10 Favorite Products of 2016

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Since I wrote about the most disappointing products I came across last year, I guess it's only right to tell you my favorite products, because people like positivity and all that shit. I managed to come up with 10 again, all things that I used for the first time in 2016 (and an honorable mention). Obviously 2016 was the year I really came around to lipstick, because that makes up 40% of the list. Here are the best things I started to use last year, in no particular order (with links to previous reviews, when they exist).

1. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire & Ice

I love all three of the Super Lustrous lipsticks I have, but Fire & Ice (right) was the one I bought last year. I need to put it into more frequent rotation. Reviewed here.

2. Wet N Wild ColorIcon Trio in Plaid to the Bone

My love for duochromes has been well documented, and I can't resist an affordable version in a good formula like this. Sadly, it was limited edition, but you can still get it from gougers on Amazon if you are really determined. Reviewed here.

3. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture

A photo posted by Lyn (brutally honest beauty) (@brutallyhonestbeauty) on Dec 19, 2016 at 2:12pm PST

Another product that is now discontinued, but you can get it in the Vice version (swatched here). I bought this when the Revolution lipsticks were being cleared out, and it became one of my favorite work lipsticks during the fall and early winter. I also bought After Dark, and I love it too, but don't wear it as often.

4. Covergirl TruNaked Palette in Roses

This palette is filled with very pigmented, rosy-but-not-too-warm shades that work extremely well for me. An exception to most mediocre drugstore attempts at competing with the more expensive popular palettes out there. The mattes are great over primer, but the more I've used it, I've realized that the shimmers can benefit from a glitter primer, so keep that in mind. Reviewed here.

5. Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patches

A photo posted by Lyn (brutally honest beauty) (@brutallyhonestbeauty) on Oct 10, 2016 at 9:13am PDT

I plan to review these soon, because I'm on my second pack now. I've tried the Nexcare patches too, and I like these better, because they are thinner and less conspicuous.

6. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Sour Cherry

I got this lipstick as part of one of the Bite holiday duos (which are still available, by the way), and Sour Cherry (bottom right) was my favorite of the four. I'm really enjoying the Amuse Bouche formula. Reviewed here.

7. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery

This one made the list because it surprised me. I generally dislike liquid lipsticks, but this is easy to use, comfortable, and long-wearing, so I'm impressed all around. I wore it to my wedding as well as when I went out recently.

8. Black Radiance Eyeshadow Primer

This primer is a better replacement for the discontinued Wet N Wild Fergie primer than the new Wet N Wild Primer, according to my tests. Reviewed here.

9. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sideline

I'm sure you can get something similar for cheaper, but I got this as my free UD birthday gift. It makes an interesting everyday eyeshadow that is exciting but not too dramatic for your boring coworkers. Swatched here.

10. Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

This is something else that I guess I should review, but I'm not sure what else to say other than that my skin has been better since I've been using it. Niacinamide is a form of Vit B that helps reduce the visibility of pores and wrinkles. It also make some people's skin clearer, and I am apparently one of those people. I've been adding a couple of drops to my moisturizer since early fall and seeing good results.

Honorable mention: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

I've been using Bad to the Bronze for well over a year, but I'm including it here because it was by far the product I used most often in 2016. And it's still not dried up, and I still have a ton of it left. It always makes me feel polished when I am rushed or lazy. Reviewed here.

I used a bunch of other good stuff last year, but these are the things that stood out when I looked back. Just like my list of disappointments, I'm not sure there's a real pattern here. Some cheap, some expensive, some researched, some impulse purchases.

How about you? Any great discoveries in 2016?