A large collection of makeup and nail favourites for the last year is here!
Favourites means products that I've tried, I've loved, I will continue to use into the next year, and once finished, I would repurchase (even with an overwhelmingly high price tag). Today, my favourite makeup products of 2014. Tomorrow, everything else!
< blush > Over 2014, I had a slight obsession with dual-purpose lip/cheek products. They're fast finger products that make getting ready in a rush easy. The slightly oily texture of the
Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Cream in Endless Guava ($23) provides a sheer pink-red moisturized and dewy tint to both the lips and cheeks. The
Shu Uemura Tint in Gelatos weighed in at a close second but it's on-the-lips performance is not nearly as great as Josie's.
< bronzer > I've already dubbed the
New York Color Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny ($2.99) as my holy grail bronzer. There's no need to spend more than a few coins on a good bronzing powder.
< eyeliner > I emptied out the
Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Eye Pencil in Black Brown* ($36, reviewed in other colours
here) in 7 months after using it almost daily. Although I haven't reviewed it yet (because it's already gone), this one's on my to-repurchase list for a long-wearing natural upper lash liner.
< eyeshadow > The new formula of the
Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I-514* ($25) kind of sort of amazed me. The cool toned brown with gold shimmer is my go-to for an all-over-the-lid shade. It was also my most read post of 2014.
< foundation > My first mid-priced foundation purchase of the
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + ($42) was well worth it. Though it's a little heavy to wear all the time, the impressively medium-buildable,
matte-but-not-flat, long-wearing coverage is perfect for bad-skin days, special events, and photoshoots.
< highlighter > I'm still getting through the mini birthday sample of
Benefit Watt's Up ($36, review pending) from 2013. The champagne-gold cream highlight worked well with my colouring, especially during the summer. You'll find it in a couple of my beauty looks and hopefully there will be a full review in the near future!
< lip balm > The
EOS Visibly Smooth Lip Balm in Coconut Milk* ($3.99) has a permanent place in my school backpack. One - it's moisturizing without leaving a lot of residue. Two - it smells
amazing but not overpoweringly so.
< lip gloss > I recently finished up the
Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Just Plum* (~$6) and I'm on to a new tube of Cantaloupe. I always get compliments when I wear Just Plum. It's lightweight, slightly sheer but adds enough colour to look like you're actually wearing something. Not to mention, the gloss smooths over the lips, hiding all of my lip lines and dryness.
< mascara > I must have gone through at least 3 tubes of the
CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara* ($8.99), since I've been following the
three-months-then-toss-it rule. Even through my reviewing of much more pricey mascaras, the Clump Crusher has done my lashes good. It's everything I ever needed - no-smudge, non-clumpy volume, non-flaky, and all-day wear.
< tool> With the introduction of a sponge in my foundation routine, the
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge* ($9.99) has been a game changer. Damp sponge foundation application provides no-cake, flawless coverage. The sponge is semi-damaged after 8 months, so I'm in the process of testing the famed arm-and-a-leg priced sponge dubbed *beauty blender*.
