I don’t really have set resolutions plastered on the wall but every year, secretly, I make a pact to buy less beauty products. Any one looking at this blog and my collection would laugh at me but in 2016 I really did buy less makeup than 2015. 2017 has started off with me being very spendy but I’m hoping to curb it in the coming months.
I’ve usually done an all year round favourites kind of post (on my previous blog) but a lot of it would be repeats and just way too many products to list out. I’m also tired of talking about Bioderma or my Bobbi Brown corrector. While I still have a lot of my favourites from previous years, I thought I’d only focus on products I bought and discovered in 2016.
Everything Burberry
I’m not new to Burberry products. I love their focus on muted dull colours (to mirror London’s weather I suppose) and over the last few years have enjoyed a lot of their lip products. But in 2016, my focus shifted back to them after purchasing Burberry Cream Eye Colour in Pink Heather on a whim and absolutely loving it! It’s a gorgeous muted pink eyeshadow with a great formula. You can read more in depth about it in my pink eyeshadows post. I then headed to Feel Unique and got a bunch of the single eyeshadows I had wanted to try for years. Now reformulated as the Silk and Dry Eyeshadows, I picked up Almond (a matte medium brown), Pale Barely (shimmery light brown) and Rosewood (mauve with microshimmer). I’ve never really used these eyeshadows wet but I find the formula soft and pigmented. It’s not as long lasting as something like Lorac Pro eyeshadows but it lasts well for 5-6 hours.
I try to not fall for most limited edition items but the Burberry Spring/Summer 2016 Highlighting Palette in Nude Gold they brought out was too good to miss! I love the intricate pattern on it and to not feel completely vain, Burberry made sure the formula is stellar! The shade is more of light, warm champagne shade with very fine shimmer. It’s not as subtle as the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze and Glow highlighter but not as intense has Becca ones.
I’m partial to tinted moisturisers and that’s what I mainly use but I needed something with more coverage because I had a lot of wedding related events to attend last year. Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Foundation is not quite full coverage you can build up more than medium coverage. I picked up Warm Honey after looking up swatches and it matched me well for the darker areas of my face. A couple months later I picked up Warm Nude which is one shade down. Mixed together, I get my perfect match! The formula is a but runny but very pigmented (for me anyway). It doesn’t adhere to any dryness. It evens out my skin and gives bit of a glow without looking too dewy.
Eyes and Lips
I think I really found what I specifically like about products this year and only bought items that fit the bill. I’ve always liked mascaras that made my lashes look natural but with more volume, nothing clumpy. When I received Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara as a recommendation, I didn’t hesitate and it’s quickly become a holy grail for me. Uptil now I was mainly trying out different ones because I hadn’t quite found the perfect one. I love the curled wand because it helps with the shape even at times when I forget to use a curler. My lashes never look clumpy and although it isn’t waterproof, it hasn’t rubbed off or flaked on me. I find YSL Faux Cils similar but I prefer Dior for the wand shape.
After trying a few gel eyeliners I came to the conclusion that I liked the formula a lot more than kohl pencils but hated the liner brush method of application. I was so pleased to discover the Hourglass 1.5mm Mechanical Gel Liner in Obsidian because it has the tiniest pencil for precision and a great gel formula. I initially picked up a single eyeliner but I now have the 3-in-1 pack. I still use my other eyeliners just to finish them off but this is will stay a favourite for the long haul. This stays for ages on the waterline, doesn’t smudge and more importantly, doesn’t irritate my eyes.
I was desperate to try Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Tonkin for several months and I was so happy when I finally got my hands on it. The formula is a one of those good creamy mattes that look dry but really aren’t. It also adheres well over a lip balm. I also casually picked up Nars Lipstick in Dolce Vita, a sheer nude pink that became a handbag staple. It’s a permanent resident of my Givenchy Pandora. It’s very sheer but sometimes you just want something to give a little bit of colour, something you can apply in a rush without a mirror. Dolce Vita is also a convenient choice due to its dinky size.
Much like Nars Dolce Vita, another sheer lipstick favourite is YSL Rouge Sheer Candy Lipstick in Benne Cannelle which I purchased last year but I’ve used up much of it in a relatively short period. This is one lipstick which is so sheer but builds up to even out my lips to a MLBB kind of shade. I also love the packaging here, it feels so good to use it!
Laura Mercier Lip Liner in Chestnut was a blogger recommendation I really appreciated. It’s a terracotta brown shade that’s so in trend now and I love it! The formula is very creamy and evens out the texture on the lips. Not a waxy, dry formula at all. It’s very long lasting and has a little bit of that tackiness so a lipstick would adhere well to it. I feel like this a very underrated product! I’ve forgot to take a picture, but the Mac Pro Lip Liner is also a great formula that lasts really long with minimal transfer! I like the shade Nice ‘n’ Spicy.
Cheek Trifecta
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow will always be on top of my list for favourites but I discovered a new bronzer I can’t stop raving about! I’m not for one for those massive bronzers, so when the Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Terra came out in the small size, I had to get my hands on it. The colour is dark enough for me with a slightly cool undertone which makes it very appropriate for contouring and general bronzing (which I don’t really do that much). You can use this without any worries of it looking orange.
You’ve heard me rave about the Aerin Multi-color For Lips and Cheeks in Natural many, many times on this blog so I’ll keep it short! The shade, is the perfect rosy pink to give a natural flush. The formula is a bit wet which adds some dewiness and makes this super easy to blend. I admit, it’s not the most long lasting cream blush, but I don’t need 12 hour perfection everyday.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Opal is such a classic! I joined the bandwagon late, but I’m here to stay. Opal is a gorgeous peachy champagne shade. The over the top shimmer looks great in the pan but its actually easy to bring it down a notch or go all out with this. It’s one of the best formulas I’ve come across. I don’t think I’ll ever use this up because you need such a small amount.
From nudes to bright orange
Last year in particular I’ve been much more into my nude nail polishes but it’s always been something bright on my toes! Let me take you through my most used nudes this year, Chanel Le Vernis in Rose Confidential is a great rosy pink. It’s the older formula, so I’m not sure if it’s easily available now. It’s not a one coater, but I love this colour! YSL La Laque Couture in Beige Leger is my favourite formula wise. I like the broader flat brush, which makes it so much easier to apply. Another reason I like Dior nail polishes as well, they have a similar brush. This lasts the longest without tip wear. It’s a sheer shade but opaque in two coats.
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Mink Brule is a very unique nude! I warmer, more pink than the usual beige nudes and looks amazing on my skin tone! For the price, the formula isn’t spectacular but I’m casually ignoring this because I love the colour so much!
Essie Nail Polish in Clambake was my answer to missing out Chanel Holiday, a perfect red orange shade. The gel like formula is very glossy and a one coater. But I also purchased Chanel Le Vernis in Espadrilles when it came out and I honestly love both equally. Espadrilles a tad bit more orange but I like the formula more than the original, it’s a one coater for me!
Drunk Elephant skincare and finally, a new sunscreen
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum is a vitamin C serum that has been amazing at brightening my skin and getting rid of sun spots or hyperpigmentation. I use this twice a week now in the morning and follow it with a ton of sunscreen. The ingredients live on the skin for 3 days. I’ve found this to be the best vitamin C serum keeping the price point and shelf life in mind. I don’t to spend upwards of $150 on a serum that will be rendered useless in 3 months due to oxidization. Drunk Elephant is an effective amount of L-ascorbic acid with airless packaging that keeps it usable for atleast 6 months. I only need one pump to cover my face and neck.
After the success of C-Firma, I was open to trying more DE products. After running out of my serum and missing it in my routine, I ordered the Drunk Elephant B Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel. I basically wanted something light and hydrating I could use in months when it was humid and I typically don’t require a thick moisturiser. This fits the bill perfectly. It’s a lightweight gel that really hydrates the skin. This is a great product if you like layering a lot of products as well.
For so many years, I’ve been loyal to the Neutrogena Dry Touch as my go to sunscreen. I finally broke the cycle last year from boredom. I’m glad I tried out Shiseido Perfect UV protector SPF 50+, I love the runny texture. It needs to be worked in to get rid of the slight whitecast but eventually it looks and feels like you have nothing on. In the summer, the last thing I want is another layer of product on my face but this is so weightless and doesn’t disturb my makeup at all. It’s compact but I wish this was available in a smaller tube so it could be easier to travel with.
Whew! That’s a long list of products and I have a feeling I’ve missed out on some as well! Let me know what you enjoyed using the most in 2016!
Burberry Cream Eye Colour in Pink Heather – Nordstrom, FeelUnique, Sephora
Burberry Silk and Dry Eyeshadows – Nordstrom, FeelUnique, Sephora
Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Foundation – Nordstrom, FeelUnique, Sephora
Burberry Fresh Glow Highlighter – Nordstrom
Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara – Nordstrom, Sephora
Hourglass 1.5mm Mechanical Gel Liner in Obsidian – Nordstrom, , Sephora
Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Tonkin – Nordstrom, Sephora
Nars Lipstick in Dolce Vita – Nordstrom, Sephora
Laura Mercier Lip Liner in Chestnut – Nordstrom, Sephora
Tom Ford Small Bronzing Powder in Terra – Nordstrom, Sephora, Beautylish
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Opal – Sephora, Beautylish
YSL La Laque Couture in Beige Leger – Nordstrom
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Mink Brule – Nordstrom, Beautylish
Chanel Le Vernis in Espadrilles – Nordstrom
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum – Sephora, Drunk Elephant
Drunk Elephant B Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel – Sephora, Drunk Elephant
Shiseido Perfect UV protector SPF 50+ – Nordstrom, Sephora
( Some of the links above are affiliate links )
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