MY PERSONAL 2019 FAVORITES
Although today’s items didn’t make y’all’s TOP 10 list, they are items that I discovered in 2019 and would definitely classify them as MY personal favorites. (And FYI…a lot of you wondered why no Amazon items had made the Reader Top 10 list, but Amazon items will be in their own separate post this coming Monday.)
Let’s get to my personal 2019 favorites!
SUNGLASSES AND EARRINGS
These Quay sunglasses. You see them in almost every single post where I have an outdoor shot, and they have definitely emerged as my favorites. Although I have several pairs of sunglasses, these are the ones I reach for over and over again. These sunnies are super stylish and very affordable at ONLY $55. Mine are the “torte/brown”. I also had and loved the matte black, but I’ve misplaced then and haven’t been able to find them in months!
These chunky hoop earrings are the newest addition to my Kendra Scott collection. I’m wearing the gold, but they also come in rose gold and silver. Quantities seem to be running low at Nordstrom, but you can also find them HERE (with free shipping and returns)! They are thick hoops that make quite a statement because of their size, but they are surprisingly lightweight!
cashmere sweater / sunglasses / earrings / plaid scarf
Here are the earrings and sunglasses again!
cable turtleneck tunic sweater / sunglasses / earrings / Bony Levy rings
Here’s one more shot of the sunglasses!
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MY BIG SPLURGE THIS YEAR: A GUCCI BAG!
If you know me, you know that I don’t take designer bag purchases lightly.
I bought my Louis Vuitton (my first designer bag) around 6 years ago, and I was a nervous wreck when I purchased it. I couldn’t believe I was spending that much on a bag, but over the last 6 years of carrying it, I realized that it was worth it (for me).
I’ve been thinking about adding a small to mid size cross body to my closet, so I started browsing around for what I might want. After looking around for a bit, I settled on this quilted Gucci bag! AND Y’ALL. I love it and carry it so much more than I even hoped I would.
It’s a great size and can totally hold a small wallet, a small makeup bag, keys, a phone, and some other small essentials. It looks great with dressy outfits, but it also totally elevates a casual outfit. I feel that both of my designer bags are classic enough that I might even be carrying them another 20 years from now.
Gucci bag at Nordstrom / Gucci bag at Gucci
cable turtleneck tunic sweater / sunglasses / earrings / SPANX faux leather leggings /Michele watch / Tory Burch logo bracelet / similar over the knee boots ON SALE
And I love that it’s reversible!
If you look above, you will see the gold interlocking Gs.
But if you turn it around, you can achieve a more understated look with the quilted Gs.
Gucci bag at Nordstrom / Gucci bag at Gucci
cable turtleneck tunic sweater / sunglasses / earrings / SPANX faux leather leggings /Michele watch / Tory Burch logo bracelet / similar over the knee boots ON SALE
v neck sweater ON SALE/ moto jacket / my favorite earrings /Gucci bag at Nordstrom / Gucci bag at Gucci / my favorite black jeans / my black boots ON SALE
tunic sweater / SPANX leather leggings / Gucci bag at Nordstrom / Gucci bag at Gucci
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SOME PERSONAL BEAUTY FAVORITES
Due to some sponsored beauty content I had this year, I tried lots of new beauty products. I had so much fun with the beauty posts, and I really enjoyed trying new things. In the posts, I highlighted lots of new products that I tried and liked, but a handful of them are items that I’ve now incorporated into my personal daily routine.
I made a change this year and started wearing a combination of this magic cream with these sunshine drops instead of a tinted moisturizer. I LOVE the results every day. Click HERE to get the post where I initially talk about the products!
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (also available at Nordstrom) – I just started using this product back in March. I added into my routine after reading about it on several blogs and in several “BEST OF” beauty articles. Lots of users compared it to the much more expensive La Mer line, but said they preferred this product! That was it, I was convinced I needed to try it. Officially, it’s a cream that floods skin with moisture for a glowing complexion in a flash. A little goes a long way with this cream, and it’s not greasy, but it is incredibly hydrating. There is a very light rose scent to this cream, and I don’t normally care for rose, but it doesn’t bother me at all.
I’ve been using this product for a little over a month, and I’m now devoted to it. It has a cult following and a large group of women that absolutely swear by it. From reading reviews, it seems I will love it even more (if that’s possible) after extended use.
Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops – This product is awesome. AWESOME. You can wear it by itself, or you can mix it in with a moisturizer or serum. I obviously mix it with the magic cream. It gives you a really pretty glow/tan immediately! But don’t confuse it with a self tanner, because it’s just makeup and will wash right off. If you are use to FULL coverage, you might not like it. But I LOVE IT. This product also has a lot of amazing ingredients in it that are great for your skin. It’s made of vitamins, antioxidants, platinum peptides, and barrier-supportive fatty acids that defend skin from environmental free radicals. YES, PLEASE!
Below you can see how I just add a pump to the magic cream and then blend it together before applying it all over my face and neck. I’m telling you, it just gives your face a wonderfully healthy looking GLOW.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream/ Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops
Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops – This is one of those blogger products that I’d been hearing about for well over a year. I’d been dying to try it and had tried to purchase it several times, but it was always sold out.
Well, it finally got restocked and I jumped on it!
The verdict? Did it live up to all of the blogger hype?
The answer is HECK YES. This product has blown me away.
Here’s what you do. You mix drops of it into your favorite moisturizer (I of course use the magic cream). The more drops, the deeper the tan. You rub it all over your face, being careful not to miss any spots. And within a couple of hours, a “tan” develops. It’s magical really. I appreciate that you can control the deepness of your tan with the number of drops you use. They call it “controlling your glow” and I’m here for it.
I grabbed the medium formula, and I’ve been using 3 drops with moisturizer. I feel like it gives me an even bronze glow that’s not streaky or orange.
I think it’s best to apply it at night so it can develop while sleeping. When using 3 drops, the color fades in about 3 days, so I think I will probably use this product about twice a week right now. When I up the number of drops, the “tan” might stick around longer and I might go longer between uses.
I would like to direct your attention to my arm in the picture below. Do you see the horizontal stripe below my wrist and the vertical stripe down my forearm? That’s my sun-kissed glow’, y’all! I tested the product on my arm before using it on my face, and I think it shows the results quite nicely!
If you are still on the fence, I highly recommend hopping over to the site to read some of the other reviews. Because MY GOODNESS, people are obsessed with this product. And it’s such a steal at ONLY $29!!!
Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops / Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
Other NEW TO ME beauty products this year that I’ve fallen in love with….this $5 lip gloss (I wear the “Praline – deep nude”) and the NYX Pore Filler Primer (like spackle for your pores! ONLY $14!).
This NYX Butter Gloss is too good to believe. First of all, IT’S $5. FIVE DOLLARS. It goes on soooo smoothly, it’s not sticky at all, and it just feels really good on. It’s got a silky feel, and it’s very moisturizing. I wear this over lipstick to add shine, but I also wear it on its own for just a sheer and shiny lip.
Tarte Glossy Lip Paint (Double Tap) / NYX Butter Gloss (Praline – deep nude)
Another amazing value is this NYX Pore Filler. It’s MAGICAL. AND SEVERAL READERS COMMENTED THAT IT’S ON AMAZON RIGHT NOW FOR ONLY $6.99!!!
It’s a game-changer. When deciding what I wanted to try out and review for one of my posts, I read hundreds of online reviews. When I read one reviewer who struggled with large pores say it was like “grout for your face“, I was SOLD.
I absolutely love it and am SO IMPRESSED with the results this product gives, and I truly feel like it smooths/minimizes the large pores on my nose. It IS grout for my face, and I’m here for it. I’ve started using this primer as more of a spot treatment (all over my nose), and I continue to use the Smashbox Primer on the rest of my face.
It’s only $14, but I would pay three times as much for this product without even a second thought.
NYX Pore Filler Primer at Macy’s – find HERE on Amazon for ONLY $6.99!
My final new favorite beauty product of 2019 was a new release from Colleen Rothschild!
I use many of her products daily (so do my mom, my sister, and several of my friends), and I think everybody knows by now that this is my ride or die product (you can still use the code BALMBARGAIN to get it for ONLY $69!) that I shall never live without. Click HERE to read all of my thoughts about the cleansing balm. And up until now, the Dual Enzyme Polish was one of my other Top 3 products as well.
BUT Y’ALL, I think this new product blows the Dual Enzyme Polish out of the water! And that’s saying something, because I truly love the Dual Enzyme Polish.
It’s the Micro-Mineral Resurfacing Scrub. If you’re like me and don’t do professional microdermabrasion, this is a great alternative for you! I know it is for me! Do you see those little pink particles in the product? They must be magical unicorn horn dust because my skin has never felt so soft. After 1 use, I walked into the family room and insisted Chris rub my cheek. He was seriously impressed too and was like, “WOW. That IS soft.”
The pink particles feel like really tiny bits of very fine sand, but apparently it’s rose quartz combined with additional mineral nutrients to gently exfoliate and even skin texture. I mean, MAYBE. But I’m pretty sure that unicorn dust is in there somewhere. Right after cleansing with the cleansing balm, I pat my face dry, and then apply a small amount of the scrub in circular motions on my face. I don’t press hard, but I do lots of circular motions all over, and then I rinse with water and then pat dry again. And POOF. Baby soft skin. Correction…baby soft skin with improved brightness. Ladies. It’s soooooooooooooo good. It’s right up there with the cleansing balm!!!!!
And FYI, if you are interested in trying any of her other products, there are a handful of products on sale this weekend! I use and love the Vitamin C Treatment Complex and the Complete Eye Cream (that are both 20% OFF right now). And my mom swears by the Smooth and Shine Hair Serum that is ONLY $18 right now! Click HERE for all of the deals.
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CROSS BODY BAG STRAPS
I was also incredibly excited about a couple of the deals I offered through Accessory Concierge this year. The posts where I partner with them on some seriously deep discounts on favorite products are some of my absolute favorite posts!
Like the bag straps! I use these straps all time time (my personal favorite is the stripe with the mustard tab and the camo featured below), and I just love how they give extra style and personality to my outfits. And I of course love the hands free feature as well.
And great news! For Sheaffer Told Me To readers, they’ve extended their New Year’s code. The bag straps are 40% OFF right now with the code CELEBRATE!
cross body strap / dolman sleeve cardigan / oval hoop earrings / white tee / raw hem ankle jeans/ leopard calf hair sneakers
DARLING.
cross body strap / raw hem ankle jeans/ leopard calf hair sneakers
My favorites were the stripe strap above, and the camo options in both the black and the green.
camo strap /striped sweater / brown bucket bag / raw hem ankle jeans/ tiger flats
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TILE BRACELETS
I was also super pumped about the colorful tile bracelet deal we did together. These bracelets are so much fun and can be mixed and matched in countless ways. They just make me happy.
The bracelets are also 40% OFF right now with the code CELEBRATE!
bracelets / black cashmere sweater ON SALE/ raw hem cropped girlfriend jeans ON SALE/ camo strap ON SALE/ black faux croc bucket bag
leopard fleece top / raw hem cropped girlfriend jeans /bracelets
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CRYSTAL WRAP BRACELET
My other favorite bracelet seems to be sold out right this second, but I think it will eventually come back in stock, so I still wanted to include it on today’s round up since it was definitely a personal favorite from 2019. The large crystals on the natural colored wrap are a great combination. I love how it’s sparkly, but still has a bit of a rustic vibe.
Click HERE if you want to see some of my other favorite wrap and cuff bracelets that are all BOGO right now!
large crystal wrap bracelets / double wrap on pink textured leather (I think this bracelet is much more red than it is pink.)
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MY FAVORITE SWEATSUIT…EVER
I also found this “sweatsuit” last year that is soooooooo much more than a sweatsuit. I cannot even tell you how many times I’ve worn it. And I’m certainly not going to tell you or admit that I often times wore it several days in a row. #allegedly #winkwink
It washes beautifully and is FLIPPING AWESOME.
For size reference, I’m wearing a medium in the top and a small in the joggers. It’s from the Lou and Grey SignatureSoft line, so you know it’s stupid soft. I would say that it’s as comfy as pajamas, but it’s actually more comfy than some of my actual pajamas are.
top / joggers / my favorite earrings / black sneakers with gold accents
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SOREL BOOTIES
I mentioned this in a previous post during 5 Days of Fabulous week, but these Sorel booties are definitely one of my Top 5 favorite purchases from the entire year.
ALL. YEAR. LONG.
That’s something.
These booties are fully waterproof, have an elastic insert on the inside and asymmetrical zip closure on the outside. They are easy to get off and on, and they have a removable padded insole. I love the wedge heel and the chunky textured sole. They give me some height, elongate my legs, and are still incredibly comfortable. True to size for me, but after reading reviews online, it seems like if you are between sizes that you should go up a 1/2 size.
In addition to the functionality, let’s talk about the fashion. Because they function great…BUT THEY LOOK GREAT TOO!
They somehow manage to be sporty, yet chic.
I ADORE THEM.
And OH MY WORD, I’ve also received hundreds of messages about these booties since I first introduced them at the very end of October. Everybody is so incredibly impressed with their comfort level and how they are so good at keeping our feet warm and dry.
Click HERE for the booties. As you can see above, they come in both black and brown.
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That’s it for today, y’all. I of course have other items I loved and was super excited to find this year, but the READER FAVORITES and the above were the cream of the crop for sure! If you haven’t left a comment on the READER FAVORITES post, go do so now! The 3 giveaway winners will be announced on Monday’s post.
I cannot thank y’all enough for following along in 2019, and I can’t wait to see what favorites 2020 will bring us!!!
kathy says
I’m looking forward to all your posts for this New Year. It’s so fun to follow you.
Sheaffer says
You’re always so sweet, Kathy! One of my very first loyal followers!!! I appreciate you so much and am so very thankful that you’ve stuck around. Happy New Year to you! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Maggie says
I just got my Sorel boots on Tuesday and have worn them everyday! Thank you for all the recommendations and for your positivity. I just love reading your posts. Happy New Year!
sheryl says
Thank you for these top lists. They have reminded me to try a few new items. Happy New Year!
Lisa says
Hi! Absolutely love the faux croc bags from accessory concierge, any idea when they might come back in stock? Sold out in black and brown.
Sheaffer says
Hi, Lisa! I love mine too, but I’m afraid they aren’t coming back in stock. So sorry!
Amy says
Lady, you were not kidding about that Pore Filler! It’s a game changer, especially at that price. I only wish it was bigger. Thanks for sharing!
Heather says
Amy, Amazon has it for $6.99 right now. I went ahead and bought 3 when I saw that price! Stock up, girl! 🙂
Amy says
Say whaaaa?!
Kate says
So like, I don’t NEED the Sorel booties, but I should probably just get them in case I do, right? I already have two pair of their winter snow boots, and they are by far the warmest/driest boots I own.
Thanks for this post, Sheaffer, and Happy New Year!
Janet says
I purchased the black Sorel boots after you shared them in your Boston trip post. I now tell everyone I know about them and have also just ordered the brown for myself.
It’s a pleasure to read your blog. Thank you for all you do and wishing you happiness and success in 2020
Heather L. says
That NYX pore filler is AMAZING and I can’t believe how well it works! It has to be my fave STMT product of 2019. And FYI, you can get it on Amazon right now for just $6.99! You better believe I stocked up! Thanks for always sharing such wonderful finds with us!
Sheaffer says
Stop it, Heather! OMG! Going to add the link to the post!! THANK YOU! xoxo
Amy Jarrell says
I see the NYX pore filler on Amazon is only $6.99 for the same size. Do you think it’s the same? Because it’s 1/2 the price of Macy’s.
Sheaffer says
Hey, Amy! Another reader just said that as well! I think it’s definitely worth a shot!!!!!! I just grabbed 2 for myself! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Dawn says
After you and Shay mentioned the tanning drops, I ordered some, and Oh My Word! I love them! I have always been afraid to use a self tanner on my face, but these are amazing and so easy to use and natural looking. I also started wearing the NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake, and now have tubes of it in my purse, car, and classroom!
Dianna says
So how often do you use the self tanning drops vs the drunk elephant sunshine drops?
Sheaffer says
Hi, Dianna! I use the drunk elephant sunshine drops every day! When mixed with my moisturizer, I use it as my foundation! The sunshine drops are just makeup, so they wash off at night when I wash my face. I use the self tanning drops every 3-4 days and they are a self-tanner for my face. Hope this helps! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Stephanie Boldt says
You’re so wonderful to follow! I check your blog EVERYDAY! Just added the pore filler to my amazon cart…been looking for something like this to help conceal large pores on my nose as well. You’re constant trial and error with fashion, beauty and home products keeps the rest of us looking and feeling fresh at a great price point while saving us time! You’re the best!
Sheaffer says
What a sweet comment, Stephanie! THANK YOU for being a loyal follower!!!!! xoxo
Julie Bradford says
Over the last few years I’ve bought several blardigans for myself and family…wit and wisdom jeans.. like several… 3 or more Natori bras and the bliss panties…I ordered the 7/8 leggings so I can’t wait to try them… I’ve gotten 4 girlfriends hooked on the cleansing balm 🙂 I even texted them the balmbargain code at 11pm the other night and told them to stock up b/c I did..I am not EVER going without the cleansing balm if I can help it 🙂 I just ordered the hair serum and a few other products b/c why not 🙂 and I want those SOREL wedges so bad.. 2 of my girlfriends have them and love them but the price is holding me back….I just can’t pull the trigger yet… thanks so much for keeping us comfy and cozy and in style… you do an awesome job and we are very appreciative!!! Happy 2020… can’t wait to see how we are styled this year 🙂
Sheaffer says
Hey, Julie! They are definitely pricey, and you can rest assured I will definitely being shouting it from the rooftops if they ever go on sale! So happy you love the balm so much!!!!! xoxo
Gail Elizabeth Wilson says
The W&W raw hem girlfriend jeans have become my new favorite, wear ALL THE TIME jeans! I got one pair at full price in November (because you told me to!) and two pair during the Half Yearly – yay!!
Gail Wilson says
Can’t wait to see what you have in store for next weeks Amazon round-up! All I have to say is, ‘Ladies, get your credit cards ready’!!
Sheaffer says
Laughing so hard, Gail! I’m working on it right now, AND IT’S SOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!
Jan Fisher says
I joined the cleansing balm party and oh my word! can’t wait to try some more of her products!
Thanks for all you do on your blog….it’s a “never miss” for me!
Terri says
I’ve finally decided to take the plunge on 2 great handbags. The Gucci bag is going to be a favorite! But, which LV bag do you have. I want a tote that’s not too huge and yours looks perfect. Would love your recommendation.
Sheaffer says
Hi, Terri! Mine is called the Sully, but I’m not sure if they make it anymore. I would just suggest to go into an LV store and try a bunch! The Sully wasn’t even on my radar, and I fell in love in the store! xoxo
Jody Forsee says
Hi! I bought the CR resurfacing scrub a while back when you first posted and just started using it over the holidays. Do you use it every day? It does produce suuuuper soft skin but I can tell it’s powerful. Wondering if I should limit its use or if it is fine to use every day? Thanks!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Jody! I only use about once a week!!! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Karol says
Great list as always, thanks! I couldn’t get the balm code to work, maybe I missed it?
Sheaffer says
Yes, the code already expired. So sorry, Karol! xoxo