2016 Makeup Favourites

Makeup is my favourite thing to play with. Here are the items I loved most in 2016.

Primer - IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream - not technically a primer but this product, applied sparingly to enlarged pores and redness, neutralises the area ready for foundation, I apply it with a Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer Brush, both available from Sephora Australia

Foundation - IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC (Color Correcting) Full Coverage Cream with SPF 50+ in Light - not technically a foundation but the best product I've ever used to even out my skin tone and texture, can be applied with the finger tips or on a Beauty Blender, Light is just the right colour for me and warms up my skin tone, both available from Sephora Australia

Concealer for dark circles - Benefit Erase Paste - a salmon coloured cream that I dot on with my finger tips to erase my inner eye dark circles, does not crease on me if I use a tiny amount of the product, available from Myer, David Jones or Sephora Australia

Concealer for blemishes - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 - very pigmented, a lot goes a long way, packaging is frustrating as it is hard to dispense just the right amount, I always over dispense, I apply it with my Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer brush (pictured above), available from Myer or David Jones

Powder - Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder - I wasn't a fan immediately but now I've fallen in love with this powder, it doesn't add any coverage or cakiness but does a terrific job of mattifying and keeping oils at bay, I apply it with the Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Brush, powder available from David Jones, brush available from Priceline

Eyebrow Pencil - for a very defined, perfected and bold brow I can't go past the Shu Uemura Hard Formula Hard 9 in Soft Brown 02, this pencil needs to be shaped just right to get the best definition, thankfully the David Jones Shu Uemura staff are only too happy to reshape the pencil as long as it lasts, available from selected David Jones stores

Eyebrow Pencil - for a softer, weekend or more demure look the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette is great, the nib is specially shaped to help shape the brow line, available from Mecca Maxima

Eyebrow Pomade - Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde, a cream applied best with a MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush, this gives a softer finish, pomade is available from Sephora Australia, MAC brush is available from Myer or David Jones

Eyebrow Powder - MAC Omega Eyeshadow which has the perfect taupe cool-tone, applied with the MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush (pictured above), both available from Myer and David Jones

Eyebrow Gel - Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel, a clear gel with a large wand that holds brows perfectly all day, available from Sephora Australia

Bronzer - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Bronze Light - I'm not a massive bronzer fan and use it more when my face doesn't really match my body (if I have fake tanned my body), this powder is very pigmented and it's essential to use a light hand when applying, I use a MAC 138 Tapered Face Brush and apply it around the edges of my face, bronzer available from Mecca Maxima and brush available from MAC Pro Stores

Contour - Sephora Colorful Contour in Tranquil No 26 - lightly pigmented and blends out beautifully, very cool-toned which creates the perfect shadow, I apply it under my cheek bones and down the sides of my nose with the Zoeva 109 Face Paint Brush, unfortunately this contour colour is only available from Sephora US at present, brush available from Sephora Australia

Blush - Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso - cheap as chips (drugstore) but only available from the US online, this a cult favourite that works perfectly with my skin tone, I apply it with my MAC 116 Blush Brush, blush available online and brush available from Myer or David Jones

Highlighter - Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips All-in-One Custom Nude Palette for Face and Eyes in Natural Nude - this sure has been the year of highlighters, I've tried lots but this one is my favourite, it's very affordable and available from Priceline, best for my very pale skin, the lightest of colours works best for me, this highlighter does not draw attention to pores or fine lines, I apply it lightly with a Real Techniques Setting brush to the tops of my cheek bones, both available from Priceline

Eyeshadow Primer - NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - does a great top of providing a nice surface to place down eyeshadow, makes eyeshadow stay and prevents creasing, intensifies colour, available from Mecca Maxima

Eyeshadow - Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette - not only does it smell deliciously of chocolate but the colours, textures and payoff are outstanding, this is the palette that I always take on holidays because it's versatile and the packaging is sturdy and forgiving (when suitcases get thrown around at airports), I use a range of Zoeva eye brushes, palette available from Mecca Maxima and brushes available from Sephora Australia

Eyeliners - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencils in various colours - just the right amount of pigmentation in a range of colours, my favourite look is to smudge them into the lash line with a small Zoeva brush, available from Mecca Maxima

Liquid Liner - Maybelline HyperSharp Wing in Black - I don't wear liquid liner much but this is by far my favourite, the pen tip is easy to control and it doesn't dry out quickly, available from Priceline

Eyelash curlers - Shu Uemura - still going strong despite how long I've owned them, available from selected David Jones stores

Mascara (top lashes) - Sephora Outrageous Curl - because I like bold, clumpy and lengthened lashes, very affordable, I always have a backup of this, available from Sephora Australia

Mascara (lower lashes) - Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes 5 Star - despite it's name it gives a very separated, subtle look (I'm really just using up something that wasn't suitable for my top lashes), available online from Charlotte Tilbury Australia

Lip Liner - I like pretty much anything by MAC, their liners have just the right consistency and pigmentation, my favourites are Soar and Whirl, available from Myer or David Jones

Lipstick (coral, red/orange) - Max Factor Flipstick Colour Effect in Gypsy Red 30 - long discontinued but I'm still working through the stash I bought before they sold out, I'm on an ongoing search to discover a suitable dupe, but darn nothing compares :-(

Lipstick (soft pink) - IT Cosmetics Blurred Lines Anti-Aging Collagen Smooth-Fill Lipstick in Je Ne Sais Quoi, that name is too too long, the colour and texture are simply beautiful, available from Sephora Australia

Lipstick (deep nude) - MAC Twig - such a gorgeous rusty nude colour, quite bold and very makes any makeup look very formal, available from Myer or David Jones

Lipstick (bright and bold colours) - MAC, NARS or Smashbox - great lasting power, great pigmentation

Lipgloss - still not a fan despite trying to change that

Setting Spray - MAC Fix+ - if I want a dewy long-wearing finish, a spritz of this spray just before I head out does the trick

Until next time xx