2016 brought about so many products and trends. There were some really great ones, like liquid matte lipstick, and some odd ones, like magnetic masks. It’s so crazy to think that the year is almost over and with a new year brings about new beauty products and trends.
Although there were a tons of items that had hype and were sold out at Sephora, I rounded up my top four items you absolutely needed to get this past year, and if you didn’t, something to put on your wishlist for next year.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
These Becca highlights gained major traction in 2016 with the release of the Jaclyn Hill collab, Champagne Pop (although they were quite popular before she launched that best-selling highlight). If you haven’t picked up a Becca highlight this year, well, there’s still six days to nab one. With six different finishes in the regular line, as well as limited edition shades, there’s a highlight for any skin tone.
I got the Champagne Pop highlighter set last Hanukkah but my first full size of their Skin Perfector was actually the limited edition holiday shade for this year, Rose Quartz. This gorgeous highlight comes in a rose gold-accented casing and features a rose gold pink finish to cheeks. The coverage is sheer, it feels ultra soft and creamy, and gives you the most luminous finish. Long story short, you need one.
BITE Beauty Multisticks
These BITE Beauty Multisticks launched earlier this year and took the makeup community by storm. Is it a lipstick? It’s a blush? Is it a makeup primer? Well, it’s actually all three.
Available in 18 shades for C$28 a piece, these Multisticks apply like a cream but finish to a powder. The silicone-free formula creates a soft finish that’s breathable, blendable and buildable. I’ve used these for cheeks, lips and eyes, and love how versatile they are. There’s a variety of different shades to suit any skin tone and look.
NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
2015 was the year of the contour kit, so therefore if you didn’t have one in your collection for 2016, you’re so behind in the times. The contour kit is now a makeup collection staple, everyone needs one. It doesn’t even matter if you have no clue to use it, buy it first then figure it out later.
I have a variety of different contour kits in my collection (you can never have enough!), but the one I use the most is the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette. Retailing for an amazing C$27, not only is this an amazing value, but you get an amazing product as well. This set includes eight customizable highlighting and contouring shades. When you’ve used up a pan, you can buy individual pro singles to refill it.
Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits
Finally, perhaps the most popular beauty product of 2016, you needed a Kylie Lip Kit.
I put off buying one of these for awhile, mostly for two reasons. Early on there was so much hype that they were all but impossible to buy since they sold out so fast. Second, the shipping to Canada was $14.99 USD (basically C$20). A friend and I split an order so I got my hands on Koko K and I have to say, these are worth the hype and the money for shipping.
The difference between the Kylie ones and any other ones I’ve tried is that these do not budge. Once they’re on, they are not going anywhere. I have lip injections, so making my lips bigger isn’t really something I need more of, but there is something about these particular matte liquid lipsticks that make your lips look so much larger. I loved Koko K so much that I had to nab her birthday collection to try some of the other shades. Although they are all great, Koko K is still my all-time fave and definitely the one shade you need to have in your collection if you love baby pinks like me.
Since there were so many beauty products this year, it was hard narrowing it down. These four were the highlights from my year, but I would love to know what you were digging for 2016.
What were your fave products from 2016?
Please note, some of the products mentioned were sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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One more day until the holidays!!
Since Hanukkah officially starts Christmas Eve, I get to share in the joy with all my friends this year. As I’ve said before, one of my favourite things about the holiday season is all the glitter. From the sparkle on the snow to all the sequins in store, there is something so magical about this time of the year.
I received the Sephora Collection More Than Meets The Eye eyeshadow palette, which includes 32 shadows in matte, shimmer, and glitter formulas. This palette is great because the colour selection is amazing; you can do basically any kind of look with this. Want something daytime appropriate? Check. How about a dramatic night look. No problems!
Since it’s the holidays and all, I chose to do a dramatic look featuring this palette (which is no longer available online but it may be on sale in your local Sephora store). I fell in love with the sparkly hunter green in here and chose to come up with a look featured around the gorgeous shade.
I mostly dived into the shades located on the left of the palette and found the pigmentation of the colours to be awesome. They blended out nicely and were very workable.
1. Fill in your brows and then lay down an eyeshadow primer. With a fluffy crease brush and shade 14, a matte taupe, lightly apply that in your crease.
2. With a flat shader brush, pack on shade 4, the glittery green. Make sure you do your foundation after the eyeshadow because you will have some fall out.
3. Using a crease brush and shade 5, work this into your crease to soften out the harsh lines. You don’t want to pick up too much colour on the brush, just enough so the shade is slightly noticeable and blends out the green.
4. To up and ante, apply some glitter glue (I used the NYX one) and some loose glitter (also by NYX).
5. Skip the liner since your eyes are so dark already and apply some falsies. I did use some black liquid liner against the lash line just so the adhesive blends more in. These lashes are the Sephora Collection Luxe False Lash.
6. For the lower lash line, apply a eyeshadow primer once again, and then with shade 6, a dark brown, lightly dust that along the lower lash line and then apply mascara.
7. To finish the look, apply shade 2, the white, to your brow bone and inner eye corner to highlight.
For the rest of the face I used NARS Sheer Glow foundation with the Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme under my eyes. For the lips I used Kylie Lip Kit in Posie K.
This look is very dramatic and definitely not for the faint of heart. Pair it with a little black dress or something glittery and be prepared to share a little sparkle every time you wink!
Happy holidays!
What’s your favourite holiday makeup look?
Please note, this post contains product that were sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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It seems like we just got out of a cold snap here in Canada. Not sure how it was in your city or town, but in Winnipeg last weekend we saw lows of -40 C with the windchill. Literally the WiFi stopped working because it was too cold.
Because of the chilly weather, these past few weeks have been hell for my body. Everything is dry. My skin, my nails, my hair, even my eyes. I’m like a plant in the dessert, I need moisture. Stat.
Well lucky for me, the nice ladies and gents at P&G Beauty sent out a travel case of cold-weather necessities that is literally saving my hair and skin. I’ve used some of these products before but receiving them again definitely made me fall back in love with their use and benefits.
Starting with hair, the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner combats harsh weather and hydrates hair with deep-conditioning formulas to protect strands from breaking. Hair feels so much softer and moisturized after use. If I want to do something really special, I swap out that conditioner for the Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner, which is a powerful formula that includes a higher concentration of conditioning actives for softer hair after three minutes. I actually use this product every Sunday for a hair recharge (I actually clean my shower while I wait the three minutes for this stuff to work – too much info?).
Once your hair is dry, make sure to use some styling products. If there is one hair product I absolutely need to use, it’s a split-end tamer. I was really excited to get the Pantene Pro-V Intensely Strong Repair Creme, not sure if this product is new or not, but it helps mend split ends and prevents future breakage. I use a dab of it and rub it through my hair mid-shaft to the ends. I finish off my hair routine with the Pantene BB creme for hair.
For skincare, I lather myself in the Olay Fresh Outlast Cooling White Strawberry & Mint Body Wash, which is made with essential oil fragrances. It works with your skin’s natural pH, leaving you with fresh skin.
For the face, start the night before with the Olay Regenerist Luminous Overnight Mask, which is a product I’ve also used before. This is a thick moisturizer that hydrates and repairs skin overnight. Once you wake up, do your morning routine, then apply some Olay Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream, which is a dual-swirl formula designed to deposit light-reflecting pigments to make tired-looking eyes more awake.
Finally, to keep you fresh all day, apply the Secret Outlast Xtend Completely Clean Clear Gel, which is a clear deodorant (no more white marks!) formulated to dry fast and go on clear. It provides continuous 48 odour protection as well.
Just because the weather drops to Antarctic temperatures, that doesn’t mean our hair and skin has to face the consequences. Stay warm and keep moisturized this season!!
What’s your favourite moisture-rich products?
Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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