Shit I Bought and Liked No. 83: It's the Most Wonderful Shit of the Year!
Shitters!!! 2022 came and went, and to be honest with you, I was too busy binge watching early-2000s Bollywood movies and creating what was apparently a very difficult game of Year-in-Review Jeopardy to do any writing before the clock struck midnight. But before we can usher in a new year of shopping resolutions, we have to review the best of the very best! This is a compilation of things I bought that changed my life and the tried and true reader favorites over this past year. So sit back and relax while we revisit the classics:
SKIMS: If there is one thing Kim Kardashian has gotten right in this life it’s her choice in aesthetic professionals, but if there are two things, Skims joins the list easily. We didn’t want to love them, but from the buttery soft bralettes, to the stretchy, ultra-flattering thongs (I live in these cotton ones), to the lounge tank that captured our hearts, Skims have become the shitter’s underthings of choice by FAR. Overhauling your whole underwear drawer is a big (and expensive!) undertaking, so my advice is doing this a few pieces at a time. My only disappointment here is the actual shapewear, but rest assured—I am on the hunt for other options as we speak!
Sonos Move speaker: I think this is the single best thing I received this year. The audio quality is fantastic, I love that it’s portable and I can move it easily depending on where I want to play music, and that it integrates so easily with Spotify. Beyond that though, I feel like this has brought so much more audio into my life, whether it’s a podcast during dinner prep, a soundtrack for weekend mornings or girls nights in, or just working to some music during the day. Highly recommend splurging for yourself or getting this as a gift for someone you want to make really happy.
This specific pair of Re/Done jeans: This was a late in the game addition to the list—I didn’t even dedicate a specific newsletter to these—but I mentioned them in my Black Friday roundup and you all snapped them up so fast. And it makes sense—these have just enough stretch to be comfortable (I wore these on Thanksgiving and they were still good during thirds), but they keep their shape throughout the day, and this wash is just as good with a t-shirt during the day as it is with heels for a night out. They’re a splurge, but the versatility/cost-per-wear can definitely help justify it.
NuFace Mini: The name says it all. This is a microcurrent device that you use on your face for three to five minutes for more definition and lift. I know those are some big skincare buzzwords, but the results are real. I see a noticeable difference directly after using it, but with more consistent use, those results become, quite literally, your new face. For me, this is an absolute must before any event or night out, and it’s become that way for my boyfriend, my parents—my friend Nikki even used it the morning of her wedding!
Salt and Stone Black Rose & Vetiver Candle: This is the candle I had burning whenever I had friends over this past year. It combines cedar, sandalwood, and sexy florals for a scent that’s rich, lush, and memorable. This is one of those moments where a scratch and sniff situation would be really, really helpful, but you just need to trust me on this. These candles smell incredible, are priced far better than most other luxury candles, and they deserve a spot on your coffee table.
CB2 Glassware: These glasses were my favorite bang-for-your-buck home upgrade this year. They’re sleek, relatively inexpensive, and because you are (hopefully??) drinking water every single day, you get to enjoy them all the time. I started with the in-between size, but the coolers have quickly become my daily go-to, and I couldn’t skip the cutie tasting glasses either.
It Cosmetics Brush: As you may remember, 2022 was the year I outed myself as a Beauty Blender hater. Luckily for me, this brush gave me everything I was hoping for whenever those stupid sponges would absorb $10 worth of foundation while distributing 2 cents worth on my face—it blends so easily, leaves a beautiful finish, and the second side does the exact same for your concealer. The price right now is also unbelievably good. (2022 was also the year I started regularly cleaning my makeup brushes with this soap. Also recommend.)
Nippies: These are an essential for anyone who wants coverage in a dress or top that isn’t bra-friendly, or who’d just prefer to go without a full-on bra. The adhesive is strong and reliable, they blend into the rest of your body without being visible or lumpy under clothing, and if you wash them with a little soap and water after use/ store them in the molds they come with, they’ll last several months of daily use. As someone who wears these only occasionally (usually events or with the occasional, proverbial “going out top”), I expect they’ll last me much longer.
Hunza Suit: Comfy, sexy, FLATTERING. Not adjectives I normally use to describe my swimwear/how I feel in it. These suits are definitely worth the splurge if you feel similarly. They’re made to fit sizes 0-12 and accommodate bodies over the many stages of vacation eating/life (though I do realize that tight size range excludes many). I said it when I first wrote about these, and I’ll say it again—this is the only suit I can imagine working in any possible scenario—poolside in Miami, on the beach for your family vacation, on a bachelorette boat day, or even during pregnancy. Best of all, because of the size flexibility and quality of these suits, you may only need one to last through all of the above.
Flex Discs: These are a GODSEND for anyone who gets a period. If you’re unfamiliar, read this full newsletter about how they work. These have so drastically improved my life over the past few years by making my periods so much more comfortable, and I’m thrilled that they’ve started to do the same for so many of you. Earlier this year I got a note from a reader who shared that they’ve especially helped her young daughter—I hadn’t even been thinking about how unpleasant and uncomfortable it was to get periods during middle and high school, but if you have a child or sibling at that age, definitely consider sharing these with them too. These are quite literally life-changing—highly, highly recommend.
In the spirit of looking ahead, here are some of the things I’ll be trying to find this year: “Going out tops.” Tops in general. Shapewear that actually works. A go-to everyday bag. A night-out shoulder bag! More time for phone calls with long-distance friends. A good everyday belt. The perfect leather accent chairs. More weeknight fun. Reservations for Laser Wolf and Bestia. Blush. Quick, healthy dinner recipes. A new toothbrush. A shoe rack. Someone to cut my hair in Los Angeles. A pet!!! Recs for any of the above are very appreciated!
Aside from the above, 2022 brought with it a new platform (hi Substack!), paid subscribers (hi guys!!!—upgrade your subscription and join the party here), and so much fun writing these newsletters to you all. My wheels have been turning non-stop on what’s to come for this newsletter and I’m so excited to bring those ideas to life for you all this year! Wishing you all the happiest, healthiest, most amazing new year ahead!
Xo,
Priyanka
what is the difference between the Hunza suit and the You Swim suit? have you been able to compare?
also the jeans link is broken for me :'(
thank you for your service!! :D