Stuff We Bought Recently (Thanks to Marketing)
The constant stream of ads and marketing we deal with on a daily basis can be incredibly annoying…until it works. How can I be mad when I’m presented with something I TOTALLY WANT? We thought it would be interesting to share our most recent purchases that were influenced by marketing — whether that’s paid advertising or simply content shared on social media. Perhaps you’ll find something here that you’ve gotta have, and this circle of life can continue on forever.
(Wanna ‘Tok about it? We gotchu.)
Travel Jewelry Case
Ana Luisa, by way of Instagram
Faith
Technically I did not buy this case from Ana Luisa (exact version now sold out) — it was a gift. My extended family does a name draw for Christmas presents and we are very chill about it. We straight up just send each other what we want, which may sound lame but still ends up being fun. I had no idea what to ask for until I got an Instagram story ad for this jewelry case. I wasn’t familiar with the brand but I follow a few jewelry companies so I guess that’s how it ended up in my story feed. I don’t usually make such a swift decision, but I INSTANTLY clicked the ad, read more about the product, and then sent it to my cousin for my Christmas gift.
It was just perfectly timed marketing — something beautiful and practical put under my nose during the holidays. It’s the kind of thing that I never think to buy for myself, but 100% need — before this I was traveling with my jewelry in ziplock bags. I took my first trip with it last week and I have no regrets. It does exactly what it’s meant to do AND it’s pretty. Highly recommend. (Funnily enough, my cousin said she got ads for this product NONSTOP… AFTER she had already purchased it. Remarketing fail.
Personalized Shampoo
Prose, by way of YouTube
Personalized Leave-In Conditioner
Prose, by way of YouTube
Giovanna
After seeing these ads pop up every time I opened YouTube for background music while working, I finally caved and got the most ~design-forward~ shampoo and conditioner regimen that’s out there, Prose! I was skeptical at first, mostly because I wasn’t sure how much of a difference I’d actually see and because I had never used leave-in conditioner before (they have standard conditioner as well, but the leave-in was recommended – see below).
Turns out, I researched all of the claims they make about drugstore shampoos and how bad they can be for your hair, and I saw way too much overlap between those points and my own hair qualms! So I gave in and filled out their ~custom quiz~ to figure out just what this mane o’ mine really needed. Turns out, their beautifully scented shampoo actually cleans so well, their leave-in conditioner that my quiz results suggested is a complete GAME CHANGER and makes my hair so shiny, and I’m obsessed/probably never going back to any other hair care, ever. Another one bites the dust.
NYT Bestselling Book
Anthony Doerr, by way of #booktok
Jess
At the beginning of this year, I got real honest with myself and finally purged a ton of books that I knew I’d never get around to reading/re-reading. And then I immediately was like, I need a new book, what am I going to do, what am I going to read now?! I saw quite a few people talking about All the Light We Cannot See on #booktok, and so I bought it. I didn’t do any research about it, didn’t ask opinions of book lovers I know — nope, none of that. I clicked a button and added to cart because some strangers said to check it out.
Epilogue: I’m happy to report that it’s not sitting unopened, unread, collecting dust somewhere; I finished it within a couple of weeks. GO ME.
Poly Lobby Diffuser Oil
Park Scents, by way of Instagram
Forever Eye Masks
Dieux Skin, by way of an Instagram influencer
Diana
Hands down my all time favorite resort on Disney property is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. While lots of us lament the old lobby before the renovations (glad I caught a glimpse of it in 2014) I still love to order a french press of 100% Kona and sit as long as I can when staying onsite because what they pump into the lobby of this resort is one of my all time favorite scents. As I didn’t feel safe traveling early in the pandemic I haven’t visited in over two years. Then, I saw an ad on my Instagram feed for this particular theme park scent, Poly Lobby. Having tried many failed offers and suggestions over the years to recreate this sensory experience at home this particular product finally hit the mark. I’m about to crack open my third bottle of oil for my diffuser which keeps my bedroom office an olfactory delight!
I love a good skin or eye mask! So much so that my dear little family has both procured me a tiny beauty fridge and a monthly subscription to FaceTory, maybe more on that next time… However, one tough part about those sweet sweet 15 to 20 minutes of skincare bliss is the waste. The packaging and the single use of it all can be tough to write off. I found Charlotte Palermino via Katie Jane Hughes (eyeliner for hooded eyes! iykyk) just as the second wave of her Dieux Skin Forever Eye Masks was about to ship. I joined the wait list immediately. I’ve not been disappointed by these. You use your own favorite eye treatment with them and can even chill them if you like. Wash, store, and repeat!
Orba Synthesizer
Artiphon, by way of Facebook Ads
Josh
I started getting ads for the Orba Synthesizer from Artiphon sometime around Halloween, and it instantly interested me. It is truly a pocket-sized instrument which you can connect to via bluetooth and manage with an app on your phone, and you can load (or create) tons of voice sets from the app, meaning themed drum, bass, harmony, and melody voices, all accessible with a simple button push from the instrument itself.
It is also a looper, which means you can create full tracks right on the Orba itself, using the same buttons to play tones, and sequence and arrange loops. The buttons are touch-sensitive and can be played dynamically, it has a gyroscope so you can add pedal effects by tilting it, and you can plug it into a board or a recording rig. And it cost 99 bucks.
I asked for it for Christmas, so I didn’t technically buy it, but it is cool and I love it and I am learning to really use it as a looper and I definitely learned about it entirely by way of Facebook ads.
Lagoona Body Wash
Saltair, by way of an Instagram influencer
Theo Bookcase
Nathan James, by way of TikTok
Andi
An influencer I follow posted an Instagram Story asking her followers if anyone had tried Saltair Body Wash. I was curious enough to click over to the brand’s ‘gram feed… and again to their website… and here I am with two of them in my house. I’ve been not-in-love with my usual drugstore body washes for a while and decided to give it a go! Their sustainability practices, cute packaging, and scent descriptions sealed the deal. Of the two scents I chose, one is okay (a lil perfumy for me) and the other is phenomenal (soooo good, just my speed). But all-in-all, this brand has a cute IG and a beautiful website, so they get an A+.
The TikTok algorithm has me in a chokehold, apparently. I saw this damn ad at the exact right time when I needed a new bookcase, and now it’s all set up and holding my stuff like a champ. The product page does that thing I love where customers can upload photos of the furniture in their home. It was easy to assemble (the instructions were well-written!) and it looks super snazzy.
