Hold on a moment, I need to heave a sigh, my facial cleanser got left on the bed and didn’t make it into the group shot…sigh* will do an insert. So, on with it. I basically realized I needed to do this minutes after a chopping frenzy in the kitchen for New Year’s Eve dinner, and on top of all that, the sun was beginning to set. Talk about well-planned (not).
Well VSCO helped me along and a photo with flash didn’t seem too bad of an idea, ITG and NYLON make it work anyway. I didn’t do “high-end/low-end” equivalents for everything but it’s a smashing good mix I think. I did not trim it down to a significant number like 10 or 20 (happy cackle), I have about 30+ products in here, and they all function differently. Note, one or two items are not available locally. Read more (click “more”) to get to the complete list of my best picks for 2013. Happy New Year!
BEST BODY MOISTURIZER - LUSH Cosmetics CELEBRATE Body Lotion (A treat for hands and feet),
BEST DRUGSTORE PALETTE – BYS “Guilty Pleasures” Palette (Great smooth payoff, minimal fallout, awesome shades)
BEST MAKEUP REMOVER - The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (Bi-phase, non-irritating, lovely)
BEST FACIAL SKIN TREATMENT – Pai Organics Rosehip BioRegenerate Facial Oil (An overnight re-balancing wonder)
BEST FACIAL TONER – Moringa-O2 Herbal Facial Toner (Alcohol-free, soothing, and hydrating)
BEST CAKE CONCEALER – MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer (Great full coverage for spots, pigmentation, and blemishes)
BEST EYE CREAM – Shiseido Ibuki Eye Correcting Cream (works not only as a great eye cream, but as an eyeshadow primer as well!)
BEST FACIAL CLEANSER – Le Couvent Des Minimes Gentle Cleansing Milk (Mineral-oil free, non-foaming, hydrating)
BEST SCENT – Benefit Bathina Body Oil (smells like subtle yet sweet desire, nice as a hair oil too, hair keeps scents longer)
BEST HIGH END FOUNDATION – MAKE UP FOR EVER HD (No SPF, natural finish, thin consistency, high-coverage, water and sweat resistant, tons of shades, foolproof, reliable for shoots and weddings)
BEST MID-RANGE DEWY FOUNDATION – Za Cosmetics True White Liquid Foundation SPF25 (Dewy but does not look pearly or feel sticky, gives a radiant healthy finish, probably a good local dupe for Bourjois Happy Light foundation)
BEST UNDER-EYE CONCEALER – Clinique Airbrush pen concealer (I’m Light 03, sadly I think it’s only 1 of 2 shades available locally, but Lisa Eldridge wasn’t kidding, this concealer under the eyes is brilliant and does the job, I need to repurchase one and review it, mine’s empty.)
BEST SILICONE-FREE FOUNDATION – Happy Skin Second Skin Creme (There’s none like it, it’s not a sheer base, it’s got more coverage like a BB creme and is therefore really a foundation, it’s got a fresh matte finish)
BEST DRUGSTORE MATTE FOUNDATION – BYS Matte Foundation (light texture, water-based, hydrates with glycerin, fresh longwearing finish, good warm colors up to medium deep shades).
BEST MID-RANGE MATTE FOUNDATION – ROYAL EFFEM Extreme Lasting Matte Foundation (color matches me exactly, is quite photogenic, and feels fresh)
BEST BROW PRODUCT – Benefit Gimme Brow (This gives me brows that don’t look drawn on. It gives the illusion of added hairs, nuff said)
BEST MID-RANGE MASCARA – Benefit Bad Gal WATERPROOF (Volume, Curl Hold, pretty smudge-proof,bold black lashes. Win.)
BEST LIP LINER – MAKE UP FACTORY lipliner in #80 (great lip cheat shade, plus has a lip brush on the other end, makes my lip edge look perfect.)
BEST LIP BALM – Hurraw Cold-pressed Vegan Lip balm (natural, organic, no mineral oil, awesome range of flavors, incomparable soothing texture).
BEST NAIL POLISH – REVLON Whimsical (proof, that bottle got more than half empty in one month)
BEST DEODORANT/ANTI-PERSPIRANT – NIVEA Invisible 48-hr (the scent isn’t my type, but I am a spray deo convert. I repurchased this as soon as the one Nivea sent me got to zer. No more bits in my pits!)
BEST POWDER FOUNDATION – Ellana Mineral Cosmetics (They’ve relaunched and I so owe you guys a review, this powder =poreless coverage, intense matte pigmentation. I love using it to correct smoky eyeshadow that’s gone overboard, it covers the outer corner sins like nothing else)
BEST FINISHING POWDER – Laura Mercier Loose Mineral Powder (Want that angelic glow without looking like a pearl? Try this, it illuminates the face without looking sparkly)
BEST HIGHLIGHTER – Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick (Gorgeousness in a compact, softly sweep over facial high points for some show-stopping refined glow)
THIS PART IS STILL BEING WRITTEN BUT I NEEDED TO PUBLISH BEFORE 12MN, HAHAHA HAPPY NEW YEAR!
