2017 has been an incredible year in terms of makeup discoveries, so of course I had to dedicate a whole post to my favorites from this category. Most of these won’t come as a surprise since I rave about them frequently on Instagram, but I’m excited nonetheless, because I seriously adore each of these products to bits.
To keep things interesting, I didn’t include any favorites (except 1!) from previous year, though you can read them here (2016), here (2015), and here (2014 winter) if you’re curious. I still enjoy using many of those products, but the following discoveries were definitely my go-to’s this past year.
YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer
I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this, but now I can’t imagine being without it. It does an excellent job of smoothing the skin and blurring the appearances of pores, but most importantly, it creates the perfect base for my YSL Touche Eclat Cushion Foundation. Plus bonus points for the bougie gold specks because I have a weakness for these frivolous details #sorrynotsorry.
A little goes a long way with this primer. I’ve been using this sample for 6 months now and I still have more than half left, so I’m pretty sure the full sized bottle would last me about…3 lifetimes.
← $52 at Nordstrom, Sephora; $39 at Selfridges
YSL Touche Eclat Cushion Foundation in B20
I’ve already raved about this in detail, and 7 months later my love for it is still going strong. I did cheat on this a bit with other foundations but as with all affairs, they ended in regret with me running back to my true love while kicking myself for ever betraying it in the first place.
The only issues I have with this is how messy it’s gotten, hence why I’m ashamed to show the inside. Nothing a good wipe down with a tissue can’t solve, and frankly the results are worth any packaging disaster.
$48 on Nordstrom, YSL; $55 on StrawberryNet; $38 for refills →
(Free global shipping on StrawberryNet; YSL offers frequent 20% off deals)
YSL Touche Eclat in 1.5
The famous highlighter that started it all. First of all, this is NOT a concealer, so don’t bother using it on blemishes or dark spots. However, I find it excellent for brightening my under eye area (if my dark circles are bad I’ll use concealer first), the creases around my nose, and for highlighting my nose bridge. It gives such a natural yet noticeable brightening effect, and it doesn’t caking or crease.
And yes, I’m obsessed with the YSL Touche Eclat line, in case it wasn’t obvious. I think it’s fantastic for creating a natural glow-from-within complexion.
← $42 on YSL, Nordstrom, Sephora; $29.5 on Selfridges
Glossier Boy Brow in brown
Guys, this one was love at first use. I’m incredibly challenged when it comes to brows, and this makes it so friggin easy to achieve the natural yet full look. If you can’t use brow pencils for your life (welcome to the club!), this is a must have, it seriously changed my brow game for the better.
I debated between black and brown and ultimate went with the latter, since my natural hair color is a soft black. The color is a perfect fit – dark enough to make my brows actually visible but not too dark where I started looking like Bert from Sesame Street.
$16 on Glossier →
Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Disco Dust
Another love at first use product, everything about this palette is perfection – the quality, color (the third shade is the most beautiful coral), pigmentation, and just how versatile it is. I can create natural day looks and instantly glam it up for a night out by using the darkest shade for a smokey eye and pressing a bit of the shimmer on my inner corners. I also prefer quads over large palettes for simplicity of use (no frou-frouing over which of the million shades to wear) and ease of traveling.
I have the quad in Honeymoon as well, which is beautiful for fall/winter or for a more glam look, but Disco Dust wins for being wearable year round. If you want to invest in an eyeshadow palette, this is it.
← $85 on Nordstrom, Sephora; $76 on Selfridges
Marc Jacobs Highliner in (Earth)quake 41*
This combines the ease of use of pencil liners with the smudge-proof wear of gel liners, and my oily lids absolutely loves it. I’ve already reviewed this in-depth, and my statement about it being a holy grail still holds true today.
One minor annoyance is how soft the liner is, so it dulls easily. It does include a removable sharpener at the end if you want sharp lines, but I usually just use a liquid eyeliner for that. This is great for tightlining as well, just make sure to let it dry (~15 seconds) before blinking.
$25 on Sephora, Net-a-Porter →
(also available in a set with the new Fineliner and Velvet Noir Mascara for $49 at Sephora and Net-a-Porter)
Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara
A big thank you to Shireen for introducing this mascara into my life, because goodness knows my sad, short, straight lashes needed this. It gives volume and length without the dreaded spider legs effect, and the finished results are soft fluttery lashes that almost look as good as falsies. Most mascaras I’ve tried are usually too wet, resulting in my lashes clumping and drooping. If this is a common problem for you, you need to give this mascara a try.
← $26 on Sephora, Net-a-Porter; $14 for the travel size on Sephora
(also available in a set with the new Fineliner and Velvet Noir Mascara for $49 at Sephora and Net-a-Porter)
Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust
A MUA applied this on me in Nordstrom and I was instantly wowed by how good it looked. The highlighter is a soft champagne pink that somehow manages to be super noticeable yet still natural – it’s as if someone is constantly shining a light on your face, in the most flattering way and angle of course.
The blush is a peachy pink and reminds me of Nars Orgasm but warmer. It’s quite pigmented and does contain shimmer, but it’s also very blendable, and you can mix it with the highlighter to create a rosy sunkissed glow. This duo has been my go-to all summer and a stable in my travel makeup bag.
$80 on Nordstrom, Sephora; $78 on Net-a-Porter; $68 on Selfridges →
YSL Volupte Tint in Oil in 8 Pink About Me
So I think these are getting discontinued, which makes me sad as I think they’re wonderful for nourishing my lips + adding a pop of color. They aren’t sticky like typical glosses and they leave a lovely tint once the oil dries down. When I’m not wearing lipstick I reach for one of these – I have them in 3 shades and they’re all beautiful, but my favorite is this pink one.
← $32 on YSL
Lancome L’absolu Rouge in 264 Peut-Etre
If you’re a k-drama fan, this is the shade worn by Kim Go-Eun in Goblin. While I’m not a fan of the show, I am a big fan of this shade and the formula. It’s the perfect dusty rose shade that will flatter all skin tones, and it feels so comfortable on the lips, as if you’re wearing lip balm. It has a satin finish, which will minimize the appearance of any lines or dry patches.
This is a very underrated product in my opinion, but it can definitely holds its own against Tom Ford and Burberry lipsticks. Plus the limited edition packaging is gorgeous.
$32 on Sephora; $29 on Selfridges →
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+
My first and forever favorite setting spray. It gives a dewy (but not oily!) finish to your makeup, getting rid of any powdery look or cakiness in the process. You can also use it as a prime your skin before makeup to add extra hydration, making this a versatile product to have when traveling. I prefer the travel size for that reason, plus the full size just takes forever to finish.
← $12 on MAC, Ulta, Nordstrom; $11.5 on Selfridges
Hakuhodo Makeup Brushes
Best makeup investment of 2017. These brushes have made such a difference in the application and finish of my eye makeup, and their prices are more than reasonable. My favorites are the J5529, J5523, J242, and G5514. You can read my detailed review on these here.
If I had to complain, it’d be that they look really boring (I can’t help it, I like pretty things!). Also, there are a ton of options on the site, so choosing which brush to buy can be overwhelming. The 4 I chose are classics recommended by many bloggers and fude enthusiasts, and I couldn’t be happier with my choices!
$17 – $19 on Hakuhodo USA →
($9 flat rate shipping in the US, $11 worldwide)
Wayne Goss 02 Brush
I love how soft and versatile this brush is. I mainly use it for applying highligher but it can also be used for powder, blush, or bronzer. It picks up the products well and applies them to the skin evenly without disrupting your base. Plus it feels like a chinchilla on running against your cheeks.
Like the Hakuhodo brushes, this is made of real hair (blue squirrel in this case) and crafted in Japan. If I didn’t already invest in Hakuhodo, I would buy more of his brushes as I think the quality is fantastic and the prices are reasonable.
← $35 on Beautylish
(free worldwide shipping for orders $35+)
IT Brushes for Ulta Velvet Luxe Soft Focus Sculpting Brush
This is my go-to brush for contouring, the shape is perfect for under the cheekbones and the jawlines, plus the hair feels like soft blue squirrel fur despite being synthetic. Since it’s synthetic, the brush will work with powder, cream, or even liquid products.
I have a couple more face brushes from the IT Cosmetics for Ulta line and their quality is excellent. Prices aren’t bad, especially if you get them during Ulta’s 20% off sale.
$34 at Ulta →
Whew that was a long list, yet coming up with these favorites was almost a no-brainer because these are all such obvious choices for me, and I’m so glad I splurged on these. Hope you enjoyed this post, and if you haven’t done so yet, don’t forget to check out my 2017 in review post for a surprise at the end! This will be my last post for 2017, so I wish you all an early Happy New Year and the best for 2018! <3
Tip: You might have noticed that there’s a price discrepancy between some of the retailers, particularly Selfridges, which ships worldwide. If you think you’ll be making repeat purchases, it’s worth signing up for their Selfridges+ program for $55/year that offers unlimited free shipping global shipping. Even better, sign up for one account and share it with friends so that y’all can split the annual cost!
That blur primer is so good! love how silky it feels on the skin :)
https://villemo20.blogspot.com/
So many great items ! Thanks for sharing all your favorites !
Have a great day!
Nina
xox
http://www.thecrispylipstick.com
Honestly, these posts have given me so many ideas! I would absolutely love to see you do a look including all of these products, I’m especially intrigued by that Tom Ford blush and the Marc Jacobs mascara! :) Also, I need to get my hands on that YSL foundation… Would you say that it’s good enough for oily skin? I too had many lovely makeup discoveries in 2017, the Armani Power Fabric foundation was probably my top one, though! It is revolutionary. Thanks for sharing, lovely. <3 xoxo
Kay
http://shoesandglitter.com
These products look lovely – especially the Tom Ford eyeshadow quad! There have been so many great releases this year. Your photography is stunning by the way :)
alicered.co.uk
I feel like the beauty industry really stepped up this year with new innovations and products and it’s always fun to see everyone’s favorites. The Glossier Boy Brow is also a fave of mine and like you it was love at first use. I’m all for anything that is quick and easy since I can so lazy when it comes to makeup LOL I recently received a deluxe sample of the YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer and after reading about why you love it so much, I really need to try it soon :)
In 2017, I bought my first YSL product (one of the glossy stains). I also love the MAC Fix+ because it makes my eyeshadows pop. Lately I’ve been all about Marc Jacobs too…I love their highliner and hi-shine lip lacquer. I hope you have a wonderful 2018 Jenny!
Hannah the Mad Dog
Glossier products are amazing!
Beauty & Colour | Vegan Lifestyle Blog
Wow these look amazing! Best wishes for the New Year!
xx
Linda from Beauty And Tips
Oh my goodness! So many goodies i need to try in 2018. Thanks for sharing all your favorites. Happy new year!
Enclothed Cognition
Happy New Year Jenny! I see a few of my faves here. Btw, those brushes look amazing. I need to invest in some really good brushes this year. xx
Ann-Marie
| http://facetocurls.com/
YSL seems to be a hitting it out of the park with some great products! I’ve yet to try anything from Glossier, but it sounds like a really good brand. Not sure how green they are… I’ll have to look into that! Happy New Year!
http://www.sustainablysavvy.ca
The Blur Primer sounds fantastic, I have heard so much about it and I really want to try it for myself. Great post, thank you for sharing. So many gorgeous high end products, I still haven’t used Fix + yet, I need to see what the hype is all about. Happy New Year xxx
ALittleKiran | Bloglovin
I really love YSL primer :) Nice Post! Happy New Year Dear!
Beauty and Fashion Freaks
That YSL primer is pretty great ! I just finished my mini the other day. I own two of those Velvet Noir mascaras but have never used them but I will ASAP now that this is a fave. Have you ever struggled with MJ high liner drying out? For me they get dry sometimes even with the cap on =( Happy New Year Jenny!
x,
S | Je M’appelle Chanel
So many amazing beauty faves!! I’m especially obsessed with those brushes. I’m looking for a new set so I should totally check them out!
xo,
H
http://firsttimethings.com/
These YSL products are my fave! Great products and thanks for sharing!
– Cielo
Mermaid in Heels
Thank you! YSL really has some fantastic face and lip products!
Thank you Rashmi!
I love YSL’s Touch Eclat! It’s been a favorite of mine for years. I will have to try that primer. It sounds glorious Jenny. I love Marc Jacobs Highliner and MAC’s Fix+ is a staple in my collection. Happy 2018 Jenny! Wishing you the best in the New Year.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
I was confused by the Touche Eclat at first, but after an sa showed me how to use it (highlighting instead of covering), I immediately fell in love. I think you’ll really enjoy the primer as well, the whole Touche Eclat line is just fantastic imo!
Thank you Kim and Happy New Year to you as well!
i feel like luxury brands like YSL are targeted more towards people who have beautiful skin/base already since products like touche eclat is just meant to highlight, not conceal lol. also, the tom ford squad reminded me of kathleenlights saying how much she doesn’t think the quad is worth it because “no pigmentation!” hahaha i think that’s how luxury brands do it – sheer / barely any coverage, sheer pigmentation, sheer everything xD
i’m actually surprised i don’t see the YSL volupte sheer candy in this list hahaha everybody raves about that and i think nobody really mentioned the oil tint? hmm maybe i’m just looking at the wrong side (read: it’s because my go-to youtubers don’t mention this one!)
that lancome lipstick is so pretty (*A*) that’s the kind of pink i’d go for! (although lately i’ve been into apricot, peaches and oranges more than pinks)
A lot of high end brands actually carry full coverage products, but I personally hate the heavy look + feel so that’s why I’m a fan of the YSL Touche Eclat line. As for the Tom Ford quad, I have no issues with pigmentation at all – it’s not the most pigmented in my collection, but my brush picks up just the right amount and I can always layer if I’m creating a more intense look. Perhaps she had issues with one of the other shades, I heard mixed reviews about some of the limited edition ones but since I haven’t used it myself, I can’t say either way.
By the time the YSL sheer candy came out, I already had their rouge volupte and the oil tint, so I didn’t really see a need for them in my collection. To be honest I don’t hear people talk about either the sheer candy or the oil tint much anymore, but I’ll still keep using and love the latter.
The Lancome lipstick is another case of underrated products that I honestly don’t see anyone mentioning, but it really is a universally stunning shade.
Happy 2018 Jenny. I will check those brushes, I need some eye shadow brushes.
Happy New Year Lorena! You can’t go wrong with Hakuhodo brushes, the quality is just fantastic!
Fab fav products! The YSL pink tint looks so pretty!
Narhee | Made in Mauve
Thank you Narhee! It looks really pretty when applied on the lips too!
Wow, as I was reading some of these and have tried quite a few of them, I was nodding and completely agree. I had my reservations with the YSL primer because of so much hype but then was sold on it. I also buy the travel size MAC as well as others because it saves me from transferring product to an empty TSA bottle since I have to fly a lot. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! <3 /Madison
FASHION TALES
Yay, so glad you feel the same way! If it wasn’t for the free YSL primer sample I don’t think I would’ve ever discovered the gem. It really shows that sometimes you just gotta try out the product yourself to find out if it’s a good fit. Happy New Year Madison!
yearly roundups of favourite products are always my fav posts to bad they only happen this time of year! Looking for some new brushes as mine are sooo old so defs took some notes thank you!
Happy New Year!
Isabelle x
http://www.isabelleelli.blogspot.com
Haha, I agree with you! I know some people do monthly favorites but I feel like if I did it I’d just be repeating the same products 12 times ???? Happy New Year Isabelle!
I am seriously about to go order several of these products. I’m loving all of the YSL on here, such a classic brand! I hope you have a very happy new year!
If you prefer a natural look and lightweight coverage you’ll love the YSL touche eclat range! Thank you so much Kasie and happy New Year to you too! <3
Oh it’s a shame that the lip tint might be discontinued. I don’t wear makeup often, so I find that when I go to replace something they’ve usually changed or discontinued or replaced it, and it’s quite frustrating!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are having a great week! It’s hard to believe there are just a few days left in 2017! A happy new year to you.
Away From The Blue Blog
I know, it’s always sad when brands decide to do this. I can understand your frustration as I cycle through makeup REALLY slowly, and I know for a fact that the contour powder I’m using now (by NYX) is already discontinued! ????
Thank you so much Mica, and Happy New Year to you as well! I hope you have an amazing 2018!
Boy Brow is such a hit with bloggers, I still haven’t made a Glossier order but I’m keen too!
tipscapsule.blogspot.com
I thought Glossier was overhyped at first so I didn’t order from them for the longest time…then I finally caved and I’ll just say the products I got definitely live up to the hype!
I love your thought out selections so much Jenny. I also have WG Brush No.2 and I love it because its so versatile. Boy Brow was love at first use for me too – I use black because I think Brown will be too light for me, but I do wish they would do a shade in between xxx
UmmBabyBeauty
Thank you so much Sal! I have my eyes on the WG Air Brush as well, especially now that they came out with a rose gold edition! And I agree, it’d be nice if Boy Brow had more shades, I can see people having to pass on it because of shade matching issues, and that’s a shame :(
Great post! Need to try some of these.
Angie
http://www.thefashionfuse.com/
Thank you Angie!
Ummm hello gorgeous product photography! LOVE EVERYTHING. I was especially keen on YSL this year. Have you tried their highlighter in the same packaging? It’s marvelous! And Boy Brow was at the very top of my list as well.
-Emily http://www.coatandcoffee.com
Aww thank you Emily! <3 I have yet to try their highlighters as I find liquid highlighters don't work well on me, but I'm definitely going to swatch it the next time I'm at Sephora. Can't recommend the Boy Brow enough, it's so easy to use and works so well!
Absolutely great post. It’s my kinda bands!! I have a mini of this Marc Jacobs eyeliner and nearly threw away the sample I got in error. I’m glad I didn’t though it really is lovely and I’m a fan of brown eyeliners as opposed to black – they look softer. I don’t know if the mini has a sharpener too – i’ll have to investigate. x
franklyflawless.com
franklyphotos.com
Thank you so much Sabiha! That’s great that you gave the MJ eyeliner a chance and ended up liking it! I prefer brown liners as well, especially for an everyday look.
The Lancome lipstick sounds really nice, and I’m always on the hunt for shades like that! The YSL lip oil sounds lovely too xx
Velvet Blush
I adore the Lancome lipstick, it’s a beautiful shade that will work on any skin tone!
Prep + Prime Fix + is holy grail product for my dry skin! I am gonna look at YSL & Marc Jacobs products from your list, they all are intriguing me;0Happy holidays!
xx
Ankita
http://realgirltalks.com/
Thank you Ankita, happy new year! I hope you’ll love the products as much as I do if you do try them out!
OMG! The majority of products you listed here are all in my wishlist! Been wanting to try all those YSL Touche Eclat, Glossier Boy Brow, Mac Prep + Prime Fix, and YSL Volupte Tint <3 They sound like really great products.
xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY
They really are, but if I had to pick one of the products you listed as a favorite, it’d be the Boy Brow – affordable and just amazing in every way! <3
Oh! I will definitely try that one :)
All of these products sound so good. I love the packaging of the YSL beauty products.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Thank you Courtney! YSL is one of my faves when it comes to packaging!
OMG! We share the same favourites! You already know my undying love for Marc Jacobs mascara and I am so happy that you love it too! And thank you for the shoutout! Hugs! I love that YSL primer too, a little goes a very long way so the little bottle will literally last me forever. I am finally getting my first TF quad because my in-laws got me a Sephora gift card!
ps: I hope you had a brilliant Christmas celebration and here’s to an amazing new year to you and family! xx
Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity
I’m soooo glad I found the MJ mascara, now you can actually see my sad lashes, haha! So excited to see which TF quad you’ll get, I hope you’ll love it as much as I do! <3
I bought Honeymoon! Treat myself today ????
Yay!! I’m excited to hear your thoughts on it!
Marc jacobs is definitely one of those brands I want to try out in 2018, I hear the best things about so many of their products. I feel like I can get a whole face of makeup from there and be totally happy with my purchases!
Sam / My Beauty Cloud
I love that they’re a little less expensive than other high end brands as well! Their face products are also on my to try list, I keep seeing people post and rave about their foundation!
This year for me in relation of the beauty world has been all about trying out those brands which doesn´t test in animals… And I have discovered great products!!
Andrea//
https://justohana.blogspot.com.es
That’s great to hear Andrea!
The mascara is sitting on my wish list ever since I saw it first mentioned on blogs, it sounds like everything I want!
All the best for 2018 to you as well, may there be many discoveries as amazing as these ones.
Anne|Linda, Libra, Loca
It’s definitely one of the best I’ve tried to date, and my lashes are very finnicky! Happy new year Anne, I hope you have an amazing 2018!
Soooo many great favorites!
Xx
Molly
http://trendychickadee.com/2017/12/tips-dressing-for-a-black-tie-event/
Thank you Molly!
Merry Christmas Jenny! Hope you had an amazing one :)
I love the variety of picks you have here – there’s so many high-end ones to add to my wishlist! I haven’t been in love with my Touche Eclat so perhaps I just need to give it another whirl. I’m curious about Tom Ford makeup products – I probably have to wait until the next holiday sale to justify the purchase.
Stephanie | theFantasia.com
Thank you Stephanie! I feel like once I’ve used high end makeup it’s hard for me to go back to drugstore, mainly because I’m such a packaging snob ???? I think the Touche Eclat is one of those products where you love it or hate it, depending on what you’re trying to use it for. Tom Ford is definitely a brand you need to try, I’ve been very impressed with everything from them so far despite their steep prices!