I asked you guys on Snapchat how many favorites you thought I should do and we agreed on a top 15. However, being the little rebel that I am, I lumped a couple of products together so we're gonna make this 15-ish. Oops! ;)
Let's get into it!
Kicking off the list of goodies is my beloved Becca Ombre Rouge eyeshadow palette. Ohhhh goodness…if you've read my October Favorites post, then you know just how hard I fell for this one. It's such a clean and simple selection of shades, but don't let that fool you. These shadows throw a curve ball, adding a twist to the true hue of these shades. They are richer, more vibrant, and more interesting worn on the lid. I've also noticed that these shades look unique person to person, dependent on the individual's hair color and skin undertones.
If you've been eyeing the palette or are looking for something great for travel, I highly recommend it. They also have a 5 shadow palette titled Ombre Nudes if you prefer cooler tones.
Is it possible to have a 2015 faves post and not mention Champagne Pop? I didn't think so either. Becca & Jaclyn Hill hit this one outta the park creating a highlight that suits just about everyone's skin tone. If you haven't gotten your hands on this bad boy yet, I strongly suggest you do so before they're gone. Strong is the person who can resist this magical shimmer!
Anastasia Beverly Hills' Lash Genius waterproof topcoat mascara is my ride or die must have on a daily basis. As we all know, my sad little lashes need all the help they can get, and this product makes it so easy for me to be able to pull off just about any mascara.
For anyone reading this who may not know already, adding a waterproof mascara to your lashes after curling helps keep that curl lifted all day long.
Because this formula is clear, it's perfect on its own for minimal makeup days or layered with others for fun glam days. I like to go in with an additional black coat once it's just about dry to really play up my lashes -or- if a particular mascara is clump prone. Adding a little lash genius beforehand can make a world of a difference, transforming a mediocre mascara into something totally useable.
ABH also stole my heart with their limited edition World Traveller eyeshadow palette. I purchased this for a giveaway I was hosting and knew I was going to be so curious about it, so I picked one up for myself as well.
In comparison to other palettes on the market, Anastasia keeps it high quality with an affordable price tag. The formulation of these shadows are among some of the best currently out on the market, in my opinion. Incredibly pigmented and easy to work with making blending a dream.
If you'd like to read more about my thoughts on this palette, pay a visit to my November Favorites post here.
Up next is GlamGlow's Youthmud face mask. This was their original release that quickly became a cult favorite. I saw it on sale while browsing my local Marshall's and had to pick it up! I think out of all the masks I've tried in my time, this is the one that will keep me coming back over and over again.
Any time I have an important event or function to attend, I always know I can fall back on this guy to really pep up my skin. It smells lovely, has great ingredients, and just get's the job done like a boss; no excuses. Skin is left refreshed, brighter, tighter (in a good way), smoother, and glowing. It's a radiance that beams straight through your makeup.
I do have to say that if you have overly sensitive skin or a low pain tolerance, you may want to sample this product first. It's a mask that tingles, dries, and has physical exfoliators. Perfect for anyone with oily skin, in my opinion. I'd also encourage any skin type to give it a go if interested. It's a handy little potion to have up your sleeve.
Here's where I get a little naughty and go over 15. I'm lumping these next two items together because…well…I can't not mention them, but I feel like I've talked them into the ground all over my social media. I'm of course talking about my two holy grail skincare products: Philosophy's Purity cleanser & Hope In a Jar moisturizer. These two were my babies this year and have really changed the game for me when it comes to my skin. I thought I'd get experimental and switched to other products, even within the brand, and NOPE. I quickly learned that my skin is its own boss and just likes what it likes.
I'm not going to bore you with yet another review on these, but you can click here and here to read some of my previous posts ;)
I had to include something from Soap & Glory. Such a big year for the brand, wasn't it? For those who may not know, S&G was phased out of Sephora in early spring and re-introduced in Walgreens and Ulta Beauty stores with an expanded line at a lower price point. Let's not forget that we're finally getting some of these long awaited makeup items that our Beauty Babes in Europe have been enjoying for years!
The item I chose to share is their The Scrub of Your Life body exfoliating scrub. It has their signature Pink scent that fills up your shower…ahhh. The scrubbing granules are great at removing dead skin and impurities while the gel formula they're suspended in gently foams up leaving you squeaky clean. It's almost like a body cleanser and scrub in one!
To read more of my thoughts on this and many more S&G products, click here.
Essence Cosmetics is another brand I've discovered this year with lots of really affordable products worth looking into. Their The Gel Nail Polish Top Coat has been an incredible find, extending the lifespan of my manicure to double the wear time. Best part is that it's only $3.99! Crazy, right?
This was truly the year of contouring! My main beezy for getting my contouring game on was The Balm's Bahama Mama Bronzer. I tried quite a bit out there and this was the only product that #1: agreed with my skin, #2: wasn't orange, & #3: was dark enough for my complexion.
Also, I'd just like to point out that I legit use this on a daily basis and I have yet to hit pan on it. You wouldn't think you get that much product by just looking at it, but it's lasting me ages! Very impressed with that :)
The Becca primer is a gel-paste hybrid that you have to work with really quickly because of how fast it dries down. I suggest swiping it over large pore/oily prone areas first then pressing it into the skin until it's dry, really making sure to fill in your pores. Do be careful not to extensively smear this all over the face or try to buff it in. It will pill on you if you do that because it sets within seconds. I personally don't use this all over the face. Focus on areas with larger pores where you're prone to getting shiny throughout the day and it'll do the job.
If I'm in a hurry or just need minimal oil control, I'll spritz some De-Slick setting spray before doing my liquid/cream products, then again after. Does the trick and it's also great for touch ups throughout the day before powdering.
On their own they're both great, but together….magic.
I have a whole process on how I use these products together which I've explained on my Instagram. If you're an oily girl too, you're gonna want to keep scrolling after my yearly faves to read that post! I promise it's life changing.
I also talk about the Becca primer in my October Empties blogpost if you're interested in reading that gem.
The product gives you full power to manipulate just how much coverage you want. I've worn this alone on days I just need a lil' something, paired it with sheer foundations to beef them up, and my favorite way is overtop their CC+ Cream. Holy coverage, Batman!
Even at its fullest coverage, it leaves your skin looking glowy and flawless, not cakey. It has an almost tacky, hydrating feel on the skin making it perfect for layering powder products overtop. I've noticed my blush, contour & highlight lasts so much longer when I wear it and I'm sure that's why.
I was really hesitant to mention the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in this post because it's not easily accessible. Currently, the cheapest place that I've found it to be sold in the U.S. is on Amazon, but I know ASOS carries it and drugstore.com used to carry it.
I purchased this in the U.K. last November and and have been loving it. Love may be an understatement at this point because I enjoyed it so much that I worked up the nerve to ask my mother-in-law to send me some lol! She's seriously the best and did me one better by sending me 3!
I've gotten so many compliments on my skin when wearing the foundation which is huge for me considering they're saying that I have nice "skin" not "makeup". It leaves you with a youthful and fresh looking complexion. It's hydrating, never clings to any dry spots, beautifully smooth to work with, buffs in great and is buildable to about a hefty medium. I reach for this on a daily basis and find that even though I'm oily, this gel formula (oddly enough) keeps my oil at bay much better than any other foundation I own.
Looking for more of my thoughts? I've professed my love for this product in my July Faves blogpost as well.
Zote bar soap is a random, but very loved favorite this year. I can't remember where I heard about using it for washing makeup brushes, but I thought I'd give it a go about 7 months ago and haven't looked back! It was a silent fave until now because I really wanted to test the product out before sharing it. I wasn't sure if it was going to break me out or do any harm to my brushes. The last thing I wanted to do was praise a product impulsively out of excitement and have it backfire! I'm happy to report that 7 months in, all is well and my brushes (including my Beauty Blenders) are squeaky clean!
If you're struggling getting heavy duty foundation out of your brushes, you need to try this. It's so inexpensive (.59 cents at the .99 cent's store) that there's really no reason not to try it!
I will say that if you use too much, I'll create a glycerin film on your brushes. Use any gentle/mild liquid soap you have available to cut through and rinse away any of that residue if you find yourself in that situation. It does also have a scent that some people don't care for, so give it a sniff before purchasing :)
Next are two Coastal Scents eye brushes that have been a sweet addition to my collection. They're the Classic Synthetic Shader and their Classic Precision Pencil brush. I use both of these just about every day and they've been stepping' up my game which I ain't mad at ;)
The flat shader I use to pack on shadows or do some work on the lower lash line and it works amazing. I loved it so much that I had to purchase another.
The pencil brush is actually a little bit fluffier than I expected, but it worked out great. It's beautiful to do crease work with and has just the right amount of give.
I also reallllly recommend their duo fiber face brushes and their Hot Pot single eyeshadows. I was going to put those in here too, but that was just going to open up a whole other can of worms lol.
*P.S. Coastal Scents is currently having a site wide sale for up to 50% off to ring in the new year! Be sure to check that out!
If you have read that post, then you'll know that this specific shade stole my heart! I've been obsessing over pink highlighters this year and this one does one better. The sheen this product gives isn't just pink, but it's gently iridescent too, making it just that much more interesting. I just wish I could get a decent picture of it!
Though I love really buttery highlights like those from Becca, I find that they're not as forgiving on the skin as baked highlights, especially for us oily girls with larger pores to conceal. If you're finding that's true for you too, I highly suggest this baked good that's very easy to wear and build up if desired.
That's all she wrote! Can't believe it's already going to be 2016, but am so incredibly thankful and appreciative that you've been here with me :) I'm wishing you a very warm Happy New Year full of all which makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Can't wait to see where this new year brings us!
Remember to keep scrolling to view related Instagram posts! Lots of additional info there ;)
