I try so many different beauty products that it often feels like I’m just going through the motions. But every once in a while, there is a product that really stands out. As the year comes to a close, I thought it would be nice to share my favourite finds of 2016. My top beauty gems, if you will. Here goes!
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1. Shiseido Ibuki Beauty Sleeping Mask
I found this night mask when I was researching an article about nighttime beauty routines; now, it’s a treat I use once or twice a week instead of my regular night cream to give my skin some extra TLC. I’m in love with its gel texture, which has little vitamin capsules that melt into your skin when you apply it. My skin soaks it up in just a few seconds, and feels replenished the next morning.
$48 at Sephora
2. Hadabisei Intensive Wrinkle Care Mask (肌美精目もと集中リンクルケアマスク)
I picked up this pack of anti-wrinkle moisturizing eye patches about a year ago in Tokyo, and have been using them periodically, whenever I notice fine lines under my eyes. Because they are usually due to dryness, five or ten minutes with these targeted sheet masks under my eyes really smooths things out. The fact that there are 60 patches in the pack is so practical, and I’ve been spacing out their use so that I don’t run out. So imagine my surprise (and excitement!) upon finding them on amazon.ca!
$16.05 at amazon.ca
3. VICHY Double Glow Peel Mask
The beauty industry went crazy for masks in 2016, and I tried (and loved!) so many of them. At the top of my list is this one by VICHY, which was part of a trio I received. Its lovely gel texture is a joy to apply, and you can feel it working on your skin within minutes. It uses volcanic stone and AHA to gently exfoliate your skin and really gives it back its glow. Great for an instant boost of radiance when your skin is looking a little dull.
$34 at vichy.ca
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4. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick (Maroon Meow)
I love me a dark shade of lipstick, but I didn’t think I would be so quick to jump on the matte bandwagon. Note: I am not a fan of Katy Perry’s music, but so far, I have enjoyed her forays into the beauty world. Case in point: when she launched her first fragrance—which was called “Meow” and came in a cat-shaped bottle with the letter “M” on its collar… was it actually designed specifically for me?!—I wore it until my bottle was empty. A similar phenomenon has happened with her CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in Maroon Meow. Its (originally) white casing is dirty from me lugging it around in my purse for so many months now!
$10.99 in pharmacies
5. Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection
I have to admit I’m a sucker for packaging, but luckily, Too Faced products are just as effective as they are cute and wonderful-smelling. I love the combination of colours in this palette, and how shimmery and opaque the shadows go on. I also think it’s so smart that the neutral shades get more palette real estate than the dark and accent ones, which lessens the likelihood of me going throughthe shimmery Bananas shadow before even having scratched the surface of the others. And in case you were wondering, the palette smells delicious without being too sweet. And it’s the perfect size for travelling!
$52 at toofaced.com
6. Rodial Instaglam Compact Deluxe Banana Powder
I’ve been trying to hide my dark under eye circles since I was a teenager, and depending on my choice of concealer, I’ve been more or less successful. For me, this powder is a game changer.
I had heard of using loose banana powder to set your makeup and highlight your face, but I love that Rodial’s version comes in a no-mess, compact version. The powder’s yellow pigments neutralize the blue under my eyes, and its texture is so fine that it doesn’t make my concealer crease like other setting powders have in the past. The result: my dark circles disappear, and my concealer is locked in until I’m ready to remove my makeup at night.
Tip: Apply the banana powder over your concealer to set it and highlight your under eye area. I’ve tried applying it with a traditional makeup brush, and a dry Beauty Blender-type makeup sponge, but I prefer to just use my fingers. I found that using a brush or sponge applied too much product.
$75 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix and beautyboutique.ca
Pssst: while it’s a little on the expensive side, it is a worthwhile investment that will last you a long time. I’ve been using mine for several months and it still looks untouched!
7. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid (Opal)
In the last year or two, the beauty industry has been obsessed with contouring, strobing, nontouring, you name it. For me, 2016 was the year I really embraced highlighting. I’ve tried several different types of highlighters, from liquid ones to many powders, and this one was my favourite. I bought a little BECCA duo that contained a travel version of this product, and I’ve been scraping the bottom for the past few weeks. As someone who has been writing about beauty for 10 years, let me remind you that I very rarely see the bottom of a tube or jar. Yes, this was a small tube, but still. I’ve been applying it under my brows, on my cupid’s bow, and above my blush almost every day for several months, and I’ve never looked back!
$50 at Sephora
8. L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Feline Mascara
Despite what you may be thinking, I did not choose to feature this mascara because of its cat-inspired name… although that may or may not be one of the main reasons I bought it. Contrarily to Voluminous Miss Manga, which I also bought because of the name but hated, I loved Voluminous Feline. Always partial to a rubber bristle brush, this one really separates each lash for maximum drama.
$12.99 in pharmacies
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9. L’Oréal Professionnel LISS UNLIMITED Cleansing Conditioner
I had tried other cleansing conditioners before, like Wen, and L’Oréal Paris EverCrème Cleansing Balm (which I also liked a lot). However, until I tried this particular bottle, I had found that in the shower, it wasn’t as effective in detangling my locks as a regular conditioner. That is not the case with L’Oréal Professionnel’s version: enriched with Keratinoil Complex, it offers intensive conditioning while it cleanses, and I actually noticed a difference in my hair once it was dry. Softer, shinier and easier to manage: I love it!
$38 at L’Oréal Professionnel salons
10. Drybar Lemon Drop Daily Detangler
I know what you’re thinking: what could be so different about a hair brush? To be honest, I’m not sure why this brush works so well, but it does. I have medium thick hair that is on the wavy / curly side, and this little yellow beauty glides through my strands, rarely ever getting stuck… even when I decide to brush my mane into a fluffy chaotic mess after having let it air dried. It’s light, and on the smaller side, which comes in handy when you’re travelling. You can use it on dry or wet hair—an expert detangler!
$20 at Sephora
There they are: my top 10 beauty gems of 2016. Can’t wait to see what the new year brings in terms of trends and innovations! What are your favourite recent beauty discoveries?
Illustrations by Minoue.