I loooooove thinking back over the past year about my favorite beauty products!  I dig thru my bathroom drawers, thru my makeup vanity, in my top drawer of my nightstand, in my purse… searching for all beauty products I have been using daily and can’t live without.

This is the smallest best of beauty I have ever had.  It could be that a lot of my time was consumed with moving and starting a new job.  It could also be that there wasn’t that many new products that thrilled me. Either way, I wasn’t going to put products in my best of beauty just to put them in.  These truly are my best of beauty!

And what does it take to make the cut?  These are products that I use all the time!  I use these daily/weekly and if they disappeared I would shed a tear.  They are stand out products that I could not live without!

So let’s get into it:

1 & 2. Tula Cleanser & Moisturizer :  I discovered Tula skin care at the very beginning of 2016.  It was literally eye opening for my skin!  It is the best skin care I have ever used!

Tula Cleanser : The cleanser is a makeup remover and a cleanser.  I never use a separate makeup remover.  When I am wearing a full face of glam makeup all I use is this cleanser.  It gets my skin completely clean.  It is very gentle, great for all skin types; even my sensitive dry skin.  I use this morning and night.

Tula Moisturizer : The best daily moisturizer ever!  So hydrating yet very light on the skin.  I use this every morning and night.  This is the only moisturizer you need.

Click here to view my entire skin care post I did just 2 months ago.  I go more in depth about each product I use and why.  Also, if you want to save 25% off + free shipping on tula.com use code lifescandyjar25

3. Colleen Rothschild Intense Moisture Mask : This moisture mask is the best moisturizing mask ever!  You can leave it on for 10-15 minutes.  Or (the way I use it) leave it on overnight.  Every time I use it I wake up with skin extremely dewy, glowing, plump and even skin tone.  I like to use this once a week to keep my skin looking amazing.  Seriously a game changer!  You can read my entire review Here.

4. Farmacy Sheet Mask Melody : I discovered sheet masks at the very end of 2015.  This past year I finally found my favorite sheet mask.  I love getting the sheet mask melody from Farmacy.  This way I use whatever my skin needs are.  The mask melody includes firming, brightening & anti-wrinkle.  Their masks are so amazing, after 10 minutes I see a noticeable improvement in my skin.  A sheet mask can be a little weird and messy, but so worth it for the results.

5. Buxom Lipstick : I have been a fan of Buxom lipstick’s for a while.  I love the formula, it is creamy and pigmented.  This year I fell in love with the shade ‘guilty angel’.  It is the every day shade with pinky peachy undertones.  I can wear this shade with a natural makeup look or smoky eye.  Doesn’t matter, it always looks great.  You can see it in my every day makeup look.

6. Lipgloss : I love a glossy lip!  I know matte lips and liquid lipsticks are all the trend right now.  But I will always prefer a glossy lip!  Here are my 2 favorites:

Marc Jacobs Lipgloss: This gloss is great for a high shine look.  I currently have this in shade ‘sugar sugar’, which is the prefect nude shade for all skin types.  It is extremely glossy and looks amazing alone or over a lipstick.

Anastasia Lipgloss: This formula is amazing!  It is thick, pigmented and extremely moisturizing.  I love so many shades of this gloss.  I wear one almost daily, I have them stashed around my house and in my purse.  My favorite shade is ‘Rio’, it is the perfect hot pink ever.

7. GlamGlow Lip Balm : This lip balm feels amazing and is so hydrating!!!  The love for this lip balm started out with having it on my nightstand and putting it on every night before bed.  Now I have one in my kitchen and in my purse.  Basically I have to always have one right by my side.

8. Too Faced Mascara : This mascara has made it on my best of beauty 2 years in a row.  There’s a reason for that… because it’s the best! I use it every single day, it’s the Queen of mascaras.  It makes my lashes thick, full, long and amazing.  I have ventured out and still haven’t found a mascara that is equal to this one.

9. Hair : Dry Shampoo, Texture, Oil : It has been a year for hair change for me.  I have had to look for many different hair products for my ever changing hair style.  I have found some amazing products that I can not live without.

Living Proof Dry Shampoo : This is the perfect dry shampoo.  It soaks up any extra oil, eliminates smell, gives body and volume.  But it’s not to heavy.  It doesn’t weigh your hair down or feel like you have anything in your hair.  You can use this dry shampoo, get fresh hair and still run your hands thru your hair.  Hey, when you know you know :)

Bumble & Bumble Dry Spun : This is a newer favorite in the last couple months.  I used it in at my sisters house and instantly fell in love.  It gives very light texture with an airy, fluffy look.  I love the look it gives all day long, and even the next day.  It’s only been 2 months but I can’t live without it!

Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil : With all the highlighting and color treatments I have done in the last 2 years it has left my hair dry and damaged.  I worked very hard in 2016 to get my hair healthy.  No more crazy hair treatments for me!  This invisible oil has been a life saver for my hair!!!  It is hydrating and soothing, yet doesn’t weigh the hair down.  I put in on the ends of my wet hair and dry as usual.  I have noticed a huge difference in the health of my hair, so much healthier, shiny and less fizzy.

I want to thank each one of you for an amazing year and for supporting me!  I love blogging so much and I love writing about things I love.  It truly is my therapy and happy place.  I love escaping the ridiculous stresses of life and sharing my love for beauty and fashion.

I still can’t believe I have anyone who wants to read what I say or look at what I am doing with my life.  I am so thankful for each and every one of you so much!!!!  Thank you for reading and being apart of my journey.  I hope you have an amazing 2017! :)

Twice a year Sephora offers 20% off the entire purchase to their Rouge & VIB members.  I always look forward to it!!! I love that I can stock up on needed items like clarisonic brush heads and mascara.  Get new items, like a new lipstick shade.  Splurge on a new curling wand.  Or start thinking about holiday gifts.

Details of the sale:
November 4-7 : Rouge Members get 20% off entire purchase
November 11-14 : VIB Members get 20% off entire purchase

There are so many great new products at Sephora I am dying to try!!  And with the holidays right around the corner, all of the holiday gift sets are out!  I loooove holiday gift sets!!  It’s a great way to try new products!

What I’m getting: I am definitely getting my favorite mascara I use every day, my favorite perfume that I just ran out of and my old fave perfume I haven’t used in years.  I’m thinking of getting this Tom Ford perfume I got a sample of a couple months ago and looooved.  It’s a little pricey but I’m obsessed!  I’m also getting my favorite sheets masks, some new body lotion and my most used dry shampoo.  Also this lipgloss in the color ‘sugar sugar’ that I keep stealing from my sister when I am at her house.

I asked Jaclyn what else I am needed that I might be missing.  She told me to definitely get this foundation and this bronzer.  So of course they are already in my cart :)  I also added this lipgloss in the color ‘undressed’ from her October favorites video.

Check out more of my favorites:

There are soooo many great beauty items of the #NSale this year!!  During the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale you will see exclusive sets, palettes and items that are only available during the sale.  You will also see brands and products on sale that never go on sale.  Now is a great time to stock up on your favorite skincare and body products, invest in a high quality hair tool or Clarisonic, or try something new!

 Make-Up

Beauty Blender Best Friends Set :: Best make-up applicator ever!  I use mine every day.  I love the natural look of my make-up when applied with a beauty blender.  This set comes with 2 beauty blenders + the cleanser.
Sale: $35 | Value: $56

Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light Palette :: This is an exclusive palette that has never been made before.  I’m so excited about it!  It has a bronzer, blush & highlight.  I love Hourglass so much!  These colors are gorgeous!  I use their bronzer every day and I love this blush color.  Their highlight is very natural looking and is great on mature skin because it won’t settle in fine lines.
Exclusive for Sale: $62

Laura Mercier ‘Flawless Icons’ Eye & Cheek Palette :: I am in love with this palette!  I love the eyeshadow shades.  It has a nice balance of shimmer and mattes to create beautiful looks.  And it also has a bronzer and highlight in the palette.  This is a great palette for everyday and for travel.
Sale: $65 | Value: $155

MAC Look in a Box :: Every year during the #NSale MAC does a ‘look in a box’.  I especially love this ‘fun & flirty’ set because of the shade of lipstick and gloss.  It’s a sweet girly pink.  The white shade eyeshadow is a great highlight shadow for fair skin (me!) and this is MAC’s best mascara.
Sale: $39.50 | Value: $70

Sigma ‘The Power Pair’ Set :: So excited about this set!!  This is my favorite foundation brush!!  I’ve been using it for years and still love it soooo much!  And I have this cleaning mat and it is my favorite way to clean my brushes!  It’s so easy, you put it in your sink and swirl your brushes around on it with soap.  Instantly clean!
Sale: $34.50 | Value: $49

Bobbi Brown ‘Bobbi on Trend – Sultry Bronze’ Eye Set :: I always love the Bobbi Brown set on the sale each year!  Great shadow colors that can take you from day to night.  You also get an eyeliner and mascara.
Sale: $65 | Value: $149

 Skin Care

Philosophy Purity Cleanser :: Amazing cleanser!  This cleanser is a makeup remover, cleanses the skin and is safe to use on eyes.  I recently started Sofia on a simple skin care routine and this is the cleanser she is using.  She loves it and I love it for my skin too.  Great for any age!
Sale: $53 | Value: $79

GlamGlow Mask Glamazing GRAVITYMUD Set :: Obsessed with this set!  I loooooove GlamGlow masks.  I love that they did a set of 3 of their masks.  I love all of these masks so much!
Sale: $69 | Value: $113

Clarisonic Mia 2 :: If you don’t own a Clarisonic now is the time to pull the trigger.  I use mine every day and it really helps my skin.  If I’m traveling and forget to pack it I notice a difference in my skin in just a couple of days (in a bad way).  Using my Clarisonic daily helps keep my skin clear of clogged pores, texture and blackheads.  The new Clarisonic Mia Fit is also on the sale.
Sale: $118 | After Sale: $169

Clarisonic Sensitive Brush Head Set :: You need to be changing out your Clarisonic brush head every 3 months.  With this set you have all the brush heads you need for a whole year.  Now you don’t have to think about it again till next year!
Sale: $74 | Value: $108

Mario Badescu :: The drying lotion in this set is bomb for drying up a zit!  This is a great brand of skin care for someone starting a skin care regimen or for someone on a budget.  They have great products for a great price.
Sale: $33 | Value: $50

 Body & Hair

Whish Body Butter :: I just tried this for the first time a couple days ago when I purchased it at Nordstrom.  I am in love!  After using it once I went online and order several more in different scents.  This body butter is thick, creamy & hydrating without feeling sticky or too thick.  It’s perfect!  And it comes in more scents!
Sale: $15 | Value: $47

Whish Bath & Body Gel :: Love this!  It’s extremely gentle on my skin and gets me clean!  It’s hard to find a shower gel that does both of those things.
Sale: $10 | Value: $16

T3 Featherweight 2 – Black & Rose Gold Hair Dryer :: A high quality hair dryer makes a world of difference to the overall look of your hair.  Until 2 years ago I have always used cheap hair dryers that I picked up at the grocery store.  Then I finally invested into a high quality hair dryer.  I had no idea it makes such a difference!!!  My hair is so much healthier, smoother, less frizz and fly aways.  Definitely worth the investment!
Sale: $139 | After Sale: $200

Drybar Beach in a Box Collection :: I am obsessed with Drybar products.  And right now everyone wants that tosseled beach hair.  I recently got my hair styled at my salon and I asked for beach waves.  They used a curling iron with the clip.  I have been using a clipless curling wand for more than 5 years.  I thought a clip curling iron was very old school.  She used the clip part of the curling iron to pull thru my ends.  She said to achieve the beach wave you curl the hair gently and the ends have to be straight.
Sale: $140 | Value: $209

Supergoop Sunscreen Set :: Amazing sunscreen!  This stuff works amazing and you can’t even feel it on your skin!
Sale: $38 | Value: $57

Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy Set :: I was given a Crabtree & Evelyn hand therapy a couple months ago.  I have always thought of this brand as something that Grandma’s use.  So I tucked the hand cream away in a drawer with no intention of using it.  A few weeks ago I ran out of my normal hand cream, with the craziness of moving I didn’t have time to run out and repurchase my typical hand cream.  So I grabbed this one out of the drawer.  I was shocked at how much I love it.  I love the smell (not Grandma-ish at all!).  I love how creamy and silky it feels going on.  And it’s extremely hydrating!  I have been using it every night since.
Sale: $18 | Value: $27

GHD Platinum Flat Iron :: I own the ghd curling wand and am obsessed!  I tried their flat iron once and it was amazing!  They have the most incredible technology for hair tools.  It makes my hair so shiny and healthy.  I use mine every day and I never feel like it’s damaging my hair.
Sale: $174 | After Sale: $249

Kiehl’s Jumbo Creme de Corps :: This is the most all time popular body moisturizer.  It’s been around since 1851.  It is creamy, it is moisturizing, it smells fresh.  It comes in the hugest bottle ever and will last you 6-12 months (depending on how much you use).
Sale: $52 | After Sale $75