I know this admission is going to be a little controversial but I don’t personally enjoy monthly favourites videos and blog posts which is why I don’t ever do them here on my blog. I much prefer a ‘currently loving’ format where items you’re currently enjoying are featured rather than choosing five or six beauty products every single month, as they can’t possibly be completely different favourites every single month and I know with some very big YouTubers, the items which feature in their monthly favourites videos never appear again in any further videos so it’s evident they’re not actually favourites. I think an annual favourites is a lot more useful as the readers/viewers know that the items featured truly are the best of the best that you’ve tried. So I’ve narrowed my genuine favourites down to my top ten beauty products of 2016 which includes both new and old products but they’re all products I’ve thoroughly enjoyed during 2016 and would wholeheartedly recommend.
The first of my favourites is the Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray (reviewed here). I have tried endless facial mists and none have ever imparted moisture except this Clinique Spray, and this is my second bottle within the year. It’s an amazingly refreshing facial spray which leaves my skin feeling softened and hydrated, and it’s an essential step within my skincare routine and I always look forward to using it. Then we have one of the newest additions to my beauty collection which I only discovered in the last two months and featured in Tuesday’s blog post so read my full review there and the product in question is the NYX White Pro Foundation Mixer. The Pro Foundation Mixer is a tube of white pigmented cream which can be used to lighten foundation and concealer which is an essential for those with super pale skin.
My favourite makeup brush for 2016 without a doubt has to be the IT Cosmetics Makeup Brushes which is one of my favourite beauty discoveries for the whole year – they really are incredible brushes, and I want to own every single one they do as they’re better than Zoeva, Sigma, MAC, Real Techniques and any other brush brand I’ve tried – I featured a selection of their brushes here. The brushes all have luxurious, rubberised handles with beautifully soft and silky bristles which apply makeup amazingly well and I just love them so much and find myself washing them constantly so I’m never without them. Onto makeup, my absolute favourite mascara is the Seventeen Falsifeye HD Mascara (reviewed here) which is one of my most recommended beauty products to date. My lashes are pathetic, and it’s rare for a mascara to make a significant difference to my lashes but this mascara really does make my lashes look long and dramatic and I love it so much.
My favourite nail product of the entire year is the UNT Nail Lacquer Peelable Base Coat (reviewed here) which has revolutionalised my nailcare routine. It’s a clear, non-glue based base coat which dries in a minute and holds your polish in place until you want to remove it which you can do by simply coaxing a corner with an orange stick and off it peels. I have found that my nails have become so much stronger since I ditched using polish remover, and I love how much easier my nail polish removal routine is. I have a blush favourite which is the W7 Matte Me Blush! which I only got in the end of November so it does feel a little cheeky to include it but oh my gosh, it’s one of the best blushes I’ve ever used and it costs under £5. I haven’t reviewed the blush yet, but it’s an amazingly soft and blendable matte blush formula and is a new W7 release and I desperately want the other three available shades as I love this one so much. When wearing a matte blush, I love to use an highlighter and my holy grail highlighter is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in the shade Pearl (reviewed here). Pearl is the most amazing, white highlighter which can be worn on the eyes, cheekbones or even as a blush topper as it works with any shade. It’s pretty intense but oh so beautiful, and I would repurchase it tomorrow if I lost it as I need it in my collection.
I have just three favourites left and the first of the three is a fragrance, and is the Giorgio Armani Code Eau de Parfum which is my all time favourite perfume. I can’t believe I’ve never posted about Armani Code before considering how much I love it, but it’s such a stunning scent and I must have gone through at least five bottles in the last couple of years so it’s definitely a worthy favourite. Choosing a skincare favourite was such an hard task as I’ve tried so many different skincare products and brands this year, but my standout product is the Kiehls Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate (reviewed here). I find that this Nightly Concentrate fixes almost any skincare condition such as texture, blemishes, lack of radiance, congested pores, dry patches – you name it, it will improve and reduce whichever skincare concern. It’s like a lightweight oil which you apply before bed, and in the morning your skin is left feeling completely refined and rejuvenated and it really is my nighttime miracle worker.
The last favourite is a slightly quirky one and it’s the Beauty Blender Liner Designer which I’ve not featured before but I will very soon. It’s such a weird little tool, but it’s a silicone triangle which you hold against your eye to help you draw the perfect winged liner and it lightly sticks to the skin. I know it sounds like such a gimmick but it works every single time I use it, and when using it, I’m guaranteed to have even angled wings and I love that it has a little sucker so you can stick your mirrored compact on anything so you can have two hands three for applying your liner – it’s genius and well worth the money if you wear liner as frequently as I do, and want to avoid the Amy Winehouse eyeliner look.
So they are my top ten beauty favourites from 2016. I really hope you enjoyed reading about them, and I would love for you to link to your 2016 favourites if you’ve written one as I’d really like to give them a read <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/72x72/1f642.png" alt="