From cult skincare favourites to makeup icons: These are the 2016 beauty products that have stood the test of time
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A decade has passed since 2016, and the beauty world has undergone iteration after iteration. From matte to dewy, full glam to barely-there skin, it’s an understatement to say a whole lot has changed.
Back then, Kylie lip kits crashed websites, contour palettes ruled our makeup bags, and YouTube tutorials dictated our routines - yet amidst the endless trend cycles, a select few products quietly proved their staying power.
These beauty heroes have stood the test of time, gracing our skin, hair and makeup routines for the past ten years and beyond. They've outlived fleeting fads, proving that great performance and timeless design make for a product we’ll repurchase again and again.
This is an ode to the beauty essentials we loved then and still love now, from the brands that helped define an iconic era — think Benefit, Tarte, MAC and more.
Timeless, reliable and still just as good as we remember, these are our picks of the 2016 beauty buys that continue to earn their place on our vanities today.
Best 2016 beauty picks
Lydia - Senior Commerce Writer
2016 was a pivotal year for me, as I moved away from my home in Devon and began my first year of university in London. In short, this was the year of the same full glam for lectures, evening trips to the pub and club nights – notwithstanding casual dress codes.
Thick brows accompanied thicker contour, cut crease eyeshadow and matte lipstick – all tied up with a choker necklace.
While my beauty tastes have certainly changed, many products I loved then have remained timeless in my routine – I just use them a bit differently.
Packed full of wearable, everyday shades, the tarte tartelette Amazonian Clay Palette was my total obsession back in the day – and still comes out almost daily for my eyeshadow looks now in 2026.
Incredibly pigmented and blendable, this stunning palette features 12 shades in a range of matte and shimmers, ideal for smoky looks, barely-there styles, and so much more.
This impressive QVC offer includes the tarteist Double Take Gel Liner and Dual-ended Shader & Blending Brush, all for less than the standard price of the palette!
It hadn’t taken me long into my makeup exploration to realise that winged liner would be my forever love, and the KVD Tattoo Liner started me on that path, the flick-fanaticism.
Boasting an unbeatable brush nib for extreme precision and a smooth flow, this jet-black and perfectly pigmented liner makes drawing wings a total doddle, lasting all day without a hint of feathering or dragging. Even now, it’s my first choice.
Were you even around in 2016 if you didn’t have the (or an affordable dupe of) Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick? Matte, pinky-nude and more viral than COVID, this iconic lipstick was a total 2016 staple.
Enriched with a creamy blend of coconut oil, organic shea butter and cocoa butter, the long-lasting lipstick nourishes and conditions the lips, supporting a fuller, smoother illusion with wear.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum was the first skincare serum I’d ever tried. Needless to say, it sparked a skincare obsession that is still very much alive. This hyaluronic acid serum is a trusted formula I’ll always happily revert to.
Targeting dehydration and dryness, this rich serum hydrates and smooths the skin while strengthening the skin barrier with every application.
Whenever I wanted a smooth, medium-coverage and long-lasting finish, I’d always turn to the Revlon Colorstay Foundation. I do the same thing now when I want that extra coverage from my more natural base.
Designed to stay put all day (and all night) long, this affordable foundation delivers a natural, medium-coverage finish, boasting hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin as you wear it. No dryness or cakiness here.
Originating as the hair product I stole from my mum's cupboard, this Bed Head leave-in conditioner is a true classic that I still buy (and still steal from my mum when I'm visiting home).
Working to repair split ends, smooth frizz and hydrate strands, this simple leave-in has my hair smoother and healthier-looking even when I choose to air dry - and costs just a tenner.
A favourite ever since Zoella called it the best, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer has solidified itself as a classic thanks to its buildable, blendable formula that covers everything from spots to dark circles.
Lightweight and blending like a dream, it's our answer to a flawless base - then and now.
How could we talk about the iconic makeup of 2016 without mentioning Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara?
This iconic mascara is still a makeup bag essential for me thanks to its pitch-black formula that glides on effortlessly, delivering intense, clump-free blackness with every stroke.
Phoebe Davenport - Commerce Writer
2016 was a very experimental time for me, makeup-wise - I was still in school and was spending my paychecks from my first job on bold, colourful makeup.
I was a big fan of full-coverage matte skin with an excessive amount of contouring (and obviously no blush!) and a blinding streak of highlighter, so I needed something gentle but effective to remove my makeup every day.
My favourite makeup products are constantly evolving, and I've tried a lot of micellar waters since 2016, but the only one I go back to repeatedly is this Garnier one - good value for money, gentle on my skin, and hydrating, there's nothing about this I don't love.
Removing makeup and impurities in a swipe, the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water gently and effectively cleanses the skin with no rinsing required – and is an excellent choice for more sensitive skin types.
Emily Scrivener - Deputy Commerce Editor
A total classic for the ages, the Benefit Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer is and has always been the perfect bronzer for achieving a matte, sun-kissed look in a swipe.
Boasting a silky-soft, buildable formula, this iconic powder can be used to both bronze and contour, delivering a sun-kissed flush even in the dead of winter.
Sarah Bradbury - Junior Publisher (Metro)
One the IT-choice for standout block brows, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade remains a staple for stunning brow definition - now used with lighter strokes for a fluffy brow look.
Featuring a full-pigment formula, the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade provides time for blending before drying down to a natural-looking matte finish, making achieving sleek brush strokes and a long-lasting look effortless.
