2015 Beauty Favourites ♡ Plus High-end Products Worth The Splurge

MERRY CHRISTMAS BEAUTIES

2015 Beauty Favourites

I had a lot of beauty favourites this year and surprisingly, it wasn't a difficult choice for me to pick out what I wanted to feature in this post. All items listed are products that I use on a day-to-day basis, I have found some high-end holy grail products that I cannot wait to share with you.

Let's start with face products:

Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur

Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur is one of those products that I bought because Etude House was having a "if you buy this product you get a freebie deal". I didn't think I was going to like this primer because it's a white-coloured primer and from previous experience, I've always had problems with those kind of primers, their textures are always too thick, they don't blend they make my face look cakey after foundation; BUT, Etude House Face Blur took me by surprise, I totally did not expect this primer to blend like a dream.

I love that the texture is creamy yet blend-able, it brightens up my face without looking ghostly, it feels so lightweight as if almost-not-there. No pores and absolutely flawless after foundation and makeup last more than eight hours even in the most humid environment.

Etude House Beauty Shot Face Blur is an amazing product if you aim for the whitening, pore-less and fresh look; it is available to purchase from Etude House and it retails for USD $18.00.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow

I've heard amazing things about Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow before my purchase, so I took the splurge and bought it from Beautylish while they had a free international shipping deal on. At first I hated it because I couldn't stand the smell, I remember it smell like freshly cut grass and it had a super clean scent.

I spent almost $100.00 NZD on the Filmstar Bronze & Glow and as much as I wanted to keep it brand new and pretty as a collectible item, let's be honest, it is a waste of money. I then started using the highlighter and of course fell absolutely in love with it. The smell did go away after using the palette for awhile and now it has become my holy grail bronze and highlight beauty product.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow is available at Beautylish, Nordstorm, Net-a-Porter and any other department stores in America, the palette retails for USD $68.00, fairly expensive, but worth the splurge. The palette is now available in two shades: Light to Medium and Medium to Dark.

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish is another products that almost everyone in the beauty world raves about, I've heard and read all the awesome reviews about this products and finally decided to buy.

Soft & Gentle is a sheer bronzey shade with a frosted sheen, I love that the highlighter doesn't go overboard when I build up the intensity, it doesn't emphasized pores nor make my cheek looks cakey. The only thing I dislike is that it's a messy pan.

MAC Soft & Gentle is available to purchase online on MAC Cosmetics or in-stores and it retails for USD $32.00.

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation was mentioned in my Best of 2014 Foundation & Concealer post and since then I have finished and re-purchased another bottle, which again is being mentioned in my 2015 beauty favourites.

This is my absolutely favourite, holy grail foundation. I do switch my foundation from day-to-day and I find that I always go back and reach for the Pro Longwear because it seriously made my skin looked so flawless without setting with powder, it hides my imperfection and it is very long wearing even in humid days.

I always buy my MAC Pro Longwear Foundation from MAC Cosmetics online or Nordstrom and use Youshop to forward the parcel to me, the foundation retails for USD $33.00, it is also available in any MAC stores and I think it retails for approximately NZD $70.00.

Guerlain Meteorites Pearls Clair

Guerlain Meteorites Pearls in shade Clair is absolutely amazing for using as an under-eye setting powder, I love that it instantly brightens up my under-eye area and it smells gorgeous. Prior to my purchase I have read some reviews which suggested that these pearls are to be used as a highlighter or an all-over face powder, I have tried these methods, but they either made my face looked too shiny as a face powder or it hardly shown on my cheekbone as a highlighter.

The Guerlain Meteorites Pearls is available to purchase from Smith and Caughey's and it retailed for NZD $88.00, I highly recommend this product, it is worth every penny.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage wears perfectly with MAC Pro-Longwear Foundation, seriously, these two are match made in heaven. I love that the Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage makes my face feels very smooth and foundation goes on beautifully. It has a lot of sparkles in the product, but once blend out it is hardly visible. I have oily skin and I love that it hydrates my face without making it oily, I find that this primer improves my skin and brightens up my face, covering the redness everyday.

The only thing I dislike about this product is the packaging, I mean, it is glittery and pretty, but I wish it comes in a clear tube instead because I always feel like I am running out and I can't see how much product is left and when I need to re-order.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage  is available to purchase online on MAC Cosmetics or in-stores and it retails for USD $31.00.

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

I haven't used the YSL Fusion Ink Foundation long enough for it to be my holy grail, but I have been using it for the past two months and I really enjoy this foundation. YSL claims this foundation wears weightlessly for 24 hours, although I have never worn any makeup for over 12 hours, I like that the Fusion Ink Foundation last throughout the day at work (eight hours, sometimes longer), it feels lightweight and it is medium to full coverage. During summer humid days, the foundation does fade on my nose, but it doesn't move around and make other areas on the face looks cakey. After six hours wear, my face did appear shinny, not oily though, I feel like the foundation controls oils really well and it has a natural finish.

I actually got my YSL Fusion Ink Foundation colour matched at Farmers and it was the best decision I've ever made, because it's very expensive. It is available online at Farmers and it retailed for NZD $97.00 and also Sephora for USD $60.00.

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe

+ CandyDoll BB Cream

On days that I don't feel like full coverage, heavy makeup, I would always mix the Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe and CandyDoll BB Cream for a light to medium, breathable but still flawless look.

Le Metier de Beaute contacted me long ago when they saw my twitter post about receiving an expired LMDB foundation from BeautyBay, they were sweet enough to send me a new bottle of foundation, but I totally did not expect them to send me a NZD $280.00 tinted moisturiser!

Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish

Another face product that I have re-purchased and will always buy is the Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish powder. I use shade #2 medium which is perfect for NC25 / light to medium skin tones. I love that this powder blurs imperfections, makes your face looks poreless and flawless, a little goes a long way and it keeps your makeup in place for more than eight hours.

It took me approximately six months to hit pan with everyday use. It is available from Beautylish, Nordstrom and other department stores and it retails for USD $45.00, which is approximately NZD $66.88. Expensive, but worth the splurge.

Guerlain Petrouchka Eye and Blush Palette

Throughout the year I have purchased quite a few blush palettes, but non of them beats the Guerlain Petrouchka Eye and Blush Palette. I hardly use the eye shadows from this palette, but the blushes, especially both top and bottom ones on the left are my favourites and most used blushes this year. These are my first Guerlain blushes and I love that the texture is so buttery, smooth and blends beautifully.

Sadly this was a Limited Edition palette from the Guerlain A Night At The Opera Holiday 2014 collection and it is no longer available.

MAC Studio Conceal and Correct Palette in Light

One of my most used and totally messy beauty product this year is the MAC Studio Conceal and Correct Palette in Light. My most used shade is NC20, I love using the shade to highlight my under-eye area. I like that the concealer does not crease and it stays in place throughout the day.

MAC Studio Conceal and Correct Palette is available from MAC Cosmetics online and it retails for USD $40.00, it is also available in any MAC stores, currently unsure of its New Zealand price.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush is one my of first purchased item from Hourglass Cosmetics, this product was mentioned in my Best of 2014 Blushes post last year and it is being mention in my 2015 favourites again because it is such a beautiful, high quality product.

Luminous Flush has a smooth texture that is not powdery, it has a great colour pay off, but it doesn't overdo and make you look like a clown if applied heavy handed, it is so soft, it blends like a dream.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush is available in seven shades and they each retails for NZD $56.00 from Mecca Cosmetica.

Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette

Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette smells like chocolate and it is one of the reasons why I am absolutely crazy about this product! I have tried a few contour kits from well-known brands such as Anastasia Beverly Hills and Kat Von D, and I either dislike the colours on me or the pigmentation is too much and it's hard to blend.

I find the texture of the Too Faced Contour Palette is soft and blends effortlessly. I use Light Cocoa to set my under-eye concealer and use Medium Cocoa to bronze the cheekbones. I rarely use Dark Cocoa because the colour is a little too dark and a little orangey on my face and i tried Pop of Light to highlight, but it doesn't have the obvious shimmering highlight effect I wanted.

Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette is available to purchase from Too Faced and Sephora and each palette retails for USD $40.00. The palette also comes with a big mirror and a contour buki brush that has super soft bristle.

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

First time I bought the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray was about three years ago, after hearing a lot of great reviews and recommendation for oily skin, I decided to try. Since then I have re-purchased three times and the product has never failed to impress me.

Before this setting spray exist in my life, having my makeup melting down in the middle of the day was my biggest concern and after I try this product, I never have to worry about this problem anymore. The All Nighter setting spray keeps my makeup in place throughout the day and if I go out at night, even in the sweatier environment, my makeup stays on beautifully. My makeup collection cannot live with Urban Decay All Nighter, neither can I.

All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray is available to purchase from Nordstrom and it retails for USD $14.00 for a small travel size bottle or USD $30.00 for a big bottle. I always buy the larger bottle and it last forever until I had to re-purchase again.

WOW! That was a lot of favourite face products ~

I spend most of my days at work and I like to keep my makeup as minimal as possible without looking dull, so I apply foundations, highlights, bronzer and blush, then I do my brows and apply some lip products, I don't ever fuss about my eyes, I don't wear eyeshadows nor eyeliner and don't even mention mascara, till now I still have not find a holy grail mascara that makes my eyelashes stays up and curls; so I don't bother.

Last to mention in my 2015 beauty favourites is a few lip products that I have been loving throughout the year.

MAC PRO Lip Palette / 6 Preferred Pinks

One of my makeup goals from when I was at university was to collect all shades of MAC lipsticks that is available in the MAC store, I get so overwhelmed every time I see their lipstick stand heheh. I do have quite a few of their lipsticks and I admit I am not as crazy about them anymore, Saint Germain was my all time favourite, Snob and Creme Cup were always on top of my list and now I feel so meh ~ about them.

I still love and wears Coral Bliss, Angel and Passion Charge a lot, but these did not make it into my favourite list because when I think beauty favourites, they don't come running into my mind, instead I always think of the MAC Pro Lip Palette in Pinks.

MAC PRO Lip Palette / 6 Preferred Pinks

I am absolutely crazy in love with Lovelorn from the MAC PRO Lip Palette / 6 Preferred Pinks, it is a lustre finish and I have never been a lustre fan as I feel like the ones I have tried in the past never wears long and the pigmentation is just, not good. When I first tried Lovelorn I was just blown away, the colour is described as an emotive blue pink, it is very pigmented, it wears at least four hours before fading and it has a glossy look without being sticky.

MAC PRO Lip Palette / 6 Preferred Pinks is available at MAC Cosmetics online or in store and it retails for USD $40.00.

Guerlain Rouge G L'Extrait Lip Color Paresse

Guerlain Rouge G L'Extrait Lip Color Paresse

Guerlain Rouge G L'Extrait Lip Color is the heaviest lip product in my collection, it's a liquid lipstick and it comes with a mirror. I have the shade M65 Paresse and it's a pretty mid-tone pink that is suitable for everyday wear. I love that the texture is creamy, the application smooth and not messy, it is long-wearing, feels weightless and hydrating during wear. The only negative fact about the Rouge G L'Extrait is the lip product transfers heavy, but at the same time the colour does not wear off unless you have oily food.

Guerlain Rouge G L'Extrait Lip Color is available in six shades, I bought Paresse from Saks Fifth Avenue and used Youshop to have it forward to New Zealand. Paresse can be purchased from Smith and Caughey's in store or online if you are not keen on buying overseas, they retails for NZD $79.00, too expensive for one lip product but in my opinion it's worth the splurge.

MAC Feeling Fine Lipglass

MAC Feeling Fine Lipglass

MAC Feeling Fine Lipglass is part of MAC Look In A Box / All About Nude collection from 2014, it is one of my all time favourite lipgloss, despite its stickiness, I love that it is so sparkling and it makes my lips looks super plump.

Sadly, MAC Feeling Fine Lipglass is limited edition and it is not available to purchase now, but I hope MAC makes it permanent because I am only half way through and I am already panicky lol.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk, everyone is talking about it, so am I ~ This is such an amazing lip liner, coming from someone who doesn't usually wear lip liners, it's a big thing!

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk delivers a smooth application, no tugging nor dragging and it keeps lipsticks in place throughout the day, it is long wearing and the colour on its own is a beautiful mauve nude. I adore this lipliner and I highly recommend it!

Pillow Talk is available to purchase from Beautylish and it retails for USD $22.00. 

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #8 Pink in Confidence

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #8 Pink in Confidence would not have made it into my 2015 beauty favourites list if it wasn't for the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk.

Reason is, YSL #8 Pink in Confidence is too creamy, it moves around and fades too quickly when worn on its own. Because of Pillow Talk lip liner, YSL Pink in Confidence stays in place and it last for more than six hours, even after food the glossy look fades, but the colour stays.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #8 Pink in Confidence

I love paring Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk with YSL #8 Pink in Confidence.

There is a few other products that I have enjoyed using this year, but they are not shown above because I either have throw them away as they have finished or they are not high-end products.

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter - Pale/Light
YSL Touche Eclat Highlighter - 2 Luminous Ivory
YSL Volupte Tint-In-Oil Lip Tint - #5 Cherry My Cherie

have you tried any products

listed in my 2015 beauty favourites?