So, it's the end of the year, and everyone is making their lists of the best and worst makeup of 2018. The older I get and the less involved with the "influencer" side of the beauty industry I become, these lists matter less and less to me. That also might be because we are so inundated with new releases that it's hard to hold onto a few select products as "the best." And even if they do make that cut, where will they be six months or a year from now?

I didn't try a ton of new makeup this year. I did buy some things and I was gifted a few things, but I was generally less concerned with buying.

Because of this, it didn't make much sense to me to create my own "best of 2018" list, since I didn't buy many new releases and mainly just used and loved what I already had. And then it struck me—that's the entire point of this blog. To encourage mindful shopping and using what you already own.

So I decided to write a post on my favorite makeup items of 2018—most of which I acquired before 2018.

FACE

Foundation: Fenty Pro Filt'r 

I talked in depth about this foundation in a recent post, but this is a really fantastic foundation. It gives my skin a light, skin-like finish and provides a lot of coverage while also not looking like a mask. I love the shade range, and it is a brand that I feel good supporting. 

Primer: Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen

I've used this sunscreen as a primer for a while, and despite trying several different primers this year, it still came out on top for me. My previous favorite foundation (It Cosmetics CC+) had SPF 50 within it, so it is even more important to me now to have SPF in my primer. I've raved about this sunscreen before, and I will continue to do so. It's non-greasy and yet really holds onto foundation well. I love it. 

Multi-purpose spray: MAC Fix+

I have used MAC Fix+ for many years, but I used it more this year than any other. And that's because I finally started wetting eyeshadows. This was never something I was all that interested in, mainly because I didn't feel I should have to wet an eyeshadow in order for it to work. And I still agree with that (I'm looking at you, Makeup Revolution The Emily Edit). However, some shadows still perform dry but pack a little more punch when wet, and those are the ones for which I don't mind putting in the additional effort. To wet shadows, I'll only use Fix+. This product was also heavily used when I was finishing my Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot powder and my face looked like it was caked in product. Fix+ took down the powder look and made my skin appear a bit more natural. 

Bronzer: Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light

It's not surprising that my favorite bronzer is from Hourglass, since all of my favorite powder face products are from Hourglass. I didn't use bronzer for years (I didn't understand the point of it, to be honest), and I still only use a small amount, but I have come to really love the warmth it gives my face. With that said, I'm unsure how anyone ever finishes a bronzer. I have had this product for a long time, and I use it almost daily, and I have only made a small dent in it. 

Setting powder: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

This is a relatively new product to me, so it might be a little unfair to call it a favorite already, but I don't care. It is. I purchased this powder to replace my One Heck of a Blot powder when it was finished, and I absolutely love it. It makes my skin look airbrushed. That shouldn't be surprising—so many Hourglass products do that. I feel like you might not notice a huge difference with this powder (and other Hourglass products) until you stop using it. That happened to me with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, and I just couldn't understand why my face looked so dull when I didn't use it. I feel the same about this. 

Finishing powder: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

I've talked about this product so much at this point, so all I will say here is that I can't really see anything ever topping this powder for me. I plan on using it as long as Hourglass makes it. 

BLUSH

I have a sizable blush collection (though it probably appears small when compared to a large number of beauty content creators), and these four are the ones that stood out to me this year as the best. 

Marc Jacobs Lines and Last Night

Lines and Last Night is a perfect peach/orange blush for my skin tone, and it lasts all day without fading. I have two other Marc Jacobs blushes in this formula, but neither are quite as special (on me) as this one.

NARS Exhibit A

I've talked about this blush several times before, but this is my all-time favorite and the blush I wear the most.

MAC Gingerly 

This blush is such a great color, but unfortunately, the staying power isn't the greatest on me. I really like to pair Gingerly with a yellow-gold highlighter and warm nude (on me) lipstick. It also looks great with green or mustard eyeshadow!

Hourglass Mood Exposure

Next to Exhibit A, this is my favorite blush. Whenever I can't quite figure out what blush to wear, I go for this one. When I'm traveling, this is usually the only blush I take. I think what everyone else loves about Tarte Exposed is what I love about Mood Exposure.

HIGHLIGHTER

I firmly believe that a highlighter is a highlighter is a highlighter. I picked my three favorites from the year and the three I've worn the most, but honestly, while there are differences between them, I think they all look pretty similar on the skin—like almost every highlighter. 

Becca Vanilla Quartz

For years, Becca Moonstone was my top favorite, and it probably still is, but I wore Vanilla Quartz the most in 2018. I like that it has a yellow/peach base instead of a champagne base, which sets it slightly apart from Moonstone. Becca highlighters will likely always be my favorite, and Vanilla Quartz is a stunner. 

Physician's Formula Butter Highlighter in Pearl

I've recently talked about Pearl, but I have to say that I'll never understand why people seemed to have skipped over this highlighter. This is the only highlighter from the Butter line that I personally felt was unique, but performs at a level that is far above its price range. I would think people would rave about the Butter line, but unless I'm missing something, I haven't heard anything. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills X Amrezy Highlighter

This highlighter was given to me as a gift at a time when I really wasn't wearing much makeup or focused on anything other than recovering from 5 years of unhappiness and environmental depression as a result of living in New York City. So, it took me quite a while to use it. But since then, I have worn it a lot, and it has become a favorite.

Honestly, I wouldn't have purchased this highlighter myself, and I debated even including it in this list. And the reason for that is because Amrezy is not a person who I personally feel comfortable supporting. I understand that she and Norvina of ABH are friends, but I don't think she's a good candidate as a brand ambassador.

The highlighter is really pretty, and I was surprised by how much I liked the strong yellow-gold color. I pair this highlighter with MAC Gingerly, and I think the two make a really nice combination.

EYESHADOW PALETTES (NEW)

The irony here, of course, is that my two favorite eyeshadow palettes that released in 2018 (or at least were new to me) are pretty far apart in terms of price. I purchased NYX Grind for $12 (when it was on sale), and the Pat McGrath Decadence palette was a hefty $125. 

NYX Grind

I've heard next to no one talk about this palette, and I really don't understand why. I think it's really fantastic and one of the best color stories to come out in a while. It performs at a level that is much higher than its price range, and I don't have to work to make the shadows perform. They are just high quality. It's always a treat to use this palette. 

Pat McGrath Mothership IV — Decadence 

I bought this palette as a "Congrats, you survived New York" gift to myself. Decadence is the nicest makeup item I have ever owned. (I was then gifted another Pat McGrath palette—one of the smaller ones—and I was not impressed with that.) I have no concept why Decadence was the only limited edition Mothership palette. That makes no sense to me because I feel like it's the best one. And I think it's really disappointing that people can't buy it anymore. 

I had a slightly hard time tracking it down (it was sold out online and I had to put this one on hold at a Sephora near me and then race to buy it), but I never made the connection that it was limited edition (and not a false scarcity tactic). I remember the Sephora employee gasping when I gave my name and said what I was picking up. And I remember thinking that was weird. 

This is a beautiful palette, and these are the highest quality eyeshadows I have ever used. That's especially why I was disappointed in the smaller PM palette as it doesn't seem that the quality is consistent across the board. Decadence is the perfect name for this palette. I only wish it was still available for people to purchase. 

EYESHADOW PALETTE (NOT NEW)

BH Cosmetics Zodiac 

Up front, I need to give a disclaimer. As I detailed in my last post, I'm not sure that I will ever buy from BH Cosmetics again because I have recently had the worst customer service experience to date after purchasing from them. Long story short: They took 28 days to ship a product to me, lied to me, ignored me, and then blamed the USPS for their errors. I was incredibly disappointed by how I was treated, and when I went onto their social media, the comments were littered with people like me who were being ignored and were frustrated. Customer service is a big deal to me (and most consumers), so, at present, this is not a company that I can or do recommend purchasing from. 

With that said, the Zodiac palette is my favorite palette in my collection. And I'm including it in this post because if you already own this palette, I wanted to maybe remind you of how great it is and encourage you to get more use out of it. Zodiac is a fantastic palette, and it performs better than a lot of high-end palettes that I've tried. It is beyond disappointing that BH Cosmetics handled their customer service so unprofessionally because I really do love a lot of their products. 

SINGLE EYESHADOWS

If you've read my blog for any period of time, you'll know that I love single eyeshadows. Reflecting upon which are my favorite of the year, I found that there was a nice mix of new and old shadows. They are:

Marc Jacobs Copperazzi

Fyrinnae Rapunzel Had Extensions

Fyrinnae Serendipity 

Urban Decay Space Cowboy

Marc Jacobs The Big O!

Hourglass Foil

Fyrinnae It Beautifies! 

I have talked about all of these shadows in previous posts, so I will just say that these are the singles in my collection that really stand out, either because of color, texture, or finish. 

SINGLE EYESHADOWS (HONORABLE MENTION)

This might be cheating, but I wanted to give a mention to my giant palette (from Coloured Raine) of single shadows that I either purchased individually or depotted from palettes. This giant collection of singles helps me dupe so many new releases, and my desire to own new things gets immediately curbed. Largely, I don't think singles get enough love, but they are the best tool I have to resist buying something unnecessary. Singles will forever be one of my favorite products. 

LIPS

If I'm honest, I haven't always been a huge lip product person. That's largely because:

• I drink coffee all day and hate getting lipstick all over my nice mugs
• I typically only apply lipstick in the morning 
• I very rarely reapply my lipstick throughout the day

But, even though I might not wear it as much as I would like, I still apply some kind of lip product most days, and these are my favorites.

NARS Barbara

The NARS Audacious lipstick formula is one of my all-time favorites, and Barbara is my go-to warm nude (on me) that I pair with bold eyes, MAC Gingerly, and the ABH highlighter. 

NARS Anna

I think this is a perfect lip color for me and my skin tone, and it feels like the lipstick version of Hourglass Mood Exposure. 

Estée Lauder Shock & Awe

This has been in a monthly favorites post before, and I continue to love it. On me, it's not as bright as it looks in the tube, and I find it to be a really wearable and pretty pink. 

Pat McGrath Antidote

I bought this lipstick at the same time that I bought the Decadence palette, and I absolutely love it. I don't have anything even similar in color, and I love wearing it with a matte mustard eye look. 

Tom Ford Fetishist 

I wrote about this lipstick in a recent post, and I will say that despite the staggering price tag, it's a great lipstick. Its staying powder is like none other in my collection (including liquid lipsticks!). The color is deep and romantic, and it feels every bit as luxurious as you would expect from Tom Ford (and its price!).

This is a different post for me, but it's one that I feel is really important. The topic is customer service, and this post will detail the worst customer service experience I have undergone thus far and why I no longer feel comfortable recommending people purchase from BH Cosmetics.

If you've read my blog for the past year, you will know that I love the BH Cosmetics Zodiac palette. It was probably the biggest beauty surprise of the year for me to see such high quality shadows at a manageable price. I have enthusiastically recommended this palette to readers as well as people in my everyday life. When the Makeup Revolution The Emily Edit: The Wants palette came out and I was very disappointed in its poor quality, people would quip: "What do you expect from a $20 palette?" And to that, I would say, "I expect the BH Cosmetics Zodiac!"

So when BH Cosmetics announced that they were releasing a second iteration of the Zodiac palette (called Love Signs), I was curious. I feel like BH Cosmetics is a "hit or miss" brand, and I wanted to know if the quality of Zodiac was a fluke or not. After considering it for a few days, I decided to purchase the palette while BH was running several sales and promotions.

I purchased the palette on November 22, 2018, which was Thanksgiving Day in the US and part of Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales. My package was not shipped to me until December 21—which was 29 days after I purchased it. BH Cosmetics packages are shipped from North Hollywood, California, and I live in a large city in California.

At the time of my purchase, the BH website listed shipping times as:

"Most orders are shipped out within 1 - 2 business days, with many orders shipping out the same day. During high volume periods like the holidays and new product launches, there may be a delay up to 4 business days to process your order."

I quoted this exact language to BH, and they have since changed this portion of their website to say:

This language was 100% changed because of the overwhelming messages they received on all of their social media platforms from frustrated customers like myself who never received their packages. I also reiterate that I live in a large city in California, not a "remote area."

I first contacted BH about the status of my order on November 30, which was 8 days after I had placed my order. I knew that the Black Friday sales likely slowed everything down, but according to the previous language on the website, it would take "up to four business days" to process the order. And that time had passed.

I did not receive a response until December 4, at which point it had been 12 days since I placed my order, and it had not yet been shipped. BH asked me to wait an additional 2–3 business days to receive a tracking number.

So, I waited. And it never came.

Three days later (December 7), I contacted them again and asked about the status.

They never responded to me.

Finally, on December 19, which was 27 days after I placed my order, I contacted BH again to say that if I did not receive a tracking number, I was going to call my bank and dispute the charge as fraud.

ONLY THEN did BH respond to me, and they claimed that my package was "lost or stolen in transit."

My order—to this day—still says that it is "processing" (photo below). That order was never shipped, and they had not sent me a tracking number. So there was no way for it to be "lost or stolen in transit." The fact that they blatantly lied to me made the situation that much worse and made me feel like this is a company that I can no longer support.

The following day, BH processed my order (picture below), and they sent me a tracking number (so I know my original order was never shipped because they didn't send any tracking information). On December 21, they shipped the package to me (picture below). It was delivered the following day since I live in California, and BH is based in California.

I have detailed the entire experience below, complete with screenshots of all conversations I had with BH Cosmetics.

I feel confident to say that had I not told BH that I was going to claim fraud on my purchase, they never would have sent my product to me. I also feel confident that had I not consistently emailed them, they would not have rectified the problem on their own.

All BH social media comments during the past month were littered with complaints from people who had never received their orders and were lied to by customer service. BH has since deleted these comments.

BH never apologized to me more than a standard greeting, and they did not offer anything in the way of coupons or anything else to try and make up for their poor service or retain me as a customer.

I have never been treated so poorly and unprofessionally by a retailer. I have never been so blatantly lied to.

As a consumer, I was beyond frustrated. But as a person with a blog and a semblance of a voice in this area, I have to say that I can no longer recommend purchasing from BH Cosmetics. This was the first time I had ever purchased from BH during a sale, and every other time I purchased from them, I had a great experience. But this experience was so bad and so unprofessional that I would feel irresponsible recommending the brand to others.

It is understandable to be swamped with Black Friday sales. However, a brand (especially one that has been established for several years) should prepare for the high volume. Ignoring customers, lying to them, and falsely accusing postal services of losing or stealing a package that they know was never sent is pretty appalling and egregious customer service.

For screenshots and text of all conversations I had with BH Cosmetics, continue reading below.

* * *

I placed the order on November 22, 2018:

(The above screenshot was taken today, December 30, 2018. As you can see, my order has never progressed from the "Processing" phase.)

On November 30, my order had not been shipped, so I wrote to customer service (through the website portal) and below is my message. Note: You can click on the image to view the message in higher quality.

"I placed an order 8 days ago on November 22, and my order still has not been shipped. Based on this website info:
'Most orders are shipped out within 1 - 2 business days, with many orders shipping out the same day. During high volume periods like the holidays and new product launches, there may be a delay up to 4 business days to process your order.'
My package should have been shipped to me yesterday at the latest, but it still has not. Can you please let me know the status of my order? This is a very long time to wait before the order has even been processed and shipped." 

BH Cosmetics replied on December 4 (4 days later):

"Thank you for your inquiry. We have recently experienced a high volume of orders, and we apologize for the delay. We are committed to getting your shipment out as soon as possible. Please allow 2-3 business days to receive a tracking number via email. Please note you also have an option to cancel the order. Please let us know your preference.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and sincerely appreciate your patience. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reply to this email."

I responded on the same day (December 4):

"I would like to receive the product that I paid for. However, given that your website says to allow UP TO 4 business days for an order to be processed during holidays and new product launches—and mine has been processing for 7 business days at this point and you're telling me to wait an additional 2–3 business days, bringing that to at least 10 business days—at the very least you need to update the information on your website. It is not only misleading, it is downright incorrect." 

They responded on the same day (December 4):

"Thank you for your email. We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us. Every BH Customer's opinion matters to us.
And once again...thanks!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reply to this email."

On December 7, which was three days later—and is when BH said the product would be shipped to me—it still had not been shipped. So, I sent another message:

"I was told (in this conversation) to wait an additional 2–3 business days for my purchase to be shipped. It has since been 4 business days, and I have not received a shipping notification. Can you please tell me when my item (which was purchased 10 business days ago) will be shipped?"

I received no response. So, I waited. No shipment and no response. 

Finally, on December 19, which was 27 days after I ordered this palette, I wrote to BH again and said that if I did not receive a shipping notification, I would have to contact my bank and dispute the charge as fraud:

"I still have not received my package or a shipping notification and I have not heard back from customer service despite multiple messages. I purchased this product 27 days ago and it is shipping to [redacted] CA, which is local to BH. The fact that my product has not been shipped is unacceptable. The fact that customer service will not respond to me is appalling. Please contact me immediately and let me know when my product will ship. Otherwise, I will be forced to contact my bank and dispute the charge as fraud since I never received my product." 

The following day (December 20), I received a response from BH, claiming that my package— for which I never received shipment or tracking information—was likely "lost or stolen in transit":

"Thank you for your email. It appears that your package may have been lost or stolen in transit. Fortunately, we do insure all of our packages. Please let us know if you would like to have your order reshipped or refunded.
If you would like a reshipment, please verify your shipping address. Simply reply to this email."

I responded the same day (December 20):

"Yes, I want my package that I paid for 28 days ago. It was not lost or stolen in transit because it was never shipped to me. On my order, it still says "processing." Please do not blame the USPS for BH Cosmetics' problems.
My shipping address should be in my order, and the order number is referenced in this email chain. I purchased the new Zodiac Love Signs palette. My address is:
[Redacted]
If I do not receive a shipping notification with tracking in two days, I will call my bank and claim fraud on this order." 

BH responded the same day (December 20):

"Thank you for contacting us. Per your request we will be reshipping your order. We appreciate your patience.

You should receive a new tracking number within 2 business days

If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to reply to this email."

The package was then processed the same day (December 20), and on my receipt, it said that was the day my order was placed, not November 22:

My package was shipped the following day (December 21):

MAKEUP

MILANI Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

00A Porcelain

I've had this formula for a couple of years now in a different shade (their original lightest) which unfortunately I couldn't use because it was so dark and yellow, but luckily Milani released additional shades. 00A is one of the lightest (they've released some extra shades after this one called 00AA and 00BB) and it's my perfect match. It's pale and close to neutral so it ticks all the boxes for me. The formula is so far my absolute favourite "high" coverage foundation, by that I mean it's high for my taste, but it's a standard medium coverage formula. It looks great on the skin, it doesn't get all cakey towards the end of the day like Nars Sheer Glow or Revlon Colorstay do on me (I've really started to dislike both of those), it doesn't slip into pores and blends in seamlessly. I really have no minuses for this one.

LOOK by BIPA Matte Camouflage Concealer 

010

I have to credit the discovery of this one to Petra from Adjusting Beauty. It doesn't differ much from other high coverage formulas like Collection Lasting Perfection, but the shade of this one is perfect for me. It's so far the most neutral such shade I've found, though still leaning to pink, but it suits me better than Collection's cool undertone or Catrice Liquid Camouflage's very yellow tone. Coverage is high, but it's not super matte, so I can use it under eyes and not just on spots. Staying power is also equally impressive as at other similar formulas. I also need to mention The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer which I discovered this year that has formula with the most coverage I've found, though unfortunately lightest shade is a bit too dark for me. 

BOURJOIS Rouge Velvet The Lipstick

02 Flaming Rose

I got this in a wearable shade for me this year after receiving several shades last year and falling in love with the formula. This is the best matte classic lipstick formula by far in our drugstores and it's very similar to Colourpop's Matte X, though not quite as richly pigmented. It's so far away from that typical dry matte formula, instead it's smooth like butter and once it sets it has one of the best matte finishes that is close to the matte liquid lipstick look. Shade 02 Flaming Rose is a light pink shade which on me looks cooler than the packaging and the colour in the tube indicate.

MAX FACTOR Honey Lacquer 

Honey Nude

I've worn this probably most out of all lip product here (though it might have been Revlon's Embrace). It's the first gloss that I've bought in several years and I just love how comfortable the formula is. This is a pigmented lip gloss that has a semi-opaque coverage and a nice level of creamy shine. The packaging is of course gorgeous and another big plus at this gloss. Honey Nude is a pinky-brown shade - very simple and easy to wear.

REVLON Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor 

Embrace

The formula of these is fantastic and it's one of my most worn lip products as I just reach for it naturally in the morning. It's a fully opaque liquid lipstick with a creamy finish that very, very slowly sets/wears off to a matte finish. It's so comfortable on the lips and this shade is such a pretty muted peachy nude that's leaning to pink. It was expensive for drugstore, but it was so worth grabbing this shade.

ESSENCE Colour Boost Mad About Matte Liquid Lipstick

05 Dangerously Yours

This is pleasant surprise from Essence. It's a great-looking perfectly matte finish formula that's fully opaque and the only thing that I can say isn't quite as good as at its competition is the staying power, which is still a lot better than it's usual for Essence. But I'm especially loving the shade, which is one of the prettiest medium rosy shades that is neither too cool nor too warm on my neutral skin tone. So far this is my favourite lip product from Essence aside from their lip liners, but knowing Essence I know they probably won't be in their offering for a long time.

DEBORAH Fluid Velvet Mat Effect Liquid Lipstick

02

This is definitely one of the best, if not the best, matte liquid lipstick formula in our drugstores. Rimmel's is similarly good, but this one wins because of the larger shade selection here (in Slovenia). It's fully opaque, smooth, applies nicely with no patchiness, dries completely matte in a minute and is transfer proof. I have this formula in a wearable warm natural pink.

LANCÔME Matte Shaker liquid lipstick 

Beige Vintage

More than the design that sets it apart from other liquid lipsticks, I'm loving the shade and also the formula of this. This is very similar to one of my favourite shades ever Bourjois Nude-ist, it's in fact the only such similar shade I found and it's a muted peachy-pink shade that I think would suit so many. Formula is fantastic - so light, yet so pigmented and for me not drying. The whole concept is entertaining - you need to shake the bottle a lot, so the colour collects in the place where the applicator sits and then apply it with a big sponge applicator, which is a lot less clumsy than it looks. This is definitely not just some pretty product in a gimmicky packaging as the formula is truly impressive.

THEBALM Meet Matt(e) Hughes 

Sincere

Though this is hardly a new formula for me and I've mentioned it as my favourite so many times, I'm including it here because I've found a new favourite shade this year. Sincere was added to the range after original launch and it's similar to Committed. It's a less pinky-peachy version of the latter and it's an even more muted a pink/rosy-brown combination, thought there is little of true pink in it. Formula is the same as that of Committed and Charming, meaning it dries perfectly matte in about 5 minutes, it lasts really well on the lips and it has the same After Eight scent.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS 

ORIFLAME Giordani Gold MasterCreation Foundation SPF 18 Rose Porcelain Cool - this could be a proper favourite, but in warmer months it's very shiny on me. Right now it's the best foundation I have for my dry skin and I'm wearing it every day.
ESSENCE Camouflage+ Healthy Glow Concealer - another very good drugstore high coverage concealer. Only minus is that it can be too matte on me.
THEBALM Instain Blush Houndstooth - a great mauve blush with good lasting power.
WET N WILD Megaglo Highlighting Powder Blossom Glow - a great metallic highlighter with very fine shimmer.
COLOURPOP Super Shock Cheek Highlighter Flexiterian - this would be a definite favourite because it looks so glowy with very fine shimmer, but it only works when my skin isn't dry, meaning I need a moisturising base and it also fell apart, so I had to "smoosh" it back in the pan.
MILANI Gilded Desires Eye & Face Palette - the best set of eyeshadows I've tried so far. Intense pigmentation and buttery formula.
RIMMEL Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick 500 Fire Starter - a great drugstore matte liquid lipstick formula.
CATRICE Dewy-ful Lips Conditioning Lip Butter - very similar to Max Factor's Honey Lacquers. Unfortunately only available in four shades.
ECOTOOLS Precision Blush Brush - soft, but firm enough brush for applying blush.

NAILS

AVON Mark. Gel Shine Nail Enamel

Rain Washed

The prettiest light blue nail polish that leans to grey which makes it less baby blue like. The formula is a gel one, but it's still somewhat of a classic pastel, so it needs two, sometimes three coats for full opacity. 

SALLY HANSEN Color Therapy Nail Polish

180 Chai on Life

My most worn nail polish this year, well at least on my toes. It's a warm tones beige nude that is just perfect for a natural looking manicure. The formula is a bit too liquid, similar to Essie Fiji, so when I try to apply a thick coat, it spills around the nail. It's better to do thin coats with this, though it's pigmented enough and it's a standard two coater. 

CATRICE #peeloff Glam Easy to Remove Effect Nail Polish

03 When in Doubt, just add Glitter

Wearing glitter became so much easier for me when I discovered this. It just peels off the nail and most times in one piece. The base is somewhat rubbery, like a glue, so it can easily be taken off the nail. One coat of this acts more as a sparse topper, but it's best to apply more coats anyway because it's then easier to peel off and usually three coats make a decent glitter coat. Shade 03 is a proper gold that's not too yellow, instead it leans a lot to bronze. 

SKIN CARE

CEZANNE Skin Conditioner High Moist

This has become one of my most treasured skin care products. It's hardly an exciting product that would make great changes quickly, but it's a fantastic hydrating product that contains ceramides, Job's Tears extract, 3 types of hyaluronic acid, collagen and amino acids. It comes in a massive 500 ml bottle, sadly unlike Kikumasamune it doesn't have a pump, but just a regular flip cap, but at least it's easy to control and you're not pouring too much of the stuff. My skin likes this a lot more than Kikumasamune (my skin is much clearer with it) and it's not scented, so it's also better for those with sensitive skin. I also use it to moisturise my hands because it absorbs so fast and as a body moisturiser when I don't want to wait for a moisturiser to sink in. 

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

Another one of my staples. It's the product that I noticed the biggest visible difference when I started using it, though by now it's just maintaining its good condition. Before my skin was just so blah and I was never happy with it, but this just improved it in general. There's a bit of brightening/evening the skin tone and the skin texture looks more refined, meaning the pores don't look as severe as they did before, so this really suits my skin so well. This year I barely had any spots and was rarely problematic. It probably wasn't just this, but it's definitely contributing. 

ETUDE HOUSE 0.2 Therapy Air Mask

Snail 

This is a great formula that promotes healing, so it's a part of my emergency stash when I have an inflamed spot or a sun burn. It's also very hydrating, smoothing and so comforting because of the lovely lotion-like formula.

Madecassoside

This one and The Face Shop version are pretty much identical in terms of results. Madecassoside is derived from Centella asiatica and research links it to promoting skin's healing, reduction of inflammation and it supposedly works anti-ageing as it stimulates the synthesis of collagen. It has a soothing effect and evens my skin (without a brightening effect, it just takes down any redness), so it makes my skin look better and looking healthy. 

THE FACE SHOP The Solution Mask Sheets

Like I said this is very similar to EH version, in fact I find them being the same thing, just that this one is more expensive. The sheet is a bit better because EH has quite small eye cut outs, while TFS are my perfect fit. Aside from Madecassoside I also loved versions Ceramide, Pearl (brilliant brightening formula), Propolis and Vitamin C (nicely brightening, but it's very sticky).

HONOURABLE MENTION

SKINFOOD Black Sugar Honey Mask Wash Off  - a less harsh version of the original Black Sugar and with a fantastic proper honey scent. 

BODY CARE

THE BODY SHOP Body Butter

Fall for Pumpkin/Vanilla Pumpkin and Shea Butter

This has been my favourite body butter formula for years and this year I got Shea Butter version which is the most neutral scent in their selection. It's a bit bitter, nutty scent that develops a more creamy once on the skin and though it's not as nice as L'Occitane's Shea Butter scent, but it's still a good one. The Vanilla Pumpkin version is sadly a LE, but it so deserves a mention because it's such a delightful yummy scent. There's no pumpkin and also no spices like cinnamon, instead it's similar to their old almond scent which is mixed with a heavy dose of cookie vanilla, hazelnuts and maple syrup. If you can still get it, I highly recommend it for colder months. Formula is this thick, so these take longer to absorb than regular creams or lotions, which works for me, since always apply them before going to bed.

BATH & BODY WORKS Ultra Shea Body Cream 

These are a new discovery this year and I fell in love with the formula instantly.  It combines two of the most important things for me when it comes to body moisturisers - a rich texture and a heavenly fragrance. It's like a body butter in a tube, as the texture is thick and so nourishing, so just the way I like it. These come in a ton of scents and I will explore them further, but for now I have Twilight Woods (a fantastic warm, cosy woody scent ) and Country Apple (a musky apple scent).

HAIR

CREATURES DE MONOI Shine Spray

This was love at first spray and it became my saviour for when my hair feels very dry. It's very similar to Orofluido Sahara that I loved and it was discontinued a while ago and I was looking for a replacement ever since. It's a shine spray without alcohol, which is very rare and instead it's more like a light silicone-oil in a spray. This makes it not only a regular shine spray, but it also tames my hair and nourishes it a bit so I'm really liking this a lot. It's got the typical Creatures de Monoi scent of Monoi oil, which is tiare flower soaked in coconut oil. 

L'OREAL Excellence Creme 

9.1 Natural Light Ash Blonde

Several weeks ago I dyed my hair which is the first major change I've done in a decade. It was my second attempt at home hair colours to go just a bit lighter and this is colour I've found after extensive research online that it works. It's not a big change, but I'm about two shades lighter, but if I continue to use this colour, I will go lighter each time. However, its effectiveness even on dark hair is not the only reason why it's my favourite - this formula made my hair feel amazing. It's never this soft and silky, unless I use my best hair mask (Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask). It didn't damage my hair at all, it was shiny and it just felt so great. Inside the box is also a protective serum which you apply on the ends before colouring and it clearly worked a treat. The conditioner is also really good, waaay better than Olia's and it's actually similar to Moroccanoil mask. This really is such a great box dye. I've tried a few box dyes and they always made my hair feel like straw, but this is great for my dry hair.

  

MOROCCANOIL Intense Hydrating Mask

I've found my new holy grail hair mask this year. Before I tried this my hair has been impossibly dry for months and nothing could fix it, not even my best hair care. This just did a total reset of my hair. It finally felt silky and even somewhat soft despite the thick texture of individual hairs. And it's not even heavy like Joico Balm which can make my hair feel heavy, while this makes my hair so light, but moisturised. I don't know what magic this is, but I'm on board with it. I just couldn't stop running my fingers through the hair, it hasn't been this silky in forever. Bad side - the price which makes my eyes water, but there's 50 ml more in the pot than in Kerastase. Also probably the Mending Fusion and the silicone oil from this brand contributed to how well my hair feels right now, but the mask is the biggest contributor. This just wins for me. 

MOROCCANOIL Ceramic Round Hair Brush 55 mm

I've been very loyal to my Ebelin ceramic brush which is just fine, but this Moroccanoil beats it in several ways. For one it makes the hair smoother and tames the frizz better. The other is that it also dries my hair much faster, but that got a lot to do with the larger size than Ebelin's. If only I'd known how good these brushes can be if you invest a bit more, I'd gotten it ages ago.

FRAGRANCE

BATH & BODY WORKS Body Mist

Twilight Woods 

I've raved about this extensively this year and it's become my favourite scent. The most distinguishable note is wood, but not that harsh fragrance that's in men's colognes, instead it's this unique warm and cosy fragrance that envelops you like a cosy, warm, fluffy cardigan. Aside from wood, it's also musky (but not in that harsh, clean way), a bit coconutty and vanillary fragrance. It's definitely not sweet or sugary, instead it's a more smooth and creamy mix of notes. It's a fragrance that's difficult to describe to me because I've never smelled anything like it, though I have found a similar fragrance later in our drugstores from Body Fantasies called Twilight Mist, but that one centres more on tonka bean. 

Top notes: juicy berry, sparkling mandarin, coconut

Middle notes: creamy frangipani, soft mimosa, wet honeysuckle, wild freesia, apricot nectar 

Base notes: oud wood, musk, orris, vanilla milk, warm woods

Brown Sugar & Fig

I just fell in love with this scent, which like all BBW mists, I got as a blind buy. It's starts with a brown sugar burst which is quickly followed by a very comforting milky, creamy scent that creates this sweet, but very comforting combination, like a warm glass of milk with sugar but mixed with a clean skin scent. It's such a delightfully fragrance and I'm very glad I picked it. I detect no fig in this or maybe just in some minor sweet traces at the start, but definitely not in leaves form as some mentioned that it smells sharpish green to them (it's very likely it's more noticeable in the moisturiser versions because I notice a difference in Twilight Woods mist and cream too in terms of fresh & fruity notes). It's just a well-rounded creamy, milky and clean scent. Great stuff, but unfortunately staying power is quite weak.

Top notes: passion fruit, california fig, white flowers, white peach and bergamot

Heart notes: vanilla orchid, jasmine, yellow freesia, lily-of-the-valley and coconut milk

Base notes: vanilla pod, amber, fig leaf, musk, maple and caramel.

Champagne Apple Honey

This is by far the best apple scent I've smelled. It smells like proper apples and it's a great mix of tart and sweet notes, though I can't say I detect proper honey, but there's definitely some nice sweetness in it. It's also strong enough to be notices and doesn't fade in minutes, though I can't say it's a very long-lasting fragrance. Unfortunately it's a LE, but it tends to return every autumn and you can still get it in some places online.

Notes: pink lady apple, sparkling champagne, jasmine honey & autumn woods. 

Crisp Orchard Leaves 

This is a similar scent than Champagne Apple Honey and another one I love. It's less sweet and fresher pear and apple scent with some musk, and it really reminds me of an orchard in autumn. It lasts surprisingly well for something fruity, though it's not exceptionally long-lasting. Again this is a LE.

Notes: autumn pear slices, cool air, fresh-picked apple & oak leaves

AVON Luck La Vie eau de parfum

Admittedly I got this in part for the gorgeous bottle that you've seen many times in my pictures, but I fell in love with the scent as well. It's a fresh floral fruity fragrance with a cedar base that reminds me of Marc Jacobs Daisy and its flankers. First burst is sweet strawberry with the florals starting to make their appearance. Then the fresh, green florals take centre stage with lily-of-the-valley being the most apparent note. It's the latter than reminds me of the Daisy fragrance since they are both so green and fresh. The base reveals the cedar note, but it's still got that a fresh fruity-floral and green character. It definitely smells more like a designer fragrance that celebrity scents which tend to me more sugary vanilla. It's youthful, but still serious enough that you'd be comfortable wearing it to the office. It's about medium strong and lasts a few hours.

Top: strawberry, mirabelle, mandarin orange

Heart: lilies-of-the-valley, Lime (linden) Blossom, mandarin orange

Base: marshmallow, peach, white cedar extract

You can find last year's best buys here and a tag that leads you to all best buys. My all-time favourites are on a special page that's regularly updated here.

Have a great day!

I haven't been posting any "Recent Looks" posts lately, and that's largely because I've been favoring a much more simple makeup aesthetic. I doubt it's very interesting to read a post where the same two or three looks are done, and it has honestly been really nice to just focus on a look I really enjoy and let it be easy. 

With the recent Sephora sales and promotions, I did buy a few new makeup items—mainly single eyeshadows—and they have quickly become some of my favorite products that I've come across in years. And what's interesting is that I personally haven't heard any influencers talk about them. I heard about the eyeshadows from a real-life friend who loves makeup just as much as I do. It has been really refreshing to have a friend recommend a product that they've been loving and then buy the product and have the same reaction. It's what YouTube used to be, when I really loved the content and the community. Now, it's PR packages and hidden sponsorships and contracts, and the only brands that get mentioned are the ones that pay and play the game. 

My recent favorites aren't really talked about, except for the Fenty foundation. And when I gathered all the products to take a picture, I noticed that they all look elegant. This is sophisticated makeup meant for adult women. This is not unicorns and mermaids and alien heads marketed toward children. 

Here are the products that I have been loving:

Fenty Pro Filt'r Foundation

If you read my last post, you'll know that I have been looking to replace my all-time favorite foundation, It Cosmetics CC+ cream. I have loved that foundation for years, but the shade range is unacceptable and so heavily favors light skin, and it's not a product or a brand that I feel comfortable supporting. If you've read my blog for a while, you will know that inclusivity is very important to me, and that factors heavily into my purchasing decisions. I can no longer be ignorant about the people who are excluded by the makeup industry and continue to support products that will only work for me as someone with light to medium skin. 

I honestly didn't think I would find a foundation that could replace the CC+ cream. I have hated nearly all of the foundations I have ever used, and none of them ever gave me the skin-like finish of the CC+ cream. I recently finished all three of my foundations in a project pan, so I decided to buy the Fenty Pro Filt'r foundation. Fenty was honestly one of only a few brands that had an extensive shade range that I felt comfortable supporting. The other brands I considered—MAC, Make Up For Ever, and L'Oreal—all have not worked for me in the past. MAC foundations clog and irritate my skin, Make Up For Ever foundations look too dry and matte on me, and L'Oreal foundations have caused my skin to break out. So, Fenty it was. 

Honestly, I absolutely love this foundation, even more than the CC+ cream. It came as a complete shock to me—even though the product has fantastic reviews—because nothing has ever come close to the CC+ cream. I immediately told my aforementioned friend about it, she purchased it, and loves it too. She was looking for something to replace the old formula of the Estée Lauder Double Wear Light, and she said the Fenty was a great alternative. 

I couldn't be happier that I found a foundation that I like even more than my all-time favorite, and the fact that it is from an inclusive brand makes it that much more thrilling.

NARS Exhibit A

In an era where we are always looking on the horizon for the next new thing to come out and dazzle us for a few moments until we're bored, I think it's nice to reflect upon those staples in your collection that will never be knocked off their throne. And for me, that's Exhibit A.

This is not a new product to me, but it has been my go-to blush for the past month. Every time I wear it, I always wonder why I own any other blush. This is my number-one—the blush that most flatters my skin. Exhibit A has been a part of my life for many years, and after my original blush got to be too old, I purchased this one. I only use a tiny amount because of how pigmented it is, so I find it impossible to think I will ever even hit the pan of it. But I use it, and I love it. And I don't think anything will ever replace it. 

Marc Jacobs Omega Shadows in Perfect-O! and The Big O!

Up front, I need to say that these shadows have really dumb and cringey names. But, if you can get past that, they are utterly gorgeous. The pans are huge—about the size of shadows in Juvia's Place palettes—and they are a "gel powder" formula. I love the texture and payoff of these shadows, but the colors themselves are not unique whatsoever. They come in matte, satin, and shimmer finishes, and I have one matte (The Big O!) and one satin (Perfect-O!), which performs like a matte. I use these as everyday, workhorse shadows, and I like having them as singles in individual packaging. I wear The Big O! almost every day in my crease, and Perfect-O! on the brow bone:

Fyrinnae Serendipity (over Pixie Epoxy) on the lid.

As of now, this line of shadows doesn't have many colors, but I think the range is nice, especially for being so limited. I'll be interested to see if they make other colors in the future, but for now, these were the only two that I felt warranted buying since they are everyday staples in my collection. I wouldn't use the other colors every day, and I already own several dupes of all of them, so I don't see myself buying any more unless the range expands. 

Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows in Smoke, Reflect, and Foil 

When I mentioned to my friend that I was really interested in sheer washes of sparkle and shine, she told me I should try the Hourglass Scattered Light eyeshadows. I bought three colors—a taupe, champagne, and gold—but truthfully, the taupe (Smoke) and champagne (Reflect) look very similar. Reflect also looks almost identical to another shadow in the line, Aura, which is supposed to be pink. So, unfortunately, these shadows don't have a ton of individuality. 

If you're looking for intense pigment, these are not for you. If you hate sheerness, these are not for you. If you hate the idea of a "shadow topper," these are not for you. However, if you like intense shine, these are really pretty and worth considering. 

Reflect:

Smoke:

Foil:

As you can see, Smoke and Reflect are very similar. There is a slight difference between the two, but I wouldn't say that it's strong enough to warrant buying both colors. But these are very beautiful shadows, and although the colors are not exactly unique, the payoff is unlike anything else in my collection, and I have been loving them with a bold lip. 

Marc Jacobs See-quins Eyeshadow in Copperazzi

Because I loved the Hourglass Scattered Lights so much, my friend recommended I look at the Marc Jacobs See-quin shadows, which she said are supposed to be like the Scattered Lights. I wouldn't say the two are very similar, to be honest. Yes, they both have almost a gel-like consistency and work best applied with a synthetic brush, but the Marc Jacobs shadows are full of multi-dimensional glitter whereas the Hourglass have intense shine. 

As you can see, like the Hourglass shadows, there is a ton of reflect and shine to Copperazzi, but it also has a lot of glitter, which the Hourglass shadows don't have. In photos, this shadow honestly doesn't look that impressive, but in person, especially in the light, this is one of the most brilliant, multi-faceted eyeshadows I have ever seen. It also has quite a bit more pigment than the Hourglass ones, so, between the two, I would say the Marc Jacobs shadows pack more of a punch. 

Tom Ford Fetishist

I went through a period for the last several months were I didn't want to wear any lipstick at all. If I wore something, it was usually a tinted lip balm. That's likely because I had been wearing really intense, colorful eyeshadow, and I liked a light lip to balance things out. Now that I have been wearing lighter eye makeup, I have been really liking my lipstick to bring the drama, and Fetishist has been my go-to. This is the only Tom Ford lipstick I have ever purchased, and I can say that this lipstick stays on longer than any other lip product I have ever used, including liquid lipsticks. When I purchased this color (online), I thought it was going to be brighter and more berry, but it is actually quite deep, almost like oxblood. It put me off for a while, but the color was pretty, so I chose to not return it. Since then, I have come to really appreciate this color, especially paired with a light eyeshadow and NARS Exhibit A blush. 

Bésame Cosmetics Red Velvet

Since I've been loving Fetishist, I decided to pull out another dark lipstick favorite, Bésame's Red Velvet. I really love Bésame lipsticks because they have fantastic staying powder as long as you blot and apply two coats (note: the Tom Ford lipstick does not requite this to last all day). Red lipstick always feels intimidating to me because of the upkeep (and, yes, I still worry if I have gotten red all over my face throughout the day), but I really love the depth of this color. Like the name suggests, it is a deep red instead of a cherry-red, and like Fetishist, it looks fantastic with a light eye and NARS Exhibit A blush.