I've decided to list my favorite products of 2015. Because why not! :)
SKIN CARE
If it is on the market, I can almost guarantee I've used it. Does my skin look great? No. Do I have wrinkles and hyperpigmentation? Yes. But I can still tell you what works and what doesn't and whether or not to believe the hype regarding certain products. If you want a list of what absolutely doesn't work, I can give you that some other time :). My top three skin care brands? Drunk Elephant, Algenist and Origins. They aren't cheap. But they work. I don't know about you, but I don't mind shelling out the money when I know I am going to see results.
Drunk Elephant - The most expensive of the three brands I mentioned. But seriously good stuff. My most fave product they make is the C-Firma Day Serum. Worth. Every. Penny. I never ever go a day without it. I also use the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum a few times a week as well as the pekee cleansing bar. Also, worth every penny.
Algenist - Everything I have used by this brand has been fabulous. My ride or dies? Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel (at least once a week), Purifying & Replenishing Cleanser (a few times a week) and Complete Eye Renewal Balm. I do not have dry skin...but my under eye area tends to get pretty dehydrated. The eye balm is magical for me.
Origins - Anything Origins makes is good. Great, actually. Checks-And-Balances face wash and Night-A-Mins moisturizer are two of my faves. And any serum they make is heavenly and your skin will thank you. My only warning with this brand is to avoid the products that contain charcoal...I am not a fan.
Glamglow - Their treatment masks are AWESOME. They aren't cheap...roughly $70 an ounce. But you only need a thin layer so they last a while. If you are having skin problems, check them out. My favorite is the Supermud Clearing Treatment...if I use it when I'm experiencing a breakout it takes care of the problem. I've only tried one of their cleansers...and it was just okay. I returned it. It didn't wow me...and at $40 I need to be wowed. If you want to try this brand, my advice is to go to Sephora and get a sample before you purchase. You will get enough for 2-3 applications so you can see how the product will work for you.
I do have one drugstore product that I use on my face...I know, shocker. I use it every single morning in the shower and have for years. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser. It is in a yellow bottle. In my opinion, you don't need your expensive face wash in the morning. Your face is basically clean; you are just washing off the products you put on your face at bedtime. This stuff is gentle and has never irritated my skin. Plus the smell is invigorating...and who doesn't need that at 5:00 a.m.
Also, here is a little side note...you shouldn't spend a ton of money on cleansers. Buy an inexpensive cleanser that works for you and invest your money in the "treatment" skin care products. Cleanser is cleanser (unless you are using one for acne). No cleanser is going to magically transform your skin. The products you put on your skin after you cleanse your face is where you are going to see your results. Just food for thought... :)
FOUNDATION
I have experimented with at least a dozen foundations this year. I'm always looking for something that I can't live without in this category. Well, this year...I found it. I like very little coverage. Also, I am so pale that most brands literally don't make a shade light enough for me.
Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation - I am obsessed with this stuff. I'm not normally one to repurchase the same foundation as I am always experimenting. But I have bought this stuff at least 6 times since last summer. The one down side is that it doesn't last very long...I have to purchase a refill about every 5-6 weeks. And at $39 I wish it would last a little longer. But I am willing to overlook the price because I love the product so much. You open the compact, tap your brush against the sponge and apply to your face. It is very easy to control the amount of coverage. And there is absolutely no mess. If you are a pale girl like me or if you are a girl who doesn't like much coverage, you will appreciate the magic of this product. This product was an Allure best of 2015 winner.
CONCEALER
Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer - This stuff is so good that there is no other conealer. Period.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - This comes in several shades. But I buy the shade called "brightener". This stuff is A-Mazing and it is one of those products that I purchase over and over again. I use it daily and then use Mac Pro Emphasize to set it. Best. Combination. Ever.
EYESHADOW
I am an eyeshadow palette junkie. It was hard for me to pick my favorites for this year because I have so many. I also have some that are totally not worth the money (Urban Decay's Gwen Stefani palette = no pigmentation = serious letdown).
Tartelette In Bloom Palette - This wins my prize for my favorite palette of the year. It is relatively new...it has only been out a couple of months. But in those couple of months I haven't been able to use anything else. Which is rare for me. I love it so much. I also think this one is universally flattering....anyone can create fabulous looks with it. And it is great for creating everyday casual looks as well as being able to jazz it up a little for nights or special occasions.
EYELINER
Before I give you my fave, let me just say that I will be doing a blog post very soon dedicated to all the ways people misuse eyeliner. Oh the horror!
Kat Von D Ink Liner - Easy to apply. Staying power. Great colors. Enough said.
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner - If basic black eyeliner is your jam, this is the product for you. When it comes to black eyeliner, it doesn't get better than Kat Von D.
Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eyeliner - Jazz 46 and Ro 28. Best eyeliner colors ever. They make green eyes and blue eyes pop. But every eye color would be pleased with them. Gorgeous.
MASCARA
This is a tricky one. Everyone needs their mascara to do something different. As usual, I have experimented with dozens of these this year. But my three favorites are the ones that have been my favorites for the last several years. They are my tried and true...and no matter what I try, I always always always come back to them.
Clinique Lash Power Long Wearing Formula - This is the mascara I have worn on my bottom lashes for the last 10 years. It is the only mascara I will wear on my bottom lashes. Why do I use different mascara for the top and bottom lashes? Well, I find that you need a smaller brush for the bottom lashes as well as a formula that absolutely isn't gonna streak or flake off. In my experience, mascara on the bottom lashes tends to be where smears and smudges and flakiness occurs. I happened up on this mascara years ago when I was researching bottom lash mascaras. I was hooked. This mascara is awesome. The brush is small enough so you don't make a mess and THIS STUFF WORKS. I never use it on my top lashes, so I can't tell you how it works in that regard.
Benefit Cosmetics They're Real - This mascara...I have no words. It is holy grail awesome. It is the total package. No matter what I experiment with on my top lashes, I always come back to this one.
Maybelline Volum'Express The Rocket - This stuff is fantastic. And it's drugstore. It is awesome for volume. I also find that it is great at separating. It is also one of the mascaras that I repurchase over and over.
BLUSH
Ahhh....the most underrated of the make-up categories. I love blush. Seriously. I have at least 50 blushes. I'm obsessed. People don't show blush enough love. I feel like most women buy a shade or two and stick with it. Noooooo. Blush is sooooo beautiful. Please step out of your comfort zone! You won't be disappointed :)! Oh, and please please please don't make yourself look like a clown. Less is more, less is more. My favorites of the year...
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat - All of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes are beautiful. But this is where my paleness gets in the way...not many of them work for me. I do have three of them that work with my skin tone. Most of you will be able to wear any of them you choose. I am a ghost. Diffused Heat is so so gorgeous. You can pull it off if you are pale like me or if you have more color to your skin. You won't be disappointed with this brand or formula. I promise.
It Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi - Seriously beautiful. A little goes a long way. And it is designed to transform from matte to radiant and bring out your individual healthy flush of color...So it truly does look different on everyone....and beautiful on everyone. You can pick this one up at Ulta. Oh....but word of warning...the It Cosmetics Lip products in Je Ne Sais Quoi truly, 100% SUCK...so don't waste your money there. :)
Mac Mineralize Blush in Gentle - I picked this one up last summer after it caught my eye in the store. I wasn't expecting much...I figured it was an impulse buy. It turned out to be one of my fave blushes of all time. It is beautiful and flattering and it works amazingly well with my skin tone as well as darker skin tones (by darker, I mean anyone darker than me....which is basically everyone).
LIPSTICK!!!!!!!
My most favorite product of life.....glorious, wonderful LIPSTICK!!! I love lipstick! It is my most favorite thing to buy in the whole world. I'd say on average I probably buy 30 lipsticks a year. I can't help myself....the addiction is real! It is so so so soooooo hard for me to tell you my faves in this category because I truly do love them all....from the packaging to the color to the formula....they are all heaven to me. But...for the the sake of this blog post I am going to narrow it down (and narrowing it down is giving me massive anxiety).
Mark Jacobs Le Marc Creme Lipstick in Je T'Aime 238 - If I was being tortured and had to pick just one lipstick for the year, this would be it. The description on Sephora says the color is a "rum raspberry". It isn't really red...it isn't really pink. It's just...beautiful. That's the only way I know to describe it. Plus this formula is one of the best on the market in my opinion. Even if this color doesn't appeal you, hop on over to Sephora's website and look at the other colors in this line. I have 7 or 8 of them and they are all lovely and the formula is to die for.
Nars Audacious Lipstick in Jeanne - Sephora calls it "cherry red". That is fairly accurate. It is a deep color. It is gorgeous...especially for holidays and special occasions.
Dior Rouge Couture Colour Voluptuous Lipstick in 644 Rouge Blossom - This is one of my everyday go-to colors. It is great for work or any occasion. I love it. This color would work for anyone.
Dior Rouge Couture Colour Voluptuous Lipstick in 743 Rouge Zinnia - This is another color that I can't really explain, much like Mark Jacobs Je T'Aime. This one is definitely more red. But it isn't a "scary" red. It is very wearable for everyday.
Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencile in Rhubarb - This color is natural and gorgeous. Also one of my favorite everyday colors to wear. The formula is amazing. The color is amazing.
Buxom Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick in Sinful Cinnamon - This color is so fabulous that I have two tubes of it. And it is often sold-out on Sephora's website. It is a must have. Trust me. It is a more natural lip color....with a hint of cinnamon color. Just buy it. :)
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte in 29 Opera Rose - The description on Sephora calls this "vibrant rose pink". That is accurate. This color wouldn't be for everyone. But if you are in the market for a good pink, look this one up. Also, this formula is fabulous. Even if you don't love this color, give some other colors in this line a try.
Now.....I must have a moment of silence for alllll the lippies that I love but couldn't list.......
POWDERS & HIGHLIGHTERS
Mac Pro Emphasize - This is for setting undereye concealer. It is a must and nothing compares to it.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Aging Micropowder - This is a setting powder for more mature skin. And let's face it....I ain't a young'un anymore. It absorbs oil, blurs pores and doesn't settle into fine lines. And most importantly, IT WORKS. This is definitely one of those products that does what it claims to do. Run on out to Ulta and pick this one up. You will look airbrushed and you will thank me.
Make-Up Forever HD Pressed Powder - This one also comes in a loose powder....but I prefer the pressed as I live out of suitcases and find this one to be less messy. It is a holy grail product. It is silky and lightweight and also blurs pores. However, this one tends to make you look a little more matte. I use this one on my "oily" days and the It Cosmetics powder on my "dry" days. On normal skin days, it's a toss up. A word to the wise...A little goes a long way; if you use too much, you will look like you are made of paper mache.
Becca Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Champagne Pop - This is the only highlight that will make my list. I love love love this highlighter. But highlighters get too much hype. I am the queen of buying too much make-up....so if I tell you that highlighters are overdone, stand up and take notice. :) Really, one is all you need. Find one you like, that is flattering to your skin tone and you won't need another one. People get all caught up in the packaging and the "glow" of them....I'm guilty of this too. But highlight is highlight. They all basically give you the same results. Pick a good brand. I recommend Becca or The Balm. This isn't something the average person will wear daily...and it is definitely a product that a 38-year-old shouldn't wear daily. They can really flatter your skin...they can also make you look a lot older. Be careful with highlighters.
Now for the most important thing you put on your face...........SUNSCREEN!!!! I LOVE sunscreen. It is so so so important that you put on sunscreen every single day...even when its cloudy...even when you aren't leaving your house. Please don't skip sunscreen. Make sure you get one that is formulated for use on the face. The two brands I rotate between are Obagi Sun Shield Matte SPF 50 and Drunk Elephant Umbra SPF 30 (this one was an Allure best of 2015 winner).
Okay, I'm going to wrap this up. Because lord knows I could go on forever and a day. I feel like I'm leaving so many things out. But for the sake of people reading this, I won't rattle on forever. I thought it would be fun to list my "best of 2015" so that next year I can do my "best of 2016" and see what is still on the list. There are so many amazing things hitting the market this year. I have tons of release dates for products that are going to hit the shelf this year and I can't wait to get my hands on them. I'm excited to see which of those new products will make my list for next year. In the meantime, I'd love to do a blog post soon on products that aren't worth the hype. Let me know if you'd be interested in that.
Stay lovely, my beautiful friends! xoxo
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