My Favorite Beauty Products of 2016 | Top 16

I feel like all year long I kept saying “holy guacamole” because it really felt like the fastest year of my life.  I can’t believe that here we are, in 2017!

There were tons of products that stood out in 2016, but I wanted to go over my most used products last year, that I highly recommend checking out this year.  Btw, this is so incredibly hard for me to do out of all the amazing products I tried this year.  I could honestly do 100 products.

1 | Konjac Sponge, $5.

I always notice such a nice change in my skin texture when I use a charcoal konjac sponge regularly, once a night or every other night.  I also use it on my neck, chest and arms.  It makes them so soft and is the most gentle exfoliation!  It’s the best way to exfoliate your skin.

2 | Ardency Inn eyeliners, $20 each.

Best pencils in the biz.  I apply these one eye at at time and blend quickly.  There is enough time to gently blend these out to soft and smoky perfection before they set.  Then they stay in place, even in the waterline, for hours on end.  “Coffee” is my favorite shade.

3 | Wayne Goss brushes, $12 – $265.

Man, oh, man.  These are the nicest quality brushes I have ever owned.  I am slowly adding the eyeshadow brushes ($12-$28) to my personal and professional kit.  They are the softest brushes I have ever owned.  They pack on the perfect amount of pigment.  These are the kind of brushes you own for a lifetime. I got the “airbrush” this year and it’s honestly the softest brush in the world.  It applies blush and contour powder so perfectly.  It’s sold out now, but occasionally gets made again.  The brushes are hand made in Japan and are cruelty-free.  They are honestly a great price point for the quality level.

4 | girlgetglamorousHAIR extensions, $199 – $259.

I am beyond obsessed with my extensions.  I have been adding them into braids lately, to try and not heat-style my hair or extensions (better for both of them).  I can’t believe how extra cute it makes my braids, in under 5 minutes.  I’m trying to grow my hair back out, so this is helping.  My natural hair already feels so much softer.  The extensions are healthier and silkier than my own hair.  I can’t believe it, every time I clip them in I feel like I add a minute to style time because I just stand there petting them, like a weirdo.  I just can’t believe how silky they are!

5 | Josie Maran “Argan Enlightenment” Highlighter, $28.

I own an embarrassing number of highlighters.  I like a ton of them for a lot of different reasons, but the Josie Maran stick highlighter is the most perfect balance of looking natural in real life and gorgeous in photos.  They nailed this highlighter, it’s a 10/10 product for me.  The champagne color works on every skin tone and the formula is packed with natural ingredients that improve your skin.

6 | Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25, $7.50.

I am not kidding, this balm works just as well as my beloved $25 Tom Ford lip balm, but has added SPF for sun protection and is under $8!  I picked up a tube of this on a whim and have not gone a day without using it since then.  It’s the most moisturizing formula, I use it only once in the morning and once at night and my lips stay so plush in between.  I am absolutely obsessed with it.

7 | girlgetglamorousHAIR lashes, $20 – $25.

Another obsession from my gggHAIR line.  I realized the two things that instantly make me feel a bit more glamorous are longer hair and lashes.  My friend asked me why these cost $20 vs the drugstore lashes.  I was explaining how the band is more durable, so you can wear them 25+ times (just put your mascara on first).  She got a pair and said “MOLLY.  They are unreal.  The quality is insane.”  It was so, so nice hearing that from a friend who can be totally honest with me.  I like the idea of reusing a product until it’s totally done.  Way less waste and in the long run,  more affordable, than buying a new drugstore pair and wearing them once or twice.  They are also fluffy, vs. blunt cut on the ends, so they look more like your real lashes, especially from the side.  I’m obsessed.  I wear Double Tapped and Boss Lady on the regular.

8 | ghd 1.25″ iron, $199.

The Rolls Royce of curling irons.  Curls last SO much longer and my hair is far less damaged then when I was using other irons.  I tend to use the 1.25″ iron the most for a looser curl.  For a tighter curl the 1″ is awesome!  It’s definitely and investment, but even my friends whose hair “doesn’t hold curl” has waves after 3 days with this curling iron.

9 | Bumble & Bumble “Straight” Hair Balm, $15-$31.

I got a random sample of this product earlier this year and daaaaang it changed the game for me.  I even use it when I want my hair to be curly because it tames my frizz without making my hair flat or heavy.  I love, love, love this product!

10 | Becca “Flowerchild” Blush, $32.

This blush was the only shade left during a 1/2 off Ulta Beauty sale (seriously, sign up for a free Ulta Ultamate Rewards account to get the sale notices).  I wouldn’t have picked this shade for myself and Hot Damn that would have been an actual travesty.  This is the perfect blush shade for fair skin and redhair.  It barely looks like I’m wearing anything, but my face and skin look so much more alive and fresh.  I have tried a few other shades of the Becca blush and none did my skin justice like the Flowerchild shade.

11 | Fiona Stiles “Sheer Sculpting” Palette, $28.

Another great Ulta Beauty find this year!  The Fiona Stiles line is exclusive to Ulta.  The sculpting palette is one of my top picks from the line.  It’s pigmented but so sheer.  You never get a muddy finish, harsh lines, or grey spots in your pores.  It’s just a wonderful, natural looking contour powder, with three generous pots in the palette.  I use them as eyeshadow also.  It comes in Light/Medium and Medium/Dark.  I own and love both shades.  Light/Medium has the lightest contour shade I’ve ever found, great for super fair ladies.

12 | Tarte “Tartiest” mascara, $24.

Most mascaras I feel like are fine/ok.  I usually wear falsies anyhow, but usually because I feel like the mascara just didn’t do enough.  This is the first mascara that I felt like I could just use on it’s own for light makeup days.  I’m so in love with it.  My lashes were so long and stretched out looking.  I also love that Tarte makes a travel size for $12.  It’s an affordable way to get a fresh mascara every 3 months.  I can never use a full size tube in 3 months anyhow and mascara is the one thing I replace regularly.

13 | Skindinavia Bridal Setting Spray, $28.

I have and love all the varieties of the Skindinvia Setting Sprays.  I love the Oil Control in the summer, but the Bridal version has really become my go-to.  It leaves your skin photo ready – soft looking in photos and real life.  Also, if you aren’t using a setting spray, you have to try one in 2017.  It’s a game changer, your makeup will last a zillion times longer.  It makes your makeup stay until you wash it off, with minimal shine touch ups.

14 | Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, $38.

I heard the hype on this powder from a fellow makeup artist and am so happy with it!  It sets my foundation and concealer perfectly.  It blurs fine lines and wrinkles, something most powders accentuate.  I even use it around my eyes without it aging them.  It’s magic!!

15 | Ardency Inn Lipstick in “Lovecat”, $27.

Hands down my favorite shade of red lipstick ever.  I adore the formula, it lasts forever, I maybe touch up my lips once all night if I’m eating or drinking a lot.  It makes your skin look brighter and teeth look whiter.  It’s soft and moisturizing to wear.  It’s an awesome, totally underrated lipstick formula and shade!

16 | DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, $28.

This is my OG cleanser.  I use it in the morning to clear out my pores and hydrate my skin and in the evening to remove my makeup.  If you haven’t tried oil cleansing yet, 2017 is your year.  It will transform your skin.  DHC is my holy grail brand.  I’ve tried them all and this one is the best.  It leaves your skin so clean, but never tight.  I can always see a difference in my skin if I stop using it and my skin clears right up when I start back on it.

That’s my wrap up for some of my favorite and most-used products of 2016, that I definitely recommend checking out this year.  I hope it’s helpful!

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Thank you for reading and being a part of the blog this year!  May 2017 be your best year ever!!