I know I’m a little late to the game but I couldn’t let this post pass me by. I love looking back at my Best of Beauty 2016 post and comparing my favourite products from then to now and I’m disappointed that I didn’t post one for 2017. It’s interesting because some of my favourites from two years ago are still favourites!
2018 Beauty Favourites
Face
Arbonne Makeup Primer | I really thought that this primer would win the category but at the last moment, this Arbonne primer swept in. Unlike the Tatcha primer, it isn’t moisturizing or heavy. It has a slippery, silicone-type feel that reminds me of the Benefit Porefessional primer but I prefer this one. It blurs my pores, feels nice on my skin, and is made of safe ingredients. I haven’t had any breakouts since using this and it really does help my makeup last all day.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation | This was my go-foundation for much of 2018 and I repurchased it 2-3x last year. Stick foundations are my favourite because they are easy to use and convenient for travel.
Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation with SPF 15 | After discovering Arbonne late in the year, I decided to give the foundation a try. It is my goal to buy more clean products and Arbonne is vegan, free of GMOs, and cruelty-free. I am surprised by how much I really like this foundation considering it’s not a stick. The coverage is medium-full and easily buildable with a matte finish. The shade “Fair” is actually a bit too pale for my skin which is surprising. However, I find it’s a little too drying for my winter skin. It’ll definitely be my go-to in the warmer months when my skin isn’t so dry though!
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in “Fair Beige” | Yet another item that I purchased multiple times between 2017-2018. I’m nearly out of this concealer right now & I’m really sad about it. It’s creamy, hydrating and long-wearing but ordering it is a pain since it isn’t available at Sephora. As much as I love this product, I won’t be picking up anymore until I go to Florida in the fall.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder | I don’t feel as if I’m as obsessed with this as some other people seem to be but it was my go-to powder last year so I feel like I need to include it. It isn’t drying or powdery and sets my foundation nicely. I also feel like this will last me forever.
Mary Kay Bronzing Powder in Light-Medium | I bought this from a coworker early in the year and it ended up being my go-to bronzer. It’s creamy, luminous, and gives the perfect sunkissed glow. I dropped it and broke it around Christmas and I was so upset! I’ve patched it back together for now but it definitely doesn’t look pretty anymore.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in “Paaarty” | This was one of the items in the Sephora birthday gift kit in 2017 and it was my most-used blush of 2018. It’s the perfect every day pink and I love the Tarte blush formula. Sadly, this product also broke on our last cruise and I haven’t really used it much since then as I only have a little tiny bit left.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter | This was originally a limited edition product but I’m wondering now if it is permanent? In any event, it’s a gorgeous highlighter. It’s a super glowy gold-champagne color that looks awesome on my fair skin. The packaging is also to die for!
Eyes
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette | I spoke about the ABH Modern Renaissance palette in my 2016 post and while that is still one of my all-time favourite palettes, I feel like I need to put the spotlight on Soft Glam this year. This palette is totally wearable for every day but can also create stunning bridal or special event looks.
Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow | I love these liquid glittery eyeshadows from Stila, especially for the holidays. They look absolutely stunning and last all night long with no creasing.
Essence Metal Shock Eyeshadow | These are an excellent dupe for the Stila liquid eyeshadows for a fraction of the price. I picked up the rose gold shade last year and received so many compliments when I wore it out!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Glitter | I bought this in the shade “Star Power” which is no longer available on the Sephora website. It is a beautiful multi-faceted shade of gold that is absolutely stunning on the eyes! If you can find it in store, I highly recommend picking it up.
Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara* | I didn’t necessarily have a favourite mascara of 2018. Honestly, there wasn’t one mascara that really impressed me. Of all that I tried, this one was probably the best. I used this one every day until it finally dried up and it was a good every day mascara, but it didn’t “wow” me.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow in Shade #2 | I received this product free for review from Topbox and I will definitely be repurchasing! (In fact, it’s currently sitting in my Sephora cart as we speak). I love the product itself, the design, and despite the fact that this shade is marketed for golden blondes, it works for me.
Lips
Fenty Gloss Bomb in “Fenty Glow” | One of the THE BEST products of 2018 in my opinion! I don’t think I’ve ever finished a lipgloss before but this will be my first. It gives your lips the absolute best shine, smells amazing, and the color is flattering on every skin tone.
Lancome L’Absolu Lacquer in “Rose Story” | As you can tell, I was alllll about the glossy lip in 2018. I picked up this one on a recommendation by Samantha Ravndahl and I can’t wait to add more colors to my collection. It applies glossy but dries down to a beautiful stain that is both long-lasting and comfortable. This shade is the most beautiful coral-pink color!
Eclair Lips Lip Balm | Made in New Brunswick (which is practically local), I bought some of these for Christmas gifts and ended up gifting one to myself.. naturally. It is the nicest lip balm I’ve ever used! Smells amazing (I bought “Unicorn Kisses”) and leaves my lips so soft and moisturized.
Revlon Super Lustrous Matte in “Audacious Mauve”* | I received this product in a PR package from Revlon and it has become my go-to daily nude lipstick. Despite being a matte, it is really comfortable to wear and it wears nicely over time.
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick | I don’t know how Maybelline has done it but they’ve created a formula that is pigmented, long-lasting (like seriously long lasting) and comfortable to wear. It doesn’t dry down to a total matte as the name implies but seriously, you need to try these if you want a long-wear lipstick!
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask | I received a sample of this in a Sephora order and I am still using it, but I am definitely going to purchase the full size when I am done. This has been my go-to lip mask throughout the winter! It not only smells amazing but leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturized, without feeling too thick or goopy.
Skincare
Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash | I purchased this based on a sample I tried and it has been my go-to facial wash in 2018. I’ve been alternating it with a regular cleanser as I don’t feel like exfoliating every single day but it is a relatively gentle exfoliator. It smells citrusy and is super refreshing in the morning!
Dr. Jart Shake & Shot Rubber Brightening Mask | I didn’t use a lot of face masks in 2018, which is something I plan to change this year. However, I did try this one at the beginning of the year and really loved it. It’s a bit expensive to buy on a regular basis but definitely worth the splurge once in a while!
Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask | I don’t feel as if I can do this product justice because I failed to use it regularly enough to notice any long-term effects. However, I love how it feels when I apply it to my eyes. It has a rounded applicator that feels cool and refreshing on the under-eye area. I am trying to get better at applying this on a regular basis.
Herbivore Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment | I didn’t particularly like the smell of this but the packaging and the purple color is on point! I don’t use this every night but I do use it a couple times a week. It leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated in the morning.
Herbivore Lapis Balancing Facial Oil | I bought this in a set with another Herbivore product based on awesome reviews. This isn’t actually formulated for my particular skin type (which is currently dry, normally normal-combo) as it’s made for oily, acne-prone skin. Despite that, I do enjoy using this occasionally at night when my skin is feeling parched. Once I finish this product, I’ll definitely look into their other oils.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream | My go-to moisturizer! It smells amazingly tropical but not fake. The scent lasts forever on my skin and the formula is also quite hydrating.
Haircare
Invisibobble Slim | The only hair tie that I used in 2018. The slim size is perfect for my fine, thin hair. Causes minimal creasing and rarely tangles.
Wet Brush | This made the list in 2016 and it will probably remain there forever. If you aren’t using a Wet Brush yet, you need to buy one immediately. As someone who has always struggled to brush my hair due to tangles and knots, this has been a game changer.
Goldwell Kerasilk Repower Volume Shampoo | Jordan gave me a gift set for Christmas 2017 that included this shampoo but I didn’t start using it until mid-2018. While a lot of volumizing shampoos feel heavy on my hair, this one did not. It smells amazing and lasted most of the year (I didn’t use it every day).
Tools
Fenty Beauty Makeup Sponge | You’ve heard me say this before I much prefer this sponge over the original Beauty Blender. The flat edge makes the difference in my opinion! Plus it’s slightly cheaper.
What are your favourite beauty products of the past year? Let me know in the comments below!
* PR sample provided; all opinions are my own of course!
