FabLister Carolyn B. introduced us to the original “It” party concept, in which everyone brings something that they particularly enjoyed that year. Carolyn’s group of approximately 20ish very in-the-know women who gather each year to share their favorite items of the year has kindly shared their 2025 list with us, and it’s a good one. It is a BIG list with over 100 items! The list includes products across multiple categories, from fashion and beauty to home and health.
It’s a great, extensive “It” list, and we really appreciate them sharing the items and the reasons they love them! Below is Part 1!
Health/Exercise:
Altra Running/Walking Shoe Torin: LOVE these – been wearing for the past 2 years – on 4th pair. Had gone to a podiatrist with sore, aching feet at night. He said that as we age, our foot fat pads flatten out. My feet had become a WIDE width – I was shocked. The last time I was fitted for running shoes, they put me up a size, I suppose to compensate. But these Altra shoes have a completely different design based on a natural foot shape – a bigger toe box and balancing your weight distribution – it doesn’t jam your feet into the traditional shape. So I am at my normal size in these without any squishing, and my feet stopped aching at night.
Neenca Knee Sleeve: Excellent support for a weak knee. Provides compression too.
Rucking Vest: Made by and for women. I wear the 16lb vest for 30 min every morning while walking the dog. Not medically proven, but hoping it helps preserve bone density after an osteopenia diagnosis. (Another style vest with fixed weight was on Oprah’s list and is available here)
Bushnell Golf Laser Range Finder: Pricey but useful item for the serious golfer
The Lume Box: I have a bad back and use this 2x a day while I sit at the computer, and I think it is actually helping my back. I am also using it for my face!
Mini Small Water Bottle: Trying to get away from plastic, but I’m lazy about dragging around a big water bottle. This one is perfect…light, can throw into any bag, and does NOT leak. Arrives in cute packaging.
Resistance Bands for Workout: My trainer recommended them, and I love how smooth they are. Inexpensive gift ($25) – good for travel.
IBKUL Sunshirts: Cooling fabric great for tennis, golf, and pickleball. Available in many colors and styles
Forme Arch Support Socks: -They also have ankle support socks and bras to improve posture.
LMNT Hydration Packs: Double the salt of standard electrolyte packets (so definitely use more water!). But extremely effective. Weirdly, I like the chocolate flavor, but they come in various fruit flavors too.
Hyperice Venom 2: Adjustable heat and vibration for stiff and sore backs. So soothing.
Neck & Shoulder Heating Pad: I am ordering this for my mother for Christmas – I cannot vouch for it yet, but I am hoping she will enjoy it.
Beauty Products:
Face Masks: These feel so good!
Peptide Eye Patches: Great little gift.
Victoria Beckham Makeup (VB Makeup): I am impressed with her products. Great luxe packaging. Love the mascara, satin liner, and eyewear stick.
Ryvalia Collagen Mask: 2-hour mask for 20 years younger skin. I use it before big events. Comes with serum.
Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion. For the second year running, I’m annoyed by my dry aging skin, and this is my latest remedy. Is it working? I don’t know, but I do like the way this lotion feels – it’s lightweight, fragrance-free, and goes on smoothly.
XINU: Visited Mexico City for the first time last month. Visiting this store in Polanco was a must-do experience. You get a tactile and visual reference for what the fragrances are made up of. All of the fragrances can also be mixed and matched. I liked Monstera, Copala and OroNardo.
DIRTY ROSE – Heretic Perfume: Found this at the Goop Store at Marin Country Mart and have been madly in love with it. It’s also super clean.
Touchland Glow Mist Revitalizing Hand Sanitizer in Rosewater I LOVE this hand sanitizer, and I’ve recently realized that no one seems to know about the rosewater scent…but you should! I’m guessing you’ve passed this one by because either a) the “glow mist” makes you think it will make your hands sparkly (it does not) or b) it costs $6 more than the regular Touchland (I appreciate your cost-consciousness). But I am here to tell you that it is well-worth the extra $6 IMHO.
Touchland hand sanitizer: I am also a huge fan of the Touchland hand sanitizer! My preferred scent is Mango Passion. A very stylish woman at an airport lounge recently had the exact same one and said “Don’t you just love a bougie hand sanitizer?” Yes, yes, I do. It’s the little things.
Geranium Leaf Body Scrub: My all-time favorite body scrub from Aesop. Just the right weight, texture, and smell.
Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense: Fades hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Contains tranexamic acid (TXA). Also available in toner – Farmacy Brighten Up Dark Spot Toner
Tenoverten Heroine Hand Cream: The formulation is great (hyaluronic acid, perfect consistency, and innocuous scent, imo), but it’s mostly the form factor that makes it an “it” item for me. The perfect size for purse, car, or travel. Super easy to pump.
EPhD Nail Treatment: My nails are thin and brittle and break constantly, especially in the winter. I apply this once a day and voila! They are stronger and actually grow out. I use it solo, but since it’s not a polish, it can be used as a base coat.
Lanolips: I read about a celebrity who uses lanolin (nipple cream) on her lips as her lip balm. Decided to try it out and went with Lanolips, a brand that makes lanolin-based lip balm. Love it! Gives lips a nice sheen and is super moisturizing.
Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil — Rosehip oil has lots of beneficial vitamin C. I put it on before my actual moisturizer, and my skin never seems dry anymore. I’ve tried a few of their other products and like those as well, such as the mineral sunscreen and a retinol alternative oil. It’s a company out of New Zealand and has many organic products.
Eye cream from Tatcha. My new favorite.
Portable Mouthwash: I fell in love with this idea in Japan. Great way to freshen the mouth after a meal. In Tokyo, many of the restaurants provided them in the bathrooms. I am trying this one and will report back.
Beauty Tools/Accessories:
Blissy Gift Set: Fun thing to give and receive!
Airlight Pro/L’Oréal Zuvi Hairdryer: I know everyone already has the Dyson (I have 2). But I got this after my keratin gal did my treatment using this newly released hairdryer in January and the texture of my hair was so much softer I assumed they changed the keratin formula – they didn’t. It dries super fast (even faster than Dyson), and they claim the heat from the light does not damage your hair.
Cologne/Perfume Travel Bottle: Good stocking stuffer.
Emi Jay Hair Clips: Cute hair clips that even hold thick/big hair well! Samantha put me on to these. They are pretty and come in different colors and sizes. Great stocking stuffer.
Kitsch XL Thermal Velcro Rollers. Not electric, not just Velcro. They add volume. I put 4 in my hair. Heat each one up for 10 seconds. The roller holds the heat and then gradually cools down as I get ready to go. I pull the rollers out before I walk out the door and voila… va va va boom! I put the thermal rollers on top of my head and by my ears. For the ends, I use the thermal brush…
Bondi Boost Thermal Brush: Use on dry hair (not a blow dryer). Tania told me to set at 350 degrees. Adds bounce and shine to limp hair. (If you have thin hair, clip it after use until it cools.). If you have thick hair, just brush it through and your hair bounces out the door.
Kitsch Microfiber Hair Towel Scrunchie: I use it for wet hair to get it off my back and neck while it dries.
7 Day Makeup Eraser Towel Set: Removes all makeup, including waterproof. Fibers gently & easily remove all makeup & sunscreen. One side erases makeup & one side exfoliates. Prevents discoloring your bath towels. I got this whimsical Ballet-theme set at Anthropologie.
Volo Hero Hair Towel: I’ve tried several hair towels, and this is the best so far. Super lightweight (my neck doesn’t get tired!), but also super absorbent.
Fashion:
SPANXsmooth OnForm Skort: This is my most-worn item in 2025. Great for hikes, dog walks, PT, and pickleball. Soft, flattering, and with an inner pocket for a phone.
Get your colors done in NYC by seklabnyc.com: Personalized color and body analysis. I haven’t done it, but it has been very highly recommended by a mom who has done it for herself, her daughters, and gifted it to friends.
Thigh Society: Love these for light support, and no panty lines.
Pikolinos: Everyday sneaker. Made out of good quality leather. Plenty of room in the toe box and decent arch support. I love this brand, comfy with great design.
Summer Pajamas: These PJs are much better quality than I expected for this reasonable price and are perfect summer pajamas, particularly on vacation. Love the little robe. I sized up so that they look a little bigger (and therefore make me look a little smaller 😀).
Chocolate & Cashmere: Love the cashmere at this Santa Fe store. The hats are FABULOUS (not cheap – $125-$235). Great weight. Good gifts for men. Lifetime warranty – they will fix holes.
Eberjey PJs: Can’t go wrong with this line of PJs – shorts to long ones are all great.
Ilse Jacobsen Tote: I still think this is the best tote on the market. They are indestructible. They are reversible. I put this in my MZ Wallace Mary Poppins bag to travel everywhere I go. Not a scratch on the bag. Great price point of $108.
Ororo Heated Vest: Another family introduced us to this on our Thanksgiving trip. They swear by it. It’s heated along the collar also, and easy to wear under a larger jacket. Great for travel – for men & women – and also great for outdoor sporting events, concerts, etc.
Ann Mashburn Buckle Shoe: My absolute favorite “dressy” shoe. In favor of caring for my knees, I no longer wear heels. These have become staples…very well made. Ann Mashburn is like an upmarket J. Crew. She designs and makes what she wants with vendors in Italy. Otherwise, she curates lovely treats and finds. She is married to Sid Mashburn, and that is the Menswear side of things. They have back-to-back stores in Georgetown in DC…I always find stuff I like there.
Beanies with Headlamps: This one from Amazon, or this one that Oprah linked.
Lohla Sport Very Pant: Golf pants that I always pack for travel. These pants look great on a wide variety of body types. Quick-dry and folds up very small. Available in many colors. I travel with the black, navy, or khaki.
IBKUL Sunshirts: Cooling fabric great for tennis, golf and pickleball. Available in many colors and styles.
Forme Arch Support Socks: Also have ankle support socks and bras to improve posture.
Gola Sneakers: Cute yet comfy retro sneakers in fun colors.
