We asked Real Housewife of New York Jessel Taank — who recently partnered with The Glenlivet 18 — about the drugstore mascara, adhesive bra, and portable charger she can’t live without.
I’ve been using this mascara since I was maybe 15 years old. It was the first one I ever tried because of my mom. She would pick it up at this pharmacy in England called Boots (it’s like a CVS), and her eyelashes were amazing. I’ve tried everything on the market — Chanel, Saint Laurent, every brand you can imagine — and I always come back to this. It is so good. A lick of it gives me those big eyes I want. I think Kim Kardashian said it was one of her favorites, too. We’re onto something, Kim and I.
I’m usually out of the house during the day for lunches, meetings, or work. Then sometimes I get by myself going straight to dinner and I just quickly refresh. This instantly lifts my whole makeup look. I tend to do the French kiss on the cheek, and it doesn’t rub off either. It’s not a thick, sticky lip-gloss texture. It’s a dry matte formula that doesn’t move, which is good for me as well as everyone else. And this color is very complimentary. I think it works with all skin tones. And I can wear it at night. That’s what I love about it the most. It’s one of those colors that’s sexy, muted, and doesn’t overtake your face. It’s just a very good balanced color.
Aavrani is actually a company started by one of my friends. She is one of the smartest women I know, and she used Indian herbs and rituals to create this brand. This specific moisturizer is amazing. My skin feels so hydrated after using it, like I just drank eight glasses of water. It’s made with rosewater and hyaluronic acid, so it’s plumping and smoothing. I love wearing it under makeup, too.
This isn’t the most popular fragrance. It’s one of those “If you know, you know” type of things. It’s a very specific scent that feels unisex. I don’t like wearing fragrances that are too sweet or feminine. This is perfect. It’s a little bit earthier, almost masculine. I’m wearing it right now.
When I’m dressed up, I’m dressed up, but when I’m not, I’m literally a jeans and T-shirt type of girl. Because I’m running around with the kids every day, I’ve got food all over me. I’m not glamorous at all. I love a good oversize fit, and Daydreamer does these really cool ripped vintage tees. So even though I’m sort of very casual, I kind of feel sexy in it. I can tuck it in, leave it out. I wear it with shorts. I wear it to bed. It’s like this very versatile shirt. And it’s so comfortable. The cotton almost feels repurposed. It’s this very vintage feel that reminds me of a shirt from my teens.
When you have kids, gravity takes over and everything falls to the ground. I had the perfect C’s, and they are a mess right now. But I swear to God, these adhesive bras pull you up and give you almost like a breast lift. I wear them under almost everything if I’m not wearing an actual bra. It’s even better than a strapless bra. There have been times where those have fallen to my waist and my boobs are completely commando. It’s not a good look. This stays, it’s seamless, backless, and no one can tell if you’re wearing one. It’s a great alternative to wearing a bra.
I never charge my phone. My husband is always like, “Why don’t you just bloody charge it overnight?” I never do it. I’m a publicist and a mother. I’m running around busy all the time. Because my phone is never charged, I always end up sitting in a Starbucks or somewhere juicing up. This was an amazing find. It’s very thin, almost like a magnet that I put on the back of my case, and it juices my phone up on the go. It fits into everything.
Pavit actually introduced me to eating spicy food. I remember when I first visited his family home there was literally a bowl of raw green chillies in the middle of the table. I was like, “What are you going to do with those?” They eat very hot, spicy food. Since he’s a hot-sauce connoisseur, he introduced me to Yellowbird. They have all different flavors, but the habanero is the one I put on everything: eggs, pizza, french fries. It’s just the best complimentary flavor when you want a spicy little kick.
When your kids are disgusting and have chocolate all over them, this is the best thing. I carry them around with me everywhere. We have packs and packs of them from Costco in our home. It’s almost entirely water, all-natural, organic, and it sanitizes. You know how some wipes leave a sticky residue? These don’t. You just feel clean after using them. It’s almost like giving yourself or your kids a dry bath. I know it sounds very boring, but trust me, there’s nothing better than being clean and having clean children.
I’m a very big incense person because I love cleansing my house. One of my biggest pet peeves is when you walk into someone’s house, and it just doesn’t smell fresh. This is so homey and such a beautiful scent. Plus, I love the packaging. It’s very chic.
This is something Pavit and I do together. I never tend to make plans on a Friday. It’s the one day of the week I want to wind down, especially since the weekends are all about the kids. Around six o’clock, Pavit pours us a bit of Glenlivet 18 on a rock. It’s like our happy hour and way to kick off the weekend. I love the smoky taste of it. It makes me feel really relaxed.
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