FAVORITES | Year in Beauty: 2014 Edition

It's already the fifth day of the new year so this post is a bit late I've just been really busy running errands and visiting family and friends, running from one place to another like a headless chicken on a caffeine high. In no particular order, I'm really excited to present to you the 20 products I tried and fell in love with this year and the 4 that will never get a second pass in my collection. 

1. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation (Feb) -- The first high end foundation I ever tried, I fell in love with the light but buildable coverage. Most importantly, it was the best color match for my yellow-toned skin. The wide color selection, packaging, and performance make it a staple in my makeup kit!

2. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (May) -- The exorbitant price tag made me hesitate at first but again, the color match was spot on! I don't have to mix two colors like I used to, cutting down the guesswork, waste, and time spent getting ready by a good 2 minutes. Since I can use it on both my undereye circles and spots, it makes a perfect touch-up makeup bag companion. There's a bit of leakage at the top but that won't stop me from repurchasing this concealer!

3. Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush (Dec)-- This was a recent discovery  but it quickly made its way into my everyday rotation. I actually picked this up a while ago in the summer during Beautycon but only used it now that my skin has gotten quite dry. I've been meaning to post about this so I won't go into specifics but this is my favorite shade out of the ones I have (updated)!

4. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (Apr) -- Bronzer was not a part of my daily routine but this bronzer changed all of that. Not only does it smell like divine cocoa, the undertone is perfect for my tastes in contouring--no red or orange. One with a grey undertone mimics shadows best but those tend to look ashy on my warm skin tone. I got mine in a kit but I'm seriously considering purchasing it in a full size so I can take it everywhere!

5. LORAC Pro Palette (Feb) -- Hands down, one of the best purchases I made this year! The pigmented and buttery eyeshadows that are easy to apply, blend, and adhere are one of the best formulas I've ever come across. Slowly building up intensity and blending in between is not my thing so this makes it easy to slap on and go. The shadows are divided into shimmer and mattes; the shimmers are not obnoxious and can be worn during the day without looking like a disco ball in the sunlight and the mattes are not chalky or lacking in pigment in the slightest. I also have the LORAC Pro Palette 2 but the original is still my favorite. The included LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer is one of the better formulas I've come across and makes these glorious eyeshadows even more perfect!

6. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette (Dec '13) -- I didn't want to mention yet another eyeshadow palette but I couldn't list my eye favorites without mentioning this one. I got it towards the end of 2013 and hated it at first. But as I continued to use it more and more, the more it grew on me. The UD Naked 3 Palette is more shimmery than the Lorac Pro Palette but the rosy tones paired with Mauve or Deep Plum is divine!

7. Tarte Waterproof Shadow Stick in Smoky Topaz (Oct; color not pictured) -- On lazy days or days when I want to wear a bold lip, this eyeshadow pencil was perfect for creating a contoured eye look for my light-medium skin tone--a neutral-toned taupe. I also didn't mention it, seeing as it's been discontinued, but Tarte sometimes brings these pencils back during their sales so I'd keep an eye out for them. These eyeshadow pencils are easy to use--just twist up and go to town! Staying power is amazing and these shadows can be built up quickly. Wishing they would bring these back...

8. Lancome Hypnose Star Showstopping Volume Mascara (Apr) -- Four words: Still my HG mascara. There have been a few close contenders but as I sat down to re-read old posts and reflect, this was clearly the winner. With its awesome staying power (for a non-WP mascara!), blackness, quick dry time, lengthening, and volumizing, it matches all my needs in a mascara and then some! It has that typical Lancome rose scent but it's nothing unpleasant. Definitely going to be picking up more of these as I make my way through my current stash of mascaras!

9. Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Bright Raspberry (Jun) -- I got them in the middle of summer but this cool-toned raspberry color was my summer lip of choice! The longevity, precision and pigmentation was a deciding factor in picking up more colors but those didn't see as much love as Bright Raspberry did. My lip motto is, " The less touch-ups I make, the more time I can spend snacking!" But seriously, these are a great option for dinners or long days as they stay on quite well but aren't drying.

10. Benefit Lip Tint in Lollitint (Dec) -- Another late-year entry but this lip tint has replaced Posietint as my all-time favorite Benefit tint. The radiant orchid color was daunting to say the least but the effect was magnificent! It's bright but natural enough to just perk up my complexion without picking up on my spots when I go bare-faced.  Staying power is great but I recommend bringing a lip balm along. These can also be used on the cheeks bu the thought of applying this on both my lips and cheeks makes me shudder at the thought of contaminating the product with my base makeup. 

11. Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine (Nov) -- Pulling off a dark lip can be difficult as it calls attention to any imperfections peeking through. Instead of wearing it full on, I like to dab it across my lips and then blend it all in with my pinky finger for a more precise edge. The effect looks like my lips are just a naturally rosy color and totally fit in with my lazy, "mascara, lipstick and eyebrow pencil" days!

12. Etude House Kissful Tint Choux in 01 Red Choux (Mar) -- The best lip tint I tried this year, the Etude House Kissful Tint Choux has buildable color, staying power, and hydration, a rare combination in terms of lip tints. The only con would be the limited color range but here's to hoping they make new colors for spring!

13. Holika Holika Soda Pore BB Deep Cleansing Oil (Oct)-- I featured this product in my October Favorites so I won't go on and on about this. It's the second cleansing oil I've tried and I really like how well it removes my makeup. When I go in with my second cleanse, there's no makeup residue on my Clarisonic or on my toner-soaked cotton pad. The consistency is thicker than my It's Skin Cleansing Oil but I use only two pumps for my entire face rather than 4 with the It's Skin. There's a citrus-y scent but it's not a weird plastic smell like the one from It's Skin. 

14. Paula's Choice Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid (Sep)-- I actually discovered this earlier in the year but I wanted to give a good trial before I shared my thoughts. After going through an entire bottle and a half, I've decided that this will be the only exfoliator I will ever use on a consistent basis. It's not an instant results kind of thing but with consistent use, my skin has never looked better. It's the first thing I've used that actually increased my skin's radiance, smoothness, and minimized the look of my pores. Even without primer, my foundation never glided over my skin so well! It's even changed my skin type from combination-oily to normal-dry so if you struggle with oily skin, I'd give this a try! **Disclaimer**: Don't use if you're allergic to salicylic acid or aspirin and its derivatives! I also have a referral link for new customers if you want to help support me.

15. Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (Oct)-- I've been using Josie Maran since fall to boost hydration for my face and I've been loving it so far. I like layering my hydration so my face doesn't feel sticky or heavy. Also, I've been using it for day under my makeup and during night but I've barely made a dent in the bottle. The dropper on the 0.5 oz bottle I have has fallen apart so it's unusable at the moment but that's the first time that's happened to me. Still think it has helped keep my skin from peeling and dry underneath my makeup while also adding a glow to my foundation.

16. Etude House AC Clinic Pink Powder Spot (Nov '13)-- Featured in last year's favorites, I've been loving this all throughout 2014 as well! It's just the most effective spot treatment I've come across that doesn't dry out my skin. It's a bit annoying as I have to apply it with a cotton bud and only at night but the results are so worth it. It doesn't sting or feel thick so it's definitely comfortable. I worried about it transferring to my pillow but it doesn't leave stains at all. Definitely a must-have for acne-prone skin!

17. Seche Vite Fast Top Coat** (Sep)-- My mom gave this to me since I do my nails often but I didn't use it until recently. I've heard such hype about this product but it really lives up to its reputation. I've been using the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat and while I love that product, the Seche Vite adds major longevity and a shine that doesn't fade for over a week! My nails practically look wet and so, so glossy--I love it! It's more pricey than the Sally Hansen but it just works wonders for my manicure.

18. Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge 1-Minute Moisture-Plenish Treatment (Dec)-- I've had this for two years and didn't like it at first. However, my hair's been quite dry and staticky so adding this treatment to it has helped tame my hair. It smells great, is affordable and works well for my hair--though I wish the scent lasted longer.

19. Beauty Blender Pro (Oct)-- Not much to say that hasn't been said before about this miracle sponge but I like the black as it doesn't bleed a ton of dye when I wash it and it doesn't show foundation stains as much as the pink. I was devastated when I lost my pink one but this one is the same, albeit black. I love using this to sheer out thick, full coverage foundations or to apply powder a bit heavier without looking cakey when I'm lazy. I always use it damp so not sure how it is dry but it's meant to be used damp anyway. Don't know if I will repurchase or how it wears with time yet but so far, I've been enjoying it!

20. Real Techniques Buffing Brush (Feb)-- I bought this sometime in 2013 but didn't use it until the beginning of this year. It blends foundation so well without emphasizing my facial hair or leaving streaks. I get an even and smooth coverage without much blending. Washing it many times has not caused a single hair to shed. Professionals use the paddle kind for a full coverage look but for foundation newbies or rushed makeup mavens, this is the perfect tool for liquid foundation!

21. NYX Glam Shadow Sticks -- Earlier this year, I wanted to find a long-lasting eyeshadow pencil to speed up my makeup routine in the mornings. This was quite glittery, which I don't mind but it creased within an hour. Keep in mind that I used it without primer since I usually skip that step when I'm in a rush--eye primer is definitely a must for this product. The shade I was most disappointed in was Pink Ruby as the texture was quite dry and dragged a bit on my lids, looking patchy. If you're looking for a good and affordable eyeshadow pencil, I'd give the Milani Shadow Eyez 12 Hour Eyeshadow Pencil a go!

22. Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment -- I gave these a go in December and while I love the other ones I picked up, this one was disappointing. The colors don't look good with my warm, yellow-toned skin and the texture was dry and chalky. Pigmentation was spot on but the colors are flakey, causing my eyes to be red and irritated--definitely a deal breaker for me.

23. Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer Blush -- Tarte blushes are normally stellar in terms of performance but these three just didn't do it for me. While I tend to go overboard with my blush, it was so hard to get any color to show on my cheeks. This is more suited for paler skin tones or those who love a barely there blush look. I didn't get anything resembling a contour from these despite the brown leafy sections.

24. The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner -- I'm blessed with skin that doesn't react to products often but this was the culprit behind my skin breakouts this fall. I stopped using this after switching the Paula's Choice exfoliator I mentioned above but when I ran out, I substituted with this one. I noticed my skin breaking out but I thought it was because I stopped using the PC. However, trying it out on two other occasions for about a week each time caused me to break out again! I have stopped using this and noticed less breakouts but I'm still dealing with the hyperpigmentation marks left behind. I've seen glowing reviews on this item so I may be the odd one out but I will definitely not be using this one my face anymore--I might use it as a spot cleaner for my eye brushes but even that makes me apprehensive...

I wanted to end this post on a positive note but I'm not sure what to say. It's been a good year for me in terms of finding holy grail products that I will continue to repurchase! I tried out a ton of products--75+ product reviews, first impressions, and unboxings to be precise--and most were on the good rather than the bad side. I have a ton of reviews coming up this year as well as some interesting ideas to spice up the blog so keep an eye on me :D Thank you so much for all your support and love and I can't to continue this journey with y'all!

XOXO,
MWAH ♥

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Disclosure Statement: All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above and was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Links are not affiliate links and are provided for the readers' convenience. I cannot guarantee that the product(s) will work for you. I do not approve or endorse the products or information available on these sites. Proceed at your own risk. Products marked with two asterisks (**) were given to me by my friends and family.