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2016 FAVOURITES

28 December 2016 11 comments

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Today's post is the kind I love to read. From eyes to lips, drugstore to pricey, I'm sharing my tiptop makeup favourites of the past year - the tried and true, the long-term favourites, the products I've been reaching for again and again this year. So let's jump in!




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Top base of the year is quite the accolade from me, as base is my thing. My numero uno of 2016 has to be my Etude House Real Powder cushion - it's not your average cushion, instead giving this beautiful, velvety finish that doesn't need powdering, lasts for hours on end, smoothes over your pores and looks impeccably natural yet polished on my skin.

I'm sure many of you share my love for the Marc Jacobs Air Blushes - they've been quite the hit this year for their soft, velvety deliciousness. Flesh and Fantasy is by far my favourite shade, the leftmost edge makes for a beautiful highlight, whilst the right edge is gorgeously mauve-come-blush toned and gives my cheek a beautifully rosy glow. Burberry's Nude Radiance is an absolute must. Within it's silky smooth formula, pearly pink pigments give your skin the most beautiful, glistening sheen - if it's a fine, ethereal opalescence you want then this one certainly won't disappoint, it just exudes quality. Really versatile, I love using this underneath or after makeup to make my skin look naturally radiant.

One palette that I've been using endlessly is the Hourglass Ambient palette. It's more compact than it's larger cousins, meaning it's come on more weekends away with me, and the larger pan size makes it so easy to work with. With a warm shade, a bright, 'highlight' shade and a neutral, versatile beige, this is a fab collection of stunning finishing powders to top off any makeup look.

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My YSL Contour palette is a little slice of luxury. With handsome packaging, the contents are equally as refined - this is my go-to for a subtle, indiscernible cheek. Both the contour and highlight shades are beautifully delicate and natural - I'm in love!

I can't recite many the name of a palette where I equally adore the highlighting, blush and bronze/contour shades. Rimmel's Sculpting palette however is my exception. The powders are such great quality - smooth, creamy and flattering, and it's really surprised me how amazing this looks on my skin - I reach for it almost everyday. Tom Ford's Shimmer Shot turned out to be just as beautiful as I'd hoped and anticipated. A beautiful, oyster-champagne that's seemingly unique, this is another multi-use highlighting liquid that I'm reaching for time and again. And yes, both this and the Burberry Nude Radiance are fully justifiable!

Now I'm not saying that I've fallen out of love with my Laura Mercier translucent powder but Dior's loose powder just keeps finding it's way into my hands when I'm doing my makeup. I used it to set my Classic Holiday Makeup and mentioned there that it's the kind of magical powder that fills in your pores and smoothes out fine lines - not one that gets talked about a lot but I really love it. L'Oreal's Lumi concealer could fool me into believing it was a high end product. The gorgeous, rose gold packaging aside, this concealer is brightening, light in texture and gives life to my dark, dismal under eye area.

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As you can imagine, it was so dreadfully difficult to choose a top eyeshadow of the year, so I've gone for the safe bet of Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise. Marie Antoinette is the most simple, one-and-done shade that's flattering for all, whatever the occasion. Should you want a minimal, no fuss manicure, then the Barry M Mani Mask is top of my list. It takes my nails from plain and unkempt to perfectly preened in a couple of coats and is appropriate for any situation.

Chanel's Deauville is arguably my most worn lippie. Uber low maintenance, and it's gorgeous, muted mauve/pink/brown tones are effortless whether you're out to a girly lunch, off for a spot of shopping or at a sultry, candlelight dinner. Rimmel's liner is another item of their range to surprise me. Inky black, pigmented and long-wearing, you can really save some dollars by choosing this over a high end alternative.

I've got to give a mention to the Aerin and Rosie For Autograph lipsticks. Both are that gorgeous, classic lipstick finish that remind me of an earlier era - creamy, smooth, not too glossy, not too matte, pigmented - just timeless. Give the dark, rich Poppy or rosy Lady Rose from RFA a whirl, you won't regret it! And speaking of Rosie For Autograph, the makeup launch has been one of the highlights of the beauty 2016 calendar so it's apt that we talk about her loose highlighter. And what a highlighter - pigmented but not too brash, the formula is so exquisite that I can sweep this on with abandon - a beautiful shade to flatter all.

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When I've wanted something a little deeper and more sultry than my CT cream shadow but just as easy to throw on, I've been reaching for Kiko's Pearly Chocolate Cream Crush. A warm, chocolate-y brown with subtle shimmer, it's so flattering on all eye colours and the formula excels.

Of all the eye palettes, it's the Marc Jacobs Lolita that I've reached for the most. You'll have seen me feature this in my High End Beauty Worth The Splurge post and I'm bringing it to the fore again. With a mix of matte and shimmer neutrals, this has got to be one of the most perfect all-rounders in my eyes. Slimline and sleek, it's great to slip into your makeup or travel bag.



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