BEST OF BEAUTY 2020

If I am being completely honest, 2020 was a year I wore less makeup than ever before, never skipped a day of washing my face, and learned to be more comfortable in my actual skin. Thanks to spending more time at home, I focused less on getting dressed up and made up and more on caring for myself and my skin.

I have always been a skincare lover, but this year I was able to really hone in on what works for my skin and what doesn’t. And while I may have worn less makeup, I now know exactly where my cosmetic loyalties lie.

I’m sharing my top skincare and makeup picks for all of 2020, and there is a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get to it.

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SKINCARE

1. FARMACY GREEN CLEAN CLEANSING BALM – No skincare favorites post would be complete without this. While this wasn’t a new find in 2020, I tried a few other balms throughout the year, and not one compared. It is silky and lightweight, with just the most gorgeous, light scent. It is the reason that I enjoy starting my skincare routine every night.
2. SUPERGOOP GLOWSCREEN – This sunscreen is hands down my favorite, and I’m so glad I found it early in the spring. It’s easily applied and absorbed, looks great under makeup and on its own, and doesn’t leave a white cast (on me). If you like glowy looking skin, I can’t recommend this one enough! It is SPF 40 and a great daily sunscreen.
3. OLEHENRIKSEN GLOW 2 OH! DARK SPOT REMOVER – Hands down one of the best finds of the year, this toner is legit. It is highly effective and leaves my skin feeling super soft but not stripped. A really great acid to use if you are looking to step up your exfoliation game.
4. DRUNK ELEPHANT F-BALM ELECTROLYTE WATERFACIAL MASK – I love a good hydrating mask, but many of them are heavy or can irritate my acne-prone skin. This waterfacial from Drunk Elephant is SO good. Whenever I use this, my skin is so bright and dewy, and the Niacinamide helps keep my skin’s barrier intact. I use this about once a week, especially in the winter.
5. TATCHA KISSU LIP MASK – I use to swear by the Laneige lip mask but have fully converted to the Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask. It has an almost jelly-like texture but is the one mask that actually stays on my lips all night long.
6. HERBIVORE COCONUT MILK BODY SCRUB – I am not really a huge body scrub fan, mainly because so many leave your skin feeling greasy. This scrub is pure heaven. It smells like real coconut milk, not the fake stuff, and leaves my skin buttery smooth. I use this before I fake tan, and whenever I just want to treat myself.
7. LIVING PROOF DRY SHAMPOO – I had tried this dry shampoo a few years ago and didn’t really love it. I got some on sale early in the year and decided to actually read the website suggestions. Novel idea! They suggest putting it in your hair at night, so it has time to fully absorb the oils in your hair. And now that I know, it is THE BEST. My hair actually feels refreshed, vs just dry and dirtier like what I used before.
8. THE ISLE OF PARADISE SELF-TANNING WATER – Fake tan was never something I did regularly, mainly because it was such a process. This tanning water makes it so dang easy! It dries super-fast, and green is the perfect color for me. It is really hard to mess this stuff up.
9. INDIE LEE COQ10 TONER – I have to admit when I am wrong, and this is one of those occasions. I thought hydrating mists were a joke and an unnecessary step until the COQ10 Toner from Indie Lee. This is now a MUST in my skincare routine, and I have gone through multiple bottles. I use this after the Glow 2 OH! and before any serums. The hyaluronic acid hydrates my skin, and applying serums to damp skin actually helps in their effectiveness.
10. SKINCARE BY CAROLINE HIRONS – If you want to find a skincare routine that is going to be effective for YOU, this is the book you need. Caroline is so knowledgeable and has a no-nonsense approach to skincare. I have gotten countless recommendations from her blog and have to give her credit for helping me through the worst of my acne years.

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MAKEUP

1. CHARLOTTE TILBURY AIRBRUSH FLAWLESS SETTING SPRAY – This is the good good. If you wear makeup with a mask, you have to try this setting spray to keep your makeup locked in. It has a really light scent and is alcohol and oil-free, so it really doesn’t interfere with my skin at all. Found this via Mickayla on TikTok! All of her recs are amazing.
2. CINEMA SECRETS MAKEUP BRUSH CLEANER – To be honest, I am kind of afraid to even know how this magical makeup cleaner works. It is both so satisfying and also bizarre at how effectively it removes makeup with no water at all! Even foundation. It is super quick, and my brushes are dry within an hour or two. MAGIC, I tell you!
3. NARS SOFT MATTE LONGWEAR FOUNDATION – I normally stick with light to medium coverage foundations, just because I can’t stand the feeling of heavy makeup on my skin. But this NARS foundation change my life! It is definitely full coverage, but you need barely any to get flawless-looking skin. It truly feels like nothing on the skin. It dries down matte but doesn’t look lifeless or dull. It is so lightweight, and the shade range is pretty great. Truly my favorite foundation of the moment! I wear the shade Deauville.
4. LAURA MERCIER CAVIAR STICK – I have been using these for years, but I did get a few new colors this year, so I am calling it a 2020 find. If you want to have a beautiful eye look with minimal effort that ALSO lasts all day(literally), you need a few of these in your kit. The shimmers look great on their own and are easily blended out for a quick, 15-second eye look. Or you can grab a few of the matte shades and amp up your look with more depth and dimension. I never use a primer with these, and they last all day long, even in the summer heat, with no creasing or wear.
5. HOURGLASS VANISH CONCEALER – If you want the effects and full coverage of Shape Tape without the dryness, this concealer is your new BFF. It is creamy, hydrating, covers the worst dark circles, but doesn’t make my aging under eyes look dry and crepe-like. It does need a setting powder, but once you have set, you are good to go all day long.

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Whew. That was a lot to get through! So many good beauty bits, and I am sure I will discover a few more holy grails in 2021.

I’d love to know what your top favorite discoveries from last year were in the comments!