Happy New Year!
Today I will share my stand out beauty products (and some randoms, just for fun!) of the year. Some old, some new. Either way they are products I have used enough to be on my "Favorites Team".
Grab a snack... I have a WHOLE years worth of goodies to recap!
Concealer~
Maybelline Fit Me & Instant Age Rewind.
Fit Me concealer is perfection in a tube! Blendable, light weight, and amazing! I can use this anywhere on my face. I've even used it under my eyes. When applied lightly and set with a powder, it holds up nicely under the eyes. My go to under eye concealer is Age Rewind. Yes, the package looks like it exploded. In a nut shell, it broke. So I emailed Maybelline and they sent me a coupon to make up for it.
Powder~
Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten & Rimmel Stay Matte.
Balance-n-Brighten is actually a powder foundation (the one I used for years mentioned above) I still will wear this on it's own or on top of a BB/CC Cream for more coverage. It's definitely a full coverage powder but gives a beautiful finish to the skin. Stay Matte isn't a powder I use all over my face. I will only apply a light dusting of this to the T-Zone or in the areas around my face (not the under eye area) that I conceal. It really does "stay matte" as the name implies.
Brow Products~
Milani Brow Kit, Wax, Gel.
My brows have become quite an obsession over the past year. I was never really one to care about filling in my brows. Then…it happened. I filled them in once, ONCE FOLKS! and I was hooked! Since then I have perfected my brow technique. These three products are must haves for me. I use them everyday. Yes, EVERYDAY! Unless I'm not wearing makeup. If you haven't filled in your brows, do yourself a favor and stop by any makeup counter (or my house) and have them fill in your brows. It totally changes the way your makeup looks. I apply the wax, then the brow powders, then top with the gel to hold them in place all day. Someone give Milani a round of applause for their brow products!
Eye Shadow Primer~
Milani Eyeshadow Primer.
I forget who I saw talking about this but whomever it was, was totally right about this primer. It takes a tiny little bit to cover your entire lid and it holds your shadows in place all day.
Eyeshadow~
Milani Bella Champange and Bella Espresso, Naked Basics, Maybelline The Nudes.
This was tough for me. Of course I couldn't just pick ONE eyeshadow. So I went with 3 different brands...
Milani Bella Eyeshadows are gorgeous! These are the only two I own and I am blown away by their pigmentation.
Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 Basics. Love them both. I wear them alone and paired with other shadows. They are so worth the money!
Maybelline The Nudes. Rumor has it there are two more palettes similar to this. Scream NOW! Great drugstore palette. It has a range of shimmer and matte shadows that can create a very natural or dramatic look. I get a lot of use out of it.
Eye Liners~
Gel-Maybelline
I've repurchased this several times. I tend to go for the brown color although I have had it in black too. It's a great formula and really dark, rich brown.
Pencil- Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Brown and Nude
I use the brown when I want a smudged out liner, which is what I've going for a lot lately. The nude is what I put in my water line. It instantly brightens up my eyes and lasts a long time.
Liquid-Palladio Liquid Eyeliner in Black/Brown
I picked this up at Ulta when it was on sale for $5.99. I remember using this brand when I was in Highschool and it's still great. The color is deep and dark. It glides on smoothly and has a felt tip applicator. I love this stuff. It's so easy to create a winged liner with this stuff.
Mascara~
Covergirl 3-in-1 & Maybelline Lash Sensational
3-in-1 has a great curved brush that fits my eye shape perfectly. The formula is a bit on the dry side, which I like. It lengthens, separates, and adds volume to my lashes. AND it's only $4 or $5!
Lash Sensational is a new love. I can't get over how this makes my lashes look! It has a wet formula and the brush is unlike any other mascara I've tried. It's almost a fan shape, longer on one side. It really grabs the lashes and applies the product nicely.
Contour/Bronzer~
Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunlight
Today I will share my stand out beauty products (and some randoms, just for fun!) of the year. Some old, some new. Either way they are products I have used enough to be on my "Favorites Team".
Grab a snack... I have a WHOLE years worth of goodies to recap!
Makeup Remover Wipes~
Absolute Make-Up Cleansing Tissues with Fresh Aloe Extract and Vitamin E. I picked these up on a whim at TJ Maxx. They are $4.99 for 60 wipes. Can't beat the price. These don't burn my eyes or dry out my skin. They are the perfect amount of moisture and the wipes don't dry out when you get down to the last few. I have repurchased these twice since the first time I tried them.
Eye Makeup Remover~
Maybelline Clean Expesss.
This is the first eye makeup remover I've tried that didn't irritate, burn, or dry out my eyes. This stuff is amazing! It's a gel formula so it doesn't run all over the place when you put it on a cotton round. I use this every time I wear false lashes and it takes them right off without any tugging.
Face Wash~
Garnier Smoothing Cream and Purifying Foam Cleansers.
Love them both! I use the cream in the morning and the foam at night. Both are gentle and non-stripping. My skin feels clean and refreshed after I use them.
Eye Cream~
Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Eye Cream.
Another amazing TJ Maxx find! Sadly, they didn't have this the last time I was there. The good news is that I can order it online. I use this during the day if I'm having a light makeup day or at night. I can't say that I notice any anti-aging effects from this product. Although, I think the most important aspect of skin care is moisturizing. At least that's what my skin reacts best to.
Primer~
Maybelline Baby Skin & L'Oreal Miracle Blur.
Can't live without either one of these. Day to day I will use Baby Skin. If I'm going for full on makeup (or just feeling fancy) I will wear Miracle Blur. Both perfect my skin and make my foundation hold up nicely throughout the day. If my under eyes are looking extra dry and tore up I will put a TINY bit of Miracle blur in that area before I use concealer. It helps fill in those pesky lines and keeps that area looking fresh.
Foundation~
Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous & L'Oreal True Match Lumi.
I came back into the liquid foundation world this year. For YEARS I only used mineral/powder foundations. I've picked up a few new foundations over the past few months that I've enjoyed but these two are the stand outs. Ready Set Gorgeous helps out with my oily T-zone. It covers perfectly, so much that I rarely find the need to go in with a separate concealer around my nose after I use this. It sets to a semi-matte finish. True Match Lumi is perfect for when I want a dewy, healthy glow to my skin. It's coverage is buildable, still I will only use one layer and conceal where needed.
Concealer~
Maybelline Fit Me & Instant Age Rewind.
Fit Me concealer is perfection in a tube! Blendable, light weight, and amazing! I can use this anywhere on my face. I've even used it under my eyes. When applied lightly and set with a powder, it holds up nicely under the eyes. My go to under eye concealer is Age Rewind. Yes, the package looks like it exploded. In a nut shell, it broke. So I emailed Maybelline and they sent me a coupon to make up for it.
Powder~
Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten & Rimmel Stay Matte.
Balance-n-Brighten is actually a powder foundation (the one I used for years mentioned above) I still will wear this on it's own or on top of a BB/CC Cream for more coverage. It's definitely a full coverage powder but gives a beautiful finish to the skin. Stay Matte isn't a powder I use all over my face. I will only apply a light dusting of this to the T-Zone or in the areas around my face (not the under eye area) that I conceal. It really does "stay matte" as the name implies.
Brow Products~
Milani Brow Kit, Wax, Gel.
My brows have become quite an obsession over the past year. I was never really one to care about filling in my brows. Then…it happened. I filled them in once, ONCE FOLKS! and I was hooked! Since then I have perfected my brow technique. These three products are must haves for me. I use them everyday. Yes, EVERYDAY! Unless I'm not wearing makeup. If you haven't filled in your brows, do yourself a favor and stop by any makeup counter (or my house) and have them fill in your brows. It totally changes the way your makeup looks. I apply the wax, then the brow powders, then top with the gel to hold them in place all day. Someone give Milani a round of applause for their brow products!
Eye Shadow Primer~
Milani Eyeshadow Primer.
I forget who I saw talking about this but whomever it was, was totally right about this primer. It takes a tiny little bit to cover your entire lid and it holds your shadows in place all day.
Eyeshadow~
Milani Bella Champange and Bella Espresso, Naked Basics, Maybelline The Nudes.
This was tough for me. Of course I couldn't just pick ONE eyeshadow. So I went with 3 different brands...
Milani Bella Eyeshadows are gorgeous! These are the only two I own and I am blown away by their pigmentation.
Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 Basics. Love them both. I wear them alone and paired with other shadows. They are so worth the money!
Maybelline The Nudes. Rumor has it there are two more palettes similar to this. Scream NOW! Great drugstore palette. It has a range of shimmer and matte shadows that can create a very natural or dramatic look. I get a lot of use out of it.
Eye Liners~
Gel-Maybelline
I've repurchased this several times. I tend to go for the brown color although I have had it in black too. It's a great formula and really dark, rich brown.
Pencil- Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Brown and Nude
I use the brown when I want a smudged out liner, which is what I've going for a lot lately. The nude is what I put in my water line. It instantly brightens up my eyes and lasts a long time.
Liquid-Palladio Liquid Eyeliner in Black/Brown
I picked this up at Ulta when it was on sale for $5.99. I remember using this brand when I was in Highschool and it's still great. The color is deep and dark. It glides on smoothly and has a felt tip applicator. I love this stuff. It's so easy to create a winged liner with this stuff.
Mascara~
Covergirl 3-in-1 & Maybelline Lash Sensational
3-in-1 has a great curved brush that fits my eye shape perfectly. The formula is a bit on the dry side, which I like. It lengthens, separates, and adds volume to my lashes. AND it's only $4 or $5!
Lash Sensational is a new love. I can't get over how this makes my lashes look! It has a wet formula and the brush is unlike any other mascara I've tried. It's almost a fan shape, longer on one side. It really grabs the lashes and applies the product nicely.
Contour/Bronzer~
Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunlight
This is the perfect shade for my skin tone. It doesn't look muddy or have any shimmer in it and it's very blendable.
Blush~
Tarte Amazonian Clay
I own several of these blushes and they're all amazing! They stay true to color all day. They blend out easily and they come in a great range of colors. I try to get my hands on these when they have holiday kits even though those typically are a smaller size than the full sized products. They last forever because it only takes a tiny bit to get the color you need.
Highlight~
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Setting Spray~
MAC Fix+ & NYX Dewy
Love these both. I am getting down to the bottom of my Fix + so I will need to get another one soon. Fix + is my all time favorite setting spray. But, I'm too cheap to use it everyday (at work) I will set my makeup with this on the weekends and definitely for special occasions. I will apply a few sprays directly to my face and then allow to air dry. NYX Dewy is a great drugstore setting spray. It leaves your skin looking so healthy and glowy without looking oily. I spray two pumps in the air and let this fall on to my face. I have found if I spray this directly on my face, as I do with Fix + it can make my skin look more oily later in the day than I'd like.
Lip Balm~
EOS
Long time fan of these lip balms. I buy them at Costco in the jumbo packs when I can. I go through these babies like it's going out of style. I have one on my vanity, one by the couch, one in my drawer at work, one in my purse. They're just great. They give my lips the perfect amount of moisture and they last on my lips for a long time.
Lipstick~
Maybelline Color Sensational Line. I own so many of these and they are all great! They're affordable and come in a great range of colors and finishes. They feel good on the lips. When I am wearing these I have to make sure to bring the lipstick along with me to touch ups.
Lipgloss~
NYX Butter Gloss. These are the 2 that I had in my vanity. The other one (Strawberry Parfait) is in my purse. I wear them all on a regular basis. They have a delicious vanilla scent. They are very comfortable on the lips, and their shine lasts a long time.
Book/TV Show~
I hardly ever read. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading but I always fall asleep when I do. So I don't have a favorite book at the moment.
My favorite TV show is Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives or Nail'd It. My two favorite things: Food and Nail art. Haha!
Tea~
Celestial Seasonings Black Cherry Berry. A friend of mine, who is also a co-worker, brought this tea to my rescue when I was sick. It's DELICIOUS! A slight tartness from the cherry and sweetness from the berry. YUM! I hope they sell this one on it's own (this came in a variety box)
Coffee~
Archer Farms (Target) Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée. I love trying new K-Cups. When I saw this at Target I knew I was going to love it. I drink this with Creme Brûlée Creamer and that just adds to the yumminess! I hope they carry this year round because I will be so sad if they don't.
Food~
Homemade salads with lot's of yummy toppings: Mixed greens, beets, mushrooms, feta, grape tomato, avocado, grilled chicken, and any kind of vinagarette dressing.
I obviously don't have a picture to share for this because the last thing I think about when I am hungry is stopping to take a picture. Sorry guys!
Song~
One thing you may not know about me is that I LOVE me some country music! Most days I will listen to either country or K-Love (Christian). Now obviously I haven't been listening to these songs ALL year, but at the moment these are my top picks.
Country is "Love" by Jana Kramer
Christian is "Completely" by Among the Thirsty
Phew!! That was a long one! Sorry girls! I hope you enjoyed this post. What were some of your favorite products of 2014?
Blush~
Tarte Amazonian Clay
I own several of these blushes and they're all amazing! They stay true to color all day. They blend out easily and they come in a great range of colors. I try to get my hands on these when they have holiday kits even though those typically are a smaller size than the full sized products. They last forever because it only takes a tiny bit to get the color you need.
Highlight~
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Love, love, LOVE this highlighter. Beware it can be very over powering if you don't use a tiny amount. This gives the most gorgeous shimmer to the skin. I've also used this as a highlight in my inner corner and it's beautiful there too!
Setting Spray~
MAC Fix+ & NYX Dewy
Love these both. I am getting down to the bottom of my Fix + so I will need to get another one soon. Fix + is my all time favorite setting spray. But, I'm too cheap to use it everyday (at work) I will set my makeup with this on the weekends and definitely for special occasions. I will apply a few sprays directly to my face and then allow to air dry. NYX Dewy is a great drugstore setting spray. It leaves your skin looking so healthy and glowy without looking oily. I spray two pumps in the air and let this fall on to my face. I have found if I spray this directly on my face, as I do with Fix + it can make my skin look more oily later in the day than I'd like.
Lip Balm~
EOS
Long time fan of these lip balms. I buy them at Costco in the jumbo packs when I can. I go through these babies like it's going out of style. I have one on my vanity, one by the couch, one in my drawer at work, one in my purse. They're just great. They give my lips the perfect amount of moisture and they last on my lips for a long time.
Lipstick~
Maybelline Color Sensational Line. I own so many of these and they are all great! They're affordable and come in a great range of colors and finishes. They feel good on the lips. When I am wearing these I have to make sure to bring the lipstick along with me to touch ups.
Lipgloss~
NYX Butter Gloss. These are the 2 that I had in my vanity. The other one (Strawberry Parfait) is in my purse. I wear them all on a regular basis. They have a delicious vanilla scent. They are very comfortable on the lips, and their shine lasts a long time.
Book/TV Show~
I hardly ever read. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading but I always fall asleep when I do. So I don't have a favorite book at the moment.
My favorite TV show is Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives or Nail'd It. My two favorite things: Food and Nail art. Haha!
Tea~
Celestial Seasonings Black Cherry Berry. A friend of mine, who is also a co-worker, brought this tea to my rescue when I was sick. It's DELICIOUS! A slight tartness from the cherry and sweetness from the berry. YUM! I hope they sell this one on it's own (this came in a variety box)
Coffee~
Archer Farms (Target) Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée. I love trying new K-Cups. When I saw this at Target I knew I was going to love it. I drink this with Creme Brûlée Creamer and that just adds to the yumminess! I hope they carry this year round because I will be so sad if they don't.
Food~
Homemade salads with lot's of yummy toppings: Mixed greens, beets, mushrooms, feta, grape tomato, avocado, grilled chicken, and any kind of vinagarette dressing.
I obviously don't have a picture to share for this because the last thing I think about when I am hungry is stopping to take a picture. Sorry guys!
Song~
One thing you may not know about me is that I LOVE me some country music! Most days I will listen to either country or K-Love (Christian). Now obviously I haven't been listening to these songs ALL year, but at the moment these are my top picks.
Country is "Love" by Jana Kramer
Christian is "Completely" by Among the Thirsty
Phew!! That was a long one! Sorry girls! I hope you enjoyed this post. What were some of your favorite products of 2014?
Until next time...
Xoxo,
Adela
DISCLAIMER: all products mentioned were purchased with my own money.
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