Favorites of 2018: Beauty & Fashion
Happy New Year, y’all! I hope you had a very fun and safe celebration yesterday. Last week, I posted part one of my 2018 favorites. In case you missed it, you can catch up here to read see all my home and lifestyle favorites from the past year. This post will focus on all the beauty and fashion favorites. Many of these have been mentioned before and I will be linking back to each product accordingly. I love all things beauty, so you know this will be a long one. Grab a snack and let’s chat!
Fashion
When it comes to clothes, I tend to keep it pretty basic. I like simple, comfortable clothes that can all match with each other and can also be paired with any accessory. I fell in love with the long sleeve tops from A New Day (at Target) last year and have gone back to get some short sleeves too. I started with black and white, but I wouldn’t be surprised if my selection grows soon. Especially with all the sales they have, I just can’t help myself!
I mentioned this sleep jacket in my November favorites and I have been livinggg in it this past month. I’m always cold and this is the perfect solution. I got it for $13 at Walmart! I usually wear a small in everything, but I sized up to a large in this so it’d be extra cozy. It seriously feels like I’m walking around in a blanket and it has pockets! I love it!
When you live in Florida, it’s not uncommon to have a bathing suit collection as big as the rest of your wardrobe. I like to add a few new pieces every year and these were such great finds last Summer. I picked them up at Marshalls for $5 each! They’re the Aerie brand from American Eagle, which makes it even more exciting. I love the shape of these and that they won’t leave any tan lines around the neck or upper chest area. These are so comfortable and for once, I actually appreciated not wearing a suit with underwire.
I discovered Viv Collection leggings on Amazon earlier this year and I love them so much, I’ve bought four more! I never bought into the whole Lularoe hype and this is exactly why. These leggings are everything I need for a fraction of the price. I can move around as much as I want and they won’t slip out of place, there’s a million styles to choose from, and they feel like actual butter. I’m obsessed!!
Since I work from home, I basically live in sweatpants and pajama pants. I’m pretty much a comfort expert at this point! Earlier this year, I found two pajama pants at TJ Maxx and they are some of the softest pants I’ve ever worn. They’re super lightweight and even work great just for lounging.
Aeropostale has the best sweatpants I’ve ever found. This is kinda embarrassing, but I’ve had a pair of their sweatpants for over 13 years. They’ve held up extremely well and just now started getting holes in the waistline a few months ago. I replaced them with this cream pair during the Black Friday sales and I almost wish I would’ve bought two!
Hats have been a hugeee part of my outfits this year! This salmon pink Knott’s Berry Farm hat is definitely my favorite because I love the way the stitching looks on it, but Walmart also has a good selection. I bought this tan hat for under $5 to go with my Halloween costume and I’ve been wearing it all the time since then. It matches with everything!
My obsession with tennis shoes started last year and has only gotten worse. I found this white Skechers pair at Target and I love the little gold accents. Black and white tennis shoes are such a wardrobe staple and this Adidas pair from Marshalls were such a great find. Both of these are slip ons, which I’m all about and they also both have foam on the inside to make it even more comfortable.
Although I do like to switch up my earrings every now and then if I have a certain pair that match an outfit perfectly, but for the most part I always just go with some sterling silver cubic zirconia studs. I found this set at Target for $20 and have been wearing them almost daily. They’re so shiny and are big enough to even be seen with my hair down. I especially appreciate how they light up the face by complimenting the whites of my eyes and teeth. Who doesn’t want that??
Skincare
I first tried out the Pixi Glow Tonic last December and I’ve continued to use it all year. It’s very gentle on the skin and although I can’t pinpoint exactly what it does to improve my skin, I can definitely tell that it makes a difference. It’s never given me any issues with breakouts. It just kinda makes my skin look happy and healthy.
This Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm came in my October Boxycharm and I honestly wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I do. I thought it was kind of a gimmicky product, but it really does remove every drop of makeup off of my face. This has been replacing my regular face wash in my makeup removal routine because I’m still so surprised with the magic of this product. It’s so fun to use!
Lush bubble bars are by far the best bubble bath product on the market. They smell absolutely delicious and they provide more bubbles than any other product I’ve ever tried. My favorites so far are the Milky Bath, the Comforter, and the Brightside. The Milky Bath is more relaxing, the Brightside is refreshing, and the Comforter smells like bubblegum!
After trying the Evian Facial Spray earlier this year, I’ve been kicking myself for not trying it sooner. This is another one I thought was too gimmicky because I didn’t really understand what the point of it was. I couldn’t have been more wrong! I use this almost every day to set my makeup and to refresh throughout the day. I don’t think it necessarily helps to extend the wear time of makeup, it’s more to help everything melt into the skin. I can immediately tell a difference after a quick spritz of this spray!
I’ve struggled with pimple-like bumps on my thighs for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried everything I can think of and this Amlactin Daily Moisturizing body lotion is the only thing that has helped. Although it hasn’t been officially diagnosed, I’m 98% sure what I’m struggling with is keratosis pilaris. If so, the lactic acid in this lotion helps to break down the excess keratin on the skin so it can breathe. Diagnosed or not, this lotion works!!
The L’oreal Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self Tanning Milk is another lotion that really works. I posted a full review on this one with before and after photos. I did receive this one from Influenster, but I will definitely be repurchasing it myself once this bottle is empty. It’s such an easy lotion that adds a healthy glow to the skin.
Makeup
Although I’ve yet to find the perfect primer for my skin, this Cover FX Blurring Primer is a really good option. I got it in my May Boxycharm, but it’s a little too pricey for me to be willing to repurchase it. It reminds me a lot of Benefit’s Porefessional primer. I’ve had both and can tell zero difference between the two. They even smell the same! It’s a very smooth primer and visibly blurs the pores immediately after application.
Dark circles have always been a struggle for me and while the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles concealer has kept me satisfied for years, I’ve been amazed at the difference this L’oreal Color Correcting Crayon has made. I use it in the Peach shade and apply it under my foundation. It doesn’t feel heavy or make the under eyes look cakey. It’s very lightweight and feels like nothing once blended into the skin.
I thought I would switch up my foundation this year more than I actually did. I stuck with my favorite Elf Acne Fighting Foundation and even bought a lighter shade (Porcelain) to carry me through the Winter months. After staying in place throughout my entire wedding day, I know it’s one I can always count on.
This was also the year I rediscovered powder foundations. I really only used the Maybelline Superstay Better Skin powder foundation in the shade Classic Ivory, but it’s been so enjoyable. Besides the full review I posted about it, it was also a frequent feature in my monthly favorites. This provides such good coverage! It acts as my foundation, concealer, and powder, making application a breeze.
This Laura Mercier Translucent Setting powder is very similar to the Evian spray, I can’t believe it’s finally making it into one of my yearly favorites. I’ve held off on trying this powder for so long and now I totally understand the hype behind it. In my full review, I described it as a real-life Instagram filter on your face and that’s exactly how I feel every time I apply this powder. It’s pure magic!
Makeup Geek bronzers will always be my favorite, specifically shades Love Triangle and Bad Habit. But a new favorite I discovered this year is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Bronzer in the shade Sunkissed. It doesn’t have talc and provides such a natural color to the skin with the hint of orange that it has in the powder. When mixed with the other shades, it looks like such a natural sunkissed color.
Another new Neutrogena favorite is their Healthy Skin Blush in the shade Vibrant. It is a little bit more of a brighter blush than what I would typically gravitate towards, but it always looks beautiful on the skin. Just like bronzers, Makeup Geek blushes are my favorite over anything else. This year, my specific shade favorite is Heart Throb. It matches perfectly with the warm-toned eyeshadow trend and is incredibly pigmented. Talc-free also plays a huge role in both of these formulas beating out all others on the market.
The only face palette that was impressive enough to be included in my yearly favorites is The Needs palette from The Emily Edit collaboration with Makeup Revolution. Everything about this palette is absolute perfection. The color selection, the formula, the pigmentation, the blendability, everything! Aside from removing the talc in the face powders, there’s not one thing I would change about this palette. Emily did an amazing job and I feel so much pride every time I hold this in my hands.
The only brow product that was a true favorite this year was the Maybelline Brow Precise eyebrow pencil. The shade I use is Soft Brown and it matches me perfectly. Not only is the pencil precise enough for my thin brows, it’s also one of the most buttery formulas I’ve ever worked with. I barely have to touch this on the skin and it lays down all the color I need. The spoolie on the opposite end is the perfect density. I’ve even reached for this pencil when using other brow products just for this spoolie!
The Milani eyeshadow primer has always been my go-to, but this year I’ve also been enjoying the Be a Bombshell Cosmetics eye base and the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Chromes. With the Eye Chromes, I don’t have a favorite color between Beige Luster and Gilded Rose. I only have the Be a Bombshell eye base in the shade Submissive, but it’s incredibly versatile. Both of these formulas have been extremely impressive with my incredibly oily eyelids.
Ofra’s Rodeo Drive is a favorite both as a highlighter and an eyeshadow. It’s the perfect champagne gold color that I absolutely love. It’s very smooth and intensely pigmented. I know I can pair this with any eyeshadow combo and it’s guaranteed to look gorgeous. Although this is a more high-end product, it’s one that I think is worth it because of its large pan size.
The other single eyeshadows that I’ve been enjoying this year are all from Makeup Geek -- clearly one of my all-time favorite brands! The specific shades I’m currently obsessed with are Creme Brulee, Cocoa Bear, and Tuscan Sun. I featured this combo in a recent tutorial and it has been one that I’ve worn consistently all year long. It’s just so flattering!
The best eyeliner I’ve tried this year, and maybe even the best I’ve ever used in my entire life, is the Elf Cream eyeliner in the shade Coffee. I picked it up on sale at Target and it was the best $1.50 I’ve ever spent. The shade is the perfect dark brown that I love and the formula won’t budge all day long. I’ve never found that in an eyeliner before. Finally!!
Eyeshadow palettes. Oh boy, how do I even narrow it down?? This was definitely the year of the eyeshadow palettes. I loved so many that I tried!! It started with the Profusion Cosmetics Mixed Metals Peach palette. That forced me into the whole warm-toned eyeshadow world. The Let’s Talk Eyes palette from the Pixi x Weylie collab was one that I was most surprised by. The color selection, pigmentation, and quality was equally perfect in both.
Although I didn’t fall in love with the Alamar Reina Del Caribe eyeshadow palette the first time I used it (or even the second or third time), but the more testing I did the more I started appreciating what it had to offer. I did end up reaching for this palette pretty frequently because the matte shades and the two top shimmer shades are so unique and easy to work with. I hear there’s talks of a second version of this palette and I’m excited to see what that’s all about -- hopefully soon!
My first experience with ColourPop products was a really negative one and I honestly was not excited about this Semi-Precious palette at all when I first got it in my April Boxycharm. The whole palette still isn’t my favorite because it’s completely full of shimmers, but I have been reaching for the first Celestial shade pretty frequently. The quality in this palette is much better than the other powder products I’ve tried from ColourPop in the past and I definitely want to try more of their pressed eyeshadows in this new year.
I mentioned The Needs face palette from The Emily Edit collaboration with Makeup Revolution and The Wants palette is just as amazing. Emily did a wonderful job with the colors in this palette. It has everything you could ever need! This was my first introduction into Makeup Revolution and I’m so impressed with the quality. I’m looking forward to adding more of their products into my collection this year.
The Pür Cosmetics Soirée Diaries eyeshadow palette will always have a special place in my heart because that’s what I wore on my wedding day. I try to save this one for special occasions and I definitely get all giddy inside when I reach for the same shades that I did in my bridal suite. ♥
The Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curl mascara is the only mascara I tried this year that was good enough to make it into my yearly favorites. It’s definitely not the best mascara in the world, but it is pretty good and I did enjoy it during the majority of the year. I like how much it separates and curls each individual lash, and I think the tube packaging is a fun twist.
Pixi really killed it with the lip products this year. I never thought I’d like a matte liquid lipstick as much as I love their MatteLast Liquid Lips. I love every single shade in the collection and can wear them as often as I want without worrying about the formula drying out my lips. Their Lip Icing in the shade Cake from the Chloe Morello collab is so beautiful and comfortable. I can pair it with any other lip product to give me that juicy gloss finish that I love!
The Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in the shade Fresh Papaya and the Wet n Wild Balm stain in the shade Rico Mauve are two crayon type products that I got the most use out of this year. The Neutrogena is almost like a lip butter type of product in how comfortable it is. The Wet n Wild is just as comfortable, but provides an intense stain when wiped off. I hate eating with lip product on and this is the best solution!
Ulta’s Lip Butter in the shade Enticing has been a favorite since the moment I brought it home. I’m not sure if they make this any more since I can’t find it on their website, but I hope they bring it back at some point. It’s so comfortable and this particular shade is the perfect match for a warm-brown eye.
I was always curious about L’oreal’s Infallible Lip Paints and this year I finally tried them. They’re just as comfortable as I imagined they would be! They have the same tube packaging that the Wander Beauty mascara has, which makes it so unique and fun. The two shades that have been in my constant rotation are Spicy Blush and Nude Star. I can’t get enough!!
Nails
My old favorite base coat stopped working for me earlier this year, so I switched to Essie’s First Base base coat and was extremely impressed. I did my research and there’s a reason why this base coat has such high ratings. It’s helped keep my nail polish in place for an entire seven days! If you don’t believe me, check out my full review with pictures for proof!
This EMMA nail polish line is a more recent discovery, but the base coat and top coat were immediately impressive. Even after a week of wear, I still have an incredibly hard time removing my polish and that’s because this formula locks it in! I’m waiting to see if this top coat thickens over time like Seche Vite, but so far I’m very happy with it. Stay tuned for a full review of this brand coming soon!
I was very much about the lighter color nail polishes this year. There’s many different polishes that I would switch between, but the majority of my nail colors this year were all very light and soft. I’m still completely obsessed. I just love how colors like these provide such a gentle look to the hands. The particular shades shown below are Essence Sweet As Candy, KL Polish Coconut Milk, and Sally Hansen’s Pink A Card.
Tools
The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge has been my favorite ever since it was released and this year, they introduced a bigger version for the face and body. It’s not as squishy as my smaller sponges from the brand, but I love how quickly it blends everything into the skin. I forgot how much of an airbrushed finish a sponge application can feel on the face!
The Brow Gal Angled Eyebrow brush has been the best for applying the Elf Cream liner. It’s the thinnest brush I have in my collection and helps me to get the eyeliner as close to my lash line as I want it to be. I don’t have to worry about control with this brush and it’s never given me anything but amazing results.
I’ve stuck with the same eyeshadow brushes for the longest time and this year I finally had the courage to test new techniques with new shaped brushes. Thank goodness I did because it has seriously stepped up the wear time of my eyeshadow. I’ve been using the Elf Contour brush to pack the color onto my lid. Packing the shadow on helps keep it in place longer rather than applying it with a blending brush like I used to do.
Profusion Cosmetics brushes have all been very impressive this year. Whether they come in a palette or with a set of products, I’ve loved them all. None of them have names and they’re not available individually, which is something I hope they change very soon. But when I try a new product of theirs, the brush is just as exciting as the actual product itself!
I cannot believe I’ve actually made it to the end of this post! And I thought my home and lifestyle favorites was a long one! I tried to condense this as much as possible, but this was an incredibly good year in the makeup world and there were so many wonderful things to share. If there’s any of these that you haven’t tried already, I definitely recommend it. They’re all amazing!
If you have any other questions about any of the products I mentioned, please feel free to leave them for me in the comments section below. Have you tried any of these products before? What were some of your beauty and fashion favorites of 2018?
XO ♥ Christina ♥
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