Today we're talking all about makeup and I'm going to share with you all the beauty products that I used (and still use) non-stop throughout the year of 2017. Let's get started!

PRIMER

Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer • Available here

In 2017 I tested out a fair amount of primers and most of them were no good until I found this little guy. This primer is so good, it truly does minimize my pores, smooths out my skin, leaves it feeling soft to the touch and it works very well underneath my foundation.

FOUNDATION

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation • Available here

When it comes to foundations I always look for something that's full coverage, controls my oil, lasts all day long, matches my complexion and works well with my skin. I've only found one foundation that gives me all of that and that's why this one is my holy grail. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this foundation. I've been using this product for about two to three years now and for good reason. As I mentioned this gives me everything that I need and the color range is massive! I have yet to find a foundation that I love more than this (and I've tried out a lot). I use shade 2W2 Rattan.

CONCEALER

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer • Available here

I love concealer. I use it to clean up my brows, prime my lids, brighten the under eyes, highlight the face, conceal blemishes; it does it all! This concealer is amazing! It's full coverage, lasts all day long, has a matte finish, keeps my oils at bay, and it has an incredible shade range. I alternate between the shades NC20 and NC25. My only complaint about this product is the packaging, I don't like that it's in a glass bottle as I'm a huge klutz and am prone to dropping things.  

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer • Available here

Without a doubt this is my favorite drugstore concealer of all time. The number of times I've repurchased this concealer shows how much I really like and use this product (I use the shade 20 Sand). The formula is on the creamer side which is why I love using this directly on the under eyes.

SETTING POWDER

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder • Available here

Throughout the year of 2017 I've tried a couple of different setting powders but I always find myself coming back to this; my tried-and-true setting powder. Despite it being on the pricier side I love this powder, it sets my foundation without disrupting it, prolongs the longevity of my makeup, doesn't alter the color of my base and it does not give flash back.

BRONZER

L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder • Available here

The product is not a bronzer it's really a pressed powder but I use it as a bronzer to warm up my skin so I'm putting it in this category. I apply this powder anywhere you'd normally apply bronzer, I use shade W4.5. It's a very smooth, blendable (as the name suggests), pigmented and affordable powder. I like to use this instead of actual bronzer because the color is a few shades darker than my natural skin tone and I just prefer the way this looks.

CONTOUR

Benefit Hoola Bronzer • Available here

Okay now this product is technically a bronzer but I use it more to contour so I'm throwing it in this category. Out of all the contour powders I used in 2017 this contour powder really takes the cake. A cult favorite for good reason, this bronzer is great for giving your skin structure and warmth. I like that it's completely matte and I also really like the shade of this product, it's perfect, not too cool not too warm. I also like to use this bronzer as eyeshadow :)

BLUSH

MAC Cosmetics Blush in Melba • Available here

As of lately I've been obsessed with the look of naturally flushed rosy cheeks and all of the blushes mentioned give me just that. Melba is my go-to blush, it never fails me and pairs so well with every single makeup look. This blush is completely matte, a soft coral peach shade and lasts all day long.

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso • Available here

This blush is beautiful, it has a combination of matte and shimmer particles that give your cheeks a radiant flush. The color of this blush is like a warm blush pink-apricot with gold reflects; so pretty! 

BH Cosmetics Nude Blush Palette • Available here

A great staple if you're doing freelance work as a makeup artist. This palette has a wide range of natural blushes for every skin tone. They're pigmented, blend nicely and the packaging is nice and sleek. 

HIGHLIGHT

It breaks my heart that my favorite highlighting product (Anastasia Beverly Hills x Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit) was limited edition and is discontinued! It takes the spot for my holy grail highligher but since you guys can't purchase it anymore I'll include my second and third most used highlighters.

Becca Cosmetics x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Highlight • Available here

The formulation of the product is everything! It's so pigmented, smooth, buttery and it shines bright like a disco ball. I like applying it anywhere I want to glow as well as on the eyes.

The Balm Cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer Highlight • Available here

Favorite drugstore highlight hands down, I consider this a drugstore product because I found it on Walmart.com for under $13, I linked it for you guys (they sell this at Kohls for $25; rip-off). I love using this on my eyes as well as on the tip of my nose and bridge of my nose.

SETTING SPRAY

Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray • Available here

Setting sprays are crucial when you wear a lot of makeup, they help keep your face in place so you can slay all day. My skin is very oily so I need a setting spray that will help not only control my oil but keep my makeup from melting off. This setting spray does that for me, it locks in my makeup and it really does keep me matte throughout the day. I also like to alternate between this setting spray and the Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (available here) in my opinion they both work pretty much the same.

MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Fix Plus • Available here

I don't necessarily use this setting spray to set my makeup as much, I use this more to spray on my brushes to intensify eyeshadows or my highlight. When I spray this onto my face it does a good job at melting the powder onto the skin but it does nothing in terms of oil control and making my makeup last all day.

EYEBROWS

NYX Cosmetics Micro Brow Pencil • Available here

I like that this pencil matches well with my hair without it being too dark (I use the shade Black), the tip of the pencil is small enough for precision, the formula is not dry or too creamy (it's perfect!) and I also like that it's very affordable (under $15) compared to other higher-end brands. I've gone through three of these pencils and I have two backups.

BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Brow Palette • Available here

This product right here is another staple if you're doing freelance makeup. It's a fantastic brow palette with a good range in shades, the colors are pigmented, the packaging is nice and thin (great for travel) and it's super affordable (under $20). I like to use this palette when I want more of a softer brow.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel • Available here

I've only ever used this clear brow gel and boy does it hold my brow hairs in place. Since this product works so well I never had the need to go out and try something different. Maybe this year I'll venture off and find a dupe, perhaps one more affordable than this.

EYE SHADOW

Anastasia Beverly Hills Single Shadows • Available here

When it comes to eye shadows I tend to pretty much always stick to warmer tones so that's basically what all my favorites consist of. Anastasia has incredible eyeshadows, they're so pigmented and blend like a dream. My most used shades of this year have been: Birkin, Fawn, Deep Brown, Burnt Orange, Sienna and Fudge.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette • Available here

I won this palette in a giveaway and ever since receiving it I've used it non stop. My most used shades in this palette are: Puree, Summer Yum, Luscious and Nectar. I shared a post where I created three looks using this palette, you can view that post here.

Morphe 35O Palette • Available here

If you love warm tones like me, you're going to love this palette. It has a good mix of mattes, shimmers and metallic shades. They're nicely pigmented, blend well and it's an affordable palette for the amount of shadows you get.

EYELINER

e.l.f. Expert Liquid Liner • Available here

I like this eyeliner because it's super affordable and it works. The finish isn't matte like the NYC liner but I always make sure to set my liquid liner with a black eyeshadow and it works just fine. I use the shade Jet Black.

Rimmel London Exaggerated Eye Definer • Available here

The shade In The Nude is my favorite nude liner, it's very creamy and glides on the waterline like butter. I love using this on natural makeup days when I want to give my eyes a bright-eyed effect.

MASCARA

Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara • Available here

I'm not picky when it comes to mascara for my lashes, as long as they're waterproof and hold my curl I'm fine with it. In my opinion Maybelline has the best mascaras out there.

Wet n Wild Mega Length Mascara • Available here

I really like the wand on this mascara for my lower lashes, it's really long and skinny allowing it to coat my lashes without getting messy. Don't you just hate when you get mascara on your perfectly concealed and set under eyes? I know I do!

LASHES + LASH GLUE

Ardell 'Wispies' • Available here

My lashes are constantly changing but when I'm in need of a natural pair I always gravitate towards these. These are hands down my favorite natural lashes, they look so pretty and really bring out your eyes.

Flutter Lashes 'Intoxicating' • Available here

These dramatic lashes are stunning! They're so long, full, fluffy and wispy. Perfect for those full on glam makeup days.

Koko Lashes 'Misha' • Available here

I thought I'd include these in here because I used these lashes a ton this year however I didn't wear them on their own. I customized and stacked a pair of these lashes with the Ardell Wispies and I was obsessed!! 

Duo Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins • Available here

I've gone through so many of these tubes. I prefer this over the original Duo because for starters it doesn't have that awful scent, it dries much quicker, it actually dries clear and the brush allows you to apply the glue directly to the lash band without the mess. 

LIP PREP

Aquaphor Lip Repair • Available here

Hydrated lips are the key to smooth and soft lips. This lip balm is my favorite because it hydrates and soothes chapped/cracked lips. I apply it before I start doing my makeup to ensure that my lip products go on as smooth as possible.

LIP LINER

NYX Cosmetics Slim Lip Pencil • Available here

The only lip liner I ever use is in the shade Ever. I wear it under any and every lip color, it's my obsession. This lip liner in combination with my holy grail lipstick is my favorite lip combo.

LIPSTICK

Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick • Available here

When I tell you that I use this lipstick every time I sit down to do my makeup, I mean it. This lipstick has quickly become my holy grail ever since I discovered it earlier in the year. I've repurchased it twice I love it so freaking much. If you didn't know it by now well now you know. Charmer is the shade I'm obsessed with! It's a warm toffee pink color that I think goes so well with my skin tone. I use it on days when I'm full glam and on days when I'm not wearing any makeup at all, it's my favorite!

NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream • Available here

I've been using these lip products for years, they have lots of shades to choose from and really comfortable on the lips. My two favorite shades are Stockholm and Athens.

BH Cosmetics Ultimate Lip Palette • Available here

Yet again another makeup artist kit staple. I used this palette a lot this year when I did freelance work and I also like to use this on myself. There's a ton of shades that you can choose from, you can even mix shades and create your own custom lip color.

LIP GLOSS

NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss • Available here

More so towards the end of the year I've been reaching for lip glosses a lot more and I predict that in 2018 lip glosses will make a big comeback. I'm obsessed with the shades Creme Brulee and Tiramisu. These lip glosses smell so yummy, they're so shiny and glossy and they have a big selection of colors. Their staying power is okay, not the most long lasting but they look beautiful on the lips. They aren't super sticky and annoying like other lip glosses plus they're super affordable.

That concludes this very long blog post! I hope you enjoyed reading all about my favorite holy grail beauty products of 2017. I still use every single one of these items to date. I do however want to venture out and try new beauty products this year. One of the brands I'm dying to try is Fenty Beauty, maybe I'll do a mini haul and share with you guys what I buy. Until next time friends, take care!