2017 Makeup Favorites
Happy New Year! For my first post of 2018, I wanted to tell you all about my favorite and most-used makeup products of the past year! I'm going to be splitting it up into 3 categories: face, eyes & lips. I hope you enjoy!
*For most of the products I linked to Amazon, which I made sure was an official retailer of the brands I mentioned and not a secondhand seller. I have found the prices on Amazon are much better than those from other websites / stores (even sometimes high-end brands!) The prices listed next to the product are from Ulta, but don't forget to check the Amazon links for a discount! I have bought a lot of makeup from Amazon before and have never had any issues with it.*
Face
E.L.F. Cosmetics Blush & Bronzing Powder $4.00
I love everything about this blush and contour duo! Firstly, I love how compact the packaging is and that there is a mirror included, which is just so convenient. The actual blush/ bronzer has the same quality as a high-end powder duo would. The blush is one of the only blushes I used throughout the entire year, since it has the perfect amount of pigmentation without being too much. It is very blendable and long-wearing, as well. The bronzer side is equivalent in quality. I actually don't use it as a bronzer, instead I use it as an eyeshadow transition shade nearly everyday.
Shade shown: Fiji Matte
Buy it here from Ulta!
Real Techniques Setting Brush $7.79
I honestly didn't expect much from this brush when I bought it on Amazon several months ago for only about $3, but it turned out to be one of the best I have in my collection. This brush is perfect for pretty much anything you need, but I use it to apply both cream/powder highlight. The bristles are stippled, which makes it perfect for applying cream products and having it blend seamlessly into the skin. I have not experienced any shedding or breakage while cleaning it, either. It is so useful and I highly recommend trying it out!
NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator $7.50
I use this highlighter as a base for all other highlighters I wear, whether it is a powder or another liquid. I usually apply it with the Real Techniques setting brush that I just mentioned, but for a more natural look you can apply it with your finger. The tube I have is almost empty and I will definitely be repurchasing it in the future!
Shade Shown:
Sunbeam
Sunbeam
Colourpop Super Shock Highlighter $8.00
Colourpop's Super Shock Highlighter in the shade "Hippo" is my all time favorite highlighter! It is the perfect cool toned icy lilac shade that compliments my pale skin tone really well. This product is great if you want to experiment with colored highlights without having to spend a lot of money (actually that goes for all of Colourpop's products). But if you're not into colored highlighters, then they also have a wide assortment of more traditional shades. I can always count on this highlight for lasting all day and looking the same as it did when I first applied it. It is a very buildable formula and can be applied with the Real Techniques setting brush for a more blinding glow or with your finger for a more subtle look. Regardless of how you apply it, I think it is such an underrated highlighter and is one of my absolute favorites that I'm mentioning in this list!
Shade Shown:
Hippo
Hippo
Buy it here from Colourpop!
Essence Make Me Brow Eyebrow Gel Mascara $2.99
This brow gel is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to fuss too much with their eyebrows, but are looking for more definition to create the illusion of fuller brows. It is so easy to apply and has a fairly long wear-time. The tube may seem to not have too much product in it, but I have been using it consistently for about 6 months and I still haven't run out of it yet. For the price, it really is a great product and one I can definitely see myself repurchasing again and again.
Shade Shown:
Browny Brows 02
Browny Brows 02
Check out my full review here!
Eyes
Colourpop "Yes, Please!" Pressed Powder Shadow Palette $16.00
Not only is this palette my favorite of the year, it is by far my favorite of all time! I have used it every time I did my makeup since I bought it in July and continue to love how my eyeshadow looks when I wear it. All of the shades are very consistent in quality and are all very pigmented and blendable. It feels as if they are announcing a new pressed powder palette everyday, so if you don't like warm-toned eyeshadows, I'm sure you would be able to find another one that suits your taste. I also have the My Little Pony x Colourpop palette, which has the same quality as "Yes, Please!" and all of their other palettes on their website. $16 is a really great price for shadows that perform like high-end shadows. I'm sure this palette will also be included in my 2018 favorites post by the end of the year, as well!
Buy it here from Colourpop!
Check out my full review here!
Colourpop Super Shock Shadows $5.00
The Super Shock Shadows have definitely become a staple in my makeup collection over the past year. I use at least one of the shades I own every time I do my makeup, whether it is as a base shade (my go-to is the matte shade "Brady") or one of the metallic/ shimmer shades for the eyelid. I have never experienced any creasing or fading at all, regardless of what I'm doing that day. I always apply mine with my finger, but they can also be applied with a synthetic brush. This was the first product I ever tried from Colourpop in late 2016 and I have been a huge fan of the brand ever since! They are always coming out with new shades, so I can't wait to see what beautiful colors they come up with next for the Super Shock Shadows!
Shades Shown:
Brady (soft matte dusty rose)
Weenie (ultra-metallic true rose gold // created by Kathleen Lights)
Tinsel (warm mauve with a metallic finish // from the limited edition 2016 holiday collection)
Cherries Jubilee (opalescent pink with hot pink glitter // from the My Little Pony collection)
Sunbeam (cool toned purple with a sparkle finish // from the My Little Pony collection)
Cat Nap (warm copper // from the annual NKLA x Colourpop collection*)
(all shade names in bold are still available!)
*All net profits from the purchase of “Puppy Love,” “Cat Nap,” and/or any Laura Lee x Colourpop product will go towards Best Friends Animal Society®, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. Through their NKLA initiative and all across the country, they’re working to Save Them All®. This is such a great cause and you should definitely pick up something from this collection, if you can!
Shop the full Super Shock Shadow collection here!
Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow $24.00
I rarely buy anything other than drugstore priced makeup, but when the Stila Magnificent Metals launched in the summer, I just knew I had to try one and I definitely don't regret the purchase! This is the easiest way to apply glitter eyeshadow, since it is mess-free, lasts all day on the eye, and has barely any fallout. It is perfect for special occasions, or if you just want to add some sparkle to your eyes! I just use the applicator it comes with for a bolder and more pigmented look, but to tone it down you can dab some on with your finger. I do wish it was a bit cheaper, but it really is an incredible product and worth the splurge.
Shade Shown:
Kitten Karma (Champagne with Silver and Copper sparkle)
Comment below if you know of any drugstore dupes for this product! The only thing I have found that is similar is the NYX Roll On Eye Shimmer, which I haven't seen sold in stores at Ulta for a while so it may be discontinued. I do love the NYX one, but it isn't nearly as long lasting as the Stila one is and there is also so much more fallout, as well.
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara $10.00
This is the only mascara I used for almost all of 2017. I love the thin and spikey wand on this, it gives my lashes an insane amount of length and volume! This isn't completely flake-proof however, and I noticed that once the tube is about 2 months old, the problem gets worse. My mom and I repurchased this mascara several times throughout the year and I will likely continue to do so in 2018!
Shade Shown:
Blackest Black (there isn't really a difference between any of the shades, though)
Comment below some of your favorite drugstore mascaras, I'm open to trying anything!
EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Set $6.99
These double sided brushes are so convenient and saved me so much space and money buying them! I bought it on Amazon for less than $5, not knowing how much I was going to love them. The brushes themselves are really high quality and I don't find that they fray or get damaged when they are standing up straight in a cup with my other brushes. I use all four sides of regularly and have seen that they all apply and blend the shadows very well. My favorite and most-used one is the blending brush. It was difficult for me to find a blending brush that wasn't too dense and wasn't too tapered, but this is the perfect medium. I use the smudge brush to apply shadows to my lower lash line. The definer brush is perfect for filling in your eyebrows or doing eyeliner. The shader brush is what I usually use to apply shimmer shades to my lids, which disperses the pigment really well. The brushes are made really well and feel like they are going to hold up for years and years.
Lips
Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick $17.00
The Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick in the shade "Candy K" is easily my most used lip product of 2017. I bought it in late 2016 and haven't stopped wearing it since. I'm actually surprised I haven't run out of it yet! The hype around Kylie and her brand may make you stray away from trying anything, but it really is worth the money. It lasts all day on my lips without reapplication, even after eating and drinking. It can be a bit drying, but as long as I moisturize my lips before application and when I take it off at the end of the day, I don't have any issues. Whenever I travel, I always bring this lipstick with me, because I know that it will match with all of my outfits/ makeup looks I wear that day. I haven't tried any of her other matte liquid lipsticks, but I hope to soon!
I bought the Matte Liquid Lipstick Single, instead of the $29 Lip Kit, because it is a better value than spending essentially $12 on just a lip liner. There are plenty of shade dupes from the drugstore for every lip liner she sells, so if you are looking to save some money, then I recommend doing that! The perfect lip liner dupe I found is the Essence lip liner in the shade 06 satin mauve, which can be found at Ulta for $1-2. I always see Kylie dupes on Pinterest, so you can always check that out for more recommendations!
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick $18.00
I have been a big fan of Jeffree Star for a few years and have been wanting to try out something from his brand. I made my first purchase in September when he had an end of summer sale with everything 40% off, making the liquid lipstick only $11 with free shipping! I absolutely loved the formula of the Velour Liquid Lipstick in the shade Calabasas and I couldn't wait to try out more shades. I later bought Poinsettia when the Holiday Glitter Collection launched in early December. It is a beautiful red metallic shade that lasts all day without reapplication, even with eating and drinking. It is definitely one of the best metallic lipsticks I have ever tried. Poinsettia is the perfect shade for the holidays, but I will definitely still use it year-round! Also, I cant forget to mention that the glitter packaging is so gorgeous too! The formula for these lipsticks is so incredible and is a must buy if you are looking for a comfortable long-wear liquid lipstick.
Shades Shown:
Calabasas (2017 Summer Chrome Collection // no longer available)
Poinsettia (2017 Holiday Glitter Collection)
Shop the full Velour Liquid Lipstick Collection here from Jeffree Star Cosmetics!
Check out my full review of the Velour Liquid Lipsticks & Lip Ammunition here!
Check out my full review of the Velour Liquid Lipsticks & Lip Ammunition here!
Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick $24.00
With wearing such a bold color, it is crucial to have a lipstick that stays on all day without smudging or wearing away quickly. I have heard great things about the formula from so many of my favorite YouTubers, one of them being Andréa Matillano in particular. The shade was created last year by YouTuber Lilly Singh in partnership with Smashbox, and it is really the perfect shade of red that will look beautiful on every skin tone. One day I wanted to see how long I could wear it for without reapplication and I was so surprised by the results! I put it on around 8 a.m. and had it on until after 11 p.m. when I washed my face. Granted, it didn't look 100% perfect at the very end of the day, but it was definitely didn't look terrible and was still very wearable. I don't find the formula to be drying for my lips, either. If you love wearing red lipstick as much as I do, then this is a must-have!
Shade Shown:
Wet 'n' Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick $4.99
Although I have mentioned a few l high-end liquid lipsticks, don't think that you need to pay high prices for a high quality product. This Wet 'n' Wild liquid lipstick is definitely one of the best I have ever tried, regardless of how much it costs. I have mentioned this product in a few posts before, and each time I rave about how long lasting and comfortable it is to wear. Wet 'n' Wild has been coming out with so many amazing products lately, this being one of them!
Shade Shown:
Give Me Mocha
Jordana EasyLiner Retractable Lip Liner $2.49
I love that this Jordana lip liner is retractable, so you never have the issue of your lip liner not being sharp enough and not having a sharpener on hand. The quality of it is so amazing, with the perfect consistency that makes for an effortless application. I love to wear darker lipsticks, and I could never find the perfect lip liner that was the tone and shade I was looking for. The shade "Cabernet" is exactly what I had in mind! Walgreens is the only store I have seen that sells Jordana, but if you ever come across this brand elsewhere, it is worth checking out! I have tried a few other things from them that I love, as well.
Shade Shown:
NYX Liquid Suede Metallic Cream Lipstick $7.49
I have been on the search for the best metallic liquid lipstick from the drugstore and I think I finally found it! This NYX lipstick stays on significantly longer than so many other metallic lipsticks have. As I previously mentioned, the only metallic liquid lipstick formula that compares is the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in the shade Poinsettia. Other than that, nothing else stays on for longer than a couple of hours. It dries down fully matte with little transfer, something that is rare for metallic lipsticks to do. I wore this so much during the fall and winter and I'm going to continue to use it all the time! I wear it either on its own or paired with the Wet 'n' Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss in the shade "Rose Gold" (mentioned next!), which just adds a bit more of a metallic shine.
Shade Shown:
Bella (deep reddish copper)
Buy it here from Ulta!
Wet n Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss $1.99
I have been using this lip gloss long before the metallic trend was popular and when it was the only remotely metallic lip product available. It looks beautiful on its own, or paired on top of a lipstick. I have recently been putting this on top of the NYX Liquid Suede Metallic Cream Lipstick in the shade "Bella", which I just mentioned above. I have gone through several tubes of this in the past and will continue to repurchase it! I usually buy it at either 5 Below or Walgreens.
Shade Shown:
Rose Gold
Buy it here at Walgreens!
Thank you so much for checking out my blog and I hope you come back soon for more posts! I have so many ideas for what to write about this year, so make sure to subscribe so you never miss anything! Comment below and let me know what some of your favorites were from 2017 & what you think of mine. Happy New Year! ♡
-Melissa
♡follow me! @melkacar♡
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