Best of Beauty 2009
Hello everyone,
as the year is drawing to a close, I thought I’d share with you the products that rocked my world in 2009. The list includes the products that I tried this year, not those that were released this year, and they are all things that I love very much and use again and again. Curious? Read on:
FACE
Pupa Professionals Smoothing Foundation Primer is a silicone-based primer with a very silky texture that applies like a dream. An excellent base for makeup, it diminishes small imperfections, makes skin smooth and helps makeup last longer. And I love that it is also available in a mini size which is a better value for money for people like me that don’t wear face primers often.
The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Foundation SPF 25. Although it’s not HG material (mainly because it is available in very few shades and doesn’t control oil too well), it’s one of the best foundations I tried this year. It is a pure mineral foundation that provides a light to medium coverage for a very natural finish that lasts long.
EYES
Barry M Intense Eyeliner Pen is a retractable liner that doesn’t need to be sharpened. The colors are bright and intense, easy to apply, last for hours even on the waterline and don’t smudge.
Unfortunately for my wallet, Chanel Exceptionnel De Chanel Mascara is the best mascara I’ve tried this year. This long-lasting, smudgeproof mascara provides volume, length and separation without clumps. It takes a while to learn to use the wand properly, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll get a dramatic, false lashes effect.
Sleek Eye Dust Pigments are easy to blend, last long and have great color payoff. I wouldn’t say these are the best pigments on the market (although the quality is great), but what I love the most is the size: they are almost as big as MAC pigments (actually I heard MAC is reducing the size of their pigments again so Sleek’s are bigger now) but only cost £2.99. A real steal!
And obviously, I couldn’t forget to mention my beloved Sleek Eyeshadow Palettes. The ones I got these year are Curious (LE, featuring a mix of green, blue and purple shades), Safari (LE, a mix of neutral and colorful shades), Acid (LE, bright and neon shades) and Chaos (permanent, bright and matte shades), but all the others are amazing too. They feature 12 soft and highly pigmented mineral eyeshadows that last all day. And they are super cheap too!
CHEEKS
Barry M Blusher comes in six bright shades that, if applied with a light hand, look very flattering on pale skin too. The packaging could use some work, but the blush is very pigmented, soft to the touch and provides a rosy and healthy glow to the cheeks.
E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder contains a pigmented blush that gives cheeks a rosy glow and a pigmented bronzer that is perfect for contouring. Unfortunately the bronzer is not suitable for pale skin, but overall, this duo is a steal!
Lumiere Blushing Bronzer in Sugarberry, a dark mauve that gives cheeks a natural flush. And because it has a matte finish with just the sightliest hint of shimmer, this is perfect for contouring pale skintones. In addition, it is nicely pigmented and lasts all day.
Senna Cheeky Blush was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting to like this much since I prefer powder blushes cos they last longer. But this cream blush lasts for hours and doesn’t feel sticky at all. The color is pigmented and because it is very shimmery (too shimmer for some people) it provides a nice flush with a sparkly glow that allows me to skip highlighting powder.
LIPS
Although I’m a lipgloss girl, my favourite lip products this year are both lipsticks. My favourite is Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick for its creamy and moisturizing texture. It is available in lots of beautiful and pigmented shades and it’s fairly longlasting too.
NYX Round Lipsticks aren’t as longlasting as Lancome lippies, but they are still a great and much cheaper alternative. They’re also available in a wide selection of shades, are creamy and have a great color payoff. And most importantly, they aren’t drying on the lips.
BRUSHES
E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush is my favourite brush to apply both liquid and mineral foundation. The dense bristles feel like silk on my skin and provide medium to full coverage for an airbrushed look in just a few seconds. And it’s very inexpensive too!
MAC 219 Pencil Brush is one of those brushes that, once you have them, you wonder how you could have lived without. It’s definitely a must-have. The soft and dense pointed tip is perfect for precise work. It defines the outer V and crease perfectly, deposits eyeshadows on the lower lashline effortlessly and it’s great at creating shapes and smudging colors.
MAKEUP REMOVERS
I’m still on the look out for a cheap and effective makeup remover. All the ones I tried this year are average and the only one that truly impressed me is Helena Rubinstein All Mascaras! Complete Eye Make-Up Remover. If it weren’t for the high-price, I would stick to this and never use anything else. It completely removes all traces of eye makeup, including waterproof mascara and eyeliner, in just a few seconds and is gentle on the eyes.
HAIR
I like trying new products all the time, but when it comes to my hair I usually stick to my old favourites. But this year, I had the chance to try Bottega Verde Anti-Age Cream Conditioner and I completely fell in love with it. It conditions hair well, leaving it soft, moisturized and tangle free. And it smells gorgeous too!
Can you see something missing from the list above? Yeah, that’s right, skincare products. That’s because none of the skincare items I tried this year have blown me away. Some of them are great and worked well for my skin, but I haven’t found any HG or must-have products.
What are your favourite beauty products from 2009?
Disclosure: all the products in this post, apart from the Lumiere and Senna blushes which were provided by PR for consideration, were purchased by me. For more information, please see my disclaimer.
Source
New Collection: Lancome O My Rose Spring 2010
Although December has just started, spring collections are already starting to pop up everywhere! Let’s start with Lancome. For their spring collection Aaron De Mey was inspired by the energy and fashion of the 60’s. The collections features shades of dark green and coral for a fresh and intense look. Here’s the details:
POP’N’PALETTE EYESHADOW QUAD ($54.00)
Available in Pop’n’Petrol (dark green shades) and Pop’n’Copper (copper shades).
POP ‘N CHEEKS BLUSH ($38.00)
This pretty blush features coral and sand shades that give skin a soft and natural glow.
INK ARTLINER ($38.00)
Pop Petrol: petrol green
KHOL GLOSS ($31.50)
Pop Petrol: teal
Sand: sand
Swinging Copper: copper
CRAYON KHOL ($27.00)
Pop Petrol: teal
LA LAQUE FEVER ($32.00)
Intense like a lipstick and shiny like a gloss, La Lacque Fever is available in Coral Bliss (coral) and Swinging Copper (bronze).
COLOR FEVER GLOSS ($25.00)
Available in 4 shades ranging from sand to coral:BB Sand, Coral Delight, Orange Scopitone and Shivering Pink.
LE VERNIS NAIL POLISH ($21.00)
Available in Pop Petrol (intense teal) and B.B. Sand (golden beige)
TOUCHE PRO
This concealer features two shades to mix and match to hide imperfection and get a flawless complexion.
HYPNOSE DRAMA ($30.00)
Pop Petrol: teal
Wanted! Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation
I still have to get used to the idea of vibrating mascaras. I think they’re, well, weird and I’m not convinced I won’t poke myself in the eye with them (I’m the clumsiest person ever!). And now Lancome has released a vibrating foundation!
Called Oscillation Powerfoundation ($48.00), this mineral foundation comes with an applicator that vibrates 7,000 per minutes. This is supposed to break down the foundation into micronized particles to give skin a matte, smooth and air-brushed finish as well as minimising the appearance of wrinkles and pores over time.
I’m skeptical about this foundation as I think there are probably lots of other cheaper products on the market that could give the same results, but still I’d love to try it. Unfortunately, while Oscillation Powerfoundation is already available in the USA and will be out in Canada in November, there is no plan to release it internationally yet.
What do you think of a vibrating foundation? Is it cool or just weird?
Inside Yasmin Le Bon makeup bag
Yasmin Le Bon was discovered by a modeling agency in Oxfordshire when she was only 17 and working part time selling clothes. Since then, the British beauty has been the face of brands like Banana Republic, Biotherm, Chanel and Christian Dior to name just a few.
Married to Simon Le Bon, from Duran Duran, the model has also recently launched a clothing and jewellery collection, called YLB, she designed for Wallis. The collection was inspired by her fave items from her own wardrobe.
Here Yasmin shares the beauty products she can’t live without:
24 FAUBOURG BY HERMES (£46.50)
A floral scent that features notes of orange blossom, Sambac jasmine, vanilla and ambergris. Yasmin says it’s very classic and feminine.
ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN MARINE CREAM (£75.00)
A moisturizer that increases skin firmness and elasticity, whilst providing free radical protection. Yasmin switches between face creams all the time and at the moment she is using this one from Elemis. She says it has a lovely texture and makes her skin feel smooth and refreshed.
TARA SMITH BIG BABY SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER (£4.99 each)
The Big Baby Shampoo is a gentle clarifying shampoo suitable for babies and sensitive grownups.
The Big Baby Conditioner is a light and gentle conditioner, which eases a sensitive scalp.
LANCOME AMPLICILS MASCARA (£19.50)
A mascara that coats every lash and provides volume, separation and curl. The result is a glamorous look that lasts.
New Collection: Lancome Declaring Indigo Fall 2009
Lancome fall 2009 collection, Declaring Indigo, is inspired by the colors of the coats of arms of Paris and the French revolution: royal blue, red and gold.
COLOR DESIGN LIBERTY PALETTE ($42.00)
Available in Golden Audacity, Indigo Charm and Nude Elegance.
INK ARTLINER ($23.50)
Available in Brun Elegance, Indigo Charm and Noir Magnificence.
LA ROSE LIBERTE ($40.00)
An highlighter ideal for every complexion. A blend of iridescent white and golden beige powders creates a beautiful glow.
BLUSH SUBTIL ($29.50)
Available in Rouge Glow.
COLOR DESIGN LIPCOLOR ($22.00)
Available in Berry Sensual, Paris Rouge and Rouge Liberty.
COLOR FEVER GLOSS ($25.00)
Available in Berry Glamour, Declaring Gold, Golden Rouge, Raspberry Glimmer and Rouge Magnificence.
LE CRAYON ($22.00)
Available in Berry Sensual and Rouge Liberty.
LE VERNIS ($18.00)
Available in Golden Audacity, Indigo Paris and Rouge Liberty.