Starting a full-time job was good for my wallet, not so great for my free time. It takes me just two hours just to drive to and from work every day, which is a drain on the time I need to do things like shower, eat, clean, etc. Not much time left for blogging.
2016 was admittedly awful. To combat this, I'm showing off products that were diamonds in the rough during this terrible year.
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Makeup Remover Towels:
It's been over a year since I picked up my first pack of makeup removing towels from WalMart, and I'm still in love with them. I've expanded my collection, and even added some from Sephora! They're so easy to use, fool proof, and they remove (almost all) of my most stubborn makeup like waterproof mascara and matte liquid lipsticks. They're absolutely perfect when I really don't have the energy to use a cleansing oil or a makeup remover, and I can rest easy knowing I don't have any lingering foundation on my face.
Makeup Revolution Palettes:
I fell in love with these palettes, and I will continue to do so. Makeup Revolution makes really amazing dupes for more expensive palettes, and the packaging is sleek and easy to store. I think the quality is really good, and I feel so much better spending less than ten dollars on a palette that I might not reach for very often. They're worth picking up.
Meet Matt(e) Nude Palette:
When I swatched this palette, I hated it. It didn't perform very well for the retail price, and I was just a little disappointed. However, the shadows perform beautifully on the eyes, and the way the shadows wore through the day blew me away. I also have Meet Matt(e) Trimony, and while the color selection isn't as extensive, I have the same feelings towards it on staying power.
Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palette:
I wasn't sure about these palettes, since they're ten dollars a pop for only six shades. Let me tell you – they're worth it. They're worth every penny. They're smooth, pigmented, and they blend beautifully on the lids. Pictured is Must Have Neutrals, which I was expecting to dislike since I have so many neutral shadows already, but the performance of the shadows locks them into my collection.
Maybelline Better Skin Powder Foundation:
I didn't think I'd fall in love with this as much as I did. I have a cheaper foundation that performs well, but this performs better. It doesn't last all day on my oily skin, but it gets me through most of the work day. It creates an even skin tone, and it makes me look healthier, because it doesn't cake up on the face. To me, it's worth the price point, since I've been using it for months now and I haven't made a dent in the powder.
Kevyn Aucoin The Contour Duo On The Go:
I didn't think I'd fall in love with this as much as I did. I have a cheaper foundation that performs well, but this performs better. It doesn't last all day on my oily skin, but it gets me through most of the work day. It creates an even skin tone, and it makes me look healthier, because it doesn't cake up on the face. To me, it's worth the price point, since I've been using it for months now and I haven't made a dent in the powder.
Kevyn Aucoin The Contour Duo On The Go:
This is a new addition to my collection (bought in December) but it has become an instant favorite. The sculpt shade is so easy to apply, and is almost blended out upon initial application. With minimal effort, you get a flawless sculpt to the face. The Celestial highlighter is a little too dark, but when it's blended out on the cheeks it's not too noticeable. It's a nice, subtle highlight. The sculpt shade makes me confident to invest in more Kevyn Aucoin face products.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes:
I have fallen in love with Tarte blushes in this past year. The color selection is good (there are a LOT of neutral blushes!) and the powders are so smooth and have just the right amount of pigment. The blushes last all day, and they are practically fool-proof. Pictured is the Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Seduce.
Cover FX Custom Cover Drops – N10:
I was trying not to jump on the hype, and I failed anyway. This is such a fantastic product, with a brilliant idea backing it up. I've used it on it's own, with moisturizer, with a primer, and to lighten foundations – and I love it each way. It matches my skin perfectly, and adds coverage to products that (while awesome in their own right) have coverage that's not heavy enough for my preferences. It's a multi-tasking product that I'm in love with, and worth the hefty price tag.
Catrice Liquid Camoflauge Concealer – Light Natural:
This is such a great, no-fuss concealer. It applies well, blends out with no issues, and I've loved using it underneath powder foundation to get a quick, flawless base. The color is a beautiful match, and I love it so much, that I have a second tube at my fiances place. It has a perfume smell, and the color selection is completely awful, but if you can find a match, it's worth it.
Dermacol Makeup Cover Foundation – 208:
This is a new find and I've been impressed with it each and every time I've used it. The color selection is strange (208 is lighter, and more yellow-toned than 207) so researching swatches is a must with this foundation. A little bit of this product (pea-sized) will give a full-coverage finish to the face. This is a one-step, no-nonsense product that gives me a flawless look every time.
This is a new find and I've been impressed with it each and every time I've used it. The color selection is strange (208 is lighter, and more yellow-toned than 207) so researching swatches is a must with this foundation. A little bit of this product (pea-sized) will give a full-coverage finish to the face. This is a one-step, no-nonsense product that gives me a flawless look every time.
Kat Von D Lock It Concealer Creme – Light 5:
This is my new favorite concealer, and I'm mad about it because it's not cheap. The good news, is that the smallest amount of product goes a long way, since the concealer has amazing coverage. I love it on top of foundation, and I love it when I'm doing spot-concealing and then using a powder foundation. It lasts all day, it doesn't crease on me, and the color is a perfect match. I also have White Out, which has been a game changer when it comes to concealers that I enjoy, but are too dark to wear on their own.
NYX Pro Foundation Mixer – White:
This isn't my first rodeo with foundation mixers. For me, they're a necessity to have in my collection so I have a larger variety of foundations to use. However, this is the first foundation mixer that I found, that is well-loved by me, and readily available. The mixer lightens foundations with ease, and doesn't affect the coverage of the formula. For ten dollars at Ulta? You bet your bottom dollar I'll be repurchasing when I need a new mixer.
Kat Von D Lock It Hydrating Primer:
This has been something I've been reaching over my Too Faced Hangover RX Primer (and I really enjoy that primer), because it provides the hydration to the skin that I sometimes desperately need, it keeps my foundation on longer, and it doesn't have a coconut fragrance to it. It's about the same price, and I just love this primer more, I found it to extend the longevity of my foundation and it gives me a good foundation day every time I wear it. Instant love.
It Cosmetics CC Cream – Fair:
I love this CC Cream. It's everything I wanted American BB and CC creams to be, with wonderful benefits. It delivers medium to full coverage, sun protection, and it was light enough for my complexion. It applies beautifully, wears all day, and keeps my skin feeling hydrated and flawless.
I love this CC Cream. It's everything I wanted American BB and CC creams to be, with wonderful benefits. It delivers medium to full coverage, sun protection, and it was light enough for my complexion. It applies beautifully, wears all day, and keeps my skin feeling hydrated and flawless.
Lifes Entropy Brow Theory – Light Brown:
I am so upset that this product has been discontinued by the company, but I absolutely adore it. The shades are cool-toned, so they look good in my brows. The product is soft and creamy, and I've gotten both really natural brow looks, as well as my preferred deep, defined looking brows. The best part of this product is that my brows last all day long with no fading or smearing. Beautiful product and a shame that I won't be able to purchase it again in the future. Time to find an alternative.
I am so upset that this product has been discontinued by the company, but I absolutely adore it. The shades are cool-toned, so they look good in my brows. The product is soft and creamy, and I've gotten both really natural brow looks, as well as my preferred deep, defined looking brows. The best part of this product is that my brows last all day long with no fading or smearing. Beautiful product and a shame that I won't be able to purchase it again in the future. Time to find an alternative.
Jack Black Lip Balms:
These aren't new. These aren't even new to my collection, but I have a new-found appreciation for these lip balms. I've been really dehydrated and sick lately, and no matter how gross I might feel, or how dry and chapped my lips get, these balms restore them to a hydrated, soft feel. The Jack Black lip balms aren't cheap at $7.50 a pop, but I have been constantly impressed with them.
Dose of Colors Matte Liquid Lipsticks:
I finally got my hands on the Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks and they are my new favorite matte liquid lipsticks. They're matte, dry quickly, and to make the deal sweeter – they don't dry out my lips. The feel of these lipsticks is very lightweight, and it feels like soft skin to the touch. They're expensive, but worth every penny in my opinion.
I finally got my hands on the Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks and they are my new favorite matte liquid lipsticks. They're matte, dry quickly, and to make the deal sweeter – they don't dry out my lips. The feel of these lipsticks is very lightweight, and it feels like soft skin to the touch. They're expensive, but worth every penny in my opinion.
Sephora Cream Lip Stains:
I loved this formula for a while. It's not too drying, lasts for a long time, and when it fades (or when you remove the product) it leaves a subtle stain behind that looks beautiful. I was always disappointed because the color selection wasn't very accommodating. They have gone over the top with releasing a large amount of new colors (including teal, forest green, and new greige shades). There's a shade for everyone in the expanded collection, and I'm so excited to sink my teeth into even more of them.
Colourpop Ultra Satin Lips:
I love the Colourpop Ultra Matte lips. They're long lasting, and there is a HUGE color selection. A big complaint that I hear a lot is that they are really drying (which is true). The Colourpop Ultra Satin lips deliver a matte look, while maintaining a soft, hydrating feel to the lips. The color selection is large – and growing larger – and it's a great middle-point to achieving long-lasting color, without sacrificing the moisture of your lips.
I love the Colourpop Ultra Matte lips. They're long lasting, and there is a HUGE color selection. A big complaint that I hear a lot is that they are really drying (which is true). The Colourpop Ultra Satin lips deliver a matte look, while maintaining a soft, hydrating feel to the lips. The color selection is large – and growing larger – and it's a great middle-point to achieving long-lasting color, without sacrificing the moisture of your lips.
Tarte Gifted Mascara:
I'm not really one for mascaras that cost more than $10 since they have to be thrown out every 3–6 months. Tarte Gifted Mascara is everything I like in a mascara. It makes my lashes look fluffy, it lasts all day, and I don't have to worry about it fading. The only times I notice any significant wear, is if I rub my eyes, or if my eyes excessively water throughout the day. I bought this tube on sale for $14, and I'd definitely go forward and buy a full-priced tube after I run out of my backup mascaras. Although, I'm still searching for perfect drugstore mascaras.
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Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful year in 2017!
