With Christmas and New Year's having come and gone, the reminisce of this holiday season has left you with more pocket change than usual #ThankyYouGrandmaAndGrandpa. Your New Year's resolution was to present a new and improved you and you intend to see that through by enhancing your image. Winter break is the ideal time to experiment with new looks and perfect it before you get back to school. With 2015 out the door, 2016 is about putting your best self forward. As a college student myself, I am fully aware that for most college students 98 percent of the time we are all broke, now is never a better time to splurge on products that are really worth the money. Here is a list of must-have products for 2016 that every girl should invest in!
1. Foundation primer.
Not priming is a crime. People may not see the importance behind priming your makeup, but a primer will keep your makeup looking fresh as well as extend the time it stays on your face. Primers are crucial because they create a smooth canvas for the foundation to stick to, fade dark spots and redness that your makeup was unable to cover. I may be biased but I am huge supporter of the Smashbox line of primers. The line has an assortment of different variations of primers that adhere to specific skin concerns. If I were to narrow it down the original Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation is great for everyday wear, light and is worth the price.
2. BB cream or CC cream.
I think that a BB cream and CC creams are much better alternatives to foundation. In my opinion, they are much lighter on the skin and still provide the same amount of coverage. For people who have better skin and don’t need that much coverage, I would use a BB cream. A BB cream is essentially a heavier tinted moisturizer, used to brighten and moisturize the skin. Leaving skin looking fresh and light. A CC cream is heavier pigmented so you will see a darker color upon applying it to your face. CC cream are used to even your complexion and overtime fades any discoloration. If you are willing to spend the money Estée Lauder and Erborian have an excellent double wear BB cream. As for a CC cream, I have to stay loyal to Smashbox again. I can say from personal experience that the CC cream from Smashbox really has improved the clarity of my skin and overall tone.
3. Setting powder
If you are wearing any type of foundation, BB or CC cream then it is essential that you wear a setting powder. For best results after you have put on your foundation apply the setting powder all over your face with a bronzer brush, repeat that step after applying bronzer or blush. Setting powder not oil hinders oil production on your face and reduces shine but keeps your makeup on throughout the day. MAC makes a great setting powder called the MaC Pro Longwear Pressed Powder that will keep your skin looking dewy instead of oily all day.
4. Contour kit
Nowadays you can’t be on Instagram without seeing a video tutorial where someone has lines all drawn all over their face, trying to create the perfect contour. As drawing all over your face is apparently now a thing. Although I think that a very subtle contour on the cheekbones looks nice, people can easily go overboard making their makeup look very draggy. To avoid that situation many makeup companies have created contour kits that have simplified the process by providing only the necessary colors and instructions on how to achieve the contour correctly. Although they are more on the pricey side the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit and the Lorac PRO Contour Palette have been rated highly by their users.
5. Highlighter
Although highlighters are not necessary for everyday use, they have the ability to take a day look to a more sophisticated night look. By placing the shimmery powder under the end of your brow bones as well as following the line of your cheekbones you will get a more glistening and dewey look. Urban Decay has the Illuminating Shimmering Powder for Face and Body, that is a great highlighter. As it is perfectly pigmented, creating a noticeable look but isn’t over bearing.
