My favorite purchases, discoveries, and essentials of 2023
a non-bookish "best of" list
If you’re looking for book lists, you can find my favorite romance novels (and my least favorite) in the archives. I’m working on a special podcast episode with my former He Read She Read co-host (aka my husband) to share our best books of the year in January, so keep an eye on your inboxes!
Note: I’m taking the next two-ish weeks off for the holidays, but I’ll be back in the new year with my aforementioned best books of the year, a December Reading Report, updated notes on raising a reader, and a February Romance Collection (more details to come).
Today, I’m sharing the simple stuff that made my life a smidge better in 2023, like the right outfit, a solid skincare routine, and weekly Substack reads. These things brought me joy, relief, and inspiration, and I’d love to hear about your discoveries in the comments.
Beauty & Skincare
Naturium Skincare. Every product I try from this brand is a win, plus it’s affordable, available at Target, and easy to compile into a neat little routine. My favorites include:
or this trio of serums
& Hyaluronic Acid Serum in winter
Avene Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Cream for dry winter skin & perioral dermatitis.
Little Seed Farm Deodorant & Applicators. I’m super sensitive to deodorants, even the all natural variety. I used Pretty Frank with great results for a long time, then suddenly my underarms started breaking out. Since I switched to Little Seed Farm, all is well.
Fenty Eaze Drop Stick. I’m drawn to the skincare benefits of serum foundations or skin tints, but I have a tricky time matching my neutral undertone and finding the right level of coverage with them. This product is my new holy grail. I wear it as a concealer or a foundation and blend with this brush. It’s a perfect match for my skin tone (Shade 2), feels great on my skin, and has a pretty satin finish (not too dewy).
BareMinerals Blonzer (Kiss of Mauve). This year I turned in to a full on Blush Girlie. I look so much more awake/like myself with rosy cheeks. Most days, I apply a little under eye concealer, blush, and that’s it. This blush + bronzer combo gives me a lovely glow no matter how tired I look.
Mom Uniform
2023 was the year of the Mom Uniform! I wore this combination all summer and loved not having to decide what to wear each day. I was comfy, protected from the sun, and at least slightly stylish. The formula:
Bike Shorts + Tank Top or T-Shirt + Linen Button Down + Baseball Cap
Also, I really like these socks.
Understance Bras. When I tell you I searched around the world and back for a bra that would fit my truly ridiculous post-baby size I am not exaggerating. Finally, I found a company that offers sizes A through K, flexwire for structured support, and pretty designs (a bonus I honestly do not expect at this point). Someday, I’ll get the reduction I desperately long for, but for now Understance is literally holding me together.
Toddler Things
My mom found these adhesive coloring sheets that perfectly cover Theo’s little play table, and they’re awesome.
H & M 3-Pack Sweatshirts. Theo wears one of these pretty much every day. They’re a little oversized, which means they look cute with jeans or sweats now but will also fit through spring and maybe even next year.
New-to-Me Substacks
A Sourdough Story. I baked almost all of my Christmas cookies using sourdough recipes from
this year, and they turned out so well! I’m grateful for her reminders to slow down, enjoy the process, and savor good food with the people we love.Raising Myles. Every week,
writes a letter to his son Myles in the spirit of Between the World and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates. Through his letters, Marc reflects on parenthood and how it’s changing him, what he wants his son to learn, and how much he adores Myles’ mother.Deep North Eats. Fellow Midwesterner
shares recipes and food stories that make me feel right at home, plus budget-friendly and seasonal produce-inspired meal ideas.What are the best purchases, discoveries, or Substack newsletters you found in 2023?
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To find out more about my current reads, favorite things, and life updates follow me on Instagram. If you’re interested in reading classic literature with accessible guidance and a cozy community, check out the Novel Pairings podcast and Patreon.
Looking forward to hearing from the He Read She Read duo. 😊📚
Chelsey, thank you so much. I always appreciate when a former teacher recognizes these letters- especially when they taught English like me!