I don’t think I am alone in my constant hunt for new, great products. In 2018 I tried some things that I wasn’t crazy about, but also found a lot of new favorites! Here are a few favorite products I tried and loved in 2018 and will be bringing with me into 2019.
Note: Some of these are Amazon affiliate links. You don’t pay more, but it does give me a little bit if you purchase through my link directly. This has in no way influenced my opinion.
Hair: Thermal Protectant
I have naturally straight, thick hair. As I rule I could let it air dry and be plenty happy with the results (especially on a Monday morning) In 2018 I put on a brave face and attempted to use a wand for my hair. Only a few singed skin cells later I’ve found I really liked it! Unfortunately, this meant I was introducing heat damage to my hair. Enter my hunt for a good thermal protectant.
I decided to try Sebastian Trilliant on recommendation of Abby from Twist Me Pretty. As a gal who has an entire brand around hair, I figured I could trust her judgement. I absolutely love it! The spray is not too heavy, so I don’t feel greasy, and it adds healthy looking shine. Additionally the scent is nice without being overpowering. I don’t know about you, but I am not a fan of strongly scented products. The fact that this one didn’t gag me definitely helped it’s great rating in my mind.
Hair: Dry Shampoo
How often do you wash your hair? I’ve been able to “train” mine so I only wash it roughly once per week (usually every 5 days). As you can imagine, a quality dry shampoo is a MUST. I tried several this year and concluded the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day worked best for me.
Con: the cost, definitely.
Pros:
• My hair actually feels clean when I use it! It doesn’t simply cover/soak up the grease.
• My scalp is healthier. When using cheaper/other brands I would often get bumps and sores on my scalp. After talking to my hair dresser I realized those sores were caused by clogged pores — YIKES!
Skincare: Moisturizer
This product was in no way new to me in 2018 but one I will forever and always love and keep in my position. Maskcara’s Milk Moisturizer has been a saving grace throughout the dry winter months and beyond! I’m nearly 28 years old and my mom is 63 — we both love the results we’ve had with our skin!
Milk Creme contains 16% natural milk components and moisturizes the driest of skins, leaving you with a youthful glow. With its combination of the alpha-hydroxy lactic acid and vitamins A and E, it gently penetrates the skin surface and helps exfoliate and release dead skin cells. This helps promote healthy skin cell turnover and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It is non-comedogenic and absorbs into the skin quickly without a lingering greasy feeling. Milk Creme is alcohol free and contains allantoin, jojoba oil, and rhodopsin oil, which are all natural and beneficial to the skin
The packaging is clearly beautiful and features an airless pump, making it simple to get just the right amount of product. While use varies person to person, I can get one jar to last me 2-3 months making that $50 totally worth it!
Beauty: Eyeshadow
I have two favorites I’ll talk about when it comes to eyeshadow discoveries of 2018.
First up is the Berries and Cream palette from Dominique Cosmetics. I initially found this brand because of the Latte Palette (duh, coffee inspired, I had to have it). I learned more about Christen and she quickly became one of my favorite beauty channels on Youtube to learn from. I was unsure about the Berries and Cream palette with those non-neutral colors, but I have found it’s really forced me outside of the box! Those berry tones are so lovely this winter.
My second favorite eyeshadow favorite is the entire collection from Maskcara Beauty. First of all, the new colors released Black Friday? AMAZING! Such a great variety for neutral or glam gals.
What I love most is the new formula for the entire collection. The Maskcara eyeshadows are still powder, but now they are a velvety, creamy soft formula that blend like a dream and have almost double the pigment. SO GOOD!
The Maskcara system gives you the freedom to customize your entire palette. Does this sound familiar: You buy a palette of 12+ colors and find you love 4-6 of them. You want to replace those colors but are forced to buy the full palette that has a majority of colors untouched. Not anymore! Buy the colors you want, and replace them as you use them. You’ll get a free compact based on the number you buy as well (minimum is 4). Click here to shop. Or contact me and I’d be happy to help!
Did you have a favorite product you discovered in 2018? I’d love to hear about it and give it a try!