It’s that time of the year! As the 2019 approaches, it’s time to review my favorite products of the past year.
While there’s a not a product for every category (for example, I didn’t have a favorite blush this year), the products below are some of my absolute favorites from 2018.
Keep on reading if you’re interested! 🙂
L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara
I know, I know. Everyone and their mother has been talking about the L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara. But it’s with good reason! This is the mascara that does it all – length, volume, thickness, aaaaand all at an affordable price point. Does it get better than that? I don’t think so.
L’Oreal Pro-Glow Foundation
The Pro-Glow foundation is hands down my favorite foundation of all time. It obviously deserved a spot on this list! The Pro-Glow foundation gives the most beautiful coverage and truly looks like skin. Personally, I prefer foundations that provide medium coverage, give a natural, skin-like appearance, and also provide a little glow. This checks all the boxes and more. The wear-time is also wonderful; I’ve had this last beautifully on my skin for over 12 hours with no problems. I’ve been out of this since the summer and cannot wait to pick up another bottle!
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
Another favorite foundation of the year is the It Cosmetics CC+ Cream. Don’t be fooled by the name, though. While it claims to be a CC cream, the coverage is much more like a full-coverage foundation. It’s no surprise that I loved this, considering I love the Pro-Glow as well. I’d actually say the two are pretty similar in terms of the final looks it gives on the skin. Though the It Cosmetics CC cream has a thicker formula than the Pro-Glow foundation and higher coverage, the two give a similar look overall. Definitely a favorite of mine this year, especially in the summertime!
Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector
This was a total game changer for me this year. While I don’t suffer from very dark under eyes, I do have blue-ish tones that appear in the hollows, especially if I’m running on little sleep (which, ahem, is a little too often). Concealer usually does an okay job of covering up those bad boys on an average day, which I don’t mind considering I like a natural look. However, my dark circles are still visible underneath on a really bad day. Enter: the Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector. When this salmon-colored corrector is worn underneath concealer, it completely cancels out any blue discoloration I may have. The formula is thin, blend-able, and undetectable once a concealer is placed on top. Such a lifesaver after a sleepless night!
Shade: Extra Light Bisque 
Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer
When it comes to a natural, bronzed, sun-kissed look, I always turn to the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer (clearly – I’ve even hit pan!). This has been a favorite of mine for years now, and for good reason. Firstly, the color is perfect (I’m pretty fair and wear the shade “light bronzer”). It doesn’t end up looking too orange or warm on my pale skin, but it still gives the bronzed tone I’m looking for. The formula is so easy to work with, and very forgiving. This is a product you can be messy with because it’s such a light and blend-able powder – there’s no need for precision when applying this to the cheeks. My most reliable bronzer by far!
Shade: Light Bronzer 
Becca Backlight Priming Filter
Another product I’ve loved for years! While it doesn’t do much to help with pores or the longevity of your makeup, this primer makes your skin super glow-y. The glow is toned down once you put foundation on top, but still manages to give your skin a healthy, radiant look without looking like you’ve put liquid highlighter all over your face. I’m sure it would look just as nice mixed with your foundation or used as a liquid highlighter as well.
Blended out
Essence Pure Nude Highlighter
This is such a gorgeous highlighter! Personally, I don’t love a blinding, over-the-top highlighter; it’s just not the look I go for in my everyday life. This highlighter from Essence is perfect – it’s subtle enough for an everyday look, but it gives enough glow to make you look healthy and “lit from within.” You can also build it up to a place where it looks a little more blinding. Also, the price just can’t be beat. Overall, one of the best!
Left: blended out
Right: swatch
L’Oreal sponge
My favorite way to apply my foundation and concealer is with a beauty sponge. Of the few sponges I’ve tried this year, the L’Oreal one is by far my favorite. I’ve also tried the sponges from Real Techniques and Eco Tools because I had heard good things about them. But compared to the L’Oreal sponge? No contest. It’s so much better than the other two! I’ve yet to try the Beauty Blender, but I’m not even tempted to with this in my life. It applies foundation so flawlessly, has the perfect amount of bounce, and I don’t find that it absorbs a crazy amount of excess product.
Rosehip oil
As I mentioned in my winter skincare essentials, rosehip oil has been a major part of my skincare routine for about the past 6 months or so. I mix a few drops into my nighttime moisturizer, or sometime I’ll just use it on it’s own. Since I’ve been using it, not only is my skin more hydrated, but my hyperpigmentation from acne is starting to disappear. I still have a few stubborn spots hanging on, but rosehip oil has worked to improve my overall tone and calm down some of my redness. If you’re looking for help with hyperpigmentation, try adding rosehip oil into your routine!
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
I used this makeup remover for the better part of this year and it was amazing! This is a creamy balm that you apply to dry skin – rub until your makeup is dissolved, then rinse with water. You’ll see that it’s melted off all of your makeup. I still recommend going in with a cleanser afterward, but this did a great job at removing all of my makeup. It was gentle on my eyes and had no trouble breaking down tough-to-remove mascaras and eyeliners. It feels great to apply and the jar lasted me a looooong time. Also, it eliminates the need for cotton rounds or wipes to remove your makeup, meaning you’ll cut back on producing environmental waste. What’s not to love?
Philosophy’s Purity cleanser
Okay, I admit. When I first got this, I was convinced that it would be overrated. I’ve heard about this cleanser for years and never really understood the hype. How good could a cleanser be? I was convinced Purity would be like all of the other gentle face washes I had used for years, like Cetaphil. This past summer, I was really struggling with acne. Someone recommended that I try Purity as a solution and, though I was skeptical, I was also desperate. WOW WAS I WRONG. Though I now hate that I’m addicted to a $24 face wash, this cleanser completely changed my skin for the better. I didn’t think it was possible that it could do much, but ever since I’ve started using it my skin has cleared up tremendously. This doesn’t claim to be an acne-fighting product, but it has really worked for me. I still get the occasional breakout, but nothing compared to what I was facing before I started using this. If you’re like me and are hesitant to try this, I say buy the small size and give it a shot.
And that’s it! These are my favorite makeup and skincare products of the year, and I’m sure they will all be staples in 2019 as well. I can’t wait to see what new products I discover this year and what will become my new favorites by this time next year. What were your favorite products of the year?
Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year!
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