2012 Beauty Favorites!

I can't believe we've reached the end of 2012 already! Aren't you glad the Mayans weren't right? :-)

This year, I've gone through quite a few products and some of them have really stood out to me either because they have that wow factor or they are now staples in my everyday routine this year.

The products are not in a specific order and range from makeup to hair care and other miscellaneous items. Enjoy!


Favorite Lipstick(s)

I'm sorry! I couldn't choose just one! It wouldn't be fair to my babies!
The two lipsticks that I've been getting hella-wear out of this year are MAC's Girl About Town and M.A.C. Red lipsticks.

Both are super smooth and packed with pigments that last forever on the skin.





Favorite Blush

MAC Raizin blush is a recent addition to my blush collection and I have been wearing it just about everyday since I purchased it.

It is a warm, brownish-brick shade that adds subtle color to the skin.

Favorite Mascara

 Maybelline's The Colossal mascara was released this fall and quickly became an everyday lash enhancer for me.

The product is easy to work with and does a great job of thickening and flaring out the lashes.









Favorite Eye Shadow

I was so excited when I hit pan on MAC's Sable eye shadow. It is such a beautiful everyday neutral that has a warm, slightly pink undertone.









Favorite Brush(es)

Once again, I couldn't choose just one. My favorite brushes this year are the Sigma E55 Eye Shading brush and F84 Angled Kabuki brush. Both are super soft and blend like a dream. The F84 applies liquid foundation flawlessly.




Favorite Concealer

I have been using MAC's Studio Finish Concealer in NW45 for a few years now. However, after testing out some other concealers this year, I realized how much I missed and loved this little jar of anti-face-spot-goodness.

Its a pretty opaque concealer that can cover most imperfections and blemishes. I don't think it is recommended for concealing dark circles but on everything else, its heaven-sent.





Favorite Eye Liner

This year, I've gotten more than a few goodies from Maybelline. They have really stepped up their game! The Master Drama eyeliner in Midnight Master quickly became my favorite black liner. It is super pigmented and glides on the sensitive area or the eye without any tugging and the product is almost waterproof. I need to use makeup remover to take it off. So, there's no smudging or smearing with this pencil!


Favorite Lip Pencil

I'm not sure about you, but I can't bring myself to spend more than $10 on a lip pencil. NYX Lip Liner pencil makes this possible and performs like a higher-priced pencil! The liner has great lasting power on its own and really helps lengthen the life of lipstick added on top. I have several shades of these but my favorites are Red Hot (shown) and Bloom (a hot pink that matches Girl About Town amazingly)


Favorite Cream Eye Stick

I can pretty much rest assured from almost anything from Revlon's ColorStay line. The Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch is no exception. It is very creamy in color and application and the "color" really does "stay".  The lighter end of the stick doesn't really suit my skin tone (I expected that), but the dark brown is great as a base for a brown smokey eye or to wear on its own.


Favorite Hair Product

This item is not really advertised as a hair product but I love using natural Almond oil to moisturize my hair. It has no real smell and a large, 16 oz bottle costs about $10 on Amazon and lasts for at least 2 months.

I've been really proud of myself for streamlining the number of products I use in my hair this year. A little leave-in conditioner mixed with a few drops of Almond oil on wet hair gives me just the amount of moisture and manageability  I need without weighing the hair down.

Applying on wet/damp hair also helps to reduce frizz when air-drying.




Favorite Nail Polish

This category was pretty hard for me to pick just one nail polish. I feel like this year, there have been so many options for nail colors and patterns. My official nail polish pick is Revlon ColorStay in Bold Sangria. It is a beautiful deep plum that seriously has the smoothest and shiniest formulation!

My runner up is OPI's You Only Live Twice from the Skyfall Collection




Favorite Accessory

At the time of purchase, I did not realize I would get as much use out of this Charlotte Russe Mint Flap Crossbody bag as I have over the last few months! At about $16, this thing has paid for itself at least 3 times!

It adds a great pop of color to many variations of outfits.

 Favorite Perfume

I have really been loving Rihanna's Rebelle Perfume. I have and love her first fragrance, Reb'l Fleur and I can safely say, Rebelle is even better!

I'm not that great at describing scents, but this fragrance has warm, spicy/musky notes, as well as a bit of floral. I tend to gravitate to warm scents like Jessica Simpson's Fancy and this perfume has been a huge hit for me!

Her third fragrance, Nude, was released recently but I can't seem to get my hands on it so far. Hopefully I can get a whiff of it in the new year. With a track record like RiRi's, I am excited for more to come.



I can go on and on but in an attempt not to make this list too extensive, this concludes my most notable beauty favorites of 2012.

Which products stood out to you in 2012?