Since I’ve been posting my 2018 favorites on Instagram this week, I thought I’d dust off the old blog and post them here as well - this way, I can give some insight into why these were my favorite products this year. Because this started as just making pretty flatlays for Instagram, I didn’t really do any narrowing-down of my lists, so even though they’re split into three parts, they’re still pretty hefty. So grab a snack and settle in!
My makeup style hasn’t really changed in quite awhile - looking at my 2017 Makeup Favorites, I still use and love all of those products. My 2018 favorites are still glowy, and creamy, and quite pink-toned. I tried to keep my favorites to things I discovered in 2018, otherwise it would just be a repeat of 2017!
SKIN
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter - I put off buying this for part of the year because I wasn’t sure what it was. But oh man is it beautiful. I use it underneath my foundation as a primer and it leaves the most beautiful glowy sheen to the skin that still shows through foundation.
Lancome Skin Feels Good Hydrating Skin Tint - This was by far the standout base product of the year for me. The lightest shade is too dark for me so I specifically bought a white mixer so I could still wear it. It’s smoothing, really glowy, has good coverage for being labeled a “skin tint,” and it has good lasting power on me.
MAC Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer* - This concealer feels weightless, blends in like skin, and has great coverage and longevity. A win all-around.
Ohii Glass Powder* - This powder stole the show for me this year. I’m usually not even that big into powder, but this one looks invisible on the skin, diminishes shine but leaves a glow, and sets my makeup well.
EYES
MAC Eyebrows Styler in Stylized* - I’ve always loved these kinds of skinny brow pencils the most, and I’ll never go back to another one after trying this. It has buildable pigmentation so you can go for a soft brow or something more bold, and it lasts forever. I wore this for my wedding and also have had it last perfectly through super sweaty kickboxing classes.
Glossier Lidstars* - I had totally forgotten these launched last year. I’ve been using them so often it feels like they’ve been part of my collection for years. These are the easiest eyeshadows to just swipe on and go. I like that they’re on the sheer side so they’re more subtle and suitable for my everyday look. They also work really well as eyeshadow primers - I have super creasy eyelids and these keep that at bay for me - I used Cub underneath powder eyeshadows for my wedding!
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork - this is a recent addition but I can definitely see myself using up the whole pot. It blends easily and stays put forever. Groundwork is the perfect shade to just add a hint of definition without being “oh shes’ wearing eyeshadow.”
Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Quad in Pillow Talk - If I suddenly had to get rid of all of my eyeshadow palettes except one, I would save this one. The pinky-nude shades are super flattering on my skin and my favorite kinds of colors to wear. As with all CT shadows, they are soft, buildable, blendable, and long-lasting.
Milk Makeup Kush Mascara - This makes my eyelashes look like those super fluffy, over-the-top lash extensions, and I love it. It stays put without smudging, holds a curl, and the fibers don’t get into my eyes.
Glossier Lash Slick* - This is my go-to on more natural days. If the Milk looks like dramatic lash extensions, then this looks like more subtle extensions. The real magic? Pairing the two together. I put the Milk on first for the fluffiness and volume, and then comb the Glossier over it for definition and extra length. I wore the pair for my wedding (sense a theme here?) and didn’t smudge at all - and I cried a lot.
CHEEKS
Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion in Rose - This is such a pretty blush. The color is the perfect flush on me, and the formula practically blends itself. I really need to look into picking up another shade or two.
Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm* - Cloud Paints were my blush favorite of 2017, but the new shade Storm that dropped last year became my favorite of the lineup. It’s the prettiest warm rose shade that looks a little like mixing Dusk and Haze. It leaves the prettiest flush that looks like you’ve been out in the cold.
Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tints - Probably my favorite cream blush formula. It feels a little dry to the touch at first in the pan, but it blends so seamelssly over the skin. I have the shades Petal (a pretty everyday peachy pink) and Rosy (a more bold pink) and love them both.
Onomie Boosting Lip + Cheek Sticks* - These are usually my everyday go-to’s because they’re so easy to use. They’re compact and travel well, and they’re easy to blend out with fingers on the go. They leave a beautiful dewy finish on the skin without being tacky, and they last a super long time.
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow - Can you believe I never tried this until last year? The bronzing side is probably my all-time favorite bronzer now. It’s the perfect in-between shade that both sculpts the face and adds some warmth without being orange on me.
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Highlighter in Nude - I only just got this for Christmas, but I got the original Skin Fetish set when it was limited edition and am just happy I can talk about it again. This leaves the glossiest glow on the skin without being sticky at all. It’s definitely worth the money in my opinion (again, I got this as a gift, but I did by the original myself, so…)
Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette - This was actually an impulse buy last year, but it became one of my most-reached for products. The shades can be applied lightly for a glossy-looking glow, or they can be layered on for a stronger mirrorlike sheen. I use all four shades in the palette, too.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Highlighter - This might be the most beautiful highlighter I own. It leaves such a glassy sheen on the skin that truly looks lit from within. I’m not a huge fan of the packaging, but the formula is so lovely and sets down so your hair isn’t getting stuck in it all day or anything.
NARS Highlighting Powder in Capri - This also leaves a glossy look to the skin (my favorite kind of highlighter, obviously). The formula is smooth and easy to layer and blend, and Capri is the perfect pink/fair/champagne shade for me.
LIPS
Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Sandwash Pink - I had to include this because it was my wedding lipstick! The formula is beautifully creamy and comfortable, but still has good lasting power. Sandwash Pink is the most perfect neutral-pink-brown, hands-down.
Lancome L’Absolu Lacquer in Infra-Rose - I fell hard for this formula last year. One layer is a little sheer and a little glossy, but you can add another layer for an opaque, glassy finish. Despite being a glossy formula it lasts such a long time without transferring or sliding all over the place. I layered this over Sandwash Pink for my wedding reception, and the whole thing was still intact when I washed my makeup off at 3am.
Bite Beauty French Press Lip Gloss in Dirty Chai - I’m really hoping Bite makes these coffee-scented lip glosses permanent. They feel like a balm on the lips, wear off evenly, and aren’t sticky. Dirty Chai is such a pretty warm rose color that doesn’t pull orange on me. I ordered a backup because I’m for sure going to finish this one.
ILIA Color Block Lipstick in Rosette - This is probably one of the most comfortable lipstick formulas I’ve ever tried. It glides on effortlessly and just feels like a balm, while still packing tons of pigment. Rosette is the same exact color as my lips, so naturally I’ve reached for it almost every day since I got it.
Pixi x Chloe Morello Lip Icing in Cake* - This was my everday go-to at the beginning of the year, and now I need to start wearing it again. Again, it has a balmy feeling rather than a sticky gloss feeling, it’s packed with shimmer that doesn’t feel gritty and makes the lips look plumper, and it smells like lemon cake (which is a nice change from vanilla scented everything). Definitely worth picking up!
Thanks so much if you’re still here - I know that was a lot! What were your makeup favorites of the year?
This post contains affiliate links. Products marked with an asterisk (*) have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own.