Best of Beauty // Top 20 of 2016!

Happy New Year! When it comes to testing new beauty products, every year seems to get better and better. Companies are constantly creating new products and improving their existing formulas. Lucky for us, the market is saturated with products (good & bad) and no matter what you’re in search of, you can easily find it. I’ve probably tried 200+ new (to me)  products this year from blush to lipsticks to facial cleansers and these are by far my top 20 favorites of 2016!

Artis Oval 8 Brush ::: I am a makeup brush junkie. I don’t see the point in spending money on quality makeup if you don’t have quality brushes to apply it with. Artis brushes are handmade from CosmeFibre with tapered ends, each brush contains up to 10 times more fibers than a traditional brush, resulting in a densely packed incredibly soft ultra-fine tip. I’ve found similar brushes but none that live up to the revolutionary Artis Oval 8! http://www.artisbrush.com

Guerlain Meteorites ::: These multi-colored powder pearls have a cult following and hold the secret to Stardust technology. They have the power to transform light invisible to the naked eye into a pure glow on the skin. The shade pictured is 4 Doré. I apply this ALL over my face concentrating mostly on my cheeks for an all over glow. These are a bit of a splurge and hard to understand their significance until you use them, oh and the scent is absolutely amazing! http://www.guerlain.com

Lipfusion InFATuation Liquid Plumping Lipsticks ::: My #1 go-to lip colors this year. These smooth liquid lipsticks trigger protein in the skin to offer immediate plump, full lips. The amplifat technology will provide improved size and volume with continued use. I love every single color offered, but my favorites are, In The Flesh, Angelic and Big & Bare. http://www.fusionbeauty.com

Fiona Stiles Matte Finish Foundation ::: My favorite foundation, EVER, really. I have yet to find a liquid or powder foundation that makes my skin look as flawless as this does. Fiona Stiles entire collection is “mistake-proof” and ideal for anyone from pros to beginners and she also offers a HUGE range in colors which isn’t always easy to find. This foundation absorbs oil, covers every imperfection, and lasts all day. These are incredibly long wearing and create a flattering “soft focus” effect on the skin and leave the most beautiful flawless finish. This line is exclusive to Ulta and everything is under $30, and worth every cent! http://www.fionastilesbeauty.com

Pirette Beauty Tinted Lotion ::: This has been my go-to tinted moisturizer all year long. I used it in the summer for lighter coverage and enjoy using it in the winter as it is more hydrating than a typical foundation. It’s fortified with SPF to protect, coconut oil to nourish & repair and a fine grain shimmer to enhance skins appearance with a subtle luminance. Super light and blends out with zero effort.. the color seems to always magically match my skin all year around. It evens my skin tone and leaves me with a subtle dewy glow and just works with my skin tone and type perfectly. http://www.pirettebeach.com

PUR Cosmetics Love Your Selfie 2 Palette ::: Eyeshadow palettes are my favorite makeup to buy and I have probably added 10 to my collection in the past year alone. This one includes 8 exclusive eyeshadow shades, a baking powder (or highlighter), blush & bronzer. ALSO – there’s a smooth berry colored lip gloss, a velvet matte lip pencil and a travel size mascara. The colors in this palette are all so beautiful and complementary to any skin tone and this is a great palette to travel with. http://www.purcosmetics.com

Sol de Janiero Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ::: OMG, I cannot get enough of this cream, I am addicted. This has been my go-to lotion all year round and I’ve turned everyone in my office onto this. It contains Guaraná which is one of the most potent forms of caffeine out there. It also contains a luxurious blend of capuacu butter, acai and coconut oil. It’s a really rich, thick cream that leaves my skin incredibly soft with a hint of shimmer. Best part..? The scent is intoxicating.. hands down the best scented lotion ever. I use this all over my body from head to toe for hydrated, tight skin. http://www.soldejaneiro.com

Natasha Denona Face & Body Shimmer ::: Natasha Denona creates one of the prettiest highlighters that will ever grace your cheeks, the all over glow face & body shimmer. Without the use of glitter, the smooth formula is buildable and leaves behind a natural, beautiful radiance on the skin. This is her best-selling product and hands down, and in my opinion, one of the best highlighters currently on the market. http://www.natashadenona.com

Jillian Dempsey Lid Tints ::: One of my all-time favorite makeup finds. Celebrity makeup artist, Jillian Dempsey brought an effortless, laid back approach to the beauty industry by creating her *no-brush required* luxury line of lid tints that use only naturally sourced, organic ingredients. It’s a chic, dewy, modern take on the ever so famous runway makeup style. They are a unique formula of skin-loving ingredients: coconut oil & shea butter and also contain cornstarch to help the color stay crease-free, all day long, even in hot weather. These are totally mistake-proof and offer a sheer tint of color with a smooth, glossy sheen. I reach for these very often. http://www.jilliandempsey.com

Tatcha Pore Perfecting Water Gel ::: This has been a staple in my daily routine for months and something I will repurchase time after time. It’s a lightweight illuminating water-gel moisturizer that offers oil-balancing hydration. It’s non-irritating, non-sensitizing and dermatologist tested. It’s formulated with the perfect balance of oil and water to keep those with oily/combination skin balanced and hydrated. It’s a powerful combination of Japanese Wild Rose, Leopard Lily and Dokudami extracts to balance and clarify skin, and an added bonus of 23k gold dust to create a warm luminous glow. It’s a really light, watery texture that melts right into your skin upon application. It can be really hard to find a quality moisturizer for combination/oily skin types, this is definitely one of them! http://www.tatcha.com

Lorac Mega Pro 3 Palette ::: Lorac is hands-down one of my favorite makeup brands that I’ve ever used. The Mega Pro 3 contains 32 shadows total, 16 matte and 16 shimmer. The color range contains cool tones, warm tones, neutrals and deeper shades, AKA you’re new go-to palette no matter what eyeshadow look you’re trying to achieve. Their shadows have a really smooth, soft, velvety/buttery texture and are not dry or chalky at all. The colors are highly pigmented and very blendable and fool-proof for beginners or MUA’s a-like. This palette has such a big variety it’s easy to find yourself using it daily. http://www.loraccosmetics.com

Lano Lips Multi-Balm ::: The minute it starts to get cold outside my skin immediately becomes dry and my lips are in desperate need of moisture. I love using the Superbalm & Multibalms on my lips of course, but also on any dry patches of skin too. It’s a super concentrated pure lanolin blend that closely resembles your skins own natural oils. It holds 200% of its weight in moisture and tackles even the driest of skin. ZERO artificial junk, no parabens, no sulfates. Good for moms, good for babies, and everyone in-between. I love using a layer of the peach multibalm on my lips at night. I can see and feel a huge difference in the morning and my lips just feel so much better. I’m a huge fan of this stuff! http://www.lanolips.com

CoverFX Custom Blot Drops ::: I used this all summer long and have yet to find a product that really controls oil like this one. I’ve used this as a primer before foundation, mixed in with foundation and even over top of foundation/concealer. The combination of cucumber extract and papaya help hydrate while chamomile extract soothes and tones. The consistency is really silky & smooth and glides right over skin and helps blur pores. I prefer to use this in place of a primer but find it works well no matter what order it’s used in. http://www.coverfx.com

Mally Beauty H3 Lip Glosses ::: The H3 glosses were designed to be intensely hydrating, weightless with bold, high shine. I am obsessed with the color pink daisy. It’s a gorgeous understated everyday color that goes with any makeup look you create – I wear this shade constantly. The formula is really smooth and doesn’t feel sticky at all. I am definitely a lip gloss girl, and these are two of my favorites! http://www.mallybeauty.com

Cargo Tonga Blush ::: I’m kind of picky when it comes to blush, I hate overly bright shades, I always tend to lean towards soft, toned down colors. This gives such a subtle yet gorgeous glow to the cheeks. The color works across all skin tones. It’s a “cool pink” shade and so beautifully understated you may even forget you applied it! AND – I may have read somewhere that this was the blush used on the beautiful and ageless Jennifer Aniston while filming Friends. AKA, this is a must! http://www.cargocosmetics.com

Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding ::: I love using this treatment 2-3 times a week to intensely detoxify my skin and give it a much needed deep cleanse. It’s a combination of activated black & white charcoal and it minimizes the appearance of pores while fully balancing skin. It’s a thick, non-drying formula that comes off gently and as easily as it’s applied. This is great for blemish prone skin as it completely clarifies skin by removing all dirt and oil build up and absorbs all impurities. In addition to activated charcoal this contains Kaolin Clay which helps reduce excess oil without stripping your skin of it’s natural moisture. This mask gives my evening skincare routine a spa-like vibe. http://www.boscia.com

Evologie Facial Cleansing Trio ::: Ironically, this brand was created by a father (also a doctor) for his daughter to help her cope with monthly breakouts that started when she became pregnant and continued after, which is my exact situation. Their products are formulated to assist skin’s natural ability to hydrate and restore to its natural optimal health. Each formula packs a powerful punch that is noticed immediately. This system does much more than clear up blemishes, it rejuvenates skin and with continued use, you will for sure see healthier more radiant skin. The Stay Clear Cleanser is one of my all-time favorites and leaves my skin SO clean and refreshed. Stay Clear Cream is formulated with natural ingredients to combat blemishes, brighten dark spots, even skin tone and maintain hydration. The Intensive Blemish Serum uses the highly concentrated YS3 Complex to instantly clear blemishes and strengthen skins natural protective barrier to reduce the chance of future breakouts. I’ve used a bunch of different skincare lines in 2016, but this one probably worked the best at keeping my skin clear & under control. http://www.evologie.com

Terre Verdi Orange Coffee Mask ::: I love that this powder thoroughly cleanses your pores and leaves your skin rejuvenated and purified without the use of any harsh chemicals. The coffee grinds are full of antioxidants eliminating skin impurities leaving your skin incredibly smooth and the scent of orange is so refreshing! Mix 1/2 tsp (or so) with water and gently massage onto skin let it completely dry, then rinse off. 100% natural, the combination of kaolin clay and Moroccan lava clay totally detoxify skin in the most non-invasive way. It’s great for sensitive skin as well. http://www.terreverdi.com

Wander Beauty Eye Liquid Shadows ::: In addition to the Jillian Dempsey Lid Tints, these are my go-to on busy days. More often than I’d like to admit, I apply my makeup on the run (car, work, etc.) This is awesome because you don’t need any brushes or additional products. I mix the two or use them separate, either way the colors are beautiful and neutral for everyday wear and the formula is smooth and applies evenly and the actual product lasts a while. I have been using mine on a regular basis (3-4x/week) and am just now ready to re-purchase after a year of use. http://www.wanderbeauty.com

Mizzi Cosmetics Whipped Lip Scrub ::: This is the best lip scrub I’ve ever used, not just in 2016! It contains an awesome combination of almond oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, pure beeswax, pure honey and organic stevia amongst a few other pure essential oils. I blew through this stuff in about 6 weeks, I used it morning, noon and night and it left my lips SO soft and smooth and beautifully prepped for lipgloss/lipstick. This company was started by a mom who set out to create lip balms & scrubs with natural ingredients that actually work well.. and she totally did. The ingredients are safe, and they donate a portion of sales to local charities in addition to the American Heart Association which is totally worth supporting. http://www.mizzicosmetics.com

What were some of your favorite beauty products from 2016!?!

*

FYI ** As always, my reviews are not paid and are based on my own opinion, personal use and results.