Birds Words | Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle: highlighter

Showing posts with label highlighter. Show all posts

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Bobbi Brown | Brightening Finishing Powder

When I first heard of Bobbi Brown's Brightening Finishing Powder, I was intrigued to say the least. It sounded like my perfect product - I much prefer a subtle, healthy glow as opposed to an obvious highlight, so a product that promises an natural, all-over brightening effect quite tickled my fancy. Said to instantly illuminate the skin with a healthy looking glow, this powder is infused with a skin brightening blend of Mulberry and Grape extracts to keep skin fresh and smooth looking. It won the award for 'Best Finishing Powder' in the Elle UK Beauty awards in 2012 and has been highly rated and reviewed online. It's safe to say I couldn't wait to get my mitts on this beauty...

Firstly, I have to say that there's no doubt that Bobbi Brown gets packaging spot on the mark - I fell instantly in love. In a sleek, mirrored compact encased in a luxurious, black pouch and white box, the finishing powder is really quite something. The product itself feels luxurious and weighty, and the mirrored finish is so pretty. The powder itself is simply stunning in the pan - containing a mix of 6 different shades which, when blended all together, work towards brightening and correcting the tone of the skin. I have the shade 'Brightening Nudes', which consists of a mix of lilac, brown and neutral shades perfect for pale to medium skin tones.

The powder is finely milled and super soft to the touch, making it amazingly blendable and smooth to apply - there's no denying it's an amazing powder when it comes to texture - your skin is left feeling baby soft after a couple of sweeps. One thing I noticed when it came to application was the shimmery finish the product has. As much as I do like a slight sheen, I was slightly worried about whether or not this product would be far to glittery for me. As a powder that can be used all over the face, you'd expect something with a light sheen as opposed to a full-on glittery appearance. I reserved my judgement at first, thinking that once I'd swept the top layer off, the underneath wouldn't be quite so full-on in the glitter stakes...

The colour itself is very subtle and pretty - it gives a soft-focus sort of finish to the face and provides a natural 'lit from within' effect. But (and I'm afraid there is a but) I find the glitter ruins it for me. I really wish it didn't contain as much as I think the pigments in the powder give a nice finish on their own - I personally don't think the extra shimmer is needed. I simply couldn't get away with this product in natural daylight as I find it a little too obvious for my liking - in bright lighting, you can see the individual flecks of shimmer on the skin. There's no denying that the lilac/mauve hues work really well on my skin tone and they do give a nice finish to the skin, but if I wanted an obvious highlight or a bit of shimmer, I'd have been better off opting for one of the infamous Shimmer Bricks.

I just didn't expect it to contain as many flecks of shimmer for a product that's supposed to be used all over the face and I know i'd have loved it more had it not contained so much. Believe me, I really, really wanted to fall head over heels in love with this but I'm still trying to fathom it out. It sort of works as a highlighter along the tops of the cheekbones but as an all-over brightening powder, it just doesn't quite hit the mark for me. It's such a shame as I think the concept is fantastic and it's something I really would have gotten so much use out of as I have nothing like this in my collection. I've since read a few reviews and it does seem that a lot of people love this product - so maybe I just need to apply it in a different way? Is there some sort of knack to this?! I reckon I'll persevere with it as there's no doubt it's a beautiful product, but for now - I'm not sure it's for me.

The swatches above show each individual shade along with the combined effect on the far right. It's nice that you're able to use each shade individually which makes the product slightly more versatile - the pale pearl-white shade would make a nice little highlighter and I'm drawn to the lovely pink colour in the pan too. Overall, although there's no denying this is an absolutely stunning product, I'm not sure that it's going to become a firm favourite of mine. Like I said, I'm going to keep trying with it - I think it might be a nice one to dust over the decolletage area when I have a bit of a tan going on! I have to say I think I would have gotten along much better with the 'Porcelain Pearl' version (seen here) - which contains a mix of colour correcting tones to combat dullness and, from a little bit of googling, seems to contain less shimmer. For £40.00*, it's well worth doing your research before you invest - I can see it being very hit and miss. You can buy Bobbi Brown makeup from Harrods.com here, where you'll find the range of Brightening Powders in a number of different shades.

Have you tried the Bobbi Brown Brightening Powder? What did you think?

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Glowy Winter Skin | Jane Iredale Blush, Bronzer & Highlighter

Jane Iredale is a brand I've become quite familiar with the past year. Her 'Daytime Palette' fast became one my everyday staples (full post on that here) and I instantly fell in love with the amazing pigmentation and blendable, neutral shades. Just recently, I've been using her 'Moonglow' bronzing compact along with the Purepressed Blush in 'Whisper'. I must admit, I've been using these face products on and off over the summer, but it's only recently that I've really fallen in love with them. It's around this time of year that I begin reaching for the glowy highlighters, subtle bronzers and brightening blush shades - anything to help combat dull, flat-looking winter skin - and these products seem to tick all the boxes for the perfect winter combination. Firstly, I have to say how much I adore Jane Iredale packaging. It just feels so luxe. The brand is so simple and pretty - and the smooth rose gold accents make for a lovely addition to my dressing table - especially at this time of year.

Jane Iredale / Quad Bronzer in 'Moonglow' / £29.48* - Link

Now, I have to say that I'm really not one for shimmery bronzing products. However, there's something about this quad that I really do like and it's been a dream to use now that winter has well and truly arrived. It's quite versatile as as you can swirl the shades together to create a mid-toned golden shade (see swatches below) or use them all individually depending on what you're after. There are 2 warmer toned powders which lean more gold, and 2 cooler tones which appear more like champagne/bronze sort of colours - each pair contains a lighter shade and a darker shade.

Personally, I've preferred to use them on their own - the two lightest shades work really well as highlighting shades and I took to using the gold-toned one over summer. Now that winter is here, the paler, more cool-toned 'champagne' shade is my go-to favourite and I've been using this on the tops of my cheekbones for a subtle glow. The two darker shades work well as bronzers, but instead of using them on their own, I find that applying my matte bronzer first and then layering a small amount of either one over the top (towards the tops of the cheekbones and up to the temples) works much better for a more natural appearance. It just helps to prevent my face from looking too 'flat' and gives a little bit of dimension. I've also taken to using these 2 shades on my decolletage - it gives a beautiful subtle sheen to the skin and looks lovely if you've recently fake tanned. It's not your average, everyday bronzer but its such a versatile little compact and I've really enjoyed using this - it will definitely come in very handy over the festive season and the fact that there's a good mix of warm and cool toned shades means it's a nice product to have in your collection year round.

Jane Iredale / PurePressed Blush in 'Whisper' / £15.53* - Link

Ahhh anyone who knows me knows that I'm like a magpie to a milk-bottle top when it comes to coral blushes! I use them throughout the year despite them being much more of a summer sort of shade simply because i find them much more brightening on the skin. This one has a little bit of shimmer running through it but not so much that it's entirely noticeable (if you've used Nars 'Orgasm' you'll know what I mean) - it's just the right amount for providing a subtle, healthy glow. The colour is simply stunning - a gorgeous coral peach which looks amazing on both tanned and pale skin. The consistency is what makes this blush for me though - it's just so creamy and soft - even the tiniest tap of a brush provides so much pigmentation whilst remaining ultra blendable and soft. It gives such a flawless finish to the skin and buffs in like a dream. Although I enjoyed using it through summer, I have to say I much prefer it now that my skin is a little paler - it just gives it that much needed 'lift' and makes my complexion appear much healthier.

Swatches L-R // 'Whisper' Blush // 4 individual shades in 'Moonglow' // All shades mixed in 'Moonglow'

Overall, another impressive selection of products from Jane Iredale. It's a brand I've really become quite fond of and one that I really wish I saw more of on blogs. If you're looking for some lovely everyday 'neutral' products, the range is fantastic. You can find Jane Iredale products on BeautyBay here, and also on AllBeauty. Jane Iredale's website also has some fab information on all product ranges.

Have you tried anything from Jane Iredale?

Thursday, 11 July 2013

Mac Vanilla Pigment

Mac Pigment in 'Vanilla' | £17

If you're reading this, then I'm probably sat on a beach somewhere topping up my tan or sipping on cocktails in some tropical themed bar... I scheduled a few posts for when I'm away so that Bird's Words keeps on chirpin'! One thing I've been sure to pack in my suitcase in Mac's Vanilla Pigment. Not the most practical product for travel I'll say, but one that I'm addicted to. A few weeks ago I decided to treat myself to this little beauty - I've had my eye on it ever since I first started blogging and thought I'd treat myself for Summer. I'm a big fan of contouring and highlighting so I decided on the shade 'Vanilla' - as it's hailed for being such a multipurpose product for use as both an eyeshadow and all over the body and face.

Vanilla is a lovely creamy milky sort of shade with teeny-tiny hints of glimmer. It's fast become my favourite highlighter and I absolutely love wearing it in the inner corners of my eyes to brighten and highlight the eye area. I dust a little over my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and above my cupid's bow on my lips - it just adds the perfect finishing touch to your makeup and is instantly brightening and lifting to the complexion. I can see why this product is such a cult-fave. It's unbelievably pigmented and even the tiniest bit provides intense colour pay off - because it's pure pigment a little goes a very long way and it's still really easily blended and smoothed out on the skin.

I find it a little similar to my Nars Albatross but just a little more natural looking as it isn't as gold once blended - it's definitely more noticeable than other highlighters I own but this is what I love about Vanilla. It's striking yet easy to work with and the glimmers in it don't look give you glitter ball face (hooray!). Yes, it's a little pricey - but my goodness it's worth it! You only need the tiniest bit on your brush and you're good to go. It can be a little messy and you need to be careful if you're the clumsy type - but it's worth every penny. I love the fact that this shade is so versatile (I even dusted some down the centre of my legs the other day and it looked fab!) - if you're after a good inner-corner shade for your eyes or a new highlighting powder then it's worth looking into the Vanilla pigment. I cannot wait to wear it with a tan as I can imagine it will look even more striking!

Have you tried Mac Pigments? What's your favourite?

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

April Favourites

It's the beginning of another month. Which can only mean one thing. Favourites time! I do hope you have all been enjoying the rare occurrence that has been this wonderfully sunshine-y bank holiday! For those of you who are blessed to live in sunnier climes (lucky devils, you), it is simply an unwritten rule that whenever the sun decides to show itself in the UK, everybody, everywhere across the whole country must adorn their summer wardrobes, dust down their flip-flops and herd to the nearest watering hole. And stay there. Even when the sunlight is fading for the day and a mere strip of light on the pavement is all that remains of the excitement of the past few hours, we stay there. Until every last ray that we can possibly squeeze from the day has disappeared. And even then, by heck are we taking our sunglasses off!? I love it when the sun comes out - it's amazing how much happier it makes you feel and even the simplest things like going for a walk and queueing for a Mr Whippy feel like the most exciting thing you've done since forever. The pubs are full of bare beer bellys and football shirts galore, and the air is filled with many a whiff of BBQ's from every single garden on the street. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a red-hot summer now (even if red-hot simply means that we remain in decent double figures for more than the one week of nice-ness we usually get..) Anyway, typical British rambles aside...here are a selection of my monthly loves..

| Moroccan Oil Treatment |

After using my mother's sample size of the Moroccan Oil treatment, it's safe to say I'm hooked. So much so I now have a fuller version. You may have seen my post a while back on my love for hair oils (here), and my love very much remains the same. I can't say I can tell a huge difference between this and my Macadamia Oil, but the smell of the Moroccan Oil is just divine. Honestly. I urge you to sneak a little sniff of this beauty if ever you get the chance. It's just what dreams are made of. Yes, it's pricey. But it's worth every penny and a bottle like this would last you an absolute age! It leaves your hair feeling incredibly soft and nourished and I will never ever wash my hair again without applying some form of oil to the ends. Honestly, trust me on this - never again will conditioner simply be enough. I really want to try their shampoo and conditioner now - my mum uses them and loves them to bits so I'm definitely on the hunt for some to try for myself now!

| Mac Turquatic Perfume |

The sun came out. So it's only fair that this little beauty came out too. If you have never copped a sniff of this summer-staple, I urge you to do so right away. Seriously, go knock yourself out and drown yourself in it. It's beautiful. Now, I'm no good with describing scents whatsoever, but I shall try to nonetheless. Imagine sitting by a pool somewhere tropical, cocktail firmly in hand and the sound of the sea gracing your ears. It sounds obviously cheesy, I know, but conjure up an image of your ideal sunshine getaway and this perfume is exactly what it would smell like. Right down to the tropical fish swimming around your ankles.

| Benefit High Beam |

I wrote about this product briefly a while back when I reviewed Benefit's Coralista set (here) and I've always enjoyed using it. Ever since I first sampled 'Sun Beam' a while back it's safe to say I've had great admiration for these highlighters. The past month, I've been using this over all of my powder highlighters (my Nars 'Albatross' has taken a firm backseat for now) and I just love the dewy glow it gives. You don't need a lot at all, and just a few dots of it along your brow bone and your cheek bones blended into the skin with a small fluffy brush gives such a gorgeous bit of dimension to the face without being glittery. I find it looks a lot more natural than my powder highlighters and it's perfect for the slightly warmer weather we are having - I love that it looks dewy and glowy without looking false. It looks like your own skin. No glitterball-face in sight! I even pop a few dabs on my chest area if I'm going out - it's such a versatile product, and one that I guess I didn't realise just how good it was until just recently. I'll definitely be buying the full size bottle once this runs out - and I really want to try Moon Beam now.

| Nyx Cream Blush in 'Natural |

This blush is one of my spring/summer staples (I actually have two pots of it so I have back-up!) and I included it last year in my 'Top 5 Summer Blushes' (you can have a nosey at that here). I have another shade of theirs and absolutely adore the consistency. I'm really not a fan of cream to powder blushes as I find them drying - so this one is perfect because its moisturising enough to feel silky smooth on your cheeks but not so heavy that it slides off. Nyx have got the creamy texture spot on the mark and I get a good few hours wear out of them before they fade. They don't go patchy either. I simply love the shade - it's a perfect pinky-nude shade, making in the perfect summer companion.

| Loreal Super Liner Perfect Slim Liquid Liner |

OOf. What a mouthful! I'm a big fan of liquid liner. And a big fan of Loreal's. I usually use their ever-famous Super Liner Carbon Gloss, but on a recent makeup spree I decided to throw this one in the basket instead. I wasn't instantly fussed but now I find I'm reaching for it quite a bit and I really quite like it! It's different to the Carbon Gloss due to the slightly thinner, and less flexible tip that makes it more of a felt-tip styled liner. It's slightly less glossy and looks a little more matte in finish. What I love is the the fact that you're able to vary the weight of line effortlessly, and cat-flicks on the outer corners of your eyes are much easier to achieve. I really like it. Stays put all day, a doddle to apply and a offers a little more precision than other liquid liners I've tried.

| Mac Lipstick in 'Freckletone' |

I've just realised I have no photograph of the lipstick in the bullet, but I've actually taken photos for a compilation of my nude lipstick collection to be posted soon so it will be included there. This lipstick deserves a lot more recognition. If you're a fan of Shy Girl - then you will love this. It's a beautiful glossy mid-peach/nude shade that looks very flattering on both pale and darker skins. It's also rumoured to be a favourite of Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. Who can argue with that!? It's a lustre finish so wear time can be a little disappointing, however I can overlook this. It's such a gorgeous, glossy shade and one that I've been wearing almost every day since I bought it.

Also, before I tottle off to paint some more pictures for my children's book (the end is in sight!) I thought I'd be a little bit cheeky and mention the Cosmo Blog Awards. If you're a regular reader or somebody that enjoys reading my blog, it would mean one heck of a lot if you hopped over and voted for me here (it only takes a second or too..I promise)! My category is 'Best Established Beauty Blog'. I shall give you the biggest virtual hug ever if you decide to drop little old me a mention :)

What have you been loving in April? Anything here take your fancy!?

Sunday, 7 April 2013

Lord & Berry | Luminizer Stick

Lord & Berry | Luminzer Stick | £12.00

For a while now, I've been on the hunt for a creamy highlighter that I can carry with me when I'm on the go. I've had a select few of the Nars Multiples on my wish list for quite some time, and have debated with myself whether or not to invest in Benefit's 'Watts Up' - but really, when it comes down to it, I just don't fancy the price tag. I wanted to hunt for a cheaper option, and immediately took to ASOS to browse their beauty section (a standard Sunday night past-time I shall never tire of). When I first began writing my blog, I mentioned and reviewed one of Lord & Berry's lipstick crayons (a must-have item for those of you who love a lippie or two..) - it still remains one of my firm summer favourites and when I saw their 'Luminzer Stick' - I threw it straight in the virtual basket.

The Luminizer Stick simply twists up from the bullet, and can be applied to the cheekbones, brow bone or any other area you wish to highlight. As you're all probably aware, I'm a bit of a contouring addict so having something like this in my makeup collection is very handy for on the go touch-ups. I usually favour a powder highlight, but just recently I've been applying this over my foundation to give more of a natural, dewy finish and it works wonders. You don't need much at all, and because of the creamy texture it's very blendable and smooths onto the skin easily. Wear time is a little less than my trusty Nars 'Albatross' - it does seem to fade a little easier but since I can carry this in my make-up bag in a handy little tube, I can overlook this. The consistency is quite thin, and is a little slippery, but I find it very easy to work with as it means blending and smoothing it in is a doddle.

The shade I have leans more towards a yellow, silvery tone and works very well with my skintone as it isn't overly warm. I couldn't see any other shades available on the ASOS website, and I can't seem to hunt down an alternative option on their website - there seems to be little or no variation in the shade selection - but personally this wouldn't fuss me too much as I prefer shades like this compared with warmer, pink shades anyway. The colour really brightens the complexion and I can't wait to bring this little beauty out in the summer once I start moving towards cream products on a more day-to-day basis. On tanned skin I can imagine this will look stunning.

I can safely say Lord & Berry have the potential to become a firm favourite of mine - their prices are spot on, the quality of the two products I've tried so far has been absolutely tip-top and I love the simplicity of the packaging (everything comes in a little box - yippee!) They most certainly need to be more well-known here on the bloggersphere and I urge you all to have a little nosey at the collection. I'm so glad I popped this little gem into my recent order with ASOS, and I can't wait to try some of their eyeliners next - I might even accidentally-on purpose slip another little lipstick crayon in there as well..

You can find the Lord & Berry website here

Or take advantage of student discount on ASOS here

Have you tried any Lord & Berry products? What would you recommend from the range? Please do let me know if you decide to try anything from them! I'd love to know your thoughts.

Thursday, 21 February 2013

Benefit 'Go Tropicoral' | Thoughts & Swatches

Benefit | Go Tropicoral | £24.50

A few weeks back now, I left my job of 4 years and decided it was time to move on to pastures new. My wonderful fellow colleagues decided to suprise me on my last day with some lovely beauty goodies, Benefit's 'Go Tropicoral' being one of them, and needless to say I felt rather spoilt and very, very teary to say the least! As you can imagine, since then, I've been having a great deal of fun trying out the 4 products in the set - none of which i've tried before - a beauty blogger's dream I'm sure you'll all agree! Anyway.. I thought it was about time I took some photographs, and told you all what I think. It would be silly not to!

Go Tropicoral is a wonderfully packaged little set of 4 Benefit products all of which compliment one another, giving you a travel-sized set of all the must-have items for a 'coralista' themed look. The items are all 'miniture' sized, but you still get lots of product to use, and it makes for a perfect gift! Benefit also do the similar sets in different shades and tones - offering up 'Feeling Dandy' (based around their 'Dandelion' blush) and 'Surgarlicous' (including the 'Sugarbomb' blush) - so if coral doesn't float your boat, fear not...

High Beam | 'Luminescent Complexion Enhancer' | This is perfect for highlighting areas of the face, and I use this dotted along my cheek bones and on my brow bone. It brings a certain 'light' to the face that is both subtle, yet very flattering and natural - and it blends effortlessly well into the skin. The pink-y undertones work very well with my wintery complexion, and help to brighten any dull areas. I've also used this mixed in with my daily moisturiser for all over brightening goodness! I used their 'Sun Beam' highlighter throughout summer last year, so this has been a lovely little addition to my collection that is just a really nice all-rounder and one that will compliment most make-up looks and skin tones.

Cha Cha Tint | Mango Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain | Cha Cha Tint is such a lovely strong peach shade that has a similar texture to that of High Beam. The only thing I'm not keen on with this is the fact that you have to work very quickly with it in order to get an even finish. I think I prefer it as a lip stain - it looks lovely on the cheeks too but I much prefer a cream or powder blush as opposed to a stain on my cheeks. I might change my mind in summer once my skin feels a bit more moisturised and smooth though, and I'm still very pleased to have it in my collection. Definitely will be saving this little beauty for summer..

Coralista Powder Blush | Oh my goodness. I'm so chuffed to bits that I've discovered this blush and it has to be my favourite of the bunch. I adore it. I've been wearing it almost every day and it provides such a lovely flush of colour to the cheeks. The texture and finish reminds me very much of Nars' 'Orgasm' blush - as it is fairly sheer and has a slight shimmer to it. It's just beautiful. When swatched, you don't get the full force of it - but it applies amazingly well with a fluffy blush brush - and sweeps on to the cheeks with ease, creating amazing definition and a beautiful coral flush to the cheeks that instantly brightens your skin. When this runs out, I think I'll be buying the full version. It really is a must-have in my collection as I'm a massive fan of coral/peach shades, and I really think this will look amazing on tanned skin in summer (all we need is a big fat dose of sun now please!)

Coralista Ultra Plush Lip Gloss | Lip gloss, I'll admit, is usually a dodgy area with me. It's very rare I find one that I can happily keep on my lips for longer than 5 minutes. This one, I can bare. Obviously, it still feels like you have gloss on your lips but it doesn't feel sticky or uncomfortable at all and it provides a lovely sheer wash of glossy coral colour. I suspect this will look amazing paired with Cha Cha Tint in Summer once I manage to work up a bit of a tan. That said, it looks lovely worn on it's own even now, and I've taken to wearing it over Mac's Lady Danger for an extra bit of 'oomph'. A really versatile little lip gloss and one that's just my kind of colour! It also smells really fruity and yummy...

Overall, I'm as happy as larry to have this little box set in my cosmetics collection! It really brightens up these long winter days and adds a little bit of fruity punch to my everyday makeup - what more could a girl ask for?! I love how it comes with a little 'Tips & Tricks' booklet, showing you how to use the products in different ways - it adds a nice little finishing touch to the set - it opens up to reveal a pretty decent sized mirror too. I really cannot wait to get some use out of this in the summer months, and I'll definitely be taking it away on holiday with me, that's for sure!

Have you tried any of these products? What's your favourite Benefit product right now?
♥

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Nars | Highlighting Powder in 'Albatross'

Nars Highlighting Powder in 'Albatross' | £21.00 | John Lewis (link)

Nars is fast becoming one of my go-to high end brands for makeup. Their eyeshadows are among some of the best I've ever tried, and I must admit I'm a huge lover of their 'Laguna' bronzer and blush powders. Next on my list of things to try was their ever popular 'Albatross' highlighter - a beautiful white powder that blends into a yellow-toned bright highlight colour, perfect for cheekbones and contouring. During the winter, my skin can tend to look very dull and lifeless, and I often feel as if it needs a little bit of lift; this is the perfect product for doing just that, as it brings light to the cheekbones and generally just makes you look more awake and fresh-faced. Perfect for those mornings when you feel far from bright-eyed and bushy tailed!

I apply this using my Real Techniques contouring brush (seen in a recent post here), and just the tiniest amount is all you need as it's very decently pigmented, - you do have to build it up rather than applying lots to begin with. I'm really into contouring and concentrating on my skin-base at the moment, and I've been using this daily since Christmas - to say I've hardly tapped into the surface says a lot about the quality of Nars products - they last ages.

The powder looks pure white in the pan, but when blended merges into a gold/yellow toned white that looks both natural and flattering as a highlighting colour. It also doesn't look overly shimmery which completely wins me over when it comes down to highlighting products - there's nothing I hate more than leaving the house, glancing in the mirror and realising I look like I've been in a fist-fight with the glitter-fairy! 'Albatross' provides just the right amount of 'sheen' and looks lovely in both photographs and natural light (you can see it in action in my makeup posts here and here). Needless to say, I'm superly-duperly chuffed I have this in my collection - it's the perfect compliment to the 'Laguna' bronzer and the yellow tone looks really soft and natural.

Have you tried Nars highlighting powders? Any others you could recommend?

♥

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Best of Makeup 2012 | This Year's Favourites

With the New Year almost upon us and not much to do today other than scoff the remainders at the bottom of the Quality Street tin, I thought it would be a fabulous idea to spend my Sunday completely raiding my makeup drawers! I thought I would pick out a few items that have been 'can't live without' makeup products for the past 12 months of my life...

Best Lipstick

Ok I just HAD to cheat with this one. There's no other way around this and I hold my hands up and admit that I am an absolute lipstick addict. It was impossible to pick a winner and a runner up simply because I wear different colours and shades depending on the time of year. So I picked 4 of the best additions to my collection this year.. (it's the only time I cheat throughout my whole post..promise!)

YSL | Rouge Volupte Perle in '114' - 2012 saw me purchase my first ever YSL lipstick. And the second. And the third.. Wonderfully pigmented and deliciously soft, these lipsticks simply melt onto the lips with ease. This one was gifted to me for my 22nd birthday and it's the most beautiful fuchsia pink complete with teeny tiny shimmers. If you wish to see a swatch click here.
Mac | Costa Chic - My most worn lipstick throughout the summer months and a must-have for trips abroad. Looks fabulous with a tan and is amazingly pigmented.
Mac | Shy Girl - The newest addition to my lipstick collection. I will wear this all year round without a shadow of a doubt as it's the most perfect everyday lip colour for me - a wonderful muted peachy nude (click here for a review).
Maxfactor | Ruby Tuesday - The perfect red for me. These lipsticks provide just the right amount of moisture yet don't compromise on pigmentation or wear time. (click here for a swatch and similar shades)

Best Everyday Lip Product

Winner: Burt's Bee's | Replenishing Lip Balm - I won this in the lovely Jodie's giveaway and it's been my go-to lip balm everyday since. I apply this in the morning before my makeup alongside my moisturiser and carry it in my bag for top ups throughout the day. (review here)
Runner-up: Revlon | Lip Butter in 'Creme Brulee' - A very wearable everyday lip shade that's moisturising enough to feel like a lip balm but pigmented enough to look like a lipstick. The best of both worlds. (to see my collection click here)

Best Powder

Winner: Mac | Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in 'Medium' - I'm sure this will be top of the list for a lot of you. Sets my makeup without dulling my foundation and provides a natural finish which lasts all day long (review here)
Runner up: No7 | Pressed Powder in 'Medium' - A very good powder for taking away any shine and I found this came in very handy on holiday when humid nights sometimes get the better of your makeup!

Best Blush

Winner: Illamasqua | Powder Blush in 'Lover' - I would place bets on this being in my next year's favourites too. It's just my all-time favourite blush and I wear it all year round. Amazing pigment, soft to the touch and brightens up my complexion in an instant. (for similar shades click here)
Runner Up: Revlon | Photoready Cream Blush in 'Pinched Peaches' - This was my go-to blush for the summertime and holidays abroad this year. It's quite sheer but buildable, and the consistency for a cream blush was just right for me. Not too sticky or greasy, and easily applied.

Best Bronzing Product

Winner: Nars | Powder Bronzer in 'Laguna' - Predictable? Yes. Fed up of seeing it? Maybe. But there is no denying that this little beauty is the gem in a lot of blogger's makeup bags around the world. It's natural, versatile and lasts an age.
Runner Up: Chanel Bronze Universal - A fairly new addition, but one that I cannot wait to get more use out of this summertime. I use this as a cream contour for my cheekbones. It buffs into the skin like a dream and still looks freshly applied at the end of the day. If you wish to see the product in more depth I did a post a little while back here.

Best Priming Product

Winner: Loreal | Studio Secrets Professional Smoothing Resurfacing Primer - The best primer I have used - I even preferred it to Benefit's Porefessional. It just seems to work for me and is the only primer I've found that doesn't feel greasy on me.
Runner Up: Urban Decay | Eyeshadow Primer Potion - I don't use this everyday but I use it on a regular basis. If I'm going on a night out or need my eyeshadow to last longer I won't apply my eyeshadow without it - it works amazingly well and makes your shadow apply smoother.

Best Eyebrow Product

Winner: Sleek | Brow Kit - I've just had to grab myself a new one of these hence why it looks a little..new!? I use the light or the dark version depending on how defined I want to go with my brows. Does the job and provides a very good colour pay off. I sometimes just use the powder on it's own. (I have a review of the light kit here)
Runner Up: Mac | Brow Set in 'Beguiled' - This is a fabulous product but one that took a lot of getting used to. I know for a fact a lot of people don't like the coloured brow sets (you can get a clear version) but i personally like how this one defines the eyebrows at the same time as setting any wax or powder I've applied previously. I have an in-depth review of it here.

Best Concealer

Winner: Estee Lauder | Double Wear Concealer - Provides a heavier coverage without looking cakey, even when reapplied and lasts me all day. Fabulous for under-eyes and blemishes. My all time favourite concealer.

Runner Up: Estee Lauder | Disappear Smoothing Creme Concealer - My summer concealer for all-round concealing goodness. It's slightly lighter than the double wear but lasts just as long and smooths out areas of unevenness as well as covering blemishes (review here)

Best Foundation

Winner: YSL | Touche Eclat Foundation - Smooths out my skin and feels light and fresh on the skin. I have a review of this foundation along with swatches here.
Runner up: Maybelline | Fit Me Foundation - Never have I found such a perfect match in a drugstore foundation and I have been so impressed with the Fit Me foundation. I have a review of it here if you wish to have a read about it.

Best Powder Highlighter

Winner: Nars | Highlighting Powder in Albatross - Slightly controversial since I received this for Christmas. But I've wanted it for ages and own lots of the Nars powder products and they're just such good quality. Look out for a review and swatches coming soon!
Runner-up: Sleek | Contour Kit - I've used this for a couple of years now and it's always served me well. It's not the most long lasting highlight and I always have to build it up on my cheekbones but a very flattering and natural shade and one that I will continue to go back to I'm sure.

Best Singular Eyeshadow

Winner: Nars | Eyeshadow in 'Mekong' - My first Nars eyeshadow and it certainly shall not be my last. This has to be the most pigmented shadow I own and you only need the tiniest touch of a brush to provide amazing colour. This one is fabulous for smokey eyes but also can be used for a slightly more defined daytime look.

Runner-up: Maybelline | 24 Hour Colour Tattoo - SHAMAZING! Pigmented eyeshadow that last all day and all night without fail yet also acts as a base underneath powder shadows. A wonderful versatile little pot of product and one that has been used constantly throughout 2012.

Best Palette

Winner: Urban Decay | Naked2
Runner-Up: Urban Decay| NakedBoth palettes have been a staple in my makeup collection ever since they were first released and will continue to be a daily necessity for me. The Naked 2 just tops the mark slightly as I find it has a wider range of shades suitable for both day and night. You can see my comparison of the two in this post here if you wish to view the shades in greater detail.

What has been your favourite product of 2012?
♥

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