Best in Beauty | 2014

HELLO MY DARLINGS, welcome back to my blog. Another year has come and gone and here I am with another Best in Beauty post - sharing with you my favourite products that I enjoyed throughout the year a bit of love and why I love them. I ventured out of drugstore makeup and had a new found love for everything in Mecca Maxima which soon became my second home. I have bits and pieces ranging from drugstore to high end and I'm super excited so let's get straight into the base products!

Starting with primers, I've been on the hunt for primer that is suitable for my oily-sensitive skin and let me tell you, it wasn't easy! I've tried drugstore and high end ones and I think it's safe to say that I finally found it! I received a sample of the Too Faced Hangover X primer awhile ago and fell in love at first application. It's not a silicone base which is great for my oily skin chicks out there. It's long lasting, holds up my foundation really well and creates a nice and even canvas to apply your makeup on. It retails for $44 at Mecca Maxima and I'll be heading out soon to pick up a full size.

I was on a foundation frenzy for awhile in 2014 and never really found anything that was comparable to my L'Oreal True Match in terms of consistency, longevity, shade selection and coverage. Then came along the L'Oreal Infallible 24H foundation which was a new range that came out late last year with an accompanying pressed powder, concealer and of course the foundation itself. The formula is much like the True Match but it has more coverage and a thicker consistency. In saying that, it still looks natural on the skin and leaves an almost matte finish which is perfect for my oily skin. It has an SPF 18 which is good for the Summer time here in Australia and would be wearable for a day time event just because during the night with flash photography might leave a bit of a white cast.

I have loved the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer this year and it's my absolute holy grail to cover dark circles and scars. Many have compared the MAC Prolong Wear concealer against NARS and some have been converted but others haven't given it as much love. I on the other hand have both concealers and use them quite frequently but I just love the consistency of NARS so much better. I won't talk about it too much because I've already posted a review on it right here.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Power has been a favourite of mine for the longest time and I still love it to this day. It's just a beautifully made pressed powder which is great for mattifying the skin, adds some coverage BUT doesn't look cakey or flat which is always good and comes in a perfect compact for on the go. For special occasions I would take this with me for touch ups but I generally take blotting sheets instead. Love this powder, I've said in the past that the L'Oreal True Match pressed powder is comparable and also cheaper so if you're wanting to try it but still skeptical, definitely check out the True Match one which is another holy grail of mine!

I haven't bought too much from MAC this year only because it's pretty expensive in Australia compared to the United States but my manager was so kind to gift me a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow for Christmas! I know right, what a generous manager! I'm super thankful for the gift and I am loving it so far! It was such an impulse product because I didn't read any reviews nor seen it before but I thought I would get it regardless. I swatched it on my hand and it was so gorgeous I couldn't pass it up. I use a small amount with the Real Techniques Setting Brush and apply this to my cheek bones, nose bridge and cupid's bow it just pulls any look together. It's stunning.

Blushes and bronzers are some of my FAVOURITE products in the whole entire world. If only I could try every single one out there just for reference but obviously I can't or else I would have a problem .. well bigger problem. I think the award for the most used and loved blush this year is NARS Blush in Torrid. I can't even tell you how amazing this blush is, it's a perfect blend of pink and peach with really subtle golden shimmer and adds just that nice pop of colour to the cheeks. I love blushers that are suited for most lip colours so when in doubt, I always go back to this one. As for bronzers, I absolutely adore NARS Bronzer in Laguna! Big shocker there, both of these products have been in my previous favourites and I can't give them enough recognition. This bronzer is the perfect shade for contouring, not too warm and not too cool. This is my go-to bronzer throughout the year and I'm in love!

My brow game hasn't changed drastically, I still love my Sigma Bro Duo in Medium but I did try out Benefit Gimme Brow and it has changed my life! In my Australis Brow Tint review (read it here), I mentioned that the Gimme Brow was too expensive and not if it was worth the hype but since trying it for myself, I adore it! It has the tiniest wand which really gets into the corners. It tints my brows to match my ombré hair and keeps them in place until the end of the night. Untamed brows aren't pretty!

Have I told you guys now much I ADORE the Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eye Primer?! Oh my freaking gosh it is one of the best eye primers I have ever used - it keeps my eyeshadows in place and looking vibrant and doesn't crease throughout the night like some others I've used in the past. I have pretty oily eyelids but this eye primer keeps the oils at bay and has a nice, thin consistency which is easy to apply and doesn't drag along the eyelids. I recently bought the full sized version and I'm pretty sure it's going to last me for like three years. Ha!

This is my holy grail eyeliner at the moment, I'm obsessed with how beautiful, pigmented and how easy it is to apply. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner is a truly black eyeliner which has a matte finish which is EVERYTHING to me. I'm not a fan of glossy finishes unless needed so this is the perfect eyeliner for a day to night basis. I've reviewed this product in the past and you can read it here. Read my thoughts on how I thought of it before and now!

OH. EM. GEE. I died over the one and only Lorac Pro Palette this year. It is soooooo beautifully formulated, the pigmentation of each eye shadow is actually mouth watering (sounded better than amazing because I over use amazing haha!). But really, this is a gorgeous palette that all makeup lovers should have in their collection. It has 16 eyeshadows - 8 mattes and 8 shimmers. The mattes are a little bit chalky especially when you dip your brush in so be mindful to tap off any excess to avoid fall out on your face. The shimmers on the other hand feel like butter, they glide on so creamy and seriously, alittle goes a long way with these eyeshadows. It can be found on Amazon if you just type "Lorac" into the search bar. Must have in my opinion!

You all know that waterproof mascara is my life and I can't live without it because without it, my lashes will droop down and look non-existent BUT I had a sample of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara from the Dear Bloggers pack and fell in love with it. It's not waterproof but it lengthens, defines and makes my lashes so voluminous! I do have to curl my eyelashes a fair bit I don't mind because the result is just awesome. I hope they come out with a waterproof formula down the track but even so, I'm already happy with the way it applies and it's formulation already. If you're looking for a volumising mascara, this is it!

Last but not least, my favourite lip product. Isn't it unfair that I can only choose one? .. I'm gonna add two just because there are two types of girls, one is soft and neutral whereas the other is more bright and edgy! Both of them are from MAC and I think you guys already know which ones I'm about to mention. MAC Shy Girl (creamsheen finish) and MAC Up The Amp (amplified finish) are my favourites for the year of 2014! I own heaps of lipsticks but I've narrowed it down to these two and I'm having no regrets. I seriously love the way these feel on the lips, they're not drying, rich in pigments and just glide on to the lips like butter. I've actually reviewed these lipsticks as well along with Please Me (matte finish) which I'll link right here! I also have to mention my NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita, it's the most gorgeous My Lips But Better but that's another story

That's finally the end of my Best in Beauty 2014 Edition! 2014 was a year filled with happiness, love, excitement, adventure, tears and so much more. I'm thankful for another year and that my family and friends are safe and by my side! May 2015 bring more memories and luck! Here's my New Years message to you guys (Happy New Year!) I hope you all enjoyed my first post for 2015, stay tuned for new content arriving on Haus Of Makeup. Love you all!

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Until next time,