Top Makeup Products of 2016!

I decided that I wanted to share with you my favourite makeup products of 2016, but I wanted to add a bit of a spin to it. I went through my makeup drawers and picked my favourite product from each category ie foundation, concealer etc. This was by far one of the hardest decisions to make as I have been loving a few products from each category, especially when it came to lipsticks! I eventually knuckled it down and picked my favourite products of 2016. Let’s jump straight in!

Base

Primer: Stila One Step Correct- Skin Tone Correcting and Brightening Serum

This primer is amazing for neutralising my skin tone as my skin can get quite red at times. It is also quite hydrating and smooth on the skin. It doesn’t feel like it has silicon in it, which is a bonus and it does help make my make up last longer!

Foundation: Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous - Shade 105

Ahhh, this foundation quickly became my ride or die this year. It is oil free with a natural finish which makes my skin look like skin once this is applied. It lasts beautifully all day, doesn’t get oily or transfer and is a breeze to blend products on top of. I have been using this religiously and have even bought a shade for when I’m tanned. I highly recommend this!!

Concealer: Too Faced Born This Way Concealer - Light

This concealer carried quite a hype when it was first released and it is easy to see why. It is full coverage, light weight, blendable and doesn’t crease. Everything you want in a concealer, right? I’m still on the same bottle that I bought about 6 months ago, meaning a little goes a long way. For the price, you’d want it to last ages!

Setting Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte – Translucent

I’m pretty sure this powder is on almost every girl’s favourites list. I have used this for years and I don’t plan to stop any time soon. I use this all over the face to set foundation and keep it matte as it doesn't leave a white cast, cause flashback or lighten my foundation. I also use this to bake under my eyes for the same reasons and because it doesn’t crease. I think this is my 4th container of this. I love it, so cheap too!

Bronzer: Essence Sun Club Bronzer Blondes – 01 Natural

Another product I’ve used forever and loved. This is a matte, light toned bronzer which actually leaves your skin looking sun kissed and not orange! I get a lighter shade in this so I can build it myself and for the occasions where I’m a little pasty. It leaves a gorgeous glow, without being patchy or sheer. I prefer it over some of my high end bronzers!

Contour: Maybelline Master Sculpt – 02 Medium Dark

This product is the perfect contour shade as it is an ash brown which helps to mimic shadows under the cheek bone. I hate orange toned contour powders as it looks fake and muddy. I’ve always gravitated towards ash tones and this one is amazing. It looks as natural as contour is going to look without leaving the face muddy or like a stripe down your face. Highly recommend trying this product to step up your contour game!

Blush: Max Factor Crème Puff Blush – 15 Seductive Pink

This blush is a dupe for the Hourglass blush range and to be honest, I’d rather use this one. It’s cheaper and incredibly gorgeous. This shade is a natural pink, which leaves your cheeks looking rosy and natural without being too pink or noticeable. It has a very very slight shimmer to it to leaving the cheeks with a natural finish as opposed to a flat matte look. I love this that much that I bought a few of the other shades. Gorgeous!

Highlight: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - Champagne Pop

We all know why this highlighter is on the list! It is the most insanely pigmented, cheek poppin’, glow slaying highlighter ever, created by the stunning Jaclyn Hill (watch her if you don’t already!) This shade is a peach/golden tone which complements ANY makeup look you create. You NEED this in your collection. Becca highlighters are stunning!

Setting Spray: Gerard Cosmetics Slay All Day - Cucumber

I’ve used a range of setting sprays this year with many mixed reviews on whether they take the title or not. I picked this one up at IMATS about month ago and have been addicted to it ever since. This stuff does make your make up stay on all day. It does not budge! When paired with the perfect primer, you've got yourself a face that will definitely Slay All Day!

Eyes:

Eyebrows: NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder – Dark

It was a daring choice for me to try this product this year as I have sworn by brow pencils and pomades, but I’m so glad I did! I love how powders allow for a more natural finish and don’t leave the brows looking sharp and over defined. This powder allows for a natural gradient at the beginning of the brow and fills in the spaces quite opaquely through the brow. This powder can also be built up for a darker defined brow or used sparingly for a natural finish!

Ardell Clear Brow Gel

Once this product is on, your brows aren’t going anywhere! This is a heavy duty brow gel that locks those hairs into place all day without the wet look or the stiff feeling. Plus, it’s incredibly affordable!

Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Chocolate Bar, Morphe 35O & Personalised MUG Palette

How can I possibly pick one eyeshadow palette to be my favourite for the entire year?! Top three was the best I could do, plus it’s my own spin on this so I’m allowed to break the rules!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette not only smells divine, it is divine! There is a gorgeous selection of shadows, both matte and shimmer. I love the addition of the two bigger shadows, perfect for lid colour/setting and eyebrow highlight. I’ve been loving the browns, the big shadows and the rose gold lately, but have dappled into the burgundy’s and gold’s on occasions. These are incredibly pigmented and buttery and blend out seamlessly.

Morphe 35O has been a cult favourite in the beauty world over the last few months causing me to see what all the fuss was about. I’m so glad I picked up this palette! The shade range is stunning, containing warm oranges, red and browns with several cool tone shades mixed in. Some shades I’d never use but I have used at least 75% of the palette already. This is perfect travelling palette with its range and it is also highly pigmented and easy to blend which makes loving it that much easier. Keen to try out some more Morphe palettes next year!

Lastly, my personalised MUG palette. I love my Makeup Geek shadows as they are high quality, highly pigmented smooth shadows that look stunning on the eyes. I always seem to gravitate towards this palette when I’m not sure what look to create as I’ll always find a shade I want in here. There are so many more shades I want to add to this collection to finish the palette off. If you haven’t tried these shadows, I highly recommend you do. They are very affordable and totally worth it!

Cream Eyeshadow: Colourpop Super Shock Shadow – Puppy Love

I’m a massive fan of all my Colourpop shades which made it hard to choose just one for this category. I decided to go with the most used as I’ve obviously been loving it enough to constantly pick it up. This shadow is a light pink/gold shade which looks gorgeous on the inner corner or brow bone. I have used it as a highlighter before which also looked amazing. This product is a cream to powder, incredibly opaque and easy to apply. I recommend using your finger for the best colour pay off.

Pigment: Mac Pigment - Melon

Can we take a minute to appreciate how gorgeous this pigment is! This was an easy pick for me as I have used it so much this year. It's simple enough for a day time look or can be glammed up for a stunning night time look too. The pigment reflects orangey gold, which catches the lights and just looks so stunning! So glad the pots are so big of these, I’ll never run out!

Eyeliner: Too Faced Sketch Marker – Brown

I’m not a huge eyeliner fan and have probably worn eyeliner about 10 times throughout the year but considering I have to choose one, this is my choice. It is the most pigmented, easy to apply liner I’ve used. Others I’ve tried aren’t opaque enough or take the colour off when trying to apply it, or more annoyingly dry out after a few uses. This one is going strong and looks stunning when applied.

Lashes: Ardell Glamour Wispies

These lashes make me feel like a Kardashian, they are that fluttery and luscious. They aren't too long that they touch my eyebrows and aren’t too thick that you can't see the eyeshadow. They add the right amount of volume and length making them the perfect addition to any makeup look!

Mascara: Benefit Roller Lash

One thing I ask myself about this mascara is, WHY DID I FIND THIS SOONER?! There is nothing to fault about this product. The wand is plastic and gets into every single lash and combs the product on evenly without looking clumpy or spidery. It lasts all day, doesn’t smudge or flake and lasts through tears! I wear contacts so my eyes are constantly watering, but the mascara holds up and doesn’t move. This is my holy grail!!

Lips:

Liquid Lipstick: Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip - Alyssa

The ultra satin formula is by far my favourite liquid lipstick formula. It isn’t drying or thick and leaves a natural finish on the lips. This colour is a perfect day time shade which I have been wearing for months since I picked it up. This formula lasts all day too!

Matte Lipstick: Kylie Cosmetics – Koko K

I love the Kylie Cosmetics lip range and to pick just one favourite was hard so once again I chose to go with the shade I’ve worn the most. This is the perfect subtle pink shade for when you want to wear lipstick without being OTT. I love pairing this with a nude gloss for a night time glam look or with the corresponding gloss for a subtle day time look. This product lasts all day, throughout eating and drinking and you barely have to touch it up. It contains a light weight formula that is non drying or flaking too!

Gloss: Nyx Intense Butter Gloss – Tres Leche

This gloss has been my ride or die lately. The shade is everything! It is a gorgeous subtle pink shade that is perfect to pop on when running out the door for a little something on the lips. I’ve never been a huge gloss fan, but ever since I got this I just can’t seem to put it down. I ended up purchasing a few more shades from the Intense Butter Gloss range too!

Bullet Lipstick: Mac Blankety

This was my first ever Mac lipstick and it is still one of my faves. It is a beautiful nude pink shade that complements any make up look! It is so creamy and opaque and looks amazing on. This lipstick doesn’t last all day through eating and drinking, although it is easy enough to reapply and it is too pretty not too. So in love with this shade!

L-R: Kylie Cosmetics - Koko K, NYX - Tres Leche, Colourpop - Alyssa & Mac - Blankety

Tools:

Sponge: Beauty Blender Pro & Blush. Real Techniques Mini Miracle Eraser Sponge

How could I possibly pick just one when I use all of them in my daily makeup application. I love the Beauty Blender Pro (pink) for a seamless finish to any makeup look. It makes sure the foundation isn’t cakey, has streaks or is unblended. It does a great job at blending cream products together with the foundation too. The Beauty Blender Blush is the perfect size for baking under the eyes and setting my highlighted areas as the sponge is softer and squisher than its pink variation. The RT Mini Miracle Eraser sponges are the perfect size and density for blending under eye concealer and cream contour products as they fit into the crevices and are gentle around those delicate areas on the face.

Brush: Sigma E40, Real Techniques Blush Brush, XOBeauty Blush & JessUp Tapered Face Brush

Once again, how could I choose just one?

These brushes are amazing for blending out product without looking muddy, cakey or patchy. They all are incredibly soft, high quality and have been holy grail brushes of mine for years. The Sigma E40 is excellent at blending transition shades and diffusing product on the lid and in the crease. Unfortunately, my E40 is starting to shed which makes me sad that I’ll have to break in a new brush. Let’s hope it lasts another year! The RT Blush brush is perfect for bronzing up the face as the tapered end ensure precise product placement. The XOBeauty Blush brush is great for applying blush as the angled end aligns with the face for perfect product application whilst blending it in seamlessly. Lastly, the JessUp Tapered face brush is the perfect softness and size for applying powder all over the face without leaving the face cakey or too much powder in one spot!

I hope you enjoyed my top makeup products for 2016. I'd love to know in the comments what your thoughts on these products are and what are your top products for 2016. I wish you all the best in 2017, thank you for all your support on my blog in 2016. I can't wait to see what 2017 brings!

Speak soon,

Ashlee Louise

Xo

#topmakeupproducts2016