One of the tenants of my blog is to share things I’m loving/provide helpful recommendations. I often share these in Editor’s Corner, Shop My Favorites and Gift Guides, as well as just general blog posts.
I’ve always loved yearly ‘top’ or ’round-up’ type posts because they essentially cut through the excess and get straight to the point. In the case of this post – my top 23 favorite purchases I made in 2023.
Earlier this year I posted ‘10 Things I’m Loving Right Now.’ I definitely could have included some of those products to this list, but chose not to since they were already featured in a dedicated post.
Below are my top 23 of favorite purchases I made this year. Bonus: Fourteen of them are currently $25 or under. They’re in no particular order, however if forced to choose my number one favorite, it would without question be #7.
1. Ice Facial Globes | I pretty much love everything about these facial globes. The stainless steel, they can be used hot or cold (and stay hot or cold for a long time), the comfortable silicon handle and they’re a breeze to clean.
2. Cocofloss Dental Floss | I’ve always had trouble with dental floss breaking on me. Enter Cocofloss. It’s extremely durable and comfortable to use. It’s pricey but you definitely get your moneys worth when it comes to quality.
3. Pacific Natural at Home by Jenni Kayne | When it comes to chic modern fashion essentials and home interiors, Jenni Kayne can do no wrong. Everything about her aesthetic is 10/10 for me. The book, itself, is extremely high quality and is filled with ‘California cool’/laid-back interior inspiration, as well as recipes and party/entertaining ideas. It’s also one of my favorite coffee table books.
4. Bow Hair Clips | Bows were all the rage this year and are still going strong. My 4-year-old daughter and I both frequently don these bow clips. Gotta love an on-trend, fast and fool-proof hair accessory!
RELATED READING: Trend Alert: Bows
5. Puffy Laptop Sleeve | I would call this a “puffer jacket” for your laptop. While it’s not anything super protective, it works really well to store your laptop in at home or at the office. It’s also easy to store into a larger bag or briefcase when on the go.
6. New Balance 530s | These have been my go-to (comfy!) shoes for walks and running errands ever since purchasing. I love how the neutral color goes with anything and how they can be dressed up or down.
7. Nugget Ice Maker | As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, if I had to choose a number one favorite item from this list, it would be this. It’s not cheap, but it’s been worth every penny for our family – both in terms of how much we love it and more importantly, how often it gets used. This is definitely one of those ‘IYKYK’ products because I can see how one would think, ‘Um, it’s just ice’… ‘Ice is ice’… ‘You can make ice for practically nothing.’ Yes, all true and valid. But nugget ice hits different (again, an ‘IYKYK’ thing) and the convenience of a machine making you an endless supply has absolutely been worth it. *Pro Tips: Buy on Amazon Prime Day when it’s discounted and to keep unit running in tip-top shape, use distilled water and keep on top of cleaning it.
8. Fullstar Vegetable Chopper | I try to be selective when it comes to buying kitchen gadgets. In the past, I’ve found that many sound really great at the time of purchase, but then over time, don’t get used as much as I initially thought and I end up with So. Many. Kitchen. Gadgets. – both big and small. Plus a lot of kitchen gadgets can be multi-tasking. (Yes, a banana slicer can be convenient but is it really that difficult to just cut it up with a knife you already own? Not to mention the space the gadget takes up. Even if it’s small it’s still one more thing and a whole bunch of small things over time can really add up in both space and cost). So yeah, all this to say a decent amount of thought went into this purchase. Time and time again, I kept seeing everyone rave about it. Thankfully, it really has absolutely been worth it. It might even be my most-used kitchen gadget. It’s extremely effective at chopping produce and is a huge time-saver.
9. Wrist Towels For Washing Face | These soft and absorbent wristbands keep water from running down your arms when washing your face. They’re a definite game-changer for your face/skincare routine. (Pair with a spa headband as mentioned directly below).
10. Spa Headbands For Washing Face | These headbands are comfortable and work great to hold hair back when applying makeup or skincare. (Pair with wrist towels as mentioned directly above).
11. Portable Charger | I really like the small and convenient size of this charger and how it allows you to easily use your phone while charging. I make a point to bring it along to concerts or if I’m going to be outdoors for an extended amount of time.
12. Aritzia The Super Puff Water-Repellent Goose Down Puffer | This puffer is extremely comfortable, stylish and, most importantly, WARM. It comes in so many great colors, too!
13. Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Lip Gloss | This hydrating lip gloss glides on ever so smoothly and has a beautiful high-shine finish. I have the shades ‘Moon’ and ‘Silk.’
14. Taylor Swift Golden Book | I was SO excited when this book was released back in May. It tells the story of Taylor’s life and career in a way that’s easy for kids to understand and is wonderfully illustrated. (I’m big on illustrations in children’s books). My 4-year-old daughter is a big Swiftie, so it’s a favorite of hers as well.
RELATED READING: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Concert
15. Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo | Patrick Ta has risen in popularity in recent years with his eponymous beauty line. (Check out his TikTok for beauty tips and tutorials). His line has several great products but this blush cream and powder blush duo is my favorite. (When I was choosing what would make this list it was between this blush or the Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette which is fabulous as well).
16. Loop Quiet Ear Plugs | I bought these for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert and they worked like a charm. I’ll definitely be using for future concerts/loud events as well.
17. Rosewater Facial Mist | I have a slight obsession with facial mists. They’re just so darn refreshing! I use this rosewater one both in the morning and at night.
18. True Lemon – Strawberry Lemonade | This would definitely be towards the top if I had to rank all of these products. Drink mixes aren’t anything groundbreaking but this one is SO delicious and I love that the ingredients are more clean than say, a Crystal Light or Skittles drink mix. They’re available on Amazon, but currently cost significantly less at Walmart. My kids love them, too. Their favorite flavors are strawberry lemonade and regular lemonade. (They make ‘True Lemon Kids’ flavors, but they prefer these). I’ll even toss them into a smoothie for them for some added flavor without all the sugar.
19. Seamless Hair Ties | I love the strength, thickness, elasticity and comfort of these metal-free hair ties.
20. Oval Sunglasses | Sunglasses have always been one of my favorite accessories. I love the on-trend oval shape of this pair.
21. Rotating Makeup Organizer | This space saving organizer looks great atop my bathroom counter. It’s easy to assemble and holds a good amount of beauty products.
22. Bath & Body Works candles: Paris Café, Pink Lavender & Espresso and Lavender Marshmallow (<— not currently in stock). I’ve always been a fan of Bath & Body Works candles and these were my three favorite new-to-me candles I purchased this year. It’s a little strange – I don’t care for the taste of coffee, but I really love the smell of it!
23. Makeup Sponge Set | These makeup sponges are great dupes for the beauty blender. They’re soft and flexible when damp and blend product in seamlessly. *Pro Tip (that I learned from a professional makeup artist): Take scissors and cut sponge in half. So instead of six blenders (that come in a pack) you get 12!
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