Best of 2017: The 100+ Skincare, Makeup and Hair Products That I Used and Loved the Most

Once a year, I like to give you a list of all the products I used and loved in the last 12 months—and the time has come for my 2017 edition! Consider this a beauty cheat sheet, if you’re looking for my most recent recommendations in one handy place.

A lot of these things, you’ll recognize from 2016, because when I find something that works, with great ingredients, I’m VERY loyal. That said, there are definitely some newcomers here that have now become permanent staples, such as BHAs and squalane oil.

As you can probably tell, I’m very much focused on skincare these days. I truly believe that is the reason why I can go so sheer with my foundation. (I’m also just feeling a more minimal, natural look in general—perhaps that’s the Glossier effect, or just being too busy/lazy to experiment too much!)

For what it’s worth, you should also be aware that I did purchase most of these items myself (and would do so again), instead of receiving them as PR samples. So I really do stand behind what I’m recommending here.

If you’d like to see how I actually layer this stuff onto my face, take a look at my fall skincare routine. I’ll be sharing a winter one shortly, with some recent purchases that I haven’t talked about yet!

Until then, here’s a look back at my favourite products, from head to toe.

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Cleansers

• Creamy cleanser: I can’t say enough good things about Schaf Facial Cleanser—it’s quite possibly the PERFECT cleanser. Unlike most cream formulas, it rinses clean and is 100% natural. I use it a lot in colder weather, as it’s non-drying. I’m also nearly done my tube of First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, which is also a nice one, although not as natural.

• Foaming cleansers: When I want a deeper clean, I reach for a sulfate-free foam or gel format. Consonant Natural Foaming Face Wash and Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser have been part of my routine for years and I still love them. I also went through a lot of Graydon Face Foam, and have just about finished the bottle!

• Gel cleansers: My favourite affordable gel cleanser is Derma E Purifying Gel Cleanser, which I love for oilier skin in the summertime—I just bought a second tube! The Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser and COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser were also part of my rotation.

• Oil cleanser: I double cleanse at night whenever I’ve worn heavier makeup or sunscreen, and my oil of choice is coconut (removed with a soft cloth). The Kopari Coconut Melt looks pretty on your countertop, but you can also just get a big tub of Nutiva from the health food store and it will work just as well.

• Micellar cleanser: Bioderma Sensibio H2O is always one of my staples, on a Shiseido Facial Cotton pad. It’s great to remove makeup prior to any of the cleansers. I also use it daily, on a Precision Q-tip, to clean up mascara and eyeliner mistakes.

Exfoliators

• BHAs: I made the switch from AHAs to BHAs in 2017, and haven’t looked back! My Holy Grail product—and probably the single most important thing in my entire routine—is the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. It’s what I rely on daily to keep my skin clear, bright and smooth. I also use the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid sometimes, although I think it’s more drying.

• AHAs: To fade the pigmentation I always get in the summer, I doubled up on acids for a while and used Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM 400 in addition to the BHA, along with P50 Corps for my body. Earlier in the year, I also used Lotion P50 (which is no longer available in Canada) and P50T. I still love ’em, but if I had to choose, I’d go with BHAs—applied the same way, twice a day, I think they’re more beneficial and less irritating. 

Hydrators

• Mists: The two mists I used the most in 2017 were Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence and Caudalie Grape Water. I often apply them under face oil in place of a serum. I also spritz them over makeup so it looks more dewy/natural, and throughout the day to refresh my skin.

• Serum: No surprise here—my all-time favourite serum is still Consonant HydrExtreme. I don’t use hyaluronic acid, as this works so well for me!

• Essences: In a quest to find some alternatives for those of you who can’t get hold of HydrExtreme, I’ve been experimenting with essences. So far, I really like Omorovicza Omoressence and COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.

• Oils: The big development here was that I discovered squalane oil in 2017... and now all other face oils are practically dead to me! Seriously, it works so well that I have no plans to EVER stop using it. In the name of research, I tested squalanes from four different brands: Indie Lee, Peter Thomas Roth, Biossance and The Ordinary. There’s not much difference between them, but I will say that Peter Thomas Roth and The Ordinary have the best and sturdiest packaging. 

• Creams: I don’t use face creams that often anymore, as I don’t find I need them with my usual serum/oil combination. But if I do want extra moisture, my favourite is the silicone-free LXMI Crème du Nil. For eye cream, I was using Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel for a few months, but I started developing a bit of irritation. That skin is so sensitive, this often happens to me with eye formulas! So now I’m just sticking with squalane there. I also use squalane instead of lip balm!

Sunscreens

• Face: For city days when I want a lightweight sunscreen to wear under makeup, my favourite is Derma E Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30. But when I need the BEST possible protection, CyberDerm Simply Zinc Sun Whip SPF 30 is always my go-to. Also in my rotation in 2017 were Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer, CyberDerm Every Morning Sun Whip SPF 25 and Rocky Mountain Soap Company Vanilla Coconut Natural Sunscreen SPF 31. 

• Body: I save the best stuff for my face and look for larger, more affordable formats for my body. In 2017, I used new Attitude Sensitive Skin 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 and Neutrogena Sheer Zinc SPF 50. 

Serums & Treatments

• Vitamin C: Rather than L-ascorbic acid, which is notoriously unstable, my favourite way to get vitamin C is via The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, which is light enough to apply all over my face. I also like Hylamide C25 Stabilized Vitamin C Booster, but it does have an oilier texture.

• Niacinamide: Although it’s marketed as an acne/oily skin treatment, I use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for niacinamide’s brightening effects. It's hard to say whether the vitamin C or niacinamide are more effective—I alternate both!

• Retinoids: I tested A LOT of retinoids in 2017, beginning with Resurface by Shani Darden Retinol Reform. It’s the one I'd recommend most for acne-prone skin. I also tested a new, non-irritating compound called “granactive retinoid.” It’s found in CyberDerm Retin+Erase and The Ordinary Granactive Retinoids in Squalane. Then, I tested The Ordinary Retinols in Squalane—which l’m still using now because their ingredient is the most proven for anti-aging.

• Masks: In 2017, I added a few new masks to my collection, including the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask (natural BHAs), Herbivore Brighten Pineapple Enzyme + Gemstone Instant Glow Mask (fruit enzymes) and Odacité Synergie[4] Immediate Skin Perfecting Beauty Masque (clay, charcoal, enzymes, acids, vitamin C and probiotics!!). I also still use the tried-and-true Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant.

Skincare Tools

• Red light therapy: If I could only use one gadget, it would have to be the Red Light Man Red Light Device. I usually just lie in front of it for 10 minutes or so, repositioning it every so often until I’ve covered all of my face. You get an immediate glow, and it’s incredibly beneficial for ALL skin issues—and good for your health, too!

• Cleansing: The Foreo Luna 2 is still my cleansing brush of choice, because it doesn't collect bacteria and is gentle on the skin. I use it at night, when I can’t be bothered with double cleansing.

• Microcurrent: After reading this article, I was inspired to try microcurrent treatments with the NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device. I *think* I can see a difference, but the challenge is to keep up with the treatments! In 2018, I’m thinking about trying microcurrent facials.

• Microdermabrasion: Although I wouldn't say it’s necessary with daily acids, I do a home microdermabrasion treatment every once in a while with PMD Personal Microderm. It’s a great device to use once a week if you can’t tolerate acids. 

• Face massage: You know when you can just tell you’re holding onto tension in your face? I've been massaging it out with the Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift. My only issues with it are that it’s kind of noisy, and it’s expensive if you’re not going to use the cleansing head (like I said, I use the Luna).

• Lip plumping: This is a totally frivolous one, but I was so excited about the new PMD Kiss Lip Plumping System. I still use it for a little lip volume boost before going out!

Face Makeup

• Foundation: I didn’t switch up foundations at all in 2017, because RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up still has the best ingredients, and works perfectly for my needs! I apply it with the RMS Beauty Skin2Skin Foundation Brush for a sheer, lightweight coverage. If I need my skin to look a little more perfected, I will reach for one of two silicone-free liquid foundations from Sappho New Paradigm: the Essentials Foundation (lighter coverage) or the Liquid Foundation (higher coverage). 

• Concealers: For the eye area, I also use RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up. For blemishes, I spot conceal with opaque, waterproof concealers. I had two on rotation in 2017: Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer and Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (which I’ve been using for years and years). I’ve decided that the latter is still the best, as it’s drier and requires no setting. Note: I always apply apply these with a tiny lip brush. Japonesque used to make the best ones, but I ordered a replacement last month and their quality ain’t what it used to be!

• Powder: ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder was a new purchase for me in 2017, and it’s the best powder I’ve EVER used—yes, even better than RMS Beauty! The texture is just amazing; non-slippery and very oil-absorbent (and it’s silicone-free, of course). I use the Clinique Eyeshadow Brush to apply it only in the T-zone—never a big brush.