Happy New Year, everyone, from cold Montreal. I scrapped any new year plans and had a very tame night watching Star Wars due to the temperature with wind chill being -37 C that night. Fuck thaaaaaaat.
From the beginning of 2017, I had this itch to find new base products. Base makeup is really my favourite makeup to discover and I am really picky about having products that look naturally glowy, and not heavy. I didn't love anything in particular for cheek and eyeshadow products, so there's none of that here. Since I don’t want a huge list, this is really only showing the products I used and that excited me in 2017.
IT Cosmetics CC Cream | If there is a brand I really fell in love with this year, and used consistently, it is IT Cosmetics. The IT Cosmetics CC Cream lives up to the hype! And, you know, I love products that include SPF. This has SPF 50 which is impressive for a Western base product. In fact, much about this product is reminiscent of Korean bases I’ve tried – it feels moisturizing, has good coverage, has SPF protection, and does not look heavy at all.
Too Faced Hangover Primer | 2017 is the year I started using primers. Here is one I really liked! It doesn’t have silicones, so it really just adds a nice layer of hydration and makes makeup sit nicely.
Sephora Collection Foundation & Concealer Stick | This is one of my favourite discoveries of the year, and one made on a total whim while exploring Sephora’s own makeup section in store. It is SO GOOD. It has medium but buildable coverage, and does not look thick or heavy if blended out with a sponge. This is my go-to base for going out, and sometimes I use it as a concealer over my daytime base.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil "Dolce Vita" | This colour…. Ughh it is so beautiful. It goes with any look and feels like nothing on the lips. I love to wear it smudged into my lips which makes it last well enough. My only gripe is that it has to be sharpened which I find sort of inconvenient and sometimes wastes product.
Younique Lip Splash "Sublime" | My friend Bianca started selling Younique makeup in the past year, so I tried a few products. I've been happy with all of them, but this Lip Splash really stood out to me because of its formula. It is unlike any liquid lipstick I've ever tried. It feels very light and moussey, and I apply it by dotting it on my lips and smudging it in with my finger. And it lasts for hours! The colour Sublime is a pretty and natural nude, perfect for every day wear.
L’oréal Lash Paradise Waterproof – This mascara made a splash this year, mostly because it is a dupe for the Too Faced BTS mascara. I only ever tried the Waterproof version, but I can confirm that it is superior to the Too Faced BTS in waterproof. It makes my lashes look so voluminous, a bit on the clumpy side, but that is no issue to me.
Another beauty favourite that I have to mention quickly is the LVL lash lift I got last year with Nouveau Canada. I loved loved loved it. Such a great experience and I would do it again, especially right before travelling! If you want to read more about it, I have a post on it here.
On a side note, I want to let you guys know that my blog will be featuring some different content this year. I definitely love beauty and will continue to write about it, but 2017 was really the year that I embraced a more healthy and active lifestyle, and that seemed to be the focus of my passion all year. I want to talk more about that on the blog. I am not "intense", at least I don't think, in my approach to health and fitness, but I think that it is important to love your body and to constantly challenge yourself. But more on that in posts to come!
Wishing you all a wonderful 2018. I hope you feel motivated and excited, and that you do that thing that you want to do. Let me know in the comments any beauty products that stood out to you this year? Bases and primers in particular, because I am having a "thing" for primers right now lol.
