Top 8 best makeup beauty products we loved in 2015

#1 Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Volupte Tint-In-Oil, $45

1/8

As someone who almost never gravitates towards glossy lips, I surprised myself by how much I loved this product. Imagine a lip tint suspended in a tube of four conditioning oils, accompanied by a really comfortable and flexible wand applicator. The result is a perfectly moisturising tint with none of the gooey thickness or stickiness associated with a conventional gloss. It’s super comfortable on the lips and leaves a natural youthful sheen: Perfect for no-makeup days or a sunny afternoon at the beach.

#2 Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer, $40

2/8

Something I’ve been on the hunt for for the better part of this year has been a great everyday concealer. It’s hard to find something you can pat on quickly and blend out without too much effort, and which also gives you good coverage to boot. Most high-coverage concealers are a little too creamy or thick, and sink into creases easily. 

This concealer wowed me from the start with its light and blendable formula, packed with anti-wrinkle peptides and sodium hyaluronate for hydration. The packaging looks sleek, and it works like a dream to brighten and conceal your undereye region, making it the one concealer you will find yourself reaching for everyday. 

#3 Moonshot cream paint, $36

3/8

I’ll admit that when this first crossed my desk, it got lost in my jumble of nail polishes and liquid lipsticks. It’s a very minimalist product, with no description on it aside from its name. Fun fact: The brand Moonshot was created by YG Entertainment, which happens to be the label behind K-Pop faves like Bigbang, Psy and 2NE1 (if that makes you more inclined to pick this up and try it out for yourself). 

The cream paint can be used as a lip product, a cheek stain, or anywhere else on your face. It’s got a creamy texture and is highly pigmented and moisturising, while drying to an almost powdery consistency. The chubby applicator is a little too large for precision application, but using your fingertips to dab it on is the easiest way. It’s by far the best product I have used when trying to get that trendy gradient lip look. 

#4 Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer, $68

4/8

If you haven’t seen these yet, you need to go and test them out. Make Up For Ever launched their impressive range of revamped primers this year, with a bunch of colour-correcting ones, as well as skin prepping ones. 

Want a primer that is smoothing, hydrating or mattifying? You name it, this range has one for you. There are numerous colour-correcting ones available for different skin tones as well. The smoothing one in particular does an amazing job at concealing my pores and evening out my skin texture while keeping my makeup in place all day.

#5 Mac Studio Waterweight Foundation SPF30, $62

5/8

Most of us who want a natural look are always on the hunt for a lightweight foundation that gives decent coverage, especially in a climate like Singapore’s. It’s also a huge bonus if the foundation has SPF in it.

This serum foundation is amazing for people with dry skin in particular because of Mac’s Moisture Fusion Complex technology. It’s very hydrating, light and gives you a gorgeous satiny finish (which might look too shiny for your liking if you have oily skin). We love a precise dropper applicator, especially for such a lightweight product. The coverage is sheer to medium, and it does an amazing job at blurring fine lines and pores. Check out our editor’s review on it here.

#6 L’oreal Paris Color Riche L’Extraordinaire Mat, $21.90

6/8

There were a crazy number of matte lipsticks that came out this year, and while many of them were impressive and didn’t leave my lips feeling like the Sahara, this liquid matte lipstick from L'oreal was the most impressive for its price. As someone with dry lips who loves a matte finish, the struggle to find the best one is constant. 

The mousse-like texture of this lippie goes on so smoothly, and it makes your lips look flawless and full without sinking into lip lines or feathering. It doesn’t feel drying whatsoever (maybe because it doesn’t completely dry on your lips), but has a gorgeous matte finish. The only gripe I have with this? It transfers on anything you put your lips to and is essentially not “kiss-proof”. That said, the transferring doesn’t really rub off the colour so your lips still look perfect hours later. 

#7 Laneige Intense Lip Gel, $36

7/8

A hybrid of lip balm, gloss and colour, this one from K-Beauty giant Laneige is everything a glossy lipstick lover could want. The colour payoff is incredible and it keeps your lips hydrated, which makes it perfect for wearing to work. It can even be used for a more natural look, because the colour can be applied more sheer simply by dabbing a tiny bit on with your fingers. 

#8 K-Palette W Essence in Eyebrow, $23.90

8/8

With Korean brows taking the world by storm this year, it’s no surprise that brow products have been popping up everywhere. I love a good brow product, and this one has everything a girl could want for perfecting full and natural brows. It’s a three-in-one, which means it has a brow pencil, a spoolie (brow brush), as well as a powder applicator for a more diffused look. It even promises to be waterproof, sweat-proof, and sebum-proof thanks to the many beauty essences it’s infused with.