Opinion Page: Product Follow-Ups, Vol. XII

Mar 6, 2023

From time to time, I like to re-review the products that I’ve featured here.  I don’t buy every product I share, but I do buy some of them.  If they don’t live up to my original review or if they’re even better than imagined, I like to follow-up.  Just call me the original De-Influencer.  Here are a few items that did and didn’t live up to my expectations.

This Anne Klein Tie Neck Top is a fantastic basic at a nice price (under-$100).  The material isn’t heavy, but it isn’t see through either.  I didn’t think I would like the smocked cuffs, but they keep the top from riding up under a snug jacket sleeve.  I liked this blouse so much that I jumped at the chance to buy the new latte color.  It looks great with ivory and camel jackets.

Anne Klein has some great pieces right now, if you’re on the hunt for affordable basics.  This tunic top would look great over skinny pants or jeans.

Tarte’s Marajuca Lip Gloss was a TikTok favorite. So when I finally got my hands on the Honeysuckle color (their answer to Clinique Black Honey), I was pleased with it.  The lip plumping action, the glossy color, it’s a nice product — if you like lip gloss.

After a few weeks, I realized that I am just not a gloss girl.  The sticky texture just isn’t for me.  So I’ll stick to the Bobbi Brown Lip Tint or the Black Honey Almost Lipstick.  If I need plumping, the Lawless Tinted Balm is the way to go.

Last holiday season, I put up the Soaq Ultrasonic Cleaner as a great gift idea.  I love mine, but the item is frequently sold out or on backorder, so I went looking for something similar at the request of a reader.  I ordered this Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine from Amazon to try it out, and it works just as well.  The design isn’t quite as pretty to look at, and it’s a bit larger, but it works.  I love using it for makeup brushes — the water is disgusting, but your brushes have never been cleaner.

Need a pant to wear on trips or to a casual office?  My Mom has worn these Endless Pants from Athleta for years.  I finally grabbed a pair to wear on the plane, and I love them.  They’re comfortable and easy to wear, they also look nicer than they are.

Did you buy something featured on the blog and love it?  Or did you buy something and it didn’t live up to the hype?  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}

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  1. Tina says:

    Hey there. Can you provide some suggestions on what to pair with the athleta pants for both tops and footwear? Thank you!

    • Meredith says:

      Same, please! I am intrigued by these pants in green for my relatively casual business environment, but not sure what to wear them with. Thank you!

    • Judy says:

      Yes, please! Do you have any non-stock photos of these on too? I wonder how short they will be on my 5’6″ self.

    • Sarah says:

      I’m not a fashionista. But I’d wear the denim jacket from this morning with the Athleta pants.

  2. betsy says:

    Through you and your blog I discovered the Dr Jart Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment and it changed my whole morning routine including shaving off several minutes. Game changer! I love it and recommend it all the time.

  3. Heather says:

    I bought the dark green Ann Taylor suit you recommended in 2020 (yes, I was the only person who was still wearing suits in 2020) and it has become a staple of my attorney wardrobe: https://caphillstyle.com/capitol/2020/12/14/best-of-2020-the-cool-business-suit.html. Smooth-wearing, travelable, easy to pair, no sweat stains. Thank you!

    I saved up and waited two months for the Banana Republic double breasted blazer you recommended (https://caphillstyle.com/capitol/2021/11/03/full-price-finds-the-blazer-i-cant-stop-wearing.html), but unfortunately, the material looks more like what my father wore in the 1970s. Maybe they changed the material because it became too popular? It was cheap polyester, not the rich fabric it looked like in the photo. This was truly the only disappointment of anything I’ve ever purchased from your blog–keep up the exceptional recommendations!

  4. Anonymous wFh says:

    Dear Belle, I wear these Lauren Ralph Lauren tshirts almost excelusively. I used to be able to buy them in all sorts of gorgeous jewel tones. No longer. What I like about them: plain crew neck, solid color, not 100% cotton (it has elastene, so it has some stretch), well made so they last for years, reasonable price. Can you suggest a substitute? Thanks!

    Long sleeve: https://www.macys.com/shop/product/lauren-ralph-lauren-long-sleeve-stretch-t-shirt?ID=13244006&tdp=cm_app~zMCOM-NAVAPP~xcm_zone~zPDP_ZONE_B~xcm_choiceId~zcidM06MZF-d7871799-e92f-4931-b0a4-c08cc15d5358%40HB1%40Customers%2Balso%2Bloved%24255%2413244006~xcm_pos~zPos1~xcm_srcCatID~z255

    Short sleeve: https://www.ralphlauren.com/women-clothing-t-shirts-tanks/stretch-cotton-tee/634297.html?dwvar634297_colorname=Palm%20Leaf&cgid=women-clothing-t-shirts-tanks&webcat=women%2Fclothing%2FT%20Shirts#webcat=women%257Cclothing%257CT-Shirts&start=1&cgid=women-clothing-t-shirts-tanks

  5. Jamie says:

    Ok, the Dyson hair dryer was tangling my hair! I would have never attributed the tangling to that device if not for your honest review.

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