The I discovered so many new products in 2016, so it was hard to narrow it down to just one product per category. These products were not necessarily released in 2016, but they are the products which I discovered or used most during the year.
Primer
I have included two primers as I generally use an illuminating one & a pore-filling one. The Catrice Prime & Fine Beautify Primer paired with Benefit's The Porefessional has been my favourite combination. As I have dry skin I don't use either to prolong my foundation, more to even out my complexion & smooth the texture.
Concealer
Too Faced's Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer has been a game changer for me in 2016. It has a large doe foot applicator, which distributes just enough product, doesn't crease & lasts all day under my eyes. Love. Definitely better than any of the cheaper concealers I tried over the last year.
Foundation
Foundation has been one of the hardest categories, not because I had too many to choose from but because I didn't have enough to choose from... I didn't come across a foundation that I was 100% happy with during the year. My skin has changed a lot in the last few years, going from oily/combination to dry/dehydrated. The one that I have worn the most has been Inglot HD Perfect Cover-up Foundation. It's been the best so far, giving me the coverage that I want with the best shade match (73 or 74 depending on how tanned I am) I still find that it can cling to some patches of dehydration & emphasise some fine lines. The search continues...
Highlighter
The Balm's Mary-Louminizer has been my most used highlighter in the last year, it gives a high impact shine with no glitter chunks. Perfect for cheekbones, brow bone & inner corner of the eyes. There is nothing bad to say about this highlighter, I've no doubt that I will continue to use it in 2017 (although I suspect my new Becca highlighters will also feature strongly...)
Eyebrows
I didn't experiment with too many eyebrow products in 2016 because the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade is the best there is. I've heard of a few people complaining that theirs dried out fairly fast, but I've had two pots for over a year & there's no sign of either beginning to dry out, a pot will last forever (almost). I use the Anastasia 12 Eyebrow brush with the pomade & it's the perfect combination.
Eyeliner
I've always been a black liquid eyeliner girl, but in a whim ordered the teal gel eyeliner from Colourpop. This has completely changed up my eye looks, adding a pop of colour to otherwise neutral looks. The teal is a softer look than the black, so a great option for day time. The gel has a very creamy consistency that glides onto the eyes then dries to a matte finish which does not budge (I have to use an oil-based remover to take it off). I use an Inglot 31T brush to apply, which allows me to do a thick or thin wing depending on my mood. Just make sure to clean the brush after each use as the eyeliner can tend to really dry into the bristles. Not bad for $5.
Bronzer/Contour
I've lumped these two categories together as I've been using the same product for both. Benefit's Hoola Bronzer is the perfect contour shade for my skin tone & blends so easily. I got a mini size well over a year ago & I still haven't hit pan. I usually hate the little brushes that come with blushers/bronzers, but this one is just the perfect size for contouring. I don't actually bronze my skin too often as I think it can look too muddy on my fair skin, but if I need to, just a light dusting of Hoola works perfect as it can be buffed in to the skin. The deluxe size is €12 & full size is €35.
Eye shadow Pallet
The break-out product for me in 2016 was definitely this pallet. I had seen it around for while & was recommending it to people based on the reviews that I had watched/read. I did have the Pippa Pallet from Blank Canvas which I loved, the texture of the shadows was amazing but I generally only use it for travelling. I recently received The Master Series Pallet as a gift from a very generous friend and I have used it almost every day since. The shadows are so buttery, they blend seamlessly while still maintaining their colour integrity.
The brush that comes with it is the same as one which is sold separately, so it is great quality & blends the colours out perfectly. Its not like a cheap version that comes with some pallets (Like some Urban Decay ones).
€35 from Blank Canvas.
Blusher
Before 2016 I tended to wear the same colour blusher with every make-up look that I did. Always a medium rosy pink as that was the colour that best suited my complexion (blue eyes, fair skin & dark hair), but I also used to just use a wash of a cool toned taupe on my eyelids, so when I started experimenting with warmer colours on the eyes I needed a few warmer toned blushes (Orange eyeshadow & pink blusher is NOT a good look on me). I decided that a blush palette would probably be the best & most cost effective option. I came across this Make-Up Revolution palette in a pharmacy near where I work. I am not usually a fan of Make-up Revolution products, I find that the eyeshadows turn messy on the eye & blend into one colour. But when I saw that this was only €8 I decided to give it a go. I wasn't disappointed, their blushers perform much better than their eye shadows on me. The is a mixture of nudes, pinks, corals & oranges which means that there is a blusher to match pretty much any look. The colour pay-off is good for all pans except for the highlighter/blush- topper shades on the right hand side of the palette, these didn't really show up on my skin, but as I already have highlighters that I love, this isn't an issue for me & I still have six usable shades in the palette.
Pressed Powder
I only received this baby at the end of November (My parents picked it up in Sephora in the States for me) This. Changed. My. Life. No exaggeration. This is one of my favourite products that I discovered in 2016. It's described as a finishing powder, meaning that it won't actually set your make-up, its used as the last step to add an almost airbrushed look to the skin. This works perfectly for me as I have dry skin & don't need to set my make-up. This powder gives a lovely sheen to the skin & can also be used as a highlight if you build it up enough. It stops my skin looking dehydrated & blurs fine lines. I actually use all three colours together most of the time to give dimension to the face. I use a big, soft powder brush to gently sweep across my face after I have finished the rest of my make-up.
Mascara
The only reason I picked up this Soap & Glory "Thick & Fast" mascara was because I was away for the weekend & forgot my make-up bag. It was the first one I saw in Boots at around €12 (I think it was also on a Buy One Get One Half Price offer). I wasn't really expecting too much from it as I only needed it to fill the hole until I got my Benefit Roller Lash back, but this product has absolutely become my Holy Grail Mascara. It gives incredible length, thick volume & blacker than black lashes with no fall out or smudging throughout the day. Often times I haven't even bothered with false lashes on nights out when I use this.
Eyeliner
I don't really wear much pencil eyeliner anymore, mainly just when heading out at night. I prefer to use shadow under the eyes as it gives a much softer look & doesn't melt or migrate after a few hours. However, this Sephora Contour Eye Pencil is perfect for the waterline as its waterproof & doesn't smudge into the lower lash line.
Lip Combo
Colourpop's Ultra Satin Lips liquid lipstick is hands down my favourite formula. I started off wearing the Ultra Mattes, but when I discovered the Ultra Satin I was instantly converted. Its similat to the Ultra Mattes, but it doesn't completely dry down & isn't as drying on the lips. My absolute favourite shade is "Echo Park", a pinky nude colour perfect for everyday. I have been pairing it with Colourpop's Lip Pencil in Skimpy. The only annoying thing about Colourpop products is that the holographic logo rubs off as soon as you put it in a make-up bag. Ultra Satin Lip €6, Lip Pencil €5.
Setting Spray
While technically not a setting spray, Mac's Fix+ is an absolute must have in any make-up collection. Its uses are endless. My favourite use for Fix+ is to spray it on my brushes before applying pigments/glitter shadows, it helps the colour "stick" to the lid & intensifies the colour. Another use is to spray over the face at the end of make-up application to take down any powdery look & fuse the layers together. 30ml for €10.
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