Favourites ♥

It's probably time to get my 2013 favourites up, huh?

I am so late with this. Sorry! Seriously... February came and went while I was twiddling my thumbs. There's definitely a moment when this becomes completely moot & I feel like I'm encroaching on that border (if I haven't already blown past the welcome sign haha). The further into 2014 we get, the more irrelevant 2013 faves becomes but hopefully you'll still care to know…

So without further ado... here are some of my faves from the past year.

Instead of sharing a laundry list of favourites, I thought I would condense it into 13 (give or take a few). Starting with hair tools…


Conair Curl Secret
A hair tool I’ve loved in 2013 is the Conair Curl secret. I think this new range of curlers is so innovative. Let me tell you why I love it, but why I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone.

What I love:

• It works really well with my hair.
• It gives me the perfect loose, romantic curls that I love.
• It’s incredibly easy to use for me and it cuts my hair curling in half.

The downsides are:

• You can only curl your hair in one direction (there’s no way to switch the way the barrel turns with this particular model / brand).
• You really have to prep your hair before using this tool to make sure that it is tangle free and fairly smooth (otherwise it will eat your hair and create a mess).
• It doesn’t give really tight curls, so if you’re used to the kind of curl / longevity you get from a flat iron, then look elsewhere.

For me & the kind of curls I like, this curler is perfect!

Mason Pearson Hair Brush
I seem to be a hoarder of hair brushes. I have a drawer dedicated to them. All different shapes and sizes and bristles, but this is by far my favourite (followed very closely by the Sonia Kashuk hair brushes).

I am a firm believer in the “100 brush strokes before bed” – especially with this brush. I try to do it every single night and my hair looks extra shiny and smooth the next morning. Plus, it redistributes the oils in my hair so my second day hair looks even better than the first.


Biotherm Anti-Drying Body Milk
I discovered this body lotion during the summer & I’ve been loving it ever since. It keeps your skin smooth, hydrated, and comfortable all day long. It has been a bit of a skin saver during the current winter conditions we’ve been experiencing.

Skincare Loves

I could do a completely separate post on skincare favourites (in fact I have one in the pipeline), but instead, I picked out three (kind of new) standout products from this past year. They are the Sibu Hydrating Serum, the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, and the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè (24-Hour Miracle Cream).

Sibu Hydrating Serum
I’ve heard so many good things about the Sibu skincare line from Michelle1218, so when I saw that Well.ca was carrying the brand, I opted for a few things. I’ve been loving the Hydrating Serum (I am now on my second bottle). It’s so lightweight and liquid (kind of feels like water), but it hydrates like nobody’s business.

Clairins Beauty Flash Balm
The Clarins Beauty Flash Balm doubles as a moisturizer and a deep conditioning mask (for the face, of course). It’s so refreshing on the skin. It glides over the skin beautifully and it keeps my skin looking moisturized and fresh. I applying this in heavy doses for those days where my skin feel taut and dehydrated.

Embryolisse 24 hour cream
I am so happy to have rediscovered the Embryolisse. I first used it years ago and I don’t know why I haven’t repurchased it until last year. This has become a morning staple. It’s a great moisturizer (my skin feels hydrated and smooth all day long) and it’s a great base for any makeup.

You’ll notice a theme here… One of the main criteria I look for in a moisturizer is that it must be hydrating on the skin. I don’t have dry skin, by any means, but I hate applying a layer of lotion onto my skin, only to have it feel tight and dry an hour later.


Mascaras
These mascaras have been on rotation for the last year. While I haven’t been using mascara at all lately (I got lash extensions done recently and while they have all fallen off, I still haven’t gotten back into the habit of mascara yet), these three would be the ones I would reach for.
Lancome Doll lashes, Dior Diorshow, and Covergirl Clump Crusher.

I don’t expect miracles from mascaras – I was born with short & straight lashes, so I’m used to it – but I do love a mascara that defines my lashes, volumizes them, and that doesn’t leave raccoon eyes. All three of these mascaras work exactly the way I want them to. They vary in brush shapes and mascara formulations, but they last all day long and they define my lashes so people know I actually have some!

Chantecaille Just Skin
I am upgrading this to Holy Grail status. I don’t throw that word around lightly; in fact, there are probably only a handful of products that I would deem worthy of that title.

When I think Holy Grail, I think a product that you would repurchase in an instant or a product that when you stop using, you actually miss.

Just Skin is my holy grail. It still allows your skin to peek through, but it gives a beautifully fresh finish. I love that! It also lasts all day long on my normal / combination skin. It is fool proof to apply, you can use your fingers, a beauty blender, a brush… they all give a great finish. Lastly, it looks so natural on the skin. I do wish it was more reasonably priced, though.

YSL Touche Éclat
You know, for the longest time I was torn on whether I even liked this products, but it’s official, it’s wonderful. I just use it to brighten up under my eyes, whether I have put concealer on or not, it just helps to brighten the dark circles I have. I also use it to highlight sometimes. Try this if you’re not looking for a full-coverage concealer because it’s definitely not meant for that. By the way, shade #3 works the best for me.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
I may have to bump this up to Holy Grail status, too. I can count on one hand the number of days that I have left the house without dusting this on my face. It has become the ultimate setting powder for me. Dim Light is the perfect colour and it gives my skin a subtle soft focus look to it (how can you say now, right?). The Ambients Powders have just been one of my favourite products of 2013, but this shade is at the top.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector
I purchased this pretty late in 2013, but I still cannot get enough of it. Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors are wonderful products to begin with… Great formulation, silky texture, easy to blend… but when I saw their Limited Edition Rose Gold version, it was love at first sight. Seriously, it was. The powder has such a gorgeous geometric pattern that’s mesmerizing. On top of being very pretty to look at, it also gives my skin a warm glow. This has definitely been perking up my skin this winter.

Clairins Instant Light Lip Perfector
Ever since I picked this up last summer, it has been calling my makeup bag home. I always carry it in my purse because when I want a flattering lip colour that goes well with any outfit and that feels comfortable on the lips, this is the one I pull out. Also, when I'm feeling posh, I love to pull out my Chanel compact mirror, which is not only beautiful to look at, but totally functional for checking your make-up through the day (although beware of the magnified side when you're having a bad skin day -- yikes!).

Blushes
I am a sucker for blushes and I’m surprised I managed to narrow down my choices to two: Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow and Benefit Dallas

I spotted these Bourjois Cream blushes on the blogosphere early last year and I knew I would love them. I especially love #3 Healthy Glow – I have a penchant for peaches and corals. While these blushes aren’t incredibly pigmented & vibrant, they offer a subtle hue to the cheeks that lasts for the most part of the day. I especially love the formulation of these. They blend out really well & they don’t leave a sticky / tacky feeling on the skin.

Benefit Dallas is an unsung hero in my blush stash, but today, it’s getting its moment in the sun. It does look a bit boring in the pan, doesn't it? It’s definitely one of those products you have to wear to appreciate. It’s a cross between a blush and a bronzer, and it gives your cheeks the prettiest glow. When all else failed, Dallas was my saviour.

Make Up For Ever Artisan Brushes
I have a soft spot for tapered pointed brushes like this Make Up Forever Artisan Brush in #160. I have similar styles in MAC, Hakuhodo, and Sonia Kashuk (one day I'm hoping to add a Suqqu version to the family). I just love applying blush, bronzer, or powder with this type of brush. What sets this MUFE brush apart from the pack is that a) it has synthetic bristles, and b) the bristles are so long & flexible, it's especially great for super pigmented cheek products.

Essie Encrusted Collection
I have been obsessed with this Essie Collection. I am a huge fan of glitter polishes and this collection delivered. These three are my favourites: Peak of Chic, Jazzy Jubilant, and Hors D'Oeuvres. Actually, now that I'm typing this I am not sure that Jazzy Jubilant was part of the collection... but it's still a great multicolour glitter polish. Peak of Chic reminds me of snowflakes and Hora D'Oeuvres is just a stunner on.

So, that's it. That's all of the products I've been waiting months to share with you guys.

Now, if you've seen the accompanying video (which is below if you'd like to watch it), I am doing a giveaway. I meant to have this giveaway up during the holiday season, but as you can tell, I didn't get to it.

Anyway, I will be giving away all of the favourites I just mentioned! If you're interested in winning, please enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.

This giveaway is open worldwide (provided that there are no barriers for you to received Canadian parcels) and I will be choosing one winner on Sunday, April 30th, 2014. That's in a couple of weeks -- I wanted to give everyone enough time to enter, but I also want to get the prize out as quickly as possible. When entering, please use an email that you check because I will be contacting the winner through email. Please watch the video below if you want more information about the giveaway; it's the latter half of the video.

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to read my blog and / or watch my videos! I will hopefully be getting into a better blog / video schedule soon -- you know, one where I actually will be posting things from time to time ;).

Good luck if you're entering! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway