Best of 2013 | Make up

       

       

           

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

To kick off my 'Best of 2013' posts I wanted to start with my favourite category, make up! A little round  up of the products I have loved and used most this past year.

Foundation is my weak spot so you shouldn't be surprised that two have made it here. A high end pick that saw me through Spring and Summer being YSL's 'Touché Éclat' that helped me to achieve a dewy, Summer glow whilst offering medium coverage and smelt delicious! This'll be brought back out as soon as the Sun starts shining in 2014! The second, Rimmel's 'Stay Matte Mousse' although a newer purchase in my make up bag, still one that hasn't left it from October and will be brought with me into the new year. At just £5.99 a tube and readily available in most Boots and Superdrugs there's no worry of wasting it just to wear to work like with high end foundations. It's staying power rivals that of Estée Lauders 'Double Wear' and the colour match works for me spot on. 

I know a Naked Palette will appear in most yearly favourites but for me nothing came close. A neutral eye lovers must have palette that contains 12 super pigmented, blend-able, long lasting shades with a mix of shimmers and mattes. Compact enough to travel with to easily create subtle everyday looks to a deep, dark smokey eye. My most used shades this year have been 'Sin' for all over the lid and 'Smog' blended into the crease. I think the Naked 2 and 3 palettes are going to be New Year purchases! 

Chanel's 'Tan de Soilel' had to have a place here as my most luxurious product purchased. Having never tried a cream bronzer before this I didn't know what to expect but found myself reaching for it everyday in the warmer months. It's creamy texture allows it to glide evenly over the skin enhancing a signs of a tan and adding bronze radiance. I found wearing it alone on holiday whilst I had a tan worked great at evening out my skin tone without having to apply foundation. I still pull it out now for special occasions although I'm worried about using it up! The packaging as you would assume from Channel is truly stunning and I can see myself repurchasing again and again just to have in my collection. If you wanted to try something similar without splashing out on this the Bourjois 'Bronzing Primer' is a great drugstore dupe for a fraction of the price. 

Being a girl of routine I sometimes find it hard to stay away from products I know just work which is why this Mac blush in 'Pinch Me' is so well used. My fail safe blush that I must've worn at least 300 days this year couldn't not be featured. If I'm ever in doubt, in a rush or just want to look like me this will be on my cheeks. 'Pinch Me' is a sheertone, matte blush from Macs permanent range. This terracotta coloured blush doesn't look much in the pan but once applied really compliments any skin tone adding to your natural flush. Application is defiantly the key to achieving a natural look with this one as it is very pigmented so a light hand and blending may be needed. I can't believe I haven't picked up any more of the sheertone blushes, another to add to my list!  

The final product I have included had to be a lip product. I'm rarely seen without something on my lips whether it be a lipstick, gloss or even just a balm. I hate the feeling of dry lips so you'll find at least 5 different options in my bag at all times! Choosing a lip product was by far the hardest task throughout all the Best of posts. I had to go with my favourite that has been applied throughout the year and never been bored of, the Clarins 'Instant Lip Perfector' in 01. It's a gloss like texture which is in no way sticky yet stays on the lips and gives off a sheer sweep of colour. I'm a huge fan of the applicator these have, it's so soft on my lips I can just sit there reapplying and reapplying! Great for when you are on the go or in a hurry to make you look polished and put together. I'm so impressed with how long my mini version has lasted me, as soon as it runs out ill be picking up a full size.

And that's it for my Best of 2013 Make Up products, let me know if you've tried any of these products or if you have any recommendations I should try from products you have loved this year! 

The Repurchases

       

       

       

       

       

      

        

Occasionally I come across products that just work and those products will be repurchased over and over (and even sometimes over- I'm looking at you Collection 2000 concealor!) again. My safety products I know will work if all else fails. 

I'm slightly ashamed to even be showing you how many tubes of the Collection 2000 concealor I've accumulated over a short time (and I'm sure plenty have been thrown away as well!) but surely that just shows you how much I like it. It doesn't get much better than using a new tube when you've been scraping the edges for product. If I need a concealor with high coverage, that'll last all day and blends effortlessly ill grab this. The colour range is limited as with most drugstore concealors so I tend to mix and match between a couple depending on the time of year which works great. As you can see from the packaging the writing down the side comes off almost immediately but at £4.19 a tube I can see myself forever repurchasing just in case. 

If its a foundation that's budge proof, available in an array of colours with a high coverage you're after look no further than Estée Lauder Double Wear. If anyone asks for a recommendation my reply is always 'Have you tried double wear?!' Its best points for me are that I can apply it in the morning before work and it'll still be there by the time I get home 11 hours later which I can't say for many other foundations I've tried. I like to apply it with my Real Techniques 'buffing brush' to achieve a flawless base. A quick tip I've learnt is you've got to work with it fast or its staying where its been put! 

I only recently repurchased the Bourjois bronzer which I mentioned in my last post and its made its way firmly into my everyday routine. It's so quick and easy to use with a quick swirl of my Gosh Kabuki brush then a sweep over the face to give you that holiday glow in seconds. I also did a review of the Make Up Forever mascara in my 'Holiday Haulin' post from the summer. I've tried a few other mascaras since then but always find myself gravitating back to this to give my eyelashes that extra oomph. The extra black looks great for defining the lashes whilst lengthening and adding volume all in one, if only it was easier to get hold of in the UK.

What are your most repurchased products? 

Boots Hauling

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

After suffering with that dreaded Sunday feeling a few weekends ago I headed to Boots with an urge to spend money and forgot about the weekend nearly being over. Luckily (for my bank balance!) Boots had a 3 for 2 offer across all make up so it would've been rude not to! Here are the three items that have taken up place in my make up bag recently..

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in 'On and on bronze' 

Not one to usually jump on the bandwagon just because of the hype, the Maybelline Color Tattoos are loved by so many I couldn't resist any longer. I opted for the shade 'On and on bronze' which as you may be able to guess is a neutral based, wearable, metallic bronze. It's super quick and easy to apply for those mornings when you're in a rush and just want a wash of colour over the lid, I like to apply it with my finger and then blend it out with a brush. I've heard they work great as a base for other eyeshadows too, they've been said make other shadows last longer and add vibrancy. I'm shocked at how creamy and smooth the texture of this is and haven't had any problems with creasing. Ill defiantly be looking to pick up more.

Maybelline 'Mega Plush Volum' Express' Mascara

I rarely leave the house without mascara so having a good couple is essential in my make up bag. I've been a big fan of the Maybelline 'Falsies' mascara for a while so thought it about time I try one of the new releases from the range. I think the turquoise and pink packaging sold it to me! 'Mega Plush' is Maybelline's first gel mousse formula that is light weight and leaves your lashes long and fluttery. I do think 'Volum' Express' is slightly miss leading, it does add volume and length but I wouldn't go to this for that specifically. I've been leaning more towards wearing this in the daytime for a wide eyed, awake look and my Make up Forever Smoky Lash in the evenings. My main gripe with this mascara is the flexi wand, I like the concept but for me it just doesn't work. When applying to your lashes the resistance you can apply is just far too low and the brush ends up wobbling around all over the place! I will persist with and continue to use it for work but don't think ill be repurchasing! 

Bourjois 'Delice de Poudre' Bronzer 

The infamous Bourjois 'chocolate' bronzer as known to most. This is a re-purchase I've been meaning to pick up for a while after smashing my last one into hundreds of little pieces. A good bronzer is a staple in my make up bag for achieving a glow i try to keep all year round. Its the perfect shade of bronze that adds a natural looking colour without leaving you muddy or dirty looking that applies smooth and evenly. I tend to apply it with my 'Gosh' Kabuki which is more dense than a regualr big fluffy brush to really work it into the skin to create an airbrushed finish. On first glance it looks matte which I like but if you look closely does contain subtle shimmer particles. I think i shall be adding  Nars 'Laguna' to my collection next, have any of you tried it?