Best of Beauty 2012
Inspired by Jamie at Perpetual Page-Turner's post on the "Best of 2012: All Things Not Books," I thought I'd do a little end of the year round-up of my own. I could spend so much time in Sephora and Ulta - browsing, smelling, testing and dreaming of taking all the pretty home with me. But I'm also a creature of habit. I find the products I love, and then I get in a routine that I like. Regardless of whether or not you're a product lover, here are my 2012 beauty obsessions.
1. Kenra Volume Spray 25 ($24/16oz) - This hairspray smells great, and one quick shot really does help with all those frizzies and flyaways. I also love a little extra on my bangs so they'll stay in place and not drive me crazy all day! If this isn't sold at a salon near you, you can also pick it up at Ulta stores (just not online).
2. Bb Texture Hair (Un)Dressing Creme ($27/5oz) - In my dreams, I have Blake Lively's hair on Gossip Girl. You know how it's all textured and messy without actually being wavy or curly? That's what I want. With this product, I've actually been able to come close to that look. I don't use this product everyday - just when I'm feeling lazy and want messy hair that still looks like I tried.
3. Rootful 06 Root Lifting Spray ($16/8.5oz) - Volumizers work differently on everyone, so my favorite may not be yours. That being said, I adore this root lifter! Creme and mousse volumizers tend to make my hair sticky and gross, so I love that this is just a liquid spray. Even when my hair is wet, I can see added volume at my roots as soon as I spray it on.
4. Morrocanoil Treatment ($39/3.4oz) - This is seriously liquid gold. I adore this because it makes my frizzy hair smooth, shiny and smell divine. If I could only have one product on this list, it would definitely be this one.
5. Remington Studio Pearl Ceramic Hair Dryer ($49.99) - My favorite hair dryer ever!
1. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($42/1oz) - This is one of the only foundations I've been able to find that has a color that works well with my skin tone. My skin also tends to be dry, so the sheer glow texture makes my skin look more dewy.
2. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly ($18.50) - I use this on my eyelid as a primer before eyeshadow, and it's made such a difference. It evens the color of my eyelid and makes my eyeshadow look good all day long!
3. Dermablend Smooth Indulgence SPF 20 Concealer ($22/0.3oz) - My go-to concealer when I need to cover up acne. There are videos on this company's website showing them using the concealer and foundation to cover huge tattoos. So yeah, it works pretty dang good.
4. Urban Decay Naked2 Eyeshadow Palette ($50) - I adore this palette! All of the colors are gorgeous, which is rare because there is usually a few weird ones in palettes. The colors in this are deeply pigmented, perfect for daily wear and look gorgeous on.
5. NARS Bronzer in Laguna ($34) - I'm very fair, so I thought this would be too dark on me even though it's their lightest bronzer shade. However, as long as I use a very light touch with my brush, it's perfect. Gives you that "I just spent a little time in sun" glow, even in the dead of winter.
6. NARS Blush in Orgasm ($28) - I'm sorry, but this is a bestseller for a reason. It's gorgeous! And from what I can tell, it works on so many skin tones.
7. Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express ($6.99) - I may like mostly expensive makeup, but I'll always use cheap mascara. There's nothing better! I like to try new mascaras all the time, but this is the one I keep coming back to.
8. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy ($32.50) - My mom is always trying to get me to wear lipstick because I need some color on my lips, and this is the first one I've owned where I'll constantly put more on. It's a lovely color, but I'm an even bigger fan of the way the lipstick looks and feels. It's hydrating, sheer and has a beautiful shine on your lips. OBSESSED.
9. Milani Liquid Eye Eyeliner in 05-Brown ($5.97) - Of all the eyeliners I've tried, this one is my absolute favorite. It glides on, stays all day and is so affordable!
10. Essie Nail Polish in Lollipop ($8) - I'm a nail polish addict. Or, rather, an Essie addict. I just can't stop buying them! Of all the colors I own, I wear this one the most often. Red nails just look so glamourous and automatically make you feel prettier!
1. LUSH Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask ($6.95/2.1oz) - I'm in love with this face mask! It's made fresh, so it actually has an expiration date. It has little blueberry pieces in it, which kind of freaked me out the first time I put it on. I don't buy this all the time - it's more of a treat to get it - but I love how it makes my skin look and feel.
2. DERMAdoctor Ain't Misbehavin' Acne Control Serum ($45/1oz) - My skin and acne breakouts have gotten so much better with the use of this acne serum and the cleanser below. I only use this when I'm starting to breakout, and it heals my skin so much faster than anything else I've tried!
3. DERMAdoctor Ain't Misbehavin' Acne Cleanser ($25/7oz) - Oh hello, cleanser I now can't live without. I know the packaging is cheesy, but this has been a lifesaver. You use this while your skin is dry, and I only apply it to areas where I'm breaking out. I've tried so many acne treatments, and this is the only thing I've used that's made it better. It hasn't made my skin perfect, but it's significantly better. Hallelujah!
4. Korres Wild Rosse + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($48/1.35oz) - I put this on at night before bed and am absolutely in love with the smell. It's divine, and I just love how it moisturizes my dry skin while I'm sleeping.
5. Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil ($3) - My favorite chapstick! It smells good and has a really pretty, sheer tint to it. It helps soften my lips and adds a little color at the same time. Success!
6. Clarisonic Mia in Turquoise ($119) - I LOVEEEEEE my Clarisonic! I previously used a washcloth, but not anymore. My skin has never felt cleaner! I also love that it sloughs off all the dead and dry skin, which also makes my makeup look better on.
7. LUSH The Comforter Bubble Bar ($10.95/7oz) - I'm addicted to taking a bath - as in, I would take one every single night if I could. I love breaking off a piece of a LUSH bubble bar and crumbling it in the bath. The bath smells good and the water turns pink, and then I'm in heaven.
8. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 ($31/4.2oz) - I'm not moisturizer loyal, but I love this one. It's light, works well under my makeup and protects against the sun. It's also not making me break out or anything, so that's always good!
9. TOCCA Eau de Parfum in Brigitte ($68/1.7oz) - I'd read about people having a signature scent and not understand the idea of falling in love and being loyal to one perfume. Until I found this one. I love everything about it! It smells wonderful, and the bottle is gorgeous.
10. Korres Wild Rose Daily Brightening and Refining Buff Cleanser ($24/5.07oz) - I switch cleansers all the time, but I'm really loving this one lately. It smells good, and I love that it has a little bit of a buffing quality. Used with my Clarisonic, it's wonderful!
Do you use any of these products or have any recommendations of your own? Please share - I'm always on the lookout for another beauty buy!
Thank you so much for these recommendations. I can't wait to try a few! I usually use Bare Minerals, but I would love to try the NARS and the UD Naked pallet.
ReplyDeleteThe UD Naked palette is AMAZINGGGGG! There are two others as well (the first one and a new Basics one) that are also great :)
DeleteI really like Nars Sheer Glow, but I can't find a color that works for me. The fairest color is too yellow for my skin (I'm very pink-toned) and the next one up that is more pinkish is too dark. I like the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, though. I recently just bought the Clinque Even Better foundation and I like that. The color isn't perfect, but it is very close to what I need and I can lighten it a bit.
ReplyDeleteOkay, enough about makeup :)
I'm very pink-toned too! I've been able to use the second to fairest color (Mont Blanc), which isn't too dark for me. However, I'm going to check out the two you mentioned as well because I have a really hard time finding foundation that's more pink than yellow. Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteI just bought the UD palette recently and absolutely love it, but because it's expensive I try to save it and not use it as much which is kind of illogical. ANYWAYS.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try the Clarisonic, I never actually thought those things worked.
Haha well I use mine everyday (and I've had the original since last year) and I have yet to use up a color :) Go to town lady! (But I so do things like that - not using much of something because it was expensive and then I realize it wasn't worth the expense if I don't actually use it haha!)
DeleteI love the Clarisonic because I think my face feels a lot cleaner. It's not like I have radically different skin, but I have dry skin so it's helped get rid of some patchy skin areas haha!
I really love this post! You have some great items listed up there, especially towards the latter portion. I may have to try some out, including the Clarisonic.
ReplyDeleteI love my Clarisonic! It's not cheap but I wear makeup every day and always use it to wash my face so it's been worth it for me :) It hasn't given me amazing new skin but it has made it better and I just love using it haha!
Delete