So, without further ado, let's talk about my favorite makeup discoveries and most used cosmetics of 2015!
Face
One thing I wanted to find this year was an undereye concealer that really worked. I happen to have somewhat dark undereye circles genetically, so no amount of water I drink or sleep I get changes things. I think I might have found some real winners here, along with some bonus products along the way!
MAYBELLINE | Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer in Brightener ($8.99 | .2oz) - This undereye concealer was all over the beauty community for the longest time, so after awhile, I finally gave in and tried it. And I'm glad I did, because I really like it! The consistency isn't too thick or thin and the color has a peach tint to it, making it a great brightening shade for concealing blue-toned hues like dark circles (on the other end of the color spectrum). The thing that gets me, though, is the sponge applicator that disperses the product. I know it's supposed to be anti-microbial, but how? Other than that, this product is definitely worth a shot.
Read more: My Favorite Things (September 2015)
MAYBELLINE | Fit Me Concealer in Fair ($6.99 | .23oz) - Another concealer that the Internet made me buy! I really like the consistency of this one. It's thinner than I would have expected for the coverage. This shade is just a little lighter than my skin tone, making it great for brightening the undereye area. I like to switch off between this one and the one above, depending on my mood and how dark my circles look that day.
Read more: My Favorite Things (September 2015)
MAYBELLINE | Fit Me Concealer in Fair ($6.99 | .23oz) - Another concealer that the Internet made me buy! I really like the consistency of this one. It's thinner than I would have expected for the coverage. This shade is just a little lighter than my skin tone, making it great for brightening the undereye area. I like to switch off between this one and the one above, depending on my mood and how dark my circles look that day.
BENEFIT | Girl Meets Pearl ($30 | .4oz) - I remember swatching this product years ago in a Sephora, thinking it was gorgeous, and then walking out without it because I was a broke college student. Now I'm a broke college graduate, but I finally bit the bullet and purchased this. And when I got it home, it was every bit as beautiful as I remembered it being. This is a subtle, liquid highlighter that provides a gorgeous, natural-looking sheen to the skin. It's a pearly pink color that seems to blend into nothing but a soft shine. Sometimes on lazy days, I'll just apply this to the high points of my face (cheekbones, cupid's bow, brow bones) and nothing else. No I'm not wearing makeup. I'm just naturally radiant. I'm not sure if this will fulfill your desire for extreme strobing, but it's a gentler way to step into the trend if you so desire. I don't know how this would look on someone whose skin is much darker and warmer-toned than mine, but it's definitely worth a swatch next time you're at a Benefit counter.
Read more: My Favorite Things (November 2015)
STILA | Convertible Color in Peony and Gerbera ($25 | .15oz) - Wow, have I talked about these cream blushes enough on my blog this year? Peony and I had a hardcore love connection in 2015, and it's taking all my strength not to have a relapse this year so I can try some new stuff. I'm not going to talk any more about these in this post, because I'm just going to sound like a broken record, but if you want a blush that will make you look naturally dewy and flushed and perfect, just get one of these. Better yet, buy all of them, because you're going to want to anyway and might as well just get it out of the way now (save on shipping, you know).
Read more: What I Packed For Connecticut: Makeup (June 2015)
Brows
I think it's safe to say, I successfully followed through on my resolution to become the master of my eyebrows! I enjoyed trying out different products to help me get #browsonfleek last year. I'm still a fan of the natural brow, so I mainly just like to fill in a little bit or define an arch here and there. Here are my favorites and most-used from the year!
ELIZABETH MOTT | Queen of the Fill Tinted Brow Gel in Light/Medium ($20 | .14oz) - I was skeptical of this tinted brow gel when I first got a sample of it in my Ipsy bag, but it's quickly become a regular in my makeup routine. It's just so easy, and I'm lazy most days, so we're a good match. I just run this through my brows (it has a brush similar to a baby mascara wand), using the tip to fill it any sparse areas, and I'm done. 30 seconds, tops. I'd really like to try Benefit's Gimmie Brow and see if they're similar, so I'll probably pick it up when this runs out.
Read more: Ipsy Glam Bag (September 2015)
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS | Clear Brow Gel ($22 | .28oz) - I know I'm an advocate for e.l.f.'s brow gel because it's $2, but if you want your eyebrows to be positively bulletproof, I recommend this one. The hold is unbelievable. The e.l.f. one works, but if yours are really stubborn, I think you'll be happy with this. I don't use clear brow gel too much anymore, but it deserves a shout out for sure.
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS | Brow Fix Brow Primer ($21 | .1oz) - This is a thick, wax pencil whose sole purpose is to set your brows in place. I like to use it before I use any sort of power or pencil to fill in my brows. Not only does it make your brows look neat on their own, but it also sets any makeup you put on top of them. And a plus, this pencil lasts forever. I can't remember the last time I sharpened it. (AKA I'll be using this same little pencil when I'm 70. Maybe).
Read more: My Favorite Things (October 2014)
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS | Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown ($23 | .034oz) - How did I not try a brow pencil before 2015? Why didn't anybody drag me to Sephora and make me buy one?? Seriously! I got this baby sample in a Birchbox and it kind of changed my life. Well, my eyebrows' lives, anyway. I always thought, "my eyebrows are pretty full, I don't need one," but apparently I'm a big fat liar, because everyone needs one. It's a bit more noticeable than a powder or tinted brow gel, so small, light strokes are essential. I mostly like this for defining the arch and tail of my brows. And what a difference, let me tell you! I mostly use this when I'm wearing a bold makeup look and want my brows to really frame my face, like thick eyeliner or a bold lip. I'm curious about Anastasia's crazy popular Brow Wiz, which is a similar pencil to this only it's a twist-up, so when I use this little guy up, I'll be making a purchase.
Read more: Birchbox (September 2015)
Eyes
The eyes are always that part of my makeup routine that gets tossed to the side first if I'm running late. Eyeliner is the first to go, followed by eyeshadow, frequently leaving me with a swipe of mascara before running out the door. I found a few really reliable products this year that allowed me to speed up the process so I can indulge in a full face of makeup more often.
LAURA GELLER BEAUTY | Cool Lids Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Sands ($19 | .26oz) - This eyeshadow is so cool! It's not a cream or a a powder, but practically a liquid. It squeezes out of a tube, and when you put it on your eyes, it feels like you've just applied cool water. It's a very funny sensation, but once it dries down, it doesn't feel like you have anything on. These formulas are shimmery and sheer, and can be built up with another layer for more pigmentation. I could even stick this in my makeup bag and apply it on the train when commuting to work. No precision needed. I'd really love to own the whole collection (let alone at least one color in the full-size), so I'm definitely planning on picking up another color. Probably the lavender or rose gold shade next.
Read more: Birchbox (August 2014)
Runner-up: Stila in the Light Eyeshadow Palette
VASANTI | Kajal Extreme Intense Eyeliner Pencil in Rose Gold ($18 | .04oz) - Apparently 2015 was the year I discovered rose gold, because I always find myself being drawn to it in a makeup line these days. And this was no exception. I received this pencil in a Birchbox, and I am hooked. The formula of this is super creamy, long-lasting, and the color is gorgeous. Sometimes I'll wear this on my top and lower lashlines to brighten up my eyes, and others I'll just rub it all over my lid to wear as cream eyeshadow. And it stays! Brilliant, truly.
Read more: My Favorite Things (December 2015)
Runner-up: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero
BENEFIT | They're Real! Mascara in Black ($24 | .3oz) - You might remember me raving about this mascara back in 2013, but somehow I totally forgot about how great it was until this year. People really do comment that it looks like I'm wearing false eyelashes when I wear this. It lengthens, it volumizes, it holds a curl--it does everything. It's a little annoying to get off at the end of the night if you're not using the right products, but I find that a dual-phase waterproof eye makeup remover partnered with a creamy cleanser afterwards does the trick. It's pricey, but it's a worthy splurge if you're looking for something outside the drugstore.
Read more: My Favorite Things (November 2015)
Lips
I've always been a sucker for lip products. They're just so easy to use--anyone can do it. Application only takes a second, so I know I'll get use out of them (though I'm guilty of forgetting to reapply most of the time). These are the products that basically never left my backpack/purse/nightstand in 2015.
BENEFIT | Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm in Posiebalm and Lollibalm ($18 | .1oz) - When I wanted moisture but didn't want a plain ol' lip balm, I opted for these this year. These are two extremely comfortable lip balms that give off some shine and a little bit of color. Posiebalm is more of a peachy shade, while Lollibalm was Benefit's response to the Radiant Orchid trend. They're made to be partnered with their matching lip stains, so the color payoff isn't great, but the formula is creamy and comfortable to wear. This is another one of those products that made it into my "no-makeup days," along with the Benefit highlighter mentioned above. Because sometimes you feel like wearing makeup, but don't feel like applying it, you know? (Or is that just me?)
Read more: My Favorite Things (December 2015)BY TERRY | Baume de Rose ($60 | .35oz) - I'd heard great things about By Terry before getting a deluxe sample size of this product to try. Now, I can join the consensus and say that it is indeed great...but at what cost? This lip balm is extremely luxurious, housed in a glass jar with a soft, rose scent. It make the Dior Creme de Rose lip balm look like a steal, which is just about half the cost. I don't know if I could ever justify spending $60 of my hard-earned dollars on this lip balm, but it's lasted me awhile, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. They also make a rose-tinted version of this (which looks similar to Vaseline Rosy Lips but with the Baume de Rose dreamy formula), so of course I want that, too. If you have $60 and want a luxurious lip balm, this is your jam. Likewise, if you have 600 Birchbox points, treat yo self.
Read more: My Favorite Things (November 2015)
AQUAPHOR | Lip Repair ($4.99 | .35oz) - If you don't want to spend $60 on a great lip balm, you can spend $5 on another great option! Aquaphor has saved my lips from the coldest and harshest of winters. The thought of living in New England without this trust little tube honestly makes me a little sad. My lips tend to get chapped, dry, flaky--all that stuff--in the wintertime, so I need something that'll provide instant relief and heal my lips back to normal. Previously, I was using argan oil and Vaseline and it just wasn't cutting it. This is it: the product you've been looking for. When it's especially cold and windy outside, I like to apply a coat of this before I go out as a preventative measure (but when I forget, it treats them well afterwards, too).
Read more: How to Change Up Your Skincare Routine for Winter, Part 2 (February 2015)
MAYBELLINE | Color Sensational Color Elixir in Rose Redefined ($8.99 | .17oz) - I got the Target Beauty Box last spring on a whim (mostly for the L'Oreal setting spray), but this was a happy surprise! I can't believe how great this lip balm is. It's pigmented and goes on smooth and wears comfortably. The amount of shine it gives off is insane, and it just makes your lips look really healthy and, well, juicy. This is one of those products where I could own one in every color, and then never want to reach for a different brand of lip gloss again. And it's under $10 at the drugstore, so really you can't go wrong.
Read more: Target Beauty Box (May 2015)
There was a surprising amount of Benefit in this year's Makeup Favorites. A good amount of Maybelline, too--both brands got 3 products into this post! I'd like to give a bonus shoutout to my Tweezerman ProCurl Rose Gold Eyelash Curler, which isn't really a makeup product, but more like a makeup tool. I use it every time I do my makeup, so I guess it was such a well-integrated part of my routine I forgot that other eyelash curlers existed. Try it if you don't currently have one you're attached to--a year from now, you'll be like me and forget you didn't always own it.
Phew, that's everything! It was tricky trying to condense my favorite products into just a select few, but I'm happy with my choices. I hope 2016 is filled with just as many new discoveries!
What was the best makeup product you tried last year?
Let's be friends!
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Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. Some affiliate links included. Some sass also included.
