All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In SELF’s new Hot Stuff series, we’re asking celebrities, athletes, and other notable people to share the habits, rituals, and products that boost their confidence and help them feel sexy. Read on for our very first installment.
Paige DeSorbo knows what she likes, and she’s not afraid to tell you. That’s exactly why her fans—Bravo fanatics, devoted podcast listeners, and 1.3 million Instagram followers—love her. Whether she’s navigating friend drama on Summer House or dishing with her bestie on Giggly Squad, the 31-year-old New Yorker is best known for her chic style, blunt relatability, and humor. So when I asked DeSorbo what makes her feel hot, I knew I was in for a treat.
For someone with such clear confidence, it’s hard to imagine DeSorbo needing a boost. But like the rest of us, she’s human, and recognizes that external factors can affect self-esteem: “I mean, I’ve left many places because I didn’t like my outfit,” she tells SELF.
DeSorbo’s shortcuts to feeling sexy include a killer lip combo that doesn’t rub off and an impulse haircut that makes even her messy buns feel glam. And when she finds something that works, she’s all-in—that’s why, she tells me, she ordered ravioli every single night of her Amalfi Coast getaway and buys her favorite shoes in every color. So you know you can rely on her for rock-solid recommendations (and a few giggles along the way). Below, check out Paige’s picks in her own voice.
1. Larroudé Greta Mule
I’m the type of girl who’d always rather be overdressed than underdressed. I feel more comfortable if I walk into a room and people are like, “Oh my God, she dressed up so much!” than the alternative. So whenever I’m planning an outfit for a trip, I always pack a pair of heels that match, because I know that a heel always gives me a confidence boost and I might want to throw them on at the last minute. Bonus: Kitten heels are so in right now, and they’re great if you don’t want to be walking around in something higher. I’ve been wearing my little white Larroudé kitten heels all summer—they make the most comfortable shoes ever.
2. Mane Hot Thermal Round Brush
Let me freaking put you on. For background, I cut my bangs in February, and naturally everyone assumed I was going through a crisis. But it was Fashion Week, and I told my hair stylist that I thought bangs would look really cute with my outfit, and he said, “We should just cut them.” And I literally haven’t looked back. When I’m styling them myself, the Mane heated round brush has been a lifesaver. I can’t use a straightener on my bangs without looking doofy, a curling iron makes me look like Annie, and wetting them is a whole project—but this tool makes them look the best, and it’s by far the easiest. You can also use it to style your whole head: It gives a great, faux-blowout bend to the ends of my hair.
3. Lip Combo: Make Up For Ever Lip Liner, Milk Makeup Jelly Tint, Maybelline Lifter Gloss
I’ve been switching up my lip colors recently, and I think this combo is really cute: I use the Make Up For Ever lip liner in Anywhere Caffeine, with the Milk Jelly Tint in shade Spritz. I spent some time in Italy this summer, and when you’re there, you’re eating constantly. You need something that lasts, that’s easy, and that looks great. The Milk Jelly is perfect because it’s more of a lip stain, plus I love that I can also use it on my cheeks to add some color cohesion to my makeup. And when I want to add a glossy finish, I use the Maybelline Lifter Gloss in the shade Sun.
4. Face Reality Sulfur Spot Treatment
When it comes to feeling confident, my skin is one of the first things that comes to mind. I’ve been using Face Reality products for three months and really sticking to my routine, but my number one product is their Sulfur Spot Treatment. I’m not kidding, it dries up any pimple in 24 hours. I go everywhere with it.
5. Rhode Glazing Milk
This summer, I finally got the Rhode Glazing Milk after hearing about it from everyone and their mother. It truly does make my makeup look different on my face: Everything just goes on smoother, and I’m definitely a little bit glowier with it. I’m a fan, because I prefer a dewey, natural, “Is she sweating a little?” makeup look to a matte one. I’m not a baking girl…in any sense of the word.
6. Dibs Beauty Status Stick
I like finding makeup products that are versatile to make my bag a little less crowded. I recently started using the Dibs Beauty Status Stick, and I love it as a face highlighter, but I literally put it all over my body. I mix it with my lotion, I put it on my shoulders, I use it on my legs to give them that extra shine—I’ll start at my ankle and then take it up my calf bone all the way to my knees, and it makes my legs look so good when I’m wearing shorts or a miniskirt.
7. La Marca Prosecco
One of my mom’s rules is to always have a bottle of bubbles in the fridge. When I have girlfriends over or I’m getting ready to go out, I’m only drinking prosecco. Sometimes you’re just not in the mood for a boozy cocktail or the trendy drink du jour. I hate Aperol Spritzes—I think they taste like Robitussin. It’s nice to have a go-to alternative that still feels fun and fancy. Plus, I definitely have a Champagne essence. It’s so bubbly, so chic, so fun. In Italy, my dad said to me, “You should only drink prosecco for the rest of your life because it just feels so you.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Related: