Happy New Year everyone! I cannot believe we are in 2016. I hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Years (and general festive period). Also hoping I'm not the only one dreading going back to work, after what seems like a lifetime off! It's given me chance to chill and spend time with loved ones, but also do what I love best.. shopping, oh and eating.
I absolutely love reading these kind of posts because unlike a monthly favourites they tend to be products that people have loved for the whole year and dare I say it "holy grail" products. The ones I have here are my complete staples. So before I ramble too much here are some of my most loved products from 2015.
Best Primer
Primer isn't really a category I am particularly bothered about most of the time. I've tried a few but they all seem to dry my skin out without any real benefit. This all changed when I purchased the Seventeen Skin Wow Primer. Although I don't think it makes my makeup last much longer, it gives such a beautiful illuminating finish under foundation that I can't go without. I don't use it on an everyday basis, but just when I feel I need a bit more radiance. As for eye primers, Urban Decay's Primer Potion is the only one I've ever tried but it does the job brilliantly so I will continue to use and repurchase.
Best Foundation
You may not be surprised by this, given I did a whole post about it earlier in the year, but my top foundation has to be Nars Sheer Glow. I thought I had found a new favourite in the MUFE HD foundation, however I always come back to sheer glow. Another favourite for lighter makeup days is the Dr Jart+ Regenerating BB Cream. I never thought I'd be able to get on with a 'one colour suits all' type of product, but blended in this seems to match my quite light skin tone perfectly. It is also so hydrating and contains SPF so a great one for when you may not want to go bare faced on holiday.
Best Concealer
Both of these are products I have discovered in 2015 and absolutely love. For blemishes and general covering around the face it goes to Clarins Instant Concealer. Hydrating and the perfect colour for my skin tone, this covers without being too thick and the hefty tube will probably last me a lifetime. For highlighting under the eyes, I love Urban Decays Naked Skin, it's so brightening and I think I may have to get another shade for bad skin days as the coverage is just amazing.
Best Beauty Tool
Without a doubt it's got to be the Beauty Blender. Since buying this in America in April, I've probably used it every day, with the exception of using my hands a couple of times! It works with everything from BB creams to Concealer to Foundation. I've even heard of using it for powder, although I am yet to try that out. Definitely worth the price tag and worth the hype. P.s. Please excuse my dirty one, I need a new one.
Best Highlight
Like primer, highlight is one category where I have never felt the need to have a collection of different products. For the last 4 years I stuck with MAC's Soft & Gentle and used it till it's very last bit. Then came the release of Champagne Pop and I see a similar pattern occurring. It suits pale skin, it's beautiful, go buy it!
Best Bronzer + Contour
I've put these into the same category as they are very similar powders and come in one palette. They are Fawn and Java from the Anastasia Beverley Hills contour palette in light. I use Fawn to contour, it has such a grey undertone so it mimics a shadow underneath the cheekbone perfectly without looking muddy, and Java is just great to warm up the face. I like that I can keep them both together too.
Best Blusher
This was a late 2015 discovery. I've always stuck to MAC blushers as they've never done me wrong. However after watching so many of I Covet Thee and Hello October's Youtube videos, I knew I had to try out one of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushers. After owning some of the brand's powders and getting on with them so well I thought I'd give them a go. It was love! I've since bought the Ambient Lighting Edit so I could try a couple more colours.
Best Fragrance
Jo Malone's Nectarine Blossom & Honey. Beautiful scent, so classic and simple. The first 'Grown Up' type scent I've had for a while.
Best Single Eyeshadow
Possible my most worn eyeshadow of the year is Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in On and on bronze. Quick and simple, easy to blend too. Great for when you want to look like you've made a bit of effort when you actually haven't.
Best Eyeshadow Palette
I think this was my first beauty purchase of 2015 in Singapore on Jan 1st. It is the Marc Jacobs Lolita eyeshadow palette. A palette of beautiful nude shades in a variety of finishes that can be used on their own, or combined to make daytime and evening looks.
Best Eyeliner
This is a non mover from the last couple of years. An oldy but a goody in my opinion. Soap & Glory's Supercat liquid liner. I wear liquid eyeliner every day so I have been through so many of these over the years.
Best Mascara
Mascara for me is where I've always liked to branch out with different brands. I don't think I've ever bought the same mascara twice. Meaning I've probably tried most of the drugstore ones available. One of my faves, recommended by my Mum is Clinique's High Impact Mascara. She always has sample sizes of these hanging around as they are great for travelling and I've managed to go through quite a few (still never bought the full size though!). It is defining and lengthening, it doesn't smudge and is easy to remove so a winner in my books. Another contender to best mascara, as I couldn't choose just one, is Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara. Another sample size I received in the post! This is another great one with similar qualities to Clinique's offering. Although it may just give slightly blacker and more voluminous lashes.
Best Brow Product
Up until this year, I had used the same brow product daily and always had been complimented on my eyebrows. Then when in America this year I had to pick up Anastasia's Dipbrow Pomade, as everyone and their uncle were raving about it. It is definitely confusing to use at first, but once I got my technique down my eyebrows don't take that long to fill in in a morning. And they definitely look more natural. I probably haven't even used 1/3 of it in nearly a year.
Best Lipstick
My favourite budget lipsticks of the year are Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets,.I keep collecting them and I now have four. They go on very precisely and last for a long time. The variety of colours is great, all the shades are lovely and they're only £8.99! On the higher end side of things, MAC wins and always has for me. I'm constantly building my collection and then Back-to-MAC-ing and coming back with even more new shades. They smell great and there are so many finishes and colours. My favourite colours of the year have to be Velvet Teddy and Mehr. Both are 2015 purchases.
Best Lipliner
Mac again. Suprise, suprise. This is the first year I've ever tried and got into using lip liners and they definitely prolong the lasting power of your lipstick and help give a bold lip that extra wow factor. The colours pictured are Ablaze, Spice and Soar.
