This year was the year I was going to stop shopping, but of course, that didn't happen. I do think I made some improvements -- I didn't spend as frivolously or impulsively as I have in previous years. I was a little more wise with where my dollar was going and with what was coming into my house. 

This might go down as the year where I came to the realization that I do not need as much as I think I do. It was the year where the big purchases I made, made an impact. 

It sounds so much more poetic and deep than what it actually is but it's true. The items on this list, while not a comprehensive catalog of everything I spent money on in 2024, are items that I loved and truly used on a consistent basis. 

Let's get into it, shall we? 

 Well friends, another year has been completed and we're mere days away from ringing in 2025. It sounds like a fake year, something you hear in an episode of The Jetsons, but believe it or not, it's real. I don't really know how I feel about 2025 yet -- I think it's going to be a great year for me personally but for the collective world, I think we're in for some trouble. I hope I'm wrong! 

2024 was an interesting year, and I need to make the time to really reflect, but I think I had a good one. My mental health was better in a lot of ways, I traveled, I celebrated, I rested and I conquered some fears. Maybe I'll do a blog post or substack about my year, but for now we're here to talk about beauty products. 

2024 was the year of hair & skin for me; I went through some struggles with both but I think I'm ending the year with a decent rotation of products. While I still hit VIB Rogue this year (and pretty early in fact), I don't think I bought a lot of unnecessary products; the products I did buy became quick favorites and I also realized that most of my favorites were in my collection all along and I didn't need to try something new.

2025 is going to be a year of less stuff, so figuring out what I love and sticking with that. I don't always need something new to satisfy a craving and I need to get comfortable with wanting things versus immediately letting myself have them.

All of that being said, let's get into the products that made up most of my 2024.

*I think it's important to say that everything that I mentioned in my 2023 beauty favorites are still used on a daily basis for me...aside from maybe the Bobbi Brown foundation stick which I still love but found something I like even more. 

 2023 is a year that brought a ton of change, new experiences, and a new sense of self. I feel like I really came into my own, figured out what I want out of life and I should make that happen. 

I settled into my 'new' job and really took hold of my responsibilities and projects. I felt more content, more at ease in my work. In 2023, I moved into my own apartment and for the first time since college, lived on my own. Having my own apartment has really helped catapult me into my next phase of life and it helped make me feel different, more grown up. 

It was a slight adjustment, and was accompanied by some other changes but I know it was the right move and every day when I wake up here, I'm grateful. 

With all that change, those new experiences and new attitudes comes other things...material things...that I tried and loved. They made my life better and were truly bright spots of my days. From home items to lifestyle, these are my favorite items of 2023.

I cannot believe we are only a few days away from 2022. It feels like this year has completely flown by; where does the time go? It feels like each passing year gets faster and faster. 

I took two days off from the blog to focus on Christmas with my family and it was so nice. I hope you all had a beautiful few days with your families and loved ones. Now, I'm on vacation and taking these days before 2019 to relax and I'm so excited.

It's time I start wrapping up the year on the blog and I'll be talking about all my favorites from 2018. Today, we're kicking it off with my favorite beauty items of 2018. This was a year where beauty took a backseat and I stopped shopping at Sephora twice a week. I was much more mindful of what I was purchasing and the items I did pick up quickly became favorites. Here are just a few of them...

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

I think this was a beauty item that will be in a lot of end of year round-ups because it made the biggest splash this year. It is definitely my most used beauty item of the year and I can't remember a night where I didn't slather this on my face and bask in its glory. This is a mask that can be worn as a mask or as a moisturizer, meaning you don't have to wash it off. I use it as my night cream and my skin feels so soothed and healthy afterward. When I have a heavy makeup day or just feel like my skin needs extra love, Jet Lag cures it all. It isn't too heavy where you feel like you're a greaseball afterward, and you can even wear it under your makeup -- that's the beauty of it; it's deeply hydrating but not heavy. It was definitely my favorite item of the entire year.

Neutrogena Hydroboost Cleansing Lotion

I love a good cleansing oil but sometimes they are too greasy and heavy; sometimes I want to use them as a cleanser and not a makeup remover. This year I discovered one of my favorite cleansers; the Neutrogena Hydroboost Cleansing Lotion. It's thinner than a cleansing oil but thicker than cleansing milk -- it's the perfect happy medium. I use it on its own or with my Clarisonic and it gets all the remanents of my makeup off. It's very gentle, has no scent and hydrating. If this sounds like something you need, I highly recommend picking the Hydroboost Cleansing Lotion up!

Slip Silk Scrunchies

I've fallen in love with $40 scrunchies and I think this is what rock bottom feels like. I thought I had found the perfect scrunchie in Invisibobble and while those are still awesome (and only $8) my Slip Scrunchies are just incredible. From the brand Slip, the Silk Pillowcase brand comes silk scrunchies that won't leave indents and won't damage or break your hair. They have big scrunchies which are the first ones I got and then the thin ones (which are my current favorite). They hold my thick, curly, unruly hair in place and look so adorable in the hair or on the wrist. I don't know if I will ever buy another type of scrunchie again.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk

This may be cheating as I only picked up these items within the past two months but my goodness, they are the best. I'm talking about the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillowtalk and Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillowtalk. They are the best pair in beauty, the most natural and gorgeous colors and incredible formulas. Wear them alone, wear them together -- the possibilities are endless. They both apply like a dream and are comfortable on the lips. There is a reason that the shade Pillowtalk is a cult classic -- you NEED THEM!

Below are a few other honorable mention items!

xoxo
B

Beauty and books are the two things I religiously review here so it was easy to put them in their own category for 'best of 2017'.

This post is all about my ultimate favorites of the year... the items I couldn't live without and just loved to the moon and back.



These are the items that made 2017 a standout year, the items that I used the most, the items I talked about the most and the ones I just couldn't get enough of!



1. Kate Spade Olive Drive Bridgette: When I saw this item in late summer, I knew it was a bag that had to be mine. I can say that this was my favorite purchase of the year, my favorite handbag of the year for sure. I bought it off Ebay because $400 was just a little too much for me and the leather on the 'older' version is pebbled but I love it all the same. It's a bag that can be an everyday bag or a work bag; it's chic, roomy, and very comfortable. It's the ultimate bag for any gal!



2. Evil Queen Candles: These candles (and essential oils) took over my life in 2017. I loved them at the end of 2016 but this was the year I had them for every season. These are the candles that I burned in the Spring & Summer and really made me a 'candle' person all year round. I love that they're a small company, that they're handmade candles, and how sassy the brand is. Also, Ida Sofia (the owner) is the sweetest person ever. She really cares about her customers and even sent me my favorite essential oil (free of charge) after my bag got stolen.



3. Louis Vuitton Cosmetics Pouch: This was the year of the pre-loved items and my favorite was by far my Louis Vuitton Cosmetics Pouch in the multi-color noir. The exact color is no longer available from LV but you can find it on the pre-loved market. However, I really loved this pouch. It's high quality (obvi) and held everything I could ever need. It made me so happy to use it and have it displayed in my room, it was just such a good purchase!

4. Weight Watchers: This isn't a tangible object but this was the highlight of the 2nd half of the year for me. I've lost 23 pounds (the holidays are kicking my butt) on Weight Watchers and I truly never thought that was possible. It has changed my life and really made me happier than I ever have been. I am so proud of myself that 2017 was the year I finally decided to take control of my body and Weight Watchers helped me do that.

What were your favorite products of 2017?
xoxo
B

2015 was a great year for all things lifestyle, beauty, fashion... in my opinion. I think I really came into my own with style and knowing what I like.

This was definitely also the year of shopping and boy did I shop. With my first real time job, first real paycheck, I went a bit crazy. In 2016, I vow to slow my roll with the spending. If 2015 was the year of shopping, 2016 HAS to be the year of saving.


I have to admit that with all my shopping came some great favorites. I bought ALOT of stuff this year but also had a lot of non materialistic favorites. I want to tell you ALL about my favorites and would love to hear what kind of favorites you fell in love with this year as well :)

Let's get started!

//Matte Lips: These were a huge trend at the end of 2014 and for the entire 2015 year. I definitely jumped on the bandwagon and I would be lying if I said half of my lipstick collection is matte at the moment. From liquid lipsticks to regular matte lipsticks, both were all the rage. Below are some of my favorite colors/brands.






What products did you adore and love in 2015? 

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