My Favorite Beauty Products of 2021 - so far
We are halfway through 2021 (!) and I decided it’s time to do a quick roundup of the beauty products that have been favorites, main stays and go-tos for me in this first half of the year. I’ve “tried” not to purchase as many makeup products (specifically eyeshadow palettes) this year but have been only marginally successful with that. But as I surveyed what I’ve purchased I was surprised to find that the majority of what stood out were NOT eyeshadow palettes. I see this as progress in my undiagnosed eyeshadow palette addiction lol. None of the items on this list are in any particular order or ranking since it’s a bit apples and oranges to compare them.
Okay, let’s get the two palettes on the list out of the way! Remember back when I posted about great palettes for Spring and said I was resisting this palette? Well it went on sale that very same week and I bought it. Am I clown? Maybe. Do I regret it? Nope. This palette is just as lovely as I imagined. The shades are even more stunning in person. The formula is great. And I find the color story inspiring. It’s not the most groundbreaking color story out there and it’s not entirely unique within my vast collection. But I have enjoyed it.
And now for the second and final palette on the list. This palette was also on my Great palettes for Spring list. The color story is stunning and colorful but still approachable, in my opinion. And it has the great Kaleidos formula. I haven’t played with this as much as I should and would like to but it’s still a standout for me this year.
*Dior Diorshow 3D Maximizer Lash Primer
I first mentioned this last year as a favorite and it’s made the cut again because after months of use I have noticed a great improvement in my eyelashes. I have always had long, curly lashes but they were sparse and tended to fall out easily. I’ve been using this primer since Fall of last year and my lashes look fuller and healthier. They still aren’t as full as I would like but I think with continued use they could get there. At over $30 this is a pricey item. But lash serums retail usually for $60 and up. So from that view I think it’s actually priced well.
*Aveeno Oat Calm + Restore Serum
I’ve jumped off of the Hyaluronic Acid train. It’s not a bad ingredient by any means, but it’s also overused and overhyped. And it’s a cheap ingredient that is often overpriced. Instead I have turned to the TRUE hero of hydration: Glycerin. And my skin has LOVED it. I decided to give the Aveeno Oat Calm + Restore Line a try at the tail end of winter. I started with a mini of the moisturizer and loved it so much I bought a full size (it’s a bit too heavy for my skin for the summer but I will be reaching for it once the weather gets cool again). This made me really curious about the serum. Glycerin is the second ingredient. I’m almost through with my bottle and I have been LOVING it. It’s milky but light and sinks into the skin quickly leaving it soft and plump. I have sensitive reactionary skin so anything that helps with that is always a bonus for me. I have another serum that I want to finish, but once that one is done I will be repurchasing this one.
*Tarte Hydroflex Serum Foundation
I mentioned this in my last post on my summer foundation wardrobe. I knew I wanted to include it on this list. The other foundations on that list are great and I wouldn’t not recommend any of them (with the exception of maybe the Pat McGrath one). But this one stood out in my mind. It’s such an easy foundation to use and I have recently been forcing myself to not reach for it everytime I do my makeup since I want to get use out of all of the newer ones in my collection.
*Pat McGrath Divine Blush in Desert Orchid
Speaking of Mother Pat. She recently released her blush collection, Divine Blush, and I picked up three shades; Desert Orchid, Electric Bloom and Paradise Venus. All of the shades are stunning but the one I have been wearing and wanting to wear the most is Desert Orchid. It is a stunning muted terracotta with a hint of sheen to it. It gives the cheeks an amazing soft glow. It’s not “highlighter” like. Just soft natural and glowy. It’s so pretty that when I wear it I usually skip highlighter. And the shade works on a variety of skin tones. It’s the most universally flattering shades in the collection.
*Nars Sunkissed Bronzing Cream in Laguna
I only recently started using this but I knew I was going to love it. And I was right. This is such a fantastic cream bronzer. It’s pigmented and a little goes a long way. I made the mistake of going too heavy with my brush into the pot the first time I used it and panic ensued. But thankfully this also blends like a dream and disaster was averted. I am using this to do my bronzer technique that I’ve been loving: I apply cream bronzer over my unset foundation and then set with powder. I then go in with a powder bronzer. This gives my skin a really beautiful natural bronze look. ESPECIALLY when I use the Desert Orchid blush and this bronzer together.
*NYX High Glass Finishing Powder
This was another late 2020 discovery that I didn’t really start using until the beginning of this year and WHOA. Talk about glow, talk about seamless finish. This powder is right up there with my Chantecaille Finishing Powder - which is triple the price of this one. This line may or may not being discontinued so if you come across this powder grab it. I usually pair this with my ABH Luminous Foundation and the combo is *chef’s kiss* I get so many compliments. I had a bus driver stop me as I was getting off the bus to ask me what I was wearing to make my skin to look so beautiful. I mean…what more could you ask for from a product?
*Crabtree & Evelyn Evelyn Rose Velvet Body Melt
I’m not usually a fan of scented body lotions because my skin is so sensitive. If Im going to use something scented it’s usually a shower gel that I can wash off. Or perfume. So I was reticent to try this but also really intrigued by the formulation. It’s a body butter type lotion that melts into an oil as you rub it in. And it’s lovely. The scent is light and not too overpowering. It moisturizes fairly well though I would never rely on a scented lotion only since fragrance is naturally drying to the skin. I don’t use this everyday. I like to use it when I’m in the mood for a bit of a pamper session. I took it with me when I did my birthday hotel staycation earlier this month. I had multiple bubble baths and would slather this on after each one. It was heavenly. I usually shower or bathe at night and I love the feeling of putting this one and then waking up the next morning with this soft rose scent all around me.
And that’s my list so far this year. There are of course other products I’ve enjoyed this year, but I wanted to keep this list curated and only include items that immediately popped into my head and that I felt excited about when I thought about them.
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