I will admit that this year, I went a little nuts.
A couple of years ago, I couldn’t have cared less about beauty products. Aside from my must-haves (MAC Studio Fix Foundation, blush, facial cleanser, and moisturizer), I didn’t really keep up to date with the latest in beauty products or really understand the hype surrounding Sephora. I was more of a “get in, get out” kind of gal when it came to purchasing refills. I already knew what I wanted, so didn’t see the point in milling about the aisle looking for new products to try.
This was the result of fear and impatience. Fear that new skin products would irritate my skin (which is SUPER sensitive) and impatience because, well, I happen to be an impatient person (which is something I’m working on and have gotten a lot better with).
Nowadays, it’s a whole different story. I am not only obsessed with Sephora (how could one store have so many great products?!), I love trying various natural skincare brands and have developed an unhealthy obsession with sheet masks. You can blame Boscia for the last one.
In 2015, my dabbling in beauty products has led to a lot of new favorites and returns (those are inevitable), but thankfully, it has never led to a skin reaction (whew, all my fears quelled).
With all the great products I’ve come across this year, I just had to share them with you! Who knows, maybe you’re on the hunt for a new BB Cream (Tarte has you covered) or are looking to get in on the sheet mask craze (it’s worth the hype) and need a second opinion, but regardless if that’s the case or not, below are my 10 favorite beauty products of 2015 that I think you should know about.
1. Boscia Charcoal Hydrogel Sheet Mask
It was only recently that I became a sucker for skincare, which is most likely due to the fact that I’m getting older and need to start taking care of me, nah mean? (That’s resolution #1 for 2016.) While I had heard of sheet masks, I was inexplicably reluctant to try them, but boy am I glad I did. The Boscia hydrogel sheet mask is the first one I’ve ever tried and, let’s just say, it is beyond amazing.
Firstly, the mask is made of vegetable fibers and is suitable for vegans, which is an important factor when trying out new products. While I don’t always hit the nail on the head when it comes to choosing cruelty-free, vegan products, I do try as hard as I can to stick to brands that are all-natural and don’t hurt animals (why would anyone ever want to do that?). Secondly, the mask consists of two parts which is, as I’ve read, unheard of for sheet masks which are normally made up of one piece. The two-part mask makes it a lot easier to conform to your face, which can often be a problem for sheet masks in general.
While on, this mask gives your skin a warm tingle that is soothing and invigorating all at once. After 20 minutes, you peel the mask off but be sure not to rinse the essence, instead patting it on your skin and leaving it overnight. Every time I’ve done this mask, I wake up with smoother, brighter and more refined skin. It’s the closest thing to a miracle there is.
2. DermaE Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Cream
I’m a sucker for the bath and beauty department at Whole Foods. Most, if not all, of the lines they carry are cruelty-free and made with all-natural products which is exactly what my sensitive skin needs. After having tried DermaE’s brightening cleanser and loving it, I purchased their Vitamin A Cream with no expectations and under the guidance of pure curiosity. Before this, I was using Andalou’s 1000 Roses cream for sensitive skin and while it was good, it wasn’t great.
This cream is GREAT and one I consistently return to. Over time, it leaves your skin incredibly soft and actually does reduce the appearance of fines lines and aging. It’s helped tremendously in my under-eye area where I noticed fine lines forming since I tend to leave my glasses at home and spend the majority of my time squinting at a computer screen.
I highly recommend this all-natural anti-aging cream if you’re looking to change up your routine a bit.
3. L’Oreal’s Lineur Intense Felt Tip Eyeliner
I’m a big fan of the winged eyeliner look and haven’t even begun to master gel liner, so I still rely on a good ol’ liquid eyeliner to do the trick. This is one of the best liquid eyeliners I have ever tried. The color is rich, the felt tip can create a range of line widths and the makeup itself doesn’t smear or fade throughout the day. My eyelids tend to be really oily, so it’s a miracle that this eyeliner doesn’t lift up onto my crease.
I’ve only ever tried the black color, but I can only imagine how rich and vibrant the other available shades are.
4. Tarte’s BB Treatment 12-Hour Primer
After wearing MAC makeup for a long period of time, I realized that my skin needed something much, much lighter and my routine could benefit from an easier product. That’s where Tarte came in. Before investing in their primer, concealer and finishing powder (in one shopping trip), I had never tried Tarte cosmetics before. Now that I have, I am hooked and there is no other makeup I’d want to spend my hard-earned money on.
The coverage is light, their color selection is vast, and it lasts longer than 12 hours with no oily build-up or transference.
The best part about their cosmetics is that they use only high-quality ingredients and manufacture everything in the US. The quality of ingredients is apparent as this primer has only made my skin look better the longer I wear it. I highly recommend ditching your full-coverage foundation for this little guy. It will cut down on your routine and will make your skin glow.
5. Tarte’s Smooth Operator Pressed Finishing Powder
This finishing powder is aptly named as it leaves your skin looking virtually pore-less. In addition to smoothing out your skin and reducing the appearance of pores, this powder also serves as a subtle highlighter and leaves your skin positively glowing.
The first time I tried it on my husband was impressed with how radiant and healthy my skin looked. This finishing powder is a 1st-place winner.
6. Andalou Naturals Rosewater Mask
I’ve recently become a huge fan of masks and this rosewater mask is one of my all-time favorites. After multiple uses, this mask leaves your skin baby soft and smooth, which was very much needed given the dry condition my skin was previously in.
It’s a serious quencher, so I highly recommend this product if you have dry, aging skin that needs a boost. With that said, I’ve never come across a product from Andalou Naturals that I didn’t love.
7. eSalon Deeply Invested Nourishing Hair Mask
This hair mask has been one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. While my hair is relatively healthy (I’ve only ever dyed it once and religiously get it trimmed), it could definitely benefit from some hydration and moisture. I have a bad habit of showering in scalding hot water which can be detrimental to your skin and hair. This mask, however, repairs, hydrates and rejuvenates all kinds of hair.
It repairs split ends, leaves your hair silky soft and frizz-free and imparts a glossy shine that can only mean one thing: healthy, vibrant hair.
I recommend using this twice a week as overdoing it can actually damage your hair in the long run.
8. Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara
I used to think that all mascaras were the same. You’ve tried one, you’ve tried them all, right? Boy, was I wrong. This Lancome mascara brings the drama. With its curved spooly and rich mascara formula, this product takes your eyelashes, regardless of how short and thin they may be, and perfectly curves them leaving a finishing result that’s reminiscent of falsies.
I highly recommend dropping the false eyelashes for good and just investing in this mascara. It will make your life so much easier.
9. NARS Cruella Lip Pencil
If I’m not wearing winged eyeliner, I’m probably sporting a red lip. Those are two really low-maintenance looks that give the appearance of effortless glam. On days when I’m sporting the lip, you better believe I’m carrying this NARS matte lip pencil in my purse. You don’t need to reapply throughout the day and the color never fades. It stays as rich and vibrant as it did when you first applied it.
My only recommendation is that you exfoliate your lips beforehand as this pencil has the tendency to cling to dry areas on your lips and accentuate them.
10. Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream
I’ve tried eye creams before and usually ended up ditching them about a month later. This eye cream, however, doesn’t take a month to show results. I swear I could already see it reducing my fine lines after two weeks, which is impressive considering the time I normally have to wait to see any results whatsoever.
This cream is incredibly potent (hence the name) and will offer some much-needed hydration to your under eye area. Upon first application, you can see your skin absorbing its goodness and reaping its benefits.
Overall, it’s the best eye cream I’ve ever tried and that’s saying a lot given the amount of brands and products I’ve gone through. All you’d have to do is look underneath my bathroom sink to see what I mean.
Trying new products is always fun, but finding your HG product is so much better. It’s akin to finding your soul mate — you two just work together and bring out the best in each other.
These were my favorites of the year, but we’ll see what 2016 has to bring. 🙂