This year has been a year of modesty and then upheaval, with lots of new discoveries in the latter half of the year. I've been relatively good with new purchases and making sure that I return any items that I don't completely love. Some of the products I will mention have been around for a long time but were only recently discovered by me.
Warning: This is a text heavy post. If you're interested in pictures please follow the links below to see full reviews.
Eyes
Makeup Geek Eyeshadows. I started off with a few but have quickly expanded my collection to a small Z-palette's worth. They are like beefed up MAC shadows for a fraction of the price; I can't complain. My favorites are the warm blending shades: Cocoa Bear, Frappe, and Peach Smoothie. I am interested in their new Foiled eyeshadows and will probably purchase a few.
ColourPop Eyeshadows. These are such fun pigments for $5 and they apply wonderfully with your fingers. Since I'm a lazy swipe-and-go kinda girl when it comes to eye makeup on work days, these are excellent for the purpose. My favorite is So Quiche, a complex olive taupe that's actually flattering on my skintone.
NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadows. This new release is crazy expensive for single shadows (A palette is being released February 2015 if you're interested in, y'know, not living on a rat pillow in exchange for pretty makeup.) I bought the shade Cassiopeia, a stunning shimmery white with lavender flecks that applies best when wet.
Lips
NARS Audacious Lipsticks. I have four of these now, including Rita, Juliette, Anita, and Charlotte. Yes, they're $32 and don't come with much product, but they are one of the few lipsticks that I can wear without flaking or peeling. Plus, they are so pigmented and long lasting! I will probably pick up Anna, Fanny, and Brigitte within the next year.
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. (Review coming soon.) Never mind the creepy names (Underage Red, really??)...these liquid lipsticks are a dupe for Lime Crime's Velvetines without the scandal and drama. They wear like iron even through greasy meals and multiple cups of tea. Although they are on the drier side, you can easily re-apply or put a balm on top with no issues. I owned Vampira and currently have Lolita and Bauhaus.
Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipsticks. These lipsticks are under $5 in some drugstores and they are just as good as any high end lipstick that I've tried, if you can get over the slightly plastic scent. Touch of Spice has been a wildly popular shade but I also enjoy Divine Wine. They wear decently and don't dry out my lips but also don't bleed outside or settle into lip lines.
Face
Charlotte Tilbury Bronze and Glow Palette. This palette is absolutely stunning for daily and daytime contouring. It's subtle and never too over the top especially if you have light to medium skin. I reach for it almost every morning because of the lovely packaging.
ByTerry Cover Expert Foundation. (Review coming soon.) Yes, this was a huge splurge for me but great skin is so incredibly worth it. It's a medium coverage foundation that's yellow enough to look super natural on my skin and never cakes up or slides around on the face. It's very lightweight and the rose scent overwhelms me in the best way possible every morning.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6. This is the greenest foundation I've ever seen and...it matches me to a tee when I am NC30. The formula gives me a lovely skin-like finish with a hint of a glow and lasts through hours of any special events. I also use this in the winter to mix with lighter foundations with the wrong undertone. It's pricey, but I've never had a better match.
Smashbox Pore Minimizing Primer. (Review coming soon.) I thought I was in love with Benefit Porefessional, but this product makes a noticeable difference in my skin. It makes pores vanish (rather than blurred) and doesn't clog them either. I apply half a pea sized amount onto the middle of my face, focusing the product on my cheeks and nose, and blend out to my chin and forehead. No. Pores.
Skincare
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen. It's moisturizing sunscreen! This stuff is SPF 50 but isn't tacky, sticky, gummy, or too mattifying. I can layer it underneath any foundation with no problems whatsoever and it has helped me get my face and neck to NC20. I also enjoy the light citrus scent.
DHC Cleansing Oil. A godsend. It removes waterproof eye makeup without blurring my vision or stinging my eyes. It also removes long-wearing foundation and doubles up as my facial cleanser at night. I will continue to repurchase this until I die. If you're looking for a remover that's heavy duty but won't dry out or aggravate sensitive skin, this is it.
Dr. Jart Ceramidin Lotion and Cream. (Review coming soon.) I purchased this recently, but it's really made a difference in my skin whenever I feel especially wretched and dehydrated. I apply to my nose and chin and watch the flakes and dry spots plump right back up overnight. (Well, not overnight, but within three or four days my skin is back to normal.)
HABA Fair Lady Vitamin C Serum. This is the potion of dreams. It faded my post-acne hyper-pigmentation in two months and kept my skin fair (hur hur hur) and free of blotchiness. A standard 30ML should be used up in three months, but I used it nightly for 6 months before finishing up the bottle and stored it in a dry and cool place. I patted one pump onto my face after washing my face and prior to a heavy night cream or lotion.
Brushes
Zoeva 231 Petit Crease Brush. Although I have many favorites from my Zoeva Complete Luxe Set, the Petit Crease is famous (infamous?) for a reason with many beauty bloggers. It's perfect for multi-tasking: blending the crease, packing on some color on the lids, smudging a black shadow onto my lashline, etc. It's very friendly to my hooded eyes and isn't too small or pinched (read: it splays out enough to be used for blending.)
Make Up For Ever 127 Brush. This huge monstrosity is the softest synthetic brush I've ever owned. The bristles are not too tightly packed and the hefty wooden handle makes it perfect for use with mineral foundation or setting powder. It's also very easy to deep clean and I've never noticed shedding or fraying.
Wayne Goss #2. A holy grail brush. Its natural bristles (squirrel) pick up the perfect amount of anything. I love using it for setting my under eyes concealer with powder (super soft) or for depositing a highlight (not too much product in one swipe.) If you're unsure of which Wayne Goss to try for the first time, you need to check out this one.
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What have you discovered in the past year? Are you looking forward to finding new products for 2015, or are you ready to pare down your stash? After the usual end of the year/friends and family fiasco, a lot of people tend to learn to appreciate their new shiny toys but also revisit their own favorites. I've learned to give or swap away a lot of products and have made some beauty resolutions for 2015.
I've managed to purge:
- A lot of foundations that are too peachy. I do not have the patience to mix in an olive toned corrector or foundation.
- Eyeshadow palettes that have too many jewel tones, frosty finishes, or cool toned neutrals. I now work in a slightly more conservative environment and don't go out too often. Neutrals that do not lean warm rarely complement my skintone. When I want to glam up a look, I usually rely on false lashes and heavier eyeliner.
- Old nail polishes. Now that gel-effect formulas are readily available on the market for reasonable prices so I've ditched thin and watery polishes that I've held onto for no reason.
- Skincare that no longer caters to my skin type. I am decidedly normal to dry now.
My beauty resolutions:
- To finish up all of the staples that I've hoarded such as: brow pencils, mascara, black eyeliners, cotton pads, eye makeup remover, makeup sponges, and face wash. I do not want to buy a "backup" of anything and want to explore my options.
- To toughen up and ask SA's for every and any complexion related product such as primer and foundation. I've tried way too many foundations that wear well for the first week and suddenly become a horrid mess. I also want to use up at least three tube of foundation for every tube that I want to purchase.
- To try "Asian" application techniques and products. I'm sick of the ultra highlight under the eyes and ashy contours. I want dewy skin, creamy blushes, pastel lips, and minimal or sheer eyeshadow looks.
- To actually wake up a few minutes earlier in the morning to apply my makeup without rushing myself.
- To wear more bold lips! Lip is too short for 5evah MLBB.
- To buy less of or no drugstore products unless I know they are worth the money. Drugstore prices are going up and I find that they are not worth the purchase in the end due to lasting power and pigmentation issues.
- Most importantly, to NOT make Sephora VIB Rouge for the next year. The free shipping is nothing but enabling. I do want to make Ulta Platinum for the point system perks of....real money discounts!
- And of course, to focus this blog more on application (FOTD's) and tips/tricks. I still love doing reviews on new purchases, but I often feel pressured into buying ALL TEH COLORS for subpar products (especially drugstore) just for review purposes.
Happy New Year! May your faces always be beautiful.
xo Be
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