The 2025 BELOVED LIST
Skincare wins, vintage finds, and the bag I'm asking Santa for
When I was first formulating this best of 2025 Beloved List, I couldn’t decide if it should only the things I bought in 2025 or things I used/reached for the most in 2025. But truth be told, I feel like my memory this year has taken a hit given all that I have been juggling. So rather than write about what I bought this year and if I liked it, I think it’s probably more useful to note the things I loved using the most this year, regardless of when I purchased them. Let’s just get into it:
Skincare
Bonjout Beauty Balm I’ve seen the ad for this brand and product for a couple of years now, but I didn’t pull the trigger until I saw it stocked at Credo Beauty. It’s not cheap, so I wanted to know there would be a way for me to do returns should the product not deliver. But man, did it deliver. I am on my second (no third?) tub with two more already stocked up. It’s such a great texture. It seals in my “actives” and serves as a great primer for any makeup I might put on top. It also helps keep my skin super hydrated and reduces the peeling, which is common when using tret. Not only do I love it, but every friend of mine who has bought it after my raving has also messaged me saying they love it. And they have completely different skin type to mine, but they love it all the same.
Deliverance I am not new to Dieux as a brand. I have consumed countless tubes of Instant Angel, but the Deliverance formulation is new to me this year and I really love it. It has helped reduce the timeframe of my random bouts of contact dermatitis. I love layering this on before the Bonjout balm.
Bioderma This is a permanent spot for Bioderma micellar water. I’ve been on the bandwagon since 2009/2010 and I’m truly obsessed. I have been using this night for almost 15 years to take all the crap off my face before I apply tret, and it just does the job without any fuss. I never travel without it and try to not only have full sized bottles at home as backup but also the travel ones ready to go for trips.
LED Light This is a tricky one to list since I’ve been using this for less than a month, but I think the green light has potentially helped speed up the reduction of my pigmentation! Obviously, it’s not all gone, but it is not as dark as it was when I started using the mask. I wish I had a before and after to share! I specifically got this one because of the jawline coverage (my problem area, PCOS iykyk) and the variety of light options it comes with. Not only that, this is one of the only brands I saw no the market that tests every light bulb (fixture?) to make sure it is working before shipping it out to the customer.
Makeup
Lisa Eldridge Skin Tint Lisa Eldridge is incredible, and I implicitly trust all that she makes. Buying this sight unseen (ie, choosing shade from online PDP images) is definitely a lot of trust. I love the formulation of this skin tint. It blends so beautifully on the skin and the undertone is PERFECTION. I have an olive undertone, and it is really hard to find a match that isn’t too pink or orange. This does the job so well. To date, while many foundations and concealers have come close, none have matched my undertone is exceptionally.
Westman Atelier Bronzing Drops Ahh, these bronzing drops are the best I’ve tried. I use them so haphazardly, and they always look so nice without the need for any technique. On days I’m not using any makeup (and even when I am), I like to put a couple of drops on my palms, spread it, and then tap it on top of my mineral SPF or my Lisa Eldridge skin tint as a way to just make everything look like “skin” before adding a touch of blush. It just does something I can’t put into words to even out the skin tone. Actually, you know what it is? when you wear makeup, even if it is the perfect match, there is usually this visual dissonance when you look at your face and neck. Pressing in a couple of drops across my face and neck, balances out the tone and then the whole look is just a lot smoother.
Victoria Beckham Kajal These are so creamy, and the shades are so wearable. They are great both as a lazy girl eyeshadow as well as on the waterline. I have four shars and I’ve been using the brown shade on top of my lids on days I don’t have the energy for mascara, and it just makes my eyes look more awake. I also tightline my eyes with the black kajal and happy to report very little smudging or raccoon eyes at the end of the day. With a pencil, I appreciate the flexibility of it going from liner to shadow and I get a lot more out if these than I have ever in the past with solely but eyeshadow pots or pallets.
WELL People Blush* This was a part of an event goody bag, and I am shocked at how much I love the shade Rose and the wearability. On my skin, it comes up as a bright coral pink. It blends into my skin rather than sitting on top and lasts all day long. Compared to other blushes I’ve used that are similar in description, size, and formulation, this is far better on wearability and from a price point as well.
Sweed Mascara I hate wearing mascara because I find that most of them cause my eyelashes to droop as the day goes on (then what even was the point?!!?), and I HATE seeing the lashes fall off as I cleanse my face at the end of the day. This mascara is the first one I’ve used this year that truly holds up the curl. While I still lose a lash or two, it’s not as many as some of the other brands. The brush is also different in structure (its like a tooth brush rather than a spoolie) and helps me get every single lash.
Hair
Act+Acre Dry Shampoo Sometimes I just need to stop trying new things when the one I have ain’t broken. I don’t like to use dry shampoo a lot. I would rather just wash my hair when it needs it rather than try to dry shampoo and extend the wear. Personally, I find when I use dry shampoo, my hair sheds more than normal. But sometimes you just need to dry shampoo, and when those days come around, I keep this on hand. The formula does not leave any white residue. When you run your hand through your hair, there is no tell-tale tackiness on my fingers. My hair just feels refreshed and the shedding is at a minimum. I have come back to this after trying other brands and I will be sticking here. The non-aerosol and compact packaging also makes it great for travel.
Roz Serum + Oil I am usually a shampoo (no conditioner) and air dry kinda gal but this year, after a decade, I decided to get a light touch of highlights. To maintain them, I started to use a cocktail of the Roz Serum and Oil religiously every time I wash my hair. I had been using them before but only when I remembered, but after the coloring, I am diligent about it. Omg, the difference! I have received so many compliments on my hair that I felt so confused as to what changed, well it’s this. It makes my hair shiny (not greasy) and so soft to touch and manage. I don’t always use heat on my hair, and this works so well regardless. The only annoying thing is, now I can’t travel without it and I try to keep my toiletries to a minimum, but the difference it makes is worth the annoyance of lugging it along.
La Bonne Brosse Can a brush really make a difference? Apparently, it can. If you’ve been on social media, I would find it hard to believe that you haven’t been targeted by this brand and their brushes. After seeing my friend pull it out of her bag and rave about it, I decided to buy the small size. I already have a baby Mason Pearson, but I didn’t really feel like it did anything for me. So I wasn’t expecting much, but this brush really does add shine to my hair. For context, I have fine, medium-thickness, super-long hair. I am trying really hard to improve my thickness after losing a ton during postpartum. I also have a lot of grey hairs popping up all over, and of course, they are a completely different texture to the rest of my normal hair. So this brush helps tame it all down, and I find the sensory experience of brushing my hair a lot more enjoyable than the regular wet brush I use.
Clothes
Vintage Levi’s 501 Timelines evade me, but I think I bought these pants last year though I barely wore them. I picked these vintage jeans up from a store locally, but the inseam was long and I didn’t like the cuffed look. So earlier this year I just cut them to the length I liked. Immediately, they were a lot more wearable, but after I washed them, I started to freak out that they would keep fraying. I took them to a local cleaner, gave them my cutoffs, and asked if they could attach the original hem to the newly chopped length. I FINALLY GET THE VINTAGE 501 OBSESSION!! I truly didn’t understand it before. Of course, when I saw people wear vintage 501s, they looked so good, but what is it about these pants that makes them elite? Well, I think it’s something you have to experience for yourself. For me, I loved that they were loose all throughout the leg, still tapered, but the waist is fitted (this is a must for me). The leg opening and length allow me to wear these pants with any shoes - heels, flats, boots, sandals, they all work! The color, a mid-wash blue, works year-round. Not too dark or too light. They are casual but with the right top, they work for a lot of occasions. I do think it’s a little hard to find the right one online so I would highly recommend going in person to find your perfect piece. And even when you do, they will most likely require some alterations, I think it’s worth the pursuit. The other thing I will say is don’t worry about the number on the pants. The ones I got are Men’s 30W x 34L. 🤷🏻♀️
Chava Studio Sweater (and Shirt*) I have waxed poetically so much already about my love for this incredible slow fashion brand and my girl crush on the founder Olivia. But I have to mention it again because I have worn the sweater countless times and get so disappointed when I want to wear it but it’s in the wash. I love the neckline so much. I also am obsessed with the Chava Studio shirt. I have an obsession with button up/down shirts (read my review of over 20 shirts I own here) and this is now my absolute tippy-top favorite. I would love to have a few more in my closet to rotate. Read my interview with the absolute incredible Olivia here:
Toteme Jacket I had no plans on buying anything when I went to the Stockholm flagship Toteme store. Really just went to peruse. But then this jacket caught my eye and I couldn’t leave it behind, especially after seeing how much less expensive it was there vs. buying here in the US. So I bought it and I have worn it non-stop. It’s so perfectly lightweight but it’s so oversized you could wear three sweaters underneath and still have space. It’s just the perfect jacket for the Bay Area fickle weather too.
Tove Shirt I have been obsessed with this shirt since I saw Monikh wearing it a couple of years ago. And then magically it was available on Mytheresa this year at a pretty steep sale price. I just had to have it. Love the deep V-neck. Love the sturdy denim. Love that it is a differentiated take on a denim shirt. It works with a variety of bottoms; I’ve worn it with black pants, black shorts, lace skirts, jeans, basically anything you can think of, it works.
Jamie Haller Pants Again, I have waxed poetically about this one in the past so it is of course in my end-of-year roundup! Reversible, multi-way wearable clothing is my kryptonite. I just feel like I am getting so much for my buck, so I am a sucker for those. I also think that the designer is someone who understands efficiency when they make clothing items that have more than one way to be worn. I have worn these pants in a variety of combinations which makes it THE PERFECT piece to pack when you are traveling. You can have a new way to wear the pants and not feel weird about wearing the same one 5 days in a row. I would love one in every colorway it comes in, please and thank you.
La Ligne Pants I think I might have started a small cult with these pants. After recommending them, so many of my friends bought a pair, and then more and more because it’s just such a great piece to have and wear. I love to wear it as my travel outfit too since it’s so comfy. I don’t look like Adam Sandler, but I can feel as comfortable as he does. It also washes and air dries so well (proof after my daughter threw up on me and I had to wash it in a hotel sink). It works year-round (easy to wear over thermal pants in the winter). One note is that it is really long for us shorties out here so I did have to get it hemmed.
LOF Sunday Suit I have literally written a love letter to this brand, but I got the one-piece in black this year and that is pretty much a permanent piece I pack when I travel. It can double as a top in tropical weather with some denim cutoffs. It’s as flattering as a one-piece can be. I don’t have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions when I wear it. It’s a true workhorse.
Gap Pants This was a total fluke of a purchase, but I have been reaching for it a lot. I am not someone who goes for seams down the middle of my pant legs and I absolutely do not do flare jeans, but the way this is cut and fits on my legs, I dig it. The splits are a cool factor that makes it less athleisure even though the material feels like it would be in that vein.
Shoes
Adidas Cow Print Sneakers These were such an odd buy for me. I am not one for print on shoes, but inspired by all things Dries Van Noten, I got these shoes to add somethin’ somethin’ to my otherwise bland clothing, and that it does! They came with green laces and I swapped them out for regular black ones and now it gets worn even more and feels less “harsh”?
Staud Boots I really wanted new boots. I really wanted them to have a bit of a heel. I really wanted to have heels that weren’t chunky but also not like a stiletto. I also wanted not to have a pointy toe or a rounded toe. This checked all my boxes and I am obsessed. I’ve worn them a handful of times and know it will continue to serve me for many, many more seasons.
Dries Van Noten Heels I have wanted these shoes for so long but the price tag being what it is, I was hesitant. When I randomly was meandering at the Marin Country Mart after dropping off some clothes at TRR, I entered Hero Shop (they have an incredible curation of designer pieces) and saw these were on sale… IN MY SIZE!!!! Immediate buy. I love the neutral tone, the wearable heel, and how cool it just looks with anything I pair it with. Can’t wait to wear it again a ton next spring, summer, and fall.
Bags
Midimalist Tote The tote that Kelly Williams created is now my laptop bag and I take it along with me to “work” every day. I love it. The end.
The Row Acquiring this The Row Marlo 12 bag was a feat to say the least. I ordered it on BG and then they kept pushing out the delivery day and then one day out of the blue it just shipped and arrived! What drew me to the bag was the longer straps (only works when you don’t have a thick sweater or coat on), the no-visible hardware, the olive-brown shade, and the supple leather. This is my first purchase from The Row, and I do get the love, but I am not sure I can really do their price points anymore when there are so many other contemporary brands with exquisite design and materials that cost significantly less. If someone wants to gift me something from The Row, I will take it GLADLY, but I don’t know if I fully get the hype. That being said, I am obsessed with this bag. It is perfect for me to schlep my daily bits and bobs and I truly wearing this with pretty much all my outfits.
Loewe Tote I’ve had this for a while and will continue to sing its praises. It’s just such a well-made tote. Here’s why I will continue to laud its merits. When we were in Copenhagen, my daughter asked me to carry her so I gave my husband the bag to hold. Him being a dude, he was swinging it around and I felt my heart drop as he swung it onto the back of a bicycle and it hit a metal piece. It was scuffed. I was heartbroken. BUT, a little lip balm immediately rubbed into the spot helped. Then when I got home and threw on some leather CPR, it was practically gone. Praise be. I love the color of this tote and it packs flat making it great for travel, and without any hardware to weigh it down, I can only blame myself when it gets too heavy for my shoulder.
Home
This isn’t an item rather a service. I loved working with Sasha from Capiz Studio to update our home. We are getting closer and closer to the dream space but there is still a lot more to do and it is so valuable having someone like her in my corner to help me with bringing the vision to life. You can read more about how she works with her clients here:
What I Want, What I Really Really Want!
Chanel Bag First of all, let a girl dream, ok? Because the only person who could get it for me is probably Santa Claus (yes, no I don’t believe he is real). But this bag, first seen on Pedro Pascal as he entered the Chanel show for Matthieu Blazy’s debut and then on the runway, has been truly haunting my dreams. I am a bag lady. Have been since childhood. You know the song, “There was an old woman who lived in a shoe”? If it were about me, it would go, “There was an old woman who lived in and for her bags.” I love the non-hardware straps of this new Chanel, minimal logo, and giant size that can fit your kitchen sink and then some. If it were possible, I would get this in either burgundy or grey. And I would become Gollum, just stroking it constantly, going “My Precious”.
Chava Studio Tuxedo Shirt On a more realistic level, my obsession with Chava Studio continues and I really want the tuxedo shirt with my daughter’s initials embroidered in blue below the chest. Also very much inspired by the Chanel show but true to my style and my love for button-ups/downs. I trust Olivia and Chava Studio and I know whatever she makes, I will wear and love. What would be incredible is to visit their tienda in CDMX and shop in person! Maybe Santa can throw in some flight tickets in my stockings.
Shoes … I need shoes but I don’t even know what I want! I just love to be barefoot and most shoes annoy me. So pretty please make some suggestions for me! What has been your most worn shoe/style?
Before I let you go, I have a really fun one coming out next week all about NYE dressing. DO NOT MISS IT!!!
Also here are some notable reads I loved this week:
Jennifer Cook made a list of 10 women owned brands to know feature great brands including Chava Studio and Lindquist whom I’ve featured here as well!
Traci Landy’s latest post is amazing, especially her note on the Cozy Ambiance (anything Harry Potter this time of year just tugs at my soul).
Tina Boetto’s latest about Groutfit, is basically perfection and allows me to lean deeper into my love for grey (I mean see above wishlist for a grey Chanel bag)
Meighan Grady’s letters to her daughter is short, sweet and so beautiful.
Also one more request for you - please tell me what love, don’t love and/or want to see in the new year from me! I would really appreciate any and all notes and I want to make sure this is a newsletter you are excited to open and read. 🙏🏽
Charu I think you wore that denim shirt for our coffee date? You influenced me to buy it! Also what targeting - the hairbrushes have been flooding my instagram now maybe I will cave in and buy it!
Vintage Levis are something I'd love to get, but don't feel confident finding them on my own. I'm kicking myself for not trying UK-based Pin Denim's services before tariffs started. Love what Charlotte Parlermino is doing as an advocate of sunscreen (and more) and so appreciate how much thought she puts into the sustainability of Dieux's packaging. Thank you for the shoutout, I always want a gray bag to complete my groutfit :)