2015 has been a great year for me. I have met loads of new people, had the best year with my boyfriend, 2 amazing trips to Turkey and Los Angeles, got my dream job, started to drive etc. and of course, I got to try loads of beauty products!
This may be a long post so I'm just going to get right into it!
Scents/Body:
Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Fragrance Mist - This has been my favourite Victoria's Secret scent for a couple of years now and I haven't found anything I prefer. Although I do love Aqua Kiss as well, I will always go back to this one.
Pure Seduction Body Lotion - Again, this is my favourite scent so I like all the products that have this scent (body butter, shower gel, etc). This is a really moisturising product but it isn't too thick on the skin that you can't spread it around the body. Also, this is great to use all year round.
Prada Candy Perfume - This has been my favourite perfume throughout 2015. I love the scent and it lasts all day long. A big thank you to my amazing boyfriend for buying this for me!
Skincare:
These are a few of my favourite skincare products. I am still working out the perfect skincare routine but all of the products shown do work for my skin really well.
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - This is the most amazing product for removing make up. I have been using this product for way over a year. It is quick and easy to use and cleans the skin fully (I don't feel like make up wipes give the same effect). I don't like using make up wipes on my skin as I feel like they rub on my skin and don't clean my face completely. This gets every little bit off. I wear contact lenses and this doesn't affect my eyes at all either.
Lush Tee Tree Toner Water - This again, is a quick and easy product to use. It has really helped with clearing my skin from breakouts and I do believe that it helps to prevent them. I have been using this product for over a year as well and it has worked from day one. You can either spray the water directly on to your face or spray onto a cotton pad and wipe it on to your face. It is a lovely toner, day and night.
Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask - This has been my favourite face mask this year. It is a very deep cleaning mask which is what I like to look for in masks. I usually have a lot of problems with masks causing irritation to my skin as I am quite sensitive but I have never had problems with this. I really love the Lush face masks too but this is a much deeper cleaning one which is the main thing I like about it. It makes your skin feel so clean and fresh after taking it off.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion - This is my favourite moisturiser at the moment and has been throughout the majority of 2015. It is really hydrating on the skin. I prefer using it at night as it does leave your face feeling quite wet but it isn't too thick that you can't use it in the morning. Sometimes I use it in the morning too but I normally prefer to use the next product that I am going to talk about. This product has really helped to keep my skin type at it's 'normal' state.
MAC Strobe Cream - This is a lovely product if you like your skin to look glowy and hydrated throughout the day. I love applying this in the morning before I prime my skin for make up application. It has a small amount of shimmer in it which looks so nice when your foundation has been applied, it really helps to give that dewy look to the face. If you pair this with MAC's Natural Radiance primer you will be GLOWING forever.
MAKEUP:
Primer:
Benefit POREfessional - Towards the beginning of 2015 this was my favourite primer. It does a great job of smoothing over the face before applying make up. Even using this product on it's own does a good job of making your skin look nicer if you don't want to put foundation on top.
Hourglass Veil Primer - I love this product, it almost feels like a moisturiser on the skin which is the kind of primer I tend to drift towards. It helps to give a healthy glow to the skin without being too much.
Foundation:
Bourjois Healthy Mix: This has been my every day foundation for 2-3 years now. It's not too heavy but it does give a full coverage if you want it to. It is only around £10 from Boots or Superdrug which is really affordable and does last for quite a long time as well. I use shade 51 or 52, depending on the season or if I want a little bit more colour but they both blend in really well regardless. This is a great foundation and the best from the drugstore that I have found so far.
MAC Studio Waterweight: This foundation is fairly new to MAC so I have only been using it for around 2 months or so but it is such a lovely foundation I had to share it with you. It does give a natural/more sheer look to the skin rather than a full coverage but it looks amazing. It is a water based foundation which allows the base to look dewy and have a 'healthy glow'. It stays on really well which surprised me as I have never got on with water based foundations in the past.
Concealer:
Urban Decay Naked Skin: This concealer is hands down the best concealer that I have ever used. I mainly use this under the eye area to highlight the complexion and it does the job perfectly. It is so creamy and doesn't feel heavy at all but gives the full coverage that is needed to cover my dark circles! I love MAC's Pro Longwear concealer as well but this year, this has to beat it. As you can tell by the picture I have pretty much run out of this tube so I need to repurchases ASAP!
Collection Lasting Perfection: Before discovering the Urban Decay concealer I used to reach for the Collection one a lot. This is a lot more affordable, I believe it is £4.19 from Boots or Superdrug. I have used this concealer for several years as well and never had a problem with it. I use it for under the eyes, spots etc. I haven't reached for it as much towards the end of the year as I have been loving the Urban Decay one far too much but Collection definitely takes 2nd place in this category.
Powder:
Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder: This has become my go-to powder. It is amazing for baking, setting the entire face, doing any touch ups. I love how soft it feels on the skin, it isn't cakey either which is a bonus as I hate feeling powdery! Everyone loves this product, there is a massive hype around it and it is so worth it, I encourage all of you to save your money for this product! If you are more on the drier side then maybe avoid it but I sometimes get dry areas on my face and I have never had a problem with it personally.
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: Again, this is my favourite drugstore alternative for a great setting powder. I always buy the transparent shade as I don't like my powder to add any extra colour to my face. This powder also doesn't feel heavy on the skin or remotely powdery but it sets foundation extremely well. This is a great product to travel with as well and is quick and easy to use so I highly recommend it!
Contouring:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour Palette: This was the first contour palette that I tried and I am very impressed with it. I used it to death when I first bought it in LA in the Summer. The colours are great but I tend to lean towards Banana and Fawn on a daily basis. The powders are really nice to work with and are blendable as well.
Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette: I haven't has this palette as long as the Anastasia one but I really do prefer it. Both palettes have really nice powders, they are soft/creamy and easy to blend out. They aren't chalky in anyway and do a great job. I prefer the Kat Von D one because I think the shade range is slightly better for my skin tone (very very fair). With the Anastasia palette I find myself reaching for the same 2 shades whereas with the Kat Von D palette, I reach for a lot more shades. I sometimes mix highlight shades together and use darker contour shades in certain areas etc. I think the Kat Von D palette is easier for me to work with but I do love both of the products.
Blusher:
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette: I can't explain my love for this Blush palette - just look at it! My favourite shade is the 3rd one along called Mood Exposure, it gives a lovely mauve but slightly bronzy sheen to the cheeks, this also blends with my contour beautifully. These blushers give a lovely sheen to the face and help contribute to the 'glow' that I love to have every single day. They aren't glittery at all which is another reason why I like them. Before using this palette I always used matte shades for blusher but this has helped me branch out and try different products. Having a lovely sheen to the cheeks is never a bad thing!
MAC Melba: This is a matte blusher, this is great to throw on when you are in a rush - this is what I tend to use it for nowadays. But, the first half of the year this was the only blush that I would reach for. It has a peach undertone to it which really compliments my skintone.
Bronzer:
Benefit Hoola Bronzer: Writing this post has made me rediscover this product! I used this every single day for the first half of the year and I haven't touched it in ages. This is the best product to bronze up the skin, it can be used for a contour as well so it is a great multi-use product. I love the packaging as well, Benefit always do the cutest packaging. As you can tell from the photo, I have hit pan which clearly means I love it!
Highlight:
theBalm Mary Lou Manizer: This is a lovely highlight, especially for lighter complexions. It is a champagne gold shade that isn't too gold which makes it great if you have lighter skin like I do. I love having an intense highlight on the tops of my cheekbones and this product definitely achieves that.
MAC Soft and Gentle: This was my first ever highlighter. Soft and Gentle is a lovely pinky bronze highlight which gives the best glow to your cheekbones. I highly recommend this product to anyone, especially if you haven't used many highlighters before. This isn't too intense like the Mary-Lou highlighter but you can definitely build it up which I obviously love doing. This product also lasts for a very long time - I have never had to repurchase it and I have used this so many times.
Eyebrows:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Taupe: It goes without saying that Anastasia is the best brand for brow products. I could never go back to using anything else now. The Brow Wiz is the first brow product I tried and it has been the only brow pencil that I have used ever since. They have the best shade range as well, I often have trouble finding the right brow product shade as I do have a lot of blonde in my hair and no product ever has had the right tone in them apart from these.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade - Blonde: I didn't think I would ever get on well with the 'gel eyeliner' version of a brow product - the thought of this product really scared me. As I do have a lot of blonde in my hair I don't like my brows to be to over the top or too intense. The shade blonde works really well with my hair colour, it's got the right undertone with it and doesn't look too dark either which was my main concern before purchasing. I sometimes use both of these products together but I will always use Dipbrow as I do believe it helps bring my face to life now.
Eyes - Primer, Eyeshadows, Eyeliner and Mascara:
MAC Painterly Paint Pot - This will always be my favourite eye base, even on it's own it makes my face look a little more alive! I have been using this for years and recommend it to everyone when I am at work too. This shade pretty much works for everyone, even dark skin tones as it helps intensify the eyeshadow you put on top. The other shade I would recommend is Soft Ochre but I find this slightly too yellow for me personally, but this product as a whole is the BEST. A* to MAC for creating this!
MAC Tan Pigment: I love MAC pigments so much, they are messy but they are so worth it. I pretty much love using every single shade but Tan was my first ever one and it definitely still takes 1st place. The colour will suit absolutely everyone from the fairest of fair to the darkest skin as well. I use this probably 5 out of the 7 days a week (if I wore make up every single day). I always wear this to work as my main eyelid colour and customers always compliment it and ask what I'm wearing. It really is a great colour!
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: The original Naked palette was always my favourite and I rarely reached for 2 and 3 but this year I have discovered how amazing Naked 2 really is. As you can tell my all time favourite shade is YDK - I definitely need to buy a single eyeshadow in this shade. The only thing I wish this palette had was more matte shades that you could use as transition shades. I always reach for Tease for my transition shade when using this which does work for me really well I just wish there were more options. I love that there is a matte highlight shade and a matte black - these are 2 essential colours!
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette: This is the best eyeshadow palette if you like simple eye looks/matte shades/not experienced/on the go/travelling. The options are endless meaning this palette is perfect for everyone! I love how there is one shimmery light shade as well which you can use as an inner corner highlight or even all over the lid. My favourite shade in this palette is definitely Naked 2. It is the best transition shade as it isn't too warm or too cool.
Morphe 350 Eyeshadow Palette: My well loved Morphe palette! There has been a lot of recognition around this palette this year, it is very affordable and the quality is honestly so good as well. Clearly, if you don't like warm tones then stay away but I love warm tones and this can create the most beautiful eye. You can create so many different eye looks with this, light or dark, brown or orange, etc. There are so many options and I love the range of matte and shimmery shades. There are also 2/3 more metallic/foiled finishes which look amazing all over the eyelid as well if you like more of an intense eye - they look as if Fix+ has been built into them.
MAC Nordstrom Exclusive: I love this palette and haven't stopped using it since I got back from America. I use it every single day for work as they are obviously MAC shades. You can create so many different eye looks with this palette, you aren't limited to warm or cool shades as I love using both. Some of my favourites in this palette are All That Glitters, Saddle, Amber Lights, Embark and Carbon. I love that they included Carbon in this palette as a matte black eyeshadow is a staple in everyone's collection.
Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner: As you can tell from the picture, this is well loved as the writing has almost rubbed off! This happens with almost all of my products when they have been in my daily make up bag, it might sound silly but does anyone know how to prevent it? It's so annoying when you need to repurchase things! I love this eyeliner, the brush is really thin so it can create the perfect line on the top lash line without being too thick, it is also really nice for creating the wing, my trick is to wipe most of the product off when creating the wing incase you mess up.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: I discovered this mascara in New York (2014) and it has been my favourite mascara ever since. It is more a volumising mascara rather than length but if I want added length I will use a lengthening mascara underneath this one. It doesn't leave your eyelashes feeling or looking clumpy. The product is quite wet when you first start using it but this doesn't affect how it works, I like the product when it is wet and when it starts to dry out a little more. The brush is fairly large but not too large as my eyes are quite small.
Lips:
Blistex Lip Balm: I haven't come across a lip balm that hydrates and cures my lips as much as this one does. This is great before putting liquid lipsticks on as well as they can be quite drying on the lips. I always use this beforehand. I use this constantly throughout the day and go through these little pots like crazy but it is so worth it.
MAC Lip Pencil's - Soar and Nightmoth: These are definitely two of my favourite liners that I have used this year. The main reason that I have picked these two are because they look great on their own and they also look great with multiple lipsticks which is always beneficial when making a purchase. Soar is so well loved, I wear this shade at least 3 times a week if that, it is a beautiful pinky/brown shade - like the 'Kylie Jenner' lip shade that everyone wants. This also pairs well with so many lipsticks. I use this lip liner with Mehr, Velvet Teddy, Honeylove (if I want it a little more pinky), Twig, Faux etc. (all MAC shades). It is a really versatile colour. Nightmoth on the other hand is a beautiful dark plum shade. I love using this colour on it's own or it goes really well with Diva (which is my personal favourite combination) or more purple toned colours like Cyber or Smoked Purple - again, MAC shades. Diva and Nightmoth are my favourite lip combination if you want a really dark vampy red lip. Nightmoth add's more depth and purple to the overall colour.
NARS Audacious Lipstick - Anna: I bought this shade whilst in LA, I wore it for the rest of the trip and wore this shade for at least a month straight. It goes perfectly with Soar lip pencil as well. It's a lovely pink shade which has a slight browny undertone to it making it seem a little bit more wearable for day to day. The Audacious lipsticks are so lovely on the lips, this is a matte shade but it is not at all drying and I do suffer with dry lips. It feels so creamy on the lips and stays all day.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick - Dusty Rose: This is the same kind of colour as before but there you go, this is my favourites! It's a lovely dusty pink colour with some brown in it as well. I love this liquid lipstick as it isn't too drying on the lips. The way that this dry's matte is so beautiful and as you can imagine, it stays all day! You can't expect liquid lipstick to not be drying as they are bound to be but this particular formula takes a long while to feel horrible to the point where you have to take it off and reapply.
Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks - Lovesick, Exorcism, Lolita and Lolita 2: These are my favourite liquid lipstick formula that I have tried so far. The applicator makes them extremely easy to apply to the lips - I think when wearing liquid lipsticks, they need to look perfect or they look silly! The colour range is lovely, there are so many more colours that I want to try. Lolita is definitely my favourite and I need to buy the full size of it. Exorcism is the most beautiful dark shade as well, a lady in Sephora applied this on me in LA and it was so beautiful - she made me buy it!
MAC Lipsticks - Velvet Teddy, Mehr, Whirl, Stone and Diva: MAC lipsticks are definitely one of my favourite types of lipsticks on the market. The shade range is never ending, almost any shade you could possibly imagine, MAC will have it. These are 5 of my favourites that I have been using throughout 2015. They are all fairly popular shades too so I'm sure most of you would have heard of them, google swatches if you aren't familiar with them! I will be doing a MAC Lipstick collection soon though which will include swatches and lip swatches too. My two favourites finishes from MAC are Matte and Satin. They stay all day and never fail to impress me so these are definitely my favourite lipsticks for 2015.
-------------------------------------
THAT IS IT! I'm sorry that this post is so long but I wanted to go through each category and try and give a mini review for each product as well instead of just showing you the product and moving on. Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to see on my blog in the future, I would love to hear your recommendations! I am planning on starting YouTube soon if I can figure it all out so if you have any video ideas as well, I'd love to hear them.
Thank you so much for reading!
Hannah x
Foundation:
MAC Studio Waterweight: This foundation is fairly new to MAC so I have only been using it for around 2 months or so but it is such a lovely foundation I had to share it with you. It does give a natural/more sheer look to the skin rather than a full coverage but it looks amazing. It is a water based foundation which allows the base to look dewy and have a 'healthy glow'. It stays on really well which surprised me as I have never got on with water based foundations in the past.
Concealer:
Collection Lasting Perfection: Before discovering the Urban Decay concealer I used to reach for the Collection one a lot. This is a lot more affordable, I believe it is £4.19 from Boots or Superdrug. I have used this concealer for several years as well and never had a problem with it. I use it for under the eyes, spots etc. I haven't reached for it as much towards the end of the year as I have been loving the Urban Decay one far too much but Collection definitely takes 2nd place in this category.
Powder:
Contouring:
Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette: I haven't has this palette as long as the Anastasia one but I really do prefer it. Both palettes have really nice powders, they are soft/creamy and easy to blend out. They aren't chalky in anyway and do a great job. I prefer the Kat Von D one because I think the shade range is slightly better for my skin tone (very very fair). With the Anastasia palette I find myself reaching for the same 2 shades whereas with the Kat Von D palette, I reach for a lot more shades. I sometimes mix highlight shades together and use darker contour shades in certain areas etc. I think the Kat Von D palette is easier for me to work with but I do love both of the products.
Blusher:
Bronzer:
Highlight:
Eyebrows:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade - Blonde: I didn't think I would ever get on well with the 'gel eyeliner' version of a brow product - the thought of this product really scared me. As I do have a lot of blonde in my hair I don't like my brows to be to over the top or too intense. The shade blonde works really well with my hair colour, it's got the right undertone with it and doesn't look too dark either which was my main concern before purchasing. I sometimes use both of these products together but I will always use Dipbrow as I do believe it helps bring my face to life now.
Eyes - Primer, Eyeshadows, Eyeliner and Mascara:
Lips:
-------------------------------------
THAT IS IT! I'm sorry that this post is so long but I wanted to go through each category and try and give a mini review for each product as well instead of just showing you the product and moving on. Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to see on my blog in the future, I would love to hear your recommendations! I am planning on starting YouTube soon if I can figure it all out so if you have any video ideas as well, I'd love to hear them.
Thank you so much for reading!
Hannah x
