One of the highlights of our year was getting our hands on a glorious, sequin-filled package of makeup artist Pat McGrath's limited edition Gold 001 pigment. There were only 1,000 made available, and one of our editors was among the lucky few.

But following the product's reveal on Instagram was just as exciting. For a month before Gold 001 went on sale, McGrath teased the product by decorating the faces of a few high-fashion models in Paris, who then shared their gold-flecked looks on each of their personal Instagram accounts.

The buzz was explosive -- a real testament to the ability to build hype on Instagram. We are trembling with excitement for the rest of McGrath's line (and the undoubtedly gorgeous Instagrams to come).

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Topping this list of the best Instagram beauty moments is our favorite hashtag of the year, #NoMakeupMonday, created by "Confident" singer Demi Lovato.

Instagram is permeated with over-the-top makeup trends, from clown contouring to fleeked-out eyebrows, and it can all be a little intimidating. Which is why it was so refreshing when Demi Lovato introduced the #NoMakeupMonday hashtag at the beginning of 2015. Each Monday and counting, the pop star has revealed a freckly, bare-faced shot in the name of authenticity and self-love, and she invites her followers to do the same. (She has since begun #FreshFacedFriday as well, which features achievable, no makeup-makeup looks each week.)

Wild makeup trends are fun to play with, of course -- but Demi's #NMM series made Mondays our favorite day to scroll through Instagram in 2015.

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