What Phaedra Parks Can’t Live Without

I love Costco because being a public figure, you have to buy a lot of stuff, and I am a bulk buyer. Maybe in another life I was in a crazy country that didn’t have a lot of stuff, but everything I buy, I buy in bulk. So I never run out of tissue. I never run out of paper towels. I never run out of Windex. I never run out of Clorox because when I buy it, I buy ten of them at a time. Never run out of water. Costco is the high end of any wholesale place. You’ve got diamonds there, you got everything you can imagine at Costco, and they have the best beauty brands, too. You get your collagen there, your protein — but it’s not the lower quality. It’s the best of the best. And even great food. And they have the best gas at the best prices. You got to invest your money and be a good steward of all your money. If I’m in Atlanta, that’s my Sunday fun day. My kids like to go because they have the best no-filler hot dogs, all beef, for $1.50. You get a hot dog and you get a medium-size drink. And you can get a piece of pizza for $2, and it’s delicious. And oh my gosh, the customer service is so good. And they are there for DEI. They stood up to the nonsense and said, “We will not do that.”

People really don’t ever think that Black people need sunscreen, but I am prone to sunburn, so I’ve always been very sensitive to the sun. To look this good at this age, you have to use a lot of moisturizing sunscreen. I love a spray, because for me, a spray is so easy to apply. You can just spray it on and you don’t have to do so much rubbing because some sunscreens make you look gray, like you’ve been embalmed. You need a good sunscreen that is very translucent and gives you a nice glow, so you look like you’re glistening and you’re not actually dying of jaundice.

Zhivago is my go-to brand for jumpsuits that just fit the body so good. It’s a very feminine cut. They got cute stuff, but it goes from night to day very easily. They’re known for a jumper, and I love a cute romper, so you don’t have to really think about if it matches because it’s just one piece. And they have good zippers, too; they always put heavy-duty zippers in all their dresses and jumpers, so they’re not getting caught on the seam.

I actually just wore one of their dresses the other day. It’s a netted dress with a cute belt that cinches in the waist, but it was all see-through except for a little sheath up under it. It’s actually two dresses in one, because you can wear it as a bathing-suit cover. I like things that you can repurpose. It also came with a little pink faux fur, but I took that off, and I’m going to wear that with something else. So I’ve got three outfits in one. It’s a good deal.

[Editor’s note: Zhivago lists all prices in Australian dollars, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]

I met Brian when he was just starting The Points Guy, and I have watched him do unbelievable things with just the management of points, and knowing when to apply for a credit card so that you maximize not only your cash back, your rewards, your savings. I love to travel. I love a deal. I love to save money, and I like to go to exotic places and stay at the finest resorts. And when I tell you this book is the Bible for the person that has a wanderlust spirit: You got a pauper’s budget, but you want to live a Champagne lifestyle? This is the book for you if you want to make the best travel decisions because it has everything you need to know in it. He makes it plain. It’s easy to follow, but he shows you how he did it. And I think people started making new rules because of Brian’s educating people on how you make points and credit cards work for you in the long run.

I love Glow Skin. They have a wonderful night serum that is just magnificent. It’s got a little retinol in it, but when I tell you you can put it on at night and the next day you wake up and you are glowing. That’s my magic trick when I’m traveling and I know my skin’s looking a little dull, and I’ve slept in my makeup a couple of nights and I need to just give that pow. I wash my face, I put that serum on, and the next day I’m back in my 20s. And I haven’t been in my 20s in decades. It’s like a magic trick. I promise you.

Cartier has a beautiful flat note card that’s got their signature panther on it, and it’s just beautiful. I like to spray a little perfume on it because then they’ll remember you, and it’s such a nice, classy touch because I love to write. I’ve got beautiful handwriting, so people always ask me to do wedding invitations — just write, write, write. I love a good note, and I think it’s something that you don’t see much. It’s so thoughtful to write a note because anyone can send you a text, but if you took the time out to get beautiful stationery, write a note, and send it with something, it’s just chef’s kiss. I use fountain pens, because most people think that my handwriting looks like calligraphy, and so when I write with those types of pens, it makes it look even more beautiful.

Parfums de Marly is one of the oldest perfumers out of Paris, and the fragrances are absolutely wonderful. But what’s great about them is they have room scents, but they also have hair perfume. You know how sometimes you go to a cigar bar and you walk out and your hair smells like a dead rat’s ass and you’re like, I don’t really want to wash my hair? You can spray that hair perfume on and it just brings it back to life and it just smells so good. I like Delina, but they’ve got a new scent that’s coming out that’s going to be just so good.

Cheez-It has a new addition to its family, and it’s Snap’d. Snap’d is the best thing. It’s like a hybrid between a chip and a cracker. But it’s so good, it’s so crunchy, so delicious. And it’s just got a lot of flavor, and it comes in jalapeño, double cheddar, sour cream. I think it’s healthier than a chip, but it tastes so good. It is so crunchy. It’s super-crunchy. You’re going to love it.