Everyday Makeup: Fall 2015 vs. Fall 2016

I first started my blog around a year ago and I remember being so excited to put together my first everyday makeup post! I was so proud of my makeup routine and some of the new high end products I'd gotten and fallen in love with. I thought it would be fun to look back on all the products I was using a year ago and see if I still love them, or if I've realized the error of my ways.


I had been trying out a lot of new things, like contouring, highlighting, and filling in my eyebrows. I didn't do all of those things successfully, mind you, but I've learned a lot over the year and I'm ready for an updated everyday makeup look!

Base
In Autumn 2015 I didn't use a primer, I was obsessed with the MAC Studio Sculpt foundation, and I paired it with the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. While I still like and use both of those base products, I have expanded my collection and now mix it up a lot. I also added a primer to the routine via the Nyx Angel Veil primer! I'm constantly reaching for my newest foundation purchase, the L'Oreal Infallible Pro Glow (review coming soon!) more often than any of my other foundations. It feels very light on the skin but has a glowy, medium coverage that's great for dry skin. I've also replaced the Wake Me Up concealer with the cult favorite NARS Radiant Creamy concealer, which has more coverage and lasts better under the eyes for me.

Contour, Bronzer, Blush and Highlight
This is probably the area of my makeup routine that I've most improved. I used to use NARS Laguna bronzer, a shimmery golden brown shade, as both an all over bronzer and a contour powder. I still love Laguna as an all over bronzer but I thankfully learned to use a matte shade to contour with! Benefit's Hoola bronzer is my favorite contour shade, it's easy to blend and a good neutral color. As for blush, I used to rarely wear it. If I did it was the palest of pink or peach tones, like Clinique's Pink Blush or a matte Mary Kay eyeshadow in Tropical Sun.  Since then I have discovered my love of blushes and have expanded my collection quite a bit (full collection here)! For the fall I'm loving Benefit's Rockateur, a beautiful rose gold shade. My highlighter game hasn't changed much. I still love Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors, but last fall I was using Opal and I now use Moonstone.

                Swatches from left to right: Laguna, Hoola, Pink Blush, Rockateur, Opal, Moonstone

Eyebrows
I used to try to fill in my dark, thick brows with a matte shade from my old Maybelline the Nudes palette. Since then I dug out that shade in case I want to use it again and gave away the rest of the palette, as I really didn't get much use out of anything but the one shade. I now leave my brows as they are most days because I'm too lazy to fill them in and I'm happy with how they look naturally.

Eyes
I now have a lot more eyeshadow to play with, so I'm always trying to dig out a different palette each week to get use out of all of them. Last fall I was obsessed with the Stila In the Light palette, which I still love and use, but my 2016 obsession is the Anastasia Master Palette (review)! The quality is just incredible and I can create some perfect fall looks with it. As for liner, I used to stick with mostly pencil liners like the Pixi Endless Silky eye pen. I've now switched to liquid liners like the Revlon Colorstay or the Ciate Fierce Flicks. My mascaras haven't changed much; I used to love the Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious, but since discovering the Maybelline Colossal mascara I hardly reach for either of the Lash Sensationals.

Lips
Lipstick is a bit tricky for me. I've always loved using different finishes and shades each day. It's the easiest way to switch up your everyday makeup, in my opinion, as it can quickly make a look bold or subtle! I remember getting a lot of use out of the Nyx Butter lipstick in Snowcap last year, while this year I have fallen in love with MAC's Velvet Teddy and use it more often than any other lip product I own.

It seems that I still occasionally use most of my favorite products from a year ago, although they may not be in the everyday routine anymore! I did use the MAC Studio Sculpt today and I'm remembering how much I love it, it's definitely one of my favorite foundations.

Exams have been kicking my butt lately so I'm not uploading as often as I want to, but I have some great post ideas coming up that I'm excited to start working on!

Do you remember any products you were obsessed with last year?
Xx Katie