I’m back from my long YouTube/Blog-Break and I want to get started again with all the Beauty-Talk I’ve missed so much. To find back in the flow I thought it would be appropriate to tell you something about my favorite beauty products. This post is about my ultimate favorites of the last year. To be more precisely: It’s my Top 10. With these products I’ve spend a lot of time in the morning to get ready or before I was going out to a party.
On YouTube you can also see a video with me talking about my favs
(*click*).
Here they are:
Cetaphil-Moisturizer
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| Cetaphil Moisturizer |
Even though the packaging is not one of my favorites the subject matter sure is. I have neurodermatitis since I’m little, it got less troubling over the years, but still I have to deal with it. Rosacea is a rather new condition my skin is showing in addition to my generally sensitive skin. All those parameters make it necessary to carefully pick products I want to apply to my face. This thick cream was probably one of the best choices I made beauty-wise. Since the very first application my skin was happy with the moisturizer and never showed any type of irritation or allergy and the dryness is under control. If my skin is in urgent need for whatever reason, I know this is going to calm the itching and alike.
Laura Mercier-Hydrating Primer
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| Laura Mercier-Hydrating Primer |
A year ago I knew nothing about primers, except of you apply them prior to your foundation and supposable make the foundation last longer. This information was not enough to create a level of interest, making me think I need to try one. I have to thank the nice Sephora Girl from Times Square in NY (I think Stephanie was her name) for literally throwing the little sample pot of the Hydrating Primer in my shopping basket. She knew I would love it and she was right. It makes my skin feel so good, I’m talking about soft, smooth and moist and that feeling lasts all day long. Even on my foundation free days I still like to apply the primer, since it diminishes my redness already a tiny bit. In combination with the foundation it makes my skin look nicely dewy and even.
I really don’t want to miss my primer again and I will always reserve a space for it in my makeup bag.
Laura Mercier-Moisturizing Foundation
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| Laura Mercier-Moisturizing Foundation |
For the first couple of weeks if not month, I’ve used this foundation without the mentioned primer and was already in love with it. That’s why I know it’s not just the primer making me think that this is my personal ‘Holy Grale’ product. The chronic dryness of my skin often causes cakey areas once most of the foundations are on. If the dryness is not the problem then the redness usually is. The redness on my cheeks, chin and nose is another challenge, which requires high coverage.
My previous foundations were able to handle just one of my problems and often made me breakout in addition.
This foundation has changed my life, even if it sounds dramatic it is nothing but the truth. Dryness is not a matter anymore, the redness is mostly covered (as long as it is not one of those bad skin days) and I’ve never discovered any allergy or irritation so far.
OPI Nailpolish- Alter Ego
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| OPI Nailpolish in 'Alter Ego' |
Those nailpolishes are popular enough, so that I can leave out the quality aspect. I’m concentrating on this one particular shade called Alter Ego. This is the perfect neutral everyday color for every nail event. It adds color to your fingers, without being too intense in any way. Actually I do prefer opaque polishes, however this is not one of those, probably that is the reason why I do apply two coats on each nail.
I’ve experienced that this combination of a babypink-beige color matches every outfit and every occasion as well, without being just a boring understatement. This clearly has been my most worn color of the last year.
Bobbi Brown-Bronzing Powder
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| Bobbi Brown-Bronzing Powder in 'Golden Light' |
This bronzer is available in various shades and this is one of the reason why I’m so happy with it. Most of the bronzers are way too dark to get along with my fair skin, without creating an embarrassing fake tan effect. My shade of choice is ‘Golden Light’, which is the lightest shade, but exactly right for me.
Another reason for making this one of my favorites is the absence of glitter/shimmer. If you are going for the holiday bronzed look ala J.Lo this is not what you will achieve with this bronzer. I prefer to use bronzer to add some contours to my face and somehow make it appear a little slimmer and that purpose requires a matte shade rather than a glowy powder.
Clinique-Lash Doubling Mascara
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| Clinique-Lash Doubling Mascara |
This is my favorite mascara for many years already! No matter how often I try a new one, they never fascinate me enough to make me stop using the ‘Lash Doubling Mascara’. I do like to add some volume to my lashes to make them look fuller, which works great with this mascara. As an extra bonus I can add some length to my lashes as well, which is something you can’t be sad about. My lashes are nicely separated and curled and will stay this way through the entire day. For those of you (and me) with sensitive eyes, this is an “irritation free” mascara, not causing any redness.
Clinique-High Impact Lipstick in Pink Style
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Clinique-High Impact Lipstick in 'Pink Style'
(this color looks less red in reality) |
Again, this is something for an easy everyday look, where you don’t want to experiment much, but still want to look nicely made up. I was searching for such an allrounder for a long time and concentrated on the drugstore variety, which wasn’t too successful. I ended up getting this pricier version, because it was exactly what I was searching for. It’s one of those safe colors, matching every eye makeup or outfit you’ve put together.
There is another reason why this is a special lipstick to me. Have you noticed the packaging? I feel very feminine every time I’m putting it on since it looks so elegant, like it jumped out of an old classic movie with Liz Taylor.
Another important fact: Of all the lipsticks I’ve tried this one is lasting the longest on my lips, but is not drying at all.
Mac Eyesahdow-Carbon
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| MAC Eyesahdow in 'Carbon' |
One of the “Must Haves” in a makeup collection in my opinion is this eyeshadow. You just need to have a matte black eyeshadow and this by far is the best. I use it on a daily basis instead of an eyeliner to do the tidelining technique along my lashline. I prefer this black over all the others I’ve tried before, because it actually looks black once applied and not just like a really dark grey, it’s not creating any fall off problems and it is easier to blend than usual black eyeshadows.
Mac-Liquid Cool Powder in Honey Rose
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| MAC-Liquid Cool Powder in 'Honey Rose' |
A highlighter is probably not something you necessarily need to have, but if you want one it’s important to find the right one, which I did. Highlighter for the eyes is a rather easy thing to look for, but to find one for your cheekbones can be difficult. The problem that I was regularly facing, was looking like a glitterball, because the highlighter decided to move all over my face and not just stay put on my cheekbones. This loose powder is completely different, probably because it actually works like a cream. Don’t get confused it is a powder, but the name tells you that it is a special formulated powder. It feels cool and moist on the skin and is easy to blend to get a nice sunkissed glow.
Urban Decay-Naked Palette
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| Urban Decay-Naked Palette |
This is something you are seeing everywhere, but for a good reason and since you probably own this palette too, I can keep this part short.
I love it!
I’ve used this palette probably on 300 days of the last year, since the included colors are so easy to work with and the possible combinations are endless. My favorite and most used colors are Virgin, Naked, Buck and Toasted.
Looking back at my ‘Beauty Developments’ I would consider 2011 as a successful year and I hope 2012 continues the same way.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and liked the products.
Let me know what your favorites were?
Have a nice day, Beauties.
