This post contains a PR sample
My apologies for the spotty blogging schedule lately. I haven't been buying tons of new makeup lately (so not a ton to review), and other times, I've just lacked inspiration/motivation. I hope to get back on track soon, and I wanted to thank you all for sticking around :) I didn't want to put up any new posts until I got my 2015 yearly favorites up, so here they are:
1 :: Charlotte Tilbury Fallen Angel Luxury Palette :: review here
This palette can do no wrong, in my eyes. The taupe and bronze shades are gorgeous all over lid shades, on their own and when paired together, and the black is perfect for darkening up the outer corner or lash line. It's the perfect day-to-night palette.
2 :: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream :: review here
The one pictured is their Illumination version, but I also love the original formula. With a hydrating, skincare-like formula and healthy, dewy finish that offers medium to full coverage that doesn't look cakey, what more could you ask for?
3 :: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light :: review here
When I heard about these bronzers being released, I quickly brushed them off, thinking they'd be too shimmery and I was more of a matte bronzer kind of girl. I TAKE IT ALL BACK. This bronzer is utter perfection. No other bronzer in my collection can give me quite the same sun-kissed glow. I sometimes try to rotate out my products so I can use them up equally, but so far, I haven't managed to be successful at NOT using my Hourglass bronzer.
4 :: Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara :: review here
This is the year I finally learned how to do my brows. In the past, I'd dabbled in powders, pencils, gels...you name it. After giving this brow mascara a try, my brow routine was forever changed for the better. The perfect combination for my faint and sparse brows is to fill them in with a pencil first (I swear by the Shu Uemura one, but the Hourglass Arch Brow comes in a close second) and finish off by brushing a brow mascara through to give them noticeable texture, as well as to feather out the pencil a bit, creating a brow that looks defined but still natural.
5 :: BECCA Ultimate Coverage Concealing Creme :: review here
This concealer is a staple in my makeup bag. It's one of those products that would be panic-inducing it were to ever go missing. Its texture has the perfect balance of creaminess and tackiness, so it blends well but has incredible longevity, and its high coverage hides a multitude of sins. I use it on blemishes, redness, and even under-eyes when I'm looking especially haggard.
6 :: By Terry Cover Expert Perfecting Fluid Foundation :: review here
I have quite a few foundations that I love, but this one is my go-to for special occasions and nights out. It offers medium to full coverage, a long-wearing, soft matte finish, and it photographs beautifully in flash photography. Perhaps too heavy for those who prefer very light and natural bases, but for me, I can't resist the flawless canvas it creates for the rest of my makeup and how it lasts for hours on end.
7 :: Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder :: review here
2015 was definitely the year of the contour products, and although I can't say it's a step I've incorporated into my everyday routine, when the opportunity arises and my cheekbones need chiseling, this sculpting powder has always risen up to the challenge. It's the most natural contour shade I've tried (neither too brown nor too grey), and it blends easily.
8 :: BUXOM Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick in Rebel Rose :: review here
At any given point in time, you'll find at least 8 lip products in my handbag. I love my lipsticks, what can i say? Narrowing down my lipsticks down to one favorite was no easy feat, but I'm confident in saying this one was my favorite of the year. Bulky packaging and cringey name aside, Rebel Rose is a gorgeous mauve-rose that smells yummy and is hydrating and impressively long-wearing, especially considering it's not a matte formulation.
9 :: CoverGirl The Super Sizer Waterproof Mascara :: review here
Last year was the year my holy grail mascara of several years finally got dethroned, and by a drugstore mascara, at that. Although the removal process of The Super Sizer Waterproof is a pain, the volume, definition and curl-preservation it provides my lashes is second to none.
10 :: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk :: review here
Charlotte Tilbury is the only brand to have two products in my yearly favorites, and it's well-deserved. Pillow Talk is a great, goes-with-everything pink nude shade, but that's not why it's on this list - it's the Lip Cheat formula that sets it apart. It's creamy, pigmented and insanely long-wearing without drying out my lips. I'm definitely looking to add more shades to my collection this year.
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Disclosure: The IT Cosmetics CC Cream was sent to me for consideration for a review. I am not affiliated with the company, nor am I getting paid for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are based solely on my own experience with the products.