2016 high street makeup favourites

As we’re getting to the end of the year (!!!) I thought I’d do a round up of my best high street/drugstore makeup buys of 2016. All the products on this list are under £10, so they won’t break the bank if you fancy giving them a try. I’ll work from left to right in the picture below, so if anything catches your eye, just scroll – and they’re all swatched at the bottom.

If this does well I’ll do a review of my favourite bargain skincare and maybe even a high end favourites too, let me know what you think.

Makeup Revolution lip liners – £1

I have these in the shade Rebel, Vamp and The One. They’re so good, perfect for sorting out your lip shape before applying liquid lipstick and there’s a sharpener in the lid. Oh and they are literally ONE POUND. So who cares if you have one in every handbag?

Topshop lipstick in Naturist – £8

This is my perfect nude brown-y pink-y mauve shade. I use this so much it’s down to a little nub at the end, and how often do you really get through a whole lipstick?

It’s a sheeny but opaque consistency that’s really comfortable to wear, it’s a breath of fresh air after all the trendy-but-dry-as-the-Sahara liquid mattes I’ve been wearing in 2016. (I really hope these aren’t fashionable next year!)

NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray – £7

This baby really works, there’s not much more to say about it! It doesn’t sting, smell weird, smudge your makeup or do anything else that defeats the purpose of setting spray. So, amazing!

You can pick up NYX from Boots, ASOS and FeelUnique now, but you get 10% student discount and loyalty points from ASOS, so that’s my favourite.

I <3 Makeup Goddess of Love highlighter – £4.99

This highlighter comes in a few shades, but the Champagne coloured one I have is the Goddess of Faith option. It’s really pretty, and only a fiver, so if highlighter goes out in 2017 it’s not the end of the world.

NYX Proof it waterproof eyeshadow primer – £5.50

Now, I really don’t think this is actually waterproof, but it is a really good eyeshadow primer if you’re in the market for one. It honestly performs as well as NARS or UD Primer Potion in my experience.

If eyeshadow primer is an essential for you, definitely give this a try.

I <3 Makeup All Day & Night eyeliner – £1.99

Really lovely long lasting eyeliner, and only £2. I have the shade Channelling my Inner which is a warm brown with a reddish shine, I can’t find these on the Superdrug website, but they may carry them in store. If not, you can get them from TAM Beauty online. Take a look at the swatch, does that look like a £2 eyeliner to you?

As you can see from the picture, I literally have a backup.

Makeup Revolution Pro Blend sponge – £4.99

You might have noticed MUR and its sister brands featuring a lot on this list, but this sponge is the best thing I’ve bought from them this year. It’s so good for applying natural looking foundation, it’s actually soft and springy, and it expands loads when you wet it, unlike other cheap sponges I’ve tried.

I’ve bought a brand new Beautyblender and a new one of these sponges so I can do a proper old fashioned face off for the blog, because I can’t believe the original BB can actually be better than this MUR dupe.

Watch this space.

Freedom Professional Pro blush – £1

Okay, despite the slightly ridiculous name (professional pro? what?) this is a very blendable, pretty blush. I have the shade Banish, and it is ONE POUND.

Now for some swatches:

From top to bottom: I <3 Makeup highlighter, Freedom blush, I <3 Makeup eyeliner, Makeup Revolution lip liner, Topshop lipstick.

What were your favourite high street makeup buys for 2016?

Bronni Hughes

Hey! I’m Bronni and I’m a financial journalist and deals hunter in my mid 20s. I’m really into cats, pop music, the internet and barely substantiated celebrity gossip.

bronni.co.uk