This is a particularly fun linkup, because I’m always curious to find out what products my fellow beauty bloggers and readers are currently obsessed with. In this week’s roundup I wanted to share my favorite beauty discoveries of 2014. Most of these I bought myself, and some were generously provided by brands and PR companies, but all of them quickly earned a spot in my top drawer [where I keep my most-used products]. I hope this list inspires you to take a look at one or more of these pretties and maybe pick up a few as presents for yourself or someone else. Trust me, they’re all fantastic!
Best Cleanser Award goes to… my favorite TATCHA Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, because it takes off all of my makeup and all the junk from the pores in just one wash. And yes, I really discovered it this year, even though I feel like I’ve been using it for ages.
Best Serum Award goes to… the skincare innovators from RE:CIPE by Nature and their miss.age Snail Anti Wrinkle Serum for its amazing ability to make my skin look plump and healthy, even when I’m sleep deprived. This is a very small company from Korea and their products are hard to find, but literally everything I tried from them has been amazing. This serum tops all the charts, though – just check its COSDNA analysis to see what I mean. It’s great for all skin types, even oily!
Best Moisturizer Award goes to… a very recent discovery [like, literally, it’s been just over a week], Dr. MJ Real Mucin Restore Cream. I am so in love with it right now! They weren’t kidding when the company promised fast results, my skin is like 5 years younger after a week, and my acne marks are fading faster than when I use a potent Vit C serum. There are several other moisturizers that I love, but at the time of this post, this one is my favorite.
Best Eye Cream Award goes to… none other than Supergoop! SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream! A predictable pick, I know, because I’ve been raving about this eye cream in several Weekly Favorites posts. Speaking of weekly faves, I plan to bring back the series very soon!
Best Makeup Remover Award goes to… crazy expensive Erno Laszlo Multi-pHase Makeup Remover, and the only way I’ll buy more without going bankrupt is through Hautelook. I stalk those sales like a hawk and even set an alarm sometimes to make sure I don’t miss it, no kidding!
Best Hand Cream Award goes to… ultra-moisturizing La Mer The Hand Treatment and TATCHA Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream, because it was a tie and I just couldn’t choose one. I love both for different reasons: TATCHA is great when I’m at home, and La Mer is my go-to when I’m out and about.
Best for Problem Skin Award goes to… two products, actually! They are SheaTerra Organics African Black Soap and JustNeem Neem Clay Mask. Whenever my skin is acting up, I slap on the neem mask and then wash my face twice a day with black soap. They help remove irritation after one day, and clear up my face in less than a week.
Best Lip Balm Award goes to… Caudalie Lip Conditioner. It’s the butteriest and tastiest lip treatment, and I use it several times a day. The only problem is that it runs out so fast!
Best Makeup Primer Award goes to… dr. brandt pores no more pore refiner, and it’s the best primer for combination and oily skin. It smooths the surface of the skin, and even heals small irritations with tea tree oil.
Best Foundation Award goes to… Eddie Funkhouser Luxlight Revitalizing Foundation. I have a different HG product for this category that I’ve been using for years, but this foundation is the next best thing, and gives me better coverage.
Best Concealer Award goes to… tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer for its thick pasty concistency and the ability to cover every blemish and discoloration, while staying perfectly put all day long. And the tiniest bit goes a very long way! I’ll definitely repurchase this one.
Best Setting Powder Award goes to… Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Loose Powder, because once it sets it stays for that perfect matte face. I know some people like dewy look, and so do I, but when I need a shine-free look, this is my go-to.
Best Bronzer Award goes to… considering that I rarely use bronzers, the only one I bought this year was Physicians Formula Bronze Booster, and I actually really like it, and the packaging is absolutely gorgeous. It also doubles as a highlighter, so I don’t need to apply another product when I use this one. Speaking of…
Best Highlighter Award goes to… Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01, and there is nothing matte about this one. It gives my skin the most natural-looking radiant glow, and the color is perfect for any complexion.
Best Mascara Award goes to… a drugstore favorite from Milani! Their Total Lash Cover Mascara with a crazy looking wand applies without clumps, and makes my lashes look long and bushy.
Best Eye Brow Product Award goes to… Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express kit, that includes two shadows of brow powder, a brow setting paste, a highlighter, a light eye shadow, an assortment of stencils, and a brow brush. This kit saved me so much time looking for the perfect products, and taught me how to do my eyebrows. It’s really a great buy for a brow newbie!
Best Eye Shadow Award goes to… Le Metier de Beaute. The Kaleidoscopes and eye shadow singles I received via Vault VIP program this year have been absolutely amazing, and they’re now in constant rotation.
Best Blush Award goes to… two products again. I just couldn’t decide here because I love them both! One is Clinique Cheek Pop and the other is Milani Baked Powder Blush in Bella Rosa. Both blushes are everything I could ever wish for in a beauty product – top notch pigmentation, fabulous staying power, and beautiful vibrant colors that blend like a dream.
Best Lip Gloss Award goes to… Milani Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss. No seriously, guys, these lip glosses are the bomb, and I couldn’t be happier with them. I’m a little bit of a snob when it comes to makeup, and I’m always extra skeptical about the quality of drugstore brands, but I seriously couldn’t find a single flaw in any of Milani’s glosses. Try them, you won’t be disappointed!
Best Lipstick Award goes to… Urban Decay Revolution lipstick for its buttery feel, gorgeous packaging, longevity and high pigmentation. I own them in several colors, and they’re some of the most-used lipsticks in my stash. It’s also a great lipstick for people who hate lipstick, because it feels like a balm on the lips.
Best Beauty Tool Award goes to… WISH Eye Curl Heated Lash Curler, because seriously, nothing works better. I tried several other heated curlers, but this one is hands down the best among them all.
Best Fragrance Award goes to… Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee, which was basically my fragrance of the year. It’s not a spring break vanilla, but rather a vanilla for grownups, if that makes any sense. It’s sweet and “edible”, but still sophisticated and chic. I love it!
