I tried a lot of beauty products in 2025. I was distracting myself, leaning into what was good and true in times of turmoil. I still get excited about new textures and pretty colors which serves to reassure me that I am not dead inside. That is what the best beauty products should do really; make us feel more alive. If they make us look more alive too? Well, even better.

I’ve categorized all the products I tried in 2025 into 3 categories: skin, hair and makeup.
I’ll denote how the product was received, either gifted or purchased.

Skin

Versed Good Defense Daily Sunscreen

This sunscreen was so good, I used up every last drop. It’s lightly hydrating, sits perfectly under makeup and has no cast, no smell. Versed really did the thing. Versed Good Defense is not a mineral sunscreen, but I don’t even care. I feel like I’ve rarely liked any that are and the most important thing about sunscreen is that you use it.
Gifted

Soft Services Buffing Bar 

I’ve loved using this microcrystal exfoliating bar so much since receiving it to try that I’ve purchased it many times over and gifted it to my mom. Soft Services Buffing Bar is a product I can no longer live without in my shower and that’s how you know a real one.

Read my original review of the buffing bar and other Soft Services products HERE.
Gifted then purchased

Glossier You Doux

I packed a travel size Glossier You Doux for a trip to New York this year and now the scent is forever tied to New York to me. It’s chic, it’s artistic, it’s special. Apparently, this scent is downright biblical with frankencise and myrrh, as well as notes of palo santo.
Purchased

Clean Towel Club Towels

It’s a little shameful to admit but I wasn’t washing my face in the morning. I assumed that because my skin was dry, and it didn’t really get “dirty” overnight, I didn’t need to. When I thought about how I sometimes get hot and sweat in my sleep, and the fact that I wear a sleep mask every night, I decided it was worth a try.

I realized one of the things I hate about it is the splashing as well as having a clean towel at the ready. I purchased a box of the Clean Towel Club towels in an effort to bribe myself to wash my face daily.

I’ve seen a big difference in my skin since implementing this, particularly in the way of less clogged pores. The towels are soft, easy to grab and take half the thinking out of the process.

Hot tip: I can confirm, the Kirkland ones are a nearly identical dupe at a far more affordable price.
Purchased

Volufiline

It’s rare that I discover a skincare product on TikTok, available for less than $20 on Amazon, add to cart and faithfully use the entire thing. Such was the case with raw cosmetic ingredient, Volufiline. You can see my results and read my full review HERE but long story short, this worked for me. It seemed too good to be true and now we’re seeing the ingredient pop up in other products such as this new Plumping Serum from The Ordinary.
Purchased

SkinPen Microneedling

Of the many skin treatments I’ve tried, from chemical peels to lasers to facials, I had never tried microneedling. The service was offered to me by Brightside Aesthetics, a local Des Moines clinic, and I jumped at the chance to try it. I loved the results. It seemed to give my skin similar results to a Moxi laser, with far less healing time, irritation and most of all, at a fraction of the cost. If I could afford it, I’d do it twice a year.

Because I have melasma, and heat is a trigger, I could never do radio frequency microneedling, but it’s often paired with that, as well as PRP. See my day by day healing HERE.
Gifted

Hair

Roz Santa Lucia Styling Oil

I have thick, dense hair with very wavy texture on the bottom half. I can handle a thicker hair oil for sure so wasn’t sure this thinner texture would do much for me. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Roz Santa Lucia Styling Oil smoothed my hair and I actually enjoy the texture. Because it’s thin, I apply before blow drying as well as after and it never gets heavy or oily. The scent is light but luxurious.

Roz is the haircare line of celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak. I love her work on Emma Stone, Rose Byrne, Lily Collins and others.
Gifted

K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo

You heard it here first; this is the only dry shampoo that actually cleans. I’ve tried so many and usually end up with hair that feels powdery, but still gross. K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo is the only product that has actually produced squeaky clean feeling hair at the roots. It smells fresh but nothing too strong or flowery, which I appreciate. It goes on wet and dries quickly so there’s no need to blow dry it in, making it even easier.

Since it works so well at absorbing oil, be careful not to overuse as it could be a bit drying.
Purchased

Crown Affair Towel

I’ve tried a lot of microfiber hair drying towels and most of them are just ok. Most feel a little weak and thin and not big enough. Enter the Crown Affair towel. It’s microfiber waffle and I swear those little squares make all the difference. I have a lot of thick hair and this has plenty of room and then some. It has an elastic band that keeps it on so well.
Gifted

Makeup

Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze

As a light skinned, olive-undertone, cream bronzers are hit or miss for me, mostly miss. They can be too red or overly warm but this one is perfection. Not only is the shade Goldi Luxe the perfect summery warmth, the formula is light, almost mousse-like, without stickiness. I suspect the inspiration was the iconic Chanel Les Beiges cream bronzer.

Whenever I’m feeling extra pale, have a case of the winter uglies or like my makeup just isn’t hitting, I apply the Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze around the hairline, temples and cheeks and it pulls the whole look together in a healthy way.
Gifted

r.e.m. beauty Hypernova Satin Matte blush

I tried some r.e.m. Beauty products this year for the first time and I was impressed. The products are made in Italy and Korea, evident by their quality formulations. I’ve really enjoyed the r.e.m. Beauty satin matte blushes for the finishing touch on a look. I still prefer a cream blush, but love sweeping this blush on top for extra oomph.

The shade Pinking of You is that truly cool tone, bubblegum barbie pink that was trending like crazy in 2025 bridal makeup.

If you aren’t a cool tone blush fan, try shade Skinny Dipping which I like just as well. These feel far higher quality than their modest $22 price point.
Gifted

Jessup makeup brushes

As a makeup artist, I do one-on-one makeup lessons where I have clients bring in their own products and tools and we learn how to better use them. That’s how I discovered one of the most comprehensive, affordable brush sets I’ve come across. The Jessup makeup brush set has every shape you’d need, bristles that haven’t shed on me yet and a chic, minimalist look.

I’ve recommended these to every person needing new brushes and purchased at least 4 sets for my freelance kit. They’re often marked down too so definitely stock up!
Purchased

Versed Smoothing Lip Blush

This new Versed lip product makes the list for being a unique formula with a finish I rarely see. The consistency feels like a balm and gives lips a blurred, cashmere finish. Versed Smoothing Lip Blush gives an effect that looks modern, cool and high end, at just a $10.99 price point.

On me, the shade Reserve gives me that perfect, Nina Park-esque, soft matte lip. As a 90’s brown lip color lover, I’ll be picking up Lounge next.
Gifted

NYX Suede Lip Liners: Brooklyn Thorn, Moonwalk

I’ve been a long-time lover of the purple-ish greige lip liner shade Moonwalk from NYX. A few people on TikTok suggested Brooklyn Thorn as well and they were right. It’s the same cool tone vibe, with a hint more depth and purple tone. I pair these shades with warm, rosier shades and the contrast is really beautiful and dimensional. These feel like oddball colors for the line so I hope they keep making them.
Purchased

Tower28 Swipe serum concealer

Tower 28 remains one of the more consistent brands out there, minus that mineral sunscreen launch. Eek. They produce mostly all high quality formulas at weirdly lower price points. I really believe all of their products could easily cost $5-10 more than they do.

The Tower28 Swipe Serum concealer is true to it’s name with a thinner, more serum-like consistency. The formula is hydrating and it’s medium coverage makes it appear skin-like, with little chance of it looking heavy, cakey or makeupy.

I wear shade 3.0 CC, which I wasn’t sure about given it’s more peachy undertone, but in the more purple under eye area, it works perfectly to counteract darkness.
Gifted

Ok, that’s all for 2025. Let’s do this again, same time, next year.