Hallo humans! I'm finally getting around to wrapping up my favourites of 2015! I hadn't thought of what I would put in this post (was probably procrastinating lbr), but when I sat down to write up my list, there were quite a few obvious picks! I had quite a bit of trouble narrowing it down, and will probably throw in some honourable mentions too heh. I decided to go about picking the products I used and loved during 2015, not necessarily new products of 2015, though I did get quite a few of them last year. I'm also not mentioning products I got in the last couple of months, but you can catch up on those faves in my November and December favourites posts! Anyway, enough rambling, let's jump in before this post becomes 10000 years long!
BASE //
Primer was something I dabbled a lot with last year, and there are a few I loved but none really stuck out to me enough to warrant a fave! It's definitely become a step I can't go without though!
K y'all, don't judge me for having four base products in my favourites...I mix each together so TECHNICALLY it's only two aight.
L'oreal Infallible 24H-Matte Mattifying Infallible foundation in Radiant Beige & Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in Light Beige
So for my foundation favourite of the year, it's a mix between these two. I've declared my love for Bourjois Happy Light many a time before, and it remains to be my favourite foundation that I've tried. I haven't spoken much of the L'oreal foundation just because I didn't LOVE it when I first tried it. It's matte and feels lightweight but gives good coverage, but I do find it can exacerbate dryness. The mix of the two basically gives a longer lasting, higher coverage version of the Happy Light foundation, which I thoroughly enjoy!
If you're a long time reader of ze blog, this combo shouldn't be a surprise. I don't give these guys much air time, simply because I basically use them EVERY DAY and I don't want to be too repetitive. But yes, for an everyday, light-medium base, these are my go to. I mix them because the Garnier is slightly too dark, and the Heroine Make slightly too light. The coverage is really good for everyday, it lasts really well with only a little oil breakthrough, and has a natural-dewy(ish) finish. I'm actually basically out of my Heroine Make BB cream which is sad, but at the same time I can't wait to try something new!
Up until last year, my entire brush collection was pretty much Real Techniques, which I'm definitely not complaining about because those brushes are amazing! It was really nice to try some new brushes though, and my favourite for foundation was definitely this guy. I thought the shape was a bit gimmicky, but actually the point and angles help get under the eyes and around the nose. The density and slanted cuts help pat in foundation to achieve maximum coverage!
I flit between this guy and the NARS Radiant Creamy, but I think the Maybelline wins for last year. I used it much more, probably just because I want to use the sucker up (I'm so close!)! It is an amazing drugstore concealer though. It is thinner in texture and has a little less coverage than the NARS one, but is probably less drying too. All in all, an excellent concealer, especially for the price!
L'oreal Lumi Magique Highlighting Pen
Now here's a product I've literally only mentioned once on the blog! I don't know why I haven't mentioned it in a faves before but it's probably that I don't use it that often, but when I do, I really like it! I don't use this on a regular basis, more so when I want to look polished and bright, or if my under eyes are looking particularly dark. This definitely doesn't have a lot of coverage but for my purposes, it's good enough! It just adds a bit of brightness and almost a bit of glow under the eyes which I enjoy!
Honourable mentions: L'oreal Lumi magique Primer, Australis Fresh & Flawless Powder
CHEEKS //
Remember when I didn't even use bronzer?!? Sheesh how times have changed - I literally can't go without the stuff. Last year I tried quite a few bronzers and contour products, but the Too Faced formulas definitely outshine them all. The formulas are smooth, pigmented yet easily blended. They also last super well on the skin! My particular faves are Dark Chocolate Soleil for bronzing up the face, and Chocolate Soleil for a bit more of a contoured look.
I'm pretty sure I said it in my blush tag but yep, Warm Soul is probably my favourite blush ever. I just love it so dang much! The colour is absolute perfection. It's a warm, peachy-bronze shade but with a bit of mauve in it. The shimmer is super refined and really gives more of a golden glow to the cheeks. It's the perfect no-brainer blush as it will go with anything and be super flattering! Also the formula is amaze.
Duh, I had to mention a peachy-pink blush. Who'dya think I am?! Peach Pop is just the most natural, flattering peachy-pink - it's really the perfect mix of the two colours. The formula of these blushes is phenomenal as well. It's oddly hard but it applies and blends seamlessly to create a weirdly shimmer-less glow with zero powderiness.
I mentioned Stila Convertible Colour in Gerbera in my 2014 favourites, but now I have so many shades!! This formula remains to be my favourite cream blush - it's dewy, pigmented, blendable and decently long lasting. The fact that I have a bajillion shades just makes it my go-to. My particular faves are Peach Blossom and Peony.
2015 was the year of the GLOW. I got quite a few highlighters last year, but I think the one I used and loved most was this guy! I don't know quite how to explain it, but this just gives such a beautiful sheeny glow to the cheekbones I LOVE. It walks the fine line between natural and INTENSE GLOW very well. Of course it has the unique Colourpop cushion-y cream/powder formula that applies super well with fingers and lasts well too. This particular shade is super flattering on me, it's a champagne-y, light gold.
Gaaaah I LOVE THIS BRUSH. This brush, like, changed my blush game. I don't know but it seems to apply pretty much any powder blush perfectly - even those with super hard, stiff formulas. It's super soft, the angle is perfect, THAT ROSE GOLD FERRULE. ded.
Honourable mentions: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, Topshop Glow Pot in Gleam
EYES //
If there's one product that's been with me since the beginning, it's this guy (oh, and the Garnier BB) (I mean just look at the review, I was a NOOB). Seriously though, this guy is holllyy graillll, mostly since I haven't tried many other brow powders but if it ain't broke... This powder is the perfect dark, ashy brown shade and I use both shades to add dimension to my brows to create a natural look that's really quick and easy! Plus - look at that pan!!
Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep
I gotta give this guy a shoutout. I do hate on this dude a little bit as I wouldn't repurchase just because it's so tiny yet so expensive! It is an excellent product though, it sets the brows, and adds colour, and texture to them at the same time. If I want a quick, minimal brow fix, I'll use this alone, or on top of my brow powder to add some more oomph and fullness.
There are so many things I love about this eyeshadow. The shade is STUNNING and so up my alley and it has the most gorgeous, metallic, shiny finish. The formula is a curious one, but one that I love. You must shake it up to produce a super potent, pigmented liquid that blends easily when wet, but sets down to arguably the longest lasting eyeshadow I've tried. This stuff doesn't budge. Without primer, without powder over top, I only get minimal creasing which is saying SOMETHING on my oily lids. Sandwiching it between a primer and a powder and it's bulletproof.
In particular, I loved the shades Kathleenlights and Cornelious which together produced such an easy, bangin' eye look. The Colourpop formula is so unique but it applies super well, pigmented and smooth. I don't know what it is, but everytime I use this quad, I LOVE the outcome. It's warm, metallic and DELICIOUS.
My favourite eyeshadow palette of the year was eaaasy. I fricken love this palette and could even say it's my favourite eyeshadow palette...ever?? Bold statements people, bold statements. The shades in here are just so gorgeous and warm, but also it has some beautiful basic browns that I felt my collection was lacking. The formula is sooo buttery and pigmented as well. Can't go wrong people.
Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara
Not much exciting happened in the way of mascara in 2015, but I did finally crack this guy open and I looooove. It holds a curl, lengthens and thickens giving me fluttery and defined lashes. It's waterproof but I do actually find it smudging a little, but it's nothing major!
Honourable mentions: Makeup Geek eyeshadows, MAC Opulash Mascara
LIPS //
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Petal Shimmer
I thoroughly enjoyed ma lip glosses last year, but this guy was the fave. It's the epitome of the "balmy-no-gloss gloss". It's ultra comfortable on the lips and though this shade is pretty unassuming, I love it over lip liner or to nude out other lipsticks.
MAC Patisserie lipstick
Nude lipsticks were another biggie for me, I was very much into the mauve-browny nudes, so many that I couldn't possibly pick just one! My favourite MLBB, everyday shade was definitely Patisserie though! It's a super flattering peachy-mauve-brown that I looove. It does have a slight shimmer/glitter that I don't love though.
Especially during autumn/winter, this guy was my GO-TO. It's a gorgeous straight up mauve shade that I find so flattering. The formula of these is really great as well. I find them super lightweight, yet pigmented and not all that drying for a matte lipstick.
I pretty much just use this as a base for NP Grace as the two colours go perfectly together. I absolutely love the Colourpop lip liners though, they're really pigmented and creamy, but last a long time.
I don't wear this as often as I should, but whenever I do...I absolutely love it. It's such a pretty peachy-pink shade that has a bit of a rosy-depth to it that I find super wearable. You can definitely dress this up or down. The formula is amazing too. It's suuuper creamy and pigmented, yet surprisingly long-lasting! This year I NEED to try the matte ones!
Honourable mentions: Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lipsticks, Maybelline Coloursensational Gloss in Glorious Grapefruit
Holy wow, that was a long post! Thank you for sticking with me if you did, and thank you for sticking with me for 2015! Can't wait to see what 2016 brings makeup wise...I have a feeling it's going to be a good one ;) I was tossing up whether I should do a skincare faves of the year, but I think I might just do a skincare routine instead? What would you guys like to see?
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