Hello friends! Instead of doing a super repetitive favorites of 2021, I decided to do a few different wrap-up posts instead. You can see some of my 2021 empties (good and bad) here, and this post will be my top 5 items, not necessarily beauty-related. And, if you’re curious about the products still on my face a year later, here is my 2020 beauty favorites and I still whole-heartedly endorse them all!
This year I really got more into wellness and improving my lifestyle so I found a lot of products and items that really helped me get there. But I’d also like to say that you don’t need to buy all sorts of stuff to be more well. It starts with simple swaps and changes and you don’t need the fancy products to get there.
1. Kindle Oasis
I never thought I’d be an e-reader person. Years ago I had one and never really used it but man I use this almost daily now! I get books for super cheap as guided by @dailyebookdeals on Instagram who posts dozens of very discounted e-books on Amazon or access them free through Prime Reading. This has gotten me into reading way more and for shorter periods of time (think on a 7 minute bus ride) because I can open my Kindle app on my phone which syncs to my Kindle and pick up where I left off. This one is more $$$ than you need to go but I got it as a gift and truly do love and use it all the time. I also got a cute mustard-colored case that’s super smooth and still in great condition after 3 years!
2. Casper Glow Light
While I’ve had this since late 2019 I think, I still use it every single morning and find it revolutionary to my sleeping habits. There’s a wind-down sort of “sunset” that slowly dims and warms the light for 45 minutes before bed time and I set it up before bed each night to wake me up with a “sunrise” that gets brighter and lighter for 30 minutes around when my alarm goes off. Truly revolutionary.
3. POPFLEX Active Resistance Bands
I started using more equipment this year with my at-home workouts and these bands are by far the highest quality ones I’ve ever seen or used. They really feel heavy and have added a new dimension to my workouts. In a similar vein, I got Bala Bangles and absolutely love them but don’t use quite as much as these bands! I got super cheap bands a while ago but they quickly lost their resistance and one snapped so if you’re looking for a long-term set, these would be my recommendation.
4. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
I hadn’t used this in years when I got it as a gift for my birthday and ended up really really enjoying it and not wanting to get rid of it once it began drying up! I’m not one to splurge on higher-end mascaras but this one really did it for me! It didn’t flake or smudge and gave a really nice fluttery look to my lashes.
5. Iced Matcha Lattes
I don’t drink coffee anymore because of the way that much caffeine triggers migraines for me, but there are still mornings when I’d like a bit of a boost. A matcha latte is so perfect and gives me a little ritual in the mornings with measuring the powder, mixing it with my whisk, and making my latte. These are also perfect to add in some collagen powder or just a really yummy low/no-sugar beverage on its own.
Honorable Mention: Aritzia Superpuff Shorty in Modern Taupe
This is an honorable mention simply because I got it for Christmas but already I’ve worn it most days and am so in love with the warmth and quality. It’s spendy but I think it’s worth it.
As you can see, I was more into lifestyle and wellness this year than beauty. I was aiming for 10 products on this list but could truly only come up with 5 that were things I loved throughout the year and still use almost daily. Throughout the past two years I’ve been scaling back my beauty collection, my closet, my possessions in general to give me more space to just be and it’s been so good for me. Things like wishlists won’t show up too often on here anymore as I’m working towards being content with what I have and not over-purchasing. What were some of your favorite items this year? See any on my list? Let me know!