2016 Favourites

Happy New Year! It's so hard to believe that we're already in 2017. This will be my fifth year doing my yearly favourites post, and boy does time fly. It feels like only yesterday I was starting my blog. 

Yet again, I had a pretty tough time finding products that were favourites throughout the year, but there were a few standouts that needed no second thoughts.

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks*
I was lucky enough to be gifted the entire set of these. I very quickly fell in love with the formula, which was like a wet matte feel. The shades were all gorgeous and I'm desperately praying that Maybelline will release more shades in the future.

Rimmel London The Only One Lipsticks

I was sent a few of these shades to try out but this quickly turned into me rushing out to buy the entire set of twelve shades. This formula is incredibly nourishing while maintaining strong and long-lasting pigmentation. You can actually read a full review and look at swatches here.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

I finally jumped on the NARS bandwagon, and boy I'm glad I did. I'm actually still shocked at how much I love this foundation and how long lasting it is, even without a primer. I also find this to be relatively good coverage on my skin, despite being marketed as sheer. 

L'Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation

I actually don't like this much on its own, as it's far too sheer for my liking - but I do love it as a base. I use it almost as a primer/concealer and then apply my regular foundation on top. It really helps create a smooth base and actually helps my makeup stay in place longer.

NYX Cosmetics HD Finishing Powder*

I got this in a miniature size as part of a pack, but also have a full-size pan unopened somewhere in my drawer. I have loved using this as a finishing powder to help reduce oiliness without adding any extra colour to my already finished look. It has been my go-to almost all year now and is perfect for touch-ups too.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

I actually had a miniature of this mascara, and despite the differing opinions, it was one of my all time favourites. I don't usually splurge on high-end mascara due to the expiration dates but I just couldn't help but pick up a full sized tube of this baby. It's served me well for special occasions but this year I'm planning to finish it up by using it every day - and then I'll probably buy another tube. 

Sigma Beauty Standout Gel Eyes*

I have this gel eyeliner pot in Wicked, which is a deep black shade. I love using this when I'm attempting to do a cat eye because it's so creamy but also so pigmented, so it's incredibly easy to work with. I more often that not use this one to tight line because of it's creamy formula. 

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette

This huge palette was actually part of last year's holiday releases in Sephora. I managed to get my greedy little hands on it relatively early, and haven't looked back since. This is probably one of my most used palettes, particularly for the seven matte shades in the centre. I usually don't opt for matte shades but these shades are creamy and so easy to work with. You can actually read my full review and check out loads of swatches here.

Maybelline Master Contour*

Ahhh I adore the highlight shade in this palette so much but haven't really experimented with the other shades too much. This highlighter shade is the absolute best for my skin tone, as I'm so pale, it doesn't look over the top and gives a nice subtle shine.

Benefit Hoola

The best bronzer on the market hands down. I swear as someone who is pale, I have tried so many other bronzers it's not even funny. At the end of the day, this one has been my favourite so far. I've almost hit pan on this one - sadly - but it shows how much I love it.

Clarisonic Mia 2*

Before being accepted into the Clarisonic Mentoring Program (more about that later, promise) I hadn't even tried a Clarisonic. After being generously gifted the Mia 2, I'm a converted woman. I now use this beauty twice daily and my skin is thanking me for it constantly. I can't believe how much this has changed my skin, I can't praise it enough. I plan on doing a full review with my entire skincare story but for now - just know that I love it.

Manicare Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover

Since having acrylics long term, I need to remember to use acetone-free polish remover to avoid breaking down my nails. I love this one as it's incredibly cheap and it actually doesn't smell too bad. It also doesn't dry out my skin which is a huge plus.

OPI Nail Polish

This year I don't think I've worn any other polish aside from OPI and I have to say, I've been loving it. My nails look fabulous all the time and they never chip. 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Combination to Oily Skin*
I have been using micellar water all year but have been loving this particular version. This one seems to get my skin the cleanest without leaving me feeling greasy or wet. I use this to remove my makeup in the evening before following up with my regular routine. 

MooGoo Fresh Cream Deodorant*

Earlier this year I made the switch to natural deodorant by taking part of the 28 Day Natural Deodorant challenge hosted by MooGoo Skincare. I was pleasantly surprised with the results and have decided to stick with it. Although occasionally it doesn't do as well as mainstream deodorant does, I don't find myself getting as "smelly" as I did before which is fabulous. You can read about my natural deodorant journey here.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate*

The packaging has since changed but the product is the same. This particular serum leaves my skin feeling so amazing and so youthful, it's not even funny. Despite its hefty price tag, I'll definitely be repurchasing it once I've finished it up. Although I didn't use it exclusively this year, I kept returning to it and my skin thanked me every time.

Oh, Lola - Marc Jacobs

I don't think I got many new fragrances in 2016 so I didn't stray too far from my favourites. This year was all about Oh, Lola which is a delightfully fruity scent. Whilst it's a relatively light fragrance, it's very long lasting and perfect for every occasion.

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil-In-Cream*

This stuff blew me away when I first used it. I usually hate using any kind of hair product once I've washed my hair, but this stuff was so different. I got so many compliments that my hair was looking so much healthier and better so I kept using it. Of course. You can read my full thoughts on the entire L'Oreal Elvive Dream Team here.

Dessata Detangling Brush*

I've tried a few detangling brushes every now and then, but none have really stuck with me. I've been using the Dessata brush since I got it, which was much earlier this year. It's actually become a vital part of my haircare routine. 

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I'm thankful to see the end of 2016, purely because it was such a hard year for everyone. Personally, this was better than 2015 for me and we had a lot of wonderful times this year for which I'm grateful. Here's to 2017 - may the new year bring us lots of new experiences.

You can read my 2015 favourites here.

What products made it into your 2016 Favourites? 

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Products marked with a * were provided for consideration.