2011 Beauty Favourites

I love make-up and all things beauty related.  In fact if I had the chance I would love to train as a make-up artist and work on the London fashion shows but I also love my life as it is with my husband, daughter and two cats (Bailey and Murphy) so for the time being make-up will just have to remain as a hobby of mine. 

I hate to admit it, but yes, I am one of those women who don't leave the house without makeup on even to go to the supermarket.  I just don't feel like me without it on - even if my husband says that I look beautiful without it (he always knows the right things to say).  Don't get me wrong I don't wear a ton of make-up but I do like to wear it - perhaps it's the actress in me, putting make-up on to play a part.  Although that makes me sound that I'm fake and lack confidence - I'm not and I don't.  I can lack confidence in myself at times just like anyone, but make-up just makes me feel pretty! When I was growing up I would sit on my mum's bed and watch her put on her make-up and for years I thought that all women did that.  It wasn't until I had an office job when I was 18 that I suddenly realised that not all women wear make-up to work and it took me a long time to understand why.  

Well enough about me justifying why I like make-up, I just do and so I thought I'd share some of my favourite products from the past year.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: 100ml pump £12.25

I tried this product a couple of years ago and it was at a time when I was using a combination of different products and something caused my skin to react and not create spots but instead a raised rash.  I therefore stopped using this product thinking that it didn't work for my skin.  At the beginning of 2011 I was running out of my favourite face wash by Estee Lauder and came across the cleanse and polish.  As my skin was currently in a good place I decided to give it a try but just at night time.  I was astounded by the results as it made my skin so soft and smooth.  Slowly as I was running out of my moisturiser and other skin care products I switched over to Liz Earle and I have to admit that I couldn't be happier with the results.  The cleanse and polish is a fairly thick and creamy consistency but you only need a pea sized amount which is then massaged onto dry skin.  Using the polishing cloth to then remove any dirt leaves the skin feeling moisturised and very soft.  I cannot rave enough about this product and it is one that I will continue to repurchase time and time again.

Estee Lauder Day Wear: 50ml £34

This is Estee Lauder's version of the tinted moisturiser and I have to say that I love wearing this product especially at the moment during the cold weather as I feel that it really leaves my skin moisturised.  It blends really easily so this product is perfect for first time mums and for the mornings when you have to get ready in a hurry.  I first bought this product during the summer last year as I wanted something whilst on holiday that could even out my skin tone without it looking too cakey and this product certainly did the trick.  It is on the pricier side for a tinted moisturiser but I like the fact that it includes an SPF 15.  The product is supposed to be designed for all skin tones as it is a sheer release that on application and blending into the skin changes colour.  I'm not sure whether this would be suitable for every skin tone though.  I am an NW20 (Mac colour range) usually and at the moment I would say that it is a little too dark for me, so I make sure that I only use a small amount and that it is well blended.  In the summer though it is perfect, especially if I want to achieve a natural glow but with some coverage.



Nars Laguna Bronzer: £24

 As  you can see from the picture above I have used a lot of this product.  In fact I have had this bronzer for over 18 months and there is still a lot left.  I love to wear bronzer but I am not one for the Oompah Lumpa look hence why I have so much left.  This product does give a bronzed glow to the face which is just what I am after and even though there is shimmer in the product it is not too much and I don't seem to notice it on the skin.  The product also doesn't look too muddy which can also be a problem with bronzers, instead it gives a natural tan (but this can change depending on how it is applied).  Nars products always look very sleek and stylish in their packaging but it does becoming quite grubby looking after a while if powder gets on to it.  With a mirror included in the compact, this product is perfect for travel as it is a decent size. 


Mac Mineralised Skinfinish Natural in Medium: £20.50 10g

I tend to have combination skin which features more on the dry side than the oily.  However I do like to set my makeup every day with powder to ensure that it stays in place.  Mac's Mineralised Skinfinish Natural allows for a light coverage to the face without it looking as though you have powder on - perfect!  I tend to use the shade Medium all year round to save buying a different shade for the summer months.  When I do have a tan I tend to increase the amount of bronzer I use on my face but as I only apply a small amount of power anyway it doesn't seem to matter that it's a shade lighter. There is a lot of product here and tends to last for a long time before having to re-purchase, in fact my last one lasted well over a year and I used it every day. 

Mac Mineralised Skinfinish in By Candlelight
£21.50 10g

 I love wearing highlighters and some of my all time favourites are from Mac in the form of their Mineralised Skinfinishes.  By Candlelight has been my absolute favourite this year and although it is a limited edition product it has be re-promoted in the past in different collections so it is always worth keeping your eyes open for them.   This product really does give a lovely glow to the cheekbones and tends to go with anything as it has a slight pink/beige undertone.  This truly is a product that I think would work on any skin tone, but if you can't find this then there are always others that you could try.  Again a little goes a long way so you won't need to buy another one in a hurry - unless like me you like buying them.

Urban Decay Naked Palette £35

I didn't really have a favourite eyeshadow this year - I had a whole palette.  The Naked Palette by Urban Decay has been named as being the favourite for many beauty gurus in 2011.  Some people don't like the fact that this palette is mostly shimmer but I am not one of them.  I love a shimmery look (not glittery though) on the eye and this palette includes some of my favourite colours to wear which are pink/taupe, and gold/browns.  My favourite combination from this palette is to use Sin all over the lip with Toasted in the crease.  I then take Hustle and put it in the outer v and along the lower lash line.  I then use Virgin as a highlighter for the brow bone and inner corner.  This gives me one of my staple looks and one that I will continue to love and wear well into 2012. This product is great value for money as it includes 12 shadows and all of them give amazing pay off.  With the release of Naked Palette 2 this month I am just wondering if that will take over as being my favourite for this year, who knows!

Chloe Eau de Parfum £39.50 30ml

I am awful at trying to describe scents.  All I will say is that whenever I wear this perfume I always have people asking me what I am wearing and complimenting me on it.  Not only has this scent been perfect for the Spring/Summer as it is light and fresh, it is also perfect for Autumn/Winter as it is slightly musky.  I love this perfume and I'm sure it will be one that stays in my collection for some time.


Moroccan Oil Sample £5.99 10ml

During my pregnancy the only thing I really suffered from was tiredness (I know, I was very lucky).  This meant that getting ready in the mornings was a chore and often I would do my makeup but not really bother about my hair.  My hair has become very long at present with it almost reaching my bust and still I don't really do much to my hair as I don't have the time.  This is where Moroccan Oil became a life safer for me as I still wanted to ensure that my hair was left in good condition especially the ends which were becoming rather dry.  This product can be quite expensive but you can get different sizes and you don't need a lot of the product especially if you are only concentrating on the ends of the hair which is what I do.  As mentioned, I am not very good at describing smells but the oil has a really pleasant smell and leaves your hair feeling soft and smooth.


Bobbi Brown Corrector in Bisque £17
Mac Pain Point in Bare Study £14.50 5g
Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Lemon Drop £16.50

Due to constantly being overtired I am paranoid of it showing especially around my eyes and so concealers have paid a large part in preventing the world from knowing just how tired I really am.  Bobbi Browns Corrector has been a life saver this year.  With its creamy consistency it is really easy to apply and neutralises the skin around the eye area (I also use it around the nose, mouth and to neutralise blemishes).  I then apply my favourite concealer (Mac's Select Moisture Cover in NW20) over the top and it's goodbye to tired eyes. 

I work long hours and most mornings I do my makeup at 6.30 am so I need it to stay put all day.  I combine two products everyday to ensure that my eyeshadow stays vibrant and doesn't budge.  Lots of people love Urban Decays Primer Potion to do this but I have always loved Two Faced Shadow Insurance as it is creamy without being greasy and gives a lovely base which neutralises any redness on my eyelids.  I then use one of Mac's Paint Pot on top before applying my eye shadows to make them more vibrant.  My favourite this year has been the colour Bare Study which is a shimmering champagne colour and looks beautiful on the lids even if worn alone and goes perfectly under any eye shadows and prevents them from creasing.

L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Carbon Gloss in Black £6.49

Eyeliner is something that I always wear and for a long time I used gel liners like Mac's Blacktrack fluid line, however that was until I discovered this product.  L'Oreal's Super Liner creates the perfect line and helps to create flicks with ease.  I prefer the black version in Carbon Gloss rather than the traditional black as I feel it gives the line a nicer finish.  This is the only liquid liner that I have tried that really lasts all day and doesn't smudge if my eyes get wet.  For now this is the only liner that I need (and I have a lot of all different colours and types) for the time being - I just hope that they don't ever discontinue the product.

Benefit They're Real Mascara £18.50 8.5g

This was a late addition to my favourites this year (the product was only released towards the end of the year) but one that I thought was worth including as I really love the way it makes my lashes look.  The first time I tried Benefit's They're Real mascara I wasn't that convinced as the product appeared to be quite wet in consistency and didn't really hold a curl in my lashes.  I kept persevering with it as I had heard so many good reviews about it and as the product dried out slightly (they all do after a couple of days as air gets in) I was really impressed.  The brush allows for all the lashes to be coated and the spikes on the tip allows for even the tiniest of lashes especially in the inner corners to be coated.  Unfortunately I am not blessed with gorgeous long lashes, but this mascara does lengthen them (although not as much as I would like). It also holds the curl in my lashes and is easy to remove which for me is so important as I don't want my lashes to fall out unnecessarily.  So, for now I will be repurchasing this product as I like the way it makes my lashes look but I will continue to try new mascaras in the hope of finding a holy grail product but perhaps one that's a little cheaper.



Mac Lipstick in Plink and Patisserie £13.50 3g

  

Nars Lipgloss in Super Orgasm £17.50
Mac Plush Glass in Ample Pink £16.50

I have two favourite lip combinations that I wore this year.  The first being Mac's Patisserie lipstick (which has a lustre finish and creates a beautiful sheen to the lips) with Mac's Ample Pink Plush Glass over the top.  This was infact the lip combination for my wedding day so it holds a special place in my heart.  It creates a natural (my lips but better) lip that has a slightly dark pink/mauve tint and goes with any eye colour worn but especially a smokey eye and is one that I wear all year round.  The second combination that I love to wear is more appropriate for the summer but can be worn all year around too.  It is Mac's Plink lipstick (a lustre as well - they are my favourite) which is a light shimmery pink.  I then put Nars lipgloss in Super Orgasm over the top which is a deep pink with glitter throughout.  This combination gives a beautiful summery pink lip which looks perfect with a tan.


L-R Super Orgasm, Plink, Ample Pink, Patisserie (with flash)

The swatches above don't do these products justice as they all appear to look the same, but trust me, they are two lip combinations that are worth swatching in person and trying.

There are rather a lot of favourites shown above, but they are ones that I have loved throughout the whole of 2011.  Each month I will post my beauty favourites and there won't be as many as here, just products that I have either rediscovered from my collection or new products that I have been introduced to.  Perhaps some of my favourites are some of yours too!

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