Not Mahjong related, just a few things I love enough to have actually spent my own money on. Consider this a tiny peek into my personal “add to cart” history.

FROM THE NECK UP

I love research and try to be as efficient as humanly possible with my skin and hair routine. These make the cut.

My hair has been highlighted, it’s straightened, worn in a scrub cap almost every day, and generally asked to tolerate a lot from me. This is the only treatment that helps my naturally coarse, curly (and now grey) hair grow past my shoulders. My hair is noticeably softer and healthier when I use it consistently.
I use this oil when my ends are looking dry (which is always in Colorado) or my hair needs a little extra polish. It gives me softness and shine without making my hair feel heavy or coated.
I only wash my hair every 10–12 days, so dry shampoo is less of a beauty product and more of a basic life necessity. I have tried approximately all of them, and this is my very favorite.
This is hands down my favorite vitamin C serum I have ever used. It brightens my skin, doesn’t irritate me, sits well under makeup, and is one of those products I notice my skin looks dull when I don’t use consistently.
This is from Martha Stewart and I would like to have aged like her when I’m in my mid-80’s. It was the only thing that helped my décolletage when I accidentally got sunburned this summer, which immediately earned it permanent bathroom real estate. I also love layering it over my retinoid because my skin feels much calmer and doesn’t get dry when I consistently use this.
I’ve been using these under eye patches for nearly seven years, which is probably the strongest endorsement I can give anything. They live in the mini-fridge in my bathroom, and is one of my favorite tricks when my eyes look like they know how little sleep I got.
I am obsessed with the CP cream bronzer stick. It blends ridiculously easily, looks natural and is one of those inexpensive products that makes me wonder why I have ever paid dramatically more for a bronzer.
Their lip gloss is another easy yes for me. Pretty, inexpensive, easy to throw in every handbag I own and not devastating when I inevitably lose one.
One of the two deodorants that doesn’t cause a rash under my armpits, which is why I keep using it. As for whether it handles the stench situation? I have anosmia, so you are going to have to ask someone more qualified.
The other deodorant my very temperamental armpits actually tolerate, and I only buy their little multipack because you can try several scents without committing to a giant stick...but also light for my Dopp kit when I travel. Again, I cannot personally confirm that any of them smell delightful or that I smell delightful while wearing them, but my armpits are happy.
Not sticky. Not gooey. Doesn’t dry out my lips, and somehow every color I’ve tried is good. Basically, lip oil without any of the reasons I usually hate lip oil.
This is the only mascara I’ve found that doesn’t flake under my eyes, smear, or irritate my ridiculously sensitive eyes. I have blonde lashes, and when I’m in the OR wearing a mask, my eyes are all you see, so mascara is doing the heavy lifting. Bonus: it comes in both black and brown.
If I’m going to be in the OR all day wearing a mask and then go directly to Mahjong, I need my makeup to stay where I put it. I’ve tried others but always come back to this (I’m done straying). This primer is what keeps everything from migrating to my mask by lunchtime.
I’m naturally a little flushed (thanks rosacea!), so I want just enough coverage to even things out without looking like I’m wearing a full face of makeup. Paired with the primer, this stays put surprisingly well even through an all-day OR & Mahj situation.
When you’ve slept 2–4 hours and would prefer strangers not ask if you’re sick, this is the answer. I’d prefer to not live without it because apparently “well rested” is sometimes something I sometimes have to apply manually.

FROM THE NECK DOWN

After I lost my home and every material thing I owned to a fire, I realized that I don’t need a ton of clothes or jewelry, so what I buy is useful, meaningful, and can also survive my actual life. These are the pieces that earned a spot in my very edited closet.

Standing in an OR all day absolutely destroys my neck and shoulders, and this is the only thing I’ve worn that has made a meaningful difference in my pain level. I notice the support on long surgical days, which is why this has become much more than just another sports bra in my drawer. I hate how expensive it is, but it’s less than how much I was paying for occupational therapy.
I also love their socks because they give me really great foot and arch support without having to wear a full compression sock. They are especially good for long days when I’m standing more than any reasonable person should.
These are my answer anytime a strapless dress, swimsuit, or weird neckline makes a normal bra impossible. They stay put using your body heat and aren’t sticky. I wear them under every swimsuit, so no one is getting a free show.
BA’s is one of my favorite places for a thoughtful gift that actually means something. I have the Begin Again necklace myself and love both the piece and the message behind it.
I love both of these jewelry companies because they wear beautifully and do not tarnish, even with regular use or showering in them (Taylor Swift also owns multiple pieces from each brand). I wear these to the hospital, because if I lose something while changing in and out of hospital scrubs, I’m not completely devastated. They’re also what I travel with when I don’t want to bring my heirloom jewelry and keep checking whether my grandmother’s ring is still attached to my hand.

HOUSE & TRAVEL

This is proof that adulthood sneaks up on you. One day you’re fun, and the next day you’re enthusiastically explaining your doormats and toiletry containers to another adult.

Technically I think this is more of an ashtray than a candle dish, which somehow makes me love it more (I’ve never smoked in my life, but love the throwback of an ashtray of a cocktail table). I use mine decoratively because it is one of those little objects that makes a table look much more finished with essentially zero effort.
This year I became hyper fixated on doormats and rugs that look beautiful and wear well. I did insane research because I love and only have white rugs mats (diabolical with a big black dog). This one is outside my front door, one inside my front door and a runner inside my back door. They look polished, actually hold up to real life and somehow turned me into someone with very strong opinions about doormats.
I’ve been keeping cadence since basically the year they launched, around 2021, and I have never had one leak. I travel constantly for business, so mine stay packed and ready to go, which means one less stupid thing to deal with every time I open a suitcase.
I have become annoyingly loyal to taking my own silk pillowcase everywhere I go. They feel luxurious, are gentler on my hair and skin, and once you get used to sleeping on silk, you can’t go back. This became my guilty pleasure of 2026 after my best friend convinced me to try it.
A mattress is admittedly the least sexy recommendation on the internet, but sleep is one area where I have zero interest in suffering unnecessarily. I bought this mattress for my bedroom after testing a full size version in my guest room. If I am spending a third quarter of my life somewhere, I would like that somewhere to be extremely comfortable.

YES, I HAVE A DOG

People are always surprised to learn I have a dog (and we’ve been together 12 years). My dog is an extremely demanding product tester who contributes absolutely nothing financially to our household, which is why I have two full time jobs. She does, however, have very strong opinions.

Stoney can rip the heart out of a normal stuffed toy in approximately 3 minutes, so I have very little patience for flimsy dog toys. These tougher toys have been phenomenal for her and are stimulating for a very active dog. They actually survive long enough to become favorites. If your dog approaches stuffed animals less like toys and more like prey, these are worth a look. She still gives them her absolute best attempt at destruction, but they put up a much more respectable fight.
Much like me, my dog needs mental stimulation and physical exercise everyday. A friend who is a “dog medium” said this would help her not be bored while I was at work. This keeps her brain happy…basically her version of Mahjong.