My Top Beauty Picks of 2016

2 016 is winding down. It’s been 7 years and a half since I wrote my first post. Whether you’re a long-term reader of RatzillaCosme or you’re here for the very first time, massive thanks for your continued support! Beauty products are highly subjective, but I always try to cater for a wide audience. So I hope you’ve found my words relevant and useful to you.

On this note, I bring you my personal favourites this year. If you missed last year’s top picks, you can check it out here.

POWER PLAYER

A new skin care discovery this year that has become a permanent fixture in my bathroom drawer is Makeup Artist’s Choice (MUAC) Mandelic Acid Peel. I hate its packaging (it’s impossible to control how much liquid you pour out using its screw top cap!), but everything else is brilliant. I haven’t touched my BHA/AHA since I started using it! Just twice a week at night is enough keep my pores very clean, skin super smooth, bright and more toned. Usage: I apply the liquid with my fingers on clean, bare skin then leave on overnight. I don’t get a tingling or burning sensation upon application and no redness or flaking the day after either. (My skin is normal and very resilient. If you’re new to chemical peels or you don’t have my skin type, I’d strongly suggest following product’s direction — rinse it off.) I currently use the 40% strength but I did start with 25% at the beginning, which is gentler and cheaper. I have the 30ml size — 25% is US$17.85 HERE while 40% is US$24.25 HERE — which seems to last forever. 2 fluid dram sample is also available. Makeup Artist’s Choice (MUAC) is online-exclusive and ships worldwide.

MULTI-TASKER

Kuramoto Bijin’s Komeyu, which I wrote about its full-page review back in October 2015, is another product that has made way into my beauty essentials. The scent/odour-free beauty oil has no “junk” (just pure cold-pressed Japanese rice bran and germ oil) and it’s naturally packed full of nourishing and antioxidative goodness. I mix a drop or 2 with my moisturiser if my skin needs the extra boost, use it straight as an undereye treatment, or smooth a few drops to the ends of my hair. It’s my go-to beauty oil! You can find it on Amazon USA for US$16.59+ HERE.

REKINDLED LOVE AFFAIR

I have a rekindled love affair with Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup this year. It lasts for ages and ages — it’s like glue! As it has high coverage, it’s best applied very sparingly —unless you actually want a heavily made-up look. I usually mix it with a face-finishing product (generally a moisturising primer or sheer BB/CC cream) to create a perfect customised base. (I have absolutely no qualms with its pump-less, screw cap packaging. I tightly cover the opening with my clean thumb then give the bottle a good shake. I use the foundation that gets on the finger for the whole face. Super quick and completely mess-free!) The finish is beautiful and it doesn’t slide, dry-up or sit in the creases. Brilliant stuff! 30ml bottle is US$39.50.

CHEAP AS CHIPS

I’ve gone through countless tubes of Biore Skin Care Facial Foam in Moisture (2016 Formula). I use this as a face and body wash. I can’t find anything I don’t like about it — fresh, non-aggravating washing that leaves no feeling of dryness or tightness after rinsing even when the skin is slightly dry and flaky. It’s also ridiculously affordable. A big 130g tube costs less than ¥300 HERE from Amazon Japan! You can also find it from Amazon USA HERE.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

It’s ashamed Dr. Ci:Labo products aren’t more readily available in stores (even in Japan) as they’re fantastic! Stores usually only stock the current best-sellers, so once summer is over, “off-season” gems like UV & White Moisture Milk (2016 Formula) are next to impossible to find in-person — ordering directly from its official online store is your best bet. You might have remembered it being featured in my annual SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreen round-up I did early this year — do take a look if you haven’t (its ingredients are there). It gives brilliant water/sweat/sebum-resistant protection against UV rays and air pollutants while imparting a soft-focus finish that works beautifully on normal skin. 60ml bottle is ¥3,780.