Saturday 12 January 2013

My 2012 Beauty Favourites

I know this is a tad late, but here they finally are - my top beauty picks from 2012!

From face to eyes to lips, these products are not ones that I might necessarily use everyday, but they're ones that I seem to have kept falling in love with all year. Some are staples in my daily routine, others just products that I've met and loved and come out for special occasions. Either way, each one has very much earned a place in my beauty good books!

All Things Face

Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation (200 Soft Beige)
By far my favourite foundation I've ever used, it's light, smooth, and perfect for everyday wear. It has the coverage and finish of a foundation but feels light like a tinted moisturiser. I was lucky enough to get my mitts on this early, but it has just been released in the UK, so keep an eye out for it!

Rimmel London BB Cream (Medium)
For days when I don't want too much coverage, this is my go-to face product. It has SPF 25 and blends into the skin really nicely for a natural looking finish - no cake faces here! Definitely my favourite all-rounder product for using at the beach or casual days.

Garnier Roll-On Under Eye Concealer (Medium-Dark)
I always use this to cover up any dark circles under my eyes, and it has a very wet consistency, which I like - I find thick concealers under the eyes look cakey and crease easily, whereas this one blends in really nicely! Plus a roller ball makes it super easy to apply.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (Light 10)
I used to use stick-based concealers until I gave this liquid one a go, and I have not gone back! It covers blemishes, redness and discolouration super well, and a little goes a long way. I've had this for a good few months now (hence the tube looking a bit worse for wear!), and there is still a lot left.

NARS Multiple (Orgasm)
Once you discover creme blush, you won't go back to powder! The "orgasm" shade is one of, if not the most popular blush shade at NARS, and I see why - the gorgeous rose toned pink suits so many skin tones, and it has a really nice and gentle gold shimmer to it. Great for anyone with combination skin (or dry cheeks like me), and you can just blend it with your fingers!

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder (005 Silky Beige)
During the summer months especially, I tend to get a shiny T-Zone, but this powder nixes any oil buildup and gives my makeup a long-lasting matte finish! I did a full review of this powder here, but if you're looking for a good finishing powder that will keep your skin shine free for hours, this is it!

Eye Openers

Urban Decay NAKED 2 Palette
If you're looking for a good neutral eyeshadow palette, you really can't look past the NAKED and NAKED 2 palettes by Urban Decay. I use this palette pretty much everyday, and with 12 shades, the combinations of colours are almost endless! It's a pretty well-known and very much loved palette in the beauty world, so if you get a chance to get your hands on one, definitely do it! Unfortunately for my fellow Aussies, we can't get it here, but you can always order it online.

Lancome Color Design Eye Brightening All-in-One 5 Shadow & Liner Palette (308 Violet Magnetique) - From the Michelle Phan Glamour Eyes Set
Being a hazel-eyed lady myself, purple shadows seem to really make my eyes pop. And with a massive girl-crush on one of beauty idols Michelle Phan, I just had to get her customised palette! Each shade is super pigmented, and you can easily get a variety of day and night time looks with these colours. You can see my tutorial on the purple smokey eye using this palette here.

Flutter-Worthy Lashes

Rimmel London VolumeFlash Scandaleyes Mascara (Extreme Black)
Having been blessed (ha, funny joke) with short lashes, this mascara is a bit of lifesaver! It's thick, but not gluggy, and it really brings my lashes out and makes them look full and long. Voluminous even (I just love that word haha)! I tend to use this at nighttime or when I want my cat-eye winged liner to look extra 60s style.

Rimmel London Sexy Curves Full Figure Mascara (001 Black)
Easily my favourite day time mascara, the Sexy Curves does a top job at separating my lashes to make them look longer but not spidery. I still have to curl my lashes before hand, but once I do, this mascara really gives them the extra oomph that they need. Plus it NEVER clumps, which is a huge tick for me!

Eye Love You

Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original)
If you don't already own an eyeshadow primer, go out and get one!! This one is by far my favourite, it makes my shadow last longer and look more vibrant. Primer Potion is pretty much a makeup bag must-have, so if you don't already have it, I think you should.

Benefit Speed Brow
Not only do I have little eyelashes, but I also have tadpole-like brows. Lucky me. But combined with an eyebrow pencil, this brow gel makes it look like I have full brows! It goes on slightly tinted, and works to not only help sculpt the shape of your brows, but to also help unruly hairs behave.

Lancome Artliner
If you're a regular reader, you'll know how much I adore liquid eyeliner! I wear a cat-eye flick pretty much everyday, and this is the only liner that I trust to do it nowadays. It has a marker style tip, and the formulation is very easy to handle. It looks fantastically vibrant over eyeshadow, makes my lashes look thicker, and it's very easy to use to create winged eyes. I could rave about this one all day!

Feeling Lippy

Revlon Lip Butter (040 Red Velvet)
This is my favourite everyday red lip colour because it can be worn both sheer and boldly. It's super moisturising and looks like a stain rather than a matte lipstick, which looks lovely and natural with a bit of a punch! It doesn't need the precision or continued touching up of a matte lipstick, so it's great for just keeping in your bag for during the day.

Sportsgirl Pout About It Lip Colour (Bombshell)
Every girl needs a matte red lipstick! This shade is a universal red - cool toned to make your teeth look whiter, but not too pink or too orange. I'm constantly recommending this shade to my friends, and I haven't met a person yet who can't wear this shade beautifully!

Sportsgirl Pout About It Lip Colour (Night Owl)
I have a bit of thing for dark, brown/purple toned lip colours - I love a good vampy lip, what can I say! This shade is a sheer colour that works alone or over a lip liner. If I can't decide what colour lipstick to wear on a night out, I know I can always rely on this one. I have to be frugal with it though as it's now been discontinued at Sportsgirl, and that makes me want to cry.

Sportsgirl Pout About It Lip Colour (Pretty in Pink)
Like a statement red lipstick, every girl also needs a nude that matches her natural lip colour. I finally found mine! It's a really lovely old rose kind of colour, and if I've gone for a bold eye look, this is the lip colour I'll tone it down with. Nude/pink lip colours are also great if your lips aren't all the same colour for whatever reason (sunburn, dryness, chapped, etc.) because it hides any imperfections. Also works as a great base for bolder colours!

Maybelline Baby Lips (Pink Glow)
When my lips need a bit of a moisture hit, this is the product that does it. It also has a faint pink tint to it, so it looks like a lip stain on while it's repairing your lips. I normally have this with me at work, because who has time to touch up lipstick at work?? This is super easy, does the job, and has a nice tint to it too - what more could you need for a quick fix!

What was your favourite beauty product from 2012? Let me know in the comments below!
Share:

5 comments

  1. The Maybelline Fit Me Concealer is one of my faves as well! It gives great coverage and I must agree Urban Decays Naked range of shadows are great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't get enough of both of them, I love them so much! x

      Delete
  2. The Lancome eyeshadow wasn't that pigmented for me,so I didn't enjoy it as much and it fades fast.. but I'll prob give it a second chance ;o

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found it worked well as costume makeup, I used the darker purples for a Halloween geisha look. But I applied it over primer and foundation, maybe it came out better using that base? Good luck with it Dawnelia, let me know how it goes if you try it again! :) xx

      Delete

Thank you for all of your lovely comments, I love reading them <3 Make sure to leave a link to your blog so I can come say hi! Otherwise look out for a reply on the post :) Love xx

© taken by surprise | All rights reserved.
Blogger Template Developed by pipdig