Best of Beauty 2020

“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are” – Max Depree

Hi friends & happy …YES you’re reading my 2020 Beauty Favs in March haha and you know what friends?! It is what it is (haha). 

Even though it’s taken what feels like 17 years to actually upload this post, it was a no brainer coming up with this list of must have goodies as they’re products I’ve been reaching for everyday + some that I’ve even repurchased (which is kind of a huge deal for me). 

And so, I was able to narrow down my “Best Of” list to 12 makeup, skincare + haircare products. 

So enough with the small talk, let’s jump straight it! 

To start things off, let’s chat skincare! 

Like many of you, I really stepped up my skincare game in 2020. While 99% of the year was spent in lockdown, you best believe I wasn’t getting all glammed up just to sit in front of my computer to #wfh. SO, 2020 for me was all about having a healthy glow + feeling good with less…on my face.  

Perhaps my favorite discovery of the year was the Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops. Available in 3 shades (Sun-kissed Glow, Golden Glow + Bronzed Glow), these tanning drops are SO easy to use (literally mix 2-3 drops in with your moisturizer and apply) + you’re guaranteed to wake up looking like a bronzed goddess! And because these drops help to even out skin tone, I found that I was reaching less for my tinted moisturizers/foundations + applying my SPF in the morning, mascara & a lip gloss and voila, I was ready toooo… sit down in front of my computer and work from home haha. 

It’s also worth nothing that as someone who has relatively sensitive skin, my skin didn’t seem to react negatively to these magical drops. 

PLUS they’re:

> cruelty-free

> 100% vegan

> organic 

> are made using certified organic ingredients, actives at low pH levels, non-sensitizing ingredients, hypoallergenic ingredients, and pure oils

> free of mineral oils, petrolatum, gluten, GMO, or toxins

On days I did have to go into the office + was wearing a little more makeup, step one, after my trusty SPF was this primer from The Ordinary. 

To be honest, I’ve never seen the need for a primer. It’s always seemed like some useless extra step that I just wasn’t interested in adding to my GRWM routine. And like usual, all of that changed with this incredible Silicone primer that MAY I ADD, only cost $4.90 CAD from Sephora! Yes you read that right…four friggen dollars (and ninety cents haha)!!! But seriously, I add a squirt of this stuff to my tinted moisturizer, applying it directly to my face with my hands and it literally takes no extra time whatsoever. 

Anyways, this has been a total game changer to my makeup routine + now I can’t get enough of primers! This one from The Ordinary is not only super affordable, but it blurs surfaces, making them appear smoother, and I mean, who doesn’t want that?! This formula uses advanced adaptive silicones to act as a matte, hydrating, blurring primer for makeup that looks higher in definition and lasts longer. It can be used alone as a non-greasy hydrator to reduce the look of pores and imperfections. 

If you haven’t been using The Ordinary, now is the time to hop on the bandwagon. Their products are high quality, super affordable AND vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without oil, alcohol, nuts, gluten, and fragrance. 

AND speaking on having to go into the office….A faded tan + the need for a little more coverage = the QUO Beauty Foundation. 

And that’s saying a lot from someone who HATES foundation. 

This stuff is also pure magic. 

If I’m not mistaken, I had mentioned in a previous post that QUO Beauty (Shoppers Drug Mart’s in house beauty brand) went through a whole rebranding last year. In my opinion, they went from being a completely lame brand to being the complete opposite! From their bright and colorful displays, to their innovative products + simple packaging, this brand became an overnight hit on social media. Canadian YouTubers were forever featuring QUO Beauty on their beauty channels and of course, it took no time before I found myself lining up outside of Shoppers to test these products out for myself. One of the products I ended up buying was the Liquid Foundation. While I’m not a foundation wearer, I had watched enough YouTuber’s using this stuff to know that I needed it in my life. After only a few days, I quickly discovered that it’s the most comfortable + lightweight foundation that I’ve ever used. 

For a super natural, everyday look (with just the right amount of coverage), I add a drop of this stuff in with my primer + tinted moisturizer and it’s LITERALLY pure perfection. 

And speaking of QUO Beauty…let’s chat about their blushes shall we?! 

Again, not a huge blush wearer. As someone who has some naturally rosy cheeks, the last thing I need to do is add more color to them. But for this addition to my makeup stash, I blame Canadian YouTube superstar Jamie Paige (seriously watch this video and tell me you don’t want some QUO in your life). During their rebranding, QUO Beauty launched two different blush formulas, the Featherweight Cream Blush and the Dewy Cheek Tint. While I purchased a few of each, the formula I instantly fell in love with was the Dewy Cheek Tint. Among many things, they’re super pigmented and long lasting. What I love most about them is how blendable they are. I like to sheer mine out for a hint of color but they can definitely be built up to pack quite the colorful little punch! 

These Dewy Cheek Tints are currently available in 3 shades and hopefully the brand plans to launch a few more because they are to die for. The shade “Blushing” is my favorite which is a bright pink. 

Much like a primer, I never thought I’d see the day that I went gaga over a setting spray. I’ve dabbled in a few here and there over the years, but never saw the benefit. 

Back at the start of the pandemic, I made a hefty little Colourpop order that I was convinced was going to get me out of the funk I had been driven into with the state of the world and the impending threat of a lockdown. One item I ordered was the Hyaluronic Acid Setting Mist. It was dirt cheap and well, I love everything Hyaluronic Acid. 

Let me tell you, I wouldn’t dare leave the house without spritzing my face with this stuff.  

This is THE perfect mist to refresh your makeup + revive your skin with. It has a super fine mist, has a light coconut scent and after application, gives your skin a healthy, dewy glow. 

I like to spritz this all over my face:

1) after I’ve applied my tinted moisturizer/primer/foundation concoction + I’ve layered on my bronzer

2) as a final set once all of my makeup has been applied 

Before we dive into the 75 lip products I want to talk about, let’s chat lashes! 

Oh gosh, where do I ever begin with this mascara?! 

Marc Jacob’s launched their At Lash’d Mascara early last year and holy moly, I think I’ve gone through at least 4 tubes since then. This stuff lengthens, separates + makes the lashes look SO full and well, false. Yes it’s a pricey little product, but when all you can really see behind these face masks are our lashes, we might as well make sure they look good!

If you wanna know more about the At Lash’d Mascara, I did a full post on it last summer. 

Click here for that post! 

Now….LIPS! 

You didn’t think I’d have a best of beauty without mentioning 104 lippies did you?! haha It seriously took some real soul searching to narrow down my favorite lip products from 2020, but I finally settled on 3 must haves. 

First things first, let’s chat balms! 

While 2020 will filled with SO many incredible lip balms, one new launch that stood out was this Silk Balm from Huda Beauty. 

With claims to provide a boost of hydration for silky smooth, fuller-looking lips, this lip balm friggen’ PLUMPS! Since receiving my first tube of this stuff early last year, I’ve since repurchased it 3 or 4 times and I am obsessed. It was my go to “before bed” lip balm for the whole year and I honestly can’t imagine a makeup bag (or nightstand for that matter) without it. 

Next up, lip glosses! Oh gosh, where do I even begin!?

Since they first launched, the FENTY gloss bombs have been among my top 3 fav gloss formulas of all time. But move over FENTY, there’s a new gloss in town and I.AM.HOOKED! The Maybelline Lifter Glosses are a fraction of the price of a FENTY gloss AND they do everything the gloss bombs do and then some. 

They are: 

– hydrating

-plumping 

– available in 10 totally wearable, gorgeous shades 

Annnnd finally, the piece de resistance (of the lip section) …. the Rare Beauty Lip Soufflés. 

Ugh, my heard skips a beat just thinking of them. 

These heavenly liquid lipsticks take the cake for so many reasons and again, could easily replace every single lipstick in my collection. 

When Selena Gomez launched her brand Rare Beauty last year, I had the same thoughts that many of you probably also had. Oh great, ANOTHER celebrity make up line that’ll probably blow. hahah Man oh man how wrong I was!  

Everything about this brand is magical. From the name, to the mission, to the INCREDIBLE line of products it offers. 

Now, if you’ve been with me for the last year, my disdain for liquid lipsticks should come as no surprise.

With that in mind, I don’t know what made me think to purchase one of these lip soufflés since I’ve never tried one that I could stand to have on my lips for more than 5 minutes. Anyways, I locked “eyes” with Selena Gomez’s signature shade “Inspire” which is the most gorgeous orange-y red shade, and well, I needed it in my life. 

These Lip Soufflés are thick and creamy, SUPER pigmented and definitely long lasting. After several hours of wear, they leave behind a pigmented stain which I also love. 

Since the brand launched these heavenly lippies, I’ve accumulated 4 other shades that I’m so in love with. 

Now that we’ve covered my favorite makeup of 2020, let’s talk about…taking it all off. 

That’s right, I ACTUALLY have a favorite makeup remover (of sorts). 

I can’t think of a product from drugstore brand The Inkey List that I’ve tried + not loved. 

The brand:

– is incredibly affordable (products range from $4.99 – $14.99 CAD) 

– has a HUGE range of skincare products (39 skincare products alone) 

– offers high quality products 

While I’ve never been a fan of makeup removal balms, I kept hearing about this Oat Cleansing Balm from The Inkey List so I thought I’d give it a try. 

This one is amazing! 

It’s described as being a thick, luxurious cleansing balm that gently dissolves makeup and excess oil without stripping sensitive, irritated skin of the moisture it needs. For me, cleansing balms in the past have been so oily that I’ve always woken up the next morning with a face full of unwanted visitors. I have yet to get a breakout from this heavenly cleansing balm.   

To use, I simply use a quarter size dollop + gently massage it all over my face. It takes about 2-3 minutes to completely dissolve my makeup. I then go in with my regular face wash and my face is left feeling SO clean and fresh, it’s amazing.

Once my face is fresh and clean + I’ve finished up with my nighttime skincare routine, it’s all about the body. 

There’s been one moisturizer that I’ve been exclusively reaching for before bed and they are the HEMPZ Moisturizers. 

Enriched with 100% Pure Natural Hemp Seed Oil, these moisturizers not only smell incredible, but they are SO hydrating and will do wonders for your skin. 

Since I was first introduced to this brand, I’ve amassed quite the little deliciously scented collection. 

I mean, take a look at some of these scents: 

– Fresh Orchid & Wild Berry 

– Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon 

– Fresh Coconut & Watermelon 

– Tahitian Vanilla & Ginger 

– Pink Citron & Mimosa 

Annnnnd last but certainly not least….. HAIRCARE! 

Honestly, I never thought I’d see the day where haircare excited me as much as it did in 2020, but here we are friends! 

Last year turned out to be the year of hair masks + heat free styling and if I do say so myself, my hair wasn’t (and still isn’t) complaining. One product that I couldn’t live without was the Briogeo Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Superfoods Hair Mask. 

Up until I discovered this heavenly mask, washing my hair wasn’t exactly something I looked forward to (I know I’m not alone in that sentiment). It can just be such a hassle but this mask actually makes me excited to wash my hair so I can use it! 

Smelling like *actual* candy, I leave this green, creamy concoction on my freshly washed locks for 5 minutes and after rinsing, I’m left with THE softest hair. It’s truly magical. It’s described as being a deeply nourishing, protein-free hair mask with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients clinically shown to boost moisture for more hydrated hair.

And there you have it friends, my best of beauty for 2020!

What were some of your favorite beauty products from last year? 

Let me know in the comments below! 

Thanks so much for stopping by & until next time, 

      xo