2020 Favorites

Happy New Year! Sharing some of my favorites from this past year. 

Danni Chain Strap Belt Bag

I love purses. And if you peek in my closet, you’ll find a number of them. But because I’m a walking contradiction, I rarely carry one in everyday life, especially not when running errands. So when I was picking up take out one day, I ended up juggling my keys, phone, and wallet cause I didn’t have any pockets. I stupidly put the car keys in with the box of food, thinking to myself that I better not lock my keys in the trunk. Well, you can guess what happened, I locked the keys in the trunk when I placed the box of takeout in there. Luckily, I had my phone, so I was able to call AAA. Unluckily, for some reason, AAA was super busy that day and I was on hold for over thirty minutes, which isn’t normal, so I had to hang up and start all over again. Also, unlucky that it happened during a time when covid measures meant I couldn’t wait inside the restaurant. So long story short, I started carrying purses when running errands, and this one from Urban Outfitters, that I bought during the Before Times works great. 

Dr. Bronner Peppermint Lip Balm

I’m a self-professed lip balm addict. I’ve been one since my elementary school days. This Dr. Bronner one is great and it doesn’t cost a lot either. 

Uniqlo x JW Anderson Half Zip Sweater

Bought this as a Christmas present for myself. I had a difficult time deciding between the navy blue and green. I ultimately went with the green. Love how soft and comfy it is. The downside? Handwash only. 

All Access Starter Kit

I love a good workout set. This one is stylish and comfy and motivates me to exercise, which has been kind of a struggle in this worldwide panini. 

I’m very picky when it comes to leggings, and nothing annoys me more than when leggings or pants are advertised as high waisted, but really aren’t. These pass the high waist test. The material is silky and soft, but sadly it’s not compressing. 

I love this so much that I recently bought another All Access set. And now I’m impatiently waiting for it to arrive. 

Nyakio Baobab Youth-Infused Daily Defense Creme

My favorite moisturizer of the year. It’s at a great price point and it works wonderfully. 

Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Skin Booster

I have dehydrated skin – oily, but dehydrated – so I’m always on the lookout for a good hydrating serum. This one is affordable, effective, and as a bonus, it also strengthens the skin barrier. A definite win.

The Guest List

I’m blaming pandemic induced anxiety for my inability to read books in 2020. Have you heard of the theory that anxiety can influence how you consume media? Instead of watching new shows and movies or reading new books, you revisit old favorites because it’s low-stakes. You already know what will happen, so you don’t have to worry about how things will work out. I’m not an anxious person, normally, but I think this theory does apply to my habits a bit.

Funnily, at the beginning of the pandemic, I thought I would finish more books than I normally do on the account of spending so much time at home, but, of course, the opposite happened. I only managed to finish about 16 books last year, one of them was The Guest List. It was compelling and entertaining. Highly recommend it if mysteries are your thing.

Bala Bangles

I’ve been eyeing these bangles for a while now. I first took notice of them when one of my Lagree studios started selling them and then of course they became ubiquitous on fitness insta. I really wanted a pair of the neutral color ones in sand, but because of the stupid panorama, it was out of stock forever. Finally, I just said, fuck it, I’ll just get them in white (which was also out of stock forever) when they became available, because I couldn’t wait any longer. 

It’s an easy way to incorporate light weights into your workouts. The only thing is, I wish the velcro was more secure. I wish I could box with them, but I keep having to readjust the velcro. It works great with other workouts though. 

Palm Springs

Why aren’t there more rom-coms? We need more rom-coms. 

Have you seen Palm Springs yet? If you haven’t, do yourself a favor and watch it. I went into it without that much expectation. I thought it was going to just be a cute little rom-com with a Groundhog’s Day spin, and while it was that, it definitely delivered more than what I was expecting.

The Inky List Hyaluronic Acid

I bought this to use on my hands, cause it could get super dry sometimes. It works great, especially since it’s under ten dollars. Sometimes, I find hyaluronic acids that are around this price range can be a little tacky (as in sticky, not lacking of taste) and there was none of that here. 

Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser

I really like how gentle this cleanser is. It also has a nice refreshing scent. Summer Fridays is quickly becoming a staple among my skincare arsenal.

Unite Leave-In Conditioner

This is my favorite detangler to date. It’s also very hydrating, so that’s good for my parched ends (I also desperately need a haircut). And as a bonus, it smells great. 

Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

I really enjoyed the Biossance moisturizer I tried last year, so of course, it got me curious about other Biossance products. So when I was looking for a new AHA/BHA, I picked this up. And like, the moisturizer, I ended up really liking it. I alternate this with a retinol and the results have left me with smooth glowing skin. 

Dash & Lily

Is there anything better than Christmas in New York? Dash & Lily is a delightfully adorable holiday series that was like a love letter to New York. It really made me miss the City.