As the year nears its end, I enjoy looking back on its highs and lows. Preferably focusing on the highs, obviously, because I choose to be an optimist. I rounded up my 10 favourite beauty discoveries of 2017: if any of these have remained under your radar, I urge you to check them out. Without further ado, and in no particular order, my top 10!
First up is my favourite highlighter of 2017, the BE Creative baked highlighter in Mirage. It's a peachy, neutral toned gold with a high amount of shine and absolutely zero glitter. My bestie borrowed this to wear on her wedding, because this is wedding class highlighter. I prefer applying it with a small fan brush and the glow you get is out of this world without making you look like you have a shiny stripe on your cheekbone. Faved!
2. Kiehls Manuka honey based Pure Vitality Skin Renewing moisturizer.
This cream is the tragedy out of this top 10: I received this product at its press launch and fell in love instantly. The consistency is rich, almost fatty, and this cream left my skin feeling slightly warm after applying it. Despite its richness, it never made my makeup slip around, nor did it leave me feeling greasy. My skin looked and felt amazing during the 5 or so months I used this little jar, but when it was time to replenish my stash, I found out that Kiehl's had removed the product from its range. Apparently, some people had gotten adverse reactions to it, and Kiehl's did not want to risk it. I was miffed AF because this is my HG moisturizer, and I'm crossing my fingers that it makes its return sometime in the future.
3. Kat Von D liquid lipstick in Lolita and Double Dare
After a long time of holding off the trend, I have absolutely, positively fallen for the charms of liquid lipstick. Having all of the colour stay neatly in place, the plush, full look it gives to your lips and the perfect matte finish are all great selling points, but I was only convinced when I found formulas that felt comfortably on the lips and were easy to reapply without that dreaded buildup/crumble effect.
After trying a bunch of different brands (I love Kylie and Lime Crime), Kat Von D became my ultimate favourite. This liquid lipstick may not last as long as some of its competitors, but it feels soft, light as a feather and even slightly hydrating, and the reapplication is completely hassle free. Also, its shade range is aces. Lolita is probably the most popular shade and I totally see why: a universally flattering deep nude that can lean brown or more mauve-y based on your skintone and the light. I wear this one almost daily.
Double Dare is a recent addition to my collection and I love it even more than Lolita. The difference isn't as apparent in these pictures as it is in real life, but Double Dare is much more pink, fresher and a bit lighter than Lolita. It does wonders to brighten up my complexion while still being very neutral. If I'm not wearing Lolita, I'm wearing Double Dare.
The most controversial palette of 2017 became my favourite after a few uses - who would have thunk it? I didn't even love the shades that much when I bought it, I just figured ABH was a safe bet after the perfect 10 that Modern Renaissance is, but through use I discovered its beauty. The pigmentation, the abundance of mattes, the grungy tones, the unexpected combinations: all of it still excites me even after months of owning it.
5. Lolita Lempicka perfume
This perfume was my signature scent for a long time during my teens. In no small part because I love the book Lolita, and its eponymous character. Dolores Haze is an icon and so very relatable to basically every young girl growing up in patriarchy, I think. In a way I felt like I was reclaiming the whole Lolita thing by owning it, parodying it, positioning myself as an agent instead of a sex object. Of course, the fragrance being absolutely bomb helped as well. After Lolita Lempicka I moved on to Flowerbomb, and then Prada Candy, and then YSL Black Opium. But when I received a press sample of the redesigned Lolita Lempicka bottle I fell in love all over again. A timeless favourite.
6. Urban Decay liquid lipstick in Backtalk
Another liquid lipstick, I know! But Urban Decay does not get enough credit for its amazing liquids, and backtalk is just the perfect mauve pink for chic, kissable lips. I suck at representing its colour right in pictures, it's not as bubble gum pink as in this shot, more neutral and a bit darker. It's lasting power is also impressive, and it does not feel drying on the lips at all. I drown in nude mauve toned lip products, but this one totally stands out. Oh, and I also really like the applicator!
7. Wunderbrow
Brows define your face, and since my brows are too light for my hair colour, I always spent ages filling them in in the morning. No more! Wunderbrow applies incredibly easy and fast, and gives you goodlooking brows for up to three days if you make sure not to use any oil based makeup removers in their vicinity. I generally touch up lightly in the morning, but this product has reduced my brow-time drastically. Lifesaver!
8. l'Oréal Mythic Oil crème universelle
Another lifesaver: l'Oréal leave in conditioner/heat protectant/hairbalm Mythic Oil. I like working a generous squeeze of this balm into my lengths after washing my hair to keep my balayaged hair manageable. Because yes, bleaching your hair will always leave you with damage, especially if your hair is getting ridiculously long like mine. Also, my hair is very fine. I get tangles like crazy and I really need to baby my hair to make it look good. This product does the job perfectly, without breaking the bank (about €12 for a tube). Also, it smells amazing.
9. Redken Glowdry shampoo
Another hair product, I know, but as my hair has become more high maintenance, hair products have really made the difference for me. The Redken Glowdry range is amazing, but the standout for me is the shampoo. I only use like a 1 euro size amount to get my hair clean in two goes (so basically 2 one euro pieces, OK), and my hair stays clean for MUCH longer than with any other shampoo. I still use dry shampoo in between washes, but now I can often stretch the time between washes for up to 6 days before my hair gets too funky for me. Again, any product that saves me time is a win for me. I hate washing my hair, OK.
10. Clinique Take the Day off cleansing balm
Finally, the Clinique Take the Day off cleansing balm. I started using my jar in the beginning of 2017 and the container still isn't completely empty. You only need a tiny amount to get ALL of your makeup off, it's soft on the skin, fragrance free and just an all-round winner. I know a lot of women who have started using this over the past year, and all of them have fallen in love. Total HG product.
OK that's it for now! Have you tried any of these? Have you discovered any new favs? Let me know!
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