Everything I finished in December
And my best clothing, shoe & accessory buys of 2024.
Happy new year! I hope your 2025 is off to a healthier start than mine—like a lot of people, I caught a nasty bug at some point during the holidays and have been down for the count since Monday (it was so bad, we had to cancel our New Year’s Eve get-together, which I felt horrible about). As annoyed as I am about being sick, I know it’s also my body telling me I need to slow down and rest, which is something that I definitely don’t do enough of. Thankfully, it’s given me a lot of time to think about the year ahead and how I want to live my life. I know there’s a lot of pooh-pooh-ing of resolutions or goals or words of the year or whatever else you like to do to signal a fresh start—if you want to make a change, by all means, you don’t have to wait for January 1st. But I am definitely a vibes person, and to me, there’s always an optimistic energy this time of year that I like to lean into. One of my goals for 2025 is to grow my audience here on Substack, so even though it feels ick to me, I’m going to do a little more self-promotion (just a little!). If you know of someone who might enjoy Cheryl Shops, please forward this newsletter—I appreciate your support!
Now, onto all the products I finished in December.
Left to right:
Sephora Collection Big by Definition mascara $13
I tried a mini of this and liked it enough to buy the full-size version, however I found the formula in the bigger tube to be wetter and sloppier. The consistency improved over time as it dried out a bit, however I feel like that made my lashes prone to clumping. There are better cheap mascaras out there, TBH.
Eighth Day The Reparative Moisturizer $95–$180 (c/o)
This was left over from a collab I did with Eighth Day awhile ago and I’d been hoarding it for some reason; I think I waited too long to use it, because the consistency became so clumpy that the pump didn’t work and I had to scoop it out of the tube manually. (Moral of the story: don’t wait to use the good stuff—use it now!) That said, I fished out every last milligram of this moisturizer, because it plumps and smooths skin like no other. I hesitate to recommend expensive products, but this cream (and the even-better serum) is actually worth it.
Kosas Air Brow eyebrow gel $22
This is my ride-or-die eyebrow grooming product because it’s easy to use, doesn’t get crusty, and the Taupe shade (currently out of stock, sadly) is pretty much an exact match for my natural eyebrow color. (In case you were wondering, yes, I am actually a natural blonde! Although I do get highlights, like every other natural blonde I know.) I will gladly buy this product forever and ever.
Santa Maria Novella Rosa Gardenia body lotion $75
I bought this particular bottle in Rome last summer; it lasts about 3 months with daily use, although getting the last 10% of the lotion out of the bottle can be a challenge. Most importantly, the scent is divine and layers nicely with my perfume (Eau Capitale by Diptqyue). It’s a splurge, but I’m worth it.
Corpus Neroli natural deodorant $26
This is another holy grail product for me, and one I’ve featured in my empties many times before. It’s a water-based formula (and free of baking soda, which irritates the ish out of my pits); I’ve tried Corpus’s other scents and this one works the best for me personally. I am not a chemist, but my theory is that the natural acids in the neroli (a citrus blossom) neutralize my BO. Again, this is a product I will happily pay for until the end of time.
Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer $39 (c/o)
As I noted in my rundown of everything Paula’s Choice, this stuff is really THICC, but I found it to be not at all oily, and it sinks in quickly enough to wear under makeup. It’s ultra moisturizing, making it a great choice for winter, and like most of Paula’s Choice products, the price is right. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a non-irritating, ultra-hydrating daily moisturizer for this time of year.
This week on the blog
As I was doing a little intention-setting for the year ahead, I decided to take a look back at everything I bought in 2024 and assess my best buys. I’ll have a roundup of my favorite beauty products coming next week, but first, my favorite clothes, shoes, and accessories of the year. Enjoy!
