Happy (almost) New Year! Long time no see! I'm back from my much-needed break, and what better post to get me back into blogging than my 2017 favorites. I did lots of polls on my Instagram (thank you for voting, it was super helpful!), and from those results decided to split my favorites into two posts, one for skincare and one for makeup, and I'm starting off with my favorite skincare products of the year. When I started thinking of products for these posts, I was going to do one per category (ie favorite cleanser of the year, favorite toner of the year), but I found I was just picking products for the sake of having something for some of the categories. So this may not be as organized, but here's a mishmash of all the skincare products I loved putting on my face in 2017.
Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse
I've been through three of these this year (I was gifted two by the brand and bought one myself). I always double cleanse at night, and this made it super easy. I loved both components - the solid cleansing oil was perfectly no-frills and got rid of every trace of makeup, and the cleansing cream makes everything feel super clean, but it leaves the skin feeling moisturized. I go through this quite quickly, but I do find that I run out of both sides at the exact same time.
Dr. Roebuck's Ultimate Hydrating Serum
To be honest I wasn't expecting to love this serum quite as much as I do - the texture is thick and the color isn't very appealing, but this has been one of the most hydrating serums I've ever used. It instantly plumps up my skin, smooths over dry patches, and helps keep my skin hydrated all day long. I've been super grateful to partner with Dr. Roebuck's this year too - you can use the code DADMUNK15 on their website for 15% off any order!
This was an impulse buy earlier in the year, but it ended up being such a good pick. It's a thin, milky serum that I like mixing with an oil. It gives my skin a beautiful glow, and I really feel like it's making my skin stronger - although the cold weather is completely drying my skin out, it's definitely not as red as it has been in previous years.
This was the year of the serum apparently. I've only been using this for a couple months, but it's already reached holy grail status. This not only keeps my skin soothed, but it's also been preventing and helping to clear up the awful hormonal spots I couldn't shake for half the year. It's the perfect consistency for spreading over the skin and mixes well with other products - most mornings I'll mix it with a hydrating serum like the Dr. Roebuck's one. It also has the best packaging ever - as you unscrew the top, it draws up the perfect amount of serum into the pipette.
Jordan Samuel Skin etOILe Facial Oil
This is a more recent find as well, but it's made me fall in love with oil blends. I've noticed it really helps to balance my skin - my skin is normal to dry, but I do get occasional oiliness on my T-zone that's virtually nonexistent when I'm using this oil. I won't list all the oils included in the blend, but it gives my skin the best glow, keeps it plump and juicy-looking, and is keeping inflammation at bay.
CosRX Honey Ceramide Eye Cream
I haven't been as consistent with eye cream as I wanted to be this year, but when I did reach for one for most of the year, it was this one. I didn't notice any dramatic difference in dark circles or fine lines, but it was incredibly hydrating yet lightweight, so I could use it at night and wake up with hydrated undereyes, and I could also use it during the day without my makeup sliding off.
Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich
My favorite moisturizer ever - I can't believe we've only been graced with this beauty in the past year. It feels super luxurious and moisturizing, but it's not heavy on the skin. It sinks in to leave a gorgeous velvet-y finish (on me). I've been through about four tubs of this this year, and I use it morning and night. It mixes well with other products, too - I love mixing a few drops of a facial oil in before applying it at night.
Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb
My other favorite moisturizer - this is more of a gel-cream formula than the Glossier PMR. It's super lightweight on the skin, but it still feels like it's drenching my skin in moisture. It keeps my skin so hydrated all day, and it's lovely morning and night (sensing a theme here?).
Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF 35
I was nowhere near as diligent with sunscreen as I should have been until this baby came out this year. It's clear and weightless on the skin, so it's incredibly easy to wear. Other sunscreens make me feel like a chalky or greasy mess, so I never wore them. But I've used this consistently since the spring. The bottle is small, but it lasts me a good three months or so with daily use. If you hate sunscreen too, I'd definitely recommend trying this one.
Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial
If I had to only pick one skincare favorite for the entire year, it would be this. I've never used a product that gives such instant, dramatic results as Babyfacial. It can sting a little when applied, but it makes my skin so soft and smooth, and it evens out my skintone so much right away. I've been using this around once a week almost all year, and I've noticed the results last longer the more consistently I use it. I always can get away with less foundation/concealer the day after using it, so it's a winner for sure.
May Lindstrom The Problem Solver
This was quite the splurge at the beginning of the year, but to me, it's been worth it. It draws out all the impurities of my skin without drying it out and helps to clear breakouts. I like the extra step of mixing it with something, it makes it feel like a more luxurious experience. I've been experimenting all year with mixing it with different things, and my favorite to mix it with has been the Fresh Rose Toner instead of water. Adding a bit of a honey mask in makes it extra luxe as well - I think next year I may need to splurge on The Honey Mud.
Whenever my skin was feeling irritated, stressed, dehydrated, etc, I reached for this mask. It's a lightweight gel with real rosepetals in it, and it's one of the most soothing products I've ever tried. It's probably my favorite out of the products I've tried from Fresh's rose line. I love that it's one you can just leave on for awhile, too - sometimes I'll apply it in the morning and leave it on for a few hours while I do chores around the house, and my skin is super plump and hydrated by the time I wash it off.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
I pretty much ordered this in a frenzy when it launched because of the color and the packaging, but it ended up being one of my favorites of the year. I use it as the last step of my skincare routine a couple nights per week, and I wake up with clear, glowing skin. It's not hydrating enough for me on its own, but if you have oily skin it probably would be. It smells exactly like watermelon and feels super cooling on the skin. I used it more in the summer than I do at the moment, but I'm going to start using it again soon!
Thanks for sticking around until the end if you're still here. Stay tuned for my favorite makeup of the year - I'm sure most of those will be easy to guess! I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year's Eve, and I will see you in the New Year!
And thank you so much for all your support this year - I've been able to do so much more with this blog than I ever imagined possible, and it's all because of you!