I buy a lot of makeup! Since starting my blog, I’ve also been gifted a lot of makeup (which does not in any way shape my opinion of a product).

So I thought it would be a great idea to round up my favourite makeup products of 2017 and share them with you all. These are products that I LOVE. There is nothing on this list that I just like, I’m obsessed with them all. If you’re following me on social media, you will have heard me talk about these products over and over again.

Best False Lashes: SoSu by Suzanne Jackson 

The first time I wore eyelashes was on the day of my wedding makeup trial with Michelle Regazolli Stone (MRS. Makeup) and the second time was on my wedding day! After that, no makeup look ever looked complete without them.

I have tried many brands throughout the year and my favourite is definitely the SOSUbySJ Premium Lashes (black box). The reason why I have specified “black box” is because I really don’t like the one’s that are stocked in Penneys. As I said, I am a novice when it comes to lashes so the easier they go on the better. I find the one’s in the black box (stocked in pharmacies) much easier to apply and they are so light on the eye. The one’s from Penneys are quite the opposite (in saying that, a lot of people LOVE the range in Penneys).

My favourite styles are “Katie”, “Sophia” and “Gigi”, it depends on the occasion.

Price: €5.95 here and you can buy them in store in pharmacies nationwide.

Best Tan: Bellamianta Tan Medium Lotion

I’m kind of cheating here because I didn’t only discover Bellamianta in 2017. But it was really late in 2016! I have tried so many tans this year and still Bellamianta is my absolute favourite. You can read more about tans I like and dislike in my post here.

It is the most beautiful shade of tan, golden rather than orange, and I have never managed to streak it on application. It washes off really well too. What more could you want from a tan? If you need some help with applying tan, you can read my top tanning tips here.

Price: €21.60 (on sale) here and you can also purchase it in Boots and pharmacies nationwide.

Best Makeup Palette: bPerfect X LMD

This is more than an eyeshadow palette, it’s an entire face palette and I’m so happy it came into my life. This is the first palette that I have ever hit pan on! That’s how much I have used it… every single day since I got it!

I went to the launch for this palette in Belfast, I was just home from China and absolutely exhausted, but it was so worth the journey. The shadows are a dream. So creamy, pigmented, long lasting and so blendable. There is a gorgeous mixture of matte and shimmer shadows and there are no bad colours. I wear them all.

You also get a highlighter, blush and bronzer and they are just as good. The highlighter in particular is unbelievable, it’s up there with my favourite (Mary Loumanizer). I had no hope for the face powders when I first seen them, they’re usually just thrown in to fill up a palette, but I can honestly say, they’re brilliant. This was an easy decision, the bPerfect  X LMD Master palette is my favourite this year.

Price: €29.95 and you can buy it here (they are like gold dust at the minute so if you see one, grab one!)

Best Lipstick: NYX Professional Matte 

I was starting to believe that it was not possible to have a matte lipstick that was also moisturising. Then I tried the NYX Professional Matte Lipsticks and my faith was restored. Yes, they are matte and moisturising, and the colour range is incredible. I have so many favourites including Nude, Whipped Caviar and Merlot. Read my post about some more of my favourite nude lipsticks here.

If that isn’t enough to tempt you, they’re really reasonably pricef and available in most pharmacies nationwide.

Price: €9 here in Boots and select pharmacies nationwide.

Best Lipgloss: NYX Professional Butter Glosses

Another NYX Professional product (I also love their Micro Eyebrow Pencil). If you are a lipgloss lover, you need to try these.

I’m usually not, in fact, these Butter Glosses are the only glosses I have ever loved. I own high end lip glosses, like Charlotte Tibury, and they don’t come close to these in terms of coverage and comfort on the lips.

They’re highly pigmented, full coverage and they are so reasonably priced. My favourite shades are Tiramisu and Creme Brûlée. 

Price: €7 here or you can purchase in pharmacies nationwide.

Best Mascara: L’Oreal Paradise 

When Rimmel discontinued my favourite mascara, I had no choice but to go on the hunt for another one. I purchased the L’Oreal Paradise mascara a few months ago and I am really impressed with it.

It gives my lashes both length and volume, it doesn’t crumble throughout the day, and it lasts really well. I have used it every day since I bought it and it’s shown no signs of running out either. Now, it has dried up a bit, but I think I prefer it that little bit gloopy!

It’s said to be a dupe for the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara so for the purposes of my blog, I purchased it to try it out. I promise, the Paradise Mascara is much better. In fact, the only comparison I can see is with the shape of the wand. The Better Than Sex Mascara didn’t work half as well for me and I needed an eye makeup remover to take it off (who has time for that carry on?).

Price: €16.49 here and in other pharmacies nationwide.

Best Concealer: Catrice Camouflage

I have recommended the Catrice Camouflage concealer to everybody I know! I’m so passionate about it, when I seen a colleague about to purchase a high end concealer online, I asked her not to purchase until she tried the Catrice concealer. Then I went out and bought it for her! She loved it obviously!

It’s perfect. Creamy, full coverage, easy to blend, great colour selection, and most importantly, it doesn’t get stuck in fine lines or wrinkles. I can’t believe how cheap it is either! I stock up whenever I see them because they are hard to get now that the secret is out!

Price: About €4 and you can buy them in Penneys and most pharmacies nationwide.

Best Makeup Brushes: Nima Brushes

While makeup brushes are not strictly makeup, I can’t apply a decent face of makeup without them. Gone are the days when we used to use our fingers to apply makeup! My favourite brushes are by Nima.

They’re soft, don’t shed, wash perfectly and there isn’t a smell off them. It really turns me off brushes if, when you first open them, they smell like chemicals!

I love the presentation of these brushes too. I have some Tiffany blue and silver ones and some white and rose gold ones.

They look fab, perform perfectly and wash great. They would make a gorgeous gift!  I think for the quality of the brushes, and considering how long they last, everyone should own a set!

Sinead from The Beautiful Truth recently picked her favourite brushes from the Nima Brush collection. It’s an entire face brush set, you would literally need no other brush ever! She picked the brushes that she uses and loves and discusses them in detail on her Facebook video here.

Price: The best news is that you can currently get all 10 brushes for €94.50 (they’re worth €145) here. Use the discount code: “thebeauttruth”.

Best Nail Varnish: Wet & Wild 1 Step Wonder Gel

Nail varnish is makeup for the nails :p I never paint my finger nails because nail varnish does not last on me (I’m a picker). I do however paint my toe nails and the only nail varnish I like is this Wet Wild Nail Varnish. Lena Wrenn introduced me to it and I’ve been using it since.

It glides on, has a gel finish and dries really quickly (who has the time to wait around for nail varnish to dry?). Also, as the name suggests, you just need one coat, it’s full coverage. Cheap, cheerful and effective, what more could you want!

Price: About €3 in Penneys and other pharmacies nationwide.

Best Foundation: Note Luminous Moisturising Foundation 

If you’re following me on social media, you will have heard me go on and on about the Note Cosmetics Luminous Moisturising Foundation. I have never loved a foundation as much in my life!

I literally look like I have airbrushed skin when I wear it, it’s just stunning on the skin. It’s full coverage in my opinion, but yet you still don’t look caked. If you have oily skin, do not be afraid of this. As if it could be any more perfect, it has an SPF too!!!

Usually those foundations that claim to be dewy, luminous and moisturising do not sit well on oily skin; but I imagine this foundation to be perfect for oily skin.

My skin is combination meaning my forehead and around my nose and chin are oily and my cheeks are dry. This foundation sits perfectly on my oily areas. When my skin is really dry, I use the Trilogy Rosehip Oil (more on this in a later post) and the foundation still stays put all day. Especially with my favourite setting powder on top.

Price: €7.95 (on sale) here and you can find a full list of Note stockists on their Facebook page here.

Best Setting Powder: Note Cosmetics Mineral Powder

I never bought into setting powders. It’s because they’re transparent so when you apply them, you can’t really see the difference they make. They make your makeup last longer and are essential for oily skin but again, I was never bothered with them. That was until I bought the Note Cosmetics Mineral Powder. The only reason I bought it was because it smelled like baby powder and felt like velvet. I needed it. I’m so glad I made that impulse purchase that day. I am obsessed with this powder and it is the best I have ever tried.

I have tried cult classics like MAC Prep & Prime and Ben Nye Banana Powder but this one is my favourite by far! This, and the Note Luminous Moisturising Foundation are a match in make up heaven.

Price: €15.95 (on sale) here and you can find a full list of Note stockists on their Facebook page here.

There you have it pals. Out of all the makeup products I have tried this year, these are the one’s that stood for me. If you try them, please let me know how you get on! My Best of Skincare blog post is coming very soon! Please subscribe for emails below to be notified when it’s published!

Thanks for reading,