Hi friends!
It’s officially the end of the crappiest year in probably all of modern history so let’s all just take a big collective sighhhhhh. Yea, I’m starting this post out pretty heavy, and yea technically the year doesn’t end for another three days, and yea who really knows what 2021 will have in store for us; but, hey I’m just trying to stay a bit positive over here! So in the spirit of positivity, let’s talk about my Top Ten Beauty Products of 2020. These are my best of the best, most favorite beauty discoveries of the past twelve months.
Now, 2020 was a year that many of us got grounded at home, simplified our beauty routines and ditched the makeup for oodles of skincare, haircare, and other self-care bits. For me, makeup still had its place in my daily routine regardless of the mask-wearing and the stay-at-home orders. You may ask, why? It’s pretty simple: it gives me a sense of normalcy in this otherwise crazy, kinda unrecognizable world. I still want and need that boost of confidence that it gives me everyday in order to be productive, happy and the best version of myself. So this list definitely leans more heavily towards makeup, but I also have some lush skincare bits to mention and a tool that changed my foundation game this year.
Let’s get started!
PREVIOUS ‘BEST OF’ LISTS
My Top Ten Beauty Products of 2019
The 2018 beauty discoveries I’m obsessed with!
DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS GIFTED ITEMS, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN.
My Top Ten Beauty Products of 2020, including bits from Maybelline, aDesign, 19-99 Beauty, CeraVe, Peach & Lily, and ILIA
ILIA SUPER SERUM SKIN TINT SPF 40
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
I’m obsessed with bases that can give me dewy, juicy, hydrated skin with a light coverage. The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 literally ticks all those boxes. If I were to create a base for myself, it would be this. It’s a true makeup-skincare hybrid that’s beautifully radiant and intensely nourishing on the skin. If you have normal to dry skin, you’ll probably adore this product! It launched back in February (I was honored to be invited to a press party right before COVID hit), and it’s been a firm staple in my routine ever since.
Click here to read my deep-dive review with swatches and before-and-after pics.
PETER THOMAS ROTH WATER DRENCH HYALURONIC CLOUD CREAM HYDRATING MOISTURIZER
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
I loved the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cream SO much in the first quarter of the year that I used up not only one mini size that I got from Ulta, but also a full-size 50 mL tub in pretty quick succession. It’s a multi-molecular hyaluronic acid moisturizer that manages to be lightweight on the skin, but still deeply hydrating. The texture is somewhere between a cream moisturizer and a thicker gel. It’s fragrance-free, no-frills, but very effective. I’d gladly use up another one of these in a heartbeat.
Click here to read my deep-dive review.
PTR Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream, one of my Top Ten Beauty Products of 2020. Image courtesy of PTR Instagram
MAYBELLINE FIT ME BLUSH IN NUDE
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
Have you ever had that product in your stash that kinda looked blah but was totally transformational when applied to the skin? That’s the case with the Maybelline Fit Me Blush in the shade Nude. It’s a gorgeous neutral-to-cool pink with a soft satin finish that builds on the skin beautifully. It’s not overly powdery in the slightest like a lot of other drugstore blushes can be. It gives so much life to the skin, and can suit so many different skin tones. Plus, it’s under $6.00!
Click here to read my deep-dive review with swatches and application pics.
ADESIGN PROFESSIONAL BLUSH BRUSH
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now you’ll know that I’m not a big user of brushes or tools when it comes to applying my foundation. I usually just slap it on with my hands for a very natural, no-fuss finish. But after I was gifted the aDesign Professional Blush Brush from the lovely Heather Fink of The Sexiest Beauty, my thinking and my habits started to change. This is a densely-packed synthetic brush that’s perfect for getting a really flawless application of product, whether it be foundation or cream blush or bronzer. The effect it gives looks downright air-brushed in the skin, so I’ve really come to adore this one.
You can pick this up in a brush duo from Amazon for under $20.00!
MAYBELLINE BROW FAST SCULPT
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
I’m a brow gel girl 1000% through and through, and I’ve tried a lot in my day. My ideal gel has to give me tint, volume and hold. The absolute gem that is the Maybelline Brow Fast Sculpt delivers on every account in a big way. If you love the NYX Control Freak Brow Gel but wish it had color and volumizing fibers, you need the Maybelline Brow Fast Sculpt in your life! By far this was thee brow discovery of the year for me, and I’ll likely just keep repurchasing it again and again. Hello big and beautiful brows!
Click here to read my mini review.
Some of my Top Ten Beauty Products of 2020
SERUMKIND BLACK BLOSSOM DROP SERUM
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
I wrote about this product several times on the blog back in the late summer/early fall because I was, quite simply, completely obsessed with it! The Serumkind Black Blossom Drop Serum was very kindly gifted to me after this K-beauty brand launched in the U.S. earlier in 2020. This is a rich serum that’s gorgeously hyrdrating and gives a really lovely natural glow to the skin. If you have dry skin like me, get yourself – I repeat – get yourself a bottle of this! It starts out as a slightly runny texture that turns almost creamy when applied on the skin. It layers really nicely with other thicker creams and moisturizers, and lays flawlessly under makeup. I admit I was a bit bereft when my bottle ran out!
Click here to read to my deep-dive review.
Serumkind Black Blossom Drop Serum, one of my Top Ten Beauty Products of 2020. Image courtesy of Serumkind Instagram
PEACH & LILY PURE BEAM LUXE OIL
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
2020 was the year I fell in love with indie skincare brand Peach & Lily and their Pure Beam Luxe Oil. (Spoiler: there will be more Peach & Lily content coming to the blog in 2021!) This was definitely a product that didn’t 100% impress me right away, I’m gonna be honest, but boy has it since become a firm staple in my skincare routine. It’s super moisturizing, super glowy, and best of all it’s not greasy in the slightest. It actually reminds me a bit of dry oil. I use it as a finishing layer after I apply serum and moisturizer at night, and I’ll also apply it under makeup from time to time as well; it layers beautifully with everything.
Click here to read my deep-dive review.
CERAVE EYE REPAIR CREAM
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
This is a very simple eye cream, there’s really not much to say about it…but that’s exactly why I love it. I love pretty much anything that CeraVe churns out, but the Eye Repair Cream is perfect if you want something effective, un-fragranced, strong on the hyaluronic acid, and suitable for sensitive skin. I started using this after I had a reaction to a luxury eye cream earlier this year, and I honestly don’t think I’ll use another eye cream any time soon. I have several back-up’s in my cupboard; it’s just my jam.
Click here to read my mini review.
L’OREAL LASH PARADISE MASCARA
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
The L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara was my big rediscovery of 2020. I was unimpressed with the formula when it first launched years ago, but I decided to give it another try this summer. So glad I did! I love how quickly it builds up on the lashes and layers on itself without getting horribly thick and spidery. It delivers big on volume, length and drama – all the elements I look for when I buy a mascara. It’s highly accessible, and it’s pretty cheap as well. You really can’t go wrong!
Click here to read about my rediscovery!
L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara, one of my Top Ten Beauty Products of 2020. Image courtesy of L’Oreal Paris Instagram
19-99 BEAUTY PRECISION COLOUR PENCIL IN BARNA
WHY IT’S ON THIS LIST
I thought I was off eyeliners for good until I tried the Precision Colour Pencil in the shade Barna from indie brand 19-99 Beauty. It’s the perfect eyeliner for someone like me: it’s endlessly smudgy and extremely forgiving. I can’t draw a straight line to save my life, but I don’t need to with this formula. It’s a kohl that stays soft, so I can be as messy as I want and still smudge it out into something lovely and smokey. The shade Barna is a deep charcoal matte brown. I loveeee a brown eyeliner so much more than a black, so this is perfect for me.
Click here for my deep-dive review with swatches and up-close pics.
As always, I want to say a big thank you to all my lovely readers and to anyone who decided to stop by my little corner of the internet this year. Thank you for your time and attention, for reading my posts, and dropping me a comment every now and then. I so appreciate you! I hope you’ll come back next year for some fresh new content. I wish you all a very Happy New Year! May 2021 bring us ALL good health and better times!
xoxo, Erica
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Great reviews! I’m hoping next year I’ll actually be able to review products by wearing them more than once as I’ve hardly done my make up 😂 I’m with you,think year has most certainly been the crappiest of the crap! Hope the last couple days of the year are kind to you x
Thank you! Hope the remainder of the year was good to you as well 🙂 I totally understand about the lack of makeup this year!
It was lovely thank you, very quiet. I hope to have a few more make up looks this year x
Can’t wait to see them! 😉
They did a bit of a mess with Lash Paradise here in Europe.It came out as Paradis Extatic a few years ago and a couple of months ago they launched the actual Lash Paradise so now we basically have the same mascara twice. That being said I’ve just got it and it’s arriving tomorrow. I remember liking the first version so I’m excited to try it again, I got the WP version so hopefully it will work on my stubborn lashes
Hm, that’s weird. I had heard it was named different things in different territories, but I wonder why they brought out the same thing twice! I’d gladly buy another tube myself!
I’ve used it twice (the waterproof version) and I’m loving it!
It’s a great choice for volume and length for sure!
I’m still forming an opinion to be honest, I like it but it’s not perfect
I hear you. It’s HARD to find the perfect mascara out there; there’s endless options!
And my lashes like none ahhaha
What a great roundup of products! It was nice in a way that this year became the year to simplify and take time to see what really works beauty-wise! Lash Paradise is a fantastic mascara 😊
Thanks so much! I love making this list every year 🙂
These are all great reviews! And I can see why they’re on your tip ten list. 🙂 Happy new year!
Thank you! HNY to you and your family as well! Hope you had a lovely (albeit different) Christmas ❤️.