2015 Favorites in Beauty

Here’s is my favorite beauty and skincare products from 2015. Not all of these came out in 2015 I’m sure but they were products I consistently reached for throughout the year. It’s gonna be a long post so grab a snack and settle in.

Skincare.

I’ve been loving the trend of activated charcoal products. I tried a few brands throughout the year but the Biore range is the one I kept coming back to. Their products are gentle yet effective. I’ve actually seen improvement in my pores and the black head situation with all the irritation of Salicylic Acid which wrecks havoc on my skin because of my rosacea.

The Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser is my daily face wash, it has a nice smooth thick texture and refreshing menthol. I really like using the cleanser with this Konjac Cleansing Sponge from Juliep. My skin has never felt so smooth and clean. Blackheads and texture are always going to be my challenge but its situation has improved greatly with these products. They’re also quite affordable and available at the drugstore.

2 or 3 times a week I use the Charcoal Pore Minimizer to smooth and exfoliate as well.

 

I’ve used a number of moisturizers in the past year but my hands down favorite facial moisturizer in 2015 has been The Algenist Sublime Defense Anti-Aging Blurring Moisturizer SPF 30.  This stuff. It’s pricey but worth it? Quite possibly. I’ve never come across a product quite like it. The closest thing I can compare it to would be a primer with SPF 30, however, you’re average primer doesn’t tend to contain skincare as well. This stuff is kind of magical if you ask me. I’m looking forward to trying out more products from Algenist in the coming year. I’m going to have a full review of this coming soon.

Primers!

I was all about some primers this year.

 

The NYX Honey Dew Me Up, I picked this up on a whim purely because it looked cool, had gold flecks and was made with honey. I didn’t expect much but it actually does something pretty nice for my skin. It leaves it feeling hydrated and healthy. It has a gel-like formula with soaks into your skin and leaves it feeling very slightly tacky. I feel like my foundation just wears better when I use it. This is one of those products that fall somewhere between a primer and skincare. Though it is somewhat more expensive for an NYX product, it’s worth and you can always catch a sale at Ulta.

Is it just me or have NYX’s prices gone up a bit with the new products they have released?

The Revlon Photoready primer came into play later in 2015 thanks to a recommendation from a fellow beauty blogger and I’ve been loving it since I picked it up, such a lovely texture.

 

These next two primers are somewhat interchangeable if you ask me. The elf Mineral Face Primer and The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. In my opinion, they are virtually the same product. They have the same silicone texture on the skin which leaves it smooth and silky feeling. They look exactly the same, both being a thick clear gel. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you the difference at the end of the day aside from the price. They both do exactly what they claim to me and work great.

Eye Primers.

Again, it’s a smack down between elf and Smashbox in this category too for me. However, these two products aren’t quite as interchangeable. While I reach for the elf Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer on a daily basis because on an average day it gets the job done, I prefer the Smashbox for the special occasions when I want my shadow to look last like nobodies business. My shadow doesn’t budge with the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer, and it leaves a nice smooth texture that’s not at all drying like some primers I have tried this year.

Concealer, Foundation and Setting Powder

I can’t say I’m amazed by the NYX Dark Circle Concealer, however, I have consistently used it throughout the year on days when my undereye has needed a little help. The fact that I have grabbed for it so much makes me want to include it on my list. It must be doing something I like. LOL.

I also like to use it as a spot concealer on blemishes. Does great on that because of it’s thick texture.

My Foundation and concealer holy grails this year, as I’ve mentioned before are Nars All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation in conjunction with Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and the Light Reflecting Pressed Powder. These 3 are my ride or die perfect skin for hours on end combination.

On the other hand, I absolutely love the Revlon Photo Ready Airbrush Foundation with the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and the Revlon Photo Ready Finishing Powder. It’s my favorite everyday combination.

Check out my reviews:

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation, Concealer and Powder Review

Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation Review and Demo

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation, Concealer and Powder Review

Another powder I loved this year was the elf HD Powder. I have the radiant or brightening formula and the original kind that’s matte white. I reached for both of these quite a bit throughout the year, especially the radiant one.

Sorry about the containers being such a mess. They are well loved. lol.

Moving on to some more luxurious finishing powders, hands down my favorite are the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. Worth the hype, yes. They are magical.

Brows on Fleek!

No surprise here, my brow products of the year are definitely the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe, the NYX Micro Brow in Taupe and Ash Brown, and the NYX Brow Mascara. These are the products to transform your brows. I can’t say enough good things.

Blushing Cheeks

Again, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes have been a favorite. They are just stunning.

Not far behind are the Milani Baked Blushes. A great drugstore alternative to the Hourglass Blushes and absolutely beautiful colors and finish. I used the hell out of Berry Amore this year.

 

You can’t talk about blushes without mentioning Tarte’s 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blushes. Wonderful Staying Power and a wide array of shades and finishes. I reached for mine quite a bit this year for sure.

Contour!!!

Hands down. Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette was my best friend this year. The quality and colors. It is everything you need in a contour palette.

Kat Von D Shade+Light Contour Palette Review and Demo

NYX Blush in Taupe. If you are fair, you need this in your life. It’s the perfect cool tone shade to create a natural shadow on fair skin. It’s always going to get lots of use from me.

 

Lastly for contour, the Wet N Wild Coloricon Contouring Palette. Such a great texture, and natural results. I grab for this so much when I just want something quick and easy.

For more on how I use these products check out this post:

Contouring for the Porcelain Featuring Nyx, Tarte, and Wet n Wild

Bronzer

I never thought I would actually blog about bronzers and actually liking them, yet here we are thanks to Nikki Tutorials showing me us fair gals can bronze too.

 

Firstly, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Light. Perfection. It’s everything I could want from a bronzer. So natural and brings just the right amount of warmth.

 

In the earlier part of the year and during the summer, the Physicians Formula BB Bronze Booster was my go to. I still reach for him quite a bit (because I don’t want to waste my hourglass one)

Highlighters, the year of the Strobe.

This whole calling Highlighting Strobing like it was something totally different was the dumbest thing. It was straight up re-branding something we already do! But I digress.

Still my favorite highlighters of the whole year where the elf Baked Highlighter. I tried others throughout the year but these remained my faves.

If I was in the mood a more subtle highlight (yeah right) I went for the Hourglass Lighting Powder in Iridescent Light. Not quite as strong as the elf ones and more refined.

Eyeshadows

The Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette has been the backbone of just about all my looks this year. It’s such a great palette to always have on hand. I know it looks kinda of boring, matte neutral shades but it’s far more versatile and handy to have than I ever thought it would be. You can create dramatic looks to simple everyday looks. I’ll have a full review soon.

Another palette I reached for a lot this year was the Naked 2. I used it on myself and clients alike quite a bit for creating dramatic evening looks. It’s another great palette to have on hand. It leans a bit on the cool side but still has shades that will work for multiple skin tones and is versatile as well.

Mascara

The Lancome Hypnose Drama is a mascara I reached for so much this year. It has such a nice formula and wand. I love it so much. I need to go through more of my mascaras so I can get another one of these without feeling guilty. lol.

My other go to on the reg was the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara. This one is my go-to for every day.

On the occasions, I wanted all the lashy drama I used the L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar Mascara. It brings all the oomph and drama one could want from a mascara and it’s affordably being from the drugstore.

Voluminous Superstar Mascara By L’Oreal Review and Demo

Eye Liner

I used a ton of different liners during 2015 but none were really anything to write home about.

That being said I really loved this trio from Tarte because the shades were unique and the formula is really nice. I have yet to come across a smoky purple liner and gray quite like these. I have the urge to repurchase them already just so I can have backups.

Lippies

Milani Lipsticks, especially the shade Rose Femme. It’s lovely light mauve shade. I remember using it a lot during the spring and summer. On a whole, this is a great line of lipstick and a pretty good price as well. I purchased most my Milani stuff at Super 1 which is a grocery store here in the southern states. Some reason they have a better selection of Milani then our drugstore do.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Archangel was my go-to red for the later part of the year. I love the texture and shade. It’s so long lasting and matte as with all of the Studded Kiss Lipsticks in the line.

I have to say, Kat Von D was one of the most consistently great brands in 2015. I cannot wait to see what she has for us this year.

I know this one isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I really love the Honey Stick lip gloss from Kardashian Beauty in the shade Black Berry Honey. I’m a sucker for a deep purple lip gloss for one and the pair it with honey and bee stuff I’m sold!

 

Back to my go to red lipsticks, another one would have to be Nose for Style from the MAC Haute Dog Collection. It’s a deep but very wearable red. I loved it for the fall paired with the Auburn Lip Liner from MAC as well. It was what I wore on my wedding day in fact.

A couple more nudes I loved last year were Viva Glam II from MAC and Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. I think 2015 was the first year I really embraced the nude lip and I’m so glad I did.

 

 

And finally, for lips this year, I used the hell out of Vampira from the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick range. Love it.

Beauty Tools

Real Techniques and Sonja Kasuk won me over for value and quality you can’t do much better. I’m still building up my collection with these two brands almost exclusively.

And lastly, my number 1 favorite fragrance of 2015 was by far Honey By Marc Jacobs and will probably be my favorite until I get my hands on Guerlain’s Mon Precieux Nectar. One day it will be mine. LOL.

Anyway, that concludes my favorite beauty products of 2015! Phew, and I edited that list down. LOL.

 

Thanks for stopping by! Don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more!

Bee Beautiful. Bee You.