Wednesday, January 1, 2014

My Top 13 Beauty Favorites of 2013

Happy 2013!

I hope you had a great holiday season and are excited for the new year. I personally am kind of shock just by how fast time has flown. I can't believe that my last semester on a college campus is over. I can't believe that in less than a week I'll be student teaching. And I definitely can't believe that (hopefully) in a few months I'll be graduating from college.

Anyway, hopefully I can get back on the blogging bandwagon a little bit more. Being sick and moving back home definitely have made the last month a little bit stressful.

But anyway, I thought it would be fun to take a look at my beauty favorites from 2013. A lot of them I've mentioned a lot, but a couple may be new. 


Country Chic, Makeup Wipes, Stila Kitten, Makeup Wipes, Eyelash Curler, Essie Lollipop, Cover Girl Ink It, Naked Basics, MAC Studio Fix, Urban Decay DeSlick, Orly Rage, Cat Eyes Mascara, Voluminious Million Lashes Excess, L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo and Conditioner

Bath and Body Works Country Chic

Since this scent was released a few years ago, this has been hands down my favorite. I adore this scent. I included a picture of the old packaging because I haven't purchased the new packaging yet and also because I like the old one better (seriously, sunflowers don't really relate to this scent at all). I love that it's fresh, floral, and even has a hint of lemon. I love ever yform of this scent. When I was trying to think of a scent that represents this year, and the year before, and the year before, it's this one without a doubt.

Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Wipes

I can't say it enough, but I love these wipes. They are amazing. I really don't know how I lived my life without these in it. I love the Simple wipes and the Equate ones, but they aren't even in the same league as these Clean and Clear ones. These take off the hardest to remove mascaras (in my collection that is Benefit's They're Real). They don't break me out, they don't have a funny smell, and they don't burn my eyes. Try these out, especially if you like taking off every speck of makeup.

Stila Kitten

This was an eyeshadow that a year ago I was lusting over and debating if it was worth the hefty pricetag. A year later, I wish I would have purchased it sooner. This is without a doubt, my favorite all over the lid color. It's the most stunning shade I've ever used. I love champagne pink colors, and this one beats Urban Decay's Sin, MAC's Jest and Naked Lunch, and my Cover Girl Shimmering Sands palette. I think I wore this color more than half of the days this year. Considering how much I like changing my look, I think that says a whole lot.

Tarte Eyelash Curler

Although I think it's not available with the Aztec print any more, this Tarte eyelash curler has been amazing for me this year. I think eyelash curlers are one of those tools that you don't put much thought into unless they are failing you. In 2012 I used at least four different curlers, mostly because they didn't work for me. But since April I've used this one from Tarte religiously and it's worked great. It doesn't pinch or hurt. It's easy to clean. And it's adorable. Plus the refill pads online are $1! How nice is that?

Essie Lollipop

Now this is a newer favorite, but without a doubt I've determined that this is the perfect red for me. I don't know about you, but finding the perfect red nail polish is like the Amazing Race. It's literally one of the most trying and exhausting hunts you can ever go on. At least if you are me. I found this in December and bought it honestly on a whim. But you know I love a nail polish when I use it more than once. Especially if it's consecutively. There's something about this polish that makes it better than all the other Essie's I've ever used. The formula doesn't get sticky or dry. The brush is fantastic. It's like a new brand of polish masquerading as an Essie polish (don't get me wrong, Essie is probably my favorite. But this one is like liquid gold). Essie describes this color as a candy cane red, which is probably why this color was my Christmas red I chose for the holidays this year.

Cover Girl Ink It! in Black Ink

Where do I begin with this eyeliner? I have no clue. Because no matter what I say about it, I don't think it can fully describe how much I love this stuff. It's a drugstore liner that (at Walmart and probably Target) you can get under $5. And it's amazing. It's black. It's easy to work with. It stays put. And did I mention it was cheap? And doesn't involve sharpening? And that I love it? Seriously, if you like mechanical eye pencils, try this one out. It doesn't disappoint.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

This, like the Stila Kitten, was something that I debated for a really long time about getting. That's because my Naked palettes are really things that I reach for that often. But since I bought this back in April, I've been obsessed with it. For most of 2013, I found myself using at least 3 shades daily (that's half the palette!). And it looks like I've barely made a dent in it. My favorite look this year was Kitten across the lid, Naked 2 blending in the crease, and Faint in the outer corner. Then I would take Foxy and use that as a highlight. I did that every day from April to December. You know you love a look when you do it almost every day for 8 months.

MAC Studio Fix Powder

This was definitely a summer staple for me. I was afraid of this powder because of it being allegedly cakey and heavy. But it literally was a lifesaver for me in the summer. Because of the heat and humidity, I hate wearing BB creams and anything liquidy on my face. So this powder provided coverage (up to medium coverage actually) that would last no matter what. Now I use this to set my Garnier BB cream and it still is amazing. I hit pan a few months ago and I know the second I run out, I'll buy another because I can't live without this powder.

Urban Decay De-Slick

In 2012 whenever I saw people raving or using this spray I'd usually scoff about how they paid $29 for water to dilute their high-end foundations. But this year I found that this spray is a lifesaver. It rids me of needing primer (which I think are the most pointless products ever by the way). It makes my face matte and refreshed and works great with the MAC Studio Fix powder. I've repurchased this at least 4 times and I probably will again here in the next week or two.

Orly Rage

Like I mentioned earlier, when I use a nail polish consecutively, I love it. A lot. I've used this at least five times in the last two months. I love the rose gold of this polish and it's staying power. It's so pretty!

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara

I think it's common knowledge here on my blog that I love this stuff. First, the packaging is adorable. It's yellow and has a leopard print. How perfect could it be? Second, I love the wand. It's pretty much my favorite wand of whole time for both top and bottom lashes. Third, this mascara makes my lashes so defined, black, and works great at the corners of my eyes. I really don't understand the poor reviews of this mascara because in my opinion it beats the Falsies, the Rocket, and countless others so easily!

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess

I'm a sucker for L'Oreal mascaras, especially the Voluminous Million Lashes kind. What I loved about this mascara was how quickly and easily it built up. I love the false lashes effect and this definitely did it. Plus it had great staying power and cute packaging.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo and Conditioner

Back in October I tried these on a whim. They had the travel sizes in the dollar spot at Target and I decided I want to try something new. Thankfully I decided that, because I love this stuff. I thought I loved Suave Moroccanoil, but it doesn't even compare to the amazingness of these. I love how soft, smooth, shinny, and manageable it makes my poofy and frizzy hair. Plus it smells good. And it's affordable. And that it doesn't build up in my hair at all. Which is really nice since my hair can get greasy kind of easily.

So those were my favorites of the year. When I was doing this, I kept asking myself, if something happened to them, would I repurchase them? And with every single one of them, it was a definite yes. And most of them I have already repurchased (the makeup wipes, Kitten, the mascaras, Country Chic, and De-Slick). What were your favorites of 2013? Are there any products you are looking forward to trying for 2014?

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