2014 Favourites

With 2014 over, it is now the time to look back at the best of the best for both make up and skincare. It's been reallllly hard to come up with just one favourite of each item but after much deliberation I have done it (...I think!)

Skincare

Make up Remover:

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water: This product gets 10/10 straight up from me. This takes make up off in seconds and is so much cheaper than other micellar waters you can buy. To begin with this was the dupe of the Bioderma but the Garnier version is a great size and lasts a really long time. I'm only on my second bottle since the beginning of last year so it's great value for money too!

 

Cleanser:

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser: I have almost used this for a year now after a recommendation from a friend, and boy, am I happy she told me about this. 2014 was a turning point in my skin care routine. Before, I had loads of products but there was no routine or continuity to when I used them and what they were for. Now I understand my skin so much better and it is literally thanks to this product, it kicked started my passion for skincare and has made me into a total hoarder and lover of skin care. This product in particular is great, it's gentle on the skin with a creamy texture and can battle through even the most stubborn make up - including waterproof mascara! It's improved my skin no end, including texture, complexion and even tone. Definitely a 2014 favourite!

Treatment:

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +: This stuff works wonders. It's literally amazing. This anti-blemish cream is light and fights the signs of oily blemish prone skin. If I ever get the signs of spot coming, I pop some of this on and by morning any redness is gone. A new feature of the duo + is that this can also fight the appearance of  marks on the skin. Again, another great product.

Eyes:

Super Facialist Vitamin C Brightening Eye Cream: Again, another find from last year and I've started to fall in love with the range by Una Brennan. This stuff claims to improve dark circles and I feel like I've really seen a difference. It's a light texture and you need the tiniest bit so it lasts for ages. 

Masks:

Super Facialist Rose Intense Moisture Mask: This has been a life saver in the winter months. My skin has become sooo dry so this mask is a real treat. It boosts the moisture levels in my skin and can work on even sensitive skin which is great as my skin can sometimes react badly to masks. You can have this on from as little as 5 minutes and still see results, so you can treat yourself even when you super busy!

Make up

Foundation: 

So the best foundation goes to..... Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua... AND Maxfactor Skin Luminizer.I couldn't pick between the two, and really, they're both very different foundations. The Chanel is great for when you just want a light base and don't need much else after i.e. a powder. The Maxfactor foundation gives better long term coverage and gives a nice healthy glow with its light reflective particles (sounds very fancy!). Both foundations are great, depending on the occasion.

Primer: 

This one goes to Pore-fessional by Benefit. It's a soft, lightweight texture and minimises the appearance of pores and fine lines. You can use it alone of under make up, I personally just sweep it across my face like a moisturiser before I put my foundation on.

Powder:

My favourite powder has definitely got to be the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish. This gives a lovely matte finish and provides perfect light coverage, to be used to set foundation or as a touch up throughout the day. It's also really handy to have in your bag as it also has a compact mirror... so as long as your aren't a 'dropper*' then have this in your bag for any much needed touch ups.

* If you are a dropper don't go and crack a) the powder and b) the mirror... Just leave it at home ;)

Bronzer: 

The body shop have come out with a few of my favourites last year and the Honey Bronzer has to be one of them. I'm quite a pale person so this bronzer is great for adding warmth and definition to my face. It also seems to last a long time, with mine still going strong since August last year!

Concealer: 

A reasonably new find which has ended up in my 2014 favourites is the Maybelline Instant Anti Age Eye Eraser. This has a weird spongy top which applies the product really nicely, and then i just blend it in with my ring finger. This one I only use under my eyes, not on blemishes. I find the Bourjois Java Rice Powder also goes really well with most under eye concealers and brightens up any dark circles.

Blusher: 

Since working at Boots I have really embraced the No7 brand. One  of my favourite finds has to be the blusher they have on offer. I have the shade coral flush and it's perfect for anything - day to day tasks and work but also for a night out or event, it adds just the right amount of natural 'flush' to your cheeks, and in such a beautiful shade!

Mascara: 

This was so tough to choose just one, but if I had to pick I'd say it has to be the 'They're Real!' mascara by Benefit. This gives great definition to my lashes, lengthens them, separates them and also gives volume. It's an all in one product and I absolutely love it. It may even be my all time favourite of 2014...!

Eye Palette:

This one goes to one of my long time loves - The NAKED2 Palette by Urban Decay. The range in this palette is great, it has anything for a day look or night and is a nice step up from the original NAKED palette. The pigmentation of these are also amazing and can just about last for a full day at work with no primer underneath what so ever, so you can imagine the wear of them with a primer as well.

Eye Liner:

My favourite eyeliner has been the same for quite a while now. Ever since I 'mastered' (ish) the cat eye look, I became obsessed with the Glam Eyes liquid eyeliner by Rimmel. This stuff is amazing. The wear is great - for a whole day it can just about stick around and it can last all night if I'm out. It also comes off nice and easy - might be down to the make up remover - but I'm not having to scrub at my eye just to get my eyeliner off, which is a plus in my book.

Eye Shadow:

I'm a big fan of anything that can make people think I put all my effort into a look, when really it was effortless. That's where the Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Gel Eyeshadow comes into play. This can create the perfect base for any look, or make great smokey eye. I have a few shades including Immortal Charcoal, And on Bronze and Metallic Pomegranate.  

The Perfect Red combo: For lips I have split them into two different looks. First red, I would normally use  a red lip liner to help shape my lips... the weapon of choice: Rimmel's Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner. Then the lip stick: L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Pure Reds by Blake Lively. This red is to die for, the formulation is amazing, it stays on for hours, even when I'm drinking and eating, however it does transfer... so be careful!

The Natural Nude combo: For this Kylie Jenner-esque look I use the Model Co. Lip Enhancer Illusion liner in the shade nude, and on top I sweep over MAC's Creme Sheen Pure Zen and Soap and Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker in Pink Apricot. A great natural look for everyday or a statement eye!

Nail Varnish:

Summer shade - Essie's Mint Candy Apple was almost permanently on my nails last summer so it has to be in my 2014 favourites. I love any mint shade but the Essie formula just seems to last longer on my nails. It stayed on for a good week at a time with little or no chipping.

Winter shade -  In winter I tend to tone down the bright shades and go for more indulgent deep, dark shades. I really love a nice dark red on my nails, especially around Christmas time so I would say my favourite shade has to be the Barry M nail paint in Raspberry. Two coats of this and I'm good to go! I find it goes with most my clothes as well in winter (mainly because I live in black/white/grey sometimes with a splash of maroon or navy haha!) so it stays on my nails for a week or so, whether it wants to or not!

So that's it! My 2014 favourites for you all. Do have any favourites that stand out to you from last year?

Emma x