Looking back on 2017 there was a huge selection of brilliant new releases brought to the beauty world. This post is certainly something a lot of people asked about over the Christmas, so I’ve put together a full post for a broad variation of beauty interests from makeup to skincare and of course hair products, that really stood out to me last year. It was SO hard to narrow it all down as a devoted beauty addict but I tried to keep this as practical and as informative as possible. Let me know what you think!
Lou.xx
The Palette
The Urban Decay ‘Naked Heat’ palette launched during 2017 and it’s been one of my key favourites as great all rounder for day or night. There were more rust tones in this which normally I would have shied away from so it became a welcomed change into my beauty routine. Like most Urban Decay palettes you’ll find a perfect combination of metallics to matte shades that will suit any eye colour and most importantly -very easy to throw in your handbag for everyday use or for travelling.
Where to find: Urban Decay stockists such as Debenhams , Sephora and Selfridges.
The Lip Edit : Nude Favourites
A nude lip is apart of my everyday makeup and something I’m asked about so regularly in terms of colour choices and options ( which I find so hard to narrow down!!) . But as this is just my 2017 favourites these are my top three which I was introduced to last year, that are on the nude-pink colour palette but also brilliantly hydrating too.
Charlotte Tilbury – Lip Lustre shade: Seduction €22 : This is a great neutral shade for every kind of skin tone and lip colour. It has great coverage, extremely breathable and for that extra wow factor can be layered over any nude lipstick for a night out.
Where to find?: Charlotte Tilbury stores & online, Brown Thomas, Selfridges & Nordstrom.
Tom Ford – Spanish Pink lipstick €28 : This is also a mix between a lipstick and a lip gloss. It’s one of the more hydrating lipsticks I’ve used so if you are not a fan of matte textures or have a tendency to get quite dry lips this is definitely one to remember.
Find it at: Selfridges, Brown Thomas, Nordstrom.
Primarks PS Pro – Peach Shine lip gloss – €3.50 : As bargain finds go in terms of price and quality this lip gloss is a brilliant find. I use it mainly during the day and it’s a shade that always seems to spark conversation in terms of its shine ( ..and when I tell people how much I paid for it!). You can find this at most Primark stores which stock Primark beauty lines.
Colour Pop
I definitely tried to embrace colour more for 2017 and I’m so glad I did. It’s possibly the best “pick me up” beauty hack to glam up an outfit or give a day makeup look an instant party vibe in seconds.
My top three favourites were:
Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet -shade 300: If orange and coral reds are your preference then this is certainly one to consider. This matte range from Armani beauty is very impressive with brilliant staying power and as its enriched with oils your lips feel moisturised throughout the day. It’s a beautiful shade for the summer months and a good option for those who are slowly trying to adopt more colour into your makeup bag.
Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick – shade a fierce plum : 2017 was my first experience trying Huda Beauty lipsticks and I have to say I was EXTREMELY impressed. Certainly one of the more lighter weight lipsticks I’ve used, to the point that I had to keep checking if it was still on my lips which it was! This is certainly one for the matte lip lovers but I particularly liked this shade on blondes as it wouldn’t have been a colour I would have embraced before. ( Find it at Sephora / Brown Thomas / Cult Beauty)
Kiss NY Pro makeup Luxe Creamy Lipgloss shade “Rediculous” ( as seen in photo above) : This was my New York Fashion Week Favourite I started wearing in September. It’s more of a bolder red lip but also perfect for the bargain hunters. It’s coverage and texture is closer to that of a luxury brand but at the €7 price mark its extra fabulous! ( find it at Boots / Selected Pharmacies in the UK & Ireland / Walmart/ Duane Reade)
The Lashes:
When it comes to lashes, I prefer volumising mascaras or a some kind of natural effect. As I have a hooded lid ( or double lid as some people call it) I find thick stripe lashes can be hard to wear or look noticeably unnatural on me personally. I found the “Blooming Lash” range by Kiss during the year and I’ve been in love with them ever since. They’re extremely light and feather like, easy to cut down if you prefer just a half stripe lash but most importantly they have a 3D effect. Once applied, it literally gives a beautiful natural effect and illusion of fuller lashes at every angle. ( My style favourites : The Daisy and The Lilly lashes from the Blooming Lash range)
Where to find?: Most boots stores and selected pharmacies.
The masks:
Glamglow Sonic mask: Glamglow masks in general seem to suit my skin type. This particular one I was intrigued about purely by the name alone. It’s a Gravitymud firming treatment best kept for when you feel that ultimate fatigue and in need of a skin lift. You simply let the mask dry full then peel it off. You’ll find your skin feels more exfoliated, brighter and more defined in the right places. ( find it at Feel Unique / Sephora )
The Body Shop British Rose : This can be used any time day or night but I tend to have this as my go-to for the morning of a shoot or a big day if I feel my skin is extremely dry or a ‘I want to look like I’ve had sleep but I have to be out the door in 20 minutes’ situation, then this will be a saving grace! The glass jar keeps the rose formula constantly cold meaning it’s extremely soothing to the skin and give your skin a fuller more rested effect. ( Find it in store or online at The Body Shop)
The Scent:
Fragrances are one of my obsessions. I’m always sensitive to scents so I aim to go for calming notes to feel good scents. This one from Tom Ford is one of the best luxury scents on the market and you can’t help but feel like you’re being transported to a private island somewhere in the mediterranean with white florals, coconut and tuberose being the main accords behind the fragrance. Where to find?: All Tom Ford luxury stockists ( Feel Unique,Brown Thomas, Selfridges, Macy’s) and selected airports.
Haircare
I always try to mix up my hair products where possible as I have my colour done regularly meaning I need to treat my hair often but also look to products which help extend colour and most importantly repair weak hair strands. These three products were my most purchased shampoos / conditioners of 2017. Two of the below are quite similar; one concentrating on colour and repair while the other, Smartbond, is for all hair types so I found it hard to choose between the two for this post!
Colour Expert from Schwarzkopf has a range of shampoo, conditioner and hair mask options. I was introduced to it on a shoot in early 2017 by hair guru Carolyn Newman. The Colour Expert treatment is aimed at coloured hair which contains omegaplex. It differs from typical conditioners which smooth the hair and seal the hair cuticles as plex treatments which became quite popular in 2017 have anti-breakage properties to it to really strengthen and preserve the hair fibres. The range is found in almost all Boots stores and online – price range : around the €5 mark.
Redkin’s Magnetics shampoo acts more as a colour extender. It comes in extremely useful for anyone with coloured hair who you want to try and preserve your colour as long as possible. I tend to use it once a week or when its coming up close to having my roots redone I’ll use this every time I wash my hair. ( find it at any Redkin stockist / Feel Unique/ Look Fantastic France)
Smartbond step 3 is similar concept to “plex” treatments. Its essentially for professional salon use as it comes in 3 steps. Step 1 & 2 is applied in a salon and step 3 can be purchased to use at home. It’s an intense hair repair strengthener which is ideal for bleach blondes to those who might need an extra hair TLC boost after colour. You can buy Smartbond 3 in selected salons and online but you don’t need to have used the previous steps in order to use it. It feels like a professional conditioner and treatment in one but without having to wait around with leave in treatments. You’ll also find your hair is much easier to brush and less tangled after using it also. Retails around the €13 price mark. ( selected Loreal Professional stockists / Amazon UK )
The Blonde Booster
For fellow coloured and highlighted blonde hair gals this is one key product that was an instant hit with me for 2017. Kevin Murphy is a well known Australian hair brand but when it comes to blonde hair – the upkeep is a lot – particularly when you are at the 4-6 week mark of highlights or colour and you find brassy tones coming through. This will definitely help to give dull blonde that added fresh lift. It works as a thermal heat protector too and the smell is also lovely which is an added bonus. You can find it in most Kevin Murphy Salon stockists as well their online store here. Retails at €24.
The L’Oreal Steampod :
I had been debating buying a Steampod for months. During 2017 a hair stylist had used one on me before a red carpet event and I adored it, but then I wondered if that was because they were professionals and I wondered would I be able to achieve the same “wowness” at home myself. In early December I finally got my hands on a L’Oreal Steampod and I haven’t looked back. What’s more is that when I did talk about it on Snapchat floods of messages came in all with positive feedback which was really reassuring.
How it works: Attached to the cord is a small cylinder which you simply add water to in order to heat and create the steam. As ita made up of pro keratin technology mixed with the steam, the Steampod opens up the hair cuticles and helps to retain the hairs natural moisture, whereas with normal straighteners it can dry out the hair and lead to more heat damage and pressure on the hair. You can adjust the heat settings which was another key thing I liked about it giving you options from 140-210 degrees but I found for me around the 160-170 mark was just perfect and gives that smooth salon effect.
Find it at Peter Mark salons, Zest Beauty online and Amazon.
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