I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't create some kind of "best of" list. This year has been a year of staples for me with most of my makeup routine consisting of items on heavy rotation. However, I feel like I've discovered some favorites late in the year partly because of a Sephora opening close to where I live. My 10 most notable and well loved products of the year are the following:
1. Caudalie Eau de Beaute
This little gem has been my skin's savior this year. It helped my skin stay healthy and clear. Plus, I just love the scent. It's gotten to a point where I can't imagine my skin care routine without this!
2. Estee Lauder BB Cream
This gorgeous BB Cream, which acts as a foundation in my routine, has been used so much in 2012 that it was actually repurchased. That's saying something for a beauty blogger. I always wear it on its own with concealer with needed.
3. Dior Quints Eyeshadow palettes
These (expensive!) palettes are wonderful. I own three (my Earth Tones palette is not pictured) and use them a lot for creating a quick out-the-door look. Luckily for me, I got two of mine in blog sales which cut the cost of them a little.
4. Bare Minerals eyeshadow palettes.
I talk about these too much. But seriously, they are amazing.
The Happy Place and The Truth have been staples in my makeup routine since this summer. You will not find better mattes anywhere, I promise you. The shimmery shades are buttery smooth as well!
5. Dior Red Royalty nail polish
Such a beautiful vibrant red. The formula was excellent and long lasting. Definitely my favorite nail polish of the year.
6. Hands down, my favorite lip product of 2012 is the YSL Glossy Stain
I absolutely love this product. I've used it so many times, especially in the last few months. I love the comfortable formula, how easy it is to apply, and how lightweight the product feels on my lips. I NEED more of these ASAP.
7. Another winner for me for lip products in 2012 has been Bite Beauty.
I've been thoroughly impressed with this brand's lipstick formula. The lipsticks are so smooth they almost feel like balms and the color range is impressive. I've tested the Mini to Go kit as well as the Luminous Lip Palette and I'm bowing to these beauties. Hopefully 2013 will bring me more!
8. In 2012, I ditched my trusty Too Faced Shadow Insurance for a much better product! The Make Up For Ever Eye Prime!
This product is now my every day primer. I find it works much better than any previous primers I've used and I love the doe-foot applicator. This will be a repurchase in the new year for sure!
9. Estee Lauder Violet Underground palette
I know, I know, I already have two eyeshadow palettes listed at my 10 favorites, but I just had to include this beauty. Never have I ever wanted an eyeshadow palette more. The gorgeous colors are to die for, and the palette itself is just so damn gorgeous! I'm especially taken with the champagne color and the deep brown - I've used them often this year!
10. Finally, something I haven't reviewed but used so much during the year, are the lovely Maybelline Color Tattoo creme shadows!
I've loved using these under shadows to make them last longer, and to give my eye look some depth. Excellent value for money! This is probably, beauty bloggers would argue, the best drugstore product this year.
Honorable mentions should include Marcelle's Lux Creme Glosses, Butter London's Jaffa nail polish, the second best drugstore product of the year L'Oreal Color Infaillible shadows, my trusty Z-Palette which I have in different sizes now, Lancome's Rouge in Love lipsticks, and finally, Clarins Rouge Prodige in Soft Peach 02. That's a lot of honorable mentions, I know, but there were so many good products this year! I've noticed that I have no bronzers, concealers, and only 1 blush on this list, but honestly, nothing completely stood out to me in those categories!
That's it guys! Those are my favorites of the year!
Hope you all celebrate the new year safely and in style! Happy 2013!!
I really need to get my hands on Caudalie Beauty Elixir! And Bite Beauty will probably be on my list too, it was love at first swipe. ;)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely try the Caudalie Beauty Elixir! It's a gem! And I'm glad you like Bite Beauty as well - your swatches make the lipsticks look SO GOOD! hahaha
DeleteLovely group of favourites! I would be nowhere without the Caudalie Beauty Elixir! <3
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Thanks Amy! I know right, that Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a lifesaver!
DeleteHappy New Year to you!! :)
Whoa! I can't believe I love all 10 of your Top 10! Except EL BB because I don't own it.
ReplyDeleteBut the rest, I like it too! In fact, Dior is my choice for limited edition brand of the year because of that Summer palette (of course, I bought other summer Dior items too). =D
Yay! I'm glad you like what I've chosen! We influence each other so much, we're bound to have common favorites!
DeleteWhat a great, well-edited list! It's so nice when you can rely on a foundation - I feel like everything else doesn't look good if my skin doesn't look good. Dior Red Royalty is exquisite, and I need to try more Bite Beauty products - I only have one lip pencil, but I really like it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Larie!! It's such a good feeling when you know you've found THE foundation. That BB Cream is definitely mine! If you try more Bite Beauty I'd love to hear what you think of them! :)
DeleteHappy New Year Larie! :)
I loved your list, Annick! I'm a big fan of Caudalie's Beauty Elixer too, but I try not to use it too often anymore because it contains so much alcohol--just a personal choice. I also love that Estee Lauder BB Creme and fully plan on purchasing a full-size myself (I'm working on my last sample at the moment)
ReplyDeleteHope you had a happy New Year!
Hi Becca! Yes, it's true, the Beauty Elixir contains loads of alcohol - it definitely wouldn't work as well for me if I had drier skin (mine is oily). It's definitely not for everyone! :)
DeleteSo glad you like the Estee Lauder BB Cream as well! I feel like it's a hidden gem because it doesn't get talked about too much!
Happy New Year to you Becca! :)
Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteI love beauty product posts because I always find something new to try. Like that Eau de Beaute. I can't wait to try it!
xoxo Alison
www.stylingmylife.com
Happy New Year! There will forever be products I want to try to! That Eau de Beaute is heavenly - let me know what you think of it!
DeleteHappy New Year, Annick! This is a great list of products, and I haven't tried any of them. Looks like I have a project for 2013 ;)
ReplyDeletexox,
Cee
Haha, glad I gave you some ideas Cee :) I think the YSL Glossy Stains would really suit you!
DeleteOh my! There are some seriously lovely products in this list! I haven't tried any of them except the YSL Glossy Stain (I have it in another shade), if you can believe it (for shame!), but many have been on my wishlist for ages! The Dior quints and even more so, the bareMineral's quads, I gotta get my hands on! And a Dior polish or two, and some of the Bite lippies. Blah! Last year was spent being exceptionally good with respect to buying actual color makeup...I need to try out some new, fun stuff this year!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got some good ideas from this! Can't go wrong with any of those, especially the Bare Mineral quads - they are so so good! Let me know what you end up trying out!
Delete*Jaw drops* Red Royalty is delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks! You can't really see it in the pictures, but is also has a silver micro-shimmer... it's STUNNING.
Delete