Unexpected Makeup Faves of 2021
2021 was a cute year for makeup.
Formulas have truly come a long way. Some of these drops even tug at our heart strings.
Brands are thinking of who we are, how we spend our time, where we might be going and even how fast we want to get there.
This is not an exhaustive end of year list, but a list of products that truly surprised me by brands that weren’t so obvious.
Kaleidos
This brand does eyeshadow and color so well. You can tell everything is approached with a vibe of pure fun!
I used this palette in this look on Instagram. It was gifted and if you follow me, you know I’ve used different Kaleidos products often and sometimes have to stop myself from reaching for one AGAIN just to keep things fresh.
In the past when I heard certified organic ingredients in makeup it meant don’t even bother because it would definitely let me down.
Surprise, surprise! Kjaer Weis dropped their Impossible Mascara and something about knowing it’s made with ingredients that meet high standards, plus the sustainability aspect of the brand makes the fact that it’s actually a great mascara seem almost like a small miracle.
I also love their deep lip pencil. Very black girl friendly! Beautiful texture, I used my pencil down to a nub.
When I think of Em Cosmetics I think ethereal, dreamy, delicate, whimsical. There’s a soft and magical vibe to their products.
When I first tried their Infinite Lip Cloud in Faded Clementine, I was hooked. If you’re like me when you love a new product it’s like loving a new song. ON REPEAT.
2 words: SUNNY DAYS! I’m a mineral sunscreen gurl and when I tell you the mineral and physical devotees all gagged collectively when this gorgeous tinted mineral sunscreen dropped?! For years we’ve been told it’s not possible, yet here we are!
Instant hero!
Something else to try from Tower 28 is their Milky Lip Jelly glosses and of course their iconic Bronzino Illuminating Bronzers!
The revealer concealer is beautiful! Winter, Spring, Fall it’s a yes for me. I have to say that I tested it in a heat wave in NYC - that’s one time of year I won’t reach for it but absolutely worth the spot it claimed in my collection the rest of the year.
Their Cloud Set powder is also beautiful. My shade is called “Softly” and let me say that it always feels nice to find a shade for me that has a pretty name and isn’t named after food.
Buttersilk concealer has my heart right now when I need a full coverage moment. It’s creamy but not too creamy, plus it’s self setting! I’ve bought so many of these. It’s a hit.
I also own 3 shades of their Turn Up The Base powder foundation. It feels like a more modern take on Mac’s Studio Fix.
Both are in my collection.
Solid lip oils isn’t a phrase you hear every day, but let me put you on.
These are so beautiful in colors, texture, and wear. High shine of a gloss but nourishes lips while serving a bit of glam. Guava & Scarlet are my two faves!
This is the elevated big sis to chapstick and basic lip balms.
A multi use face palette serving nostalgia! How cute?! The formulas are beautiful, everything feels cloud like and creamy. Fun and functional. Cream to powder, great payoff + finger application friendly!
Easily one of the most buzzy brands this year. Their viral color changing blush put them on the map. The fun infused energy of the brand, their commitment to sustainability and products you can fall asleep in without ruining your skin have kept me intrigued. Excited to see what else they’ll do.
Their dewy glosses are fun, look good and nourish your lips.
Can’t front, when I first heard of this brand inclusion wasn’t the first word that came to mind. I thought, oh that looks nice. It was very much in the way you look at something pretty as you walk by.
When they sent me their blush and concealer, I was pleasantly surprised!
The blush shade I fell hard for is Azalea.
First impression of the concealer was great texture, wears beautifully on the skin but the undertone was too orange. They did end up sending 3 other shades and I found my shade, plus it’s makeup meets skincare.
Loved seeing that they had something for me because usually my issue is a lot of concealers run too warm.
I hope you enjoyed this little run down of products that surprised me. Would love to know if you ran into any surprise bangers this year!
Comment below.