My 12 favorite beauty products of 2012

Happy 2013 everyone!
Shockingly, I have found a bunch of HG or 'holy grail' products this year! It makes me happy to find amazing things that suit me, but at the same time it takes the fun away from hunting for something new.

Everything in this post are products I use daily or a few times per week.
You might recognize some of these items from my summer favorites post.
Sorry, I didn't take individual pictures of everything, I wanted to get this posted before 2014 ;) So; here are my top 12 beauty buys from 2012.

 

12. Clinique take the day off cleansing balm  $34 CAD

This was a recent discovery and I am so impressed with it. I've wasted so much money trying to find a 'gentle' cleanser that completely removes makeup.  I can't use foaming cleansers or wipes anymore, they make my face red and irritated. This balm easily takes off every single trace of makeup, even waterproof mascara - and it rinses off completely. No oily residue at all! I love this stuff so much.

11. Essence volumizing lash powder $3.99 CAD

I was skeptical, but this stuff works so well. I found that using wet mascara with it is best. Covergirl lash blast (orange tube) worked magically with it. It gave me fake looking lashes. The fibers won't irritate sensitive eyes, just be careful when applying and you will get amazing lashes.

10. ELF liquid eyeliner $1.50 CAD

I grabbed this back in the summer when I ran out of MAC penultimate liner (which dried out within 3 months of use :( And I don't think I will look back. I can get a thin dark line in one swipe, and it stays put all day. So cheap too!

9. Maybelline color tattoo cream shadow bad to the bronze $8.99 CAD

I use this all the time. It's one of my go-to shadows because it is so quick and easy to get a gorgeous taupe shimmery eye. Just apply to lids, add a few coats of mascara and then put on some more for a little more color intensity.

8. Wet n Wild color icon palette vanity $6.99 CAD

I think this is what I would consider my HG eyeshadow palette. I recently purchased a back up. It's so pigmented and gorgeous. The colors blend like a dream. I was using MAC blanc type as an all over base shadow before, but when I started using the matte beige in this quad I realized that it was even better than MAC! I will never be without this palette.

7. NARS larger than life lipgloss Tiber $30 CAD

I love NARS larger than life glosses. I think they are the best out there. They are shiny, long lasting and hydrating. No stickiness at all. Tiber is my favorite color, a nice neutral beige. I am going to buy more.

6. MAC lipstick blankety $18 CAD

This is my HG lipstick. It is the perfect mix of pink and beige and I can wear it with anything. It tones down the redness in my lips but it doesn't make me look like a corpse.

5. MAC paint pot constructivist $20 CAD

I love this as an all over lid color or as a liner. It's a nice rich brown with reddish pearl. It makes my green eyes pop. Genius color. Another item I will never be without.

4.  MAC eyebrow pencil lingering $18 CAD

This has become my HG brow product. I have tried lots. This is IT. The color is perfect, it looks totally natural, it defines and helps shape and fill in brows where needed. Most importantly, it stays on all day and it keeps brows in place. I couldn't ask for more. I have heard that maybelline has a dupe of this product so I will be checking that out too.

3. MAC mineralize skin finish light year (limited edition)  $34 CAD

I'm sorry I had to put an LE product in here, but this has become my everyday blush. I mix all the colors together and it gives me a luminous pink/beige/peach glow that I haven't got from anything else. It's exactly what I want in a blush. A little glow without looking overdone. All pale girls need this in their stash!

2. MAC play it proper beauty powder $34 CAD

This is my HG highlight product. It is a light pearly pink and it gives my cheekbones an amazing glow. I've hit pan and already have a backup because I use it pretty well every day. 

I highly recommend light pink highlighters for pale skin, I think they are the most flattering.

1. Make up forever face and body foundation $44 CAD

My number one favorite? MUFE face and body foundation. I love it. I haven't found any other foundation that gives such a youthful look to skin as this. It's dewy but it is so light feeling, and it lasts all day. I tried shade #20 and it was very dark on me, I ended up going for #38 porcelain ivory and it is a pretty decent match. It's expensive, and hard to get here but I will keep using it until I find something similar.

I hope you liked my top 12! What were your favorites of 2012? There were so many great things this year it was hard to pick!

Annabelle BB cream review

I just wanted to do a quick review on a new drugstore BB cream that I've recently tried.
I tend to stay away from the new drug store ones since they tend to have skin irritating ingredients or low to no SPF ratings.

But, I saw the Annabelle one has some antioxidants and no alcohol so I figured I'd give it a try.

Annabelle is an exclusively Canadian cosmetics company and can be purchased practically anywhere that sells drug store make up country wide.

Basically this BB cream is trying to be like all the others, stating that it is a fusion of skin care and make up.

I think they did a pretty good job on this one to be honest, but it does have it's flaws.
The BB cream comes in two shades only, light/medium and medium/dark.
Light medium is obviously the one I chose since I'm fair. But I must say it's not for fair skin at all! It's very yellow toned and more suited to medium skin.
The reason this is a problem is because it is actually quite pigmented! I couldn't use this on my face because it was more like a foundation, and well - it looked way to dark on me.

Here are swatches on my hand :

blended:

My hands are like 2 shades darker than my face at this point of the summer. I should really use sunscreen on my hands as well!
Anyways this gives a gorgeous luminous finish, and is actually very hydrating. I was very impressed, except with the color.

pros:

- Protects skin against UVB rays
- non irritating
- includes skin beneficial antioxidants and moisturizers
- feels very nice on
- great coverage
- gives complexion a luminous healthy look

cons:

- Not broad spectrum sun protection (you need to block both UVA and UVB rays to avoid skin damage)
- Feels slippery on the skin, doesn't fully 'set' rubs off on clothing (unless set with powder)
- Color options are very limited (medium to deep skin tones - nothing for fair or very dark)

Overall, I highly recommend this if you like tinted moisturizers and some coverage. I would say the light/medium would suit NC20 to NC35 skin tones. Possibly NW15 if you get darker in summer.
I love this stuff and I'm very sad they don't make it in a lighter color.

Repurchase? No. Not light enough for my skin.

Price: $16 CAD

Rating: 4/5

My summer beauty favorites!

 I thought I'd do a little post on all my favorite makeup I've been using this summer. All products in this post I use daily or at least once per week. I'll list everything and why I'm loving it :

 Left to right:

• NARS larger than life lipgloss in Tiber ~ perfect nude color, awesome formula not too sticky and actually moisturizing!
• MAC prep + prime BB beauty balm spf 35PA+++ ~ Amazing product! I am using the Asian version currently, it's almost the same as the U.S. just has different sunscreen actives. I was using products with SPF 15 but realized I need more SPF than that (my skin was getting irritated by the sun). So this beauty balm (not to be confused with BB cream!) is sheer and non greasy, providing a perfect base for makeup with SPF 35. On good skin days I use it by itself, just evens everything out and gives a slight glow.
• Biotherm multi-proctection SPF 30 eye contour cream ~ Awesome eye cream with SPF. It's fast absorbing and moisturizing, perfect under makeup.
• Burberry Brit EDP ~ I got this by accident, and I'm glad I did because I love it! I picked this up in a sleep deprived haze - thought it was Burberry the Beat (which I also adore!) and once I tried it I thought I may as well keep it. It's grown on me.. it smells warm, clean, sweet and summery. 
• Cover Girl lash blast mascara waterproof ~ I only use this when I need to since it's hard to remove, but it stays all day and is truly water resistant!
• Cover Girl liquiline blast brown blaze ~ The most perfect brown liner I've ever used! I'm not exaggerating. The color is gorgeous and doesn't have shimmer so it's great for the waterline. I like this for the summer because it isn't harsh like black can be.
• MAC penultimate eyeliner rapid black ~ I've been searching for a liner like this forever. I can actually make a tiny, small line with this! I love using it on the top lash line to add just a little bit of fullness to my lashes without having to make a thick line.

 

• Wet n Wild vanity palette  ~ Love this! I like to use the matte colors for a subtle look somedays, and for a more smoky eye I put the shimmery brown over MAC constructivist paint pot and it looks amazing... try it!
• MAC MSF semi precious crystal pink ~ I'm really sad this is limited edition because it's the perfect summer blush and highlighter in one. I use this a lot, the middle gives a light bronze/pink blush and the outside gives a shimmery beige highlight. It's perfect.
• MAC constructivist paint pot ~ Gorgeous deep brown with reddish undertones. I use this one a lot too. I like to layer shimmery taupes and browns over it for a smoky eye.
• Maybelline 24 hr eye tattoo in bad to the bronze ~ Another amazing color. It's the one thing I must say you need for summer. Some days when I want a minimal look thats fast and easy I just use this all over the lid with some mascara and I'm good to go. It's the perfect champagne taupe color, not too dark or too light. The best thing is that it stays all day and doesn't crease or travel.
• MAC lipstick blankety ~ This has become my favorite lipstick ever. It goes with everything, It also makes lips look plump.
• Urban Decay naked palette ~ (Forgot to take a pic!) This is my go-to palette most days. I love it.

One of my favorite summer polishes is Illamasqua Milf. I love it! Sorry for the blurry pic, was holding my baby and trying to aim the camera with the same arm.

 

Here is my summer FOTD, very basic and neutral. I'm spending a lot of time outside so I look really tan..wow.
My FOTD:
face:
- MAC prep + prime beauty balm
- Revlon Colorstay in buff (a whole shade darker than the usual ivory! )
- MAC MSF crystal pink
eyes:
- Urban Decay naked palette: naked (lid), buck (crease & lower lash line), sin (blended above crease), virgin (to highlight).
- Armani eyes to kill mascara (review coming soon!)
- Annabelle brow pencil taupe
lips:
NARS larger than life l/g Tiber

Well I hope you are all having a great summer. My family and I are enjoying it, looking forward to holidays in a few weeks as well.
Let me know what your favorite summer beauty products are! Especailly any skin care and foundations, always up for trying new things :)

trash review: MAC pro eye makeup remover

I recently finished off my huge bottle of MAC pro eye makeup remover.
It lasted me a really long time! I had one that was in older white and black packaging, it now comes in a clear purple hued bottle (shown above).

pro eye makeup remover old packaging:

The new one only comes with 3.4 oz (100 ml) of product, but the older version comes with a whopping 5 oz (150 ml)!!!

Let me tell you, I have a hard time finding eye makeup removers that work for me. They almost always sting, burn and irritate my sensitive eyes.
I usually go for lotions that don't irritate, but then I'm left with blurry eyes from oils that are hard to wash off.

MAC's is so gentle, that it feels like I'm taking off my makeup with water. No irritation at all.
The formula is fragrance free, and the ingredients list is basic, excellent for someone with sensitive eyes.

Ingredients:
Water, PEG-32, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-6, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol

I must mention that I do not use waterproof mascara (I lose too many lashes) so I'm not sure if this would work for that.
I found it to quickly and easily remove regular mascara, waterproof eyeliner and eyeshadow. I didn't have to pull on my eyes at all. When wearing very heavy liner and lots of primer/shadow I did have to go over it twice. But it did take it off.

I will be honest and say that you can probably find something similar to this for a lot cheaper. However, if something works well for me I don't mind spending a bit more money instead of buying cheap stuff that has so much added irritants/fragrance it ends up in the garbage anyways.
MAC also sells the travel size of this (1 oz) for $12 CAD, not too bad if you want to try it out.
If you can find the older packaging at CCO's, definitely get it because it's a great deal-- or grab one for me ;)

repurchase? Absolutely

rating: 4.5/5

price: $23 CAD

Missha M perfect cover BB cream review

Missha was the very first BB cream I ever tried. It is probably the most popular brand of BB creams in the beauty world.

BB or blemish balms are super popular all over Asia. They originated in Germany as a tinted healing cream for patients who underwent skin treatments and needed something to help protect, heal and soothe the skin. Japan picked up on theses ingredients and are now pumping out all different kinds of BB creams.


Here is Missha's description of the M perfect BB cream:

' The M Perfect Cover BB Cream gives an even and natural-looking coverage with the soothing, moisturising properties of a cream. It is suitable for all skin types including acne-prone skin, and can be used as a makeup base or foundation. '
source: http://www.misshaus.com

Ingredients list:
Water(Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Arbutin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Adenosine, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Beeswax(Cera Alba), Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caviar Extract, Algae Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Ceramide 3, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance(Parfum), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
MAY CONTAIN[+/-; Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Iron Oxides(CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]

This ingredients list tells me that there are some excellent antioxidant ingredients in the Missha BB cream.
It is very emmolient and moisturizing to the skin. It is comparable to a very creamy thick tinted moisturizer.

I used this product for 3 days straight and although I liked it I had to stop using it.
Upon first application, I realized that the color was two shades too dark for my pale skin. It also seemed slightly ashy toned.
I really liked the way it made my skin glow with moisture and radiance.
I tried applying it again, this time with a lighter powder over top and it helped to lighten the color a bit.
By the third day of using this my skin became slightly sensitized and I developed tiny red spots around my t zone (an indication of inflamed/irritated skin).
I believe that the algae extract is the culprit, because I seem to have a reaction to anything that has algae in it.

swatch of M perfect # 21 light beige:

Swatch on my arm - bottom half of the line is 21 blended, top is my natural skin. you can see the coverage is pretty good, my veins aren't as noticeable:

I would normally post pictures of how this looked on my face but I don't want to use it again due to my allergic reaction.
One other thing I noticed about this was that it seemed to make my skin darker. I mean after using it for 3 days it seemed like I had applied a self tanner. This effect lasted about 2 weeks. I didn't particularly like it.
I've read that this is because the pigments 'stain' the skin, but for something that is claimed to 'lighten' my skin it just doesn't seem right. It's a mystery to me.
I will tell you right now that this won't lighten your skin one bit!

Overall, I would recommend this to those with normal, dry or very dry skin who want light to moderate coverage and skin conditioning ingredients.
Since the finish is quite dewy and it does contain oil, this wouldn't be the best choice for oily skin types.
I would also be careful if you have sensitive skin because there are a few possible skin irritants in the ingredients list.

The great thing about Missha BB cream is that there are several color options, so that pale and deeper skin tones can wear it. Most BB's only come in one shade, usually quite pale or medium.
If you are curious about BB creams Missha has a good reputation, but there are many different brands available.

repurchase? No, I had an allergic reaction and found that it darkened my skin.

rating: 3/5

price: $20-$30 USD

trash review: Lancome renergie microlift eye R.A.R.E. superior lifting eye cream

A while ago I snuck into my moms skin care stash and found this eye cream. She didn't like it so I took the liberty of trying it out.

This is the best eye cream I have EVER used. I have tried many, many other brands including vichy, clinique, Neutrogena, even La Mer! - and I'm telling you, this is the one. It is so great that made it onto the #1 spot of my top 10 favorite products of 2010 list.

The reason I use an eye cream is to keep the undereye area moisturized of course, and hopefully 'plump out' any bags and dark circles from lack of sleep or those fine lines that really show when my skin is dehydrated.
Most eye creams don't do anything but irritate my eyes. They are usually the same as any other facial moisturizer, perhaps a little thicker.

Lancome Microlift eye does everything. It plumped up my under eye area, making those pesky fine lines totally disappear. It brightened underneath my eyes, and took away all signs of fatigue.
It literally took years off my eyes.

Here is an example of the result on my hand. In this photo here I have applied a swatch of the cream. Notice how you can see the little lines on my hand?
This photo is after blending the cream in and letting it sink in. All the lines on my hand are plumped out! My skin looks radiant and moisturized.

This stuff works!
Unfortunately, after I stopped using it all signs of fatigue and dehydrated skin came back. To see consistent results you need to continually use this product.

There is only one thing that I do not like about this cream and that is the packaging. I really dislike jar packaging because I'm a little bit OCD around germs. So I actually scoop some out with a spatula to use it. If only it came in a hygienic pump tube or something.

It's not always easy to find $80 to spend on an eye cream. In fact, I am hunting for something a little less expensive to use that delivers the way this does. So far I'm most happy with Philosophy Hope in a tube eye & lip firming cream. It costs $43 which is half that of Lancome and delivers excellent results as well. For now I'm content using hope in a tube, but when I have some extra money I would definitely consider getting some more Lancome renergie microlift.


repurchase? yes.

price: $78.50

rating: 5/5

Trash review: Derma E Vanilla bean cleansing mousse

I recently finished up my bottle of vanilla bean 'age defying' cleanser from Derma E.
It lasted me about 4 months, used once daily.


The main reason I got this cleanser is because I absolutely love vanilla. I thought it would be nice to have a vanilla cleanser to wake me up in the morning.
While it does smell like vanilla, it also has a sort of chemical scent along with it. It bothered me and detracted from the natural claims of the product.

It has a thin creamy texture that feels really nice on the skin. I would not call it a mousse, but maybe a cream?

One pump lathered on to my hand:

It lathers very nicely, and removes all traces of makeup and oil from my skin. It actually made my skin feel rather dry and tight after, so I always made sure to moisturize right away.
I don't like cleansers that 'strip' the skin of it's natural barrier. I prefer more moisturizing cleansers like Dove, especially in this cold winter weather. Not to mention it is quite pricey :/
I don't see how a cleanser can have any 'age defying' effect since the ingredients get washed down the drain, and I didn't notice my skin take on any changes at all while using it.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone because it is a very average product for the money.

Repurchase? No. too expensive for a basic cleanser.

Price: $15.99 CAD

Rating: 2.5/5

Lexa's beauty secret #2

The epitome of all things beauty, is your skin.
It is your canvas, and it is with you for your whole life.
To look your best you need to take care of it!

One of my beauty secrets is to make sure I exfoliate my skin gently, every single day. Why?
Your skin sheds 1000's of cells daily, and over time it can build up and look dull.
By removing the dead cells, you make room for the new cells to come through revealing a brighter more healthy looking complexion.

You can definitely overdo it, too much scrubbing can lead to irritation, increased oil production or even blemishes - so you need to be careful not to use any harsh exfoliating products or cleansers.

The best ways to exfoliate :

• Use a clean warm washcloth and gently massage your skin with a mild cleanser. secret: microfiber cloths, which are typically sold for cleaning cars - work magnificently! They only cost about $2
  

• Use exfoliating cleansing cloths. These are so handy, my personal favorite. They remove all traces of foundation while gently exfoliating your skin. I use and recommend Olay daily facials skin soothing cleansing cloths. They are really great for sensitive skin.
  

• Use an exfoliating scrub. This can be tricky since there are so many scrubs out there, and many have the potential to harm your skin if the particles in it are too big. They can actually cut your skin! So be careful and choose one that has small smooth beads. My favorite is Olay Definity pore redefining scrub. I'd recommend it, unless you have extremely sensitive skin.
  

trash review: Vichy Aqualia Thermal UV hydrating treatment

The latest product I have used up completely is my lovely Vichy UV moisturizer.
I bought this last Christmas, and I've only run out a couple of weeks ago. It lasted me almost a whole year!

All you need is one pump for your entire face

When blended onto my hand, you can see it absorbed really well, and left behind a very slight 'glow' thanks to the tiny mica particles.

A lot of moisturizers either leave my skin too greasy feeling, or dry. This one leaves my skin just right, and makes a perfect base for makeup application.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Dimethicone, Glycerin, octocrylene, butyrospermum parkii butter/shea butter, Butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane, drometrizole trisiloxane, hexyldecanol, hexyldecyl laurate, terephthalylidene dicamphor , sulfonic acid, sucrose stearate, silica, poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Stearic Acid, MICA, Triethenolamine, Dimethiconol, methylparaben sodium polyacrylate, sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, sodium hyaluronate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, aluminium starch octebylsuccinate, phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl acetate, EDTA, ammonium polyacryldimethyltauramide, propylparaben, caprylyl glycol, xanthan gum, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Butylparaben, polyphosphorylcholine glycol acrylate, Polyvinyl alcohol, butylene glycol, fragrance.

My skin is very sensitive and reactive, so I can't use just any moisturizer. It also gets horribly dry in the winter, I need something that is going to provide a good barrier for my skin.
Last but not least, having very fair skin requires using adequate sun protection 365 days a year to avoid premature wrinkles.
Vichy UV totally fits the criteria for all my winter skin needs!
It hydrates, has broad spectrum UVA And UVB protection, and doesn't irritate or clog my skin.
Definitely a winner for me, and anyone who needs a good daytime moisturizer.
It might seem expensive, but with a product like this a little goes a long way and I totally think it's worth it.

Repurchase? yes

Price: $28 USD, $30 CAD


Rating: 5/5