Best Of 2013: The Makeup Edition
31.12.13
As the clock is ticking towards the turn of the year, I'm bringing you the last and final installment of my Best of 2013 series and the longest one yet. If you're prepared to go out, you should probably come back later; otherwise, grab yourself a hot cup of tea and possibly a chocolate cupcake to munch on as I bring you my top favorite makeup finds from the past year. Note: makeup finds as in long time favorites like the Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation and the Bobbi Brown Corrector aren't going to be listed.
Unlike the previous two installments, I'm going to split this into categories because of the sheer amount of products involved. It should be easier to read that way. Enough with the rambling...
Base
I've become a foundation/concealer freak in the past year as my skin started acting up. The two bases that were overall winners for me are the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation and the Jouer Matte Tinted Moisturizer. This is quite surprising as they're both more sheer than my beloved Laura Mercier Silk Creme, but I've finally come to the grasp that foundations is just for evening out the skin rather than covering things up. If you started reading the blog before the London move, you'll probably be wondering why the Bourjois Radiance Revealed Healthy Mix didn't make the cut as it seemed to be the only foundation that I was raving about for over half the year. Remember when I mentioned that my skin was exploding in blemishes? I realized that it was the foundation was the culprit. Pity because I really really loved it. As for concealer, I've gone through various offerings, but the one that's stuck out is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. This one is definitely an all-rounder that can be used on scars, under the eyes, and even highlighting.
Brows
I've started realizing the importance of eyebrows and even did a post on it a while back (here). If you've read that, the two products that I'm going to mention aren't going to be strangers. Brow powder is my usual arsenal of choice as I find it easier to use, I've used various shadows but the one that I find to be a no fuss is MAC Mythical, when paired with the perfect brow brush it's absolutely dreamy. But more on that later. Brow pencil is something that my sister got me into and Topshop Brow Pencil is the one that has stolen my heart for the better half of the year.
Eyes
My eyeshadow collection has grown a considerable amount this year. It all started with Urban Decay Naked Basics (review here). This has been my traveling palette for the majority of the year and the one that I'll reach for when I want to do a natural defined eye. I've also started using this palette for contouring purposes (read here), teaching an old dog new tricks is not impossible. Several single shadows has also been added to the collection in the past year, but the two offerings that have been my go tos have been MAC Woodwinked and MAC Satin Taupe. As for mascara, Maybelline One by One in Waterproof (not pictured) is probably my all-time love, but unfortunately they seem to have discontinued it as I can't find it in stores anywhere? I didn't have a good start with L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara (review here) but as it's started to dry out a bit, it's the only one that I've been reaching for in the past couple months.
Cheeks
I don't think any of my picks are going to be surprising if you've been on this blog for a while. The orange-coral offering from Tarte 12-Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy was the most reached for in the warmer months, while the cool-toned pink Dollface from the same line has been one of my most reached for in the colder weather. On the days that I just want a simple neutral blush, NYX Dusty Rose is my go-to.
Lips
This year has been the birth of my lipstick obsession and my collection has grown considerably since the summer. The most used when the sun was shining and I was running around outside in shorts and tees were the coral offerings in MAC Crosswires and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 674 Coralberry. Another coral that I've been using quite a bit even as the temperature started to drop is MAC See Sheer (review here). As for the winter months, I'm a lover of the cool-toned colors, with MAC Lustering (review here) and Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush in The Redder the Better (see it in action here).
Tools
Like the eyeshadow and lipstick collection, my brush and tools collection has grown at an alarming pace. And it still doesn't show any sign of stopping down any time soon. But there have been a few game changers in the past year, starting off with the cult loved MAC 217 and Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. The Bobbi Brown Brow Brush is the main reason that brow application is absolutely dreamy, even when it seems the rest of my makeup isn't going right. Lastly, the newest additions to the brush collection. Even though the Ecotools Six Piece Essential Eye set has only been in my collection for a couple months, but the Large Eye and Highlighting Brush have become everyday staples in the routine. Sometimes I even reach for these two over my MAC 217, that definitely says something!
That's it, that's the best of for me the past year. There were a lot more products that I had to cut out otherwise it'd just be a post of the better half of my makeup collection. I have a lot more on the wishlist that's still waiting for me to try out, but that's for the year to come. What were your favorite makeup pieces from the past 12 months? Any that I definitely should try?
Tools
Like the eyeshadow and lipstick collection, my brush and tools collection has grown at an alarming pace. And it still doesn't show any sign of stopping down any time soon. But there have been a few game changers in the past year, starting off with the cult loved MAC 217 and Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. The Bobbi Brown Brow Brush is the main reason that brow application is absolutely dreamy, even when it seems the rest of my makeup isn't going right. Lastly, the newest additions to the brush collection. Even though the Ecotools Six Piece Essential Eye set has only been in my collection for a couple months, but the Large Eye and Highlighting Brush have become everyday staples in the routine. Sometimes I even reach for these two over my MAC 217, that definitely says something!
That's it, that's the best of for me the past year. There were a lot more products that I had to cut out otherwise it'd just be a post of the better half of my makeup collection. I have a lot more on the wishlist that's still waiting for me to try out, but that's for the year to come. What were your favorite makeup pieces from the past 12 months? Any that I definitely should try?
On an end note: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Read the best haircare picks here and the best skincare picks here
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