2020 was the year I got serious about skincare. My dry sensitive skin was out of control for the first half of the year due to stress and a horrific cleanser, so I spent quite a bit of time researching new products, improving my diet, and playing around with new makeup. I’m pleased to say that I found 25 makeup and skincare must haves that I’m excited to share with you today.
One of the many reasons I love doing my annual best in makeup posts is because I love finding new beauty products that actually work and if I can help someone with a similar skincare issue, it makes my day! With that being said, today I’m excited to share 25 makeup and skincare must haves for 2021!
Happy early new year friends! Stay safe and healthy! Xoxo
You may also like: Best In Beauty For 2020 // Makeup Favorites 2019 // Hair Essentials
Must Have Eye Makeup For 2021
The Best Eyeshadow Palette Under $100
Tom Ford Eye Color Quad. If you’ve followed the blog for a long time you know that I absolutely adore Tom Ford Beauty! Over the summer I shared a few favorites, and this eyeshadow palette in “Double Indemnity” was definitely one of them. I love the mix of matte and sparkly shades! The eyeshadow is very easy to apply, it doesn’t flake off and lasts the entire day! It doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes which is an added bonus. Tom Ford eyeshadow quads come in a wide array of colors and the quality is exceptional!
Must Have Black Eyeliner
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil in the color “zero” is a favorite and has been for a few years now! My mom convinced me to try this fabulous black eyeliner and I can’t get enough of it. I love that it’s buildable so you can create a natural look or a smokey eye!
Must Have Liquid Eyeliner
Marc Jacobs Magic Marc’er Precision Pen Liquid Eyeliner. This is the BEST long wearing black liquid eyeliner I have ever used! It has a calligraphy pen-like tip, which makes it so easy to apply! You can make the line as thin or as thick as you’d like.
My Favorite Lash Primer
Givenchy Base Mascara Perfector Volumizing Lash Primer. After hearing how phenomenal this nourishing lash primer is I had to try it! This is the best lash primer I have ever used. It has the power to improve any mascara! My lashes look longer and more voluminous when I use it.
The Best Mascara For Voluminous Lashes
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Mascara. I have become quite the Charlotte Tilbury fan this year! I love her mascara, lipliner and lipstick so much. This mascara is phenomenal, it makes your lashes more voluminous and it’s long-wearing! After watching this lash tutorial on Youtube I bought a magnifying mirror on Amazon, apply the Givenchy primer and this fabulous mascara over it. My lashes look so long, they practically touch my eyebrows!
The Best Eyebrow Pencil and Fiber Gel For Thin Brows
Tom Ford Brow Sculptor. If you have thin brows as I do, you’ll love this Tom Ford eyebrow pencil and their famed fiber brow gel! They are both so easy to use and apply! I first use the eyebrow pencil, and then I use the gel! Both products make your brows look thick and natural. I don’t know what I would do without these products, they are my holy grail essentials!
Must Have Skincare Essentials
The Best Eye Makeup Remover
Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover For Sensitive Skin. I have been a fan of Lancome’s Bifacil eye makeup remover since the day I started wearing makeup. It’s the only thing I use to remove my eye makeup that doesn’t irritate my extremely sensitive eyes. I love purchasing it in the Home & Away Duo because it contains a 13.5 container and 1.7 ounce small container for travel! It’s much cheaper to purchase it this way. This set typically lasts about four months or so.
My Favorite Facial Cotton Pads
Shiseido Facial Cotton. I love these 100% cotton facial pads! The pack includes 165 facial cotton pads and it’s only $12 with free shipping. They are so soft and remove eye makeup easily and effortlessly!
The Best Rose Hip Seed Oil Under $10
Rosehip seed oil is so amazing for your skin! Kate Middleton is just one of the many celebrities that are fans of this phenomenal oil! I use a drop of the vegan and cruelty-free The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil every night and absolutely adore it. It “is rich in pro-vitamin A”, doesn’t irritate my skin, and is very hydrating.
Niacinamide Is An Absolute MUST
I never had large pores until I developed rosacea. The one thing that has helped considerably is this vegan and cruelty-free The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. I feel like more pores are now back to their normal size and I’m not so self-conscious! This amazing product is less than $6 with free shipping at Sephora! After I use my serums at night and my heated gua sha tool, I place a few drops on my cheeks, my forehead and then rub it in with my hands.
According to the website “Niacinamide (vitamin B3) reduces the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10 percent concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc PCA to balance visible aspects of sebum activity.” If you have rosacea or you’re interested in how niacinamide can help improve your skin, I highly recommend this article! It has a ton of beneficial information.
Fresh Beauty Skincare Must Haves
First and foremost I am obsessed with Fresh Beauty. If I could buy stock in their skincare products I would! I have been using their moisturizers for the last few years, and in spring 2020 I bought their holy grail Soy facial cleanser and quickly fell in love. One of the many reasons my skin was reacting so badly earlier in 2020 is because the cleanser I had used by a different brand for years changed. The product was no longer soothing my skin but making my rosacea and acne much worse. I tried many different cleansers before buying a sample of Fresh’s famed cleanser and noticed a difference immediately! I have added a few new products to my skincare mix this year and had to share them with you in case you too have sensitive skin!
Must Have Facial Cleanser For Sensitive Skin
Fresh Soy Facial Cleanser. Where do I begin? I have sensitive dry skin that is acne-prone, and I have mild rosacea. Finding the perfect cleanser has been a hassle. Worse than a hassle. There were many times I was embarrassed by how bad my skin looked earlier this year. I spent quite a bit of time and money trying new cleansers and finally decided to try the Fresh Soy Facial Cleanser. I don’t know what took me so long, it’s amazing! It’s fragrance-free and non-irritating. You don’t have to worry about getting it in your eyes because it won’t irritate them. I bought the 6.7-ounce tube and it lasted me six months (I only use the cleanser at night)! I recently purchased the largest size (13.5 ounces) because I love saving money on my beauty purchases!
The Best Daytime Moisturizer For Dry Skin
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream. I LOVE this Fresh rose moisturizer. Being a garden rose farmer, I know about the healing benefits of roses so it didn’t take me long to try this product a few years ago. This is the best daytime moisturizer I have found for dry sensitive skin! I use it year-round. It’s non-irritating and smells like roses. I adore it! PS: It’s available in three different sizes including a travel size, which is the way to go when trying a new moisturizer!
Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Booster Is A Must
Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Booster. I am beyond obsessed with this serum. I wish it came in a bigger bottle as I would use it twice a day every day! I notice such a difference when I mix it with my rose hip seed oil at night and if I add it to my moisturizer during the day. It has seaberry oil (which “is a powerful antioxidant* rich in nourishing omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9), tomato extract, and camellia seed oil. There are so many amazing benefits! I also use it with my eye cream on occasion. It’s great!!!
Must Have Night Cream Of The Year
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream. The more I learn about skincare, the more money I spend – haha! I have been doing my research friends and learned that after you use serum, you need to use a moisturizer to lock it in the moisture. One of the many things I love about Fresh Beauty is that they offer travel size products. I decided to give their Fresh lotus night cream a try and I am obsessed. It is one of my absolute favorite products of the year. The morning after I used it for the first time I couldn’t believe how hydrated and healthy my skin looks! I am so glad I bought it and quickly ordered the large container!
The Best Tinted Moisturizer, Bronzer, and Contour Products
Must Have Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. This year I was looking for a foundation that covered my rosacea, has sunscreen, and was lightweight, but couldn’t find one. I’ve loved Laura Mercier’s oil-free tinted moisturizer for years, so I reordered it. This time I decided to apply it with a brush and it made all the difference in the world! It provides great coverage, is buildable, and doesn’t look like I’m wearing makeup. I love it.
Best Bronzer On The Planet
Tom Ford Soileil Glow Bronzer. You’ve heard me rave for years about my Tom Ford Bronzer. It is beyond amazing! I purchased my first Tom Ford bronzer a few years ago, and absolutely adore it. It’s perfect for every skin type! A little goes a long way and it lasts forever. I highly recommend using it with the coordinating bronzer brush. They are the perfect pair!
My Favorite Contour Palette
Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Highlighter & Shader Duet. I use the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Palette as a contour and highlighter and as a bronzer! It is so easy to use and it looks amazing on. The illuminator gives the perfect amount of youthful glow!
Must Have Makeup Brushes & Beauty Tool For 2021!
My Favorite Nose Contour Brush
The Artis Linear 1 Brush can be used to apply eyeliner, fill in your eyebrows or for contouring. I personally use this phenomenal synthetic brush for contouring the sides of my nose and absolutely love it. It is so easy to use! This is the only Artis brush I own, but I’m eager to try more in 2021 because I love this one so much.
Must Have Foundation Brush
It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Bye Bye Foundation No. 22 Brush. This brush is phenomenal! I love the triangular brush head. I use it to apply my oil-free tinted moisturizer. It goes on evenly and doesn’t leave any streaks! You can buy it on its own or if you like It Cosmetics foundation, I would suggest purchasing one of QVC’s sets which includes a makeup brush and foundation as it’s very affordable!
Best Bronzer Brush
Tom Ford #05 Bronzer Brush. I purchased this brush years ago after watching multiple tutorials. I’d heard it was amazing, and since it is $115 I wanted to ensure it truly was a necessity before spending that much on a makeup brush. I can honestly tell you it’s the best brush I own. The color glides right on and looks very natural! FYI: I bought the brush before they started using synthetic bristles. I have heard that the new brush is just as great but wanted to let you know just in case you’re interested!
Must Have Heated Gua Sha Tool
Heated Gua Shawith Red LED Light. Gua sha tools are all the rage this year! I decided to finally purchase this heated gua sha tool after reading that it is great for your skin! I use it every day and I’m obsessed. This is one of my favorite purchases of the year! Disclaimer: I have noticed many benefits since using this product, but I strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor before you try it to ensure it’s safe for you.
The Best Lip Gloss Under $15
Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss. Tower 28 Beauty is my new favorite brand! I love their vegan and cruelty-free lip gloss. It’s under $15, the quality is amazing and my lips feel very hydrated. I own it in the nude shade “cashew” and looking forward to adding more colors to the mix.
The Best Lip Plumper
Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Plumper. I have used Too Faced Lip Injection lip gloss for well over a decade! This is the best lip plumping lip gloss on the planet. It does sting a bit when you first put it on, but that sensation doesn’t last long. If you want plump lips without having to get injections, I definitely recommend this lip gloss! It comes in multiple shades, but I use it in the clear (high shine finish).
Best Unscented Hand Cream
Nécessaire The Hand Cream. I try to buy fragrance-free products as much as possible because many fragrances give me a headache! I bought this unscented hand cream with the ingredients (niacinamide, marula oil, and peptides) a few months ago and fell in love! It is fragrance-free, perfect for every skin type including dry sensitive skin, and is by one of my favorite brands!
Thank you friends for checking out my Makeup and Skincare must haves for 2021! I hope you enjoyed this post!
