Photo: sindu3 on Instagram 

Looking back, 2016 was a big year for innovations in beauty. Though trends come and go, only a few stand the test of time and become bona fide beauty staples. While it remains to be seen whether these trends were a fleeting fad or will continue on into the new year, we can say for certain that there were a few key products which made a huge wave in the beauty community this year. From multicoloured highlighters to liquid lipsticks, here are the most buzzed about beauty products of 2016.

Rainbow Highlighter, $6: Highlighter took over 2016 in a big way but nothing made a bigger splash than rainbow highlighter. In April, social media went crazy over photos of beauty influencers rocking multi-coloured cheeks. The original highlighter that caused the sensation was created by etsy user Bitterlacebeauty, but due to high demand, the product has been out of stock for months. Not to worry, however, because several other companies, including Wet & Wild, have followed suit in creating their very own rainbow highlighters.Sheet Masks, $9: There was a point in 2016 where it felt as though you couldn’t open Instagram without seeing a celeb or beauty influencer raving about sheet masks. This trend, which started with Korean brand Masqueology, quickly gained attention internationally, and has now been replicated by a number of North American brands. Sephora now has close to 100 sheet masks in stock that target a variety of skin types, like this one by Dr. Jart+.  Kyshadow Palette, $42: In late 2015, Kylie Jenner created a social media frenzy with the release of her instantly-sold out lip kits. In 2016, Jenner further expanded her empire with a collection of eyeliners and two eyeshadow palettes, otherwise known as “kyliners” and “kyshadows.” Unsurprisingly, the palettes matched up to the lip kit hype. With their dusky neutral hues, these Kylie Jenner-approved eyeshadows quickly became all the rage amongst makeup gurus and fans alike. 

 Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick, $26: Though it officially kicked off in 2015, the liquid lipstick craze became a hit this year. Makeup brands everywhere took it upon themselves to cash in on the action, but no one did it bigger than Anastasia Beverly Hills. Anastasia Beverly Hills’ line of liquid lipsticks came in 28 different shades, from soft pinks to punchy darker hues.