My Favourite Beauty Items of 2012
I think it’s safe to say I don’t need to try any more products. I have everything for makeup and skin now.My skin has never been smoother, softer, and more even-toned in my life. Diet had a big thing to do with it too! I’d only like to change my makeup wipes to something more eco-friendly, Josie Maran or Korres maybe?CLEANSERS & EXFOLIANTS & MOISTURIZERS FOR SOFTER, SMOOTHER SKIN
- Korres White Tea Fluid Cleansing Gel - On my 4th bottle now!
- Clarisonic Mia Brush – Best purchase ever, my skin is smooth & exfoliated
- Dr. Dennis Grossman Extra Strength Alpha Hydroxy Wipes – Use once bi-weekly & LOVE IT
- DDF Ultra-Lite Moisturizing Dew - Super light, used as a base moisturizer year-round
- 100% Argan Oil – I like using a bit of this on my hair, and also on my face once in a while
- Yu-Be Cream – This is THE BEST for eczema, no silicones, petroleums; Used on body AND face
- Kirkland (Cost-Co) Makeup Wipes – Also the best makeup wipes but I’m looking for eco-friendly
SPF CREAMS SO YOU DON’T GET WRINKLES & LEATHERY SKIN
- Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 – You will not burn; No white cast; I use it alone sometimes
- Suhadafit Skin Milk SPF 50 – Absolutely ZERO white cast; Super light; Fruity & Great in summer
MAKEUP FOR THE EYES
Annabelle is a Canadian brand, so you won’t find it in the U.S.
- Annabelle Eyeshadow Pots (Gleam = Gold) – Perfect for work, not too shimmery or matte
- Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette – Bestselling neutral shades of all time for work and play
- Urban Decay Liquid Eyeliner – I like their deep dark navy blue Sabbath, a bit too wet sometimes
- Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil Eyeliners – They stay on and last all day
- Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner – Found in Asia, it draws the thinnest lines & is easy to use
- Annabelle Smoothliner Pencil Eyeliner - Their Brownie (Brown) colour is my favourite, super smooth
- Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara – Still one of the best drugstore mascaras I’ve ever used
- Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara – Got this as a sample, and I liked the really fat brush
MAKEUP FOR THE FACE AND CHEEKS
- Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed – Longwearing, smooth & super easy to apply in layers
- Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder – Best powder to set & banish shine; AWFUL for cameras
- Annabelle Haute Zebra Bronzing Powder – Light gold shimmer, sometimes I use this as a blush
- Time Balm TheBalm Concealer – Still one of the best creamy concealers I’ve ever purchased
- AmazingConcealer Concealer – This one is a lot thicker & more opaque than Time Balm
- Kate Kanebo BB SPF30 – Found only in Asia; Was a fan of Smashbox but this goes on better
LIP BALM
- Fresh Sugar SPF 15 Lip Balm – Smells great, SPF 15, and moisturizes well
- Maybelline Baby Lips – Hate the name, but it moisturizes really well with a slight colour tint
MAKEUP TOOLS
Sonia Kashuk is only in Target, mostly in the U.S., but it’s coming to Canada!!
- Sonia Kashuk @ Target Makeup Brushes — Amazing and a great quality for the price
- Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler – Can’t beat it. Bought a Koji No. 70 in Asia, but wasn’t the same
- Tweezerman Tweezers – Slanted tweezers are expensive, but they do the job easily
- Urban Decay Eyeliner Sharpener – Does the job, doesn’t complain!
HAIR STUFF
- 100% Argan Oil - I rub it on the ends sometimes or to smooth down my hair
- Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Oil Shampoo/Conditioner – Killed my dandruff, leaves my hair super soft
NATURAL PERFUME
- Bulgarian Lavender Oil – Essential Goodies – I don’t really like perfumes, essential oils are my thing
☸ 
Discuss - 24 Comments
Glad you like the essential oil perfume so much.
Like?! More like love
I am going to have to try the Yu-Be Cream sometime. Nice assortment of beauty staples. I LOVE my Naked Palette as well
I picked up the Yu-Be cream on a whim because I read the ingredients in line, and liked that it had no silicones, colorants, or perfume. Plus glycerin was one of the #1 ingredients which my skin really responds well to.
After trying it for a day, I was hooked. One small squeeze tube can last for about a month or more when I travel, to just use a bit on my body (you don’t need a lot).
It also cured dry patches on my elbows, and on BF”s elbows, and I don’t get this feeling any more of wanting to rip my skin off because it’s SO ITCHY (eczema). I will note that it does leave a little bit of a residue on your skin, but you don’t feel that at all unless you start scratching really, really hard.
Thanks for sharing. Kavita Arur also did one. Now I want to make one too… Although my list is gonna be pretty short. o___o; But maybe I can think of something… Hm.
I like the Tarte blush you recommended btw. Although pricey! Eeek. Maybe I’ll buy one next time I’m in the states. Canada is selling them for $34!
Yeah I got mine in the States for a lot cheaper, and at a lower tax rate.
The Tarte blush really does stay on. I still have my Cargo blush from high school and it stays on but not as well as the Tarte. The other gel and liquid blushes are just for fun (Benetint, Tarte Pop-up Gel blush), because they don’t really last.
I can’t wait until I finally find what works for me!!! It’s so frustrating (and expensive!) figuring it out!
I spent a lot of money. I’m good now. Just need the staples!
This. post. makes. me. drool.
It really is stuff that I think works well. I’ll just keep buying those staples
I agree with the argan oil for hair. I apply to damp hair after I have washed it, and it makes my hair so soft!
You just inspired me to make my own list
Do you use 100% argan oil?
I find that moroccan oil stuff is full of silicones and not as moisturizing. coconut oil is good too.
I do
I find coconut oil too greasy for my hair. Body shops dry oils work quite well too.
Good point. Coconut oil is very greasy but research has proven it penetrates deep into the shaft of the hair..
Do you have a favorite hand cream? I can’t seem to find a good one.
Yu-Be is my go-to cream for everything. It is a light glycerin cream and it stinks at first but moisturizers like crazy!!!!
I liked LOccitane too but it is expensive and a bit greasy.
For my sensitive and oily skin, I use Aveeno Ultra Calming foaming facewash and sometimes Aveeno’s Ultra Calming moisturizer with sunscreen, but usually use a powder with sunscreen (all recommended by a dermatologist). For the powder with sunscreen, I’ve used Colorscience, but it’s expensive, so I tried Neutrogena which seems to work since I haven’t been getting wayward freckles or discoloration. I was looking for a good makeup remover at Sephora, and the salesgirl recommended Boscia MakeUp-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil. I’ve only used the sample so far, but it completely removed my makeup, so I’ll be purchasing it next time. I have mild dandruff and have been happy with Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner. I also really like Fresh Sugar lip balm, the Rose one is really nice and leaves a subtle tint. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner fades on me, but Stila eyeliner stays on my eyelids all day.
I will look into Boscia but I really like actual towelettes…. Just wish the Costco ones could become bamboo ones with the same cleansing power.
UD lasts on me but I don’t have oily lids.
You already have one of my favourite things up there (Sugar lip balm). My holy grail products for the last couple years include Shu Uemura cleansing oil, Kiehl’s Silk Groom hair cream and Fairydrops Scandal Queen mascara. I’m eyeing up the Naked2 pallet and Clarisonic brush as well, I just haven’t made the commitment yet.
Naked 2 has a more greyish taupe tone to it which doesn’t suit my complexion. Otherwise I would have snapped it up.
I’m waiting to see if they come out with a matte version of the palette.
I just saw a Limited Edition (I believe) Naked Palette in Mattes! It was a half-size one – don’t think it had a brush with it, but pretty colours. May be too similar to existing palettes if you own them? Check it out soon if you’re keen because those suckers disappear fast! :O
*eyes pop*
But I don’t need any more makeup.. *steels self*
After reading that I had to punch a hole through my wall in order to feel manly again
I hope you broke a knuckle
and chipped a tooth for good measure!!