It’s time ladies for my Yearly Roundup. This post will contain my top five products in beauty, including makeup, skincare, and fragrance.
Best Primer/Foundation
I decided that this section should be combined because quite honestly, who wears one without the other these days. Over the past year, my go-to primer has been Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Acne Treatment. The reason why I love this primer is that it works really well on oily/combination skin. It goes on smoothly and leaves you with a virtually poreless canvas that will allow your foundation to go on flawlessly. It also contains an acne treatment that helps heal and prevent acne outbreaks. I love it when there’s a product that can do both. My favorite foundation this year has been benefit HELLO FLAWLESS! I used to be a liquid foundation girl, but since I’ve noticed that with my oily skin, powders actually work best for me. When applied over the Cover FX primer, I find that my skin looks flawless. If you have a good skin routine you will also notice that you don’t need to pack this foundation on to get great coverage and it will never have you looking dry. They also have a decent shade range so it was easy for me to find my perfect shade which can sometimes be challenging when you have dark skin.
Best Mask
When it comes to masks, this one was a tie. My favorites this year are Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask and GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD Tingling Exfoliating Treatment. The Origins Mask clears pore clogging debris from the skin. This should be your go to if you have larger pores or are prone to blackheads. It leaves your pores clean and leaves you with hydrated skin. When GLAMGLOW hit the market, it was basically revolutionary in my opinion. What makes this mask special is that it works with your skin’s natural collagen to gently resurface and exfoliate leaving you with smooth, radiant skin. After using this mask bi-weekly, I often found that after applying moisturizer I go out with very little foundation and sometimes without any foundation at all.
Best Cleanser
Again, Origins is a winner for me this year. The Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash is the one cleanser that has become a mainstay in my cleansing routine. What makes this cleanser my top pick is that it is a cleanser that can be used all year round. It works well with all skin types. ThebBroad leaf kelp extract controls excess oil production and wheat protein balances and protects dry-prone zones (definitely necessary during the winter months). At an affordable point this cleanser is worth the money.
Best Lipstick
When it comes to lipstick, I’ve always been a matte girl. The thing about a matte finish is that after a while it can look a little dry even if you apply a moisturizer under as a base. But when Marc Jacobs launched their beauty line last year, I decided to try their Lip Gel Moisturizing Lipstick. I was a little hesitant at first because with fuller lips like mine a glossy lipstick can be a bit much. But this one wasn’t. It was perfect. It glided on easily and the color payoff was fantastic. What I especially liked about this was that it was very moisturizing and long lasting – I only had to apply one time during the day.
Best Scent
I love this beauty pick. It might have something to do with the fact that when I started working in the beauty industry, I started with fragrance. So it would make scents that I would save this for last (you like that play on words don’t you?). This particular scent really works well for me especially during the colder months. My pick is J.Crew’s Scent No. 57. With cinnamon bark and whiskey notes, this is a scent that is elegant, classic and yet modern. All three of those words epitomize the J.Crew brand that we have all grown to love. I would recommend this scent during the cooler months as it denotes warmth. At only $25 for rollerball, it’s perfect for just throwing into your purse as you hurry out for a night out on the town.
Well that’s it’s for the Yearly Roundup Beauty edition. Come back tomorrow when I will be sharing my top picks in television and movies for the year. Until then, SEE. TOUCH. TASTE.