Some of my favourite posts to read are end-of-year round-ups, as I feel like they give such genuine recommendations and I always look forward to compiling my own lists. As always, I'll be delving through all the beauty products I've bought this year, picking out the cream of the crop, the products that have really shone out and stayed within my regular rotation of products. It'll also be giving a bit of a glimpse into my current makeup routine too. Also if you fancy a giggle at how terrible my blog used to be, I'll link up my 2014 and 2015 beauty favourites too.
THE BASE
I've basically stuck to the same base all year, with The Body Shop All-In-One Instablur Universal primer, and switching between the L'Oreal Infallible Matte and True Match foundations (side note, I definitely prefer the old formulation, but more on that in a future post). One thing I have added to my base routine is the Becca Backlight Priming Filter, which I like to mix in with my foundation to give a lit-from-within glow, and it also makes my foundations blend that little bit better. Concealer-wise, I still love the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Benefit Erase Paste to counteract dark circles, but I've been really impressed with the Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer. It feels really fresh on the skin, is pretty hydrating and blends nicely with a Beauty Blender too. It doesn't have quite as much coverage as the NARS, but it's great when you want something a little more lightweight on the skin.
THE FACE
2016 really has been the year of the highlight for me, maybe it's a sign I've been watching too many US beauty gurus on YouTube... I love to double up on my highlight, starting with a cream product. I really love the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in Moonstone, as it has a flattering pale gold tone and is easy to apply and blend. I've also been really obsessed with the Maybelline Master Strobing Stick* in Light Iridescent. This has a cool pink tone to it, and is light enough to actually pop on my pale skin. The stick is easy to apply, and gives a beautiful glow without any heavy glitter. You can go anywhere from a natural to an OTT finish with this, so it's really versatile, I tend to go HAM with it, and blend either with my fingers or a Beauty Blender. I then like to top the cream highlight with a powder and there's only been one for me, the Sleek Solstice Palette. I particularly love the bottom two shades as they both give that POW! highlight look that I crave.
In terms of bronzer and contour, I'm still very much loving my NARS Laguna, as well as the Paloma Contour Duo from the One Shocking Moment Palette I picked up last year (review). I still regularly reach for the blush shades in the palette also. 2016 was the year that I finally tried the infamous NARS Orgasm blush from the Jetsetter Palette, and I actually like it a lot, it is so much more flattering and subtle than its drugstore dupe, Sleek Rose Gold. I've been reaching for my Benefit blushes quite a bit too, and Rockateur is slowly becoming a favourite. Powder-wise, I tend to toggle between the Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder for my T-Zone and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light, which sets your makeup without looking too matte and flat.
THE EYES
I tend to mix up my eye look quite a lot, but I've pretty much stuck to either a gold, rose-gold or bronze eye as my go-to. I still love using cream eyeshadows as a base, and this year I discovered the KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows, especially Golden Brown. It applies and blends really easily, and it's like a speedier version of the Maybelline On & On Bronze Color Tattoo (which I still love). For a good few months in the summer, I pretty much exclusively used the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal on my lids. It may be a highlight, but it doubles up as the perfect gold eyeshadow for me. Palette-wise, I'm still searching for my perfect one, but I've been really loving the GWA Natural Eyeshadow Palette*. It has a great range of neutral shades, with some amazing foiled shimmers. It's such a bargain for the price!
When it comes to brows, the product I always come back to is the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Perfect Brows Palette as the Hot Cocoa shade is just perfect. I've only really used two mascaras this year, the first being the Maybelline Lash Sensation Luscious*. I tried the original Lash Sensational, which everyone seems to love, but the large wand wasn't doing it for me. This one I much prefer, with it's smaller plastic brush. It is quite a wet mascara, but it gives a really intense black finish. I've also been enjoying the YSL Baby Doll Mascara*. I picked this up in a bit of a hurry from a World Duty Free event back in the summer, and it is exactly what I look for in a mascara. It has a plastic brush which gives good definition and volume, which makes it a great all-rounder.
THE LIPS
Finally I come onto the lips, and again, I tend to switch it up a lot. I picked up one of the Kylie Lip Kits at the start of the year (read the review), and to my surprise, the star of the show was the Candy K Lip Liner. It applies so smoothly to the lips, and is the perfect nude shade for me as it goes with so many of my lipsticks. It is easily the nicest lip liner I own! I've added so many lipsticks to my collection this year, but one of the highlights has to be the YSL Rouge Volupté Shine* in Nude Lavallière. Not too dissimilar to my fave Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy, it is easy to wear, moisturising and adds a subtle baby pink hue to the lips. I've also been enjoying liquid lipsticks, and I've been really impressed by the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers which are great for the price at £3, as well as the NYX Lip Lingerie in Bedtime Flirt. Lastly one of my favourite new discoveries for this year has been the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, which I have in the shade Dammed. They are easy to apply, and long lasting, and I've now got at least 5 more shades on my wishlist, oops!
What were your favourite products in 2016?
Which products do I need to try in 2017?
- Post contains PR samples -
- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product -
- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product -
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