My Top 5 Favorite, Most Useful Purchases of 2025

While going over my 2025 purchases, I realized my favorite things are a little all over the place. For that reason, I’m dividing it into 3 categories: Overall/most useful new purchases, vintage/secondhand, and beauty. Today, I’m highlighting my top 5 favorite purchases of 2025, in no particular order:

Thermacare Menstrual heat patch: Bobby picked these up for me when I forgot to pack my heating pad, and now they’re a staple in my cabinet. I have endometriosis and multiple large fibroids, which means I am in a lot of pain for at least two weeks a month. I use my heating pad at home, and slap on a menstrual heat patch when I need to leave the house. It’s also a lifesaver for long flights (they’re TSA approved).

Manta Sound Sleep Mask: Technically, I didn’t buy this. Bobby gave it to me — and I’m pretty sure they sent it to him (though he’s been buying Manta sleep masks forever). Most of you already know I’m obsessed with my massaging eye mask, which I still use religiously for headaches and relaxation. But it’s a little too clunky to keep on all night. Now that I have the Manta Sound Sleep Mask, I turn on a podcast (and set it to turn off once that episode is over) or a meditation, and find myself falling asleep before the episode is over. It just helps me turn my mind off — and I can keep the mask on all night. Side note: while I no longer get lash extensions, the cups on the Manta masks are extension-friendly, since they leave a space around your eyes.

Uniqlo “Ultra Relax” Airism bra: I have hypohidrosis, which means my body has a hard time cooling down. And since I live in South Florida, that means trying out every single cooling strategy there is (and I like to think I’m a bit of an expert). When it comes to clothing, Uniqlo’s Airism line is severely underappreciated in the states. Wearing a long-sleeve Airism top keeps me way cooler than a tank top. Enter: Airism bras and underwear. The best. But particularly, this airism bra that is still in stores in Japan but doesn’t seem to be sold online or in US stores anymore. It is the most comfortable bra I have ever worn in my life. They do have this one, which has adjustable straps, but if you want the one I swear by, you’ll either have to buy it on ebay (and spend more than twice what I paid in Tokyo), or…take a trip to Japan and stock up. Which seems like a reasonable thing to do, to me!

Melissa Soft Ballerina Platforms (use code KEIKO15): I remember the first pair of Melissa shoes I ever bought: they were hot pink and black, maybe in 2004? They have come such a long way since then, redefining what a jelly shoe can look like. And truthfully, I wasn’t a big Melissa fan once I moved past my 80s scene girl renaissance. I associated it with that very specific point in my life. That is, until we worked together in 2022 and I couldn’t stop wearing their platform fisherman sandals. Though we haven’t worked together since, they’ve gained a loyal customer in me — and they kindly sent a discount code for me to share (Use code KEIKO15 for any of your purchases). This year, I added the soft ballerina platforms into my rotation and I have worn them nonstop. No need to break them in, and I can walk around them for hours. I disagree with the idea that they run small, though. If you’re between sizes, I’d go with the smaller.

This utilitarian, under $30 travel backpack: I use my travel backpacks until they are quite literally falling apart, but since my last one was highly specific (a Gryffindor Vera Bradley bag with a wand pocket), I decided to treat myself to a new one that didn’t make me feel self-conscious. Admittedly, that backpack was an incredible travel bag with more compartments and cushioning than I could dream of — but when J.K. chose to use her platform to repeatedly tear down trans people and dismantle the legacy she once built, it stopped being something I could wear. I might get the updated, plain version one day, but for now my $29.99 backpack is working out wonderfully.

There is a space for my laptop, plenty of room for my camera, lens, hard-drives, chargers, toiletry and makeup bags, and a bunch of smaller compartments to keep things organized. Plus, it has a wet compartment (perfect for hiking — and the whole backpack is easy to wipe down), outer pockets for a water bottle, and even a charger spot that I admittedly have never used. If you’re not traveling with photography gear, it can easily fit a lot of clothing and you can use the wet compartment for shoes to keep them separate. I have the standard size and it fits perfectly under the seat as a personal item on airplanes. Oh, and of course it has the strap on the back so you can tote it on your luggage instead of carrying it on your back! Considering how much I use this backpack and how it helps me stay organized for trips, it might have to take the top spot for best purchase of the year.

I’d love to know your favorite purchases of 2025. Please let me know in the comments.

Up next…my favorite second-hand finds of 2025!