Best of 2016 Makeup
Face Products:
My favorite foundation of 2016 is the Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup. I wear this foundation in shade 0.5, on Ulta's website it claims to be very fair with pink subtle undertones. (I'm about as pale as it comes, so this foundation works great on with my skin tone). I paid $40.00 for this foundation and I think it is 100% worth the price tag.
I love this foundation because just like the name, it is weightless on my skin! I usually have combo to oily skin, but depending on the season my skin type does change. Now I am mostly oily with a few dry patches.
The main reason I love this foundation is because it is medium to full coverage. The coverage can be built up with two layers. This apply's best with a beauty blender, with a brush it does leave streaks on my face.
Foundation:
Face Powder:
My favorite face powder in 2016 was my It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Anti-Aging Finishing Powder . It is a translucent face powder. I mainly use this under my eyes and in my T-zone. The main claims with this product is that it helps reduce the appearance of pores. I love this under my eyes and on my cheeks for this reason. I do have large visible pores and this power makes them disappear! It's defiantly has magical powers.
I bought this during Sephora's VIB sale so I did get this for 20% off. The full price is $29.00, I paid about $23.20 for this face powder. I would definitely pay full price for this powder, but I'll probably wait for a sale again to buy this. The only I don't like about this product is that I feel like I go through it so fast!
Primer:
My favorite primer is my Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Instant-Perfecting Power Primer. I love this primer so much! I have mainly oily skin so I put this in my T-zone to help prevent my face from getting oily throughout the day. I work long shifts so I don't have time to run to the bathroom to blot, this is a great primer to help keep my oily skin at bay. I paid $14.00 the nice thing about this primer is you can usually use a coupon on this one. Ulta always has their $3.50 off $15.00 so if you can find one more thing, then you can use this coupon to get a better price.
Blush:
I love blush so this is a tricky one for me! I think the blush that I used the most this year is NYX HD Blush in the shade Hamptions. I love how easy this blush is to apply. It lasts all day. One thing that drives me crazy is when I put on a beautyful blush in the morning and by the end of the evening it has compltely disappeared on my face! I don't have to worry about that with this blush. It lasts all day! On Ulta this blush is listed aat $6.99. Keep in mind you can always use coupons with NYX products!
Bronzer:
Bronzers are a super tricky one for me because I am so pale. However this year I discovered this beauty and I am so glad I did! My favorite bronzer from 2016 is the Physicians Formula, Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer, in the shade Light Bronze. The texture is so creamy and buttery! Isn't that just fitting for the name? Quite honestly maybe my favorite part about this bronzer, is the smell. It smells like summer heaven. On Ulta's website, this bronzer is listed at $14.99, like my advice above try to use coupons on this baby! I always try and buy the Physicians Formula products when they are BOGO or even buy one get one-half off.
Contour Products:
So I have two favorites for contouring and yes, I use them both! For my first one I love this cream contour from Wet nWild, MegaGlo Dual-Ended Contour Stick in the shade Light . According to the Wet n Wild's website has this listed for $4.99 ( I can't believe how affordable this is!!). If I contour I always use this on top of my foundation and before I set my face or my concealer. Then I set it with this product! You can tell this baby has been loved. This is the Wet n Wild MegaGlo™ Contouring Palette in the shade; Carmel Toffee In the description of this powder they describe it has flawless! I couldn't agree more. This isn't patchy or skips on my skin, its smooth and I can finish my contour in seconds. The cost of this on the Wet n Wild website is also $4.99.
Now on these two products I mainly use the "Contouring" power/creme. I don't use the highlights on creme stick at all and I use the powder as a setting powder, it works great for that. The contouring products are both pretty cool toned which is why they work great on my skin tone.
Eye Products:
Single Eyeshadows:
Concealers:
Color Corrector:
My favorite color correcting concealer from 2016 is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in the shade, Brightener . On this particular one I actually rip the top sponge off, I think it's more sanitary that way, plus it's easier for me to use. The reason I love this so much is how the color works under my eyes. I do have some darkness under my eyes and when I use this in three little dots it instantly helps me look more awake. The price on Ulta's website is listed at $8.99. I have gone through so many bottles of this guys, and I have tons of backups. I couldn't recommend this more in any of the shades.
Brightening Concealer:
My favorite brightening concealer from 2016 is absolutely the Makeup Forever Ultra HD Concealer in the shade, Y21 . The main reason I love this concealer is how light it is, I have such a difficult time finding something that is light enough for my face, but can also be bright enough to highlight a bit. I have oily skin so this is slightly drying, it sets almost immediately. If you have dry skin at all, I don't think you will like this one, but if you have oily skin I would use this! Any of the shades are wonderful. I love how long lasting this one is and it doesn't crease on me. I bought this from Sephora and the cost is $27.00. I already bought a new one.
Highlight:
This was a no-brainer for me. In 2016 my favorite highlight was the Physicians Formula, Shimmer Strips Custom All-in-1 Nude Palette for Face & Eyes, in the shade Natural. Now even though this is listed for both face and eyes I mainly use it on my face. If you look at this you can see that there is colors in here for everyone! I stick to the top right corner, the white and pink squares, of this when I use it has a highlight. However if you have a tan you could use the bronze shades as well. I'm sure these would look beautiful on the eyes. The cost of this one is on Ulta's website is, $13.99.
Wattles
Weenie
Wattles
Weenie
Mascaras:
I have two and both of these are a tie.. I actually use them together. My first favorite is the Covergirl The Super Sizer Fibers Mascara in very black. The reason I love this one so much is the brush. It is so different than anything I have ever used. It gives me volume and length all at the same time. I do want more volume than what this gives which is why I use it in conjunction with something else. I like the fibers version, not for the fibers, but for the formula. The regular Super Sizer actually irritates my eyes, I would prefer that one but there is something in that mascara that makes my eyes go red. The cost of this mascara on Ulta's website is, $7.49.
My second favorite is the Too Faced Better than Sex mascara. The reason I love this mascara is I have never found something that gives me more volume. Now I do use it with the Super Sizer Fibers because the Too Faced mascara does flake on my eyes. So I will use this one first and then top it off with the Super Sizer Fibers so that throughout the day I don't have mascara flakes all over my face. The cost of this mascara is, $23.00.
If I'm going to recommend one out of the two it would be the Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers mascara. It costs a lot less and it has never flaked on my lashes. Keep in mind this one provides more length than it does volume.
Eyebrows:
I feel like I need to list two categories of products. During 2016 I dyed my hair a darker brown so I had to switch up my products.
Blond Brows:
When I had more blond in my hair here is what I loved: NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel. I love this because my brow hairs can get out of control. For days that I want a more natural day I just run this through my brows and call it a day. It is listed at $5.99 on Ulta's website.
On days I want to fill in my brows I use the Colourpop, Dope Taupe Pencil Brow Pencil. The pencil isn't too soft or too hard, its just the right amount of creaminess, because of this its easy to use but also lasts all day. Now it is a VERY skinny pencil so I feel like I spend 5 minutes filling in my brows, but with this pencil its worth the time. The cost of this pencil is $5.00.
Cool toned Brown Brows:
I heard the type on this product but was hesitant. I am so glad I caved and got it. It's the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Medium Brown. The shape of this pencil is so unique. It's like a triangle. For this reason, it takes me seconds to do my brows! The price is listed at $23
Eyeshadow Palette:
This was a tough one because this was the year of palettes for me. If I am being completely honest with myself this was my favorite. The Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly Eyeshadow Palette . I love the colors in this palette. The eyeshadows are very pigmented and they blend beautifully. The palette smells like chocolate which is a bonus! I actually use the shade "Jelly" as a blush or I will run it along my lower lash line. Other than that this is a very wearable very day type palette that I think it worth the pretty penny. The cost of this is $36.00 on Ulta's website.
Liquid Eyeliner:
This is quite honestly what I am most excited to talk about! I do a wing eyeliner every day so I ask that my liner has a couple important features. It has to be very black, matte, won't smear or budge, and won't transfer to my lid. Well, I have found an inexpensive eyeliner that does all of these things and it is the Wet n Wild, ProLine™ Felt Tip Eyeliner in black. On the Wet n Wild website, it is listed at $3.99. I have literally gone through like 10 tubes of this stuff. It's amazing, plus I usually buy it on BOGO from Walgreens (so its even more affordable!)
One honorable mention is the Anastasia Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette , I'm sure this will be on a lot of people's favorite this year but I had to give it a quick shout out. I love the colors, I love the texture of these shadows, they literally will blend themselves. I also love this one! The price of this palette is $42.00 on the Sephora website.
Lips:
LIPSTICKS:
I wasn't sure how to pick just one. So I picked my favorite two. My first favorite from 2016 is Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color in Touch of Spice . I love the rosiness in this lipstick, but I also love the formula. If you haven't tried the creamy mattes, go buy one now. I just love this color and it was defiantly on trend in 2016. The cost of this lipstick on Ulta's website is, $7.99.
My second favorite is a most loved lipstick for sure. I really probably need a new tube but it is the Mac Lipstick in Velvet Teddy . This is the perfect nude on my skin tone. I wear this shade to work all the time. I feel like once I throw this sucker on I'm all put together, its probably not true but it's nice to feel that way. This creamy lipstick is described as a deep-toned beige. That description probably would have intimated me but this shade really does look good on everyone! The cost of this lipstick on Mac's website is $17.00.
Liquid Lipsticks:
My favorite liquid lipstick of this year is the NYX, Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Soft-Spoken. The color is a dusty deep mauve color. I also think this is a great one to wear to work! I'm not the biggest fan of liquid lipsticks because they dry out my lips but these are great. This one is long lasting and it goes on in one even coat. Once I start to feel that dryness I just top it off with some chapstick. On Ulta's website this is listed at $6.99.
Brush:
Now this one is an honorable mention but I have to mention it because these brushes are amazing! I love all of the Wet n Wild Brushes, my all time favorite one is the Crease Blending Brush! They are $0.99 and when I saw them on display I should have bought like 15, not just for me but for all of my friends. A good blending brush is a must! This one will take care of all your blending needs. If you don't order any of the makeup I've recommended above get this blending brush. It is worth every penny and much more!
PS These brushes are perfect to use with Colourpop Eyeshadows.
