Happy New Year everyone! I don't know about you, but I certainly can't believe this year is over! 2012 just went so fast for me, with work and uni, as well as my upcoming trip to the US. It was also a year that I used many products and started to discover holy grail products that I will certainly be using for a long time!
I have narrowed down my favourite products of the year to 12 - there were many products that I certainly loved and adopted into my routine in somewhere, but they weren't as well loved, or I haven't used them as long, for them to be part of my top 12. So, in no particular order, here are my favourites:
Oh Lola! by Marc Jacobs - This has definitely been my signature scent of the year. I received this for christmas in 2011, and it quickly overtook my Vera Wang Princess Perfume as my favourite. Its light and fresh, and almost a little fruity (I'm terrible at describing scents), which is perfect for me, as I don't like overly heavy or floral scents.
Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin - I picked this up this year when it was on sale, because I couldn't justify spending $36AU on a non-high end foundation. However, this is well worth the price - I find it easily compares to my MAC Studio Fix foundation, and even matches my complexion better. It stays all day and just works amazingly! Unfortunately, it's empty, but I will be picking up more in the States!
Essence Gel Eyeliner - This year has been the year I really started using Gel Eyeliner - I'm a complete failure at liquid eyeliner, and it was that reason I adopted this as my everyday eyeliner. Gel eyeliner is so much easier to use, and this Essence one stays all day, has a matte finish, and is less than $6AU. For the quality and quantity of this product, that is a steal!
Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush - I love this blush! That's really all I can say. I am a bit of a blush junkie, and this is one of my favourites - My personal pick, Flash It, has a mix of white, pink and a brown, so when combined, provides 'my natural blush, but better' colour, that is really pigmented and lasts ages! This whole range is great, but this colour I can't live without. When mine broke halfway through the year I was crushed - I had to go out straight away to buy it!
Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Pressed Powder - I can imagine you guys have heard about this raved-about powder. Most people who have tried this out have compared it to the MAC Studio Fix Powder. I've never used it before, but I know this powder is amazing! It provides great coverage, whilst setting your foundation all day. I prefer it over the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, and to top it off, it is an Australian, and super affordable product!
Inglot Cream Concealer - This was my first high end concealer, and it certainly got a work out this year, particularly when I was having problem skin. As the name suggests, it's really creamy and provides great coverage.
NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie - This lipstick became my go-to nude lipstick. Its perfect for when I have a smokey eye and want a bit of colour to avoid washing out my face with a bland nude lipstick. Its super creamy, feels great, and doesn't dry out. I love it!
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Pacific Blue - This has been the most used colour on my nails this year. Blue is my favourite colour to wear, and this is such a gorgeous shade that will compliment just about everything at any time of the year. It lasts well too, which I love, because I have terrible problems with chipping polish. Every time I wear this colour, I get asked about it. I just adore it.
Bourjois Paris Volumizer Mascara - I love two in one mascara's, and this one is fabulous. I use the second step before the first step, and that gives much fuller, and longer lashes without clumping. It is also super black, which is a plus. This mascara makes it look like you're wearing false eyelashes, which is brilliant.
Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush - This has been my most used brush this year. It buffs your foundation in evenly and leaves your skin looking flawless.
Maybelline Baby Lips - This year I've been really into lip balms as I've noticed my lips being overly dry, which I can't stand. My balm of choice has been the Maybelline Baby Lips in Menthol (not pictured because I can't actually find it), because it is super moisturizing and I love the tingling menthol feeling on my lips. The one pictured is the Mixed Berry, and combined with your natural lip colour, tints your lips in a pink suited to your skin, which I think is great. I find this one not as moisturizing, but I love the colour that it provides that I find people always ask about.
Urban Decay Naked Palette - I don't think I even need to explain one of the most popular eyeshadow palettes of all time. I love neutral colours and eye looks, so this palette is perfect and contains everything I need!
So those are my favourite products of 2012. There are so many products that nearly made it - my Inglot eyeshadows, my Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer, my Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation or my Bioderma Sebium H2O - but like I said, they were either not as well loved, or I had not used them long enough!
Oh Lola! by Marc Jacobs - This has definitely been my signature scent of the year. I received this for christmas in 2011, and it quickly overtook my Vera Wang Princess Perfume as my favourite. Its light and fresh, and almost a little fruity (I'm terrible at describing scents), which is perfect for me, as I don't like overly heavy or floral scents.
Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin - I picked this up this year when it was on sale, because I couldn't justify spending $36AU on a non-high end foundation. However, this is well worth the price - I find it easily compares to my MAC Studio Fix foundation, and even matches my complexion better. It stays all day and just works amazingly! Unfortunately, it's empty, but I will be picking up more in the States!
Essence Gel Eyeliner - This year has been the year I really started using Gel Eyeliner - I'm a complete failure at liquid eyeliner, and it was that reason I adopted this as my everyday eyeliner. Gel eyeliner is so much easier to use, and this Essence one stays all day, has a matte finish, and is less than $6AU. For the quality and quantity of this product, that is a steal!
Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush - I love this blush! That's really all I can say. I am a bit of a blush junkie, and this is one of my favourites - My personal pick, Flash It, has a mix of white, pink and a brown, so when combined, provides 'my natural blush, but better' colour, that is really pigmented and lasts ages! This whole range is great, but this colour I can't live without. When mine broke halfway through the year I was crushed - I had to go out straight away to buy it!
Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Pressed Powder - I can imagine you guys have heard about this raved-about powder. Most people who have tried this out have compared it to the MAC Studio Fix Powder. I've never used it before, but I know this powder is amazing! It provides great coverage, whilst setting your foundation all day. I prefer it over the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, and to top it off, it is an Australian, and super affordable product!
Inglot Cream Concealer - This was my first high end concealer, and it certainly got a work out this year, particularly when I was having problem skin. As the name suggests, it's really creamy and provides great coverage.
NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie - This lipstick became my go-to nude lipstick. Its perfect for when I have a smokey eye and want a bit of colour to avoid washing out my face with a bland nude lipstick. Its super creamy, feels great, and doesn't dry out. I love it!
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Pacific Blue - This has been the most used colour on my nails this year. Blue is my favourite colour to wear, and this is such a gorgeous shade that will compliment just about everything at any time of the year. It lasts well too, which I love, because I have terrible problems with chipping polish. Every time I wear this colour, I get asked about it. I just adore it.
Bourjois Paris Volumizer Mascara - I love two in one mascara's, and this one is fabulous. I use the second step before the first step, and that gives much fuller, and longer lashes without clumping. It is also super black, which is a plus. This mascara makes it look like you're wearing false eyelashes, which is brilliant.
Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush - This has been my most used brush this year. It buffs your foundation in evenly and leaves your skin looking flawless.
Maybelline Baby Lips - This year I've been really into lip balms as I've noticed my lips being overly dry, which I can't stand. My balm of choice has been the Maybelline Baby Lips in Menthol (not pictured because I can't actually find it), because it is super moisturizing and I love the tingling menthol feeling on my lips. The one pictured is the Mixed Berry, and combined with your natural lip colour, tints your lips in a pink suited to your skin, which I think is great. I find this one not as moisturizing, but I love the colour that it provides that I find people always ask about.
Urban Decay Naked Palette - I don't think I even need to explain one of the most popular eyeshadow palettes of all time. I love neutral colours and eye looks, so this palette is perfect and contains everything I need!
So those are my favourite products of 2012. There are so many products that nearly made it - my Inglot eyeshadows, my Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer, my Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation or my Bioderma Sebium H2O - but like I said, they were either not as well loved, or I had not used them long enough!
So what were your favourites of the year?
I love the bottle for Oh Lola, it's just gorgeous!
ReplyDeletex
I know! so pretty!
Deletexx
these are some great favorites! if you like the essence gel liner you should try their eye souffles they are amazing! thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletehttp://allthingsbeautybytiarni.blogspot.com.au/
I've heard they're amazing! I'm going to have to try them!
Deletexx
I would absolutely agree on the Naked Palette, it's an essential for me!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you started blogging again!
Thanks love :)
DeleteI have the same brush which is also being included in my top favorites for this year!! Love posts like this!!
ReplyDelete♥♥♥
- Ashley Elizabeth
( http://blog.alElizabeth.com )
It's such an amazing brush!
DeleteCan't wait to see your favorites :)
xx
These are great favorites! I love the idea for this post. I love that Sally Hansen polish, too- such a pretty blue. :) And I honestly think after this year that I could not live without the Naked palette LOL. It's fabulous! xox
ReplyDeleteIt has just become a staple in my collection lol :P
Deletexx
Happy New Year..
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice post in an interesting line of content.Thanks for sharing this article, great way of bring this topic to discussion.
McDesert Safari
Great post! I have the Essence gel liner too but unfortunately it smudges on my oily eyes. :( I prefer liquid eyeliners, I seem to be able to have more precision! I have to try that Australis pressed powder when mine run out (which won't be for a long time!) xx
ReplyDeleteThats so annoying! I usually have problems with eye pencils because they usually smudge in the corner and under my eye, but i've never had that problem with this!
Deletexx
Awesome favorites! I love Australis products! Too bad I live in the US and they are pretty much impossible to get here.
ReplyDelete