My Favorite Things 2018
/press sample, bought by me, affiliate links
With the end of the year officially year, I thought it would be fun to run down my very favorite beauty product discoveries of 2018.
I am fortunate to test a lot of makeup, skincare and hair care products over the year. I also buy a whole bunch of beauty products. I guess you could say it’s part of the job or because I am a tried and true beauty addict.
Every time I am in Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy’s (or any department store for that matter, CVS, Walgreens or my latest favorite beauty destination Target, I am scouring the beauty department and aisles for new finds.
I rarely walk out of the store empty handed. What’s a beauty girl to do?
It’s hard to write about my favorite beauty products without including my ultimate favorite products that I use everyday, but I will save that for another post; these are my favorite beauty products that I have discovered in 2018.
I made two foundation discoveries this year and I am really happy with both. I think of myself as a foundation snob because when I am going all-out for a special event or night out, I use my trusted favorite foundation. But when I tried NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation I was like OOOOOH, what is this beautiful longwearing foundation? Everyone that I recommended it to in my personal life absolutely loves it, too. Read my complete review here.
I also fell hard for COVERGIRL TruBlend Matte Made Foundation, and it was one of my most popular posts of the year — it seems like a lot of you were searching for this bad girl as well. It’s GOOD! With 40 shades to choose from, there is virtually a match for every skin tone. It features a natural matte finish and lasts on me, looking freshly applies, until I remove it. Read my complete review here.
In the foundation category but not “exactly” a foundation is the newer IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte. I fell hard for this one as I the hugest fan of IT Cosmetics and the original CC Cream. To say that I am obsessed with the new matte version is an understatement.
I DO NOT have oily skin, but to be honest, I do not like to be overly glowy, and to get the finish I like, I needed to powder my face down, and carefully so. Too much powder = creasing and that’s not a pretty look at my age. So the matte version is pure perfection for me. Read my complete review here and see all the shades here.
As far as concealers go, I was blown away by MAC’s Studio Waterweight Concealer (I use it often) and the extensive new color range (there are 48 SHADES!!!) of my longtime favorite IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye.
There were SO many makeup palettes that launched over the year and there is just no way I could start to pick my favorites or I would have a list that goes on and on. I use so many of them so often — I can’t think of any real misses! Here are a few favorites that I use over and over. Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette (get this NOW if you don’t have it), NARS Ignited Palette, NARS Atomic Blonde Eye & Cheek Palette, Urban Decay Petite Naked Heat, Smashbox Cover Shot: Petal Metal Eye Shadow Palette, COVERGIRL Peach Punch Eyeshadow Palette, and the NARS Hot Escape Eye & Cheek Palette just to name a few. Ha!
For my hair, I think the only I discovered and changed right away early this year was the TRESemmé Micro-Mist Hair Spray. I love these sprays. You can read about my love for them here and here.
For my skin, I am not so sure that I changed out too much.
I don’t think I wrote about this on the blog, but I fell in love with a few professional strength peels from MUAC, which is short for Makeup Artists Choice. I use the 55% Lactic Acid Peel and 30% Glycolic Acid Peel on alternate weeks and my skin has never been more clear and bright. I also use their Fade Peel once a month and have tried the TCA peels (I KNOW) with help from my esthetician.
I do use the newer, higher strength Vitamin C concentration from Kiehl’s in the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate. Read my review and how to carefully incorporate Vitamin C into your skin care regimen here.
I am also obsessed with the new Dove Derma line that launched earlier this year. You’ve probably seen me go on and on about it on Instagram (yes, they were paid posts) but I truly LOVE these products and use them in my everyday life.
I have extremely dry skin, and these affordable products simply nourish my skin better than anything else. You can read my posts about my favorite Dove Derma products here, here and here.
Finally, one of my favorite skin care discoveries that has made a real difference in my skin is SkinCeuticals is Discoloration Defense. If you have any type of skin discoloration that you are trying to fade, get this product ASAP. You can read my review here.
A newer discovery is Farsali Liquid Glass and wow am I obsessed; I have ordered back-ups. Read why here.
I have yet to find my holy grail eye cream (though I have come pretty close with these two that I alternate from years ago), I do feel like I could do better. Shoot over your recommendations. And if you just so happen to come across botox in a bottle or something that truly gets rid of fine lines and wrinkles, share it with me pretty please!
I can’t wait to share more of my favorites with you next year!