What. A. Year! 2021 was by far been my greatest, planning a wedding through national lock down and finally getting to marry my better half after a decade together, this will always be a fantastic year to look back on for so many reasons. If you didn’t know I did my own makeup for my big day, so I tried A LOT of new products this year. I really found a lot of great products over the last twelve months, and this is my round up of my favourites from each category.

Base Products

Primer

My favourite product to use as a primer is the L’Oreal Glow Cheri, but it’s not technically a primer its a glow enhancer so can be used in so many ways. Its also practically impossible to get your hands on any more so I wont dwell on that to much now, but if you do see it anywhere its definitely worth picking up. I have three more in back up in my drawers.

For an actual primer, I would have to choose the Collection Gorgeous Glow Glossy Primer Serum. It’s a skincare slash make up hybrid and it makes your skin look smooth and glowy on its own, and under makeup its super grippy and everything else blends nicely over the top.

Foundation

By far my most used and loved foundation this year has to be Nars Natural Radiant Longwear, every time I’ve worn anything more than a basic everyday makeup look I’ve used this. It’s absolutely flawless on the skin whilst also being incredibly lightweight. I hate anything that feels to heavy, but this feels like nothing while giving the most beautiful coverage, even the lightest layer covers everything like a soft veil.

For a cheaper drugstore option I love the NYX Born To Glow foundation, again feels like nothing on the skin and lasts beautifully. As the name suggests its a glowy finish which is obviously my whole vibe, it is less coverage than the Nars one but I would say they are quite similar.

Concealer

There is one single stand out concealer from this year, and I don’t think I’ll ever find one I love more because this is just pure perfection. Collection Lasting Perfection Stretch Concealer. To brighten the under eyes, cover dark circles and prime the eyelids before eyeshadow, I can’t even put into words how beautiful this looks. Now granted, I have the worlds driest skin and my eye area is a problem for me, but this concealer is super hydrating and creamy on the skin which is always my problem with concealers on me.

Contour

I wont babble on, its the E.L.F. Putty bronzer in Tan Lines. Read more about my thoughts here.

Bronzer

There’s only one bronzer I’ve reached for regularly throughout this year and it’s the Revolution Pro Sculpting Bronzer in the shade Cocoa. It’s a lovely soft focus bronzer, a lovely amount of pigment, blends beautifully and is a gorgeous bronze shade. I do sometimes use this as a natural bronzy contour for a more soft natural day, and through the crease for a basic eyeshadow look.

Blush

2021 was the year of blush for me. I went from 0 blushes in my collection, to now having approximately seven million so please excuse me for having more than one favourite. Looking back over the year my most used and loved ones would defiantly include the E.L.F. Putty Blushes in shade Bora Bora and Tahiti, Bora Bora for summer and Tahiti for winter. If you made me choose just one blush it would be those. Super pigmented and creamy on the skin, blends with other base products beautifully and doesn’t wear off which is a problem with blush normally.

Honourable mention needs to go to Flower Beauty Flower Pot Powder Blush in Wildflower which layered over the E.L.F. one is simply perfection in summer. Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore is a gorgeous slightly shimmery deep rose shade, ideal for autumn and winter.

Highlight

Again, this is a hard one to choose because some days I want to have a natural soft glow and some days I want to look like the tin man, either way highlight is none negotiable for me. Like I mentioned above the L’Oreal Natural Glow Enhancer can be used as a liquid highlighter tapped on the top of the cheeks, super soft glow and layers over foundation and under a powder highlight beautifully.

For a powder that gives a natural glow that can be built up and layered, my most loved this year has to be the Revolution Highlight Reloaded in Just My Type. One swipe gives the most incredible soft glow that makes the skin look hydrated and plump without a single bit of glitter cramping your style. It genuinely makes my skin look healthy and lit from within which is what I always want, and it can be layered up and buffed in to make it even more blinding on the very high points.

There is always space in my life for a glittery, seen from outer space glow and I have a few favourites for this job that I can’t skip out on. Maybelline Master Chrome in Diamond Glow, the most intense highlight from the smallest amount of product. Inner corner highlight perfection however it’s almost too soft in the pan and I’ve broken two in my makeup bags this year (very messy and saddening boo) but for keeping safe on your makeup table and not travelling with, I couldn’t be without it. A similar one to this but a slightly softer warmer pinker shade, as well as being easier to travel with is the XX Revolution XXposure Powder Highlight in Echo, big love for this one too!

Setting Powder

This isn’t a category I’m hugely into, I will use a setting powder if I have too, if I know its going to be a long hot day or I just want to lock everything in. But its absolutely not something I do everyday, or even once a week. If I do want to use powder to set anything however, I will always use the same one. The Revolution Pro CC Perfecting Pressed Powder is a lovely fine powder that I use with a very small fluffy brush and spot set areas of concern. If I over do it with a brush that’s too big or use too heavy of a hand, I know about it, but if I air on the side of caution and just use a teeny tiny amount, it looks really beautiful. It adds a small amount of coverage but nothing crazy, and keeps the area feeling hydrated and smooth, while leaving it look matte.

Setting Spray

Now in contrast to the setting powder, I do use a setting spray fairly often. Any time I do anything more than a natural everyday look, I like to lock it in with a spray and the one I’ve reached for most this year is the E.L.F. Stay All Night Spray. I can’t even explain how fine of a mist this is, it feels like nothing is coming out until you start fanning your face to dry it and you feel it cold on your skin. It doesn’t have an over powering fragrance which I find really off putting with other sprays and it genuinely locks your makeup in All. Night. Long.

Eyes

Shadow Palette

As I mentioned above, most days I don’t use an eyeshadow I just whack my bronzer over my lid and call it quits, however if I do want to use an eyeshadow I love the Revolution Forever Flawless range, specifically the Allure one. The shades are what I reach for all the time, a rose toned gold warm smokey tones with a fab range of mattes, shimmers and glitters. I have a few others from the same range and they’re all fantastic.

I’m trying out a few different colourful eyeshadow palettes to try and find my perfect one.

Liner

I’ve been on the biggest search this year for a black liquid liner to replace the Shein Precision Waterproof Liquid Liner, I just don’t want to spend £15 on postage when the liner is only £3 ya know. I’m still on the hunt for a black liquid liner, so please send me your recomendations!

For a pencil liner, I have to choose the Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil specifically the shades Sparkling Brown and O-Live You, I have a full review of these liners here.

Mascara

I really want to include my most recent find which is the Maybelline Sky High mascara, but I have only been using that for about six weeks of the year so I can’t really justify it being my yearly favourite. The Lash Sensational, specifically in waterproof, was a firm favourite through the summer and I really rate it. Wedding mascara needs staying power and this is what I used for my big day!

Products Of Note

We all know what’s coming here. ELF Liquid Glitter Eyeshadows! If you want a recommendation for shades I love Dirty Martini for every day blended right out for a subtle wash of colour with impactful glitter. Also the shade Flirty Birdy is beautiful layered right up to make the glitter really pop, again wedding makeup has to be fantastic and that’s what I used!

Brow Products

For filling in the brow I reach for the same one pretty much every day, the Eyelure Shape And Shade pencil in Dark Brown. Its the perfect mix of not too hard, not too soft, perfect colour and super long lasting (if I don’t wash it off I get two days out of one application!) I actually misplaced this pencil when I went on honeymoon earlier this year, and I went straight out to repurchase it, my others just don’t compare.

I don’t use a brow gel every day, but when I do it has to be the Revolution Brow Gel in Medium Brown. The brush is teeny tiny so you an be super precise, the colour is spot on for adding a little bit of depth to the hairs and keeping them in place for the whole day.

Lips

Liner

There is one stand out lip liner from 2021 and its the Rimmel Lasting Finish in shade 018 Addiction. They’ve recently repackaged this liner and renamed it to Rose Addiction, I have bought it so I will get back to you weather its the same product as what I’ve been loving!

Lip Stick

I only got this lipstick at the end of September, and I’m so gutted I didn’t have it for my wedding in mid September because its exactly what I was looking for! Its the Revolution Pro New Neutral Matte Lipstick in the shade Striped. Its the perfect brown pink nude, not too dark just a beautiful soft nude and despite the fact its matte, its super comfortable and lasts really nicely. I’ve picked up a few other shades to do a full review of the range.

Lip Gloss

I adore the ELF plumping glosses, I reach for them over all my other glosses. The colour is long lasting and it formula feels lovely on the lips without being too sticky and gloopy. You know the feeling, ick. I love the shade Mocha Twist, especially over the top of the lipstick I mentioned above!

Lip Balm

For a lip treatment when I’m not wearing any lip colour, the Doctor Paw Paw Original Balm is my go too. Super hydrating and it doesn’t go all bitty like how some balms do, my lips actually feel better after using it which again isn’t always a given. I also want to try the over night lip treatment as that’s how I often use the Original Balm, especially at this time of year!

Are any of these your favourite products too, what is your number one stand out product you’ve tried in the last year? Let me know!

Milli x