The Best of 2012: Beauty

Christmas has been and gone, unfortunately, so that only means that it's time to share all of my 2012 favourites. The original plan was to write two posts, one about beauty and then one about haircare, skincare, etc. However when trying to write the second I was really struggling to find products to include and eventually I gave in. I don't want to write a post that I have very little to talk about in it! So I might do a "the best of skincare/hair care/body care" post later on in the year. Anyway, back to this post, I find it really hard to pick an ultimate product from each beauty category, so I've picked a first place product and a second place product.

Pre-Base

1: Benefit POREfessional: Everyone wants their make-up to last longer but this really evens out your skin and creates a matte finish on your skin allowing a 'perfect' base for your foundation to sit on. It also helps to minimise the appearance of pores, which help leave a more flawless finish.

2: Benefit That Gal: I quite like primer because it's pink which means that it's an illuminating primer. I find this to be a nice characteristic because most are mattifying and although that helps with elongating the life of your make-up, sometimes we don't want to have a matte finish.

Base

1: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation: This foundation has possibly been the biggest 'drug-store' breakthrough of the year. This foundation competes with brads like Chanel and Giorgio Armani in a lot of peoples opinions and so it'd be plain rude not to include it. I really love this foundation, it's such a lovely foundation that leaves a natural, luminous finish.

2: Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation: This was a new release in the latter-half of the year and I've really enjoyed using it. It's lighter than I usually opt for but I've found it to work really nice for a natural look. It's a little pricer than what I'd like to spend on a foundation but a little goes a long way so it lasts quite a while..

Concealer

1: Benefit Boiing: I've used this concealer for well over a year now and it's described as industrial strength and I can vouch for that. What this concealer doesn't cover, wouldn't be covered by paint in my opinion. I would prefer it if it was a little creamier, however I think that's part of the staying power.

2: Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer: This is another one of them amazing 'drugstore' products that people would definitely pay more for this. Unfortunately I don't currently have one in my collection because I've been testing out a few others before repurchasing this. It's just such a really easy product to work with and it provides such great coverage - what more is there to want from a concealer?

Blush

1: MAC Blushbaby: I love this blush for when I want to achieve a natural look and I run it above my contour to leave a natural flush to the skin. It's a sheertone blush so you don't have to be quite as careful with this but it does mean it's a natural finish.

2: MAC Well Dressed: This is just such a pretty girly pink colour blush. You can really build this blush up so I think it could work on any possible skin-tone, but I have to be pretty light-handed with this blush. This would  be the blush I would replace before any others.

Bronzer

1: Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel: This is the most expensive beauty item own and I couldn't be happier that I chose this to splurge on. This product can work on pretty much anyone, depending on how it's used, under or over foundation. This is such a beautiful product to work with and for that, I shall forever adore it.

2: Benefit Hoola: This is a traditional bronzer, in the form of a powder. It's a matte formulation, making it great for contouring as well as a standard bronzer. I've never been one for shimmer in a bronzer, typically because if I wan't a shimmer, I will try to use a blush with one of a highlight. I just think this is the perfect shade of bronzer - not too orangey, not too brown!

Mascara

1: YSL Shocking Mascara: This product also turned out to be a huge success this year, it's loved by so many people and I'm included. Not only in the packaging absolutely stunning, it leaves your lashes looking stunning too! It's definitely one of the most expensive mascara's I own or will ever own, but it's one of my most loved.

2: Benefit Bad Gal Lash: I've used this mascara for so long now and it's just something I default on now. It's a mascara I can trust to not clump on me and give me a natural look. It's not a mascara I would use for a night out because it's not a wow mascara but it does just what I want for day-to-day!

Eye-Primer

There's no runner up for this because I simply can't think of one

Benefit LemonAid: If you didn't know, you shouldn't use foundation on your eye-lid areas but I feel like my eyes look odd if they're bare so I've been using this, which is a corrector and eye-primer. It's a really creamy product meaning it blends out really smoothly and provides coverage.

Eye Shadow

1: MUA Undressed Palette: I've never really been one for fancy eye-shadow so if I'm going to wear it, it's going to be neutral. I really fell head over heals for this palette because it's such a beautiful combination of colours that complete all my needs when it comes to shadows. Plus, it's an absolute bargain!

Lip Stick

1: MAC Creme D'Nude: This lipstick is a popular lipstick and clearly I understand why! It's a lovely, creamy, nude lipstick that will suit any look - girl next or door or heavy eye make-up. It's such an easy shade to work with and I think everyone should have this amongst their collection!

2: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate: I think this might have been my first ever lipstick! This is such an inexpensive lipstick but one that I really love. It's such a classic nude but more on the taupe side of the spectrum.

Lip Gloss

1: Benefit Life on the A List: This is a really pretty pink shade gloss. Unfortunately the colour doesn't translate well on to the lips and it leaves a slight pink sheen to the lips which is still pretty, but when paired with a strong pink lipstick, it's a girly lip combo heaven.

2: MAC Cremesheen Glass Just Superb: Again a pretty pink gloss, what more is there to say why people should have this? There isn't such thing as having too many shades of pink lip glosses. I just find myself reaching for this gloss frequently!

Tools

1: Real Techniques Buffing Brush: I don't want to ramble on about this brush for too long because so many people have fallen in love with it since it's release. It quickly became the ultimate brush in my collection and it's definitely the brush I would pick if I could only have one. It's a multi-purpose brush so if you did only have one brush, you could use it for so many different cream-based products.

2: ELF Studio Powder Brush: This brush is something I picked up initially for foundation, but then I found my Buffing Brush so this brush was on the search for a new use. When I started to use the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel I needed a brush that was dense but soft and easy to control so that's what this brush is used for. It allows me to contour with the product as well as blend it out to prevent the whole 'you've been tangoed' look.