Sephora

KhyleyBT

BIC, it’s cold outsiiiide❄️, but I hope that you’re all staying cozy and enjoying the holiday season!

As the year wraps up, I’ve been doing a lot of reflection and am simultaneously getting excited about what’s to come in 2026.✨ In the spirit of such, I’m running it back on some of my tried-and-true faves this month.

I’ve claimed the Glossier You Doux as my signature scent since I snagged it last December, so I was overjoyed when the 3.4 oz finally launched mwahaha! I added another apparent fave that you absolutely didn’t hear about from @AlexBT last month 🤭😂—if that doesn’t solidify the Kiehl’s Retinol Serum as a need, I’m not sure what does! I also rummaged my makeup stash for this Merit lipstick I became obsessed with last year. It’s a limited-edition matte shade in Black Tie, but there’s a ton of other gorg shades to choose from—the formula is chef’s kiss. 💋

Recap of what’s been on rotation his month:

What products are bringing you cheer this season BIC? Share your faves with the “#” if you can, so we can gab and keep the gifting going (this includes ourselves 🥰).

itsfi

My December favorites:

It's been a fairly low key month for me in terms of makeup usage, other than testing a few new products and working through my makeup collection a la the makeup capsule challenge. When I'm not doing that, it's been Armani Beauty Power Fabric + Longwear Matte Concealer an OG tried-and-true concealer for me (though I suspect it may be phased out and reformulated like Armani has done with its LSF foundation (?)) and #Sephora Collection Microsmooth Multi-Tasking Baked Face Powder (not sure why the tag isn't coming up) to set the foundation and if needed, as an all over face powder.

I don't typically go for reds but 'tis the season and this # Gucci Hydrating Plumping Lip Gloss - Gucci is the first Rosso Ancora lip shade from the brand that suited me. The shade appears deeper and leans more red than it appears in the photo below, taken with indoor lighting. I'll be keeping it in the lip rotaton for a couple more months.

Typology Serum for Dark Circles and Bags was part of my Typology advent calendar and came at the right time. I started using a few things from the brand in late 2023 / early 2024 and have been picking up a few products here and there since then, and decided to go with their advent calendar this year - this has been a surprise hit. It's been nearly 4 weeks since I started using this serum and while it doesn't make my dark circles and bags a thing of the past completely, it does make them less noticeable and makes me look a little more awake. I'm being highly selective about what I purchase these days (which isn't easy with all the great deals) but I'll pick up a full size of this serum.

Barielle One Step Nail Mender came to the rescue after an accident earlier this month due to my clumsiness and carelessness caused a couple of nails to break pretty far down the nail plate, ouch!!! They've mended faster than they typically do when these things happen and I'm grateful for that. I may even be able to do some nail art work on all 10 nails for NYE now.

There we have it; this month's faves. Everything else I've been using has either been included in a previous month's favorites or is too new for me to deem it a favorite. I had planned on listing my handful of favorites for all of 2025 as well @KhyleyBT but that'll have to be for another day.

Happy New Year, BIC!

KhyleyBT

Happy New Year @itsfi ✨, and ouch! I've done the same with the nail breaks and as silly as people try to call it, that really can hurt. I'm glad you recovered and your nails have grown back! That Gucci lip looks to die for, I'm a big fan of a statement red lip! 😍 💋

missjeanie

@itsfi That Gucci lip gloss isn't a typical red at all! It looks beautiful on you. Do you find the formula to be very irritating? Hope to see your nail art for tonight!

itsfi

Thank you @missjeanie! There's a slight bit of tingling but it is very faint and lasts like seconds - you feel it and then it's gone. There was a slight change o' plans with nail art. It got done but the overall look was at the direction of a small person who came by earler in the day and who herself was wearing nail sticker. 🤣 I pulled out some nail stickers from the brand at Sephoria NYC and let's just say that by the time she left, my nails looked like a bowl of fruit salad. 🍎🍍🍌🍑🍋

missjeanie

@itsfi I think that may be the best NYE look I've heard about yet!

CookieGirl1

@itsfi you definitely have me intrigued by the Typology serum. I don't think that I've ever really found an eye cream or serum that actually seemed to do anything for me so I might have to look into this!

itsfi

@CookieGirl1, it's worked well for me. I cut back to just using it at night and have noticed a difference the next morning, even after nights when sleep quality isn't great.

veteranlover

@KhyleyBT,

I have been loving the #CAROLINA HERRERA Jasmine Absolute! It has the perfect amount of floral notes infused with a lovely, sultry accord of pure tonka bean. Then, this becomes intertwined with soft, sweet caramel along with the notes of amber that make it last throughout the day. Such an amazing fragrance; many people must have shared my sentiments as my boyfriend could never locate the 5.1 oz bottle.

Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Peppermint Mocha , Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Gingerbread and Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Pumpkin-Tini became my new go-to products to keep my hands as clean as possible. Unlike many other hand sanitizers, they do not dry your hands out and less product is required to sanitize both of your hands. The smells were absolutely divine. However, if I had to pick a favorite, Peppermint Mocha would definitely be it.

I always have trouble finding a cool-toned blush. Many of the blushes that I have tried in the past have simply made me look orange; as if I’ve applied fake tanner in one spot or the wrong shade of bronzer. DIOR Rosy Glow Powder Blush 001 Pink is the perfect shade for my neutral/ cool complexion and it is very easy to apply. Well worth the price although the container is small. Just a small amount is needed for me to add a bit of color to my face!

I also discovered Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment for Hydration + Nourishing Shine in Vanilla and Vanilla Beige. They soften lips like no other product I’ve ever had. (I’ve gone through at least 50, not even exaggerating).

My favorite gloss-like lip products are the LANEIGE Glaze Craze Tinted Polypeptide Lip Serum Treatment Cinnamon Sugar and the LANEIGE Glaze Craze Tinted Polypeptide Lip Serum Treatment Strawberry Sprinkles - Cool Pink. They have great applicators that comfortably apply the products evenly when the tube is gently pressed on. They are not half as sticky as many other lip serums, glosses or oils that I have used. Surprisingly, they really do have decent color payoff for this type of product. Also, they are nourishing while being a lippie you can use in your everyday makeup looks.

KhyleyBT

Fabulous faves @veteranlover! 😍 I love your commitment to exceptionally scent hand sanitizers and Touchland never disappoints. I LOVE the pumpkin-tini scent as well! Have you tried their body sprays?

itsfi

@veteranlover, those are some fab favorites!! Love Touchland hand sanitizers and was happy to see they brought back the holiday scents. I've also been happy to see so many perfume houses launching more absolutes / absolu of different fragrances from their collections. I have not yet tried the Carolina Herrera Jasmine Absolu and really like the original scent, and based on your beautiful description of the perfume (thank you!!!), I'll definitely stop to give the Absolu a try when I'm in a store that carries it.

missjeanie

I love those Touchland sanitizers @veteranlover Spiced Pumpkin Tini is on my desk right now. I love that they don't make my hands sticky at all!

lmaster

@KhyleyBT I need to smell that glossier!! Love the merit lippies 😍

KhyleyBT

You absolutely do @lmaster, it's my favorite go-to scent and layers so well! And yes, I'm also a Merit stan through and through. 😍✨

missjeanie

My December Favourites all together are making me realize that I just want to smell like a bakery.

- Dove Pecan Butter Crunch hand wash was a random pick up when I was strolling aisles looking for fun stocking stuffers. It smells so dang good. My SO thinks it smells nice but doesn't understand why his hands need to smell like baking whenever he washes them at the kitchen sink. Some people just don't get it.

-Eos Pistachio body lotion. I bought this 100% based off seeing it in peoples social media posts. Most of the body moisturizers I own are body butters in pot format so I was able to justify this purchase due to the pump. It's also winter here and I have noticed some dry patches on my body starting so ... this has been used and I do find the pump nice for a change. And I just love a good pistachio.

- The Tree Hut Cinnamon Dolce sugar scrub. It just smells so dang good. I do enjoy a body scrub and find the tree hut versions to be a good level of scrubbyness for me.

-The Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin™ Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream is a perpetual winter favourite for me. I started using it again mid last month and it's been great to seal in all my serums. This will always be a repurchase for me. I still have one more backup I purchased during a sale and I'm low key wondering if I need anther.

-Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit is the star of this month. I snagged the travel size and fell in love. I went back and forth on needing the full size, I had talked myself out of it and then it came on sale with an extra 20% off since it was a full size. The fragrance Gods were telling me something. Very happy to have the full size now as my travel almost half gone.

-Phlur Caramel Skin has been the other fragrance I've been enjoying this month. It really does smell like a sweet caramel, what I'd call a pretty basic, younger fragrance, but I've been liking it when I want something not quite as serious as the Jo Malone.

-Last but not least, my lone make up product this month, the Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush Soar . I've been on a bit of auto pilot this month with my make up but every time I put this blush on, I see my face just liven up so nicely. I find the formula quite easy to work with and it's got some decent lasting power!

CookieGirl1

@missjeanie the Cinnamon Dolce scrub smells AMAZING. I was a little disappointed because I smelled the new moisturizing scrub in the same scent and it didn't smell quite the same 🤔.

missjeanie

@CookieGirl1 I'd wondered if those were going to be as good! I'll be sure to smell them first!

itsfi

Loving so many things on your December favorites list @missjeanie 😍 I'm so happy you picked up a full size of Ginger Biscuit! 🙌 Dr. Jart Ceramidin is a thing of beauty. I love that the eos comes in a pump form; I haven't smelled the pistachio one but have a couple of their other scents - I definitely prefer their body care offerings over their lip balms.

Ahhh, good to know about the Glossier; it's one of a two, maybe 3, blushers I go back and forth on, but I have ultimately decided to pass because my brain remind me that I don't wear blush as often as say ... lip products, and with what I already have, my blush collection will easily outlive me. lol.

Oh my goodness, I can't 🙄 with your SO and his thoughts on the scented Dove hand wash (which, ohhhh, did not know Dove had that scent 🤔). Adding this to my "to do" list -

"write Ivory and ask them to make a baked goods scented soap for their holiday 2026 collection" 🤣

missjeanie

@itsfi It's been at least a decade since I've tried an EOS lip balm. I do remember owning one or two, but never loving them. I think because of this I didn't have high expectations on the body lotion, but what a nice surprise! And yes to the Dove hand wash, you need to check out what your store has, I apparently never put that much thought into my hand wash and was so tickled by this one!

Lol to the Ivory!!

itsfi

Same with the eos for me @missjeanie; their holiday scents in the hair and body mists smell nice too. Not sure what the wear time is like because I only tested a few in store and I was good and reminded myself that I had already ordered plenty of other hair and body mists. 🤣 I'll keep the Dove hand washes in mind; right now, I have a supply of hand soaps from Aesop and Trader Joe's that should last me well through next year, hahaha!