I've been excited about writing this post, as I really wanted to do a favourites post for the year, rather than just a monthly or seasonal post. I rarely ever break from my usual routine, so these are the ones that I really obsess about and use regularly. Lately, I got new products for my birthday, Christmas and from my wishlist, and as much as I love them, I don't think it's entirely fair to start talking about those when I've not used them much.
I've been reading some great 2016 favourites posts that I found on Bloglovin' and Twitter and I'm super envious of all the bloggers that talk about the Hourglass Ambient Palette. I've always wanted this particular palette so it gives me the UGH feeling whenever I read the reviews. At the very minimum, I want the Dim Light Ambient Powder.
Meanwhile, until I fulfil my desire to get the powder from Hourglass, I'll make do with the dupe from Makeup Revolution, the Radiant Highlighter in Breathe. It isn't being featured on this post because I got it in December, so I don't think it counts.
First up is the I Heart Makeup I Heart Chocolate palette, Makeup Revolution's dupe for the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. I originally intended on getting myself the Chocolate Bar but had to wait until my birthday. After a while, I decided that I'd like to do a comparison post on the two versions, so I got this one. Fast forward to now and I've decided not to get the Chocolate Bar because Too Faced has been sold to a testing parent company, and I'm not too keen on supporting them any longer. Nevertheless, this dupe is a really great alternative, as they are incredibly pigmented, last a long time, come in secure packaging with a large mirror, and I reach for it the most out of all of my palettes since the colours are so versatile.
I think this is almost everyone's favourite highlighter, theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer. It's the perfect highlight in a compact, with a pearly, not glittery, shine that is super intense, easy to blend, soft, buttery and suits every undertone. I don't know if this will appear ashy on those with darker skin - I hope it doesn't though because it is one of the best highlighters I've tried and is always the one I reach for the most and it isn't fair if it doesn't suit everyone.
I also really love the e.l.f. Illuminating Palette. It's such a great budget palette for travelling because you get four shades in one and they work for most skin tones. I'm fond of the top right and the bottom left shades.
My favourite blush this year is the Milani Rose Blush in Romantic Rose. It is the one that I reach for the most for a fail-safe wash of dusty rose that looks really natural and occasionally I use it to slightly contour under my cheekbones, thanks to the hints of taupe in it. It's soft and velvety and lasts all day on me. It doesn't look chalky at all, which I really like about this blush. I also find it easy to blend out.
This year, I've been really enjoying the RCMA KA Series palette as a foundation. I originally wanted the Too Faced Born This Way foundation, but it was weak against the oil slick that is my face and melted off quickly. When conditioned properly, the RCMA palette gives this natural second-skin finish to the skin, and it's full coverage. I like to thin this out using a drop or two of grapeseed oil, as the oil is an astringent and helps to stabilise the oil production on my face somewhat. Thinning it out still gives me full coverage, makes it quicker and easier to apply when I'm short on time and I save more product as well. The benefit to using this palette is that I can use the next shade lighter as a concealer, or mix it with the next shade darker to make a perfect match of the shade I always use.
I'm currently looking into the Cover FX Drops because the longevity is quite stunning and it seems to work well with my oiliness, though I haven't found my colour match - I think I might have to mix two shades together to get the right tint. The reason why I'm considering the Cover FX Drops is because I wanted something a little simpler to work with for when I'm in a rush. It isn't cheap, though.
My favourite brush that I pick up every single damn time is the Real Techniques Blush Brush, which I use for absolutely everything - the highlight, the setting powder, the blush and even the bronzer on those very rare moments that I decide to use it. I love the long oval end of the brush, as I have the best control and application with this brush than any other brush that I've got. It is soft and fluffy, and it picks up the right amount of powder and doesn't shed at all.
I use the LA Girl HD Pro Concealer in Natural under my eyes sometimes when they're a bit too purple for the RCMA to cover. I only use a small amount under my eyes to correct it with the peach tones in the concealer, before going over it with the RCMA. I use the green corrector when my cheeks are quite ruddy or I've got spots appearing.
I love, love, love the Milani Amore Matte Lip Creams, they are budge-proof and the colours Adorable and Loved are my favourites. I've yet to try out Coveted, but I'm waiting until Autumn comes around before I can start wearing the deep chocolate shade.
I'm still completely taken by the Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Take On The Day Eyeshadow Primer, aka the Photo Focus Eyeshadow Primer. It is the only primer that I've found to work against my oily hooded lids, and I love that it's super cheap. It does everything I need it to, and makes my eyeshadows last well throughout the day and into the evening, even into the early hours of the morning. I've never attempted to wear this overnight because I'd rather let my skin breathe. Nonetheless, it is the Best. Primer. Ever. My review is right here if you don't believe me~
This year, my favourite mascara to date has been the ModelCo VolumEyes Mascara, as it lengthened my lashes somewhat while coating each one individually to thicken them. The mascara lasted all day, didn't clump, had the kind of brush that I like in a mascara and, also, it didn't flake. I no longer have this mascara, as I had to throw it out after a couple of months of use. I made it a point to try other mascaras to see if anything was better, but there has been no match. I only have one mascara in my collection at a time because I don't wear makeup often enough to justify using a tube just a few times before it has to be tossed out. Still, the ModelCo is my favourite to date.
Other products that I love using are DownUnder Cosmetix eyeshadow pigment in Kinnaly. It's really a beautiful rose gold shade that's intensely pigmented and so buttery smooth. I love that it comes in a huge pot, so I'll never run out of this product. I did a review the brand, as well as swatches with pretty much 95% of their colours. I like using Milani Cosmetics Shadow Eyez in Champagne toast underneath the pigment as a base, to make it more intense, although I also love using it on its own for a sheer wash of rosy champagne.
I just realised that I could do an entire face with these products, and the funny thing is that all the colours would work with each other perfectly. Who wants me to do a face post using each and every one of the products that I've mentioned? I think it would be super fun to do that!
Would you like me to do a makeup look using all of the products I mentioned today?
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