2011 Beauty Favorites

Here are my favorites for 2011! It was neat to look back on my favorites from last year and compare them with the products I've used (or continued using) this year.

The products marked with - means it is a type of product that I do not use, or I just didn't find a miracle product for the year. The products followed by * means it was my favorite for both 2010 and 2011.

These are all products I have used continuously throughout the year.  I have repurchased most of these or I will in the future. I have recommended them to friends and family, and I recommend them to you.

Makeup

Blush: NARS Orgasm
Bronzer: NARS Laguna
Brush: Sigma Tapered Blending Brush
Concealer: Revlon Photoready
Eyebrows: Anastasia Brow Kit
Eyelash Curler: -
Eyeliner: MAC Technakohl in Graph Black*
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Palette
Eyeshadow Primer/Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion*
Foundation: -
Highlight: MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralized Skin Finish
Lipgloss: -
Lipstick: MAC Velvet Teddy
Mascara: Clinique High Definition*
Nail polish: Butter London Come to Bed Red
Powder: -
Tool: Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge
Top Coat Polish: Seche Vite

High-End Brand: Urban Decay
Drugstore Brand: Revlon

Body

Bath Product: Epsom Salt
Body Exfoliator: LUSH Ocean Salt Facial & Body Scrub
Body Lotion: Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter
Cuticle Cream: LUSH Lemony Flutter
Fake Tanner: -
Foot Cream: Bath & Body Works Shea it isn't So Foot Cream*
Hand Cream: -
Perfume: Stella by Stella McCartney*
Shower Gel: -
Soap: Dove Sensitive Skin
Teeth Whitening - Crest 3D White Advanced Seal

Haircare

Conditioner: Joico K-Pak
Electrical: Clairol Hot Rollers*
Hair Dye: Revlon Colorsilk
Hairspray: Big Sexy Hair
Mask: Joico K-Pak Hydrator*
Miracle Product: Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstruct
Shampoo: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil

Skincare
Exfoliator: LUSH Ocean Salt Facial & Body Scrub*
Eye Product: -
Cleanser/Makeup Remover: Clinique Take the Day Off
Facial mask: Freeman Cucumber Peel*
Lip Treatment: Blistex
Moisturizer: Origins Vitazing
Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion


here's to the best,
-Kaitlyn

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December Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

This month hardly consisted of purchasing any new beauty products because most of my time and money went into apartment décor and Christmas gifts. But I did have to make a few repurchases this month:

MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
It evens out the eyelid and gets rid of veins or redness, making eyeshadow pop brighter. Unfortunately, it’s not a great base on its own and needs the help of Urban Decay Potion Primer to avoid creasing.

Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Renewing Treatment
It helps restore shine, moisturizes, dangles and smells nice.  It's extremely cheap compared to the Moroccan Oil products.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Nail polish lasts another 3-4 days topping it with this. The shine is really intense too. On lazy days, I’ve just been opting for this on its own.

shiny nails,
-Kaitlyn

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November Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

I can't believe we're in the last month of 2011; I guess it's almost time to round up my annual favorites as well. For now, here are the products I've been loving November...two products are repurchases, two are newbies, and three are minty:

Anastasia of Beverly Hills Brow Highlighting Kit
This has been on my wishlist for awhile now, once the price dropped and I was out of my current brow pencil, I finally picked this up.  It's well worth $16 and can be used for so much more than just your eyebrows (eyeshadow, contour, eyeliner, highlight... It's a very versatile product.) It also came with a mini brow gel that I have yet to try.

Does cold weather mean dry skin and lips for everyone?...

Bath & Body Works Shea it isn't so Foot Cream
I've used this for a few years now.  Around the holiday time, you can find the "spa size" (double the full size for just $5 more.) I love the minty/medicated smell. I'm also impressed with this year's festive packaging. I use this every night before bed and wake up with soft feet.

LUSH Mint Julips Sugar Scrub
Another repurchase. (Yes, it's easier and cheaper to make... I've tried it before and wasn't happy with my homemade version.) It gets rid of all the dead/dry skin and leaves you with soft lips. It tastes good, too. 

Maybelline Baby Lips in Peppermint
I picked up a few of these and wasn't happy with any of the tinted shades, I'm content with the clear one for now.  I've been switching between this and medicated balms, still hoping for super soft "baby lips!" It's the best Maybelline new product line I've seen in awhile.

winter worries,
-Kaitlyn

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Review: CoverGirl Cheekers

Background

The October 2nd Proctor & Gamble insert included a $8 off any 2 CoverGirl face products coupon; this coupon stacked with drugstore's BOGO half off on CoverGirl products made it easy to get products for free. My mom and her neighbors mailed me a few of these coupons, too! I don't wear foundation.  I've hit pan on most of my NARS and Clinique blushes.  So I decided to give CoverGirl's Cheekers blushers a try.  I liked the original one I purchased, Golden Pink.  So over the course of a few weeks, I picked up even more...

I Purchased:
Cheekers
Classic Pink
Golden Pink
Natural Twinkle
Plumberry Glow
Rock n Rose

Classic Color
Rose Silk

Instant Cheekbones
Peach Perfection

Review
The majority of the colors are very soft.  Great for those who want the natural, barely there look.  These blushes can also be easily built up for a more intense color. Some colors have little to no pigmentation and take a few sweeps to be noticed.

It's very easily applied, staying power is several hours.

The texture is solid with no fallout.

The cost varies place to place, but the Cheekers stay under $4.00 for 3 grams of product.  The Classic Color and Instant Cheekbones run from $5.00 to $7.00. Most drugstores have CoverGirl BOGO half off, then you can also add a manufacturers coupon and get these for even cheaper, or in my case - free.

The packaging is quite cheap and pathetic.  Plastic, that very easily cracks, one is having a hard time closing properly. (I'm a sucker for good packaging and I think everything should come in sleek packaging like NARS.) The tiny brush it comes with is absolutely useless and should be thrown out ASAP.

Overall
They're good blushes for the cost.  They're great for someone just starting out with makeup.  There are better one sweep, better-staying power blushes out there.

Rating
Product: 3/5
Value: 5/5
Packaging: 2/5
Overall: 3/5

Bottom Line

No, I would not recommend this product to a friend.

to freebies,
-Kaitlyn

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October Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump
My hair is thick poofy, but my roots are weighed down.  This was an impulse buy for extra volume, it's been in my daily routine ever since.

Essie Raise Awareness
In case you missed it, most beauty stores were decked out in pink this month for the cause.   I limited myself to just a few products but this was my favorite probably because I don't have any shade like it - It's the perfect baby pink shade.  It did apply a little streaky and took too many coats, but I've had this on my toes for almost three weeks now.

Organix Shampoo in Acai Berry Avocado
I'm becoming fonder of the Organix hair line.  I'm obsessed with the scent - something similar to a bonne bell berry chapstick from my childhood.  I'd like to see other styling products with this scent, as well.

Urban Decay Greed Primer Potion
I've now tried every shade of primer potion.  This one ties for my favorite overall (with Eden) it's great for fun and night-out looks, while Eden is more work/daytime appropriate.  Greed is like a primer and a shimmery base paint point in one step.

childhood chapstick,
-Kaitlyn

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