Thursday, January 3, 2013

New Years and Favorites!

Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope everybody had a safe and fun filled holiday, and a great start to 2013.
Necklace: House of Harlow
Makeup (though hard to see, sorry!):
- MAC Carbon eyeshadow
- MAC All That Glitters
- Covergirl Lashblast Mascara
- MAC Soft & Gentle
- NARS Cruising lipstick

I thought I'd throw in my favorites of the past year. Made every effort to keep it rather concise!

MAC Peaches (Sheertone Blush) $20
This blush is great because it looks super natural, is really sheer, and buildable. It works really well with my yellow undertones, and adds a pop of color without looking overdone. I bought this over the summer - I use this almost every day and still haven't made a dent! Looks great with all makeup looks.

Keeps my brows nicely in place, and holds the shape well. It's invisible on the brows, and lasts all day!

Most versatile product! The highlighter end works well under the brows for a lift, as well as brightens the eyes if used as eyeliner. I use it on the bridge of my nose to make it look slimmer, as well as a face highlighter when I'm in a pinch. I take this everywhere.
The gold side is beautiful as well. Looks gorgeous as eyeshadow and liner.

 MAC 130 
Top left. Perfect for highlighter and foundation. Applies just enough for an even, flawless coverage. Had this for a few years, and it still looks like new!
MAC 168
 Amazing blush brush! It works well with cream foundations as well (I tried it with Studio Tech//MAC). Perfect for contouring as well due to the shape of the brush
Posh eye brushes (drug store)
bareMinerals Correcting Concealer $20
This concealer is super creamy and doesn't cake, making it perfect for under eye circles, acne scars, and other blemishes. It doesn't dry and never cakes. 

MAC Studio Finish NC30 $18
My go-to concealer. Covers absolutely everything and stays on all day. This little pot lasts forever, as you only need the tiniest bit to cover up.

Covergirl LashBlast Mascara $8
Best mascara ever! Especially for the price. Holds a curl perfectly, and all day long. Very build-able- good for faking falsies!

MAC Carbon (Matte) $15
Perfect for every look! It's super pigmented, and lasts all day. I use this as eyeliner for an every day or dramatic look.

MAC All That Glitters (Veluxe Pearl) $15
Perfect for a bit of sparkle! I love the veluxe pearl finishes, they look so luxe! A super soft and very versatile eyeshadow. I wear these two shadows together almost every day.

Yes to Cucumber Facial Towelettes $6
I use one of these wipes every night. Doesn't break me out, smells super fresh, and removes all make up efficiently. I've gotten away with not washing my face after using these, and my skin is still clean and clear the next morning. (Not saying you shouldn't wash up after!) It's perfect for those late and exhausting nights.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel <$5
One of those amazing drugstore products that does it all. I'll use some of this on a cotton pad after I wipe my face with the towelettes at night for an extra clean and soothing feeling. It's also very soothing to use post-wax if you wax your eyebrows, etc. I also use some on a cotton pad every morning if I'm in a pinch and running late. For the price, benefits, and the size, the bargain couldn't be better!

L'oreal BB Cream $12
I've talked about this product so much before, it's in every travel make up bag! (To-Go Makeup Bag Post) It was also in my November Favorites. It blurs blemishes and redness so perfectly for an airbrushed effect. It doesn't compare to foundation, but true to it's claims, it's a skin beautifier, keeping the face looking natural, but better. I use this every day for a natural look.

My absolute favorite, go-to foundation. It's one of those products that you know will fix any bad make up day. A little goes a long way! It applies very lightly but has fantastic coverage. This is my second bottle, and I'll repurchase forever. I apply this with the MAC 130 brush.

Burt's Bees Lip Balm $3
Drugstore perfection at it's best. I've been using this daily since the 7th grade! It's really moisturizing, and provides a tingling effect. Some people aren't a fan due to the minty-ness, but that's exactly what I love about it.

Rosebud's Strawberry Lip Balm $7
My first tin was gifted to me a few years ago, and I've been repurchasing ever since! It's my absolute favorite scent of any product (light strawberry scent), and the tin will last forever. The balm works for any part of the body, not necessarily for your lips. A must have!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine//Belle-Ami $34
A lipstick that feels like a balm? oh yes. Delivers just the right amount of color and isn't at all thick. It does go quick though since it's relatively soft. Store away from any type of heat! Otherwise, it's worth every penny. I'll be buying more colors.

Chanel Black Satin $25
I've always loved black nail polish. I'm glad I found this one, it's black but not harsh. It has micro sparkles (almost invisible though) and gives a really nice satiny finish.

Essie Sugar Daddy $8
The your-nail-color-but-better pink. Adds a beautiful shine and a bit of color. Can't really notice if it chips either.

Essie Bordeaux $8
A wine-red color. More red than Wicked, and very flattering against the skin. I love this because it's more red based than many other darks which tend to be purple based.

Seche Vite $10
 Perfect quick-dry top coat. Gives the polish an extra shine as well, lasts forever on the nails.

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Papers $10
Doesn't disturb make up! $10 for 100 sheets- a great value. (Compared to Clean & Clear's $6 for 50 sheets at drug stores).

Caudalie Beauty Elixir $18/1oz
I've talked about this one before as well, I love everything about it- how it makes my skin more glowing, the way it smells, and how refreshing it feels to apply. Perfect size to keep in my purse. Gives the skin an extra boost when applied before moisturizer (morning and night), and a great wake-up spray in the morning.

L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream $10/1oz
I've tried SO many hand creams, and this one is my absolute favorite (Caudalie's comes up second, but I'm not really a fan of the smell of that one). Smells amazing, and absorbs instantly- I hate that feeling when creams don's absorb and you have that sticky feeling on your hands for the longest time). The packaging is just adorable, and is small enough for any handbag/makeup bag. The tube lasts me a while as well.

Pond's Clarant B3 $2/1oz
This came up as one of my favorite face creams. Runners up were Kate Somerville's Oil Free moisturizer $65/1oz (a bit too expensive), and Boscia's $35/1oz. Over time, it does reduce dark spots as advertised. It smells really good, and a little goes a long way. I pick this up at the Target travel section.
Lush Ocean Salt Scrub $30+
I use this on my face, and have noticed my skin looking brighter. Works wonder for blemishes as well (I'm guessing the vodka is working as the anti bacterial aspect). I use this in the shower as a bit of a "mask", applying it to my face and leaving it for a few minutes before rinsing. Works wonders!

Cane & Austin Acne Pads $60
It's expensive, but I can't live without this. Keeps blemishes at bay, and brightens the skin. It's not harsh like many other treatment pads, it's never dried out my skin (Even if I forget moisturizer!). Available on Amazon and at SpaceNK. Worth every penny. I've tried so many other cheaper alternatives but have always come back to this.

Flowerbomb//Viktor&Rolf
Favorite scent ever (next to Rosebud's Strawberry Balm). This is my fourth bottle and I'm running out! It's the perfect mixture of sweet, floral, and musk. Couldn't ask for more. My other perfume favorite is Chanel's Chance (ran out, so there's no picture :-/)

Have you tried any of these? What are your favorite products this year?




17 comments:

  1. Great post! I love so many of them products.
    I love your blog and i'm a new follower, I can't wait to read more of your posts.
    Rachael x

    http://beautyin1place.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you Rachel! You have a lovely blog as well!

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  2. Happy New Year! The photos of you are so pretty. My favourite products of 2012 have to be Ponds Cold Cream (an oldie but a goodie!) and Clinique's Thirst extending moisturiser - both so good. xx

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    1. Same to you Beccy! Ponds Cold Cream is amazing, so inexpensive too!

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  3. Happy New Year! I love Mac Peaches! And that Chanel lipstick looks lovely. Thanks for sharing :-)

    Jo x amomentwithjo

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  4. ahh! we like so many of the same things, especially mufe hd foundation! ^^

    fashionlei styled

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  5. Your makeup is absolutely flawless! And oooh at the Bare Minerals concealer, it looks like it might be a nice addition to my little concealer stash. I find my Bobbi Brown corrector to be a little unforgiving (and obvious) at times, so this could be the concealer I've been looking for! xx

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    1. Thanks Amelia! Let me know how it works out for you!

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