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I hate to be a cliché but it’s crazy we’ve reached the end of another year! I wanted to avoid going overboard and including too many products for this list so I tried to be quite intuitive. If a product doesn’t spring to mind, it’s probably not good enough to be a favourite anyway. So this list is just the best of the best, some of them have even reached Holy Grail status for me now. Also, these are products I discovered this year, not necessarily my most-used this year or ones that were released this year.
Base
Primer: Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Primer | £10 | post
I'd pretty much given up on finding a decent face primer for under £20. Then I picked up this! It sits so nicely on the skin without that silicon feel or separating out from your moisturiser. It has a lovely cream texture that feels hydrating whilst reducing any surface shine. It helps my base apply really nicely and last throughout the day.
Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup | £30 | post
I was in two minds about whether to include the original or the light version. However I went with this as I have other daytime foundations I like as much as Light but this is my absolute favourite for a night out. It gives such a flawless, matte (but not drying) finish and is so long-lasting even on my skin. I've genuinely worn this for 24 hours before! (Don't ask...)
Foundation Honourable Mention: Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup | £29.50 | post
This is perfect for those of us who love the flawless, matte finish of the original but want something a little less heavy for the daytime. It gives a more medium coverage but it's still super long-lasting.
Light Base: Cover FX BB Gel Mattifying Anti-Blemush Treatment* | £35 | post
This was an absolute hero product for me over summer and it definitely needs more hype. Firstly, it's a really good colour match for me, but also it's that rare combination of a matte finish with good coverage whilst still looking and feeling light on the skin. It isn't drying yet keeps my face shine-free in the heat. It evens out the skin tone meaning that all you need is a bit of concealer for a flawless base, which is perfect for beach days.
Concealer: Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer | £17.50 | post
This was such a slow-burner for me; when I first tried it, it was just something I liked well enough but over time it's become one of my 'can't-live-withouts'. It's actually never been in a monthly favourites for that very reason. It has such a nice, light, fluffy, easily-blended texture but gives really nice coverage. It's coming for the Nars concealer as my Holy Grail...
Concealer Honourable Mention: Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer | £7.99 | post
I'd never really had a drugstore concealer I couldn't be without until I came across this. It's so light, fluffy and easy to blend under the eyes. It never cakes and really brightens the area. It's my go-to on a minimal makeup day.
Cheeks
Blusher: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure | £28 | post
When you splurge on a super-hyped beauty product that's ridiculously expensive if you're being realistic, expectations are HIGH. So often I've been disappointed, but not with the Hourglass blushers and Mood Exposure is the best of the bunch. The powders are so finely milled and the texture so soft that they apply evenly with minimal effort. This gives a glowing finish without a speck of glitter and is much more pigmented than you might think. I especially love the plummy-mauve colour of Mood Exposure.
Highlighter: The Balm Mary Lou Manizer | £17.50 | post
It was a close call, but the Mary Lou has just about pipped Champagne Pop to the post. As with the concealer, it was a slow burn but I'm now well and truly in love with this highlighter. The formula is so soft and easy to blend and it gives serious luminosity with no glitter. Sadly mine did smash but it's been recovered! It's just the perfect golden highlight that suits so many different skin tones.
Highlighter Honoruable Mention: Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop | £30 | post
This is admittedly fairly similar to the Mary Lou but the texture is unlike anything I've ever tried; it's a powder but almost feels like a cream! The shade is a glitter-free golden-champagne with hints of peach that gives a gorgeous dewy glow. Again, it's not for the faint-hearted.
Bronzer: KIKO Rebel Romantic Perfecting Bronzer in 02 Medium Dark | £12.90 | post
It kills me that the only bronzer I've ever truly loved is limited edition! Luckily I got a backup from my mum for Christmas but it's still very sad. You may still be able to pick up this in-store in the sale, and I wanted to include my genuine favourite, not just one that's accessible. Anyway, this is the perfect balance of warming up the face a little bit whilst still being cool enough to get a natural contour with. The formula is lovely and it sits so nicely on the skin. I'd never really got the fuss with bronzer but I now use this every day.
Eyes
Cream Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Taupe | £21 | post
This is definitely one of those products that's such a part of my everyday routine I sort of forget to mention it. It's a creamy but matte-finish medium caramel brown shade. It's the perfect everyday cream eyeshadow base to give a smooth foundation that makes powders last longer and look more true to colour on the lids. This is the first cream eyeshadow I've ever nearly finished!
Cream Eyeshadow Honourable Mention: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Copper | £22
This has been my favourite shimmery eyeshadow stick (beating out the By Terry Ombre Blackstars) as it's my go-to inner corner highlight. It's a gorgeous coppery orange-toned golden shade that's so creamy and pigmented yet stays put all day. It has a gorgeous dewy finish and I've really never come across anything like this colour before.
Single Eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow Pan in All That Glitters | £10 | post
I think this may end up being my first ever 'hit pan' eyeshadow. It's kind of hard to describe this shade as it seems to look different on everyone. It's a sort of nude-bronze with a golden shimmer that has a very slight peachy tone to it. It works as a highlight with any eyeshadow look, whether cool or warm in tone and it's really pretty as a lid shade.
Single Eyeshadow Honourable Mentions: Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan in Homecoming & Frappe | £4.95 | post
I couldn't not have All That Glitters as my top pick, given how much I've used it this year but more recently Makeup Geek has come along and seriously impressed me so definitely deserves a mention here! Homecoming is one of the best single eyeshadows I own; it's a gorgeous medium bronze-brown that again can work with a cooler or a warmer look. It's lovely as a lid shade and is just so long-lasting. The texture is incredibly creamy and pigmented when applied too.
Good matte shades are hard to come by, especially if you want to spend under a fiver but Makeup Geek seem to have it down. My favourite has to be the everyday crease shade: Frappe. It's a warm, medium caramel-brown that works perfectly with so many looks. If you're thinking of building a Makeup Geek palette, this is a must-own shade.
Eyeshadow Palette: Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette | $42 | post
I reached a point where I just had to get my hands on a Lorac palette to see if they were worth the hype. The Pro palette is the obvious choice, but for me the shades in the Unzipped were just stunning and unlike anything else I owned. The colours are warm nudes with coppers, golds, browns and bronzes. They create such a beautiful look on the eyes and the formula is just as good as people say. The shimmers are dewy and pigmented (they have that liquid metal look going on) and the mattes are creamy and easily blended. Overall they're some of the best quality eyeshadows I own and the shades are just stunning.
Eyeshadow Palette Honourable Mention: Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette | £15.50 | post
Zoeva really are setting the standard for affordable, beautiful, high-quality and unique products. The Cocoa Blend palette is no exception as it houses some gorgeous neutrals with little pops of colour. It's the perfect Autumn/Winter palette and the texture, quality and pigmentation is unbelievable.
Eyebrow Product: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade | £15 | post
This was a really tough call as I love Soap & Glory's Brow Archery Pencil but in the end ABH won. I apply this with my Zoeva Wing Liner Brush and it allows me to fill in and re-shape my naturally uneven brows without them looking ridiculous and drawn on. Granite is also the perfect shade for me as it's not too warm or too jet black.
Eyebrow Product Honourable Mention: Soap & Glory Brow Archery 2-in-1 Filling Pencil & Brush | £8 | post
Before Dipbrow came along, this was my undisputed favourite and it still holds a special place in my makeup collection. Firstly, it has a really good spooly, but also the pencil itself is the perfect shade (not too warm) and texture (it doesn't crumble under pressure but still has the right level of pigmentation). Plus the thin pencil and twist-up mechanism means you don't have to worry about sharpening it all the time. It's perfect for a natural, everyday look.
Liquid Eyeliner: Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner | £6 | post
I just can't be without my black winged liner but until this year I'd never found the perfect one. Supercat just does it all for me; it's pigmented, stays black and useable for months, the nib is the perfect size and shape and isn't too scratchy. Plus it stays in place all day without transferring all over my oily eye area. And all for £6!
Liquid Eyeliner Honourable Mention: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner | £14.50 | post
This is the only product that's come close to snatching Supercat's title as my favourite eyeliner pen. I love how pigmented this is and how it still hasn't dried out months down the line. The super-thin nib helps me to be really precise when winging my liner. However I do think it's a bit expensive, which is why I go for Supercat.
Pencil Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Scorch | £15.50 | post
For my lower lash line and tight line I like to use a pencil. I don't tend to go for black underneath my eyes as I think it looks a little bit harsh, however I think brown can sometimes be a bit middle-aged. The shade Scorch is the perfect golden-bronze shimmer to go with any warm neutral eye. The texture is smooth but not too soft and they're so creamy and pigmented yet last well throughout the day.
Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara | £7.99 | post
This is probably my all-time favourite mascara. I've tried mascaras that were 2-3 times as expensive but they still don't beat it! I honestly think this could give lashes to just about anyone as it grips onto and coats even the tiniest ones. It gives incredible length and curl but still has that bit of volume. It's perfect if you're going from day to night too.
Lips
Lipstick: MAC Matte Lipstick in Mehr | £15.50 | post
Thank you Lily Pebbles for bringing this perfection into my life! I hadn't ever really checked out this shade before but it's actually the perfect deep and dusky pink and the matte formula feels really nice and creamy.
Lipstick Honourable Mention: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cannes | £5.50 | post
Liquid lipsticks really had a moment for me towards the end of the year and my favourite has to be this budget gem. The formula is so creamy and gives a matte finish without feeling drying. It's seriously long-lasting and the deep nude-pink is perfect for day or evening.
Lipliner: MAC Lip Pencil in Soar | £12.50 | post
This is the second part of the Lily Pebbles-recommended lip combo and is also rumoured to be one of Kylie Jenner's favourites. It's a bit deeper and browner that Mehr and they work so well together. It's creamy enough to feel comfortable on the lips but waxy enough to keep my lipstick in place.
Lip Pencil: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita | £19 | post
I absolutely love the formula of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils as it's just so creamy, comfortable, non-drying but still long-lasting. I only have one shade (though definitely want more), which is this unique deep rosy-pink. It's pretty much my perfect day-to-evening lip shade and it suits me well.
Tinted Lip Balm: Fresh Beauty Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal | £18 | post
I never thought I could really love something as simple as a tinted lip balm but Fresh have combined an incredibly nourishing and hydrating formula with a nicely pigmented colour and it really is a winning product. Petal is my favourite shade; a pretty, rosy nude colour that's perfect to throw on for a low-maintenance tinted moisturiser and cream blusher kind of day.
Tools
Cheek Brush: Sigma F35 Tapered Highlight Brush* | $24 | post
I didn't realise how in need I was of a good highlighter brush until I got this and realised it did everything I needed. I'm a bit of a highlighter addict these days and this is the perfect shape, size and softness to blend highlighter onto the cheekbones and other high points of the face with ease.
Brush Set: Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Brush Set | £56.95 | post
This is probably the best beauty investment I've ever made as these brushes are not only stunning but some of the best I own. It seems like a lot to spend in one go but considering how much I've used these, they've worked out to be a very smart purchase and I'd recommend them to anyone looking for their first 'proper' brushes. The ones I use virtually every day are the Concealer Buffer, Silk Finish, Petit Crease, Luxe Definer and Wing Liner.
The Concealer Buffer, as the name might suggest, is amazing for buffing in concealer seamlessly in with your foundation as it has tightly-packed bristles. The Silk Finish is a rounded brush with tightly-packed bristles that's my go-to for any medium coverage foundation that I may want to build up. It blends everything in flawlessly and is perfect for my everyday base; Nars Sheer Glow. The eye brushes really are incredible and just as good as MAC's. The Petit Crease is amazing for really getting into the crease and defining it more precisely (like if you're doing a cut crease) and the Luxe Definer is a multipurpose gem that I love for applying the lid shade and for blending. The Wing Liner is amazing with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade as you can draw on each individual hair with it.
Light Base Brush: Sephora Pro Airbrush #55 | $34 | post
I never realised how inadequate just using your fingers is for a light base (like a tinted moisturiser or bb cream or a runny foundation) until I used this! I'd never really liked applying them with brushes and felt like I got the most natural finish with my fingers, however this has completely changed how I apply lighter bases. It's so soft and applies the product flawlessly in seconds. I honestly can't rave about it enough and I've been using tinted moisturisers so much more since discovering this.
Multipurpose Brush: Real Techniques Blush Brush | £9.99 | post
Getting a nice, even blusher application is half in the formula of the product itself and half in the tools you've used to apply it. There isn't a powder formula I've tried this year that this brush couldn't apply. It doesn't look like a blush brush but honestly it's the best I've ever used. I use small circular motions with the very tip to apply it before angling it to blend the colour out. This is also amazing for bronzer.
Multipurpose Brush Honourable Mention: Real Techniques Setting Brush | £6.99 | post
This bargain brush is one I have two on and they're both my favourites for each of their purposes. Firstly, obviously this is a great setting brush for powder over under-eye concealer. However also the bristles are amazing for blending out the concealer under your eyes flawlessly. I've also used this for contouring and it worked really well. The possibilities are pretty much endless and for £6.99 you can definitely afford to pick up a few of them!
What were your top makeup discoveries of 2015?
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*DISCLOSURE - ITEMS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.