The previous year is not truly over until Chinese New Year is. At least, that's how I bargain for more time to publish posts that should've happened at the end of the year but the blues got to me and all I wanted to do was crawl under my blanket and wait for the last moments to pass hahaha. It's a brand new year now and I'm ready to talk about last year! HAHA. Here's a list of my 16 favorite beauty products of 2016!
I tried very hard to find links for all items, but some are not listed on Amazon. Those that are, I'll link them below. 🙂
1. Make Up Store Primer
Primer in powder form! 😀 I've shared my adoration for this powder primer numerous times on my Dayre (@bunbunmakeutips). I've been using this every single day since I had it, I have one at home and keep another at my workplace. Sensitive skin like mine rejects primers with dimethicone, anything that feels like dimethicone will prompt clogged pores, no matter how thoroughly I cleanse my face. So far, this has been the only primer that doesn’t make my skin itch nor cause any negative reaction.
2. Make Up Store Blush
Besides the gorgeous diamond-studded push button and sturdy case, the blush shade and highlighter are what make me reach out for this palette more often than I think I do. The blush provides a natural coral flush to the cheeks and having the highlight shade in the same palette means one less step to take in my makeup routine.
3. Clio Kill Cover Stamping Foundation
If having 3 backups of Clio Kill Cover Stamping Foundation Set 004, Bo Ginger doesn’t say enough about my obsession, I don’t know what else does. In absolute dollars, it’s not that expensive at SGD $39.90, however it contains a lot less product than a regular liquid foundation so each tub lasts me just a few months from daily use. Despite that, I’d gladly stick to this coz it gives pretty good coverage for my innumerous blemishes while staying lightweight on my skin.
Find it here:
I wrote a review and comparison post on my Favorite Foundations & Concealers, go check it out! 🙂
4. Eglips Blur Powder Pact & Oil Cut Powder Pact
Pony featured the Blur Powder Pact several times in her makeup tutorials, I wanted to give it a try but couldn’t find it in Singapore. By a stroke of luck, I managed to find it while shopping in Taipei. The black one (Blur) blurs out my pores and makes my skin look like silk, but the effect doesn’t last as long as the white one. The white one (Oil Cut), as the name suggests, helps to reduce the appearance of oily skin, but has a slight veil of white. In that respect, I think I prefer the white one, if only by just a little more. To keep the shine off my face for as long as possible, loose powders don’t really work. Yet, I do not like powder compacts as they make oily skin look cakey. So translucent powders in compact form work best for me!
Find them here:
Eglips Blur Powder Pact All Skin Type (#21) - Amazon's Choice
5. Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Concealer
You can use peach to combat blueness, green to combat redness, blue to brighten, but on most days, ain't nobody got time for that. I prefer something that I can use on-the-go without a brush and a universal shade that can conceal my blemishes, regardless of their color or condition and Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Concealer does it for me.
This concealer is another product I use on a daily basis and is included in my list of Favorite Foundations & Concealers.
Find it here:
6-9. Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color
I have Immortal, Angel, Twilight, Spirit – all in satin finish, and they’re the creamiest, most easy to glide and blend, and most long-lasting eyeshadow pencils ever. Twilight or Spirit normally go as all-over-lid shades, Immortal for definition at the outer corner, and Angle on the inner corner to brighten the eye. I haven’t tested them for the full 24 hours they claim to last, but they do stay on for as long as I want them to, perfect for oily lids. They’re super convenient as I can easily apply them with (clean) fingers. I’d love them more if they came with a twist-up mechanism, but it’s not that much of a hassle to sharpen them once every few months.
Find them here:
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Immortal
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Spirit
10. Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner
I brought the Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner on a trip with me and was impressed on first application at how easily a firm and accurate line can be drawn with it. It’s not as harsh as other brown eyeliners and I like to use it when I want just a hint of outline of the eye. I used to wear only black eyeliner so much I did an in-depth analysis of 15 Black Liquid Eyeliners Tried & Tested. In recent years I have grown to like brown too.
11. Clio Kill Brow All Day Tattoo Cara
My brows are naturally dark, so I tint them brown with Clio Kill Brow All Day Tattoo Cara to soften the harshness and complement my hair color. I use No. 1 Natural Brown when my hair is dyed darker and No. 2 Light Brown when I go lighter.
Find it here:
12. Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner
Gosh, I simply gathered 16 favorites for this post without realizing 5 are from Clio – that’s 31%! As you can probably tell, I’m a big fan of Clio. And desperately loyal to products that works for me since my skin is so picky and temperamental. 😥
Okie, so this is probably my 5th repurchase of Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner in Dark Choco. I loved Dark Choco so much I thought the other shades would be as fantastic so when my girlfriend went to Korea, I got her to buy the entire range for me. Unfortunately, I ended up only liking 3 of them. Dark Choco is a warm, dark brown with gold shimmer, and glides on beautifully. It’s a bit difficult to achieve a super sharp wing - for that I leave to #14 Kat Von D Tattoo Liner - so I usually apply this on the lower lash line for definition.
Get it here:
13. Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil
I think why this brow pencil is called goof proof is because it’s impossible to goof up with it. It’s extremely easy to shape and define with a pencil tip that is creamy but not ink on the brows too much. Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil is a little pricey, but it's good stuff. And I just bought another backup because I'm paranoid about makeup like that.
14. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
I wondered what all the fuss was about this eyeliner, until I tried it myself and this month I bought backups for Kat Von D Tattoo Liner Trooper (ultra black) and Kat Von D Tattoo Liner Max Brown (rich brown). ‘Nuff said. No, actually I’d like to say more hahaha. It is waterproof, doesn’t transfer and you can achieve the sharpest of wings with the precise brush tip.
15. Raffles Hotel Passionate
I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a perfume before since I’m not a huge fan of fragrances, but this I really, really love! The floral scent is not overpowering or choking, but enough so that I feel sexy and sophisticated when I wear it. Mr Mode loves it on me too.
16. Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush
Okie last one for the year! I reviewed the Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush just one month into using it and I take back what I said about not being in love with this blush. I AM NOW. I think the key is to use the little brush that comes with it. Because it is Dior, the little brush shouldn't be thrown out and it is actually more nifty than a regular blush as the bristles imbibe just the right amount of product to be dispensed on the skin.
Get it here:
Yay! I'm done! So these are my favorite beauty products for 2016. Most, if not all of them, will definitely be used in 2017 still. No reason to discard a Holy Grail until the next one takes it place. Hope you enjoyed reading and let me know if any of these were/are your favorites too! 😀
