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This was a great year for beauty. It seemed like every brand, whether it’s drugstore or luxury, got creative and released innovative, exciting new products. Keep reading for the best of the best in makeup, skincare, hair and nails. Here’s hoping next year will be even better!
EYESHADOW/PALETTES
Urban Decay UD Gwen Stefani Palette: This new palette, created with legendary beauty icon Gwen Stefani, made its debut only a month ago, but it’s quickly become a holy grail product for many makeup lovers. There are tons of neutral shades, in both matte and shimmer finishes, plus a few pops of color. The eyeshadow possibilities are endless! ($58)
FOR A ROUNDUP OF LOOKS USING THE UD X GWEN PALETTE, CLICK HERE!
Ciate London x Olivia Palermo Smoky Suedes Eye Palette: This palette is kind of low-key – many people only know of Ciate as a nail polish brand – but it is exceptionally good. All of the shadows come in a unique, suede-like finish, and the burgundy, brown and green shades are so elegant. It should come as no surprise that this palette is sophisticated – it was created with the help of style maven Olivia Palermo, after all. What is surprising is that it’s available for a fairly affordable $39. ($39)
Urban Decay Naked Smoky: Every Naked palette causes a commotion in the beauty world – one could argue that the first Naked was the original ‘must-have’ palette – but I’ve never seen anything like the hype for the Naked Smoky! The goal of this shadow set is in the name – to help you create that perfect, smoldering smoky eye. With twelve pigmented shades of browns and grays, this palette has everything you need for a sexy evening eye. ($54)
FOR A ROUNDUP OF NAKED SMOKY LOOKS, CLICK HERE!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Self Made Palette: Anastasia has released plenty of obsession-worthy palettes over the past few years, but the Self Made Palette might be the best yet. Featuring a stunning combination of wearable neutrals and unique, vivid hues, this palette is simply amazing. Plus, it includes cult classic shade, Pink Champagne, a shimmery, rose gold shade that flatters nearly everyone. ($35)
MASCARA
Benefit They’re Real! Mascara in Beyond Blue and Beyond Brown: When Benefit released They’re Real! Mascara a few years ago, it caused a mascara revolution. Lengthening, volumizing and curling, this mascara was unbelievable. That’s why I was so excited when they released it in blue and brown this year. Brown is great for the day or if black looks too harsh on you. The one I’m obsessed with is the blue…the perfect, subtle twist on fluttery lashes. Amazing for the summer! ($24)
NARS Audacious Mascara: This mascara features a unique wand that really separates each lash to create the illusion of falsies. It’s very buildable – swipe on one coat during the day, then add a few more to amp up your lashes for the night. One of the best parts is the luxe packaging – it has that distinct, iconic, rubberized NARS look, accentuated by a wand with bright red bristles. ($26)
Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: Looking for a mascara that will curl and hold your lashes? Look no further than Roller Lash. This mascara was one of the most talked about this year because it truly lifts and curls like nothing else. You won’t need a lash curler with this mascara, so you can save some space in your makeup bag for another lipstick or two! ($24)
EYELINER
Anastasia Waterproof Creme Color: Over the summer, Anastasia released bright, new colors of their Waterproof Creme Colors and the colored liner trend just exploded! Available in fun shades like hot pink and turquoise, these vivid, easy-to-use gel pots made bright and bold wings accessible for everyone. So eye-catching. ($18)
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil: If you’re anything like me, your eyeliner starts dripping and slipping twenty minutes after you apply it in your waterline. With Urban Decay’s innovative, creamy pencil, that’s no longer an issue! Designed specifically for staying put in your waterline, this eye pencil will last all day…no need to set it with eyeshadow or anything like that. A total game changer. ($20)
BROWS
Clinique Instant Lift for Brows: Many people fill in their brows, but did you know accentuating your brow bone with highlighter is just as important for creating the appearance of groomed arches? With Clinique’s clever double-ended pencil, you can fill in and highlight your brows with one multitasking product! ($17.50)
Maybelline Brow Drama Pomade Crayon: A pomade is the must-have product to create intense, bold brows (for a more subtle look, go with a pencil). Most pomades come in a pot and you apply it with an angled liner brush, but Maybelline has released a much more convenient version. Their innovative Pomade Crayon gives you that pigmented look without the hassle of scrambling through your makeup bag for a clean, angled brush. ($9.99)
PRIMER
Smashbox Primer Water: Beauty addicts are used to rubbing in primer at the start of the makeup process and spritzing setting spray after you’re all done, but Smashbox changed the game this year with Primer Water. The hydrating spray gives all of the benefits of primer, without that thick, heavy feeling that often comes with it. A few spritzes at the start of your routine is all you need for fresh-looking makeup that lasts all day. ($32)
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer: Everyone’s skin is different – we all use different skincare products based on our needs, so why shouldn’t the same logic apply to primer? Make Up For Ever released a bunch of different Skin Equalizers this year, targeting different needs. Smoothing, mattifying, color correcting, hydrating – there are tons of options to choose from…and the quality of each one is absolutely fantastic. ($36)
FOUNDATION
L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation: Cushion foundation is a must-have in Asia, and it’s slowly been making its way across seas. Up until very recently, only luxury brands have been offering them (for upwards of $70!), but L’Oreal has finally released an affordable version! Lightweight, fresh and luminous, tap this foundation onto your face (no rubbing or blending!) for a beautifully dewy finish. ($16.99)
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation: Arguably the most popular new foundation, Too Faced’s Born This Way gives off a flawless finish without feeling heavy. The oil-free formula is available in a ton of different shades, so there should be something that’s perfect for you. The incredible product is infused with coconut water so you skin will feel hydrated all day. ($39)
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB: I’m going to make a bold statement – Maybelline makes the best BB cream on the market. It is a magical product, regardless of price. It is weightless, blends out nicely, provides good coverage and lasts all day. They had a limited edition bronze version in the summer that was ideal for that glowing, JLo look, but it’s unfortunately not available anymore. ($8.99)
FOR MORE PRODUCTS THAT CAN GIVE YOU THAT JLO GLOW, CLICK HERE!
CONCEALER
Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer: The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is a holy grail product for so many beauty lovers, but many switched over to Urban Decay’s Naked this year. Luminous and buildable, this creamy product is ideal for concealing imperfections and under eye circles with ease. Just stipple it in for a gorgeous, natural finish. ($28)
NYX Color Correcting Concealer: This little palette by NYX has every color correcting shade you could possibly need. Use the green to help cover up blemishes, the salmon to brighten, etc. The formula is super smooth and easy-to-blend, and the price is unbeatable. ($11.99)
FOR A COMPLETE GUIDE TO COLOR CORRECTING, CLICK HERE!
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser: This is my absolute favorite product to brighten up under my eyes. It instantly plumps up and illuminates tired eyes. The only thing to keep in mind is that it’s not full coverage, so it’s better not to use it to cover up blemishes or imperfections. ($8.99)
BLUSH
Too Faced Love Flush Blush: It was truly love at first sight with this Too Faced blush – that heart-shaped packaging is just too cute. The actual blush is pretty impressive, too – extremely long-lasting (think Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blush) and pigmented, a little goes a very long way with this formula. ($26)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit: This sleek, face palette features three powders, two blushes and an out-of-this-world bronzer. Every product in the set is a winner – the powders are superb. One of them – Strobe Lighting Powder – was created after the summer’s strobing mayhem and offers the most beautiful, natural glow. ($80)
BRONZER
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow: This compact bronzer-and-highlighter duo seems to be at the top of every makeup artist’s must-have list. Charlotte Tilbury is known for extremely high quality products, and this is probably her most popular product to date. It can turn anyone into a glowing goddess. ($68)
Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronze Compact: Laura Mercier bronzers are so underrated!! Pigmented, yet somehow natural, they blend like a dream and give off a luminous (and never orange!) glow. This blush/bronzer hybrid can be used all over or on your cheeks for subtle radiance. ($40)
HIGHLIGHTER
Anastasia Illuminators: When the Kardashians refer to a highlighter as their favorite, you know it’s good. Their number one is Anastasia’s So Hollywood, a shimmery gold, which is sold out pretty much everywhere. (Unless you’re willing to pay almost four times the retail price on Amazon…) It is readily available in three other beautiful shades, though! Starlight is perfect for fair-skinned people, and Peach Nectar would make a lovely, radiant blush. ($28)
theBalm theManizer Sisters: I could never choose which theBalm Lou Manizer I wanted most – each one looked unbelievable! The brand made the choice simple this holiday season when they released theManizer Sisters, a palette that features all three shades. Mary-Lou is a champagne highlighter that’s similar to Becca’s Opal, Cindy-Louis a soft pink that can be used as a blush, and Betty-Lou is a flattering golden-bronze. Use all three for the ultimate glowing look! ($28)
BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop: Jaclyn Hill is one of the most trusted and recognized makeup vloggers on YouTube, so when she released her collaboration with BECCA, Champagne Pop, it caused sheer pandemonium. The limited edition pressed highlighter, which is a Sephora exclusive, is described as a soft white gold with peachy pink undertones. All you really need to know is that this will make you GLOW like no other. If you want your highlight to be on fleek (Jaclyn’s favorite phrase), definitely invest in Champagne Pop. ($38)
LIPS
ColourPop Ultra Matte Lips: ColourPop, it seems like the beauty world just can’t get enough of you! It’s pretty incredible how far they’ve gone in such a short amount of time – just a year ago, their product lineup only included shadows, lipsticks and lip liners. It’s safe to say that the moment the brand really blew up was when they released their Ultra Matte Lips, super affordable liquid lipsticks in tons of diverse colors. While they’re not particularly hydrating, their price makes it worth it. Just make sure to apply a nourishing lip balm beforehand to prevent the feeling of dry lips. ($6) (Photo via Lip Drama)
FOR AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF COLOURPOP’S ULTRA MATTES, CLICK HERE!
Tom Ford Lips & Boys: $35 for a deluxe-sized lipstick?! Only Tom Ford could get away with something like this. Tom Ford lipsticks are in another league when it comes to luxury and quality. The Lips & Boys collection, which features fifty shades, is comprised of mini-lipsticks named after all the different men in Ford’s life. Did you hear that the one named after Drake sold out in minutes? ($35)
Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick: Urban Decay’s Matte Revolution line gives you the best of both worlds: super matte, bold color, plus moisture and hydration. The standout color of the line is 1993, a medium brown that pays homage to ‘90s beauty. ‘90s grunge beauty is back and better than ever! ($22)
NYX Intense Butter Gloss: NYX never ceases to amaze. Their collection of Intense Butter Glosses is so vivid and pigmented (no liner or lipstick needed!) and truly not sticky at all. Many people stay away from glosses because they don’t want to deal with it going on their teeth or sticking to their hair, but that will never be an issue with the Intense Butter Glosses. Try Tres Leches, an absolutely stunning nude. ($5.99)
YSL Volupte Tint-In-Oil: 2015 was the year that everyone became obsessed with beauty oils. You can apply oils to your face, body, hair, nails…and with YSL’s Tint-In-Oil even your lips! Subtly pigmented, ultra-nourishing and lightweight, this oil-balm hybrid literally melts into your lips. Your lips will feel instantly revitalized — use it if you’re currently experiencing chapped winter lips. ($32)
FOR MORE WAYS TO DEAL WITH CHAPPED LIPS, CLICK HERE!
SKINCARE
Sephora Face Mask: Korean beauty really took America by storm this year, and one of the standout products was sheet masks. A sheet mask is essentially a one-time-use cloth mask that’s drenched in different serums. You place it on your face for about fifteen minutes and let the magic happen. Sephora released a few of their own this year and they’re pretty fantastic. My personal favorite is the Rose Mask, which brightens your skin tone and deeply moisturizes for a luminous glow. ($6)
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY KOREAN BEAUTY ADVENTURE, CLICK HERE!
GLAMGLOW GRAVITYMUD Firming Treatment: GLAMGLOW is ending 2015 on a high note with the release of their first peel-off mask…and it looks like it’s their most innovative mask yet! Designed to firm and tighten the skin, this mask goes on white, but dries to a metallic silver finish. Peel it off and be amazed by your rejuvenated skin. GLAMGLOW products truly make you feel like you’re having a spa day from the comfort of your own home. ($69)
Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum: While pricey, this product is a life changer for anyone who has hyper-pigmentation or acne scars. You will drastically see a reduction in the appearance of spots. All Murad products are amazing…it’s one of the most consistently great skincare brands out there, but this might be their top product. ($60)
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil: I would never say someone needs to spend over $100 on a bottle of oil – this is definitely classified as a luxury – but I absolutely adore this product. After cleansing and toning your face at night, apply a few drops of this oil to your skin. It will visibly reduce the appearance of pores, help with fine lines and wrinkles and moisturize deeply. Plus, it smells like a dream. ($105)
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water: Micellar water is the way to remove makeup in Europe, and it’s slowly beginning to become more popular here as well. What’s so great about this product is it acts as both a cleanser and makeup remover, and all you need is a few drops on a cotton pad to get rid of a full face of makeup. It’s ideal for those nights where you really cannot bring yourself to go through your entire skincare routine – keep a bottle and some cotton pads on your nightstand for ultimate convenience! ($8.99)
FOR MORE ON MICELLAR WATER, CLICK HERE!
HAIR
Elizabeth & James Nirvana Dry Shampoo: What did we do before dry shampoo?! It’s extended the life of my blowouts by days. Elizabeth & James recently released two dry shampoos in their cult classic scents, Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. Both are amazing scents — Black is sexy, while White is more feminine and romantic. Both are incredible and will add major volume to your hair too! ($28)
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo: Living Proof has become very popular this year, and with good reason – their entire line is unbelievably good. The PHD Shampoo cleanses your hair like no other product. When I use it, my hair looks fresh and newly washed for a crazy amount of time. You only need a dollop or two for a thorough wash so a bottle will last you quite a while. ($10)
Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Treatment Primer: A few spritzes of this hair primer is all you need for a salon-quality blowout at home. It reduces frizz, acts as a heat protectant (so feel free to flat iron away!) and reduces blow-dry time. Another big plus: it feels completely weightless. ($24)
NAILS
Essie Gel Setter Top Coat: Do your nails chip easily? Stop what you’re doing and go buy Essie’s Gel Setter now! This revolutionary top coat is as strong as a coat of gel polish – you won’t see a chip on your nails for at least a week. By far the best top coat I’ve ever used. I bring it to the nail salon with me every week. ($10)
DISCOVER HOW TO PAINT YOUR OWN NAILS LIKE A PRO, HERE!
Formula X The System To Go CLIX!: This little set by Formula X is perfect for traveling – it has mini versions of a nail cleanser, base coat, nail color and top coat, all in a portable and convenient case. Aside from the smart packaging, the quality of Formula X polishes is unbelievably good. Their polishes are chip-resistant, shiny and beautiful. The fairly affordable price point is an additional bonus. ($11)
What were your favorite beauty products of 2015? Let us know in the comments below and on PAMPADOUR!
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The post Best in Beauty 2015! appeared first on Blog by Pampadour.