Okay, when planning this post I thought I would spend hours narrowing down my choices. Unexpectedly when I started looking through my makeup collection, the choices looked pretty obvious. When selecting the items for this post, I considered the products which I’ve reached for the most over the past year. I can say with confidence, these products have been tried and tested, and are now pat of my daily routine. One thing to remember is that I currently live in Hong Kong and have done for all of 2016. As a result of the humidity, all of my make up is assessed on one property; longevity.
This product has been a staple in my daily makeup routine for a lot of 2016. I always try and use long lasting or matte foundations, so using this primer ensured my face did not look dull.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation
This foundation was only added to my collection around September time, this was when my Estee Lauder Double Wear was starting to sit ‘cakey’ on my skin. Although I have loved Estee Lauder Double Wear for years, I think with this climate my skin is feeling drier, resulting in caking. I had heard good reviews about this foundation and it has not disappointed! It does not have the coverage of Double Wear, but I don’t mind that.
Although this is a pretty boring product, it is essential when completing an eyeshadow look, this is the perfect eyeshadow base for my skin tone. It works amazingly well at keeping eyeshadow on all day and night.
Make Up Forever AQUA MATIC Waterproof Glide-On Eye Shadow S-60
If anybody believes their morning is too busy to apply eyeshadow…this is your answer! This has been my ‘everyday look’ pretty much all year. I apply this all over the eyelid and blend out with a big fluffy blending brush, most days I do apply an eyeshadow on top to intensify the colour, however it can also be worn without.
I have these little pots of heaven in a couple of shades, as i’ve found they can make any eyeshadow really pop! My standard ‘going out’ look is a smokey eye with one of my star powders on the middle of the lid for that added detail.
This eyeliner has answered all my winged lined problems. Felt tip eyeliners have always made doing a flick much easier, but one thing I’ve found is they don’t stay intense black throughout the whole day. This eyeliner has the application ease of a felt tip, with the intense colour of a liquid eyeliner. What more could a winged eyeliner lover like myself need?
This has to be by far my most loved lipstick of the last six months, I must were it at least six out of seven days a week. It is simply just the perfect nude!
Make Up Forever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil in 5C Beige Brown.
This is a big claim, but I am going to make it. This lipliner is my best find of 2016, I LOVE it! I have been on the search for a lipliner that doesn’t move for years, and I finally found it! If you get frustrated by lipliner moving, or looking rather disgusting after a few hours of wear, then I have that answer for you – this Aqua Lip is amazing!
Anastasia Beverly Hill Pro Series Contour Kit – Light/Medium
This little beauty I received last christmas, and since then I have used it pretty much everyday. To me, using a product everyday for a whole year shows some series love! This is just a great set as it has a variety of different shades, which is great for your winter pale skin but just as useful for your summer tan (or fake tan in my case). I will admit I tend to just use this for the contour shades and then reach for a different product to highlight.
As mentioned in the last item, I don’t tend to use my contour kit for the highlighters. The reason being they just don’t give the same impact as this little drop of heaven. There is a reason this highlighter is so popular, and that reason is it simply does an amazing job. My only draw back with this product is it tends to smash fairly easily.
Albeit this brush has not been a new addition to my collection this year, it has continued to be a staple for the whole of this year. It is the perfect blending brush and should definitely be a staple in everyones collection.
This shader brush is also one I use everyday. I use the top edge for shading under my bottom eyelashes.
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Although this item was not a new addition to my collection this year, the way I use it is new to this year. Last year my main use for this sponge was for blending out my concealer, however this year I have been using it for my full face of foundation. Before this year I have always been a foundation brush type of girl, but around June time I decided to change up my routine. Using this sponge to apply foundation has really helped with a lighter more flawless coverage.
As you can see from this list, there is not an item in every category, for example I am yet to discover a mascara or eyeliner pencil that can justify a place in this list. Fingers crossed 2017 brings me the world best mascara and a smudge proof eyeliner, if anybody can help me out in that category I am open to suggestion.
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