With a new year comes new makeup and skincare. Whether you enjoy trying out the latest makeup and skincare releases, or prefer to pick up the classic cult favorites, I’ve pulled together some products from both sides of the beauty spectrum. The focus here is on picks that will give you glowing skin, a natural base and lips, and a bold eye look. So without further ado, here are 8 beauty products to add to your arsenal in 2016, starting with makeup:
Makeup
Clinique Pop Oil Lip & Cheek Glow ($18) – First up are the new Clinique Pop Oil Lip & Cheek Glows. If you’re all about a natural look with a foolproof application, these are worth trying out. Even the darkest shade (Black Honey Glow) gives off a gorgeous sheer wash of color topped with a healthy shine. The best part? The formula feels so comfortable on the lips and is incredibly moisturizing thanks to its blend of safflower, jojoba and sunflower seed oils.
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder ($37) – This powder is the perfect finishing touch to your foundation routine. It contains the finest French “cashmere” talc, which when applied, creates a sheer, silky, and natural finish to your makeup – never cakey or powdery. To top it off, it contains a unique light-reflecting ingredient that creates a ‘soft-focus’ and helps blur fine lines and imperfections.
Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara ($30) – This new mascara from Bobbi Brown is quite literally ‘Eye Opening’. Nothing I’ve tried so far comes close to its longevity, hold, length, and volume. Two things separate this mascara from others currently on the market – for one, its brush is huge. It hits every lash while it plumps, curls and lifts with every stroke. And two, it has an intense carbon-black formula that noticeably thickens the lashes and holds them in place for 8+ hours. (Full review here.)
Gucci Power Liquid Liner ($37) – If a dramatic and precise eye is the signature to your look, you’ll want to check out the Gucci Power Liquid Liner. Not only does it produce a clean line thanks to it’s precision tip pen, it’s also incredibly pigmented and provides intense black color in the first swipe. The best part? It’s long-lasting (12+ hours), waterproof, and smudge-proof.
Skincare
SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($95) – These facial masks are the perfect little mulit-taskers in that they 1) provide intense moisturization, leaving you with incredibly soft and smooth skin, and 2) noticeably brighten and even the skin, all through a fusion of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids. These are my all time favorite face masks, and do wonders to my skin during the dry winter months. And bonus – there’s plenty of solution left over in the packet for two more applications – just apply the serum directly on your skin, and enjoy the refreshing sensation all over again!
Malin+Goetz Detox Face Mask ($42) – Another amazing multi-tasking mask is the Detox Face Mask from Malin+Geotz. It stands out among other masks in that it uses natural fragrances and colors, and it’s also free of harsh detergents, making it non-irritating and especially great for those with sensitive skin. On top of that, it’s quick (only takes 5 minutes for it to work its magic) and versatile in that the application can be adjusted to maximize the benefits from your particular skin type. It’s loaded with gentle yet effective ingredients that deep cleanse pores, purify, clarify, balance, soothe, and help firm your skin.
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque ($32) – For slightly more intense exfoliation, this Turmeric and Cranberry masque from Kiehl’s is worth checking out. Here’s the skinny on its key ingredients: 1) The Cranberry Extract delivers antioxidants and resveratrol to the skin, while the Cranberry seeds exfoliate and stimulate the skin. 2) The Turmeric Extract works as a anti-inflammatory, treats blemishes, dark spots, blackheads and other skin conditions, and slows the aging process by keeping skin supple, improving skin’s elasticity, and diminishing wrinkles (1).
Sisley Paris Sisleÿa L’Integral Anti-Age ($525) – Last but not least – the Sisley Paris Anti-Aging cream. This stuff is pricey, but if you’re able to fit it into your skincare budget, it’s worth checking out. It’s quite innovative in that it targets all three dimensions of aging, including the behavioral dimension (the one that affects the face even more so than genetic or environmental aging). By behavioral, we’re talking everyday stresses caused by events in our personal lives. Thanks to ingredients like Lindera extract for cellular rhythm, Persian Acacia extract for cellular energy, and a Yeast and Soy protein complex for cellular longevity, this moisturizer helps to restore and re-balance our skin back to perfect harmony.
The next time you visit the beauty counters at Bloomingdale’s or Sephora, make sure to check out some of these beauty picks. A majority of these products have made their way into my ‘Holy Grail’ beauty arsenal, and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with them too!
Have you discovered any amazing new beauty products this year?
