patranila fills in her brows

12 of My Best Style & Beauty Buys of 2023

I always see creators making their Best Of lists and I love to see who’s loving what but I rarely have the energy to create my own list. This year, we have time today! I’ve compiled a collection of some of my favorite style and beauty buys for 2023 and I hope you find something you might want to try.

And to be totally transparent, some of my best buys for 2023 were plane tickets! A birthday celebration in Jamaica and a last-minute holiday trip to South Carolina to christen my brother’s new home. I’ll write more about those experiences soon. In the meantime, enjoy my 2023 faves!

1. BCBGMaxAzria Faux Fur Vest

This lush faux fur vest is without a doubt my favorite buy of 2023. I bought it during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and hated waiting for the weather to get cool enough to break it out. Since then, I’ve been wearing it nonstop. I’m wearing it as I type this. Not even kidding.

2. The Office of Angela Scott Mr. Bernard Combat Boots

These were a love at first sight purchase. I didn’t buy them immediately as I’m working on my impulse control, but Mr. Bernard instantly captured my combat boot-loving heart. It’s the rich color and detailing that got me. So when they went on special sale, I scooped them up. This is my third pair of shoes from The Office of Angela Scott and I’m already a super fan.

mr bernard boot in bordeaux

They’re so well made, hand made in Portugal actually, and each pair that I buy makes it hard for me to buy any other shoes. I’m ruined! Experience my rapturous unboxing on TikTok.

3. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

I am a true gloss girl and believe me when I tell you I have suffered through the matte lip craze. Now technically, the Lip Butter Balm is a balm and not a gloss but it. is. glossy honey. I snagged the often-sold-out Brown Sugar shade and it is gorgeous.

4. Essie Fall Collection

This whole collection is beautiful but the dark blue Step Out of Line and the rich chocolate Lights Down Music Up are the standouts.

5. Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Concealer

I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to everyday makeup. I usually just fill in my brows, swipe on mascara, moisturize my lips, and go. But on the days when I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and my eyes are looking a little tired, I’ll add some concealer to cover up the darkness under my eyes.

All of Mama McGrath’s products are amazing but her foundation items are chef’s kiss. This full coverage concealer is a miracle maker. The tiniest bit gives me all the camouflage I need to brighten my under eye area while seamlessly blending with my foundation-free face. My shade is M20.

6. T3 Aireluxe Hair Dryer

I’ve been wearing my naturally curly hair straight for some time now. Frankly, I find it easier to maintain but no matter which way I’m styling it, wash day is always a laborious event. It takes so much effort and I’ll admit, I get tired quickly. Enter the T3 Aireluxe. It’s so lightweight and powerful, I can get my hair dried in a fraction of the time with very little effort. Truly, I can’t believe how light it is. It almost feels like the weight of my comb. I can’t say enough good things about it.



7. U Beauty Resurfacing Body Compound

U Beauty is one of my favorite skincare brands at the moment. You’ve probably heard me rave about their wildly effective Resurfacing Compound on IG so when they introduced a Resurfacing Body Compound, I was intrigued.

Definitely a splurge purchase but it is so worth it. With 2+ years spent mostly alone, I had let a lot of stuff slide and body care was one of them. I had bumps and rough patches in places I’d never dreamed I’d have them. So I saved myself a trip to my dermatologist and got this instead. The rough and bumpies, especially on the backs of my arms, are now a thing of the past.

After bathing, apply this rich body serum before your lotion or other body moisturizer and watch it do its thing. It works quickly, not as fast as the compound for your face, but I promise you won’t wait long for results.

8. Able Abera Convertible Backpack

The Abera Backpack was an instant impulse purchase for me. When I saw the richness of the leather in the Cognac color, I was sold! However, I did end up buying the Black/Cognac version instead but you can’t go wrong with either option. The bag is supple and very lightweight and carries way more than I thought it would. As you may have noticed, lightweight is a theme for me these days. So anything that’s extremely functional and lightweight, I’m in with both feet!

9. Daily Practice Parachute Pants

So nice, I bought them twice. One green, one black. These parachute pants are perfect for easy casual days and for traveling. Of course they’re lightweight, with tons of pockets to stash stuff, and a drawstring waist. I could live in these and I practically did all summer.

10. Melie Bianco Brigitte Satchel Mini

I carried this bag as much as humanly possible in 2023. I don’t really like to carry handbags as a general rule but sometimes they’re just necessary. And when handbags are as cute as the Brigitte Mini, it’s easy to grab it and go.

patranila wearing satin slip skirt, linen shell, and Brigitte Mini handbag

11. Fitory Fur Slippers

These ultra comfy house shoes (as my mom would call them) are another item that I loved so much I bought two of them. Birkenstock-inspired, these plush slippers are easy wearing, comfortable, and warm.

12. IKEA Skubb Drawer Organizers

Though technically not a style or beauty buy, Skubb has utterly transformed the way I organize my drawers and makes folding and putting away tees and tops almost pleasurable. Any product that can make laundry fun has to be included on this list. The drawer organizers are collapsible and come in sets of six with three different sizes in each set. And of course, they fit perfectly in IKEA dressers and chests. Love!

Next up: All the things you couldn’t live without in 2023!

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