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2014 Favorites: Makeup

Hello, my loves! Sorry for the lack of updates on my blog, travelling (and unpacking back home) has been insane! Especially with a baby around. Zayden is growing up so fast and he rarely wants to sleep nowadays, he always wants to play! So of course that means less time for me to blog 🙁

I previously said my next post will be a Sephora haul, but seeing the size of my actual Sephora haul over the past month, it seems impossible. LOL. Yes, it was that much that I’ve guaranteed my spot as a VIB Rouge again until the end of the year. So I think it’ll be easier for me to do reviews of the products I got over a period of time instead of writing up a haul post.

Anyways, I can’t believe it’s almost the end of Week 4 of 2015!

So, FINALLY here is a breakdown of all my favorite makeup products (ones that I love most and have worn the most) in categories.

Check it out!

Primer: Hourglass Veil Mineral

I started using this primer way back in 2012 and when I ran out, resorted to the Benefit Porefessional for a while. Of course there was a vast difference even though the Porefessional was really smooth too. First off, the Porefessional isn’t really a primer, it aims to just fill up the pores to create a smoother base. Secondly, the Porefessional tends to ball up if my skincare is a bit thick that day, or if I’m wearing a bit more moisturizer. Also, the Porefessional isn’t as velvety smooth as the Hourglass on the skin.

This led me to purchasing another bottle at the end of 2013. The Hourglass Veil Mineral will probably remain being my favorite primer for the years to come!

(Note: I also love the L’Oreal Base Magique which I used before I started using the Hourglass Veil Mineral but I don’t like the tub packaging, I find it a bit unhygienic. The Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot is also a favorite, but only during winter because its texture is more of a lotion, not silicone, so it does not have a smoothing ability, but does make makeup last.)

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation 

This was hands down my favorite foundation this year. Everytime someone asks me what foundation I recommend, I always tend to mention this. It’s just like the Chanel Vitalumiere in a bigger bottle (I’m not surprised of the similarities because Chanel and Bourjois are both under the same parent company!).

I had so many open foundations this year, but this was definitely my favorite all-year-round foundation. Click here to read my full review.

Concealer: Cle de Peau Concealer

Best concealer in the world. Hands down.

I mentioned this concealer in my Holy Grails post here.

It’s basically completely opaque, smooth and not patchy, creamy and blendable, long lasting and sets dry and won’t crease much. It’s unbelivable.

The only downside (aside from the price, of course) is the fact that the color range is very narrow – I’m always in between shades and it annoys me how I have to keep bringing two shades everywhere I go (Beige and Ochre) but it’s better than not travelling with them at all.

My Christmas wish for 2015? For Cle de Peau to bring out more shades!!!

Powder: NARS Translucent Pressed Powder “Crystal”

There was a period of time during my pregnancy when I would do my makeup in the car, and my base routine was only concealer + powder – I was way too lazy for foundation! So I would only conceal areas that needed to be concealed with my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, and then I’d set it with this powder. That was all I needed for a smooth looking base.

I love that this colorless powder gives a really smooth feel on the skin, just like how the Hourglass Veil Mineral smooths the skin out. I’ve tried so many powders like these, but none of them are pressed. I used to really like the Tarte and Make Up For Ever ones, but this one is just so easy to travel with and the slim casing is also a plus!

I’m not sure if the tiny specks of shimmer had any significance, not sure if it “brightened” my complexion, all I can say is that it made my concealer last up to 8 hours without touch up and it really smoothed out my skin with great oil-control.

I mentioned this in my July Favorites post! Click here to have a read.

Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

My feelings for these blushes are just, WHOA. I can’t. Like, seriously, I can’t even right now.

Yes, it has powers to make me illiterate.

Check out my full review of two of the shades as individual blushes here.

The new shade in the middle, “Incandescent Electra” is exclusive to the palette and it is beautiful! It’s a cool-toned peach with a satin finish, it has that multidimensional finish to it on the skin. Unbelievable.

Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer

My favorite bronzer used to be the NARS Laguna, but it’s not the best for contouring to be honest. I usually use it to just warm up my complexion.

The Guerlain though is completely matte, with slightly satin finish, and is perfect for contouring. This year I’ve gained a lot of weight from my pregnancy, so of course my face swelled up and I needed contouring like never before. So this bronzer has truly been my lifesaver!

I love that it’s not too orange or muddy, it just looks a few shades darker than my skin tone so it really looks like “shadow”.

Highlight: Cle de Peau Luminizing Face Enhancer “13 Sand Beige”

This was probably the only highlighter/illuminator I can’t stop raving about this year. This was also mentioned on my July favorites post. Check out the post here to read the full review (and more pictures) of this amazing highlighter.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting, a liquid highlighter I just discovered in December! I’ve only started using it for a month and it’s becoming one of my favorite makeup products EVER.

Eyebrows: Kevyn Aucoin Eyebrow Pencil

It was a tie between this and Cle de Peau eyebrow pencil, but looking back, in 2014 alone I finished up two of these. So, I guess I used this more!

The shade is perfect – not too red, not too grey/black – and best of all it’s so buildable! I love that it’s got a spoolee on one end too.

The pencil is tiny, which is great because I can “draw on” brow hairs without making it look too drawn on. It’s just like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz but for some reason I always run out of the Anastasia one so quickly. Mine only lasted for about 1-2 months!! But the Kevyn Aucoin lasted me for almost 6 months, maybe 5.

Eyeshadow Palette: Stila “In The Light” Palette

No matter how many other eyeshadow palettes I have, I don’t know why I always gravitate towards this.

This palette is so perfect in so many ways.

“Kitten” is a cult favorite shade and I must admit, I don’t ever want to be without this shade. Ever. It’s such a beautiful highlight shade that you can use in the inner corners, or all over the lids. It’s the most beautiful highlight eyeshadow shade on earth, I kid you not.

“Bliss” is the perfect transition shade and makes any smokey look so smooth and flawless.

“Sunset” is a beautiful copper shade that I just freaking love as well.

Oh and the darker shades are also amazing for contouring the eyes.

You get everything you’ll ever need in this palette. I can’t live without it. You can take my Urban Decay Nakeds from me but NOT THIS.

Eyeshadow Quad: Charlotte Tilbury “Dolce Vita”

Click here for my Charlotte Tilbury haul.

I don’t know why but I always get compliments like “you look so fresh!” or “you’re glowing!” every time I use this quad – it’s really weird because “fresh” and “glowing” usually refers to the complexion, not the eyes. But I guess the eye look really helps uplift the complexion too?

The highlight shade in this quad is truly remarkable. One swipe and you look a ton fresher. And the warmth from the contour shade just makes the eyes pop out. So stunning.

Definitely a must-have from the Charlotte Tilbury line!

Eyeliner: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner “Trooper”

Um, nuff sed. My favorite eyeliner of all time. All. Freaking. Time. Period.

Blabbed a lot about it here.

Mascara: Dior Overcurl Mascara

This is my go-to mascara of the year.

It curls even without the help of an eyelash curler. Holds it for soooo long. It lengthens and separates well. It is just perfection.

Although towards the end of the year I started using the Too Faced Better Than Sex more because it’s much more volumizing, I never stopped loving this Dior Overcurl because it’s just the best at curling, lengthening and separating, whereas the Better Than Sex would sometimes clump. When used together, though, the two are bombastic.

Lipstick: Chanel Coco Rouge “Seduisante”

I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned this lipstick on Instagram! There were countless times when people asked my what my favorite lipstick was, and this has always been the answer.

I mentioned this in my August favorites post here. Also in my Favorite Lipsticks of All Time post here.

Lipgloss: Lancome

I feel so silly but I can’t find the name anywhere! Maybe coz I’ve had this for such a long time.

This was a lipgloss I purchased back in 2011 (yes, it’s probably expired but who cares it still rocks!) and I’ve just rediscovered it mid-2014. I carry this around in my bag because it goes so well with any lipstick shade – it just adds warmth to the lips.

Will update with swatches and the name if I can figure it out! Fingers crossed!




Tools: Beauty Blender & Too Faced Teddy Bear Hair Brushes

The beauty blender has been the only thing I’ve been using to apply my foundation with this year, I really don’t remember ever using anything else!


It just makes your foundation sink in better and makes it look like skin! It’s also super affordable for something with such amazing quality, and if you take really good care of it it can last for up to six months, no kidding! It’s only AU$23.50 here on RY.


I’ve also loved my Too Faced Teddy Bear Hair brushes so much because they’re so adorable and super soft. I am amazed with the selection of eyeshadow brushes too – I am so obsessed with the angled brush!


I wrote more about the brushes here in my November favorites post.


Well, that’s it!


I hope you all had a fantastic 2014!


Tune in for my 2014 Favorites: Skincare edition soon! 🙂


XOXO












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