Happy New Year, everyone! I always start the new year with one of my most popular posts of the year, my absolute best beauty finds of 2021. This is a round-up of all of the new to me beauty discoveries over the past 12 months. That being said, I still love most, if not all of my products from last year and the year before, because they are all amazing. They are all staple products and I still use them regularly. It is a fun way for me to look back on the year and all of the new beauty discoveries I made, so without further ado, here they are! Enjoy!
THE ABSOLUTE BEST BEAUTY FINDS OF 2021
LED MASK | FUTURE DEW | EYELINER PENCIL | NAVY SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER | VITAMIN C SERUM | CREAM BLUSH | BRONZER | CREAM EYESHADOW | LIP PLUMPER GLOSS | MANICURE SYSTEM | HAIR BONDING TREATMENT | BODY SHOWER OIL | FOUNDATION
THE ABSOLUTE BEST BEAUTY FINDS OF 2021
LED MASK
I absolutely swear by this mask to help me with my rosacea as well as anti-aging, but most recently my son has been borrowing it as well to help with his acne. It has a hefty price tag, but I always like to put my money towards my skin and try to save money elsewhere. This mask has 3 settings, red light, blue light, and a combination of both, so you can customize your treatment options. Plus, it doubles as a cool Halloween costume.
EYELINER PENCIL
The perfect soft smokey eye look can easily be achieved with this pencil. This creamy formula is super easy to use and blends seamlessly to create depth to any eye makeup
GLOW OIL
A winter and dry skin savior, this oil is a shortcut to the way your skin looks after a full skincare routine – dewy, glowing, and cared for. Nourishing oils (that don’t feel greasy) immediately give you a gleamy, well-moisturized look that lasts up to 12 hours. Powerful plant-based extracts work to make your skin look brighter, instantly and over time. I love using this under makeup as well as at the end of my makeup routine to instantly highlight certain areas of the face and give me that magical, red carpet glow.
NAVY SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
I was influenced by another blogger to purchase this and I have to say, I love it. It has been my most used combo this year. It is not inexpensive, so I stock up when they have their big sales going on throughout the year, which happens quite often and I usually share the discount code with you on my Instagram in stories.
VITAMIN C SERUM
This product improved my skin so much, I dedicated an entire blog post to it. Full disclosure, I received my first bottle as a gift and I am so glad I did because I probably never would have tried it otherwise. I am on my 5th bottle of this and it is the best Vitamin C serum I have ever used. Many of you agree with me. Further, it doesn’t carry the hefty price tag as some others do. Also, I love the delivery method or an airtight pump in an opaque, recyclable glass bottle. It keeps the product stable and fresh and the packaging is easy on the planet.
(*This product contains Tumeric and will stain your countertops, so be careful!)
CREAM BLUSH
The color and texture of this absolute perfection. I have the color Petal and it looks amazing on most skin tones. The key with cream blush is to always warm it up with your fingers before application, rather than applying it directly from the tube. This way, it is much easier to work with and blend. If you hate cream blush, you aren’t using it the right way. It is truly one of the most easy-to-use and flattering products on the planet. I have a tutorial on this in my Instagram highlights.
BRONZER
This bronzer is so sheer and flattering with just a bit of glow to it. It was my most used bronzer in 2021 and I always loved the results when applying it. My favorite color is Sunlit Glow and I love how affordable it is as well. Who doesn’t love a good beauty bargain, am I right?!
CREAM EYESHADOW
If you watch my tutorials on Instagram, you have seen this quite a few times over the past year. Also, by now you can sense a theme that I love easy to use, natural-looking beauty products. This cream shadow applies and blends easily with your fingers and is absolutely gorgeous on your lid. You can also use a bit of it to line your under eyes for a soft and smokey look. My favorite color is Oyster Pearl, but they truly are all beautiful. You can’t really go wrong.
SMOOTHING GLOSS
I am a sucker for a good pink lip gloss and this one did not disappoint. It is the perfect everyday creamy pink color. It feels great on the lips and has a slight plumping effect, in my opinion. I also love the applicator wand. It is a generous size with a slight bend and makes the application super easy. My favorite color is Daisy Pink.
MANICURE SYSTEM
I have always done my manicure myself for the most part and I thought I was doing a decent job. This set was a covid purchase and I have been absolutely loving it! I also learned a few new things to boot! My at-home manicures have never looked better. I love the color options and it is so affordable. *Make sure you follow the instructions to get a long-lasting manicure with no chipping for up to 2 weeks!
K18 BOND REPAIR TREATMENT
My hairstylist recommended this to me about a year ago and I have been obsessed ever since. Goodbye Olaplex, hello K18. It truly works to permanently repair and strengthen your hair and it is so easy to use. Simply wash your hair, as usual, skip the conditioner and apply to damp hair. Let activate for 4 minutes before applying other styling products. That is it! I prefer this over the Olaplex for the results and its ease of use. No more pre-wetting hair and walking around for up to 40 minutes with wet hair. It is expensive, but 1-2 pumps is enough for medium-length hair, so it lasts a while. Use for the first four to six washes, then swap to maintenance mode and use as needed.
SHOWER OIL
This singlehandedly changed my skin from itchy and irritated to calm and smooth, especially during these frigid winter months. I use this on my entire body, including my face, and to shave in the shower, and my skin comes out soft and hydrated. During the cold months, I still require a regular body moisturizer but this has helped my skin tremendously.
TARTE FOUNDATION
This was a sleeper hit for me. I purchased this as part of the Tarte special where you get to pick 6 products for $69. They run this offer about twice a year and I always use it to stock up on some favorite and try a couple of new things. This stuff reminds me of my beloved It Cosmetics CC Cream, but it is a lighter, sheerer version. It evens out my skin tone beautifully and gives me an airbrushed, flawless finish. Definitely a favorite over the past year. I also love the airtight packaging, which keeps the product fresh and keeps out germs. Their color range is also pretty decent, with 30 shades to choose from. This is a great nighttime or special event foundation and I will be re-purchasing this when I run out. A girl has gotta have options.
THE ABSOLUTE BEST BEAUTY FINDS OF 2021 – PART 2
HAIRSPRAY | BODY LOTION | HYALURONIC ACID SERUM | DEODORANT | LIP CRAYON | MASCARA | SERUM FOUNDATION | SELF TANNER FOR THE FACE | PRIMER | UPLIFTING FOAM
I made quite a few discoveries over the last year, some of which I talk about over on my Instagram a lot, and some of which have been sleeper hits, which means I haven’t really shared them at all, so some of these will come as a surprise to you. I couldn’t fit them all into one graphic, so I made a second one.
HAIRSPRAY
I have never been a user of a lot of hair products until this year when I realized how much they help keep your hairstyle intact. I have tried many different hairsprays, but this one is by far my favorite. It holds the shape of my waves without being too stiff and adds a glossy shine to my hair. Plus, it smells amazing! It also comes in a strong version, but I prefer the medium hold personally.
OVERNIGHT BODY LOTION
This stuff is great for dry skin and I use it during the day as well. However, I LOVE using it before bed and the scent is heavenly and calming. I wake up to soft and supple skin and the price is a total bargain to boot. I will never be without this stuff. It works well on the feet, too!
BODY SERUM
Hyaluronic acid is one of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients. It sounds scary, but in reality, it is a very gentle product that is absolutely fantastic for mature and dry skin, acting as a sponge to draw moisture into the skin helping skin to retain moisture smooth skin. It has wonderful anti-aging properties and works best when applied to slightly damp skin. I keep this product in the shower and use it all over my face and body. It is fabulous!
MAKEUP PRIMER
This is my new favorite makeup primer and has quickly replaced my purple Becca primer that has been discontinued. It hydrates my skin and gives it a nice glow, without any sparkles or shimmer, and really grips my foundation. I also love that it is refillable, so it helps the planet and is easier on your budget. It has a radiant finish and is perfect for dry, mature skin.
CLEAN DEODORANT
The best clean deodorant I have ever used. The funny thing is, I didn’t realize how well it was working until days after a 5-day video shoot in absolutely sweltering temperatures. I used Native deodorant before and was reasonably happy with it, but I would catch a whiff of myself here and there, but it was working “well enough” for a clean product. Honestly, I bought the Beautycounter one because of the pretty packaging and thought Why not try it. Well, I have never had another smelly incident since I started. It is truly amazing! Plus, it is refillable so it cuts down on waste and is very budget-friendly. My go-to scent is the coconut one.
LIP CRAYON
This lip crayon is a winner all the way around. I love its silky texture, the color is perfection, and it is super affordable. It is non-drying and I would describe it as a balm-like texture. The shade is an ultra-flattering mauve pink, super easy to apply, and looks great with a smokey eye. It is also a great everyday neutral and travels well in your purse. Give it a go!
TUBING MASCARA
This is one of my absolute favorite mascaras and I stock up whenever it’s on sale. It has little fibers in it that magically extend your lashes and makes them ultra-long. Also, this mascara does not budge or smudge once it has dried. It stays put until you take it off.
SERUM FOUNDATION
This foundation won an Allure Best of Beauty award last year and I can see why. I was sent a sample, tried it, and ordered the full size immediately. It has sheer coverage and lots of skin-loving ingredients and sunscreen. I love wearing this on my non-makeup days to give me just a bit of coverage and protect my skin. Make sure to shake the bottle well before using. The color will appear light initially and turns to its true color in about 30-60 seconds. It is a fantastic product.
SELF TANNING MIST
This product is absolute magic and smells divine. The spray bottle produces an ultra-fine mist that results in an even, streak-free, stunning glow on your face in just a couple of days. Many of you have purchased it in the past year and love it as much as I do. I spray it on as my final step in my evening skincare routine. Be generous with it and make sure you feel the mist on your entire face for even coverage.
UPLIFTING FOAM
I call this my magic mousse. Just a walnut-sized amount helps keep my hairstyle in place for days. I have fine hair and my curls would always slip out after just a few hours. This has changed my life. However, the dosage is key. Using too much will make my hair sticky, stiff, and dull. I apply it to damp hair, focusing on the ends and working it up. I also feel like it helps keep my hair cleaner looking for longer, but that could be my imagination.
There you have it. I loved sharing the absolute best beauty finds of 2021 with you and I hope you enjoyed reading this post and you find some new products to love!
XO,
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