I cannot believe how quickly 2010 went by. It must be my ‘old age’, but it feels like every year goes by in a blink.
I am a few days early - it’s only the 29th of December, but I thought it was a perfect time to do a year-end favorites; basically, a round up of my favorite products used in 2010. I want to make it clear that I’m not only going to be considering products that were released in 2010, but also those that I liked the most/used the most in 2010.
This is going to be a long post - so I’m just going to get going! The list is in no particular order.
Johnson’s Baby Oil with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E - So simple. So cheap. So useful! Baby oil is probably one of the most versatile ‘beauty’ products out there. I like to use this on my legs, knees, ankles and elbows after I get out of the shower to manage dry skin. It leaves my skin itch-free and moisturized. Unlike some other moisturizing products, I am not left with greasy-feeling skin or grease-stained clothes after using the oil; it’s got a light non-offensive scent, and is hypoallergenic.
Crest 3D White Toothpaste - I am always skeptical of whitening toothpastes, because it’s usually very difficult to tell if they’ve made a difference to your pearly whites. After using this toothpaste for over a month, I truly can see a difference.
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study - I got this Paint Pot a few months ago in a Tartan Tale Exclusive set. The color is off-white with shimmer, and it works as a great base to most eye shadow; or, you can wear it alone.
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish - This is a new formulation/collection of nail polish that Sally Hansen released this year. They’ve released the collection to compete with brands like OPI and Essie, and I think they have done a great job. They have plenty of shades in the collection that are ‘dupes’ for OPI colors. I have bought quite a few colors of this polish, and am happy with the quality. The collection goes on sale regularly, and it’s affordable.
LUSH Happy Hippy Hair & Body Gel - I am a girl who loves citrus scents. This shower gel is scented with grapefruit and bergamot, and can be used both as a shampoo and a body wash. I have used the product both ways, and love the results. When I use it as a Shampoo, it is very clarifying and leaves my hair feeling soft and manageable. After using the product as a body wash, my skin feels clean and smells wonderful! I got my first bottle (100ml, shown in picture above) in a LUSH gift set, and happily re-purchased a full size bottle on Boxing Day.
Cover Girl LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Black Brown - My favorite mascara. End of story.
Neutrogena All-in-One Makeup Removing Cleansing Wipes - One thing that I really hate about traveling is packing. When I travel, I try to pack ‘trial’ or ‘travel size’ toiletries with me to reduce the space they occupy in my suitcase; I also try to pack products so that they won’t explode and ruin my clothes. These Cleansing Wipes are the best of both. I travelled with these over the Christmas holidays - using them to both remove makeup at the end of the day, and wash my face before bed. You don’t need to pack a cleanser if you bring these with you; when I used these to wash my face, I was left with clean skin that did not break-out. I love these things and I will certainly buy more for future trips (they are a bit too wasteful for everyday use)!
Benefit High Beam - I LOVE this liquid highlighter. I apply it after I have put on my foundation and bronzer, to add some luminosity to my skin. You do not need a lot to achieve results - so I can see this product lasting a long time!
Pantene Pro V Fine Hair Solutions Anti-Breakage Detangler - This year, my hair became ridiculously difficult to manage. My whole life, I have had soft, fine, pin-straight hair that was easy to manage and rarely tangled. For whatever reason (I am going to blame hormones and age), this year it tangles all the time, breaks and splits easily, and is a nightmare to comb out when wet. Part of the solution to my problem was this spray. I spritz it quite liberally all over my towel-dried hair, and then comb it through. The conditioner makes my hair easier to comb and makes my hair feel more glossy and healthy. As a bonus, even though it is a leave-in conditioner, this product does not make my hair a greasy mess when my hair is dry!
LUSH Emotibombs - I am really not a fan of taking baths. The idea of sitting in a basin of your own filth does not appeal to me. So, I was really happy when I saw that LUSH had items for us ‘showers only’ people. Emotibombs are fizzy aromatherapy ‘bath bombs’ for the shower. They effervesce with the hot water, and release a lovely scent for you to inhale in the steam of your shower. My favorite Emotibomb is ‘Too Drunk...’ (pictured above) for it’s minty-chamomile scent.
NARS Multiple Tint Stick - I have two of these babies, but my favorite of the two is Beverly Hills - a beautiful poppy red color. I love to use this on Sundays when I don’t wear any other makeup; just some of the cheek tint and a bit of lip balm. The Tint Sticks are sheer, build-able color that look very natural. The Tint Sticks (3 shades) were released in Limited Edition by NARS this summer.
MAC Pro Palette Eye Shadow x 15 - Whoever came up with the idea for this palette was a genius. I love the idea of being able to tote around 15 eye shadows. Like most shadow collectors, I have sorted my palettes into colors - cool neutrals (mauves, plums, grays) and warm neutrals (pinks, browns and peaches).
Smith’s Rosebud Salve - This has been a staple in my makeup bag for years. It was one of the first things I ever bought from Sephora, and it remains a long-time favorite. The salve is tinted pink, and brightens your lip color up while adding a lot of shine. I use this on my lips first thing in the morning to help moisturize them and get them ready for lipstick or gloss.
MAC Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose - This is such a pretty blush; one side is a shimmery lavender and the other is a shimmery pink. When you swirl the colors together and apply it to the apples of your cheeks, you get a gorgeous lavender glow!
Cover Girl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation - When I reviewed this foundation a few days ago, I had indicated that it was my new favorite. That sentiment remains true. The foundation works especially well with my primer, below.
NARS Makeup Primer - I have used both of NARS ‘cream’ based makeup primers. Of the two, I prefer the one in the white tube without SPF. This primer is actually gel-based. The scent is much nicer, it goes on much more sheerly and dries more quickly. It is almost like the primer is creating a thin filmy barrier between your skin and your foundation. Applying foundation on top of the primer is a dream - it creates a smooth surface that allows for easy blending and effortless coverage. I can wear moisturizer underneath the primer without feeling like my skin will be an oil-slick when I apply my primer. This primer is great at controlling skin oil, too. I haven’t had to use a powder on top of my foundation since I started to use this primer.
NARS Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base - NARS seems to have hit their stride with primers. They released three in 2010! One of the three was the Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base. This product comes in a tube, with a doe-foot wand applicator. The product itself is white and creamy, but dries clear. I have not had any issues with the product; it helps my eye-makeup last. If I wear this primer, my eye makeup can typically go 5 hours without creasing.
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - The simplicity of this product is what makes it great. NYX managed to cram cream eyeshadow into a big fat pencil. The pencils come in a variety of colors - both matte and shimmer - and are easy to apply and blend. Best of all, you can find them in most drug stores across North America. I have three, but my favorite is Cottage Cheese: a shimmery white color.
Maybelline New York Great Lash Clear Mascara - Back when I first started to wear makeup, I used clear mascara all of the time. It wasn’t until college that I actually started to wear colored mascara. I still keep a tube of clear mascara on hand to ‘style’ my eyebrows, and to wear on my lashes on low-key days where I want to wear makeup by don’t want to look like I am wearing any makeup.
What were your favorite products of 2010? Please leave a comment and let me know!
