Thursday, January 5, 2017

Favorite Beauty Purchases of 2016.

This is going to be kind of boring, y'all. I am so fickle about beauty/skincare stuff that I just cling to the things that work for me and don't get too crazy experimental. I feel like my style (both clothing and makeup) has become more about sticking with what works which doesn't make for very exciting blog fodder. But that's why you love me, right? Right?

I actually did try a fair amount of products this year (a lot of it in sample form!) and here are the products I bought this year that I consider my favorites:




Burberry Fresh Glow - I posted about this recently and I'm still just delighted with this stuff. It's expensive but I only use a little tiny glob which I mix in with my foundation. It gives a really subtle glow and sheers out my foundation just a tiny bit so I don't look so makeup-y. It's also nice on it's own if I am just wanting to look slightly more polished but don't want to wear foundation. And, dude, the packaging is amazing.




Japanese exfoliating towel - I've posted about these before and NOW is when you need them. When your skin is getting all dry and ashy you need to scrub yourself with this towel and you will glow and be soft like whipped cream. So cheap, so effective. Just get one.




Shiseido Senka sunscreen - This is my everyday sunscreen and I just love it. It's inexpensive, has no scent, and works great under makeup. Never greasy and doesn't break me out. What's not to love?





It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye - I've given up on other concealers because this one is so freaking good. You need to warm it up on your hand first because it's thick and concentrated and then gently taptaptap it on. It also applies really well with the pointy end of a Beauty Blender, but it's not crucial.





Sunday Riley Tidal - This moisturizer is really too new for me to include but I got this in my most recent Box of Style and it is SO NICE. I just kept going, "wow, this is NICE" when I first slapped it on. It's a super hydrating moisturizer and goes on all cooling and soft. I try to apply it when my face is still a little damp so that it can do it's job properly. Oh Sunday Riley, I can't quit you.




Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads - These are an old favorite and when I had to stop using Drunk Elephant Framboos (a story for another entry) I went back to these. They're immediately effective and you can cut the pads in half to make it last longer. Just a really great chemical exfoliator that won't mess up your skin.



Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara - I got this mascara in a recent Birchbox and was surprised to find that it was the mascara I kept reaching for. It's just a nice formula, lengthening and volumizing without too much fuss. I don't know that it's a holy grail, but of the mascaras I've bought this year, this has become my favorite. I still use and like the staying power of FairyDrops, but I've never loved the new formula as much as I did the one they discontinued.

That's it! Please do let me know what your favorites are! I'm always looking for new recommendations.

13 comments:

  1. My favorite product from last year is the Kypris Antioxidant Dew. I use it as a serum and it's made my skin crazy soft.

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  2. I got that Drunk Elephant Framboos stuff (plus the Vit C and the gel moisturizer) last month and am liking it quite a bit! I've been working to reduce crepe-y-ness on my neck and chest, and it is helping there! Thank you!

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    1. I really loved all the products but I ended up having a bad reaction to the Framboos so I returned the set. I might re-buy the Vit C and definitely will get the gel moisturizer next summer.

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  3. I've been using the DE Framboos for about 9 months (sparingly, it's pricey) and haven't had issues. For for half the price, I might take a look at the PTR pads though!

    Just got the DE Lala moisturizer and am pretty much in love. Tell me more about the Sunday Riley though - Water Cream makes it sound kind of lightweight? Does it have a scent? I wanted to like the SR Sleeping Oil but the scent made me crazy!

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    1. The Tidal isn't a heavy cream, it's one of those hyaluronic acid moisturizers so it's meant to seal in moisture. It's got a very subtle cucumber scent but nothing overpowering. I was LOVING the Framboos but had a really severe reaction to it - I think I was using too much, too often. It's strong!

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  4. I have 2 favorite beauty finds of 2016! The first is Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil which is probably my favorite hair product of all time. I put two drops of this oil in my hair after a shower and it makes my hair softer, less frizzy, more shiny, it cures world hunger, etc. It's good shit. The second is Anastasia Dipbrow. Dipbrow is super popular so I'm not uncovering anything new here, but my eyebrows have never looked better and painting them on with Dipbrow every morning is sometimes the highlight my of my day.

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    1. I had a sample of Dipbrow and it...did not work out. But, I think it's because all the colors were too dark. I looked like Groucho Marx. 😁

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  5. My favorite product that I discovered this year is Hourglasses' tinted moisturizer (technically, Hyaluronic Skin Tint). It is ludicrously expensive, but it provides a really fantastic glow. It's also very thick, so a little goes a long way. Did I mention the glow?

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  6. I got a sample of this Kiehl's serum from Nodrstrom when I bought the MAC set (used your link!) and holy Hell my rosacea wants me to live in it forever. I can't say it has reduced the redness (so far a strict paleo diet is the only thing to abate a flare) but it makes it smooth, non-scaly, and soft but not greasy or shiny. Now I want to go to NYC and visit a Kiehl's store and buy all the things.

    http://www.kiehls.com/hydro-plumping-re-texturizing-serum-concentrate/255.html?cgid=face-serums&dwvar_255_size=1.7%20fl.%20oz%20Bottle#start=4&cgid=face-serums

    My daughter has perfect hair (golden, waist length, beachy waves that will hold a curl or go straight) and I thank you for continuing to tell me to get a Wet Brush. That thing saved us from chopping her thick hair off since we could get nothing to brush through the snarls. We swear by anthing OGX for hair. She recently switched from the Argan line to the Kukui line and is very pleased with the smooth, less frizzed texture of her hair. It is also much easier to comb when wet and brush out.

    I got the Belif True Cream moisturizing Bomb after loving the Aqua Bomb and it is nice but I don't love it. I got it in a set with the Hungarian Water Essence (don't waste your money) and the eye cream (VERY NICE).

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  7. HUM Nutrition supplements are my best discovery. I feel like I'm in a cult loving these but the ones I've tried are so, so good.
    I can't say enough great things about these.

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  8. Yes, regarding the exfoliating cloth. I've been using them for about a year now (they are washable; just use lingerie bag and air dry only). I found my exfoliating cloth at a rather unlikely place when I wasn't looking for it-- my local organic market. Yes! Market is a local chain here in the Washington, DC area, and they procure a selection of Korean beauty items. I spotted the exfoliating towels while in the check out line.

    SassyinDC

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    1. Ive been getting mine for years at The Body Shop :-)

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  9. I saw this mascara at my local Walmart, and thought I'd give it a try. I was only $4 or so, so I thought what the heck. Y'all, it's actually pretty good. It provides great length and doesn't clump or flake. I think I'm sold for now.

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wet-n-Wild-Max-Volume-Plus-Mascara-C150A-Amp-d-Black-0.27-fl-oz/43839432

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