Favorite Finds in 2025

Happy New Year!

My 2025 was truly a year of less spending on beauty products. Especially makeup…my drawer was bursting and at the beginning of the year I resolved to use up my stash (minus replacement mascaras, concealer, setting powder, and plus a new lippie or 2…you know I can’t pass up a good lippie). I also did far less experimenting with new skincare as perioral dermititis kept trying to make an appearance again, and you know I’m not having that! Other than a trying a few new sunscreens, I kept to my tried and true for the PD flare-ups and usual sensitive skincare routine.

So that said, this list will be far shorter than my usual, but I did find a few new or new-to-me products that are just phenomenal! And as always you can view a full list of my current favorite clean beauty products here (full disclosure: I do need to do a bit of updating to that list). All items purchase by me unless noted as gifted in the description.

Without further ado….

AVA ISA | Every Morning SPF 30

Ever since my original ride-or-die SPF changed their formula, I’ve been on the hunt for a face sunscreen that not only works for my super-sensitive skin, but provides the finish I prefer (satin). And it’s been a STRUGGLE. Mineral-based sunscreens always seem to be on either end of the finish spectrum…super dry or uber-glowy. And then I saw the description and the reviews for this little gem at Ayla Beauty, and a new love was found. This is the perfect cooler-weather SPF for me…super hydrating, beautiful finish, wonderful under makeup and truly seems to give the skin a smoothing effect. You do need to be a bit more careful about rubbing/patting it in to get rid of any white cast, but it does disappear. It is a more moisturizing, thicker cream, which is why it works so well for me in the drier months. Dry-to-combo folks (and sensitive-skinned folks!), this right here is the bomb.

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TOWER 28 | SOS FaceGuard SPF 30

I was happily chugging along with Kosas Dreambeam as my warmer weather SPF, when Tower 28 reached out to see if I’d like to try their new sunscreen. Um, yes please! T28 is represented heavily in both my skincare and cosmetic arsenals, as their products are specifically created for sensitive skin (the SOS Rescue Spray alone is on regular order as it’s a miracle-worker when my skin freaks out from PD or anything else!), so this was a no-brainer. And I absolutely could not love it more! I tested it all summer, and happily ordered a replacement when I finished it. This has a unique whipped, airy texture, hydrating but lightweight, and has the best finish; and this is where it beats out Dreambeam for me, as that does have a bit of ‘radiance’ to it, and Faceguard provides a fully satin finish on me. Beautiful under makeup, no white cast. Winner!

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TOWER 28 | Swipe Serum Concealer

With the announcement that my beloved Ethereal Veil concealer was being discontinued (I’m still upset about that, Rituel de Fille!), Tower 28 offering to let me try their concealer couldn’t have come at a better time! And once again, blown away. The only trouble I’ve ever had with EV is that it never seems to stay on my nose (I have a lot of broken capillaries thanks to years of allergies, so it’s the one area of my face I completely cover with concealer); not only does Swipe stay on AND completely cover my redness, it goes on so smoothly that it just looks like SKIN. Some kind of magicery! It’s also become my go-to for undereye, but the key is to use much less than you think you need…truly a a-little-goes-a-long-way situation. So natural looking, and great staying power. I was gifted this in the 5.0 shade (I’m shade Metis in the EV), but it’s just a smidge too yellow on me, so I plan to purchase this in the 4.0. Another winner, and current favorite non-toxic concealer!

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WESTMAN ATELIER | Vital Pressed Skincare Powder

When I hit the pan on my old favorite clean powder compact (Kosas Cloud Set…still a favorite and highly recommended for a less expensive option!!!), I decided to take advantage of a sale and try this beautifully packaged option that had been on my wishlist for almost a year. I’m both glad and not glad that I did…it is a fantastic setting powder, but boy that price! It gives a perfect finish – even on my driest day you wouldn’t guess I had powder on, it just looks so. natural. Takes down any shine from my skincare/SPF/t-zone, smooths the skin not settling into pores and lines, and sets makeup wonderfully prolonging wear. Plus it has skincare benefits!? And all of this while safe for my crazy skin. LOVE. I’ve tried both the translucent and the créme…translucent is best for me anytime, the créme being a bit too dark for me until summer…and then it’s PERFECT for giving my skin a tanned effect! You don’t need a lot, and it lasts forever, so while it’s on the spendy side, mine has lasted a year. It gets my vote for best clean beauty setting powder.

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SWEED | Cloud Mascara

You may have already seen that this is tied for #1 in my Battle of the Top Nontoxic Mascaras, but read on if you missed it! I’ll be honest and say this was not a love-at-first-sight situation. Fresh out of the tube, it was not my favorite…too wet, didn’t hold curl great, BUT no flaking or fall-out, so based on all of the rave reviews I decided to treat it like my old non-clean K beauty fave: I’d learned that the magic spot for that mascara was after it had been opened for a few weeks, then it worked like a CHAMP for months. So I let it rest, continued on with my tube of Westman Atelier Eye Want You mascara (the other #1), then gave it another try….

And BOOM. Sweed’s Cloud Mascara showed up to party! Lots of length, holds curl (though I have to recurl after first coat dries, but I have to do this with almost all mascaras), and lovely fluffy lashes. No flaking! I will say this give me more dramatic lashes then WA does, so it’s great for nighttime events. And like Eye Want You, it comes in black AND brown. So my experience is to plan your stash renewal according to needing this to sit a bit after opening, but totally worth it, especially given that it’s less expensive then the WA.

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EADEM | Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm

It’s safe to say that this gal would never turn down a chance to try a potentially amazing new lippie. And with this being described as a lip treatment AND beautiful gloss, I was instantly intrigued! Truly an all-in-one, Le Chouchou promises to exfoliate, plump, moisturize AND look fabulous. Don’t let the exfoliation factor scare you…they use ultra-gentle lactic acid and hibiscus enzymes in that department, and the plumping doesn’t come from anything scary either – that’s courtesy of some amazing butters (Brazilian Acai and African mongongo). This feels so freaking good on. Nice and thick, great staying power, and the color I was gifted (Pain au Chocolat) = beautimous! I love using this as a pre-lipstick treatment sesh as well as a gloss/balm on its own or with a lipliner. The only thing that would make this more perfect for me would be the addition of peppermint, in which case this would be my all day go-to (peppermint oil fantastic at warding off cold sores). I can’t wait to try other shades…Fig Sauce and Boba Bounce are both in the cart! Thank you Eadem!

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NÉCESSAIRE | The Deodorant

A safe (no aluminum) deodorant that works effectively is something I’m forever on the hunt for. One will work for a while, but inevitably either causes irritation or stops working as well as it did initially. I mean it’s a tough job to tackle…staying odor-free when you’re doing any kind of sweating is a big task for a product (when oh when will they discover a safe way to create an anti-antiperspirant?!). I’d been using and really liking Lume’s solid deodorant, but I could tell I was getting to that time where my body was too used to it and I needed to change it up. I saw someone recommend this one on IG, and as I was already a fan of their body wash, I decided to try it. And I’ve been loving it for several months now! The Olibanum scent is gorgeous, warm and cozy, and goes so well with all of my fall/winter fragrances (if it’s still working for me by the warmer months I’ll switch to the Hinoki or Eucalyptus for a fresher scent). This doesn’t have baking soda, but it does have a bit of coconut oil (sometimes irritates my pits for some reason, however I think it’s far enough down the ingredient list that I’m not reacting). The key ingredient for keeping stink away is the Mandelic Acid which also helps with discoloration and smoothness, and absolutely love that it also has niacinamide to protect that skin barrier. Genuinely keeps odor away all day, no irritation. New fave!

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THE ORDINARY | Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner

You might be wondering why I don’t have this under the ‘beauty’ header for skincare. And the reason is because I probably couldn’t use this on my uber-sensitive face, but boy does it do wonders for my feet and armpits! Yes you read that right. Soak a cotton ball in this and rub it over any dry/white places on your heels (and during flip-flop seasons the sides of my feet), and the next day those areas are smooth as a baby’s bum. No need for crazy scrubbing or shaving at the nail spa! Put a bit on a cotton round and apply to your armpits, and it helps not only with discoloration and smoothness, but also removes and lessens future odor…I do this at night 2-3 times per week. One of my favorite little helpers I found this past year, works like a champ! And it’s inexpensive and lasts forever.

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TRADER JOE’S | Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream

Who doesn’t love a great hand cream? I’m late to the party on this one, but TJ’s hand cream is perhaps my favorite hand cream of all time. So thankful my daughter “had to have” the seasonal version they released this past Fall. Not only are the ingredients great (paraben free with “…coconut oil, hemp seed oil, and 20% pure shea butter, along with essential fatty acids and skin-friendly antioxidants like vitamins C & E. We also add sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, and linseed extract, which are prized for their skin-soothing/skin-softening abilities”), but it delivers and then some. Kind of random, but I’ve had several comments about how soft my hands are after using this! And I agree. The softness and moisture/hydration LASTS…the only time I need to reapply is if I’ve done a lot of dishwashing. My hands are usually so dry in the colder months and look older, and I’m happy to say they are in much better shape this winter!! AND you can’t beat the price! Now, you do have to get this in store, however if you don’t have a Trader Joes’ near you I did find an Amazon seller…more expensive, but still a steal compared to other hand creams (the 3-pack is the best deal, but they also sell singles). Definitely an item to stock up on!

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SPRSUM | Lymphatic Contour Face Brush

Yep, I saw someone on a reel using a face brush similar to this and thought if nothing else it looks relaxing, so I immediately went on the hunt on Amazon for a less expensive alternative (the one I saw was like $45, which seemed a bit ridiculous). I had also broken my gua sha stone, so I was interested to see if this would be a comparable replacement. I have to say, I’ve been loving this. You can definitely feel the drainage, super gentle on the skin (love to use when I’m having sinus issues too, and I feel like I can use it more often than I would the stone), and yes, very relaxing! You also don’t need to use an oil/product with it, and in fact I use this just before I apply my skincare (or just after I’ve washed my face). There were MANY options on the ‘zon, so after going through all of the reviews I decided on this one as no reports of sharp edges on the handle, and the bristles being super soft. Check and check! And it comes in a great case, making it easy to travel with.

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MELISSA | Soft Ballerina Flats

I am truly flummoxed as to how Melissa was not on my radar sooner. Not only was I a huge ‘jelly’ shoe girl back in the day, Melissa’s line is 100% recyclable and their sustainability practices are definitely admirable (and have been since 1979?!). And beyond their regular line, they’ve done collabs with huge designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs! So I jumped on the chance to try their shoes (thank you, Melissa!), and decided these flats would be a great intro to the line – my daughter was on the hunt for a pair of ballerina flats for a Christmas trip, and given the material would be perfect for winter! These shoes are adorable, super comfortable, soft inside with a soft foam insole (no worries of sticky plastic), and clean up like a champ. Dress up or down, socks/tights or not. My girl and I give them a huge thumbs’ up! These are not the jellies of the 80’s, so much softer and more comfortable, and they’ve got everything from sandals to platforms to boots (both rain and these Chelsea boots that I’m definitely getting for myself!).

At time of posting, Melissa is running their semi-annual sale! And you can join their free rewards program to get free shipping on any order.

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NEWMESSI | Solar Pathway Lights

One goal this past year was to get more creative with our outdoor lighting, as well as replace our old solar lights around the pool area. I love using solar lights as you can place the lighting literally anywhere without worry of running wires and outlets. But solar lights can be really hit or miss, and I haven’t had much luck with them lasting more than a season. And then I found these! They’re exactly the look I was shooting for…modern and clean with a hint of MCM. And I’m happy to say that almost a year later, they are still glowing strong (see what I did there?). I’ve never had solar lights that not only lasted this long but also are just as bright as they were day 1. And these have been through summer storms, snow, wind and getting accidentally knocked into by my hubby when he was weeding. Great find!!!

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INNOGEAR | Solar Outdoor Spotlights

And once I had my pool area and pathways figured out, I went on the hunt for uplights for the front yard. The front of our house is fairly dark at night, and we have a lot of lovely trees/shrubs/etc. that I knew would look lovely with a little uplighting. I’d tried some before that didn’t work for more than a month or 2 (so disappointed), but in reading the reviews for these, I decided to try again. And they’ve been great! Lasted all summer through storms, and so far so good through snow/frost/cold. You do need to make sure the panels are getting good access to the sun, but as long as they’re strategically placed they light up like a champ.

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THEIAMO | Asymmetrical Walnut Mirror

I’ve needed a large mirror in our dining room for ages, but every time I put a large, rectangular mirror in there, it just looked…blah. And too structured. But also too busy? I finally saw a picture of a mirror somewhere that was asymmetrical and I thought “THAT’S IT!!!” So the hunt began…I knew I wanted something with rounder edges, more organic but not too modern (also not too rustic). I found this little beauty on Amazon, and I just love it! It’s even nicer IRL, such an interesting piece without causing the space to look busy, and just finishes the space perfectly. The hanging options on the back are great, and allow you to hang this several different ways so you can pick what works best with the space! I think 2 of these together would look phenomenal if I had a bigger wall to work with. Definitely one of my favorite finds of the year!

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And that’ll do it! Of course please comment with any questions or thoughts about these products!