pimple patches. I could write a whole essay about how this brand has transformed acne—what was once the ultimate marker of shame—into something of a self-deprecating, campy accessory. Though my 13-year-old self didn’t get the chance to benefit from this cultural conversion, I’m still thrilled to be part of the STARFACE cult following via its incredible new lip balm.

• Quick Facts: A delightful scented lip balm that actually conditions your lips for the long haul.

• Reasons to love:

  • The best scents/flavors. I know you’re not supposed to eat your lip balm, but if you accidentally sneak a lick, (or, more sanely, catch a whiff), these are delicious. I started with the watermelon one—which really does nail the “juicy” factor—and have since purchased the Cheeky Churro and Very Vanilla, which are both equally wonderful.

  • “A hug for your lips.” - the product copy. Corniness aside, I honestly agree. This is a velvety, cushiony balm that delivers a lovely, hydrating shine and doesn’t need to be reapplied every ten minutes to maintain hydration. Made with cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil, it’s both soothing in the moment and effective for hours.

  • It’s so stinkin’ cute. Like everything STARFACE does, this balm passes the accessory-worthy test. It’s so fun to whip out this petite, chunky balm—it’s the perfect size, the colors are vibrant, and the branding reminds me of the bubble letter doodles I used to draw in math class (no wonder I’m now writing about lip balm for a living…).

Where to buy: I got mine IRL at Ulta, but you can find them online or in stores nationwide, including CVS and Target!

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In this week’s episode of The Curious Consumer, we chat about Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Quince entering food + bev, and Aldi’s US takeover!!! Check it out here:

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Thanks for reading! Anything you think we should try for an upcoming edition of Express Checkout? Email us at hello@expresscheckout.co

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