The Best Beauty Products Of 2016
2016 has brought us some phenomenal new launches - from stellar serums to must-have-it make up via Kim K's favourite hair care. Here are the highlights from the last 12 months...
Launched in January, Vintner's Daughter's {Active Botanical Serum} has legions of die-hard obsessives, who're completely addicted to its potent skin-transformative prowess. Our Affiliate Marketing Manager Chikay loves this super-charged elixir - a blend of precious plant extracts that works to strengthen, soften and elasticise all skin types. (You can read Chikay's review in full right {here}).
February saw the launch of {Surratt Beauty} - an absolutely stunning high-performance make up range from Kevyn Aucoin's protégé. The beauty world is going wild for the exquisite, velvety-textured powders, while we love the beautiful {Smokey Eye Batons} - dual-ended liner-and-shadow sticks, which grant a sexy, smudged-out smoulder.
A comprehensive range of wellbeing essentials, {KIKI Health} boasts an array of supplements to enhance energy levels, combat fatigue and help swiftly restore 'joie de vivre'. Equip yourself with {Aloe Ferox} to help combat the post-Christmas bloat, while a sprinkling of {Alkaline Infusion} in your smoothie will help to ward against those all-too-common coughs and colds.
It was all about January in April, as we ushered super-natural skin care brand {January Labs} into our 'Hall of Fame'. Beloved by facialist and beauty guru Caroline Hirons, the {Moisture Balancing Lotion} does everything its name implies - hydrating while regulating oil to keep skin calm and contented.
Another one of Ms. Hirons' favourites, {Kypris} is an über-natural, organic range of game-changing elixirs. Brimming with revitalising pumpkin enzymes, their {Moonlight Catalyst} has a dramatic impact on skin's vibrancy: 'dissolving' dead skin cells to leave skin smooth and beautifully light-reflective.
From celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin, {OUAI Haircare} has graced the locks of Chrissy Teigen, Kim Kardashian-West, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Alexa (to name but a few). The secret to that tousled 'French girl' texture, we're totally addicted to the {Wave Spray} - a cocktail of amino acids, tamarind seed, keratin, ama oil, hibiscus and jasmine - that smells heavenly and grants moderate hold (without 'crunch').
Designed for modern multi-hyphenates, {Allies of Skin} is a streamlined regime packed with ultra-high levels of antioxidants, replenishing nutrients and 'anti-polluaging' actives - to protect skin from the everyday environmental stress. Ideal for city dwellers, try the {1A Overnight Mask} - a super-charged overnight treatment that 'undoes' damage and helps strengthen your face's defences.
In August we launched Huda Beauty's SELL-OUT {Liquid Matte} lipsticks - long-wear, kiss-resistant pigments in an array of chic, on-trend shades. 'Trendsetter' has caused an absolute furore - the perfect '90s beige-brown, it's totally Kate Moss circa her CK heyday...
September saw the arrival of {Vincent Longo} - high-performance make up with the most amazing formulations. The best-loved {Water Canvas Crème-to-Powder Foundation} has a 'springy' texture - granting a smooth, flawless dewy finish that looks beautifully believable. Or fall in love with the exquisite marbled {Pearl X Eyeshadows} - multi-textured and multi-tonal, they're ideal for achieving an array of arresting eye make up effects.
Make up artist to the stars, {Charlotte Tilbury's} self-titled range of skin care and cosmetics is to-die-for! With phenomenal formulas, daring colour palettes and the most coveted, boudoir-worthy packaging, it's stylish, decadent and fabulously feminine. We're totally addicted to her signature fragrance - {Scent of Dream} - which boasts Iso E Super to subtly enhance your sex appeal.
Fuelling our rose gold obsession (hot on the heels of {Charlotte Tilbury}), the world can't get enough of german-based brush-and-cosmetics brand {ZOEVA}. One of our most-requested ranges, the beautiful brush sets and palettes sold out within hours of launch. Trust us, you're going to NEED the sought-after {Rose Golden Luxury Brush Set - Volume 1}.
From Insta-famous brand {Mabel + Meg} comes {Lumilixir Serum} - the multi-tasking must-have that plumps, brightens and intensively hydrates your face (and lips)! A perfect primer for your liquid lipstick (it's ideal under Huda's aforementioned {Liquid Matte}), this leaves no trace of residue. Read more about (and see it in action) right {here}.
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
