YCOHO (you can only have one) (sarah's version)
inspired by hillary kerr's YCOHO issue, (more than) a few of my favorite things
first things first:
if you’re not subscribed to hillary kerr’s incredible shopping-centric newsletter, hi everyone, you’re missing out. hillary, who co-founded who what wear and is the voice behind one of my go-to podcasts, second life, is one of my favorite people to follow online. she is smart, funny, and stylish, and even though she’s only a few years older than me, i kind of want to be her when i grow up. her shopping recs are *chef’s kiss*—the perfect balance between high fashion i can’t afford that but ooh i can window shop and this is a hanes t-shirt style steals. the woman has immaculate taste not just in clothes but also, in beauty and home goods.
when i found out she’d started a newsletter, i subscribed immediately. i get excited every time i see an issue of hi everyone in my inbox, but this one—from two sundays ago—really got me.
it’s a series of hillary’s ‘if i could only choose one, i’d choose THIS ONE’ products across 7 categories, from clothing to skincare to haircare. hillary’s recs are, of course, excellent—but the real party is in the comments section, where people have shared everything from their favorite self tanner to their favorite underwear. and it got me thinking: what would i choose if i could only have one?! my friends and i have a ‘game’ we play from time to time where we have to list our favorite things (top 5 fruits, top 5 veggies, top 5 candy bars…you get the gist), but choosing just one?! that’s a whole other ballgame.
so! here’s YCOHO (sarah’s version). also known as (more than) a few of my favorite things.
i’m linking everything i can here, and would love love love if you’d leave your YCOHO (you can only have one!) products in the comments. because i’m me, i’m adding HOME and CLEANING categories. got a category you’d like to add in the comments? go for it.
CLOTHING
t-shirt: one of these (unisex!) tees is worth a dozen others, trust me. the perfect slouchy fit, so flattery, so soft, washes well…what more could you want?
dress: you knew i was going to say doen, didn’t you? i own this dress in the perfect rosey pink from a few years ago, and would buy it a million times over in other colors/patterns. if you only get one, this ultra-flattering, dress it up or down option is it.
jumpsuit: hot take: my favorite jumpsuit, the one i’ve worn so many times i’ve had to rebuy it, is under $30. of course, it’d be nice to have a fancy jumpsuit and a non-fancy jumpsuit. but i only get one! and so i choose this one, which i wear with crop tops and t-shirts and tight fitted turtlenecks. it’s so baggy that it’s somehow sort of flattering, in an IDGAF kind of way? it’s the best.
sweater: this is a toughie, because i do love a giant cozy turtleneck. but if i must choose one sweater, it’s this cardigan, which i love so much i bought it in another color this past winter. it’s perfectly slouchy, oh so soft, and everlane makes it every season (then puts it on sale at the end!).
bra: how can a non-wire bra be so supportive? how can a non-push up bra be so sexy? negative underwear bras are pure magic, and are, at this point, the only bra i wear. this one, which comes in a million colors, is my favorite.
ps: this link will give you $20 off your first purchase!
underwear: i need reccos here! for years, i have been a diehard ARQ girlie. but following a personal tragedy, the founder of ARQ decided to shutter the business this year. i’ve got enough of these perfect high-waisted cotton undies to last a year or so, but i will ultimately need another resource. i miss you already, ARQ!
every day sneaker: superga for the win. chic, comfy, and still not overly saturated (think: sambas trendy) in the US.
sandal: birkenstock big buckle arizonas, no contest.
workout legging: prior to a few months ago, lululemon would’ve been a shoo-in here. but they’ve changed their fabrics, and prices remain sky high. so i’m going with these, from quince, which feel like (old, better) lulu at half the price.
ps: shopping via the above link should give you a 10% discount!
workout top: this is easy. i pretty much exclusively wear these crops, which i own in a veritable rainbow of colors.
bathrobe: i will sing the praises of this parachute home bathrobe ‘til the day i die. terrycloth bathrobes are just too damn hot. who wants to sweat after a shower?! this one, which is made from gauze-y cotton, is like wearing a cloud. i suppose that’s why they call it the cloud bathrobe. i’ve gifted it to multiple people over the years, and everyone has loved it as much as i do.
everyday tote: this jcrew tote is under $200, fits a (small) laptop + water bottle + kindle + wallet (aka, all the everyday essentials), and looks so much more luxe than its price. it feels at once trendy and classic. i have the version from a few years ago, which is half suede, half leather, but love this all leather one, too.
SKINCARE/BODY
cleanser: forever a kiehl’s girl. simple is best!
toner: my BFF owns a natural skincare store in our hometown, and used to work for dr. hauschka. i do whatever she tells me to do, and for years, she’s told me to use this toner.
eye cream: for me, there is only one. i’ve tried a zillion, and i always come back to the GOAT.
moisturizer: fancy, this is not. but it’s been my go to for years now. i buy it at whole foods! weleda for the WIN.
mask: this is a toughie for me, because i LOVE a face mask. but, i can only have one. and that one is this, which doubles as a moisturizer on really dry days, and never fails to make me look alive after a long flight.
tool/gadget: this ice roller makes me look and feel alive in the mornings. and, even better, it’s under $20!
sunscreen: there is only glowscreen. and because this one’s only for face, for body, there’s this, which smells like nostalgia in the best way.
body wash: i swear by public goods’ body wash, which you can buy once and then purchase large refill bags (that last months!) for. it smells like fresh and citrus-y, thanks to orange, mandarin, grapefruit and vetiver essential oils, and it won’t dry out your skin.
body lotion: lightly scented with eucalyptus and mint, along with a hint of citrus, this stuff (also from PG!) is the best. and it’s $8, with eco-friendly refill bags running you just $17.
ps: you can use my code: THEGRANDAPTPGA to get 10% off your first PG order. or, if that doesn’t work, order via this link.
body oil: i discovered this body oil (the kiso yuzu scent) in paris, and was thrilled to learn they ship to the US! i mix 3-4 drops into my lotion each morning.
MAKEUP/NAILS
concealer: i don’t wear foundation, but you could 100% use this merit complexion stick as a foundation if you wanted to. i put it under my eyes, around my nose, and sometimes, on my chin—in the ochre shade—and find that it a) stays all day and b) looks 100% natural.
highlighter: telling you now, i’m a merit fangirl. fun fact: merit was started by katherine power, who co-founded who what wear with hillary kerr (who inspired this newsletter!). beyond curling my lashes, this is probably the one thing i wear every single day (in the cava shade). it’s easy to apply, adds just a bit of glow, and can easily fit in just about any purse.
mascara: for a long time, i was a glossier lash slick girlie, but then merit’s clean lash came along. it lengthens your lashes with nary a clump, doesn’t flake, and won an allure best of beauty award. so, if you don’t believe me, believe them.
beauty tool: you will pry my eyelash curler from my dead body. if i am stranded on an island and i get ONE thing, beauty-wise, it’s this.
color (lip and cheek): i am never without this all-in-one color stick, which i wear on both my lips and my cheeks all year long. i get the french melon color, which gives that ‘i just ate a popsicle’/tomato girl summer glow.
nail polish: for my fingers, i love this bright, poppy red. it’s the (gel) color i get nearly year round. as for my toes, i’ve never gotten more compliments on a nail color than this one.
HAIR
shampoo: i shared this recently on IG, but i’m a big fan of prose’s custom shampoo and conditioner. mine is made for curls + NYC humidity, and i can tell when i go a few days of using something else. it’s not cheap, but i think it’s worth it.
conditioner: ditto here, prose for the win.
mask/treatment: olaplex no. 3 hair repair protector. i don’t quite know how this stuff works, but it works.
brush: the wet brush, forever and ever. $10, available just about anywhere, and the best detangler in the game.
styling product: i could not live without the verb ghost oil. i’ve used it for years, and it’s never let me down. it’s light, it smells incredible, it de-frizzes both wet and dry hair. it’s product perfection.
tool: who needs a fancy dyson when you can have this for $35?
HOME
sheets: i wish these weren’t so pricey, but they are the best i’ve tried, by a landslide. as soft as they come.
peanut gallery, if you’ve got great soft inexpensive sheet recs, add them in the comments!
duvet: thrilled to say this is a less pricey pick. i’ve tried a handful of much fancier brands, and i think this one washes better, holds up longer (less pilling!), and is just as soft.
towels: i’ve yet to find a fluffy white bathroom towel i truly love. if you’ve got a rec, leave it in the comments! i’ve tried brooklinen (found that they stained easily, even wit bleach). i’ve tried target (fell apart after a few washes). i can’t bring myself to splurge on the parachute ones, though i imagine they’d be excellent.
candle: this is my version of sophie’s choice, because nothing makes me happier than a scented candle. but choose i must, and it’s this one, from leif, in the wild air scent.
hand soap: this one from mrs. meyer’s can be found in nearly every restaurant bathroom in new york, and for good reason: it’s just the best. and at $5 or under, it’s a steal, too. for spring summer, i like the peony scent; for fall/winter, i like acorn spice. if none of those are available, mum is my favorite.
CLEANING
dish soap: mrs. meyer’s for the win here, too. ditto the scents above.
laundry detergent: i like a heavily scented detergent, and i want that scent to feel luxe. this one, from brooklinen, fits the bill. it lasts a good few months!
fabric softener: forever a seventh generation stan here.
dryer sheets: look, i know i’m not supposed to use dryer sheets, i do. but i use a communal dryer that often stinks of mothballs before my stuff goes in, and so i toss in 2 of these guys to keep my clothes smelling fresh. nothing works as well as they do!
whitener: nothing works as well as the original oxi-clean.
glass cleaner: this $3.50 spray cleaner works better than anything i’ve ever tried.
all-purpose cleaner: this is where i splurge. all-purpose = counters, tub, tiles, other surfaces…so i want it to smell good. saint olio cleaners double as aromatherapy, and one bottom lasts at least a few months. i buy the cleaner concentrates; one tiny concentrate = 2 big 16oz bottles of cleaner!
ok, your turn. leave your YCOHO products in the comments below!
ICYMI, here are some recent issues of the grand weekly you might enjoy!
and that, friends, is where i leave you. if you like this post, it would mean the world to me if you’d hit the little heart icon, as well as consider sharing it with your network—so that the grand weekly can be seen by more people.
I have tried a good amount of (admittedly all lower end) sheets and I have to say the JC Penney sheets are insanely smooth (random, I know!). https://www.jcpenney.com/p/wrinkle-guard-400tc-cotton-sheet-set/ppr5007993758?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&pTmplType=regular&cid=affiliate|Skimlinks|13418528|na&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=Skimlinks&utm_campaign=13418528&utm_content=na&cjevent=fa5a64d7e6bd11ee806100440a82b824 and $50 today! They always go on sale. Wish they had more prints and colors but I go with white anyway.
And my favorite towels are Frontgate. I only have one but it is so soft and fluffy.
Dr. Rogers lip balm (not scented, not pigmented, just GREAT- Amazon carries it)
Lands’ End linen sheets… a splurge but so good
Harry’s body wash in Fig (Target)
Dirty Labs liquid laundry detergent in the original scent - I wish they made this as a perfume because I would buy it!
Merit blush - I love the persimmon, rouge, and beverly hills colors