2017 Favorites: the Best of the Best!

[mrsbaine]

I can't believe we're already at the end of the year! We've missed a couple months of favorites, but I wanted to round it all out to the best of the best for the year. What have you purchased or fell back in love with this year that ended up making the Best of the Best list?! 

Here are mine: 

Makeup: 

Pat McGrath Mothership II Sublime Palette: I have all three palettes and this is the warmest of the three. I love it for everyday and evenings out. The formula is really what attracts me to this one. I love it. 

Becca x Chrissy Tiegan Palette: This was my favorite thing this summer. The blush color is perfect and I enjoyed having Rose Gold and that Nectar highlight. I wasn't so big on the bronzer as I don't wear them, but it made a nice crease color. 

Tom Ford soliel Blush Duo - Paradise Lust: Another summer favorite. I traveled with this all summer and loved that I was so into both shades. It blends so well and gives a great glow! 

Tom Ford Lipstick- Night Mauve: This rosey/coral color is my jam. When I swatched this color, I knew it was totally me. I've been in love with Mr. Ford's lipsticks since getting my first which I think was Reckless. This is the perfect everyday color for me. 

Makeup Favorites

Skincare: 

Uma Oils Clarifying Oil: Total game-changer for me. I just re-purchased bottle #3. This oil is amazing if anything weird is happening with my skin. It clears it up within 2 days. It's a total savior! 

Jordan Samuel Plie Cleanser (now known as After Show): I really like this for a first cleanse/makeup remover. I didn't think anything could beat my last cleanser but this stuff is amazing. It gets every little bit of makeup off and my skin feels so clean afterwards. The best part is the price: $20. 

Uma Oils Ultimate Brightening Mask: Talk about glow when you take this off. It lasts for days. I love this when I have an event I need to be glowy for, or if I'm feeling a little dull.

May Lindstrom The Youth Dew: I found this one last year, but it's the serum I keep coming back to for ultimate hydration and keeping my skin in check. It's expensive but I repurchase it every time. 

May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon: Similiar to the Youth Dew, this is a HG for me. I finished my first one; it lasted about a year, so that totally justifies the price. It helps my perpetually dry/dehydrated skin. 

Trish McEvoy Retinol Eye Cream: Another HG that I've been using for years. Nothing compares, so I simply don't try. 🙂 The only thing that keeps me from having to use a color corrector under my eyes. I don't know what magic Trish is working with but I love this product.  

Skincare Favorites

What are yours?!?!? 

[Anonymous]

This is such a great topic!  Thank you @mrsbaine for starting this thread.  Looking forward to seeing what made everyone's best of the best list!  Here are mine:

SKINCARE

In general, the whole K-Beauty approach to skincare tops my list.  I delved into Korean Beauty products and the approach to skincare in the late spring/early summer and have not regretted it one bit - my wallet has not been very fond of the many purchases I have made, but my skin has been very happy.  There are so many amazing K-Beauty products, and my skincare routine is a combination of Korean and non-Korean skincare products.  I’d have to say that my best of the best are:

Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence which I recently discovered.  You'll pay dearly for it, but totally worth it, in my opinion - I'll be budgeting this into my beauty spend for years to come because it's going to be a constant in my skincare collection.  It's lightweight, absorbs quickly, is not tacky or sticky and hydrates, clarifies and makes my skin look and feel softer, smoother and more alive.  This is the real deal and I hope they never stop making it!

Blithe splash mask - it's a exfoliant and toner/serum in one.  This cuts down the time it takes me to get ready in the morning - after using it in the shower, my skin is soooo smooth and soft and all I have to do is put on my moisturizer, sunblock and whatever makeup look I'm going for and I'm done. 

Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel - My dry skin loves hyaluronic acid. I've used the Skinceuticals gel for years and while I venture out and try other serums, I keep coming back to this one.  It hydrates my skin and preps it for my moisturizer. 

Eminence Licorice Root Booster Serum - I have some stubborn sunspots and hyperpigmentation from a few acne scars that I've been working on clearing up and this product has helped immensely.  I was surprised to see results as quickly as I did but my skin just loves this stuff. 

Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser was a surprise skincare love for me this year.  I generally find foam cleansers to be too stripping for my dehydrated combination skin and particularly the areas where I’m dry – for the oilier parts, it’s fine.  This Neogen one is, for whatever reason, different than other foam cleansers I have tried in the past – it’s my go-to for a second cleanse.  It gives me a deep cleanse feeling without making my skin, especially the drier parts of my face, feel uncomfortably tight. 

Leaders sheet masks - oh how I love them! I pretty much love all of the sheet mask lines they make (there's one that is just "meh" for me) - the best of the best from the Leaders brand are the 7 Wonders Amazonian Acai Anti-Pollution Biocellulose Mask and the Aquaringer (which I have on now), Vita Brightening, Aloe Soothing, Tea Tree and AC Treatment sheet masks from their treatment/renewal line of sheet masks.

Eminence Arctic Berry Peel & Peptide Illuminating System - this I use every other week as part of my at-home facial routine.  It cleans, brightens and hydrates my skin.  It's the next best thing to actually going in for a professional facial.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask - this keeps my face free of dry patches and flakes. Every night I use it, my skin looks noticeably more fresh and hydrated.  Every.  Time.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask - what the water sleeping mask does for my face, this does for my lips - bye, bye dry, chapped lips! 

IT Cosmetics Anti-Aging Armour SPF 50 - it's a tinted sunblock.  On good skin days, I can just wear this in lieu of foundation, but most days, I will still need to apply concealer to conceal the dark spots and hyperpigmentation on my face.  Prior to this I used Skinceuticals tinted sunblock, which was great, but for it making my skin look oily after application.  The IT Cosmetics SPF has more of a demi-matte finish.

MAKEUP 

I have so many favorites, and just so many lipsticks and glosses in general.  😉  This year, I have been loving the NARS Velvet Lip Glides – Bound, in particular.  I found the Lip Glides as a whole to be very hydrating (which is a must for these dry lips of mine) and comfortable to wear.  Formula is smooth, not tacky, and it truly does glide on the lips – it’s like a hybrid of a lipstick and gloss. Love the color selection and the pigmentation in the lippies is very rich.  Wear time isn’t bad and I like the stain it leaves on my lips.    

Best foundation is a hard one, too… the best of the best for the year, huh?  Too Faced Born This Way for liquid foundation – discovered it earlier this year and has been the liquid foundation I reach for most often on the days I use liquid foundation.  For powder foundations, Sephora Collection Microsmooth Baked Foundation Face Powder.  This, along with the NARS concealer, are my weekend go-to.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is and has been my HG for covering blemishes and hyperpigmentation. Love. 

I don’t think I can pick an eyeshadow palette that was the best of the best for the year – admittedly, I like to stare at my palettes more than use them (a bad habit I hope to rid myself of next year).  As for single eyeshadows, Burberry Pale Barley is the perfect wash of color for my lids; it’s buildable and versatile too (i.e., crease, outer V, soft wash of color applied dry, but adds a nice pop to the eye when applied wet).  I can’t see myself without this.

TOOLS

I have stick straight lashes, that are often resistant to holding a curl.  A shot of heat from the blow dryer to my Shu Uemura eye lash curler and my lashes curl and I instantaneously look more awake.   Over the years, I’ve tried several other lash curlers but find that the design and shape of this one really works well with my eyes and lashes. 

[MissPuff]

@Anonymous Neogen Green Tea Foam cleanser and Leaders Coconut Gel Series sheet masks, check check! I've been actively avoiding even samples of the Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence because everyone loves it so much and I just cannot add another pricey product to my line up (especially when I've got at least 2 other essences to work through first) I will live vicariously through all your glowing skin!

[Anonymous]

oooooh, I'm intrigued @MissPuff - what other essences are you loving or trying out? 

Good call on avoiding samples - that is, in part, how I got hooked!  Well played, Amore Pacific and Sephora; well played! 

[Kim888]

@Anonymous I will definitely be looking some of that skin care up!  I’ve been very interested in trying more K-beauty. And lkke you said below the velvet glides guides are so good!

[Anonymous]

@Kim888, I've been loving K-beauty skincare products since learning about it.  Please do keep me posted of skincare finds that you like!

[blackkitty2014]

@Anonymous, i have the Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence as a deluxe sample (from NM beauty cue).  I keep forgetting about it.  I need to try it out.  I usually adore Amore Pacific products.  I think most of their products are excellent.  Their Time Response line is simply the best except for the price. Sigh!!!  Edit: I love love that Laneige lip mask.  It saves my lips this winter.  Bye bye dry chap lips is right 😉

[Anonymous]

@blackkitty2014, you are spot on - their products are excellent!  Worth the price tag!

You have to try it the Vintage Single Extract Essence!  It truly is amazing! It's thin and lightweight in consistency, absorbs so well and my skin just loves it! Give it a go and let me know what you think!

Oh yes, that Laneige lip mask is going to keep my lips happy this winter.  I forgot to take it with me this past weekend and there was a noticeable difference. 

[suzyo]

This was really hard to narrow down.

Some of these are things I wanted for so long, but convinced myself I didn't need them.

Marc Jacobs Air Blush- I have Lines & Last Night, Flesh & Fantasy, and Kinks & Kisses. These blend sooo easily and last so long on the face. I wanted these from day 1 and finally bought these 3, and I'm so happy I did.

Marc Jacobs Bronzer Brush and The Face II Brush- I wanted the bronzer brush for years. I told myself that is way to much to pay. I ended up buying the entire collection from Marc Jacobs direct for $200 during a F&F sale and these 2 are my favorite of the bunch. The Face brush surprised me the most though. It's the best brush I've found for blending out my MUFE stick foundation for sure.

NARS Soft Matte Concealer- I have pretty dry undereyes and most concealers make it worse. This concealer covers the best, and looks the best. It doesn't completely cover dark circles, but it's the best coverage I've found yet.

NARS Lip Tints in Double Decker and Ephelide- I'm not surprised to see others list these. They are very comfortable and fade gracefully. They never feel sticky and I don't ever feel the need for balm when I wear them. I like the staying power too, I hate when 1 sip of water takes away lip products.

Tom Ford Ultimate Bronzer in Terra- I have dry skin and often have issues with bronzer looking patchy on my forehead near my hairline. This is so smooth and lasts a long time on the skin, and the color is perfect for me. I also like how it's impossible to over apply it.

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Cleanser- This face wash is like the Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging gel cleanser (the orange one) I like this one better because it exfoliates better and is less drying. I lather a generous amount on my face and let it sit for about 60 seconds before rinsing and my skin is left so soft. I wake up the next morning to a smoother face.

Josie Maran Argan Oil- Now I used this prior to 2017, but this year I tried other things and really those other products only cemented my love for this stuff. My skin just reacts to it the best. It absorbs the best, and I wake up nice and hydrated. I can tell when I don't use it.

[blackkitty2014]

Yup!! That Tom Ford Terra is something special.  I liked "i dont see any bronzer on my face but then i see all the effects that a bronzer should do" Love it @suzyo!

[Anonymous]

Those Marc Jacobs brushes are amazing, @suzyo!  Your post reminds me to find my Glow Recipe Blueberry cleanser - thanks!

[mrsbaine]

MJ brushes are some great ones! Good pics! It's always hard to narrow it down. 

[concreteroads]

Great thread! I bought a LOT this year, and it's definitely been an eye-opening exercise to look back and reflect on my true favourites. 

WINNERS:

NARS x Charlotte Gainsbourg Lip Tint in Ephelide: I bought all three Lip Tints and it's generally just a really nice, lightweight, ultra comfortable formula with a beautiful semi-translucent glassy finish. But Ephelide is my favourite for how unexpectedly pigmented it is! 

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Cushion Foundation in 03N: Just bought this during the November sale, but I fell in love with the formula and delivery mechanism instantly! It's not precisely the right shade for me (it is a little bit different from the LdP Fluide, as I wear 03N in that line and it's more of a perfect match for my skintone-- the cushion 03N is slightly darker and more red in undertone), but the beautiful finish and ease of application makes up for it. My neck is normally covered up in the winter anyways so I can get away with this not being a totally perfect match lol. And I think it will match me in summer since I turn ruddier when I tan! 

Becca First Light Priming Filter: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, since a primer is a primer is a primer, right? But the lavender of this is subtly brightening, and it wears well under makeup. 

Kevyn Aucoin Neo Limelight in Ibiza: This was so freaking expensive but so worth. (It's also value if you count price per gram, since this is a whopping TWENTY-ONE grams for $75 CAD.) Despite the white gold-pink-purple gradient, this looks subtly luminous and even natural on the skin. It can be an everyday highlighter, or built up for that ethereal fairy glow.

Laneige Two-Tone Lipstick in 011 Juicy Pop: I bought this because it was featured in a really popular Korean drama this year... The bright pink/yellow gradient was a bit daunting at first, but this is a really lovely coral on the lips. 

Philosophy Pure Grace Summer Surf: I don't generally like mainstream perfumes as I find them usually too heavy, but this is perfection! It's summer in a bottle and not too cloying even with liberal application. I also went and bought the huge bottle of lotion in this scent, that's how much I liked it.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard: My saving grace makeup product for this year. So easy, so natural, and perfect for someone like me who is too lazy to wear makeup on the daily but also has a lot of acne and hyperpigmentation to cover up. I will literally be waiting at the bus stop in the morning and slap this on-- the colour match is good so it's pretty foolproof for spot concealing. 

Bite Multistick in Almond: I think I might have gotten this at the end of 2016 actually... but putting this on the list anyways because LOVE. It's too brown for my lips but I actually adore this as an easy one-and-done eyeshadow, just blown out all over the lid. It definitely got me hooked on the Multistick formula, and now I have four more: Mochi, Mauvember 2017, Papaya, and Cashew. 

NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm: Got a sample of this and fell in love. Super natural sheen, not at all glittery, really easy to apply and blend out. Definitely buying a FS next year during the spring. 

Glossier Cloud Paints: LOVE. They're very similar to the NARS Liquid Blush, although slightly less easy to work with. The shades are really pretty and natural though-- I own Dusk, Haze, and most recently Puff. 

RUNNERS-UP: (I like all of these, but they're not my ~all time faves~ currently, either because I haven't had as much opportunity to play with them or because they're those boring staple items that are actually essential to a good beauty routine.) 

Kat von D Alchemist Palette: I haven't worn this out a lot, but this is such a great palette. The shades are very creamy but also easy to work with, and more wearable than you'd expect. I love using these as inner corner highlights for an interesting pop of colour, or the green and pink shades particularly as cheek highlights. 

Boscia Tsubaki Splash Mask: Just got this during the sale, but I've been using every day. I think this could really end up being a fave! Easy to apply at the end of my shower, and it makes my skin feel wonderful, soft and hydrated. 

Colourpop Polite AF Super Shock Shadow Collection: I've only worn this a couple times (also bought within the last month), but already I am loving this formula!! These make awesome centre-of-the-lid pops. Very easy to work with.

Bite Agave Lip Mask: Yep, one of the aforementioned boring staples. One tube lasts ages, and it makes my lips feel awesome. 

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Red Berry: Again, just bought during the sale, but I've really been enjoying this and reaching for it a lot. The scent is blargh to me (I get cherry cough syrup!) but this provides great shine and leaves my lips feeling genuinely hydrated. 

[Kim888]

I’ve been loving the bite beauty multisticks as well this year @concreteroads ! And of course the NARS concealer as well 

[concreteroads]

The Multistick formula is just wonderful, and the shades are so versatile! What's your favourite way to wear it @Kim888? (eyes, lips, or cheeks?)

[Kim888]

Definitely lips! I got their muavember shade and I love it! How about you @concreteroads ?

[concreteroads]

@Kim888 Yeah, the Mauvember shade this year is really nice 🙂 That's also why I went with the Multistick option over the Liquified lip (even though everyone seems to love the liquid Mauvember), so I could use it for other purposes if it didn't look right on my lips. 

My personal preference is actually eyes!!! I find the formula the perfect consistency for cream eyeshadow, and it's so easy to use. I'm too lazy to use the Multisticks as cream blush generally (although Mauvember 2017 specifically looks gorgeous as blush) and the shades aren't always quite right for my lips-- e.g. Almond is beautiful on my eyes but too brown on my lips. 

[Anonymous]

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is a favorite of mine as well, @concreteroads, for all the reasons you listed and more!  

[mrsbaine]

I, too, was late on the Clarins lip oils and absolutely love them now! 

[concreteroads]

@mrsbaine They're awesome! A bit pricy for what they are, but I think I might pick up 1-2 more eventually, because I love the lip oil format. Now if only the tint was just a bit stronger... then it would be perfect. 

[sister13]

Great thread! I’m thinking over here of what to include!

[kaaaylarr]

Sorry for the terrible lighting but these are my 2017 Favorites! •Fenty Beauty Killawatt Duo Highlighter • Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Bronzed Bell • Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Amore •UD Vice Lipstick in Broken • ABH Powder Contour Kit • ABH Master Palette by Mario •Tartelette in Bloom •Tartelette Toasted •Sephora bright future concealer •Esteé Lauder Double wear stay in place foundation •Clinique beyond perfecting foundation and concealer •Sephora Coconut water cleansing wipes