My Favorite Products of 2012

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!

Monthly Favorites: May 2011

There are a lot of products, but since I didn't have a monthly favorites post last month, I guess it's alright. I'm really excited to talk about these things, so lets get right down to it!

• Nars Orgasm/Laguna Duo - I've had this for almost a year, and have used it almost everyday ever since. I usually alternate between MAC Pinch O' Peach blush and Orgasm. I've been using Orgasm a lot this month, and I use Laguna for an all over bronzed glow.
• Nars Copacabana Illuminator - I'm in LOVE with this highlighter! It's a gorgeous pale pink shimmer color, and you only need the teensy tiniest bit to highlight your entire face. I use it on my cheekbones, down my nose, on the browbone, on the eyes, on the cupid's bow and on my decollate. It's amazing, and I definitely enocurage you all to try it.
• MAC Harmony Blush - This is a really great contour color for me. It's about 3-4 shades darker than my skin tone and a nice neutral color. 
• Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Fair - I really liked the Instant Age Rewind Concealer, so I was encouraged to try out more of Maybelline's concealers. It's the perfect consistency for the summer. It's a liquid formula so it's nice and light and perfect for the under eye area, while still being opaque enough to cover any blemishes (which I have had plenty of this month. LAME!).

• Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden - This is a really really great eyeshadow primer. My eyelids are naturally really oily, so a good primer is a necessity. I do have to set it with a powder, and my eyeshadow last for 12+ hours.
• MAC Reflects Antique Gold Glitter - This glitter is BEAUTIFUL! I either use this as an all over lid color, or just lightly over told of a shadow to liven up any look. It's just beautiful and I will definitely repurchase it.
• MAC Eyeshadow Quad - I know I got my 15 pan palette this month, since I depotted all my shadows into it, I was able to pick my favorite fun colors (Burmese Beauty, Twinks, which is another monthly favorite, Skintone 2, and Satin Taupe) and bring it along to Florida. I took this and my Physicians Formula Matte Quad, and I had all the shadows I needed for the entire week.

• Real Techniques Brushes by Samantha Chapman - I've been really impressed with these brushes!! I brought these with my to Florida and I only needed 2-3 extra ones to be set for the week. I like them all, but I feel like these in particular stand out from the rest. I use the Stippling brush for my foundation (since the weather is getting warmer, I want to get in the habit of using less foundation). The Deluxe Crease Brush is perfect for blending, and the Accent Brush is great for smudging as well as lining the eyes. I want to try more of these brushes sometime soon.
• ELF Angled Contour Brush - I've had this brush for a long time and have usually just been using it for blending on the brow bone. But I have found that it is perfect for my Maybelline Mineral Powder Concealer. It's nice and fluffy and blends the concealer effortlessly.
• Aerie Superfruit Vitamin Gloss in Coy - This is a really nice color that just adds a little interest to my lips without being too much. It's a sheer peachy beige color, with multicolored micro-glitter. If you have a chance to find these at an Aerie store, pick up a few. I got mine for $2.50.
• Johnson's Melt Away Stress Lavender and Chamomile Lotion - Lavender and Chamomile is probably my favorite scent combonation ever. I use the body wash, the body oil, the spray and now the lotion. I bought this because I wanted to bring a small tube of something on my trip, and this is a really lovely moisturizer. I'll probably end up getting the full size soon. 

What have been your favorites this month?

Monthly Favorites: March 2011

It's a little late, but better late than never. Hopefully this month I wont be as lazy when it comes to posting

Last month I included the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer and highlighter duo in my monthly favorites, even though I had only just purchased it. I'm happy to say that it has worked really well for my this past month. I posted a better review for it a few posts back, so go check that out. My only complaint is that the concealer end runs out of product much quicker than the highlighter. Whenever I use it, it doesn't look like their much left in the container. But, since I've had good luck with this product I might have to check out some more of Maybelline's concealers. I've heard great things about their Mineral Power line. I've been using the NYX 10 Color Eye Shadow Palette in Champagne and Caviar a lot when I just want a neutral look. I used this palette for my makeup look I'm wearing today, which you can see in the post beneath this one. I bought the Rimmel Soft Kohl eyeliner a long time ago and have only just recently started using it regularly. It's great for days where I don't want to take the time to carefully draw on cream or liquid liner. I just run it quickly over my lash line and smooth it out with my Studio Tools Angled liner brush. I got this Urban Decay Lip Junkie lipgloss sample as my 100 point gift from Sephora, and I really like it. It's one of the more comfortable lip plumping glosses I've used because it's not too overpowering. The color looks kind of dark in the tube, but it's actually a very flattering shade. It's kind of like a "my lips but better" shade.

I was feeling kind of bored with my nails, and frustrated that I could never get them into the shape  that I wanted. So I picked up this at home Acrylic Nail Kit from Kiss, and I was really pleased with the results. First I used the white french tips included in the kit, and then after a few weeks I replaced them with the clear tips and painted over them. I still have a lot of the product left, but I ran out of the acrylic liquid. It takes a bit of patience, but it was really fun while it lasted, and I'd definitely consider picking this up again. I picked up the John Frieda 3-Day Straight spray because I had heard that it helps to keep naturally wavy/curly hair straight and frizz free. I can definitely say that it does exactly what it claims. I'm going to do a more in depth review soon, and I'll be sure to include before and after pictures.

I have been using this perfume called Laila a lot this past month. It's a Norwegian brand that I purchased while I was working in Disney World because they sell it at their Norway pavillion in the World Showcase. It's this lovely clean linen fragrance and has a bit of a floral scent. The notes are listed as watermelon, lavender, Norwegian lily, snowflower, herbs, flowers and musk.It's really pleasant and I've really been loving it..Finally, for my weird choice, I have been listening to Eisley's new album The Valley just about everyday this month. It's amazing! If you are interested in folk rock music, definitely check this band out. They're all really talented.

What have your favorites this past month?

Challenge Day 19/20

What is your favorite concealer?

I've been using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer and Highlighter duo and I've really been loving it. It gives really nice coverage but doesn't cake onto my skin like some of the concealers in a jar that I have been using. I had used the NYX jar concealers and they were alright but they felt too heavy on my skin. I like this one because it's nice and lightweight, and the highlighter is actually lighter than my skin tone so it adds brightness and dimension to my face without looking shimmery or unnatural.

What is your favorite eyeshadow primer?

I really like using the MAC Painterly Paint Pot as an eyeshadow primer. I understand that it's not intended to be a primer, but I use it for that purpose anyway. I have the Urban Decay Primer Potion sample in Greed, and while I do like it, I don't think it does a better job than the Paint Pot. I have oily eyelids, so no matter what primer I use, I have to first put some powder over my lids (I use my MSF for that) and I find that the oil doesn't break through as quickly. When I do that, I can make my eye makeup last for about 12 hours or so.

Opps! 30 Day challenge catch up

Yeah, I'm kind of failing at this 30 Day challenge. I lost my memory card, which you all know. It just vanished. I've looked everywhere for it and I have no idea where it could possibly be. I finally borrowed my brother's, but it's much smaller in capacity and I can only keep 4 pictures on my camera at a time. LAME. On top of that, about an hour or two ago, I found out that my monitor on my Macbook will not turn on, so I need to take it to Geek Squad or something because I don't have a Mac store near me. Until I get it fixed, I am using my dad's computer, which is a PC and I am having just a merry time trying to adjust back to this OS.

But, I will TRY to catch up on my posts. So let's get to it:

Post picture of your makeup collection.

I am going to also post these on my Flickr account so I can add annotation for what everything is.

Monthly Favorites: February 2011

I've always wanted to do a post like this! If you have been following along, then some of these wont be a surprise at all, because I've been using most of them everyday.

I have found that the Studio Sculpt and MSF Natural is the best combo I have ever used. It just gives a flawless finish, without feeling like I have a lot of makeup on at all. I have used Pinch O' Peach nearly everyday since I got it. It's such a lovely color and really compliments my skin, because it's so light and I can't overdue it. I only just purchased the Maybelline Instant Rewind Concealer and Highlighter recently, but I really am in love with it. I like that the concealer gives great coverage, and the highlighter gives such a natural sheen that is not too glittery. I've used the ELF Setting Spray for a few months, but it really does make my makeup last a long time.

I have been using my MAC shadows a lot this month, especially Blanc Type, Satin Taupe, and Beauty Marked. Also, I use my Physicians Formula Matte Quad in Canyon Classics just about everyday since I bought it almost 2 years ago. It's great for helping my eye shadows blend together. I bought the Maybelline One by One Mascara last week, and it's really great for separating my lashes and adding volume. I like this better than my Covergirl Lashblast, because the One by One doesn't make them clump together as much. I've really liked using the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed sample I got in my Dangerous Palette, especially when I do shimmery looks. I've been using my L'Oreal Linear Intense Liquid Liner a lot in the last few weeks, because I finally got the hang of using it. The one I have has a brush tip applicator, rather than a felt tip, so it can be a little difficult to work with. I need to draw out where I'm going to put it with a black shadow first, but it's really dark, and lasts all day without flaking or smudging. My favorite lipstick for this month has been MAC Milan Mode, because it's a luster finish and I can make it as sheer or opaque as I want.

I don't have the box for it anymore, but one of my favorites has been the hair color I use, which is L'Oreal Feria in Starry Night. It's a beautiful dark cool toned black, and makes your hair look kind of blue in the sunlight. Love love LOVE that color.  Since I've been dying my hair black, I've been using the Garnier Frutis Color Shield Conditioner (this is a new bottle, and I also picked up the shampoo to go with it.) It's a nice thick formula and is very moisturizing. When I use it, I like to mix it with a bit of the Hi-Gloss Conditioner that came with my hair color, and let it sit while I'm washing my body, and rinse right before I get out of the shower. I've been wearing my hair curly a lot this month, and I've been using my Conair 1 1/4 Tourmaline Curling Iron to style it. I love the nice loose curls it gives. I've used my ELF Matte Finisher top coat on all my manicures since I bought it, and I love the look that it gives. I am wearing it now over ELF Metal Madness. Finally, I've been loving this Body Butter by Basin in the scent Therapy. It's a very clean and soothing scent and the body butter is super moisturizing. I use it when I get out of the shower.

I think that's everything! What have been your favorite product for this month?