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Ava

Writer of the newsletter bookbear express, on relationships, taste and self-knowledge; based in San Francisco.

12 things

Oura ringHardware Oura

loved

My Oura ring. I hesitated for a long time but it sparks joy. I think Apple Watches are ugly and I didn't like the Whoop nearly as much. I love checking the app every day.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Dyson vacuumHardware Dyson

loved

Dyson vacuum. The laser light thing makes me happy. I never vacuumed before I got this, which meant my apartment was constantly in dire straits since I am the proud owner of two extremely fluffy dogs. I love it.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Comme Si workout socksOther Comme Si

loved

Comme Si workout socks. These come in amazing colors and are too cute to really work out in but I love them.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

NARS soft matte concealerOther NARS

loved

NARS soft matte concealer. This is the BEST concealer. I've used this for many years and I will never quit it. There is no comparable one for acne.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Nippon Kodo Mori-no-KOH incenseOther Nippon Kodo

loved

Nippon Kodo Mori-no-KOH incense. I love this! Incredible bang for your buck, the little box feels so fancy, it smells insane. I'm burning it right now as I write.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Clarins lip comfort oilOther Clarins

loved

Clarins lip comfort oil. Maybe my favorite lip tint, and I own like 35.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Brandy Melville underwear and sweatersOther Brandy Melville

liked

Brandy Melville underwear and sweaters. 100% cotton and I can't believe how good they are for how cheap they are. I've owned a couple of their sweaters for like eight years and they really hold up.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

DedCool Milk detergentOther DedCool

liked

DedCool Milk detergent. Yes, it's probably all over your Instagram ads. Yes, it is good! This scent is what originally kicked off my lactonic fixation.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Olaplex conditionerOther Olaplex

liked

Olaplex conditioner. I have the shampoo too but I'm pretty sure the conditioner is what makes my hair bizarrely soft.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

COLOR WOW Raise the Root sprayOther COLOR WOW

liked

COLOR WOW Raise the Root spray. I found out about this on TikTok. I spray when damp and it DOES give my flat Asian hair volume. I don't know how it works, but it does.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

PanOxyl pimple patchesOther PanOxyl

recommended

PanOxyl pimple patches. These are not as fun as Starface/my cute anime character patches but ridiculously better than any other ones on the market.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Uniqlo v-neck cashmere sweaterOther Uniqlo

recommended

Uniqlo v-neck cashmere sweater. It is very, very, very important to own at least one of these. I suggest the black one in one size larger than your normal size.

Her 2025 bookbear express gift guide; only the 'AVA' section is her own words (the rest are guest contributors).

2025-12-09·avabear.xyz ↗

Every entry is a verbatim quote and a link to the public post it came from. Nothing is paraphrased. If it is not on record somewhere public, it is not here.

The verdict is what they actually said: loved and liked are explicit; recommended means they told others to get it; uses means they only say they use it; read is a book on their public shelf with no verdict; mixed and disliked are kept too.

A dashed affiliate link, sponsored or their own label means the post disclosed a relationship. It is shown, never hidden.

The shading behind a date shows how dated a recommendation is for its kind of thing.

The shading behind a date shows how dated a recommendation is, for its kind of thing. Fully green is recent. It drains a quarter at a time as the post gets older, and is empty once it reads as dated.

What counts as old depends on the thing. A laptop praised four years ago has been replaced twice; a book loved twenty years ago is probably still loved. The shading is gone after about:

Stripes mean the post carries no date and the date shown is an estimate. No date at all, no shading.