7 Beauty Products That Became Staples In 2017

2017 hasn't been a great year for a lot of things but one thing that has been excellent for is the number of awesome beauty discoveries I've made. There hasn't been many products that have disappointed me, which is weirdly one of my favourite things to write about. As after all, gushing about products is all well and good but it's even more useful when you can share the things that you've not liked too. Anyway, I'll save the duds for another post and here are all the products that have become long-term staples in my routine in 2017.

ALPHA H LIQUID ROSE GOLD*

It's no secret that chemical exfoliants are something that my skin absolutely adores. They really help to keep on top congestion, scarring and brightness and my favourite exfoliant of the year has been the Alpha H Liquid Rose Gold. It's a cult skincare product and I was always a little sceptical of it, could it really be as amazing as people were saying? Turns out, yes, when there is that amount of hype and praise for a product it's for a good reason and you get instant results. It's 5% glycolic acid which is the same sort of intensity of something that I use daily whereas I save the Alpha H for every few days for a really intense treatment as it feels way more effective on the skin. If you're not aware of what glycolic does to the skin it sloughs away at all the dead skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion, it's not amazing for fighting spots but I do find it takes the sting away slightly. It contains hyaluronic acid which is brilliant at plumping up the skin and retaining moisture so it doesn't leave your skin feel tight and dry in the slightest.

L'OCCITANE ALMOND SHOWER OIL*

A few years ago this was an incredibly hyped up product in the blogging world and there are still some loyal users of it but it's not talked about anywhere near as much as it used to be. It's such a delicious product, it smells absolutely incredible and if you're lazy with your body care routine then this is something that could work wonders for you. It's a thick oil that you can use as a body wash but I prefer to use it when shaving as it creates a brilliant slip to the skin. It's so nourishing and hydrating but it never feels the skin feeling slippy or oily, just hydrated. And it's just an added bonus that it makes you smell like a giant Bakewell tart.

KATY PERRY'S INDI PERFUME*

Celebrity fragrances are not something that I'm typically a fan of, normally they're so sickly sweet they induce a headache within seconds of being sprayed. This release from Katy Perry took me by surprise, I never thought I'd adore it as much as I do. It smells pretty much identical to my beloved Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily fragrance but a little bit more coconutty, of course, the JM option is incredibly expensive so it's nice to find something a little more cost friendly that smells the same. The name and packaging aren't that nice, let's be real but it's what inside that counts.

TARTLETTE IN BLOOM PALETTE*

Eyeshadow palettes aren't really my thing, I have a few that I love but normally I'm only reaching for one shade out of them. But that all changed when this palette from Tarte came into my life in the summer. It's not really left the makeup bag I use to hold my daily staples as there is absolutely everything I need in it, from the perfect golden glitter to a shimmery taupe to a neutral matte brown for my brows. Tarte are well known for their dreamy powder formulations and this palette is no exception. They're incredibly soft upon application which makes them an absolute breeze to apply onto the lid and blend in but they're not so buttery that they just fall down instantly and leave you with a glittery cheek. The only negative is that there is some kick off when you dip your brush into the palette so it does get a little messy.

YSL BROW COUTURE*

I never thought I'd be so excited about a brow product, especially an expensive option like this but it's an absolute wonder product for my sad brows. It's a tinted brow gel that fills in any sparse areas that you have whilst keeping your brows in place all day, which is exactly what I need as my brows tend to look pretty sad 90% of the time. It can make your brows feel a little stiff if you apply too much so you do have to be wary of that.

SIMPLE MICELLAR WATER*

I've been using the Garnier Micellar Water for years and never thought there would be something that could make me stray away from that. But when this product from Simple arrived within the first use I knew it was far better, it's so hydrating to the skin whilst removing any makeup that you're wearing, even tough to get rid of waterproof products. As well as it being so effective at removing makeup and giving the skin a boost of moisture it doesn't cause any irritation or redness around the eyes which can so easily happen. It is more expensive than the likes of the Garnier but I think it's far better and I love having that extra hit of moisture at the moment.

THICKENING SPRAYS

In general, thickening sprays have been my go to this year. I've struggled with my hair, I've cut it a lot shorter which I love but I lost a lot of hair this year, which I'm pleased to say is growing back, especially around my hairline but I still struggle with volume. Thickening and volume sprays have been such a game changer in my routine, they give my hair that beachy texture I so desperately crave but they never make my hair feel sticky or tacky which can often happen with salt sprays. A couple of pricey options that I really enjoy are the Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray* and the Colour WOW Steroid Spray.*