We are just about two weeks out from Christmas. I am still no where near finished with my shopping. I really try to give thoughtful gifts that will mean something to the person receiving it. Some of my favorite gifts to give are items that I already have myself. I always think it’s a good idea to gift from brands you already know and love. So, I decided to share my top eight favorite purchases of 2018 with you. These are all items I have bought within the last year that have become my most-used and most-loved purchases of 2018.

1. Cuyana Structured Leather Tote

The Cuyana Structured Leather Tote was a Christmas gift from my hubby last year. Cuyana is one of my all-time favorite brands! I look to Cuyana for great gifts year-round. They make really high-quality products with a great price point. This Structured Leather Tote is my favorite bag from Cuyana. I’ve written about it more in this post. 

2. J.Crew Tall Leather Boots

These J.Crew Tall Leather Boots are a more recent purchase but I have already gotten so much wear out of them. I had been looking for a good pair of black leather boots and these were an impulse purchase while J.Crew was running a sale. The leather is incredible! They are so comfortable and have been perfect for work as well as every day. 

3. Jet Lag Mask

The Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask has definitely become one of my must-have skincare products. I use it several nights during the week as a over-night mask. I also took it with me on our long flight to Italy. Shortly after take-off I used a makeup wipe remover to clean my face and then followed with the Jet Lag Mask. It kept my skin moisturized during a long flight. It comes with me now whenever I travel. I have also added the new Overtime Mask to my weekly routine, too. It’s a great exfoliator. 

4. La Mer Skincare

As I mentioned in this post, La Mer is one of those luxury products that I find worth the splurge. I have never found another skincare line that makes my skin look as amazing as it does when I use La Mer consistently. This is the first year that I have used multiple products morning and night from La Mer and each new product I try continues to amaze me. Some of my favorites are the Cleansing Oil, Cleansing Micellar Water and Créme de la Mer. 

5. J.Crew Winter Parka

Living in Texas you may think I don’t have much use for a parka, but we do have some very cold months here. I purchased this J.Crew Winter Parka recently for our trip to NYC, but it has been getting a lot of use at home, too. The coat is lined with Primaloft® which is spun from recycled plastic bottles. It’s both stylish and warm!

6. Allbirds

This has been the year of Allbirds in my house. Between Brian and I we own seven pairs of Allbirds. Yes, seven. I have three pairs… two are the original Wool Runner and one pair of the Tree Runner. They are the most comfortable sneaker that I have ever owned. My favorite style is the Wool Runner, but you can read my full reviews here and here.

7. RMS Beauty 

After many years I have finally found a makeup line that works for my sensitive skin. Clean beauty has been a major focus of mine this year. It is very important to me to use products that are not full of harmful chemicals. RMS Beauty has really improved my skin. People comment on how my skin glows when I wear the RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up. More about RMS Beauty here.

8. Record Player

This is a slightly off-topic item, but it is something I love and believe it makes for a great gift. As a music lover I have been so happy to see the resurgence of record players. We have our record player in our living room. We love listening to our favorite albums in the morning while we’re making our coffee. It makes for a very relaxing start to the day. 

All of these products or brands have been tried and true. These are my top eight favorite purchases of 2018. Each product I have shared is something I use regularly and feel confident sharing as potential gifts. Happy gifting! xo Bryn