Best in beauty: The top 15 makeup products we loved in 2016

Tarte Tartelette 2 in Bloom Palette, $72

1/15

This is one of the most comprehensive neutral palettes released this year that isn’t too pricey either. I like that it’s got neutrals for light, medium and deep skin tones, as well as a good mix of matte and shimmer. It’s slightly more affordable than many palettes of the same size ($6 per eyeshadow), but still has great quality pigments made from naturally-derived Amazonian clay.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed, $48

2/15

Magical pore-blurring powder? We all want that. This powder from IT Cosmetics launched in September and has High Definition properties, as well as ingredients like real silk, collagen, peptides and antioxidants. I like the pressed powder version because it’s easy to carry around without making a mess, though I never need to touch up with this powder. The other benefit of this talc-free powder that really surprised me, aside from the anti-ageing properties which were harder to judge, was that it didn’t break me out and did an amazing job at keeping my skin shine-free.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick, $72

3/15

Boasting a wide selection of shades (26 to be precise!), this stick foundation has a waterproof formula with reportedly twice as many pigments as traditional foundations. Though it is slightly thicker than other foundations, you get concealer-level coverage, and a little really goes a long way, leaving you with a second-skin-like finish. The triangle shape also makes touchups and getting in fussy crevices of your face a breeze.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Dior Diorskin Forever & Ever Wear Makeup Base, $70

4/15

This primer feels absolutely incredible on the skin. It’s really lightweight, translucent, and quite liquid in formula, but it spreads like a dream and gives your skin a nice and smoothed appearance while also evening out your skin tone. It doesn’t settle into fine lines either and looks great under matte foundations while keeping your makeup on for hours and hours!

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, $71

5/15

Customise any moisturiser or foundation with these drops. One drop mixed in with your moisturiser should give you pretty decent coverage, and a little definitely goes a long way. I love that the range has many shades for various skin tones and undertones, and the shade match carries through with other ranges Cover FX has. The Custom Cover Drops are a little too intense to be used on its own – it’s pretty much pure pigment, really – but it does a really nice job of giving you coverage without altering the formula of your moisturiser or sunscreen.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done Complexion Cream, $50

6/15

Think of this as a cross between a foundation and skincare. It’s got all the benefits of skin treatment (infused with nourishing ingredients like peptides, vitamins and moisturisers) and sun protection with the coverage of a sheer foundation. It’s also oil-free and has the ability to smooth over imperfections! It’s a great everyday wear product that’s fuss-free and looks natural on the skin.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $32

7/15

Every single person I’ve given this eyeliner to has thanked me and been thoroughly converted. It’s one of the most popular eyeliners in Sephora stores in the U.S., and with good reason. The shade Trooper is a satin black and can be built up with a couple more swipes. It also boasts a tip that’s really easy for beginners to use. If you want a beginner-friendly and less pricey liquid liner that stays put on oily eyelids, this one should be right up your alley.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil, $42

8/15

There are two great uses for a brow pencil. They’re skinny enough to give you a wonderfully sharp tapered brow, but also precise enough to mimic the appearance of tiny brow hairs. I like them best for the former purpose, but use them to fill in sparse areas if i’m lacking a brow powder. There are six shades to this product, if you’ve got medium to dark brown hair, shade number three might suit you well.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Lancome Juicy Shaker, $36

9/15

It’s been awhile since a hi-shine lip product has garnered as much hype on social media, especially with the matte liquid lipstick trend of late. But we’re quite confident that for every person who loves a liquid lipstick, you’ll find someone who loves lip oils just as much (once they’ve tried one, at least). It’s the opposite end of the spectrum really, from dry matte and opaque to glossy sheer and hydrating. The Juicy Shakers are also just too cute to resist!

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick, $33

10/15

Too Faced hopped on the matte liquid lipstick trend this year and completely knocked it out of the park. The formula on these has been a big hit because it doesn’t dry too quickly, emphasise fine lines too much, or feel too drying on the lips, and comes in a range of incredibly gorgeous and highly pigmented colours.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

YSL Beauty Le Cushion Encre de Peau, $88

11/15

Ensconced within the incredibly Instagram-friendly compact is a fluid formula based off the equally elegant Encre De Peau Fusion Ink Foundation. Expect the same silky and sheer finish, with a satiny drydown that’s just dewy enough to read as “real” skin. Just a word of caution: You may want to slap on a pre-makeup moisturiser if you’re prone to dryness or peeling, as the mattifying powders in the foundation can magnify patchiness in your complexion.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush, $68

12/15

These blushers were absolutely breathtaking upon first touch. The powder formula itself is incredibly lightweight (with Japanese air powder pigments), and has a beautiful striped design that gives you the option of blending your own custom shade – you can go lighter or darker by using the left or the right side more heavily. Plus, it comes in a gorgeous sleek black case. The blusher does last all day on the skin as well, and comes in a selection of beautiful shades with rather scandalous names.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Colourpop Lippie Stix, US$5

13/15

This affordable American beauty brand began International shipping a few months ago, and has done nothing but tempt me to spend all my money since. The Lippie Stix are skinny little lipsticks that come in way too many colours (trust me, you’ll have a hard time deciding what to buy). The brand also does amazing lip pencils, eyeshadows, highlighters, matte liquid lipsticks and eyeliners, so be sure to check it out. There is currently free shipping with a minimum spend of US$50, so team up with some friends (yes, the prices are so low you’ll need friends to help you hit 50 dollars) and get shopping!

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Liquid Rouge, $80

14/15

If luxe lips are your goal in life, there are few brands as coveted as Cle de Peau Beaute. These babies will set you back 80 dollars per pop, but the pigment is stunning, the formula lightweight and completely non-sticky, and it also feels immensely hydrating on the lips. All that in a gorgeous weighted bottle? Absolutely! The shade Chenille is one of the darker neutrals, and suits my medium skin tone perfectly.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo, $49

15/15

Creamy, hydrating, pigmented, and chic, the Rouge Coco Stylo is a pen lipstick version of their original Rouge Coco lipstick. It comes packed with natural active ingredients like apple-seed extract and plant oils, as well as the signature hydrating Hydraboost complex in the Rouge Coco lipsticks. Put all of that together and you get a formula that’s incredibly hydrating on the lips and instantly softening without feeling thick or sticky to the touch.

 

READ MORE: Associate editor Eugene's favourite non-oily BB cushion foundations for soft matte skin, here are the TOP 10 beauty stories on herworldPLUS for 2016, the TOP 10 food trends for the year, and the overall TOP 10 stories you enjoyed on the site.