1. Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream
This
was hands down one of my favorite products for 2015! I found out about
it through MakeupByTiffanyD’s YouTube channel; she recently had a
baby and was raving about how it was perfect for a new mom with limited time for
makeup. I ended up purchasing it and I really love it! However, I feel
like Clinique has done a really horrible job of naming/marketing this
product. To start, it’s not with the foundations in Sephora, instead it’s with the skincare, which is super confusing because it’s
definitely more of a foundation than a skin care product. I also feel
like the name “BB Cream” is really misleading; to me, a BB Cream is
usually something more along the lines of a tinted moisturizer, and this
stuff is totally different. It’s extremely thin in consistency, but it’s
also very full coverage. I love that it has SPF 40 in it, and while it
can be applied with a damp Beauty Blender or a brush, it’s really easy
to just apply it with your fingers because it’s so thin. One of the main
downsides is the fact that there are only five different shades, so the color
match probably isn’t going to be too exact for most people. I was
wearing Light Medium in the summer, but then I bought Light and I was
mixing them together in the fall to try to get a better match. (Now I
just straight up wear the Light shade on it’s own!) If I want a more
flawless application that matches my skin tone more nicely, an actual
foundation applied with a foundation brush yields a better result. But
if I want something to just throw something on my skin quickly as I’m
running out the door (or let’s be real, in the car) which is a lot of the mornings in my world, this stuff does an excellent job!
2. L’OREAL Infallible Pro-Matte 24 Hr Foundation
I have oily skin, so when it comes to foundation, I tend to shy away from anything that says ‘luminous’ or ‘dewy’ and gravitate towards products with the word ‘matte.’ So when L’Oreal debuted their Infallible line last year featuring lots of products marketed as matte and long-wearing, I was intrigued! I ended up purchasing this foundation to take with me on our trip to France and I wore it for my sister’s wedding. The day of the wedding it was super hot out, but I feel like it held up really well! It’s definitely full coverage and it’s just a really solid drugstore foundation! (I also have the Infallible Pro-Matte powder and it’s only OK, I definitely don’t like it as much as the foundation.)
3. Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser
I’m not the best person to be giving recommendations when it comes to skincare because my skin has always been somewhat problematic. It’s always been oily and breakout prone, which is normal when you’re a teenager, but annoying when you’re pushing 30. On top of that, I do want to start to protect my skin from premature signs of aging and I’ve noticed my skin becoming more dry (well, combination would be more accurate) over the past year. This cleanser from Murad is specifically designed to be used for antiaging acne treatment, and what I like is that it’s gentle. Often times acne products can be pretty harsh and at this point, I feel like those things are way too drying for my skin. This provides a bit of salicylic acid, along with ingredients to keep the skin moisturized and looking youthful. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s completely made my skin perfect, but I do really like it.
4. Beauty Blender
I finally got on the Beauty Blender bandwagon last year and I see why people love it! It’s great for applying foundation and concealer, and it’s a great way to achieve a more natural look. I don’t use mine all the time because it’s definitely a product that’s harder to use on the go since you need to wet it, but when I’m putting on makeup at home I really do enjoy it!
5. Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette
Contouring
and highlighting was a beauty trend that was EVERYWHERE in 2015. There
were tons of different highlight and contour kits at Sephora this past year, and always
one to jump on a beauty bandwagon, I ended up purchasing the Kat Von D
version because of all the positive reviews. I’ve been really pleased with
it so far! The quality of the powders is great, they’re really smooth, the colors are great, and I think you get a good amount of product for the price. I usually mix the lighter two
highlight shades to set my under eye concealer and then I use both the
cooler and the warmer contour powders on my face. Another multi purpose
use for this palette? Use it for eye shadow! I don’t usually wear
eye shadow on a day to day basis, but I will take a fluffy crease brush and use some of one
of the contour shades in my crease just to give the eye a little more
natural definition. I also have the Kat Von D Shade + Light brush and
I like it a lot as well. I think you could definitely get by without it
since there are other great brushes out there for
contouring/highlighting, but the fact that it’s dual sided is convenient
for throwing in my makeup bag.
6. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian
This is one of those popular items at Sephora that has a cult following, and for years, I’d heard that White Russian was an amazing lip gloss. One day I just decided to pick it up on a whim and I have to admit, I’m a fan! It’s a super flattering nude pink that looks great on it’s own or over another lipstick. (I personally like paring it with Urban Decay’s ‘Native’) It’s definitely a thicker, more sticky gloss but I really like the way it looks. I actually got a few other colors of this formula of gloss from Buxom recently, but White Russian is definitely my favorite shade! However, I feel like it should be known that the tingling sensation from this lip gloss can be quite intense at first. When I first bought it, I though that it was going to be too annoying to me and that I’d have to return it, and then I just sort of got used to it one day. Now it doesn’t bother me at all, but it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
7. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop
Ok,
so admittedly, I am a Jaclyn Hill fan girl. She was the first beauty
YouTuber I watched and her videos are still my very favorites. I feel
like she became so much more popular in 2015 thanks to this amazing
highlighter that she collaborated with Becca on. It is a very intense
highlight, but I love the color because it works well on both my fair
winter skin as well as in the summer when I’m a little bit more tan. Highlighters and “strobing” became such a big
beauty trend in 2015, and I feel like it’s in large part due to
YouTubers like Jaclyn sharing photos on Instagram with a #highlightonfleek.
8. The Original MakeUp Eraser
Another example of YouTube made me do it, I bought this product after seeing so many beauty vloggers talking about it last year. I don’t know how this washcloth can so effectively remove makeup with just water, but I am a fan! I usually just keep mine hanging up in the shower and then I use it to remove my makeup before washing my face. I usually have to end up using a little additional eye makeup remover to get all my mascara off, but overall, I think it does a great job!
9. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Lotion
This body lotion is a cult favorite, and after using it this year, I see what the fuss is about. It’s very moisturizing but not too greasy and it absorbs quickly into the skin after a shower. The scent is nice, but not overpowering at all, and overall, it’s just a really solid body lotion!
10. LAVANILA The Healthy Deodorant
Last but not least, I discovered this gem at Sephora this year, so even though it’s not necessarily a “beauty” product, I thought I’d include it in the list! Ever since Henry was born, I’ve wanted to switch to a more natural deodorant without aluminum. I ended up trying this one a few months ago, and I’ve been really happy with it! I am a sucker for anything vanilla and love the smell. (It also comes in quite a few different variations so I’d like to try out some of those soon!) I feel like it’s gentle on the skin, while still being rather effective for a natural deodorant.
So there you have it, my standout products from the past year! I already have some new beauty stuff that I’m excited to try out for 2016, plus I’ve got a Sephora gift card that’s burning a hole in my wallet! I typically find out about new beauty products through recommendations – from friends, Instagram, other bloggers, beauty vloggers, etc. So that’s why I want to know, what beauty products have you been loving lately? Leave a comment and let me know what products I need in my life!
