2015 Fave Beauty Buys

Well, well, well, 2016 is here and happy new year everyone!

Thought I would do a summary of my favourite beauty buys of 2015 and the one's I have repurchased which I don't normally do as there are far too many things to try.

First up is my MAC 2017 brush (£19).  I absolutely love this brush and will have to buy some more for myself and my kit.  As an avid viewer of Lisa Eldridge's tutorial videos, in March, I spent some birthday money on the 217.  For some reason, I can't remember why, Dublin didn't have any so I bought one in Manchester instead.  My eyelids are very small and sometimes I think the 217 is a tad too big but its great to use if I'm in a rush - even doing a smoky eye, it just does the job...

In May, I bought Eyes Uncovered Nude Grey Palette by Collection (Boots £3).  I love grey shades and this one came with cool browns so I just couldn't resist.  I still enjoy using this palette and its great to use with my MAC 217, sweeping Driftwood onto the lid and then using In a Nutshell into my socket line and outer corner.  When I'm in a rush in the mornings, this is perfect to wear with any outfit and is so easy to blend...

The Viper Mascara (£3) by Makeup Revolution was a surprise hit.  If you can remember back in May my post about this, I bought it, used it once and then discarded it as the brush was really big for my tiny eyelashes.  Months later, I was messing about and I thought I would use it properly.  Glad I did.  I absolutely adore this mascara.  It gives great coverage, slight curl, colour is dense, it doesn't smudge and what I love the most about it is that it leaves my lashes super soft.  I also really like the effect of  Seventeen's HD mascara but it leaves my lashes as hard as iron filings.

Two KIKO products I like using is their Soft Focus Concealer in 02 (£8) and their Smart Eyeliner in 801 (£2).  The concealer is a repeat buy.  Its packaged like a pen and you click the other end until the product comes out onto a flat brush, like the YSL Touche Eclat.  To be honest, not keen on the packaging - its hard to get the right amount (also their Dark Circle Concealer which I like, comes in pump form and again, too much comes out - maybe its meant to so one uses more and then repurchases?) but I do like the effect that it gives me.  I shouldn't admit to this but at one point, I didn't wear concealer as I didn't like it falling into my creases under my eyes and it made me look worse.  I'm glad I changed my mind...

When I went to Lisbon in June, I bought the KIKO Smart Eyeliner in 801 Grey Taupe.  I was surprised how effective it was seeing as its such a light colour.  I line my eyes upper and lower and wear it with Seventeen's HD Brown/Black mascara on top and bottom lashes. A bit of bronzer and my MAC Retro lipstick with Spice liner and I'm good to go.  I am sure that this eyeliner will be a constant in my make-up bag...

Next up is Shiseido's Benefiance WR24 Night Cream (£69).  As I want to blog about this properly in the next few weeks, I won't go into detail but let's just say that I always got excited when a customer came to the counter for a night cream.  Basically, I love the smell of it so any excuse to demonstrate it and slather it onto the customers' hands (and my own)...

Oh, my hair!  After I dry my hair on coming out the shower, I can't get a brush through it so thank goodness for the Tangle Teezer (£11).  Nuff said.

Now this next product is a bit different from the two samples I got given last year but what I've bought should do the same thing.  I really noticed a difference within a few days of using Chanel's eye and lip cream (£63).  Whether you agree with using a separate eye cream or not, I do notice a difference in the skin around my eyes if I don't use an eye cream - a facial moisturiser just doesn't have the same effect.  If it did, I wouldn't be forking out an arm and a leg for an eye cream.  Anyhoo, I bought some of their Le Lift as I really can't get any more out of the samples I had.  I haven't yet opened it as I'm using Shiseido's Benefiance WR24 eye cream - which is, again, another superb product...

I am a HUGE fan of Kat von D.  I admire her talent, she's an amazing artist not to mention a decent human being and I really like her make-up line (oh not to mention her Saint perfume which got discontinued, sob).  Anyway, thanks to my sister going to Boston for work and a vacation, I finally got my hands on KvD's Tattoo Liner ($19). OMG, it is sooooo good.  Due to my small, hooded eyes, my lids look ridiculous if I try and do any kind of flick, wing or cat's eye so this is just perfect for lining my upper lid with a fine line.  The nib is super thin, the black is super dense.  It's the bomb.

I also repeat purchased my favourite lipsticks; Kate Moss Rimmel (£3) in 01 red and 03 nude.  Love love love.  Perfect shades for me (took me ages to find a red that suited me), they last nicely on the lips, feel comfortable and they have the complementing lip pencils.

Another product I bought again, in fact I bought three more and have them stashed in a drawer just in case they get discontinued is Superdrug's Simply Pure Hydrating Serum (£3).  It is SO hydrating.  Period.

And there you have it.  My favourite products I used in 2015.  Lots of health, happiness and beautiful complexions to you all in 2016!