Brands I Discovered Last Year

I realise 'discovered' sounds a little pompous, but stick with me. Other vocabulary didn't have the same ring to it.

When I was thinking of brands and products to include in this post, I initially skipped over both Nip & Fab and Origins because it feels like I've been using them for so much longer. It was definitely 2015 that saw these enter my life, though, both beginning with a mask.

Nip & Fab | I was first introduced to Nip & Fab through being sent the Glycolic mask to review. It was the first mask to make a substantial difference to my skin, so I then began to look into more of the range. I now have four of the Glycolic products and like them all, but the pads are probably my favourite because of how quick and easy they are to use. I also own a couple products from the Dragon's Blood range, and while they don't make as big a difference to the surface of my skin, I still like them. Like they say on the packaging, they leave my skin feeling plump and softly moisturised.

Origins | I bought the Mask Marvels set early last year simply because it was an incredibly bargain, and each mask in the set was highly rated. The Out of Trouble and Clear Improvement masks were nice, but it's the Drink Up Intensive one which really impressed me. I then bought the Cleansing Oil, which although good, I still prefer The Body Shop's Camomile version because it's incredibly similar, but half the price. 

Just before Christmas, the gift sets were on offer and my discount, for some reason, doubled up, making them a very good price indeed. It would have been slightly cheaper to get them in the half price sale, but when that rolled around, they were no where to be seen from the beginning, so I'm glad I bought them early! I've been liking the GinZing moisturiser from one of these sets. It smells deliciously orange-y, and is refreshingly light. Having combination oily skin means I don't need something heavy duty. Is it any better than cheaper light moisturisers I've come across? I'm not sure. I just know that I like it.

The other set included the KissZing Lip Crayon in Rosemance, which was my main reason for buying it. It has quite a satin finish, which surprised me, and it's not as balmy as I expected, but it wears well and looks beautiful on. I also have a couple of GinZing Brightening Mascara samples, and while I'd never pay £17.50 when I love my £7.99 ones, it's still a good mascara. It doesn't clump or flake, and just makes your lashes look natural. I'd recommend this to someone over the Benefit ones, and they're more expensive.

Zoeva | Zoeva brushes now dominate my collection. The quality of them is so much higher than their price point. My favourite has to be the 322 Brow Line because it's thinner than any other eyebrow brush I've tried, so doesn't pick up too much product, which is great when using pomades. The 102 Silk Finish is also my favourite for foundation. Even after all the battering it's gone through, it still looks great. The 127 Luxe Sheer Cheek is the only one I've been slightly disappointed in, and I think this is because the hairs aren't synthetic. If you'd like to read reviews of every Zoeva brush I own, click here.

Makeup Revolution | I know it's the brand which rips off other brands, but I really like some of the products, and they're cheap as. The Iconic Pro Blush, Bronze, and Brighten Palette in Rave is a little powdery, but apart from that, it's a good all rounder. The bronzer is matte and subtle, the highlighter's of a nice candlelight shade, and the blush has the warmth I tend to gravitate towards. For £4, it's worth giving it a go. The Ultra Brow Arch & Shape is a dupe for Anastasia Beverly Hills and Soap & Glory's offerings, and I'm a fan. The pen end has all but dried up now, but that's because I've had it a while, and it's down to this type of product, but the pencil end is still soft. It really is worth the £3.50. The Ultra Aqua Brow Tint is just £3. I didn't use it a lot in 2015 actually, but I think it's going to be in my next favourites post. A claimed dupe for the Makeup Forever Aqua Brow and NYX Eyebrow Gel, it's pigmented, easy to use, and stays put.

I've only tried the brow products from both Anastasia Beverly Hills and Freedom, so I can't say I 'discovered' the brands, but still wanted to mention them. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Soft Brown is as good as everyone says, but mine's starting to dry up, and instead of spending another £15, I'd rather buy Freedom's £5 version, also in Soft Brown. It's slightly warmer, so I've also bought Medium Brown since, but in terms of formula, I don't think it's massively different. The Duo Eyebrow Powder in Soft Brown (£4) is also nice. It's not massively pigmented, so you do have to dip your brush a few times, but it's one to use when you want a natural look, or to set your eyebrows after using another product.

I hope I discover just as many great brands in 2016. What do you think of the ones I've talked about?

Top 15 Products of 2015

I didn't give myself a limit to the number of products featured in my 2014 favourites, and ended up having two mammoth posts, so I set about having just 15 this time around. It was quite difficult actually, so I may write another post with the ones which didn't quite make it!

Most of these products are ones which I discovered in 2015. There are three which I've been using for longer, but I absolutely love them, so had to include them. I haven't included my trusty NYX Cream Blush in Natural, The Body Shop's All In One Face Base in 02, Maybelline's Gel Liner in Black, or ELF's Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light, because although I've been through many of each, I talk about them all the time.

The fragrance which I'm choosing as my 2015 favourite is Viktor & Rolf's Bonbon. I haven't had it that long, and I still love all my others just as much, but this one is so different to anything I own. It's rich, warm, and sweet, rather than light, floral, and fruity. The caramel note is really what makes it, and I'll catch whiffs of it throughout the day. One spray on the neck, and one on the wrists, is all I need, and my mum will comment on my perfume when I get home from work. I've avoided smelling Flowerbomb because of the patchouli note, but everyone seems to love it, so I think I'm going to have to track down a tester or sample of that one as well.

I'm grouping the MUA Sweet Sheen Lip Balms together, but thought I'd show you two of the five shades I own; Cherry Bomb and Dusky Rose. They're light, balmy, and last surprisingly well. They're also only £2 a piece!

I've been using the Superdrug Colour Effects Wash In Wash Out Conditioning Colours for years, and have spoken about them an awful lot, but I had to include them in my 2015 favourites because I've been using them more than ever, and have been receiving more compliments on my hair than ever. These bottles (£1.49) add different tones to your hair, depending on which shade you opt for. I tend to use the Mahogany shade the most, which makes my auburn hair deeper and richer. I also like True Chestnut, which is less red. I'll either leave it on for an hour once a week, or put it on in the shower for ten minutes and gradually build it up over the course of a few days.

I discovered Lush's Ultrabland Facial Cleanser in 2014, but it became the only cleanser I use in 2015. When you first start using it, it feels very heavy, and so moisturising that you think it'll clog your pores, but it doesn't. The texture has become the norm for me now, and the simple ingredients are great for my skin. The best thing about Ultrabland is how well it removes your makeup. It just melts it away, and doesn't sting your eyes.

Rimmel's The Only One Lipstick in Naughty Nude wasn't going to be in here, but when I thought about it, it's a lipstick I go to a lot. It's opaque, creamy, and lasts for hours. It kind of dries down to feel like a satin/stain, but it's not drying on the lips at all.

Barry M's Satin Super Slick Lip Paint in Berrylicious isn't one I've had that long, but I really do love it. Again, it's opaque and incredibly creamy, but it lasts well, especially when I dab and work it into my lips. The colour is different to other berry shades I own as well. It's slightly more purple, more muted. It's also only £4.49, which is a bonus.

My new favourite mascara is Maybelline's Lash Sensational. I'm not great at distinguishing the qualities between mascaras, but I know that this one separates my lashes, somehow makes them look better than other mascaras do, and doesn't flake.

I also discovered Lush's Ro's Argan Body Conditioner before 2015, but I love, love, love it. I found the scent overpowering at first, but now it seems to calm me. The actual product is what does it for me, though. You put it on in the shower, wash it off, and voila. You're left with moisturised skin. No need for butters or lotions in the cold.

Boots were selling Origins Mask Marvel sets, left over from Christmas, in the spring for a great price. I think they were £20 for three 75ml tubes. My favourite out of these is the Drink Up Intensive one. You sleep with it on overnight, and wake up to incredibly moisturised, plump skin. I usually find that once you wash your face, the effects of other moisturisers and masks seem to disappear with it, but this one doesn't. It also smells like apricot, which I love.

The Body Shop's Shade Adjusting Lightening Drops are a game changer. I've been loving them so much. You simply add however many drops to your foundation to make it lighter, which is great if you're pale and find it difficult to find a foundation light enough. It doesn't change the formula of the foundation either.

I became a big fan of Nip & Fab in 2015, especially of the Glycolic Fix range. I love the mask and serum, but decided to include the pads here because of their ease. Wiping one of these over your skin will improve the texture, making it smoother and brighter. You'll see more of an effect if you incorporate them into your daily routine, but I like to give my skin a break after about a week.

I've been loving highlighting in general, and have a few favourites, but the one which tops them all is probably Topshop's Glow Highlighter in Polished. You only need a small amount of the cream formula, and it blends beautifully. If you want something that's warmer than this pearlescent shade, they have a golden shade called Gleam.

Overall, I love my cream blushes more than my powder ones. My NYX, Stila, and Illamasqua ones in particular. But I thought I'd include Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve because, out of the blushes I bought in 2015, it's the one I go to the most. The colour is so natural and easy to wear, and the formula is a dream to use. It's soft, yet not chalky, and blends incredibly well. These blushes were talked about a lot last year, and for good reason.

I found a new brand to dominate my brush collection in 2015, and that brand is Zoeva. They look and feel more expensive than they are, and the ones I own have not disappointed. The two I use the most are the Silk Finish and Brow Line ones. Even after using the Silk Finish brush to apply my foundation after all these months, it's still just as in shape and dense as it was when new. The Brow Line brush is thinner than any other eyebrow brush I've used, so it doesn't pick up as much product, and allows you to have more control. This comes in particularly handy when using pomades.

Have you used any of these products? What were your favourites of 2015?

New Favourites

Stila Convertible Colour in Hibiscus | £16

I'd had my eye on the Convertible Colours for a while, but didn't want to pay £16 for one, especially because I was so happy with my NYX ones. Then Stila reduced a couple of the colours on their website to £8 with free delivery, and because I prefer warmer shades over bubblegum pinks, I chose Hibiscus. It's an orangey red, and one of the reasons why I've come to love it is because it's nothing like the other shades in my collection. The red shades I have tend to be of the raspberry variety, which I love during the winter. I didn't have a summery red, though, so this has filled that slot. I wasn't expecting it to be as pigmented as it is either. The NYX ones are the most pigmented cream blushes I own, but that's partly because they're so creamy. This is more firm and waxier, but still has incredible colour pay off. The finish is light and fresh, too. Petunia is next on my to buy list.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Pads | £12.99

I've just reviewed these (which you can read here), so I won't go into too much detail. Like the face mask in the same range, they leave the surface of my skin feeling smooth, and appear to minimise the appearance of my pores. The solution they're soaked in is also distributed evenly through the tub, so every pad has plenty of product on.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Soft Brown | £15

I've also reviewed this recently (here). The colour is a great match for my eyebrows, and once you get used to how pigmented it is, you can create a really natural look. Unlike powder, there's no fall out, and it's going to last a long while. I'm just hoping it doesn't dry out too much!

Bourjois Bronzing Primer | £9.99

You can find my full review of this here. Although it's quite orange in the pot, it blends out so easily, leaving a sunkissed glow. Cream bronzers are hard to find, especially matte ones, so I'm glad I found this. I'd love it if they brought out a cooler shade, though; it'd look more natural under my jaw line when I attempt to contour!

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush | £11.50 on its own (the silver version)

This is the brush I've been using the most from the Rose Golden collection, and I've been using it with my foundation. I prefer it to my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, and I think that's because it's not as stumpy, so is easier to use around my nose. It's still dense and super soft, but slightly more flexible. It's also prettier, let's be honest!

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Pads

Like I said in my Nip + Fab haul, after being impressed with the Glycolic Instant Fix Mask (review here), I wanted to try more from the range. The pads were raved about by many, but I didn't know where their place would be in my routine, because I'd never used a product like them before. My indecisiveness lead to these going from half price to full price, and I instantly regretted it. When I saw them on offer a month or two later, I didn't wait around. I've now been using one pad a day for a couple weeks, so thought I'd let you know how I'm getting on.

Unveil younger-looking skin with our innovative Glycolic Fix. 60 radiance-boosting pads, soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid (2.8%) retexture + resurface skin whilst witch hazel helps to tone. This moisturising formula with hyaluronic acid + soothing blue daisy helps to reveal brighter + smoother looking skin.

These are so quick and easy to use, and the product is equally distributed throughout every pad in the tub. I personally use them after getting out the shower in the evenings, a couple hours before I go bed and moisturise. Although they aren't as strong as the mask, with repeated use, you get the same result. That result is smooth skin with smaller looking pores. I find using these once a day to be enough, but you can use them twice daily if you wish. Once a day will be enough for two months, whereas twice a day will give you a month's treatment, so they're well worth the money.

I prefer these to the mask because they're less messy, and I'll certainly be repurchasing them. I may even buy another tub from Boots now, since they're on offer for £6.49 down from £12.99. Have you tried anything from Nip + Fab's Glycolic Fix range?

Nip + Fab Haul

Ever since trying, and being impressed with, the Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask, I've wanted to try more from the brand. I wanted to buy the Glycolic Fix Pads a couple months back, but just missed the half price offer and didn't want to pay full price. They're now back on offer in Boots, so thought it was a good time to dip my toe into the Nip + Fab water.

I bought the Glycolic Fix Pads (£6.49 down from £12.99) before the other products, and have been using them for about a week and a half now. I didn't know where their place would be in my routine, but I've been using them after I shower, and this seems to be working well. I really like them, and will be reviewing soon.

Because the other Glycolic Fix products work well for me, I wanted to try the Serum (£7.47 down from £14.95). I've yet to use it, but will be doing so from tonight.

The Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum (£9.97 down from £19.95) is another I've read many positive reviews on. I used it last night, it wasn't greasy in the slightest, and it absorbed quickly. I thought it'd be more moisturising than it was, but it did seem to make my skin feel more plump.

The Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask (£7.47 down from £14.95) is another I haven't used yet, but am looking forward to giving it a go. I'm not expecting it to be as good as the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, but we'll see.

Which Nip + Fab products would you recommend?

New Favourites

Since my last favourites, I've bought and tried a whole lot of products. I'm fond of most of them, but to keep things short and sweet, I've only picked a handful to write about today.

I'm still not big on body scrubs, preferring to use exfoliating gloves, but one I really like is The Body Shop's Vineyard Peach Body Scrub. I like intense scrubs, and used to think ones with large scrubby bits were better for that, but actually, the finer ones are. I think this is because the bits don't fall off your skin, meaning you can really work them in. This is what the Vineyard Peach one is like, and it's creamy, so leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. It also smells incredible, but that goes without saying.

I feel like I've spoken about the face masks above a lot recently, so I'm going to just give you the links to my reviews. Click here to read my thoughts on the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, and click here for the Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask. They do more than other masks I've tried, and for that, I applaud them.

The Topshop Glow Cream Highlighter in Polish (review here) is amazing, and probably the best highlighter I've used. It's iridescent and glowy and beautiful. Plus, the pot is going to last a long, long time.

Another Topshop cheek product I've been loving is the Cheek Jelly in Reign. I'd describe it as a water based cream blush, and it's very natural. Sheer, slightly dewy, blends well; an all around winner.

I've bought so many blushes this year, and have ended up loving them all. One of my favourites is the MUA Whipped Velvet Blush in Ritzy. I love every shade I have (review and swatches here), but I've been leaning towards these natural, flushed colours recently. The Whipped Velvet blushes are like mousses, and are very light in texture. They're only £3, too, so I'd definitely recommend checking them out.

Everyone's been raving about the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes, and for good reason. They're pigmented, not chalky in the slightest, and subtly illuminate without relying on a huge amount of shimmer. I have Nude Mauve and Gorgeous Berries, but have just featured Nude Mauve here because I've already featured two berry toned blushes.

I've been reaching for the MUA Sweet Sheen Lip Balms more than any other lip product recently. You can read my review here, but they're essentially light, moisturising, tinted lip balms. They're quite pigmented for what they are, actually. The only one I haven't featured here is Coral Reef, and that's because it looks like a hot pink on my lips, which isn't my favourite colour.

The ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light is still my go to eyebrow product, but I've been so impressed with Makeup Revolution's Brow Dual Ultra Arch & Shape in Medium. It's the perfect shade for me, is easy to use, and looks natural. The pen side is my favourite, but the pencil's good, too. It's the £3.50 version of Soap & Glory's Archery, but there's four shades instead of two. I don't know how quickly it's going to dry out, but for the price, I'm not going to be too upset when it does.

Current Skincare Routine

I've taken a real interest in skincare recently, and have developed a consistent routine. I've never been consistent with my skincare before, usually giving up using products after a couple weeks. I'm hoping this routine continues, even if the products change (I am a beauty blogger, after all). I'll start in the evening, as this is when I shower and cleanse the day's impurities away.

If I'm wearing makeup, gel liner in particular, I use Lush's Ultrabland (review here - I said I didn't know if I'd rush out to repurchase, and here we are, three pots later). I found this quite heavy and tacky initially, but have grown to love it. It's the best for removing makeup, and it leaves my oily-combination skin feeling thoroughly moisturised.

I sometimes use The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (review here) if I have eye makeup on, but have found myself using this on the rest of my face more because it leaves my skin feeling really soft. I've been through a couple of these, and will no doubt go through more. I also love the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, but when both are sitting on the bathroom shelf, the lazy part of me gravitates towards the oil.

A couple hours later, when I finally head for bed, I moisturise and all that good stuff. I've been using some products from the Rodial Glamtox* range for about 5 weeks now. I'll use the serum and eye cream before bed, and the day moisturiser and sometimes the eye cream in the morning, before I apply my makeup. The serum is my favourite because it feels like it makes the biggest difference; my skin is left feeling nourished and hydrated the next morning. However, I wouldn't use this during the day like it claims you can. It's oil based and takes a while to soak in. I can't even see this being a good option for dry skin, but then it may be, depending on your skin and what you like. The eye cream and day moisturiser are also nice because they sink in quickly, allowing you to get on with your day. I don't feel like they do much else, though. They add some moisture to my face, but that's it, and for the price (£50-£75!), I want them to do a lot more. They claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and while I don't have these on the majority of my face, I do have them under my eyes (more than the average person, I think). The eye cream hasn't helped with these, and I can't see this suddenly changing in the future. They're good products, but for the price, I'd like them to do a lot more. I've come across products at a fraction of the cost which give similar results. I'd actually recommend trying the sister brand, Nip + Fab, for cheaper alternatives. They have their own versions of Rodial's Dragon Blood, Bee Venom, and Glamoxy Snake ranges.

Two other products I use before bed are the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser and Nelson's Pure & Clear Blemish Gel. The Blistex Intensive Moisturiser is the best lip balm I've ever used, although I'm sure my lips are getting used to the effect it has. The Nelson's Pure & Clear Blemish Gel is also the best I've used, but that's not saying much because most blemish gels do nothing for me. This one sometimes does and sometimes doesn't, so I take a chance when I use it. There's no harm if it doesn't always reduce the blemish, though.

Face masks have become a regular thing in my routine now, which I never thought would happen. Most face masks leave my skin feeling slightly cleansed or slightly moisturised, and not much else, but I've found two which do more than that. The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is like the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser for your face, leaving it feeling plump and unbelievably moisturised. You can read my review, as well as my thoughts on two other Origins masks, here. The Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask was also sent to me, but I'll probably be buying a tube when it runs out. It contains the highest amount of glycolic acid in the range, so I wouldn't recommend it for sensitive skin, but it leaves mine feeling smooth, and my pores are a lot smaller. Just be careful if you're going out in the sun after wearing this; it suggests you wear an SPF to protect the new skin it's helped to reveal. You can read my review of this here.

What skincare products would you recommend, face masks in particular?

Wishlist

I rarely post wishlists, mostly because I buy the products before even thinking about writing one, but there's a handful of products on my radar at the moment.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads // After being so impressed with the Glycolic Instant Fix Mask, I turned my attention to the rest of the range. The pads have so many positive reviews, so they'll probably be the next product I try from the brand. They're normally £12.95, but are currently half price on boots.com. I held off on buying them and now they're out of stock, but will be placing an order when they're available again!

Aussie Shower Smoothie Body Wash // Out of all the scents available, Shower Smoothie is my favourite. It smells most like the hair products, with its sweet, bubblegum scent. £2.99/250ml or £4.75/400ml, but I'm waiting for them to go on offer again.

Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil // After trying the masks and absolutely loving the Drink Up Intensive Overnight one, I've been looking into the brand more. I love the cleansing oil I have from The Body Shop, and this one has incredibly positive reviews. At £22.50, or £21 at Boots, it's not cheap, but I'm thinking about buying it with my Boots points, so it'll be free. I also have a £25 Feel Unique voucher which I paid £15 for on Groupon, so if there's no problem with the code, I can buy it from there.

Origins KissZing Lip Crayon // This contains meadowfoam and jojoba oils, mango seed and shea butters, and gives a wash of colour. Begonia Blush, a deep berry shade, looks particularly beautiful. I probably won't end up buying this because £16 for a lip crayon is a little steep, but it does look nice. I'm also a fan of the packaging, let's be honest.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask

I'd never tried a product from Nip + Fab before this, but heard positive things about the brand. When it comes to face masks, my skin is either left feeling slightly cleansed, or slightly moisturised, but not much else, so I was intrigued to see if this would be any different.

It claims to be a high potency, pore-tightening gel mask which perfects and exfoliates the complexion. It also claims to gently smooth away the appearance of lines and wrinkles whilst clearing and reducing the look of enlarged pores. Skin is apparently more even toned and visually smoother. Glycolic acid refines skin texture and smooths the appearance of wrinkles, 'Evermat technology' reduces shine and appearance of pores, and amino acid brightens and evens skin tone.

The packaging and clear, subtley scented gel is very simple, so this product really does let the results speak for themselves. After leaving on for ten minutes and rinsing off with warm water, I was surprised. My skin felt smooth, and my pores were a lot smaller. This effect lasted through the night and into the morning, so my makeup seemed to apply better. Does it smooth the appearance of wrinkles, reduce shine, or brighten and even skin tone? I don't think so. At least, I haven't experienced this. Still, as a pore refining mask, this is great. It's not a miracle worker (I don't expect anything to be), but it does a whole lot more than other masks I've tried do.

The Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask* is normally £12.95, but it's currently half price on Boots.