The Best of 2025
A superlative year in wellness + beauty (and more)
It’s taking every ounce of will power not to get into clichéd yet applicable topics of discourse such as: “can you believe this year is over?,” “look how crazy the commercialization of wellness got this year,” and “I’ve got big plans for this newsletter in 2026.” In fact, I told myself I’d avoid as much discourse as possible, given that I promised to learn how to relax this holiday break and published it on the internet.
So instead of a self-indulgent essay about what I learned this year, or a lengthy think piece about popular wellness culture as an indicator of societal patterns, I’m going to do a quick run through of the best products, services, moments, and media of the past year. Because what better way to reflect on the past than through rose-colored lenses.
Best Snacks
Simple Trail Cardamom Crunch Granola - I was introduced to this via Kate Kassin’s Into the Fridge and, as a shock to no one, I’m obsessed.
Gato Dates - These are my “I had a bad day and I need something delicious” treat. If I’m feeling particularly ambitious, I’ll make a batch myself with the Rancho Meladuco medjools.
Root Foods Zucchini Chips - Nobody is talking about how good these are??
Flamingo Estate Spicy Strawberry Snacks - Adult gummy candy at its finest.
Best Beverages
Doctor Stolberg Rest + Digest Tea - It’s not a gimmick and it’s genuinely delicious.
Figlia 002. Sole - A really tasty bottled NA apéritif made with real peach, meyer lemon, and basil. I like it straight up or with a bit of sparkling water.
Strange Water - I was team Harmless Harvest until I die. That was, until I tried this…
Ghia Sumac + Chili - my favorite flavor of my favorite canned beverage.
Best Miscellaneous Kitchen Items
CAP Beauty Coconut Butter - pure heaven that I eat by the spoonful.
Yellowbird Blue Agave Sriracha - I actually think this tastes better than Huy Fong and maybe I shouldn’t admit that.
Sur la Table Lemon Squeezer - Hands down my most used kitchen tool.
Misen Chef’s Knife - I never thought I’d be someone who professes their love to a knife on the internet, and while I am not that person quite yet, I’m pretty close with this one.
Best Activewear Items (Clothing)
Bandit PopStitch™ Leggings - Big winners here.
H-O-R-S-E The Short Kit - I typed out “elevated loungewear” but then I rolled my eyes all the way back into my brain. I love this set and you can feel how well-made it is.
Vuori Halo Baby Tee - Workout tops are impossible because you’re either wearing an old concert t-shirt or a tank top or a long sleeve Dri-fit situation. This is the fitted—but not tight—top we’ve been missing.
Unna Everywhere Pants - I’m really interested in non-legging activewear pants that I can also feasibly wear to run errands. I believe the term is (was) athleisure. Anyway, these are my favorites.
Best Activewear Items (Shoes)
Salomon XT-6s - I wrote an ode to this product in WSJ, but what you need to know is that they’re worth all of their hype.
Salomon Aeroglides - I needed new running shoes and I decided to keep it in the family. I’m very pleased with their ideal level of cushiness and complete lack of blisters.
Lululemon Mules - A lot of you are walking around in a popular but particularly uncomfortable mule that I won’t name. I would highly recommend switching them out with these because they’re not only well-cushioned, but they’re great for recovery.
Best Skincare Products
Sofie Pavitt Face Omega Rich Cream - This is meant for acne-prone people but my dry skin still adores it. It’s the platonic ideal of a moisturizer.
Marie Veronique Barrier Restore Serum- If you only use one targeted product to repair your barrier (which is all you need), let this be it.
Aunu Manuka Salve - This is essentially anti-inflammatory Vaseline. I put it on the first signs of any irritation (cough cough dermatitis) and it immediately puts it to bed. This stuff is magic.
Bioeffect Eye Serum - I look noticeably more awake when I’m consistent with this. I also like the sci-fi applicator, it makes my skincare routine feel hi-tech.
Best Bodycare Products
LILIS Instant Peel - The most satisfying exfoliant on the market. Not to be gross, but you can see the dead skin peel off within seconds. It’s awesome.
Soft Services Buffing Bar - I will spare you this time around.
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil - This is an elixir of the gods, topically speaking.
Best Haircare Products
Rōz Shampoo and Conditioner - the best poo and dish I’ve tried—and the best-smelling—in recent memory.
La Bonne Brosse - I’m partial to their N.03 brush.
Crown Affair The Scrunchie No. 001 - I want scrunchie benefits without the scrunchie aesthetic. A Goldilocksian hair tie.
Best Wellness Gadgets
Hyperice Vyper 3 Foam Roller - Another WSJ ode here.
Therabody SmartGoggles - There’s something so luxurious about using a warming eye massager in your own home…
Monastery Deep Red - This is the only skincare device I can commit to using multiple times a week.
Best Smells
Abel Laundry Day - Just as the name suggests.
Byredo Bal d’Afrique - I’d argue that 50% of the reason we appreciate a scent is because of its association to a fond memory. This one reminds me of a very fun trip I took to Guatemala. :)
SIDIA x Sofie Pavitt Face - On a similar note, this smells like one of my favorite types of establishments—juice bars.
Koala Eco Australian Lemon Myrtle & Mandarin - The smell of my dish soap rocks.
Best Workout Classes in NYC
Boa Pilates - Chelsea is the best of the best.
Forma Pilates - this is Solidcore level hard, without Solidcore level intensity (or a Solidcore level playlist… sorry).
Hot Pilates at SKY TING - Hunter’s class is my favorite. Perfect amount of intensity.
Hot Yoga at Lyon’s Den - The most cathartic hot yoga in the city. I feel like I release pounds of sweat mixed with mental stress and physical tension.
Best Healthy-ish Places to Eat in NYC
This Bowl - not at all original of me, but I call em like I see em.
Souen - The curry is a necessary staple in my diet.
Matter - once you get over the slightly dystopian concept of optimizing for your ideal macro intake, the food is pretty delicious.
Happier Grocery - I’m not beating the basic allegations. I won’t apologize for loving this place and their miso glazed salmon.
Ten Ichi Mart - I’m here 2X a week at minimum picking up onigiri and lotus roots.
Best IRL Appointment Experience (Medical-ish)
Warby Parker
I’ve always had a bit of a superiority complex as the only person in my family with nearly perfect vision. Turns out, even the most genetically blessed of us still need to get our eyes checked every year, for health reasons of course. This is the type of inconvenient appointment I would usually dread, but such is not the case at Warby. Everyone who works there is beyond lovely, and I basically spent 20 minutes gabbing with my (very professional) technician about eyeballs and the fact that I didn’t even need to dilate my pupils. 10/10 recommend, especially if you have FSA dollars you need to use before they expire…
Best IRL Appointment Experience (Cosmetic)
Ställe Studios
Going to Ställe feels like home, and not just because Elizabeth is a friend. I feel so soothed there—as a result of the Swedish design, the angelic (aesthetically and energetically) staff members, and the Lana that’s playing on loop.
Best Facial Treatment
Exosomes at Practise NYC
This is my favorite thing to do to my skin. Not just because I like hanging out with Kristyn for an hour and a half, but because it’s gentle and extremely effective. Approximately two days after I get this treatment, like clockwork, my skin reverts back to babylike softness. They should rename it to The Benjamin Button Treatment. Alas, not my best work…
Other Stuff
I know you come here for wellness and beauty commentary, so I understand if you do not care about this. That said, writing this has been a fun jog down memory lane, so I wanted to extend it into pop culture, media, and other things that tickled my fancy. *Note: this is all stuff I consumed this year, not stuff that was released this year, which makes this list lower stakes in a way I feel more comfortable with.*
Best Things I Read on Substack
how to do everything when you have time to do nothing by emily north
2026 Ins, Outs, and Predictions by Brendon Holder
What 5 Bakers Make to Say I Love You by Kate Snyder
The Monks in the Casino by Derek Thompson
modern day social etiquette you should live & die by by Hanna Park
Best Concerts
I’m not sure it’s possible to beat Oasis at Metlife, but Charli performing Brat came close.
Best TV Shows
Succession (again, I consumed it this year), Overcompensating, Too Much
Best Albums
Virgin by Lorde, Deadbeat by Tame Impala, Two Star & the Dream Police by Mk.gee, Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful and so unaware of it by The 1975, Getting Killed by Geese, West End Girl by Lily Allen, Ok Computer by Radiohead (yes I realize how ridiculous it is that Ok Computer is on my best albums of 2025 list)
Best Books
Heart the Lover by Lily King, Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu by Tom Freston, Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte, When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter, Exit Lane by Erika Veurink
Best Movies
The Worst Person in the World, Sinners, Dune 2, Bugonia, Past Lives, Marty Supreme
Best Restaurants
New York: Sunn’s, Cove, I Cavallini, Bangkok Supper Club, Rosella
London: Akoko, Trishna, Ottolenghi
Florence: La Giostra
Allow me one second of earnestness: thank you so much for reading Plant Based. It really does mean a lot that you take the time, your most valuable resource, to read my writing. If you have one extra moment, I’d love to hear what topics / themes resonated with you most this past year, and what you’d like to see explored in the new year. <3
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