One of my favorite things to do when I’m bored is read/watch reviews for makeup/skin/haircare product recommendations. As a self-proclaimed Sephora pro- I just spend way too much money and time there, I wanted to share my own recommendations for my all time favorite products from 2023. This list consists of my most used products of the entire year and what I think is genuinely worth your money. These products have all truly become a staple in my everyday routines, and although I’m aware it sounds dramatic to say LOL I don’t think I can go without them now.
My first favorite product of 2023 is the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops. I know Drunk Elephant isn’t everyone’s favorite as it’s very pricey and tween girls have taken over the brand on social media , however I purchased the bronzing drops over a year ago and they have been a staple product in my routine ever since. To start, the bottle has lasted me over a year and I use them almost everyday! I am also acne prone with sensitive skin, and they have never caused a breakout or skin irritation, so this is a huge win for me! You really only need 1-2 small drops mixed in with your moisturizer and it gives your skin an insanely bronzed glow that looks like you just got back from vacation; another win! The drops definitely seem pricey for the size and there are other less expensive variations of this product, however given that they last forever and it looks amazing on the skin I think they are completely worth the price tag.
Next up is my favorite skincare brand to ever exist and my favorite skincare product ever- Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. This serum has single-handedly taken over the skincare world as well as my daily skincare routine. I first sampled the serum in an advent calendar before the start of the year and immediately bought the full size, that’s how much I liked it. Again, it’s sensitive skin and acne-prone safe, it has transformed my acne scars and redness, and overall makes my skin so much brighter and glowy. Caudalie in general has become one of my favorite skincare brands recently, and during my Europe trip I went absolutely crazy since they sell it in almost every store. This has led to me owning almost every product from the brand and hyping it up to my friends every chance I get. The brand does come with a larger price tag, however the scents of their products makes you feel like you’re at a luxurious spa, the products all last a long time, and every product I’ve used, especially the Vinoperfect Serum, has worked which again makes it well worth the money to me.
The Glossier You perfume very quickly became my everyday perfume last year and I genuinely cannot say enough good things about it. Glossier has long been another brand that I’ve religiously followed as it gives off cool it-girl vibes and comes in aesthetically pleasing packaging. After receiving a sample of this perfume in one of my orders, I again ran to the website to buy the full size. I have now acquired the bottle, roller-ball and compact rub-on version of this perfume and have even gotten my mom hooked on it! I actually cannot express how many compliments I’ve gotten on this perfume- it’s one of the only perfumes I get complimented on almost every time I wear it, and my friends always say I have a signature scent from it. The scent of this perfume is kind of difficult to explain- think sweet, clean, florals, and slightly musky, and it somehow changes on your skin to give off an addicting scent that’s not too strong or light. This perfume lasts ALL day and I can still faintly smell it days later on my clothes! Iactually cannot express how much I love this perfume and highly recommend giving it a try if you’re looking for a new scent.
While shopping in Rinascente a few months ago I picked up a new Moroccanoil holiday set containing their hair treatment oil and hair perfume, and haven’t stopped using the oil ever since. I’ve used their shampoo and conditioner in the past, but for some unknown reason I’ve never thought to try their hair oil even though it’s one of their top selling products and all over every beauty magazine and recommendation list. Needless to say I understand the hype around it and have since bought the full size version and don’t plan to stop using it any time soon. If you’ve used Moroccanoil products before, you know how amazing the scent is. The oil is no different and makes your hair smell amazing all day long! It adds so much shine and hydrates the hair making it perfect to use after using heat or styling your hair. The oil can be used in so many different ways, and compared to several other popular hair oils I’ve used, this one easily replaced them for me.
Merit became one of go to makeup brands this summer when I was looking for clean, simple makeup, and wanted to upgrade my routine. The chic packaging and simplicity of their line caught my attention and luckily their products are all amazing and well worth the hype. Although I use several of their products every single day; Brush No.1, Bronze Balm, Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade, and the Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil (all of these are 10/10), the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick has captured me the most. It is somewhere between a concealer and foundation, comes in a mess-free stick application, melts into your skin, and gives off a ‘your skin but better’ look. As someone that has gone through an extremely long and difficult acne journey to get clear skin, I don’t like caking my skin makeup everyday but still want coverage in certain spots and this product does exactly that!
Summer Fridays is another brand that captured my attention through their aesthetically-pleasing packaging and simple look. Their Lip Butter Balms have gained a lot of traction on social media and are frequently sold out in store, and for good reason! This lip balm is genuinely the best thing I have ever used, and I consider myself a lip balm expert. Having chapped lips is one of my biggest personal icks and I’m always carrying several lip balms on me at all times. Summer fridays is truly the only lip balm I’ve used that lasts, hydrates, and smells AMAZING. Their entire line of lip balms are great, my favorites being vanilla and pink sugar. Although the price seems a little outrageous at first for a lip balm, the quality is so insanely good and this is a product I reach for again and again and even have stocked up for when I run out!
While finishing my rounds of accutane I decided I wanted to create a better skincare regimen to keep the clear skin I had just miraculously achieved. I had received samples of Tatcha’s The Rice Wash in the past and LOVED it so I decided to commit to the full size. I honestly think this single-handedly helped clear my skin and acne scarring, and continues to make my skin look amazing every time I use it. It’s the perfect amount of exfoliating to thoroughly cleanse your skin without being harsh, smells incredible, and foams up so well. I bought the full size bottle a year and a half ago now and it’s still going strong which is crazy considering I use it once or twice every single day. This bottle has traveled all over the world with me this year and will probably continue to travel everywhere with me in the future as I don’t ever want to go without it! The matching Dewy Skin Cream and honestly every other Tacha product I’ve ever tried is amazing and works wonders for your skin, however given that all of the products are pretty expensive and I’m on a broke college girl budget, The Rice Wash is thankfully the most affordable out of their products and worth every penny in my opinion!
Last but not least in my 2023 favorites is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. As someone that didn’t buy into the hype of setting sprays and assumed they didn’t do much, this product does a lot and I absolutely love it! I received this product over the summer and have not looked back since. I took this with me on my trip to Europe and it made my makeup last all day in the crazy European heat, which is a huge feat considering it was like one hundred degrees and no AC!! This product truly does everything it says it does, isn’t sticky, is multi-use (you can also use it as a primer!!), and once again smells incredible and feels luxurious. While all CT products honestly live up to the hype, if you’re looking to get into the brand or looking for a good setting spray that actually works I recommend this 100%!