My year in beauty…
Every year I spend a bit of time clearing out my makeup bag, decluttering my dressing table and refreshing my skincare stash in prep for the new year. Not only does it help me keep on top of what I have, I can easily see which products have been my highlights for the year.
I discovered some truly wonderful beauty finds this year, from face masks to hair heroes and even highlighters and hairbrushes! It’s been a good year in beauty, so I thought I’d introduce you to some of my most loved and most used products from the last twelve months – it’s a big ‘un!
Makeup Must-Haves…
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick*; This isn’t so much a new discovery as an old rediscovery! I was reintroduced to this fabulous foundation in stick form while on my trip to New York with the brand earlier this year. It’s the perfect sweep-on-and-go staple, I use it alone as an all-over base or apply it to areas for a bit of extra coverage alongside my favourite tinted moisturiser.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer*; Admittedly I haven’t tried much from Giorgio Armani (something to change in 2020!), but this primer was sent my way and I loved the sound of it – I’m a total primer fiend! I think I’ve used it every day since, it’s just the perfect winter prep product to give skin a boost. Makeup lasts longer, skin looks fresher and it works miracles after a late night too!
bareMinerals Endless Glow Highlighter in Fierce*; I love the soft sheen a good gold highlighter gives, and this bareMinerals offering is the most flattering shade. It blends beautifully and adds a brilliant subtle sparkle, perfect for adding a bit of golden warmth throughout winter – and beyond!
Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Lipsticks*; I’m pretty low maintenance with my lip products so when these ultra-hydrating lip products were launched, I fell in love with how easy they are to apply! They glide on so effortlessly and give a wonderful dose of colour, my favourites are Pillow Talk (a glossier version of the original) and Princess Kiss, which I wear almost daily.
bareMinerals Prime Time Primer*; Another primer I had to give a nod to is this silky saviour, it’s just the thing for giving a smooth base for makeup. I feel like I really fell in love with bareMinerals this year, the brand have so many fabulous products.
itCosmetics Superhero Mascara; This has to be one of my favourite mascaras ever, I love everything about it – from the easy to hold packaging to the no-smudge formula. No other mascara gives me such full, thick lashes.
NARS Mini Wanted Palette; I originally bought this palette because I thought the size would be handy for travelling, but I ended up loving it so much that I use it at most days at home too. The shade range is flawless, every shade is just so wearable and the tones all work beautifully together too.
NUDEStix Nudies Cream Blushers*; Perhaps my favourite product of the year, these creamy blush sticks give the most flattering flush in one quick application. The blendable formula, impressive shade range and handy travel-friendly packaging mean they’re easily one of my most used products.
Chantecaille Anti-Ageing Illuminator in Brilliance; I can’t live without a bit of sparkle, and this lovely golden illuminator gives me that ‘lit from within’ look in seconds. I tap a small amount on to my brow bone, Cupid’s Bow and cheekbones and blend with a brush for a really beautiful radiance, and it works wonders when mixed in with foundation too.
Benefit Caramel Hoola Bronzer*; I never thought I’d stray from my go-to Hoola bronzer, but this Caramel edition may just be even better than the original! It gives a softer glow that is perfect for fairer complexions that still want a bit of warmth.
NUDEStix Magnetic Eye Pencil*; Another NUDEStix must-have are these creamy pencils, I use them either blended all over my lids or more often smudged in to my lower lash line. They’re less mess and less fuss than powder shadow – and a whole lot more fun too! I typically go for the gold and bronze tones which work best with my blue eyes.
Bath & Body…
Herbivore Jasmine Body Oil*; It’s not my best trait, but whenever I step out of the shower I always just want to get dried and dressed straight away! I rarely make the effort to put on lotions and potions – that is, until I discovered this delicious body oil. I slather it on to damp skin and almost immediately it’s absorbed enough that I can pop on my clothes. Plus, it smells delicious and feels incredibly luxe too.
LUSH Sleepy Body Lotion; There is one body lotion I will always have on hand no matter what, and that’s the Lush Sleepy concoction. The gorgeous lavender scent is perfect as part of your evening routine, and I really, truly think it helps me get a more peaceful nights sleep. I recommend it to everyone!
Byredo Rose Of No Man’s Land Hand Cream; There’s just something so lovely about an expensive hand cream, isn’t there? I am a total Byredo fan girl, I adore their fragrances and body products oh so much. This little tube not only looks pretty in pictures, it also makes hands feel nourished, soft and deliciously scented too.
Goop G.Tox Detox Salt Bath Soak; Throughout these miserable Scottish winters I rely on my evening baths to revive and restore me, a long soak is like my therapy after a manic day! I recently discovered the Goop bath salts and I’m hooked on their pampering properties. Detox is my favourite so far, it leaves the bath water looking a bit questionable but it does wonders for body and mind (especially after the Christmas festivities!).
Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Bath Oil*; Another product I recently rediscovered is the Pomegrante Noir bath oil, the most luxurious addition to your evening soak! I had a bottle of this last winter and completely fell in love with it, so when the nights grew colder again I made sure to treat myself once more. It is exquisite!
Diptyque Santal Candle; Although I’ve been a long-time fan of Diptyque candles, Santal was a scent I discovered this year and I’ve been hooked ever since. Woody, romantic and fragrant, this sandalwood scented wonder is such a treat to have around the home!
REN Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Scrub; This may well be one of my most loved body products ever! I’m really big on the benefits of magnesium, especially before bed for an extra delicious sleep. This creamy scrub means you can polish skin and get a dose of the good stuff in one easy application. I love to apply it in the bath and slowly massage it in, before rinsing it off and relaxing in the water afterwards.
Diptyque Eau Rose*; You’ll be well aware by now that I adore a rose scent, and this Diptyque wonder found its way in to my hands this year and I’ve been obsessed ever since. It’s such a unique and beautiful take on the traditional rose fragrance!
Haircare Heroes…
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo*; A recent addition to my routine, this Ouai Super Dry Shampoo is one of the best I’ve ever tried. Perfect for hair that gets oily all too regularly, the fine mist actually cleans hair so locks feel fresh in an instant. It leaves no residue and hair feels great afterwards too – I recommend it to everyone I can!
IGK Anti-Social Overnight Dry Mask*; If you ask me, overnight hair products are one of the best inventions ever. This light, frizz-fighting mask comes in spray form to be misted on before bed – and you don’t even need to rinse in the morning! The bond-building formula works to strengthen hair over time, while also leaving it feeling instantly smoother and beautifully scented too.
Living Proof In-Shower Styler*; I’m always looking for ways to add texture to my super soft, super fine hair, and this product is a miracle worker for adding a bit of wave – even to naturally straight hair like mine! The idea is that you sweep it on to damp hair in the shower after washing, then you just give it a light rinse and leave it to air-dry, scrunching the hair a little as you go. The texturising properties give hair a lovely beachy look without the crispiness of salt spray. I love!
Kristin Ess Dry Finish Texture Spray; This is my secret product to thicker-looking hair and waves that hold all day. I spray it on to dry hair before styling, then brush through before I section it off to be curled. My hair holds the style so well, and my hair has a ton of body too. I couldn’t be without it!
Bumble & bumble Glow Thermal Refreshener*; This new collection was quietly released a few months back, and I really think it could be my favourite haircare line ever! The multi-tasking products aim to strengthen and protect the hair, using bond-building technology to ensure hair is as swishy as can be. I use a lot of heat on my hair, so this protector spray is a must-have – oh, and it smells SO DREAMY. I adore the entire range.
Coco & Eve Super Nourishing Hair Mask; I feel like I’ve talked about this gorgeous hair mask a lot this year, it really is the secret to swishy locks! It’s one of the only masks that makes a noticeable difference to my hair every time I use it.
I was recently introduced to the new tube packaging and I had to give it a mention – previously I was repurchasing the big tub every time I ran out, which also comes with a hairbrush – ideal for first-timers, but not so much if you use it like I do! Thank goodness we can opt for a less-waste alternative.
Manta Flexible Hair Brush*; I really didn’t think I needed another hairbrush in my life, but this flexible brush has been a life-saver. Not only does it feel like a scalp massage every time you use it, it brushes through even the craziest tangles effortlessly. It really has changed my hair routine!
A note on skincare…
I had an awful time with my skin this year, I’ve been dealing with some of the worst breakouts I’ve ever had, mainly due to stress. I had to really strip back my routine and figure out where I was going wrong, so mostly I stuck to boring, basic skincare and products I could really rely on. Thankfully I seem to be through the worst of it, but I had to give a shoutout to the products that helped me through the worst of it…
Skincare Saviours…
MURAD Reform AHA/BHA Cleanser; I must have made my way through tubes and tubes of this cleanser this year, it’s such a fantastic product and a true staple in my routine. I use it a few times a week and the gentle exfoliating particles work to brighten and smooth the skin, plus it’s a saviour for acne-prone complexions. I’ll never be without this stuff!
Origins Retexturising Rose Clay Mask*; My ultimate skincare treat, this is my go-to mask when my skin is in need (which is… a lot, by the way!).
It’s an exfoliating clay mask so you’re covering all bases here, and the formula works to brighten and refine the complexion. Every single time I use this I’m pleasantly surprised at what a difference it makes to my skin!
Disciple Night Shift Cleansing Oil; I discovered Disciple earlier this year after being recommended their skincare for acne-prone skin. The cleansing oil is the first step in my evening routine, it melts away makeup and leaves my complexion looking even and supple. Plus, the face cloth that comes with it is wonderful!
The Ordinary AHA/BHA Peeling Solution; I’d been looking for a hardcore treatment to help my acne scarring when someone recommended I try this, it’s a peeling solution to help brighten and smooth skin. It looks pretty terrifying once applied but it’s so worth it for the outcome, it really does transform my complexion in a flash. A budget find with big results!
Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream*; I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve always been a bit lazy when it comes to applying eye cream, but this was the year I stepped up and introduced this Origins wonder. It’s just the thing for puffy, tired eyes in the mornings and I love how it has a slight shimmer to camouflage dark circles too.
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Cream SPF50; I’m trying to be better with applying SPF all year round, and this super light cream was recommended to me when I was researching which to buy. I love Korean skincare and this is a really rated SPF – it feels lovely and light, goes on easily and doesn’t break me out either. WIN.
Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator; This product has garnered a bit of a cult following this year, and I can totally see why! I don’t use moisturiser so I really on face mists to hydrate my complexion, and this spritz is one of the best I’ve tried. It feels delicious on the skin and works well at every step in your skincare routine, as well as over makeup and masks too!
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Eye Patches*; Early starts, late nights and too many wines on the weekend always results in puffy eyes for me, there’s just no escaping it! Thankfully I discovered these incredibly hydrating eye masks so now I can at least soothe my poor peepers first thing. They come in a handy pot and are super easy to apply, I usually pop them on while I get ready in the mornings and they make such a difference!
What a year it’s been! I’ve introduced some really impressive products in to my routines this year and I reckon I’ll be taking more than a few of them in to the next decade with me too. Have you tried any of these? What’s your top product of 2019?
