The triumphant return to blogging I mentioned back in October didn’t exactly go to plan, but I’m back for now to talk you through all of my beauty favorites of the year. First up is makeup - I tried a lot of things in 2019, but as the year went on I really stuck to the same core group of products. Hooray for finding everyday staples! I tried to keep this list to things I discovered this year, so while I’d love to include the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer for the third or fourth year in a row, you’ll just have to believe me that it’s still a favorite.
Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick - If I had to pick only one favorite product out of any category this year, this would be it. It glides onto the skin, never looks dry or cakey on me, and is the perfect satin-leaning-glowy finish.
Ilia Multi-Sticks in ‘At Last’ & ‘A Fine Romance’ - my go-to blushes for a very good chunk of the year. They’re creamy and sheer out well, leaving with a beautiful dewy flush that lasts quite a long time. ‘At Last’ is the perfect neutral pink, and ‘A Fine Romance’ is a unique pink-berry shade that I always reached for when I wanted a pop of color.
Flesh Fleshy Lips Lipstick in ‘Chew’ - probably my most-worn lipstick of the year. It’s the perfect “my lips but rosier” shade for me, the formula is comfortable and balmy, and it looks good with just about any makeup look. As a bonus I wore it to both job interviews I had for the job I’m working now, so it makes me like it even more.
Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara - I swear I never want to use another mascara again. It lengthens, separates, curls, and gently volumizes my lashes and is the perfect balance between a barely-there, everyday mascara and something more dramatic. It never smudges or flakes on me either (although it’s definitely not waterproof).
Laura Mercier Caviar Chrome Liquid Eyeshadow in ‘Gilded Fresco’ - I haven’t been as obsessed with eyeshadow this year as I have been in past years, but if I was wearing eyeshadow, it was most likely this. It leaves a glossy-looking sheen but totally sets down. It never creases on me at all throughout the day! ‘Gilded Fresco’ is a pink/beige shade that’s perfect for everyday.
Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Lip + Cheek Balm in ‘Magic Hour’ - All of the Tower28 products I’ve tried this year have been overwhelmingly great, but especially their BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Tints. They’re incredibly creamy and quite pigmented, and they leave a dewy finish on the cheeks. There are three shades, and my favorite was ‘Magic Hour,’ the neutral pink/brown one.
Kosas Weightless Lip Color Lipsticks in ‘Rosewater’ & ‘Royal’ - I really had a moment with Kosas this year, and their lipsticks were probably my favorite thing I tried from the line. They’re super creamy and comfortable, but they’re not messy or fussy to wear. They wear away evenly and don’t smudge or bleed outside the lip line. Rosewater has been my go-to nude/neutral, as the cool pink shade is super flattering on my skin, and when I’ve wanted something a little more bold, I always went with Royal. I don’t know what it is about it (maybe the rosiness?), but it’s probably one of the most easy-to-wear berry lipsticks for someone who doesn’t wear anything too bold on an everyday basis.
NUDESTIX Nudies Bloom in ‘Cherry Blossom Babe’ - I jumped on this launch so quickly. I’m a huge fan of the original Nudies sticks, so I was super excited for a version with a dewy finish. They’re creamy and blendable like the originals, but they do leave a beautiful glossy finish without feeling greasy or tacky. Cherry Blossom Babe is pretty much my perfect blush shade - a bright, neutral pink.
Glossier Futuredew - I use this as a makeup product rather than skincare, but it’s still one of my favorite launches of the year. It really does give you that glass skin look - a glossy sheen with no visible sparkle. I like to either use this as a glowy primer, or I tap it on the high points of my face after makeup as a highlighter.
Dior Lip Glow Oils - Hear me out, I know I literally only have been using these for a couple days, but I’m blown away by these already. I ordered two shades when they launched, Pink and Rosewood, and after trying them once I added the rest of the shades to my Sephora cart, ready to spend the inevitable gift card I’ll get for Christmas next week. They’re everything I love about the original Lip Glow - comfortable, leave a flattering/effortless color on the lips, easy to reapply - in a more glossy formula. They have a giant doe foot applicator (like the Clarins lip oils) that’s fun to use and they feel plush and balmy on the lips rather than sticky. I’m obsessed - expect me to talk about these a million more times in 2020.
This post contains affiliate links, and some products mentioned have been gifted.