| Loves | Best of Makeup 2017


| Loves | Best of Makeup 2017

As always, this is going to be a long one but I'll try to narrow it down to the best of the best for 2018! There were some pretty incredible discoveries this year, many of which made me want to trash all my makeup for these few products! I know, that's shocking but true! 

FOUNDATION & CONCEALER




Cle de Peau The Foundation - I now know why they call it "The Foundation", it is literally the ONLY foundation you will ever want to use or buy! Seriously, this foundation is such a game-changer, I'd be willing to give up all my foundations just for this one! The finish is beautifully luminous and plumps out lines and smooths over texture. The coverage is buildable but still incredibly light in texture! Read my full review here, you won't regret investing in this beauty!

Dior DreamSkin Cushion - Prior to my Cle de Peau foundation I discovered this beauty. which I used for pretty much half the year and went through two cushions! This super lightweight and sheer cushion can built up for more coverage and leaves the most beautiful finish to the skin. It is a beautiful skin tint with high SPF for the summer time! Check out my full review here. 

Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer - This product is pretty bullet-proof! I bought this before heading to Vegas this summer and it lasted through heat, sweat, and even some water! It is very impressive with it's very high coverage but lightweight texture and blendable formula. I don't often wear this product all over my face because I prefer something lighter for everyday wear but for special occasions, this will give you flawless looking skin! If I use it everyday, I use it as a concealer around my nose where foundation and other concealers tend to break down easily. This product doesn't move, which is why I love it as a concealer! The tube is very compact and travel-friendly which is always great! The coverage can be reduced by mixing the product with moisturizer, making this product so versatile! 

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector - This thick light peachy shade not only corrects darkness but brightens the under eyes very well! They have recently come out with a second shade for those who have a deeper skin tone. I really like how bright, yet natural, this looks on my medium skin tone. It has some very fine light-reflecting particles that provide a luminous finish to the under eyes. It is quite emollient so I recommend setting it but the effects will last all day long.

Lancer Studio Light Flawless Eye Concealer - This concealer comes in two shades light and medium and both have quite a peach tone to them to correct darkness. These are emollient and luminous concealers. This product needs to be set but it blends and glides on like a dream. It is very brightening and correcting, while also being quite pigmented. I like the way this product feels and looks on the skin. It is very easy to use with the squeeze tube packaging.

POWDERS & PRIMERS




Lancer Dani Glow Skin Perfector - This product is everything I wanted the Victoria Beckham x Estee Lauder Morning Aura to be, read my full review on morning aura here. It is a glowing and perfecting primer serum. It smooths out texture while providing a glow but also providing skincare benefits. It looks stunning under makeup and makes your makeup look so glowy and flawless! While it comes at a high price tag. it something I will continue to keep in my collecting because it is so good! Read all bout my love for the Lancer Skin Perfector here

Lancer Studio Filter Pore Perfecting Primer - I'm not a big primer person however, this primer works so well with the Glow Perfector and really makes you makeup look poreless and flawless! It is a silicone based primer and a little goes such a long way. The travel friendly tube makes it my go-to for my trips!

Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer - Again, I'm not a huge primer person but this primer blew me away! First of all it is incredibly affordable and you receive a good amount of product! Second of all. it BLURS EVERYTHING! You won't believe until you see it but it will blur out pores, texture, and even pigmentation! This primer will make you look like you have doll-like skin!

REN Perfect Canvas - For those who aren't fond of silicone-based primers, look no further than this skin-treating primer serum by REN! This incredibly lightweight serum treats your skin and preps it for makeup. It doesn't feel at all like a primer and it just skins into the skin instantly! Learn more about this treatment primer here.

Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder - If you want a truly FLAWLESS finish to your makeup, you NEED this powder! I don't typically like powder, but I LOVE this one! This one is so blurring and light diffusing, it makes your skin look surreal. When I use this powder all over and with my blurring primers, my skin looks impossibly perfect! It never settles into lines or texture and it is incredibly lightweight. The color-correcting shades brightens and corrects all my imperfections and discoloration.This has become the ONLY powder I have used this year! The pressed version is also excellent for travel and touch-ups! I really can't go anywhere without this beautiful powder!


CHEEKS





Victoria Beckham x Estee Lauder Blonde Mink Creme Blush - I actually bought a BACKUP of this! That's all you really need to know but here's a little more. It is a beautiful warm neutral cream blush with the most beautiful long-lasting finish! Plus how could you say no to that packaging? Check out my detail review here.

Victoria Beckham x Estee Lauder Modern Mercury Highlighter - Again, bought another BACKUP! I own the original release of this highlighter but I love it so much I had to get the VB version too! It is a beautiful silvery-rose highlighter with an intense finish. Read all about this beauty here.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand - This liquid illuminator is STUNNING! Since I bought it, I have had a hard time wanting to use any other highlighter! If you have been looking for a "wet-looking" glow but hate the tackiness or wet feeling of most illuminators with that finish, you will be obsessed with this! It actually sets to the skin, lasts for 8+ hours, and comes in a beautiful universal champagne shade. Seriously, you're going to want to read the full review here.

Tom Ford The Ultimate Bronzer in Terra - My go-to and pretty much only bronzer I used consistently this year, yet somehow haven't come close to hitting pan! This gigantic bronzer is worth the investment. You recieve so much product and the formula is beautiful. It sits on the skin very nicely and the shade has the perfect amount of warmth to warm up your complexion or sculpt you face! While I am a bronzer junkie, I haven't been using any others or have been tempted to buy any others because of this bronzer.

Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt - This was one of my most anticipated launches this year. The gold and bronze metallic shades in this duo are so universally flattering and can be mixed to customize the perfect highlighter shade. It has a beautiful smooth texture and stunning gleaming finish on the skin. It can even be used on the eyes for a summer glow.

Chanel Plisse Lumiere de Chanel Illuminating Powder - This limited edition highlighter may not be available anymore but I hope they will continue to release highlighters with the same formula. This one was the perfect champagne shade and provided a buildable and intense glow without emphasizing any texture! I went through a period of several months where I ONLY used this highlighter.

The Beauty Crop Milk Glow Highlighter - This new indie brand has some amazing gems and this is one of their latest! The Milk Glow Highlighter contains milk to hydrate and nourish the skin while it gives off a beautiful and fresh glow! The highlighter is very pigmented and is a silvery-rose shade. It also dries quite quickly, so I recommend working quickly.

Stila Heaven's Hues Highlighter in Kitten - This bouncy gel to powder highlighter is dreamy and fun to use. Their classic Kitten, champagne shade, is so universally flattering and it has a very refined and fine glow. I love how natural it looks but it still provides some real impact! 

Algenist Luminizing Drops in Pearl- Another skin-treating illuminator,  this one has the most beautiful and natural finish but can be built up to be more intense. It also is beautiful when mixed into your base products! The pearl shade is my favorite because it is so perfectly neutral and works with all looks and skin tones.

Tom Ford Inhibition Blush - As soon as this blush launched, I immediately fell in love with it and had to have it in my life! This is the perfect warm neutral blush and it has been my go-t for travel because it work with almost any look you do! It's the perfect pinch of color when you don't know what color blush to wear or what you need to complete your look.

Too Faced Diamond Light Multi-Use Highlighter - Technically. this is an extremely early spring 2018 release but because I bought it in 2017 and I am already in love with it, it made my list! This stunning highlighter has a beautiful smooth texture and multi-dimensional pearl throughout it. It really provides a beautiful and unique glow! The unicorn vibes are real and I feel magical! 

BROWS



Burberry Effortless Brow Definer - For a second year in a row, this brow pencil has been my go-to for a beautifully defined but natural looking brow. The waxy texture of the angled pencil allows for a very naturally filled in look. It really is effortless and easy to use for everyday. The color is perfectly ashy but not too dark and it brushes out to be a very natural finish. I purchased a back-up of this product during the Sephora VIB sale, however, the current one I have seems to lasts forever. I have been using the same one from last year! 

EYES




Colourpop Pressed Powder Eyeshadows - I haven't used many other eyeshadows this year because these are so excellent! For such an affordable price, these are spectacular! Their pigment is very strong and they are so blendable. The mattes are high quality and aren't too powdery. They stay on all day and they have a massive shade range! 

NARS Loaded Palette - This palette has a variety of warm, cool, matte, and shimmer shadows. The quality is excellent and all the shadows are very wearable neutrals. The creaminess of the shadows makes it a dream to work with and the pigmentation is incredible! One of the best NARS palettes to-date!

Marc Jacobs Scandalust Palette - This new shadow formula is stunning! The eyeshadows are soft and pigmented but don't have powdery texture! This new formula is much creamier and blendable than the old formula. The colors of these new palettes are seem to compliment each other much better than the past color schemes. Also, there is a very good mixture of finishes, so you can get a complete look from one palette! I highly recommend this particular color scheme because I have use this on a variety of other skin tones, besides my own, and it looks beautiful on everyone!

Armani Smokey Eye Tints - I'm a little behind on these but since I purchased them this year during my matte shadow phase, I haven't stopped using them! They are so easy and convenient! They blend out so beautifully! I love using them alone for a quick everyday look but also as a base for other shadows! I can't rave about these enough, I will be coming back for the other shades!

Tom Ford Private Blend Shadows - I can't forget about one of my most recent purchases and obsessions. I have always been a massive fan of Tom Ford shadows but the formula of these singles are incredible! Unfortunately, they don't come with a lot of product but they are so pigmented and creamy! These blend so well and most of the textures have a great lasting-power. Check out my full review here.

Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow (Mattes) - These shadows were also a fairly recent purchase, however they are so good I had to include them! These all matte quints are creamy and blendable. They have intense pigment and adhere very well to the eyes. I often reach for them when I can't decide on what to wear. All the shades in the quints compliment each other so well and can create a variety of looks.

Givenchy Couture Noir Mascara - It looks a little intimidating with the wand being three spiky balls but it is shockingly effective! This mascara coats the lashes very well, creating thick and full lashes.  I don't have a problem with transfer or flaking. The shape of the wand actually makes it very easy to maneuver and get all the little lashes. This gives a bold spiky lash look.

YSL Babydoll Mascara - For some reason I had an excessive amount of these sample tubes but I am so glad I did! I have always been a big fan of YSL mascaras and this one is exceptional! My very fine lashes get an insane amount of volume and definition with this mascara! The best part is that although it isn't waterproof, it doesn't flake, transfer, or bleed. The color is very black and it holds a curl so well! This gives a fluffy lash look.

Ardency Inn Punker Liner - I have actually had this liner for a while but never really used it that much until this year. At the end of 2017, I got really into a kitten flick and this liner is so good! I can't believe this has been sitting in my collection so unloved! The brush-tip pen is very inky and has a very consistent flow. The color is a deep black with a lacquered shine. It applies beautifully over matte or shimmer shadows and the fine tip allows you to adjust the thickness of your liner to your liking. The tip also allows me to get into the inner corners of my quite small eyes, which I really appreciate! The lasting power is pretty incredible too!

Le Metier de Beaute Precision Liquid Eyeliner - Again, not until the end of this year did I start rockin' a winged liner but this pen-style liner is so easy to use and has a great formula. Unlike the Ardency Inn Punker Liner, this one has a matte finish and a felt tip applicator. It is very inky and has a great flow to it.  It applies beautifully over shadows and lasts all day long. The tip isn't as fine as a brush tip liner but it still allows for a lot of control over the thickness of the liner.


LIPS




Dior Rouge Liquids - I cannot begin to tell you how obsessed I am with these! Their formula and texture are incredible. They are so comfortable and they come in 3 different finishes; matte, satin, and metallic and they have a huge shade range. I finally found a matte lip formula I love! I want to collect the whole range of these! Check out my raving review here

YSL Tatourage Lip Stain - Another matte lip formula I actually love! These dry down and stay on but still feel light-weight and so comfortable! They are long-wearing and have little to no transfer, depending on what you are eating or drinking. This formula is very innovative and a dream to use! Even the applicator is very unique and allows you to really control your application!

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquid Lipstick in Cava - This formula is so creamy, comfortable and pigmented! I only own this shade but I'm obsessed with it! It is the perfect griege-purple, which is so difficult to pull off for me but this one is so flattering!

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick - These creamy, pigmented, and luminous lip colors are so comfortable and long-wearing. They smooth over texture and even hydrate the lips. I love the huge color range and the packaging is so luxurious.

Burberry Lip Contour Pen - This twist up pen-style lip color comes in the most beautiful natural shades. These "My Lips But Better" colors will have you obsessed with this comfortable and soft formula. These satin finish lip colors have a good lasting power and make your lips look naturally plump.

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks - I was very lucky to win a giveaway from my friend on IG, Melissa and was able to try my very first Jeffree Star Liquid Lipstick. I was very surprised at the comfortable formula and soft matte finish of these lipsticks. I can now see why they are so highly raved about online. They seem to have an excellent color selection and I look forward to trying some more of these in the future.

The Beauty Crop GRLPWR Liquid Lipsticks - While I am not a fan of many traditional matte liquid lipstick formulas, this one is so comfortable! It dries down and sets completely but the finish is very soft and comfortable for long-term wear. These lipstick wear quite a long time and they are opaque in one coat. The colors are very beautiful and they have begun to expand their collection.

Marin Bee Lip Repair - I love this all natural and organic lip balm! The texture is very plush and hydrating. It doesn't have a greasy or sticky finish, just a very hydrating creamy texture to the lips. It has just a hint of color that adds a very natural and subtle flush to the lips. It is a really wonderful lip balm as an overnight treatment or before lip color. Learn about this nourishing lip balm in my full review, here.

Glossier Balm Dot Com - This brand is highly raved about, especially these versatile balms that can be used on the lips and body. I bought the birthday cake one and it smells like a vanilla dream! It does have little bits of sparkle in it but i still love to use it at night as my lip treatment. It feels very creamy and smooth and in the morning, my lips feel so plump and hydrated! I plan on looking into the other scents/flavors soon.

Dior Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss - I have quite a few of these as mini samples and they are everywhere, in my bag, on my vanity, next to my bed because this gloss is so good! It is incredibly hydrating and seals in moisture! It smooths and plump out lip lines, giving an overall youthful healthy lip look. The classic shade is a very sheer pink shade. I love to use it as a night time treatment. It has a thicker texture but it doesn't feel sticky or uncomfortable. The plumping effect is very subtle, it feels very subtly tingly and cool. While it doesn't make my lips look larger, it makes them smoother and appear larger. It has a very nice glossiness to it and it can be layered over lip colors very easily.

SETTING SPRAY



Wander Beauty Glow Getter Mist - This setting spray gives you a super duper glowy look! If you have dry skin and are desperate for an all over glow, this mist will give you some serious sheen to your skin. It really eliminates and powderiness or heavy look from powders and layers of makeup. It fuses everything together and makes your skin look super fresh.

Algenist Splash Hydrating Setting Mist - This product is in both my Best of Skincare 2018 (read it here) and this post because it is intended as a makeup setting spray but I consistently use it for both purposes.  The mist is ultra-fine and removes any powdery texture from the face. It is also very hydrating but without making the face feel or look greasy. It is an excellent and refreshing face mist!

TOOLS & BRUSHES



Koji Eyelash Curler - I stumbled on this miraculous lash curler in my local Japanese supermarket and I am obsessed! I have long awaited for something comparable to my old Shu Uemura Lash Curler and this one is SUPERIOR to the Shu! The shape of this lash curler is more flat and not as curved as the Shu Uemura, making it PERFECT for my eye shape! It's shape allows it to get all my lashes a once, even the very inner ones, without pinching my lid. It creates a beautiful curl every time and the best part it is crazy affordable and accessible! You can find it on Amazon! I highly recommend this curler for anyone who has struggled to find one that works for their smaller and flatter eye shape. It has been a total beauty game changer for me this year!

Sephora Brushes - Highly underrated, Sephora brushes are extremely affordable and they're so good! Every year when the sale comes around, I HAVE to pick up a new set because they are such a great deal! They are always high quality and they offer such a huge range of styles and shapes! 




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