Best of 2015 week continues today as I share my annual Makeup Favorites of the year! Who made the cut?
Oh good GOSH, my list of 2015 makeup and skincare favorites feels bigger than usual, doesn’t it? Funny enough, when I originally sat down to write out my list, I thought to myself “Gee, I don’t think I really liked that much this year?”
Didn’t like that much? Pfft. Wrong!
It wasn’t until I started digging through my vanity drawers that I knew just how very wrong I was. Suddenly, an armful of favorites turned into a basket of favorites. And laying everything out for “pretty little pictures” proved quite the task. Luckily for you, I’m a master of puzzles and managed to get everything in! Close together now, guys. Huddle up and say cheese!
I suppose it’s kind of strange to think of my makeup favorites coming together for a team huddle, but in reality – that analogy is pretty darn accurate. Together, these makeup and skincare bits make up my beauty dream team – keeping me happy all year long. For you, I’m sharing my 2015 beauty MVPs, of nearly every category I could wrap my brain around. There are two notable omissions on this list, though. While I did like a few highlighters and nail polishes, I didn’t have standout favorites and decided to leave them off this list. (Don’t worry, there’s no shortage of other favorites to discuss!)
So ladies (and the 15% of you that are gentleman), I present to you my grand list of 2015 makeup and skincare favorites. Queue the drum roll, please!
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess (here)
Oops. Late to the party, but oh what a party it is. I actually thought my routine Estee Lauder counter didn’t carry this, because I never saw it out. Upon asking, I learned it’s tucked away in a special drawer. Seems like a bad idea from a marketing standpoint, but it felt like hitting the makeup jackpot. Believe everything you hear, it’s incredible!
Dior Star Foundation (here)
I know, I’ve talked to death about this foundation. But that’s only because I really, truly love it! Read my in-depth review here, for the full scoop.
NYX Cosmetics HD Concealer (here)
I think of this concealer as my number one weapon against zombie-hood. Like so many anxious, insomniacs out there – dark circles can sometimes hit me hard. Here we have a full coverage wonder, that’s surprisingly creamy, to do the trick.
Too Faced ‘Better than Sex’ Mascara (here)
Aside from having the very best name, this mascara make eyelash dreams come true. Great, voluminous and fluttering length? Done, done and done. Pro Tip: If you like the look of false eyelashes, but (like me) suck at applying them…problem solved!
Borghese Color Edge Eyeliners* (here)
2015 was the year I fell in with Borghese. This eyeshadow palette of their’s just missed this list, as I received it towards the end of the year. Their eyeliners, however, I’ve been loving for months. They glide on like butter, without creating any mess – and actually last! It’s probably strange of me to an enjoy an eyeliner this much, but oh I do!
NKD SKN Gradual Glow Daily Tan Moisturizer* (here)
Miraculously simple self-tanning? Until 2015, I thought that was a myth. Read my full review on this foolproof tan in a bottle, to learn how simple getting a tan can really be!
Philosophy Purity Cleanser (here)
Pair this with your Clarisonic, and you’ll never need a facial again.
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 (here)
I threw this in my bag at Ulta one day as a fun ‘throwback’, and surprisingly fell in LOVE with this! Not only does this keep your skin clear and balanced, it’s also a cool and refreshing treat at the end of a long day. Heavenly!
MAC ‘Nordstrom’s Finest’ Exclusive Eyeshadow Palette (here)
Another item I’ve mentioned endlessly on Dream in Lace this year! But oh boy, do I really love this palette. No need to put to customize my own ‘dream’ palette, as Mac and Nordstrom teamed up to do the work for me. Read my full review, including swatches, here!
MAC ‘Russian Red’ Lipstick (here)
Sign of true love with a lipstick? Carrying it with you at all times. Trust me, I’ll never be without my trusty Russian Red – and I have a handful of backups to prove it! 😉
NYX Cosmetics ‘B52’ Lipstick (here)
I’m pretty pleased to announce that my second favorite lipstick, perfect for everyday wear, rings in at just $3.99. NYX’s B52 was doing Kylie Jenner lips before Kylie Jenner was doing Kylie Jenner lips. My love affair with this shade goes back a while, and I don’t expect it to end any time soon.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in ‘Exposed’ (here)
Hey, guess what? I’m a bit of a prude when it comes to blush all of a sudden. This year, unless it was a dusty rose/mauve shade, I pretty much wasn’t wearing. That made a whole lot of room for Tarte to swoop in and take the grand prize with their fabulous Amazonian clay blush. Does this last 12 hours? Probably not. Does that make me love it any less? Nope!
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in ‘Medium’ (here)
I broke my obsession with Laura Mercier’s translucent setting powder, to develop another obsession with another setting powder. The powder at hand? MAC’s “Natural” skinfinish. I picked this up in the summer, and have been wearing nothing else since. Who knew something so basic could be so wonderful!
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation (here) *Gold Medalist!*
If I had to award the biggest MVP of all the MVP’s, it’s this L’Oreal foundation is a strong contender for best foundation of all time. If you have not tried this yet, RUN to your nearest drugstore pronto. It’s legendary, already. Run!
Lancome Hyponse Dazzling Eyeshadow in ‘Brun Cabas’ *Silver Medalist*
And the silver medal of the year goes to this rockstar eyeshadow. I wrote a full write up on these here, but after you’re done picking up your L’Oreal foundation, swing by Lancome and give these a try. Best eyeshadow release all year!
Philosophy ‘Miracle Worker’ Eye Cream (here) *Bronze Medalist!*
I award my bronze medal of the year to this Philosophy eye cream. As I am using this preventatively, I can’t attest to it’s miraculous war on wrinkles, but I believe in this stuff. The way it smooths into my tender eye area, with that satisfying burn of retinoid? Feel the burn!
Philosophy ‘Miracle Worker’ Moisturizer (here)
I broke my longtime commitment with the ‘Hope in a Jar’ range, to graduate into the “Miracle” department. This year, I thought it was time to get serious with my anti-aging game, and Miracle Worker was on the case!
As this post is quite long, I will quickly bid you adieu. However stay tuned as Best of 2015 week continues with a new post tomorrow at 6 pm EST! While you wait, check out these other year in review posts!
The Top 10 Red Carpet Looks of 2015
What is your gold medal beauty product of the year?
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