It's been entirely too long since I've posted, and even longer since I've done a favorites post. Sorry about that! I've been seeing a few favorites of the year videos and posts lately, and wanted to show some of the products I used the most this year, some of which kinda saved my life!
My first favorite is the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. This was one of those life saving products this year. I've always considered my skin to be pretty normal, never too oily or dry and I usually use the Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for all skin types throughout the year with no problem. But as the weather got colder my skin got a lot dryer and I found I had to apply pump after pump of moisturizer. I tried a couple other things, but the Moisturizing Cream was the only thing that worked for me. It's a sort of thick and glossy, almost like a body butter but not as creamy. There's also no fragrance added, so it's good for sensitive skin.
My second favorite is the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent! When I bought this, I got it as a two-for-one at Target, and I have used this absolutely everyday since I bought it and it is the perfect setting powder. I never look too powdery, and it last all day. I just bought a backup of the Translucent (pictured to the right) as well as one of their tinted shades for more coverage.
Up until this summer I used the L'Oreal True Match in N1. I had used this in high school, and I wasn't a big fan back then, but only because I didn't know how to apply it correctly. This foundation has a lovely finish, and you really can't beat the shade range. I want to try the True Match Lumi next, because I've heard great things about it.
I bought the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation in the shade 150 Buff sometime over the summer and have used it nearly everyday since. At first, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to use it because after about an hour of wear my skin would feel so dry it became unbearable. But once I figured out the best way to apply it for me (which I will mention in a bit), I can wear it comfortably all day and the staying power is wonderful.
I first tried the Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser after watching Tiffany D mention it in a video. This is a great concealer for under the eyes. It has a pink undertone that helps counteract darkness. It also works wonders as a brightener for all over the face. On days when I don't feel like applying a lot of makeup, I'll just use this under the eyes, around the nose (where I get a little redness) and to highlight a bit and I'm out the door.
But my absolute favorite concealer this year has been the Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Light and Ultra Light! Talk about an awesome drugstore product. This tube of concealer is about $7 at Walmart, and it's one of the most pigmented concealers you are ever going to find. You use the absolute smallest amount at a time, and it will cover your entire face with no problem. I don't know what else to say except run, don't walk, to find this product!
I cannot stand powder highlighters. They don't look good on me. I just look and feel too powdery. So I always go for cream highlighters instead. I bought the MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl and it has been a lovely everyday highlighter. You can just work it in with your fingers or a brush and it never looks too overpowering or shimmery.
I first tried the Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow in 25 as a sample from Sephora and I made that tiny sample last for at least 3 weeks before running back to pick up a tube. It the perfect shade for me (and my black hair. It looks more warm in the photo but it's more of a grey brown color) and makes my brows look naturally full and beautiful. Again, you use the tiniest amount (I squeeze a very very small bead of product on the lid of my Revlon foundation and use it as a palette. I avoid using the back of my hand because I'll have a swatch of it on my hand for the rest of the day). The product is waterproof so you don't have to worry about your eyebrows running if you get caught in the rain.
My absolute favorite eye product of the year was the Maybelline Color Tattoos! I have 7 of these little babies! They are an amazing range of cream shadows. I have the shades Bad to the Bronze (pictured to the left and my most used), Bold Gold, Tough as Taupe, Barely Beige, Rich Mahogany (another favorite of mine), Gold Shimmer, and my newest Inked in Pink (from their new Metal collection). They have a gorgeous feel and finish. I have oily eyelids, so the don't work well as a stand alone primer unfortunately, but with a primer they last all day. I love these and I'm really looking forward to buying more.
I am so over lip products. I hate anything that is too sticky. I don't think I wore lipstick or lip gloss more than a couple times this year. Every other time I was just wearing a lip balm. It took me a while to try out the Maybelline Baby Lips (I first picked up Pink Punch) but I was hooked after that. I also have Peppermint, Cherry Me, and Grape Vine (which isn't pictured because I couldn't find it, which sucks because it's one of my favorites). I've been on the look out for some of the new limited edition ones but so far no luck. Another honorable mention from Maybelline (which seems to have been my favorite drugstore brand of the year) are the new Color Whispers. I picked up Orange Attitude and Lust for Blush the other day and they have a similar feel with a little more pigmentation.
The next favorite is really more of a brand recognition than a single product. I came across a brand called Blank Canvas Cosmetics which sells a lot of dupes of higher end brushes. I bought a F18, a dupe for MAC 130 and use it for highlighting, 2 of the E24s, a MAC 217 dupe (these are a bit scratchy to be honest, but there are other dupes of this brush around so I'd skip it) and 3 of the E26s, which are a MAC 239 dupe and work AMAZINGLY! They have become my favorite shading brush of all time and I need to buy some more from them when they come back in stock. They also have a few Beauty Blender dupes for anyone interested in them.
Finally, and probably my absolute favorite tool of the year has been the SOHO London Blending Sponge. I picked this little guy up at a Walgreens, and I use it everyday. It works just like a Beauty Blender, in that you wet the sponge until it expands to twice it's size and then you can use it to blend in foundation, concealer, powder, blush, highlighter, bronzer and anything else you need blended. It's ina football shape, so it has two pointy ends. I apply my Revlon foundation with this, blend in my concealer, and then again to apply my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. This is how I get my foundation to last and feel comfortable. Applying the powder with the wet sponge keeps me from looking and feeling too powdery.
So there are my favorite products of the year! I'd love to hear what some of yours were, or if you see one here you love or want to try. Hopefully I'll be posting more this year and making more videos (I tried to record one to go along with this post, but my camera seems to have broken, so I'll have to see what's up with that first).
Bye everyone!
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