Best of Beauty 2016

Hello friends!! It’s pretty unreal to believe that it’s already the first day of 2017. As with all years, there were ups, downs, peaks and valleys. This can especially be true of the beauty world!! Today I thought I would do a recap of some of my favourite items throughout the year. These aren’t necessarily products that came out this year, but items I’ve been loving/ discovered during 2016!

Best Collection

Too Faced Sweet Peach

If you’ve been following the beauty world, this one is no surprise. When the Too Faced Sweet Peach eye palette came out, it took the makeup scene by storm. I was able to snatch one right away which was lucky because it became one of my most used palettes of the year. My friend Leah graciously gave me three other items in the collection for Christmas: Sweet Peach Glow, Papa Don’t Peach, and a Lip Oil in Pure Peach.

I haven’t used the other items in the collection as extensively but so far I’m liking everything! I look forward to doing a full review of the collection in the new year!

Best Lipsticks

BITE Beauty in Rose and Mauvember 2016

Mary Kay in Always Apricot

Next up is lipsticks! This was hard to narrow down just because I use so many lipsticks. The first one I picked I wore a lot for work which was BITE’s old Luminous Creme formula in Rose. To my knowledge, they didn’t move it over into the Amuse Bouche line, but the closest shade I could find was in Pickled Ginger (although Rose is not as bright). I also included BITE’s 2016 Mauvember shade. A great cause and a beautifully original colour. You can check out my comparison post of the 2015 and 2016 version here.

Another one of my top lipsticks is a Mary Kay Gel Semi-Matte lipstick in Always Apricot*. This whole line is beautiful with extremely pigmented and long lasting shades. I did a whole post including lip swatches here.

Best Foundation

Urban Decay All Nighter

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation

I have two foundations that I actually haven’t done proper reviews on (yet). First we have Urban Decay’s All Nighter Foundation. My friend Leah had a really good experience with it, so I thought I would give it a try myself. It’s a very high coverage foundation and it lasts all day which I love.

I also decided to try out on a whim the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation. It really is magic. The shade I actually have is a bit dark for the winter and I might invest in another bottle just because I love it so much. It makes my skin look like skin (but perfected) and lasts all day.

Full reviews of both of these foundations will be coming soon!!

Best Eyeshadow Palette

Kat Von D’s Shade and Light Eye Contour Palette

This one is a very new discovery for me, and I haven’t been using it very long. It’s the Kat Von D Shade and Light eye palette and it’s matte perfection. I totally understand the hype around this now. I have NEVER tried mattes that are as buttery like in this palette. All the colours are extremely wearable so I think I’ll be getting a lot of use out of it! I look forward to continuing to use this into the new year!

Best Moisturizer

Philosophy’s Renewed Hope in a Jar

Philosophy’s Renewed Hope in a Jar is amazing. I managed to pick up a jar of the SPF version in the states just because they don’t sell it in Canada (SPF testing regulations I’m guessing). I love this moisturizer so much. It’s a very light, gel-like consistency that sinks into the skin fast. It wears like a dream under makeup and it’s been my go-to this year.

Best Blush, Bronzer, Contour

Becca Jaclyn Hill Palette

Wet n Wild Contouring Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Glow Kit

All three of these face products have a bit of a story behind them.

I actually was lucky to get my hands on the Becca x Jaclyn Hill face palette. At first when I saw it, I decided I really didn’t need it, but after seeing it on so many people’s feeds I caved. It seemed like I caved too late, as I couldn’t find this palette anywhere. I managed to grab one of the last couple palettes at the 3rd Sephora I checked. Jeez, what a beauty blogger will do…

Next we have the Wet n Wild Contouring Palette in Dulce De Leche*. This has been my go to contour since I received it at the Wet n Wild launch party for their #StayWild campaign. This was one of the first large makeup launch parties I got to go to, and it holds a special place in my heart.

Finally we have the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit. This was purchased the time I got to meet the Anastasia Soare of ABH. I was totally star struck, and it was an amazing time. The quality of the Glow Kit is amazing and I’ve actually used the colours quite a bit as eyeshadows.

Best Additional Face Products

Cover FX Mattifying Primer

Mary Kay Undereye Concealer

Pixi Lip Balm

One of my favourite primers I discovered this year was the Cover FX Mattifying Primer. During the summer it did a great job of controlling the excess oil I built up throughout the day. Once summer rolls around again I’ll be buying this in full sized!

Another Mary Kay launch this year was with their Perfecting Concealers*. (A full review and swatches of all the colours can be found here). One that really stood out was the undereye concealer which contains a bit of salmon-pink to cancel out those dreary eyes.

Finally we have my tried and tested Pixi Shea Lip Balm. I have I think 5 of these that I use on the go constantly. I don’t think I will ever go back to another lip balm again. Fingers crossed that us Canadians get a chance to get Pixi again soon!!

Best Eye and Brow Products

Marc Jacobs Highliner

Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner

NYX Micro Brow

I have two eyeliners that I loved this year. First is the Marc Jacobs Highliner. This is a smooth matte liner that lasts all day. I really like the finish it gives and how black-black it looks on the eyes. The next one is probably no surprise as it’s Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner. I have a full comparison post on the Tattoo and Ink liner here. I love the Tattoo liner just because it stays all day long and is super easy to apply!

For brows, I have the NYX Micro Brow. This is one of my favs because it’s a dupe for the ABH Brow Wiz (which I still love and purchase). With NYX’s recent expansion into their stand alone stores, it’s so much easier to find NYX products in Canada. So if you’d like to save a bit of cash and you already love the ABH Brow Wiz, check out the Micro Brow!

 

And there we have some of my favourite products of 2016. Happy New Year! I wish you all happiness and joy this year! Thanks for supporting me this year at I’m Not a Beauty Guru! I look forward to continuing to grow and learn this year!

Thanks for reading! Have a great day!

*Sent for Review

Post also includes affiliate links and products given as gifts