Last Faves + Fails of 2025! Best & Worst In Beauty…
Things I tried & loved… or NOT!
This post contains affiliate links
SKINCARE FAVES & FAILS
Let’s start in skincare with red light therapy masks and some of your most asked questions:
- Which masks have I tried?
- Which mask a good fit for me?
- And, of course, the most asked question: What is THE best red light therapy mask?
I’ve done in depth reviews on most of the masks on the market, so I’m going to try to give you some qualifiers to help you pick which mask is going to be right for you.
Current Fave: CurrentBody Series 2 Red Light Therapy Mask
As of right now, my favorite is the Series 2 Red Light Therapy Face Mask from Current Body. It’s one of the only masks with both the highest number of lightbulbs and the most accurate wavelengths in it.
The Current Body has 110 each of the red and near-infrared bulbs, as well as 16 deep infrared bulbs. Every mask has been factory tested to be within 2 nanometers of the correct target wavelength. A good red light mask really needs to concentrate on the accuracy of the bulbs to start and then the number of bulbs, which this one does. I really like how this mask is shaped as it is very comfortable to wear. It also has eye protection built in, along with an under the chin strap to treat that area as well. I will say that this mask is very, very bright, so if you are sensitive to light this might not be the mask for you.
If this does sound like the mask for you, you can use code ANGIE for 10% off at the following links:
US & Canada: https://tidd.ly/4byf2GC UK & IE: https://tidd.ly/43rRMs0
New Fave: iRestore Illumina Face Mask
Next on my favs for red light therapy is the Illumina Face Mask by IRestore. This mask actually has more bulbs of each color than the Current Body with 120 in red, near-infrared, and blue light.
However, this mask doesn’t give you any deep near-infrared light and the bulbs are only fairly accurate making it more of an anti-aging/acne mask. The reason I don’t like the IRestore mask quite as much as the Current Body is because it has a giant eye-opening that leaves a big area around my eyes untreated. Around the eyes is where we see the signs of aging first, so you want to get as much of the eye area treated with the red light as possible.
The IRestore is very lightweight and comfortable to wear, but it’s also super bright. However, it does give you much more eye protection, so you see much less of the red light with this mask than you do with the Current Body. I recommend this mask to someone looking to treat both aging and acne or if you’re sharing it with a younger person who may be battling acne. You can find this mask at the following link: https://go.shopmy.us/p-32808181
The Solid OG: Omnilux Contour Face Mask
The third red light therapy mask on my 2025 favs list is the OmniLux Contour Face mask. This is an awesome mask especially if you are concerned about melasma, too much light, or if the lights of other masks tend to be too bright for you.
OmniLux as a company did most of the research into red light therapy so their bulbs are very accurate and they make the professional arrays used in dermatology offices. Red light therapy has to be used very precisely for it to give you the changes in your skin that you want without producing changes in your skin that you don’t want, and the OmniLux mask achieves that. However, this mask only has about half as many bulbs as other masks, with 66 each of the red and near-infrared bulbs.
It is still a good quality mask that I personally saw great results with after 90 days and have continued to use it over the last 5 years. If the OmniLux is the mask for you it can be purchased at the following link and use code HF10 for 10% off: https://bit.ly/3FRxRmV
The Fail: Shark CryoGlow Face Mask
A lot of people asked me to try this next mask and give my thoughts on it. Unfortunately I do not love this mask and the Shark CryoGlow Mask has made its way onto my fail list.
The main thing that I don’t like about it is that it has “cryo-inspired InstaChill Cold” pads right underneath the eyes. As I mentioned previously, the under-eyes tend to be the first area to show those fine lines, crepiness, and wrinkles as we age, making it an area I really want treated when using a red light therapy mask. By having the cryo pads instead of bulbs in this area this mask is not treating the under-eyes effectively. The Shark CryoGlow mask is also very clunky and heavy with so much wasted space inside making it overall quite an uncomfortable mask to wear. What I do like about this mask is that it has 160 bulbs of the red, near-infrared, and blue light.
Angie’s Actives
Continuing on with skincare faves from this year, it probably comes as no shock that one of my faves is my skincare brand, Angie’s Actives. We took 13 OTC active ingredients from my skincare routine and condensed them down from 8 products to just 2!!
My Skincare: https://www.angiesactives.com
- My All-In Serum combines Vitamin C + Lactic Acid + Resveratrol + Hyaluronic Acid to build collagen, exfoliate, protect & hydrate skin.
- Active8 Lotion is my one-and-done moisturizer that combines 8 ingredients to help firm skin and reduce wrinkles while it hydrates, protects, & soothes skin!
By popular demand, we recently released the Active8 Lotion in a larger sized bottle, so it is now available in both the 1 ounce bottle as well as the new 1.7 ounce bottle. Many people use Active8 Lotion both morning and night and All-In Serum only in the morning, hence the demand for a larger Active8.
Instant Firming Products: The Fave
Next in skincare are a couple of instant firming products that I tried over the last few months. One I absolutely love, making it onto the faves list, and the other was an epic fail. Let’s first talk about the favorite, which also won’t be a surprise to a lot of you since I’ve done a few videos on it. It’s the Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Temporary Eye Tightener Easy-wear Formula.
In one video, I used it under my eyes, and it worked really well. Where it really impressed me was on my neck! It reduced the horizontal neck wrinkles and crepiness even when used over skincare and sunscreen! It made me feel much more confident about my neck wrinkles.
I also had my mom model this product, she’s 88 and it worked amazing. It completely got rid of the wrinkles on her upper lip, a scar on her eyelid, her eye-bags, and her 11s.
Some of the most frequently asked questions I received were “how long does it last?” and “can you use it with makeup?”
- The answer to the former is about 4 to 5 hours, but that it is dependent on how much the skin moves in the applied area. This is definitely a great product for a wedding, a party, or even just going out with your girlfriends and you want your wrinkles to look a bit better.
- To answer the latter is, it doesn’t work as well under makeup. The product has to dry and form a film over the wrinkles, but once you put something wet on over it that disrupts the film then the effect goes away. While I didn’t notice the effect going fully away when makeup was applied, I’d say it reduces it by about half.
- I also noted that this is better used over makeup than under makeup and I tend to use it on places that I wear little to no makeup, like my neck. I have used this product over sunscreen and skincare and find that it works great over both.
Instant Firming Products: The Fail
Sadly, DRMTLGY’s Neck Contouring Serum is a fail for me (so surprising because I love most DRMTLGY products). This serum has a roller applicator and is supposed to visibly lift, tighten, and firm the neck. Unfortunately, this product didn’t do anything for the skin on my neck except leave it feeling VERY dry.
Lip Balm Fail
I also really wanted to love The Ordinary’s Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm. The packaging is just so adorable and I thought it was going to be the most hydrating, nourishing lip balm. Boy was I wrong. I found this lip balm to be very thick and weird feeling on the lips. It didn’t give me any kind of hydration and left my lips feeling dried out.
Lip Balm Fave
If you’re looking for a great hydrating lip balm, try the ColourPop Fresh Kiss Glossy Lip Balm, another of my faves in 2025. I love this lip balm because it is so hydrating, it smells amazing, and also gives me a sheer wash of color to my lips. I use the caramel latte shade which is a sheer nude and smells exactly like a caramel latte.
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES FAVES & FAILS
Luckily for us, clothing and accessories was full of faves in 2025, so let’s get into it!
Jewelry
I’ve gotten so many requests for links for the necklace and ring I bought in France since I started wearing them in videos.
Since they’re both from French markets I don’t have exact links, but I did find something similar for both pieces.
This necklace is very similar and pretty inexpensive.
Here’s a similar ring that gives the same look & is very pretty and also inexpensive.
I don’t own the similar finds so I’m not 100% sure about the quality but they look nice.
Tops
One of my favorite purchases of the fall is the waffle weave sweater I’m wearing in this video. This sweater is so cozy and has a thermal knit that keeps me warm even on 20 degree days. It comes in lots of great colors and is slightly oversized with a boxy cut. I wear a size x-small and find it to be flattering both in a French tuck and untucked. The best part is it’s on sale for under $25 at Nordstrom right now.
While most of you would not find that sweater to be itchy, I am one of those itchy people that can’t stand any sweater materials up against my skin. For this reason, and for some additional warmth, I tend to wear a layering piece under my sweaters and this long sleeve T-shirt is my favorite!
This fitted long sleeve is a soft, ribbed material with a scoop neck that not only lays nicely under sweaters, but also looks nice on its own or with a cardigan or jacket. I have this shirt in white, gray, black, tan, and turquoise, but they come in many other colors as well.
Pants
Next on my faves list are these Wide Leg Sweatpants that I included in my holiday gift guide. They are just the coziest sweatpants, perfect for sitting down with a book, putting on over your gym clothes, or even just running errands. They’re a nice wide leg sweatpant with pockets that are so flattering and not at all frumpy. They come in a ton of colors and are also on sale right now for up to 60% off.
Shoes
The last clothing item is my Adidas sneakers. Not only are these the cutest sneakers, they are also very comfortable to wear. They look great with almost anything, from pants and shorts to dresses and skirts. The variety of colors is also a huge plus because I feel like there is really something for everyone’s unique style. And they are also on sale at Nordstrom right now.
BEAUTY TOOLS FAVES & FAILS
Beauty tools were also a win in 2025 with two faves!
The Best Magnifying Makeup Mirror
First is this 30x Magnifying Mirror. I’ve been on the hunt for a good, inexpensive magnifying mirror and luckily found this one for only $11.99. The Mirror has a 30x magnification side and a regular mirror side. It is a really good quality mirror that doesn’t distort your face when looking in it.
I like to use this mirror when putting on eyeliner or mascara because I can see everything really crisply and in focus. It has a rubberized suede around it which not only protects the mirror but also makes the handle comfortable to hold. The handle is also on a hinge so that it can be folded to be placed on a tabletop or completely flat for travel.
Makeup Brushes
My second beauty tool fave is that BK Beauty brushes are now available at Ulta Beauty online! A big congratulations to BK beauty on this huge accomplishment! What that means for you is that you can now get my brushes at Ulta online. This includes my travel set, my seven piece brush set, and my kitten paw concealer A506 brush.
MAKEUP FAVES & FAILS
Makeup was a bit of a mixed bag with three faves and four fails.
Foundations
I want to start off with two foundations I tried, one being a fave and the other a fail. The first fave is the Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Natural Finish Foundation, and the first fail is the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Foundation. Both products are supposed to be long-wear blurring and smoothing foundations. I really like the Makeup by Mario a lot better and it actually did blur my pores like it said it would. I did find that it wasn’t as long wearing as I would have liked, but it didn’t settle into my wrinkles and looked nice all day. On the other hand I really struggled with the Natasha Denona. I just could not get it to sit on my face right or make it last all day. I also didn’t get the blurring effect from this foundation. I wouldn’t say this is a terrible foundation, just not my top choice from the past year.
Eyeshadows
Another favorite of mine is the Urban Decay Naked Shaped Palette. This is a beautiful palette that gave me some of my prettiest eyeshadow looks throughout 2025. This palette has a mix of shimmer and matte shades that can be used to create so many stunning eyeshadow looks. In the center of the palette are four cream products that can be used in more ways than just eyeshadow:
- The lightest shade as eyelid primer
- The black as eyeliner
- The two brown shades for contouring
Being multipurpose makes this palette absolutely amazing for travel, especially if you’re trying to pack light. I have this palette in the cool-tone, but it does come in a warm-tone that is just as beautiful.
The next fail is the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow. I really wanted to love this, but it made my eyelids look really chunky and crinkly. Unfortunately for Makeup by Mario, no mature person wants to put on makeup that makes their eyelids look extra wrinkled. So for me this product was another fail.
Finishing Powder
The third makeup fave of 2025 is the Sephora Blur It Loose Powder. This powder is brightening under the eyes without being too matting or too luminous. It diminishes the look of eye puffiness and pores, but doesn’t add a heavy cakiness to your under-eye area.
I love the packaging of this product because it has both a resealable lid and mesh, keeping the product nicely contained instead of flying everywhere as loose powders do. I have this product in the pink shade, however it does come in a few other shades like banana, peach, and lilac.
Blush
The biggest makeup fail surprisingly came from quite a small product – the Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint Blush. It is exactly what it sounds like, a blush made of jelly, which I had never heard of and my curiosity for it is what made me buy it.
My issue with this product is that it stains whatever it touches exactly where it touches it and there’s no blending it. Let’s say I put a little bit on the back of my hand and immediately try to blend it out, nothing happens because it just dries so fast.
Lipstick
The last makeup fail was the Dior On Stage Lipstick. This product wasn’t an epic fail, but for the price and the hype that it was getting I just felt like it fell short. The problem I had with this product is that it did not wear for long at all and it also ran up into my lip wrinkles.
The one thing that I did like about this lipstick is that it really is transfer proof. I tested it by drinking a cup of water with it on and there was virtually no transfer to my cup.
HOUSEWARES FAVES & FAILS
Finally for my faves and fails is random housewares and lucky for you guys this is another faves only category!
Throw Blanket
The first one is the Faux Fur Throw Blanket that I bought for myself and then proceeded to buy as gifts for family and friends. I love this blanket because it is so soft and plush while still looking luxe and elegant.
It’s a double layer blanket with the outer side being a really pretty ribbed faux fur and the other side is a really warm, soft fleece. It comes wrapped with a bow, so it makes a really good gift presentation if you’re giving it to someone.
Hand Sanitizer
Another fave that I feel like has been everywhere recently is the Touchland Hand Sanitizer Spray. There are three reasons why I really love this hand sanitizer more than others:
- Smells so good and comes in many different scents.
- Doesn’t leave a sticky film on your hands.
- Doesn’t take forever to rub into your skin.
This product is available individually or as a four pack. Over Christmas I bought the four pack and put one in everyone’s stockings, including my own!
Travel
Next are these tiny Travel Squeeze Bottles. I really like these because of how small they are. Most of the travel sets out there give you 3 ounce bottles which in my opinion is way too much for most things that you need to bring on a 7 to 10 day trip.
These bottles are only 1 ounce and don’t take up any room in that little quart zipper bag where space is at a premium. They come in a set of six and I keep them in my toiletry bag so they’re always in there ready to go whether it’s a weekend or a carry-on trip.
Cleaning
The last fave of 2025 is this 3 in 1 Cup Lid Cleaning Brush. This is the cutest little device for cleaning water bottle lids and rubber gaskets. It’s almost like the Swiss Army knife of cleaning tools because on one side is a soft bristle brush that can be flipped around to reveal a scraper, and on the other side is a stiff corner brush perfect for getting into tight spaces. It is very inexpensive and I can think of so many uses for this product around my kitchen.
THANK YOU!
I hope you found this blog post informative and helpful and that you enjoyed my 2025 Faves & Fails video! You can shop all my fave products, and some of the fails, as well as my outfit, jewelry, and makeup from the video using the links below. I also have some great discount codes for you, so don’t miss out on those. I am so excited to see what new faves and fails come out of the year ahead! I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope 2026 is good to us all!
Shopping Links (Affiliate):
FAVES:
SKINCARE:
Current Body Series 2 Face Mask – 10% Off with Code ANGIE
US & Canada
UK & IE
Current Body Series 2 Face + Neck Kit – 10% Off with Code ANGIE
OmniLux Red Light LED
OmniLux LED – 10% Off with Code HF10
Nordstrom
Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Easy Wear Eye Tightener
Ulta
Sephora
Amazon
Colourpop Fresh Kiss Lip Balm in Caramel Latte
CLOTHES/ACCESSORIES:
Necklace (From street market in Paris, linking similar)
Green Ring (From shop in Amboise, linking similar)
Horizontal Dark Emerald Quartz Ring
Handmade Emerald Quartz Ring
Cushion Cut Emerald Quartz Ring
MAKEUP:
Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Natural Finish Foundation in 4.5N
Urban Decay Naked Shaped Cool-Toned Palette
Sephora Blur It Loose Powder in 01 Pink
HOUSEWARES:
Touchland Hand Sanitizer Spray
Touchland Hand Sanitizer Spray Set of 4
FAILS:
Natasha Denona HY-GLAM Foundation
Makeup By Mario Cream Eyeshadows in Bisque & Sandstone
Dior On Stage Lipstick in 120 & 222
MY AMAZON HOLIDAY SHOP
My Brushes
My A506 Concealer Brush – 10% Off with Code ANGIE10
Ulta
Amazon
Nordstrom
My 7-Piece Brush Set – 10% Off with Code ANGIE10
Ulta
Amazon
Nordstrom
My Travel Brush Set – 10% Off with Code ANGIE10
Ulta
Amazon
Nordstrom
My Outfit
Rings
Riva Diamond Hoop Ring
Siren Stacking Ring
Apple Watch
Pink/White Watch Band
Nail Polish: OPI Cozu-Melted In the Sun
Connect With Me On Socials
MY AMAZON SHOP
Shop MyShelf
LIKETOKNOW.IT
BLOG
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
My Discount Codes
Alloy Menopause – $10 Off with Code ANGIE10
Alloy Rx Skincare – $20 Off with Code FLASHY
DRMTLGY Luminous Eye Corrector – 20% Off with Code ANGIE20
Chro-Mat Ray Reverse SPF 50 – 10% Off Entire Order with Code ANGIE10
Satya Jewelry – 10% Off with Code ANGIE10
Moon Phases Necklace
Starburst Necklace
Blue Topaz Ring
Today’s Makeup
Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Natural Finish Foundation in 4.5N
Lancome Teinte Idole Concealer in 210
Ulta
Sephora
Tarte Smooth Operator Finishing Powder
Tarte
Macy’s
Laura Geller Serum Blush Cheek Tint Poppy Peach
Laura Geller
Amazon
(LG) RMS Hydra Bronzer in Tan Lines
Urban Decay Naked Shaped Cool-Toned Palette
Sephora Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in Matte Charcoal
About Face Eyeshadow Stick in Actual Ambrosia
Thrive Causemetics Tubing Mascara
NYX Duck Plump Lip Liner in Pinkjection
Ulta
Amazon
Fenty Gloss Bomb Lipstick in Blazed Donut
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