BEST OF 2016

2016, what a year! Although not everyone liked the year that was 2016, we can at least all agree that there were some pretty bomb products dropped by some of our favourite cosmetic brands, or in my case finally scooped up.

URBAN DECAY X GWEN STAFANI - EX GIRLFRIEND LIPSTICK

At the beginning of the year Urban Decay launched their entire range of limited edition Gwen Stefani cosmetics.Being a huge Gwen fan, I died and went to heaven.

Not only was the packaging on all of these products awe inspiring, again I died and went to heaven over this art deco styling, they released a beautiful shade known as 'Ex-Girlfriend'. I managed to buy one of everything from the collection however couldn't get my hands on another Ex-Girlfriend It sold our pretty much instantly and try as I may,  I couldn't get my hands on another one.

It has since been re-released as a Vice Lipstick, but it is again as rare of hens teeth to get your hands on. I did manage to snag one though, after arguing with Mecca staff that the product did exist in the Vice collection.

Anyway, Ex-Girlfriend is described as being the colour of nude lips but better. I would completely agree. It is a beautiful sheer pink colour that really is the colour of my lips but better!

Check out my review from 2016 here.

BLACK MOON COSMETICS LIQUID LIPSTICKS - LIBRA

I've spoken about my love for Black Moon so much this year and if you haven't gone out and purchased your own 'Libra' Liquid Lipstick then frankly you're an idiot. Pack away your Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks, because his products have nothing  on what Black Moon as to offer.

Superior feel, superior smell, superior longevity. That's what you get out of your liquid lipstick from Black Moon over all other liquid lipsticks.

Libra (dusty nude) & Harvest (pumpkin orange) are my absolute favourite shades from this range, and I am a firm believer that every girl needs to own Libra.

Check out my reviews from 2016 here and here.

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - MODERN RENAISSANCE PALETTE

After many months I finally managed to get my hands on the elusive Modern Renaissance palette. This pretty was well worth the wait. The eyeshadows are buttery smooth and well worth the money. The pinks and red shades in this palette will surely make any babes with green eyes pop!

If you haven't got your hands on this palette yet beauties then keep trying. I promise it's worth it.

REAL TECHNIQUES - BOLD METALS BRUSHES

Although these brushes weren't new in 2016, they were new to my collection.

Real Techniques released this beautiful range of weighted, bold metals brushes that stand out amongst all the other brushes that.

Check out my review from 2016 here.

TARTE - TARTELETTE IN BLOOM PALETTE

If you don't have this palette already then you need to stop what you're doing and add it to your cart. The Tartelette In Bloom palette is an everyday wear palette that I have been choosing over all others. It has beautiful shimmery shades, a selection of nude mattes and the best part is that the eyeshadows last all day!

Check out my review from 2016 here.

- beautyreporterb

TARTE - TARTELETTE IN BLOOM CLAY PALETTE

On the last day of the Christmas countdown my true love gave to me, the Tartelette In Bloom Amazonian Clay palette by Tarte!

'This one's for all the jetsetters, funny girls and smarty pants out there' - SEPHORA

Packaging

This palette has a beautiful floral themed cover to it, with gold lettering. The palette has a light plastic casing, trimmed in gold, and contains a full mirror.

Tarte have also been kind enough to provide two step-by-step looks that can be achieved by using the colours within the palette.

'12 never-before-seen, long wear shades ranging from deep, velvety mattes to bright shimmery metallics' - TARTE

Shades & Finishes

This palette has twelve beautiful matte and shimmer shades.

CHARMER - off white matte

JETSETTER - warm taupe matte

ROCKER -  taupe shimmer

SMOKESHOW - black brown matte

FLOWER CHILD - peachy nude matte

SMARTY PANTS - tan matte

FIRECRACKER - bronze copper shimmer

ACTIVIST - dark brown matte

FUNNY GIRL - champagne shimmer

SWEETHEART - peach matte

REBEL - chestnut brown matte

LEADER - aubergine matte

FIRST ROW FROM L - R: Charmer, Jetsetter, Rocker, Smokeshow
SECOND ROW FROM L - R: Flower Child, Smarty Pants, Firecracker, Activist
THIRD ROW FROM L - R: Funny Girl, Sweetheart, Rebel, Leader

'With 9 mattes and 3 lusters, these lid liner and crease pairings allow you to create stunning, smouldering looks with the guesswork' - TARTE

Formula & Pigmentation

Tarte pride themselves on their naturally derived Amazonian clay formula, which promises to provide better, longer and truer eyeshadow wear. I haven't been able to fault this claim since I've been using this palette, and have found that the shimmer shades in particular really pop when I pair them with Urban Decay's Primer Potion.

If there's one thing that I feel Tarte have mastered, it's their shimmer shades. They are highly pigmented and have brilliant colour payoff. On the flip side, some of the matte shades appear slightly chalky when swatched however this I found that this was easily corrected again with my Primer Potion by Urban Decay.

This palette is also paraben free, phthalate free and sulfate free. 

'Infused with Tarte's signature Amazonian clay formula, you'll get the same pigmented payoff, blendability and lasting colour as the original tartelette - all in a chic, portable palette with a beautiful floral design' - SEPHORA

Affordability & Retailers

You can purchase your very own Tartlette In Bloom palette directly from Tarte for $61.00 AUD, or from Sephora for $69.00 AUD. Keep in mind, Sephora do offer free shipping for orders over $55.00

Final Verdict

This is a palette that you can fall in love with very easily. Since purchasing this palette a couple of months ago, I find myself aautomatically reaching for this palette over everything else. If can appreciate a majestic shimmer shade, and you're looking for a palette that you can use for a work day and a night out, then this is the perfect palette for you. 

For 12 beautiful shades and a maximum price tag of $69.00, this palette is good value for money with each individual shade working out to around $5.75.

I hope you beauties have found this Christmas countdown helpful or at least amusing. Let me know if you'd like me to run it again next year!

Stay Updated

New product reviews are uploaded every Saturday, and for the lead up to Christmas there will be a new product review each day to help out with your last minute gift ideas and wishlists.

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- beautyreporterb