The last month of the year is always a busy one for me, with Christmas, birthdays (including my own), and New Year's Eve to celebrate. But despite the chaos of shopping, wrapping, and traveling, I still found time to give some new products a fair shake. Here's what was great and not so great in December 2022.
Made the Cut
Lucky Brand Jumbo Checkered Claw Clip
This isn't the first black-and-white checkered claw clip I've bought, but having slightly different versions of things has never stopped me from making a purchase before and won't anytime soon.
Lucky was having some pretty big sales during December and I stopped in while doing my Christmas shopping and found this great Jumbo Checkered Claw Clip ($18). My hair's a little on the thinner side but I have a lot of it, and the longer it gets the harder it is to contain in a clip if it's not a very large one. This one was perfect for all of my hair, keeps it in place, and has a great shape. It's currently 50% off (and I believe was half-off when I bought it, too), so you don't have to spend too much to get a sturdy claw clip that'll keep your hair up if you have thin to medium hair. Bonus points for the cute checkered pattern, which I love.
Forever 21 Checkered Cardigan Sweater
Speaking of loving checkerboard prints, I added Forever 21's Checkered Cardigan Sweater ($34.99) to my wardrobe and I'm glad I did. It's so soft and warm and the caramel color is really versatile. Forever 21 is a pretty mixed bag in terms of quality, but I was really happy with this cardigan and felt it was worth the price. The covered cloth buttons are a nice touch — and a weakness of mine — and the longer length makes this a perfect cardigan for colder weather.
I got mine in size S, but would've tried on XS if they had it in store where I got mine. The S fits fine, however, not too big or baggy at all, and I can layer it under overcoats, as you can see pictured here.
Future Collective Long Sleeve Satin Blouse | Brown/Black Palm Print
This blouse ($30) was one of my favorite finds in December. I saw it in a Target that I don't usually go to and didn't see it at any other Targets from that point forward. I think that was a sign it was really popular because it's unfortunately sold out (and looks like it was on clearance), and I don't think they're going to bring it back. However, I see some Poshmark sellers currently have it listed, so if they have it in your size, scoop it up. I got mine in XS. It also came in an ivory color with no print, which some sellers have listings for.
The details on this blouse are great: the pattern, the split hem on the sleeves, and of course that rich color. My cousin was shocked when I told her I got it at Target and thought I got it at Aritzia. This was the perfect blouse for our Christmas Day celebrations and will definitely remain a regular part of my wardrobe.
Didn't Make the Cut
ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara
Other than lipstick, mascara might be the only other cosmetic that I've experimented with the most. I'm really picky about them and know right away which I'm going to like or dislike, and at first this ILIA mascara was a winner. I got a 100 point sample-sized tube from Sephora and thought it sounded right up my alley. The wand is shaped like the Better Than Sex mascara from Too Faced that I like (but haven't purchased in a long time) and gave my lashes really dramatic volume and length.
The problem emerged sometime later, after wearing it for not very long: raccoon eyes. I tried wearing this product with my three different concealers (NARS, Flower Beauty, and Kosas) and it didn't perform better with either one. Sadly, after only a handful of hours of wear, it was already smudged on the lower corners of my eyes; none of my go-to mascaras smudge and I don't have the patience for it. I thought I'd found a new mascara to love, but unfortunately it let me down. Can't recommend this one when there are others that don't have this problem.
Be sure to check back next month for another round of products that made the cut and didn't, and thanks for reading my monthly series, The Cut.
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