Jan
2020
Looking back and moving forward: Products I’m taking with me into 2020
Happy New Year!
I can’t believe it’s already the first day of 2020. So many things have happened in the last decade and the last 20 years (heck, I can still remember 1999 and Y2K!). Even though it feels like I’ve been doing this my whole life, I actually started this blog back in 2011 and have been posting three times a week since then for nine years. Nine whole years, over 1,300 posts, and thousands of makeup products later.
Although my makeup collection has grown considerably since I’ve started doing this (and that of my friends and family since I can’t possibly keep every single product that comes my way), i’ve had the great fortune to try a lot of products. I try not to take this whole blogging thing for granted, since although I have a full-time job to support myself, it’s this blog that truly ignites a passion in me and has given me so many opportunities over the past decade.
Although I’ve tried so many different beauty products over the last decade, there have been a few that has stood out to me, even now as we are heading into 2020. Today’s post is going to act like a throw back, both in terms of items I’ve loved and images of a much younger – and less glamorous – me. I’m not going to go over every category of makeup products, but I’m going to do a few which have really stood out to me.
Favourite foundations
I have collected so many foundations over the years and still have a lot of them actually sitting in my makeup dresser. Although I have enjoyed most of them, there are a few that really stand out to me in being quite stellar.
On the higher end of things, NARS Sheer Glow (C$63) definitely makes the list of top foundations I have ever tried. This is the only foundation that I have actually restocked on after becoming a blogger (I say this because as you guys know, I get a lot of products sent to me, therefore I don’t really need to buy anything).
This foundation gives you gorgeous glowing skin and is a medium coverage, but can easily be built up to full.
If you are looking for a true full-coverage foundation, then Marc Jacobs Beauty re(Marc)able (C$70) is the way to go. Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full-Cover Foundation Concentrate is a lightweight foundation concentrate that promises to deliver 24 hours of full-coverage wear. The oil-free formula contains twice as much pigment as other leading full-coverage foundation and it’s infused with innovative ingredients that completely cover your complexion.
On the drugstore side of things, I think CoverGirl’s TruBlend Matte Made (C$11.97) is a great choice to pick up. This foundation came out last year and I was actually invited to the Canadian launch party in Toronto for it, so it has a special place in my heart. Nostalgia aside, the matte full-coverage foundation offers up an impressive 40 shades, making it possible to find your perfect match, no matter the skin tone. It has a full-coverage matte finish that will last on your skin all day without any transfer.
I also really love Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless (C$8.96), which is a medium-to-full coverage foundation that blurs pores and controls shine, leaving your skin looking flawless and matte. This one is also available in 40 shades, making it easy to find the perfect one to fit your skin tone.
Favourite mascaras
When it comes to mascaras, they either work for you or they don’t. Another thing I’ve learned with mascaras is that just because it’s a C$40 mascara doesn’t mean that it will be any better than a C$10 one.
When it comes to the higher-end of things, I have to say that Too Faced Better Than Sex (C$32) is my all-time faves, period. I talk about this mascara a lot and compare most new mascaras I get to this one. This mascara also seemed to start of trend of the hourglass wand, and I can’t tell you how many dupes of this I’ve tried, with all but one not even coming close to this one.
The hourglass wand on this mascara combined with the formula really help to make lashes stand out. I’ve tried so many different mascaras over the years that have tried to emulate this wand, but there is just something about this one, that makes your lashes so breathtaking.
Some other notable faves in the more luxury column include Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume mascara (C$34), Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Volume 2, and Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! (C$30).
When it comes to drugstore, my hands-down fave has to be L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara, which just so happens to be the drugstore dupe of Too Faced Better Than Sex. This mascara features an hourglass-shaped soft wavy bristle brush for volume and lash length. The brush is packed with over 200 bristles which allows you to hold the maximum amount of formula and catch every lash for a bright look. Application is a breeze and it promises volume in one coat.
Other notable favourites are pretty much every CoverGirl mascara, with my favourite probably being the Super Sizer Fibers, Total Tease, and really the majority of their LashBlast mascaras.
Favourite lipsticks
When it comes to lipsticks, I probably have over 500 of them. If you count my entire blogging career, then definitely over 1,000.
I’m actually quite picky when it comes to lipsticks and although I have gotten to try every single formula and every single shade, I tend to stick to my tried and true favourites, a nude matte liquid lipstick. This formula stays on your lips all day, doesn’t budge, and the nude shade I find to be the most flattering with my skin tone.
So the brand that has stood out to me the most? I would actually have to say Kylie Cosmetics are probably one of the best matte liquid lipsticks out there. I would love to say that the brand has sent me PR, but until that day happens, I’ve actually purchased all these myself, and considering how many lipsticks I get sent often, that truly means a lot.
If you are looking for something more accessible (although if you are in the states, you can find Kylie Cosmetics at Ulta), then the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink lipsticks (C$9.96) are also a great choice. These matte liquid lipsticks are available in a ton of different shades and give you intense matte colour in a single stroke.
The brush on these is a pointed doe foot applicator, which means that no liner is needed. The brush tip is easily used to line the lips then use the flat part to fill them in. You get pigmented colour in one go and dries down quite quickly. i will note though that for the most part you don’t feel the product on the lips, however, there will be a slight tackiness in the inner lip area a few hours after you apply them. The best part is, these REALLY stay on your lips. I have never tried anything even remotely close to these in terms of longevity.
Other notable faves
Favourite makeup sponge: Fenty Beauty Precision Makeup Sponge
Favourite powder: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Finishing Powder and Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking and Setting Powder
Favourite eyeliner: Fenty Beauty Flyliner and Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
Favourite eyeshadow palette: Morphe x Jaclyn Hill palette
Favourite bronzer: Stila All Day Bronzer for Face and Bronzer
Favourite highlighter: Fenty Beauty Freestyle Highlighter and Becca Champagne Pop
Favourite setting spray: Too Faced Festival Retouch Spray
Favourite lip gloss: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer
Favourite lip liner: Kylie Cosmetics Lip Liner and Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
When it comes to other beauty items like blush, truthfully, I’m not that picky with those items. Most blushes seem to work for me, although I do prefer a powder blush over a cream one. As for skincare and hair, those are also tough since everyone has different skin tones and hair texture/colour, so what might work for me, might not work for you. Some of my favourite skincare lines though are Clinique, Drunk Elephant, Fresh, Tula, Skinceuticals, and Estee Lauder.
I hope you enjoyed this round up post and I would love to know what your favourite beauty items were from the past decade. With a new roaring ’20s ahead of us, I’m really excited to see what the beauty world has in store for us going forward and all the innovative products that are on the horizon to try.
What were some of your favourite items from the past decade?
Please note, products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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