Favorites: Top 13 of 2013
It’s time for my favorite favorites post of the year, but before I share the products with you, here’s a quick note about how I choose the products for this post.
In last year’s end-of-the-year favorites post, I decided to only feature products I discovered that year or products that were released that year. I, then, planned to use that selection method for all years going forward. Well, I’ve changed my mind!
While selecting the products I’d feature in this year’s post, I realized that while I’ve had the opportunity to use and own a great number of beauty products this year thanks to the various beauty subscription services I sampled in early 2013 and the excessive amount of trips I made to Sephora and Harmon, there are just certain products that were complete staples this year. A handful of them are products I’ve been using for two, three or four years, not just in 2013. While these products might not be featured in every monthly favorites post (because I like to shake things up a little), they are products I consistently used and loved in 2013.
Enough rambling! Here are my 13 favorite products from 2013! I’ve included a link to an online retailer for each, in case you’d like to add a product or two to your collection.
1: Dual-Tip Cosmetic Applicators, a must-have beauty tool that I use for everything from removing mascara smudges to cleaning up nail polish around my cuticles. These are from Walgreens, but any brand will do, just be sure they’re dual-ended with a precise pointed end and a flat, wide end.
2: Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Cameo, my favorite setting powder, which just happens to be a great match for my skin tone, so it adds a bit more coverage.
3: Make Up For Ever Camouflage Cream Pot, a fabulous medium-to-full coverage concealer that is the perfect consistency and opacity for covering blemishes, under eye circles and redness around my nose.
4: Embryolisse Emulsion Hydra-Mat, my favorite primer because it preps my skin and keeps it matte. Most importantly, thanks to this product, my makeup looks good all day.
5: Cover Girl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation, a wonderful full-coverage foundation that makes my skin look flawless and lasts all day. I apply it with the Beauty Blender or the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. You can read more here.
6: Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hold & Shine Moisture Mist, a great light leave-in conditioner that acts as a detangler for my mess of curly hair. You can read more about it here.
7: Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, a must-have product. I use this spray every time I wear makeup and I always have a bottle sitting in my beauty arsenal.
8: Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding, my go-to, everyday hair product. It makes my curls shiny and bouncy and decreases frizz. You can read more about it here.
9: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, my go-to makeup remover. I use these towelettes everyday to initially remove makeup from my face at night, to remove swatches and to clean up any makeup mishaps.
10: Michael O’Rourke Rock Your Hairspray It Hard Big Volume Hairspray, my holy grail hairspray. It’s the only hairspray I’ve ever used that keeps my curls in place all day. You can read more about it here.
11: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette, my favorite eye shadow palette. It’s the perfect mix of matte, neutral shades. You can see swatches here.
12: Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion, a must-have in my skincare collection. This product zaps blemishes overnight. I adore it!
13: Stella by Stella McCartney, a gorgeous floral scent. In 2013, I wore this perfume more than any of the others I own. It’s absolutely delightful.
What were your favorite products in 2013?
