This year was a busy one, professionally, which prevented me from writing on here as much as I wanted to. Believe me, writing about beauty products is much more fun than my job.

But, no matter how busy my work is, I always find time to shop for new products. In fact, I discovered and wore a lot of great products this year. Some surprised me, some aren't all that new, and all of them made me very, very happy. 2024 was the year of great skin, fewer products, and different choices. Easy yet elevated.

Because I prefer odd over even, here are my favorite 9.

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Serum Concealer (shade 1N1). I love concealer. I love it. How did I even miss this concealer? It's been around for a bit; not brand new. I've used Laura's tinted moisturizer, various lips products (let's not even talk about "French Lips"), and the setting powder and of course her Secret Concealer (too heavy for me now). But, I love this concealer. I'm on my second tube just this year!

This concealer is smooth, light, and blends beautifully and seamlessly. It covers all my "Mehs" and makes me look I have perfect skin.

No more "Mehs". Love.

Rhode pocket blush in Piggy, Freckle, and Sleep Girl. I'm neither 25 nor a Hailey Bieber follower. She's lovely but I thought her products might not be for my demographic. I love her tinted lip balms; tried a few of her skin care products and, though very nice, not quite for me. But, the blush? How good could it be? Well. Pretty fricking good.

I think her Pocket Blush is one of the best cream blush out there right now. The addiction began with Piggy. Once an addiction kicks in, it can't be stopped. I had to get Freckle (my favorite) and Sleepy Girl.

It wears so well, all day. I apply it before I go to work (quite early) and it's still there on my long trek home from work. Great pigment, it adds a beautiful glow, and works well on top of foundation or on bare skin. It kicks some of my other cream blush to the curb. (Not all as you'll see below.)

Is there a bronzing stick in Rhode's future? I hope so.

Vibriance Super C Penetrating Serum. Where the heck did this product come from? My sister's friend discovered it on Amazon. I'd never heard of it. I thought, what will it hurt just trying it out? This might not be the strongest vitamin C serum I've ever used but it has become the best C serum I've ever used. And I've been testing and using Cs for maybe 15 years (since esthetics school).

Mild but mighty. I use it morning and night, after my hyaluronic mist and before my moisturizer. The quality of my skin has so improved, I don't need foundation. Just a touch of the LM concealer.

I've not skipped foundation since high school. This serum isn't harsh, doesn't cause any kind of reaction or sensitivity (on me) and makes my skin so smooth and flawless, I rarely wear foundation. I look at my face every morning as I'm washing it and can't stop touching it; it's that smooth.

This is what dream (skin) is made of.

Ciele blush & PROTECT SPF 50+ liquid blush in Elodie. Blush No. 2 I fell in love with.

To be honest, I find that many "clean" blush (powder and cream) just don't aren't right.. They tend to disappear, go bad fast, don't wear well. This blush is none of that.

As soon as I found out Nikki DeRoest was starting another line (the first being Rôen), I couldn't wait to try her new line.

This blush is easy to apply, either with fingertips or a brush; doesn't streak; wears well all day; and looks natural. This particular shade - Elodie - looks like it's part of my natural coloring. It is that perfect LA-type of coral; healthy, glowing, not blush-y. I look CA healthy, not New England paste-y.

I want more.

MOB Beauty M1990 lip liner. Call off the dogs. The best lip pencil has arrived. The chemist who designed the original, the real, Mac Spice lip pencil, designed this pencil using the Spice recipe. This. Is. The. Perfect. Shade.

Case closed. No pencil comes close. Give it a Nobel Prize. The pain and suffering of losing Spice is over.

There is peace in the world.

Ibiza Round Boar-Hair Brush B5. I've been styling my hair for decades and could never accomplish any style I tried to achieve. Or even come close. Especially straight.

My naturally fine, soft, weirdly wavy hair can finally be controlled. Volume, soft curls, and yes...straight. Honestly, drugstore brushes just don't work for me. Unless you have obedient hair, which I do not. (It's so disobedient, I was blessed with a lot of it.) Investing in the right brush is like investing in the right blazer or black shoe. It's worth it.

How did I discover this brush? Not on my own, for sure. Chris McMillan posted on Instagram with his favorites products.

Up until a few months ago, I would never, ever say: "I look forward to drying my hair."

But, now I do.

Sephora Collection Daily Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 30. Another, how did I miss this? How long has this been out there? I just happen to see this during a Sephora sale and just bought it on a whim. For, like, $10.

I wear this sunscreen every single day. It protects. Gives my skin glow. Doesn't mess up products I apply on top. And the price is great. Like, really great.

It's also the better than any zinc sunscreen out there. It's smooth, not thick or sticky, and leaves zero white cast. Nothing. I've worn it in hot, humid weather; I've worn it in freezing weather. Oh, and it doesn't break me out. Fingers crossed, Sephora doesn't discontinue it. Or reformulate.

Wear your sunscreen.

Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment in Cocoa Crème. How many lip balms and glosses do I own? 10? 15? Yes. They're nice. But, I live in New England. When it's cold, it's really cold. From all my buying and testing, it's not all that easy to find a great balm. There are a lot of very popular balms out there but, for me, they're overly fragranced and goopy. Some even dry out my lips. (You know who you are.) I've bought them, and then wonder why I keep buying them.

It's made with kokum butter and peptides to not only moisturize but smooth lips.

I even bought the LE Anine Bing shade in Strawberry Sorbet Shimmer. Anine is one of my muses for all things style and black clothing. She even sings! This gloss is a natural sparkly pink, nude shade and, best of all, smells like strawberries.

Delicious.

Oak Essentials Moisture Rich Balm. More like miracle rich balm. This is the first balm I've ever used; bought on a whim. I brought it with me on a trip to Las Vegas. The weather is the total opposite of Boston. Super-dry. Every time I land in LV, I immediately age 20 years (baked-apple dry face). This balm absolutely saved my skin that trip and I've used it ever since.

At night, I smoosh it all over my face, under my eyes, neck, chest, and all over my lips. If it came in a vat, I would have myself lowered into it.

It's perfect for when on super-cold and windy days. I just apply it before I go out and when I get home, my skin is more dewy than when I left. I even tap it on top of my makeup for a natural highlight.

Some products are truly sent from Heaven.

Happy New Year!