Well, better late than never, right? This year hasn't got off to the best start blogging wise! That being said, over the last couple of weeks I've been able to reflect on 2013 and what products I've really been enjoying using. Some products were chopped, changed and chopped again; it's taken a lot of thought and consideration! This year's favourites is following in a similar vein to 2012's, but with more up-to-date comments this time around. So, here is my final edit - the best of the best. I hope you enjoy!
YSL Forever Light Creator Serum
This was a discovery that I made back in October; I was given a "seven day" sample by a girl who worked on the YSL counter in Harvey Nichols, Leeds. The sample has ended up lasting a lot longer than seven days, and I have the tiniest drop left. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and comfortable, and with regular use I saw a dramatic improvement in the quality of my skin. It smooths, illuminates and reduced redness - my skin had never looked so good without any make up! I have yet to make the jump to purchasing a full-size bottle but I think I may have to - I am yet to find any other serum that comes close.
YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation
I received another "seven day" sample from the YSL counter, and this time it was the foundation. I have tried many, many foundations in my time but none quite like this. After seeing my skin improve tenfold with the above serum, I wanted a lighter coverage foundation that illuminated my skin and this hit the nail right on the head. It never goes cakey, even when my dry patches rear their ugly heads and it fairs reasonably well on my oily patches too; considering that it has a dewy finish, it performs no worse than my matte foundations! I purchased a full-sized bottle in December and it is now my holy grail foundation.
Etat Pur Pure Active A22-Salicylic Acid 300
Unbeknown to me, this product made it onto last year's list and for good reason - it is absolutely fantastic. I don't get that many spots and blemishes, but when I do I know that I'm in good hands when I use this. As soon as a blemishes rears its ugly head, I dab this on and it will have reduced dramatically in one day, and gone in two - all without drying out the skin. The bottle is small, but a little goes a long way - heck, I'm still using it a year later, doesn't that speak for itself? This gel is expensive, but when the time comes I will be repurchasing again - I couldn't be without this in my skincare collection, it's an absolute saviour.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
I discovered this back in May, when it arrived as part of the Selfridge's Summer Beauty Box. I knew that this was inside and was one of the main reasons for buying it; I had very high expectations of such a raved-about hair product. It certainly doesn't disappoint! When I spray it into my damp hair and leave it to dry, I know that within a few hours I'll have gorgeous, beachy waves that are still soft and completely manageable. I'm so lazy with my hair, so knowing that this is achievable with next to no effort is a marvel. Whenever I wear this, people are surprised to find out that it is this one little spray that does the trick!
MUA Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tint in 'A Girl Like Me'
MUA have come out with some fantastic products this year, and a product that slipped under the radar of many beauty bloggers is this. It was added to my basket when I was making a bulk order, and when it arrived I thought "Eh, that's quite nice". When I tried it however, I fell in love. It's the perfect eyeshadow to apply when you need to make an effort, but have no time for faffing - a few swipes of this on top of a primer and you're good to go. It's a work make up staple for me; it lasts all day without creasing, smudging or losing any intensity. The fact that it stays put on my oily lids makes it an absolute winner in my book!
Nails Inc Concrete in 'London Wall'
Now, I have so many polishes that I don't know where to start half the time, but this was a surprisingly easy choice. Many a time, I've needed to remove some old, chipped polish and pop something on quick for the next day, and this is what I reach for every time. If I'm in a big rush, one coat will do, but for optimum results two coats is perfect. It's a perfect nude/greige shade for me that goes with just about everything, and with a quick drying time this is reliable yet unique at the same time. I always get questions when I'm wearing this polish due to the texture - it's a real talking point and it's a true stand-out in my collection.
Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil in 'Brownie Points'
If my memory serves me correctly, I've been using this for just over a year now. For me, my eyebrows are completely non-negotiable; if I'm going out in public, they have to be on! My natural brows are incredibly sparse to say the least (Nobody's fault but my own), but with this wonder-product I can achieve full, arched brows. I get asked if I have HD Brows on a regular basis, and people can't believe that I fill them in myself with this! The pencil offers the foundations needed to fill the brow, but the pen is how I really shape and define them - it's a fantastic combination. Please, Soap & Glory, never stop making this product!
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in 'Transparent'
Another product that made it into last year's favourites. I've tried a few different powders this year, but have always come back to this one - even favouring buying new ones of these instead of finishing up others! This goes with me everywhere, and while it doesn't offer 24-hour shine free oil control, it's definitely the best I've found in both high end and high street. What I love about this is that the finish is not powdery and doesn't change the colour of my skin - although not truly transparent this really is the perfect shade for me. I've used this for about seven years now and I can't see me changing any time soon!
Dainty Doll Cream Blusher in 'Billion Dollar Babies'
This year was the year that I discovered cream blushers, and it started off with this one. This was bought from Fragrance Direct when they were selling off the Dainty Doll range for £1.99. This was the only cream blusher shade left in stock, and I thought for that price that it had to be worth a try. It turns out that I was right! This is a dusky rose, almost bronze shade that works so well with my pale skin tone. It offers just the right amount of pigment and it is difficult to apply too much. I apply this with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and it makes my skin look glowing and healthy, with a beautiful dewy finish.
Real Techniques Buffing Brush
I used to always apply my foundation with my fingers - I had tried brushes in the past but they never gave me the finish I wanted. When I fell for the blogger hype of Real Technique brushes this year, I was desperate to try this - the star of the 'Core Collection'. When used with any of my liquid foundations, it offers an incredibly natural, airbrushed finish. Even rubbish foundations can look ten times better by applying them with this! I have used this every single time that I apply foundation for the last six months and it's holding up incredibly well - a fantastic quality brush and one that everyone needs to own!
Oriflame Very Me Extendalash Mascara*
I was given this at the Leeds Blogger Meet Up in August, and at the time I didn't think that much of it. The brush looked a little small, and it just looked well... a bit ordinary, to tell you the truth. I started using it however and without me even thinking about it, it ended up being used every day! That small brush is actually fantastic for getting right to the base of the lashes, and the bristles really help to separate yet volumise my lashes. It also manages to hold a curl on my incredibly straight lashes, and has never flaked off or smudged, even with my watery eyes or in the rain. How can you ask for more than that?!
Lime Crime Velvetines in 'Red Velvet'
This was also the year that I rediscovered lipsticks, having given up on them a while ago. My collection has grown at an alarming rate over the last year and this is the star of the show. After coming across it a few times on the internet, I decided to bite the bullet and buy it and I've never looked back since. The lasting power of this is incredible - it doesn't budge whether you're eating food or drinking and boasts a gorgeous matte finish with amazing pigmentation. The shade is just the right tone of blue-red for me, that has the added bonus of making my teeth look whiter as well as creating the ultimate statement lip in one swipe.
Mudd Original Mask
Many, many face masks have come and gone over the years, and a good number of them have offered no visible results to my skin at all. I was surprised to find this year that this incredibly cheap face mask was one of the few that did! Being a clay mask, it draws out all of the oil and nasty grime that is stuck in my skin and leaves it a blank canvas, ready to start afresh. For a once-a-week detox, this is absolutely perfect for the areas that I need it for. Using it regularly really helps to keep my oily t-zone under control where no other product has managed to do so - it works brilliantly for an on-the-spot treatment too!
This was a discovery that I made back in October; I was given a "seven day" sample by a girl who worked on the YSL counter in Harvey Nichols, Leeds. The sample has ended up lasting a lot longer than seven days, and I have the tiniest drop left. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and comfortable, and with regular use I saw a dramatic improvement in the quality of my skin. It smooths, illuminates and reduced redness - my skin had never looked so good without any make up! I have yet to make the jump to purchasing a full-size bottle but I think I may have to - I am yet to find any other serum that comes close.
YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation
I received another "seven day" sample from the YSL counter, and this time it was the foundation. I have tried many, many foundations in my time but none quite like this. After seeing my skin improve tenfold with the above serum, I wanted a lighter coverage foundation that illuminated my skin and this hit the nail right on the head. It never goes cakey, even when my dry patches rear their ugly heads and it fairs reasonably well on my oily patches too; considering that it has a dewy finish, it performs no worse than my matte foundations! I purchased a full-sized bottle in December and it is now my holy grail foundation.
Etat Pur Pure Active A22-Salicylic Acid 300
Unbeknown to me, this product made it onto last year's list and for good reason - it is absolutely fantastic. I don't get that many spots and blemishes, but when I do I know that I'm in good hands when I use this. As soon as a blemishes rears its ugly head, I dab this on and it will have reduced dramatically in one day, and gone in two - all without drying out the skin. The bottle is small, but a little goes a long way - heck, I'm still using it a year later, doesn't that speak for itself? This gel is expensive, but when the time comes I will be repurchasing again - I couldn't be without this in my skincare collection, it's an absolute saviour.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
I discovered this back in May, when it arrived as part of the Selfridge's Summer Beauty Box. I knew that this was inside and was one of the main reasons for buying it; I had very high expectations of such a raved-about hair product. It certainly doesn't disappoint! When I spray it into my damp hair and leave it to dry, I know that within a few hours I'll have gorgeous, beachy waves that are still soft and completely manageable. I'm so lazy with my hair, so knowing that this is achievable with next to no effort is a marvel. Whenever I wear this, people are surprised to find out that it is this one little spray that does the trick!
MUA Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tint in 'A Girl Like Me'
MUA have come out with some fantastic products this year, and a product that slipped under the radar of many beauty bloggers is this. It was added to my basket when I was making a bulk order, and when it arrived I thought "Eh, that's quite nice". When I tried it however, I fell in love. It's the perfect eyeshadow to apply when you need to make an effort, but have no time for faffing - a few swipes of this on top of a primer and you're good to go. It's a work make up staple for me; it lasts all day without creasing, smudging or losing any intensity. The fact that it stays put on my oily lids makes it an absolute winner in my book!
Nails Inc Concrete in 'London Wall'
Now, I have so many polishes that I don't know where to start half the time, but this was a surprisingly easy choice. Many a time, I've needed to remove some old, chipped polish and pop something on quick for the next day, and this is what I reach for every time. If I'm in a big rush, one coat will do, but for optimum results two coats is perfect. It's a perfect nude/greige shade for me that goes with just about everything, and with a quick drying time this is reliable yet unique at the same time. I always get questions when I'm wearing this polish due to the texture - it's a real talking point and it's a true stand-out in my collection.
Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil in 'Brownie Points'
If my memory serves me correctly, I've been using this for just over a year now. For me, my eyebrows are completely non-negotiable; if I'm going out in public, they have to be on! My natural brows are incredibly sparse to say the least (Nobody's fault but my own), but with this wonder-product I can achieve full, arched brows. I get asked if I have HD Brows on a regular basis, and people can't believe that I fill them in myself with this! The pencil offers the foundations needed to fill the brow, but the pen is how I really shape and define them - it's a fantastic combination. Please, Soap & Glory, never stop making this product!
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in 'Transparent'
Another product that made it into last year's favourites. I've tried a few different powders this year, but have always come back to this one - even favouring buying new ones of these instead of finishing up others! This goes with me everywhere, and while it doesn't offer 24-hour shine free oil control, it's definitely the best I've found in both high end and high street. What I love about this is that the finish is not powdery and doesn't change the colour of my skin - although not truly transparent this really is the perfect shade for me. I've used this for about seven years now and I can't see me changing any time soon!
Dainty Doll Cream Blusher in 'Billion Dollar Babies'
This year was the year that I discovered cream blushers, and it started off with this one. This was bought from Fragrance Direct when they were selling off the Dainty Doll range for £1.99. This was the only cream blusher shade left in stock, and I thought for that price that it had to be worth a try. It turns out that I was right! This is a dusky rose, almost bronze shade that works so well with my pale skin tone. It offers just the right amount of pigment and it is difficult to apply too much. I apply this with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and it makes my skin look glowing and healthy, with a beautiful dewy finish.
Real Techniques Buffing Brush
I used to always apply my foundation with my fingers - I had tried brushes in the past but they never gave me the finish I wanted. When I fell for the blogger hype of Real Technique brushes this year, I was desperate to try this - the star of the 'Core Collection'. When used with any of my liquid foundations, it offers an incredibly natural, airbrushed finish. Even rubbish foundations can look ten times better by applying them with this! I have used this every single time that I apply foundation for the last six months and it's holding up incredibly well - a fantastic quality brush and one that everyone needs to own!
Oriflame Very Me Extendalash Mascara*
I was given this at the Leeds Blogger Meet Up in August, and at the time I didn't think that much of it. The brush looked a little small, and it just looked well... a bit ordinary, to tell you the truth. I started using it however and without me even thinking about it, it ended up being used every day! That small brush is actually fantastic for getting right to the base of the lashes, and the bristles really help to separate yet volumise my lashes. It also manages to hold a curl on my incredibly straight lashes, and has never flaked off or smudged, even with my watery eyes or in the rain. How can you ask for more than that?!
Lime Crime Velvetines in 'Red Velvet'
This was also the year that I rediscovered lipsticks, having given up on them a while ago. My collection has grown at an alarming rate over the last year and this is the star of the show. After coming across it a few times on the internet, I decided to bite the bullet and buy it and I've never looked back since. The lasting power of this is incredible - it doesn't budge whether you're eating food or drinking and boasts a gorgeous matte finish with amazing pigmentation. The shade is just the right tone of blue-red for me, that has the added bonus of making my teeth look whiter as well as creating the ultimate statement lip in one swipe.
Mudd Original Mask
Many, many face masks have come and gone over the years, and a good number of them have offered no visible results to my skin at all. I was surprised to find this year that this incredibly cheap face mask was one of the few that did! Being a clay mask, it draws out all of the oil and nasty grime that is stuck in my skin and leaves it a blank canvas, ready to start afresh. For a once-a-week detox, this is absolutely perfect for the areas that I need it for. Using it regularly really helps to keep my oily t-zone under control where no other product has managed to do so - it works brilliantly for an on-the-spot treatment too!
4 comments
What a great post! I love YSL touche éclat too... Perfect foundation to me! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Another fan of the foundation... you must have good taste!! :) x
DeleteI might have to try that soap and Glory eyebrow pencil...I am always on the hunt to better my brows :) x
ReplyDeleteIt's a brilliant product, and reasonably priced too! x
Delete