2018 Annual Beauty Favorites

Happy New Year!  I am so excited to get 2019 started.

I haven’t done a monthly favorites since October — the end of the year has been so crazy!  But I want to look back on a few of my favorites for 2018. I’ve chosen my favorite makeup in each category I use — and a skincare favorite or two.

Even though I am just picking one (or so) from each category, I needed two photos to capture my faves.  And I am going in order of application:

The two skincare products I’ve chosen are the Derma E Firming DMAE Cleanser and the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream.  I featured the Derma E Cleanser in my most recent Project Pan.  I was proud that I panned it, but I’m also sad that I’m all out!  It really cleanses the skin without drying it out.  And it didn’t irritate my sensitive skin.  I just started using the Elemis cream.  It is so beautiful!  I started out using it morning and night, but I’m almost out, so I only use it in the morning.  It’s so nice under makeup.  It’s smooths and hydrates my skin and my makeup applies smoother.

I then like to spritz some Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water. I discovered it this year and really like using it before pore filling primer.  My favorite has been the Cover FX Blurring Primer.  I’m almost out of it, but I love how well it fills in my pores.  I received it in BoxyCharm and am very impressed bye it. I want to try more primers from Cover FX this year.  I next like to apply BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector before I apply foundation and concealer.  It instantly makes my dark circles look lighter.

My favorite foundation this year is the Physician’s Formula The Healthy Foundation. I have it in the shade LC1. It’s a bit light for me, except for this time of year.  I will probably purchase it in a darker shade for the spring and summer.  It has a natural medium coverage finish which is exactly what I like in a foundation. I have used up a Flower Beauty Light Illusion Concealer and am working on a second one now that I found in my drawer.  I think the first one I used was in Fair and this one is in Light, but they are both so beautiful on.  It’s full coverage but looks very natural. I just panned the Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder in 10 Fair Light.  I have been using it for most of 2018. It sets the face so nicely and gives a hint of color.

After I apply my foundation and powder, I bronze with the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer.  I purchased this in the spring and have been using it all year! It applies smoothly and blends out so well.  And the smell is divine! The Natasha Denona Super Glow Highlighter in #1 Fair is one of my favorites of the year.  I purchased this when I was trying to buy the Anastasia Amrezy Highlighter earlier in the year, but it was sold out.  (I have recently purchased it and will be reviewing it soon). The Natasha highlighter is very blinding, but can be toned down with a little powder.

Speaking of Anastasia, I purchased a Blush Trio in Peachy Love earlier this year at an Ulta sale. I love mixing the first and third color to brighten up my light skin.  I also love the bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush in On the Mauve for cooler toned looks. To finish off face products, I want to mention the Urban Decay setting sprays, especially the Chill Cooling and Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray.  I used it up this fall and don’t have the bottle, but it was my summer setting spray.  It feels so nice on and  my makeup lasts all day.

For eye shadow this year, my favorite is the Urban Decay Born To Run Eyeshadow Palette.  I love the quality and the variety of colors. My honorable mention is one I just received in my BoxyLuxe, the Violet Voss Holy Grail PRO Eyeshadow Palette.  I don’t know when this was released, but it’s new to me! I still need to review it, but spoiler alert, it’s gorgeous!

I have short, sparse lashes so although mascara helps, my lashes never looked amazing until I started using the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Primer under my mascara.  I received a small sample in an Ulta order in Spring and I purchased a full size.  I think it’s time to get another one, because I don’t want to be without!  The Buxom Lash Mascara works perfectly over it and my lashes look long and lush, almost like I’m wearing falsies!

Although my lashes are sparse, my brows are dark and full.  As I age, they are finally thinning out and I have started to fill them in.  I received the L.A. Girl Shady Slim Brow Pencil as a free gift the same time I received the L’Oreal lash primer.  The words have rubbed off, so I’m not even sure what the shade is.  I think it’s Blackest Brown.  Whatever it is, it’s perfect for me!  It’s very thin and easy to draw on brow hairs.  And it has a nice spooly on the end.  I’ts only $5.99 so I will be purchasing  new one once I run out.

And lastly is lips.  I am sooooo glad that gloss made a comeback this year!  Light rosy and nude glosses are my favorites.  I love a lot — Buxom, Lorac, Dose of Colors — but my favorite is the Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow.  It’s a beautiful nude-rose shade and is really hydrating, not sticky at all.  My favorite lipstick is the Lipstick Queen Nothing But the Nudes in Nothing But The Truth.  I also love The Truth and The Whole Truth.  These are the original three in the collection, but there are now 6 more nude shades and I want them!  These lipsticks are creamy and hydrating on.  So nice if you like nude lipsticks!

Whew!  That was a long post!  What did you love this year?  Any winners I should check out?