2014 Beauty Favourites

Hello! And welcome to my Beauty Favourites for 2014. Hope the new year is treating you well.

I wanted to make this post as soon as possible before it become ridiculous and redundant, though somehow I feel these favourites are my basic, consistent, go-to products. 

So, without further ado, let's jump into it.

First up are my base products, primer and foundations.

The POREfessional from Benefit is tried and true, keeps my foundation on my t-zone and pores looking minimal. Days that I don't use this, I notice. In the beginning of the year I was using the Kat Von D Lock-It foundation on the regular, but the colour and coverage were not exactly what I was looking for. I switched it up with L'Oreal True Match in W3, and recently I'm in love with the Ready, Set, Gorgeous foundation from Cover Girl in 115. 

MAC was king this year when it came to concealer for me. Pro Longwear in NW 20 and Prep + Prime in Radiant Rose. The only thing I would've liked to try is a different shade in Pro Longwear to be a little more brightening, but that's where the pen came in handy.

Before I bought Anastasia Beverly Hills products, I used NYX Brow cake powder... and I must say recently I've been leaning back that way, the only difference being that I'm using my Brush #12. I do love the Brow Wiz in Medium Brown and will continue to use and repurchase as necessary.

Eyeshadow this year was not as fun and vibrant as I once did. Very regularly all I would do was pop the lightest of the matte shades from the Smashbox Full Exposure palette on my lid, either the warm or cool blending shade in the crease, and move on. Because I have this palette and it looks like there is a lot of product left, I haven't expanded my horizons with neutrals which is my goal this year. I do like this palette and think that it does the job, I just think there's something better out there. Below are a selection of Makeup Geek shadows I do love and will continue to use. From left to right are: Vanilla Bean, Peach Smoothie, Cosmopolitan, Bitten, Cocoa Bear, and Corrupt. 

My mascara wardrobe has consisted of L'Oreal Waterproof formulas this year. I started with Voluminous Carbon Black, which was alright. Then I used Voluminous Million Lashes which I think is my favourite, but I did part with it as it was dried right up. This is Voluminous Lash Out Butterfly which I  like but don't love the wand. I also have Miss Manga which I want to toss because the very bendy wand means I regularly have mascara all over my face, not cute, and the formula is not as black as I would prefer. What is black as black can be is this Perversion liner from Urban Decay. Sweet Baby Jesus do I ever love this to tight line and in the waterline if I'm going for a smoky look. Liquid liner of choice this year started being Kat Von D, I believe I bought this in a 3 pack I'm embarrassed to say how long ago... but it has since dried up and I love me some Physician's Formula Eye Booster Pen.  

 For the face, once again Anastasia and Mac were where it's at. The contour kit has been everywhere and for good reason. The shades work for me I especially love Vanilla and Fawn. Mac Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in Medium has been a go-to for months. I have been using NARS Orgasm in this Foreplay palette for months also, no idea how long ago this was put out and I should probably just retire it and buy the single. And the Stila All-Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten. Oh. My. Gosh. Gorgeous, I have been in love for months. Though I am too fair for the darker of the two shades to work as a cheekbone highlight. 

Lippies of note were Essence # 52 In The Nude, super creamy formula and I do still love it, but L'Oreal came out with Jennifer's Nude and I swear I have never loved a lip colour as much as I love JLo's nude. I invested in an Agave Lip Mask from Bite Beauty and I wish I had gotten the original rather than the Champagne colour, but it still does all the wonderful magical things it is supposed to. Lip liners of the year started out with the NYX retractable liner in Vanilla Sky, again until I met Mac's Oak. I don't think that love affair is ending anytime soon.

Final loves are the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, which I do find extends the wear of my makeup, I don't get foundation transfer anywhere near what I do without this spray. It's bomb.

And to remove it all is Bioderma. My eyes are so sensitive and they don't complain a bit when I use this to remove my eye makeup. Because I wear waterproof mascara it doesn't always remove 100% but it definitely makes a dent in them for sure, while completely removing the rest of my eye makeup. 

My one major disappointment for the year was from Benefit Cosmetics.

I. Hate. This. 

I find it impossible to get a nice, clean line. The product takes forever to come out, I do leave the orange tab in that it comes with, but I sit and err on the side of caution because all the reviews I watched and read said that it came out very quickly. Uh uh. Not for this girl. Even the first few times I used it when I first purchased it I would twist a couple of clicks and wait..... and twist a couple more and wait... after repeating a few times the tiniest amount of product would come out and initially it's very dry so that is wasted product. Once past that point the rubber applicator on my lid did not want to slide nicely and I'd be having trouble and the product would dry up again. After trying and testing I have to say about a dozen times I've got to say I've given up. Cool concept but it just doesn't work for me.

Rant over.

Hope this helped as some suggestions for you, I will add that I do have fair, oily skin so some of these products/shades may not be ideal for those with dry, darker or more golden skin tones. 

Please leave any favourites you would like to share in the comments, and if anyone has figured out They're Real Push Up Liner, let me know as well!