Welcome back, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Before we get too far into the new year, I wanted to share some of my favorite items from this last year!
These are all new items that I purchased for the first time in 2023 and completely fell in love with. You’ll notice that majority of them fall under the ‘beauty’ category and that’s because I’m a skincare girlie. What can I say? In effort to keep this list somewhat condensed, I didn’t include clothes… maybe for another post!! Until then, here are my favorite purchases of 2023!
OSEA BODY OIL
I would bath in this body oil if I could. Swim in a pool of it. Literally, burry me in this Osea Body Oil. Never in my life has my skin felt as soft and nourished as it has since I started using it. I apply it all over, after each shower and it just makes me feel so luxurious
It smells just like it looks like it would smell.. but better… if that makes sense? Like it doesn’t smell like algae lol. It actually smells quite lovely but does have a soft, natural scent to it
STANLEY TUMBLER
Say what you want about Stanley Tumblers (bulky, overhyped, chuegy, etc), but I’m obsessed with mine. I dont know how to explain it, but it literally makes me want to drink more water and stays cold for so long!
I’ve had Yeti’s and literally every other water bottle out there… but nothing beats my Stanley. I also love that it is dishwasher safe.
LAKE PAJAMAS
I don’t know how I went as long as I did without owning a pair of Lake Pajamas. They are extremely soft and comfortable but the overall fit of these pajamas is what makes me love them so much.
They’re on the pricier side when but if you’re on the fence… let me tell you that I would trade every single pair of pajamas I have bought in the last ten years for just one pair of Lake Pajamas.
TULA BRIGHTENING EYE BALM
This eye balm is the reason I no longer have to wear concealer everyday. The way it instantly brightens your under eyes is actually insane. Apply it under your makeup, over your make up – whatever you want. I keep one in my purse at all times and reapply throughout the day over my makeup.
There are two classic versions. The ‘Rose Glow & Get It Balm‘ and the original ‘Glow & Get It Balm‘. I have the original! It gives off more blue/cooling tones, where the rose glow option has a more pink undertone.
RATTAN BED TRAY
This rattan bed tray is what I would file under the “unnecessary luxury” category. It’s extremely oversized and is the nicest one I have ever seen.
I use it for breakfast in bed but mainly to hold my skincare and wine while I do get ready for bed and watch Desperate Housewives lol
On sale right now too!
ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR
My neighbor Sarah, once described this serum to me as “botox in a bottle” and I have to say, she was right. Coming from someone who doesn’t keep up with their botox like they should.. believe me when I say, it works. Pure magic. Witchcraft I tell you. I apply it at night to a clean face, before moisturizer or any eye creams.
HYDRATING LIP OIL
I’m never not wearing this hydrating lip oil from Clarins. Hydrates, nourishes, protects, and visibly repairs your lips. Leaving them soothed and moisturized. The application is so beautiful too!
The tints are ph based, so they change and look different on everyon depending on the unique ph balance of your lips.For everyday wear, ‘Honey’ is my favorite. But I also love ‘Pitaya’ and ‘Cherry’.
CANDLE WARMING LAMP
Obsessed with this lamp candle warmer. It’s so cute, works great and looks perfect sitting on top of our piano.
I always hate how quickly the wick on my candles seem to burn but this warmer makes my candles last 2-3x as long.
DRx LIGHT THERAPY MASK
Has three settings: the red light for ant-aging, the blue light for acne, and purple for both and you only need to use it for three-minutes a day. This mask works but you definitely have to be consistent with it. I used it pretty much everyday from January-July last year and saw a major difference in my skins texture. The problems I was having essentially disappeared… that’s until I got lazy and stopped using it as much. When those same problems started popping up again come November, I knew exactly why.
KUR ILLUMINATING NAIL POLISH
This Gel Conceal & Go Duo Set is the best sheer/natural nail polish you will ever use. It’s truly the most perfect shade!
Includes Nail Illuminating Concealer & Gel Genius Top Coat
SCALLOPED GREEN PILLOW CASES
The chicest pillow cases you will ever find for under $50. Our living room was in desperate need of a sprucing up… but I didn’t want to spend alot of money. So I tried swapping out some of our older pillows we’d had for years with these scalloped ones and WOW what a difference they made!! It was such an easy swap and instantly transformed the whole room. 10/10 recommend.
ROUND RAY BAN SUNGLASSES
Never thought I’d be a round glasses girlie, but here we are!
Colton actually received these as a groomsmen’s gift over the summer and I’ve slowly but surely claimed them as mine… or as I like to tell him, “ours”.
They are just so fun and such a mood!!
CLARINS DOUBLE FIRMING SERUM
The way I love this serum. It’s a non-negotiable skincare product that I can’t go without. The older I have gotten, the dryer my skin tends to be… but the way this serum hydrates, plumps and firms my skin is actually incredible. Whenever I don’t have it on, I swear that I can literally feel my skin craving it.
If I had to just choose one, I would choose the main serum over the one that’s specifically for your eyes. Use it in the morning & night (I normally just use it in the am) on a clean face before moisturizer.
ORGANIC TANNING LOTION
A non-toxic, self tanning body lotion made with natural and organic ingredients. It’s marketed as a ‘gradual tanner’ but when I say this lotion works after literally just one use, I mean it. I’ll apply it at night and be noticeably darker by morning. Very natural looking.
Another thing I really like about it is that it doesn’t smell like most fake tanners. It has more of a warming coconut scent to it instead. It’s super moisturizing and I love that it doesn’t transfer color onto my white sheets!
HOME WALKING PAD
This walking pad was the big gift I asked for last Christmas and when I say it saved my mental health this last year…Did I use it as consistently as I thought I would? No… but I still used it a lot and was so thankful I had it, everytime I needed it. My overall biggest complaint is that it’s heavy and that we don’t have a great place to store it in our little old bungalow. It’s big, bulky and has to sit out in our dining room if I actually want to use it. When guests come over, I put it under our bed, but majority of the time it sits out… which I hate but I’d rather have it and it sit out than not have it at all. If you have the space, then you’d probably love it!!! It’s easy to assemble and works super well!!! It’s just heavy…
I could keep going and I probably forgot some….but I’ll leave the list there!
Until next time,
Lauren
