I TOLD you that Santa was reeeeeealllly good to me this year. I have been loving playing with all my precious new additions to my collection. Nearly every one of the above deserves its own in-depth, stand-alone review. Let me know which ones you want to see the most!
1. Best of Becca Gift Set (LE) - including: Eye Tint (in Baroque), Beach Tint (in Grapefruit), Resurfacing Primer, Shimmering Skin Perfector (in Opal) and The Ultimate Mascara
I had been itching to try Becca products for a while now and couldn't decide which I wanted more - one of the beach tints or a shimmering skin perfector. Before Christmas, I spotted this set on Sephora's website (it is no longer available there, sadly) and I knew I had to have it. I bought it for $58 and of the 5 products, 3 were full size!
2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer - not available in US / purchased in Canada for $19; Another product I learned about from some of my favorite UK beauty bloggers. I spotted it in a drug store while I was visiting my parents in Toronto and picked it up. I have the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation and LOVE it, so I was ecstatic to try this out. Light, smooth, great blend-ability. It's a tad too light for my skin, but works well to highlight the under-eye area.
3.
Real Techniques Travel Essentials Brush Set - ($17.99 at Drugstore.com) Ah, the famed brushes by Samantha Chapman, youtube beauty guru. Good quality, great price. The multi-task brush in this set is my new go-to for blush and bronzer.
4.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow in #25 - ($20.00 at Sephora) - I've been trying different ways of filling my brows and trying to find one with staying power. This was recommended to me by a friend. The staying power is great and the waterproof factor will be key for the sweaty summer months. I'm still trying to get the hang of this and am experimenting with different brushes to get the most natural effect.
5.
Urban Decay Naked Nail Set (LE) - ($26.00 at Sephora) - So pretty. There have been a few reviews expressing concern by a few of the polish formula's ingredients. As far as the colors go, they really are beautiful. The wear time is about average with a good base and top coat. It's limited edition so if you're interested in picking this up, it's best to get it now.
6.
Real Techniques Starter Set - ($17.99 at Drugstore.com) - I bought this set almost solely for the deluxe crease brush. It really is great for blending in your concealer. The jury is still out on the other brushes, but I really wish Real Techniques would sell the crease brush as a single. I would totally buy more!
7. Guerlain Meteorites in Perles Du Dragon (LE) - ($58.00 at Dillard's, but may be unavailable now) Part of the Holiday Collection for 2012. Part setting power, part highlighter, part skin perfector - Guerlain Meteorites are either something you either LOVE it or you just don't get what all the fuss is about. Right now, I'm not sure which I am. I'm still playing with this product and need to test it out a bit more.
8.
MAC Fluidline Brow Gelcreme in Deep Dark Brunette (LE) - ($15.00 at MAC) - Yup, another brow product. Like I said, I'm on the quest for my perfect brow routine. It's gotten rave reviews online. This is another limited edition so if you want to pick it up, you'll have to hunt it down in stores.
9.
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (Translucent) - ($35.00 at Sephora) - If you wear liquid foundation or concealer, you need to set it with a good powder. I've been using pressed powder, but hate how it can look cakey if you're not careful. Enter Laura Mercier's Loose Setting Powder. Silky, airy and so far, it has never been cakey. Win!
10. Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl - in Noir - ($36.00 at Sephora) - This was one of those "out there" products that intrigued me, but that I could never envision splurging on. So I put it on my list to Santa and lo, there it was on Christmas morning. I have trouble finding anything that stays put on my waterline, so I wanted to try more kohl products. Sadly, the kohl pencils I found still migrate on me, so I was searching for an alternative. This caught my eye (ha, ha). Intimidating when you see the long, thin, rod applicator. Still trying to get the hang of this one. A full review coming soon.
11.
Christian Dior Creme De Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm - ($27.00 at Sephora) - While I was in Colorado, my lips got horribly dry while I was out and about doing some last minute Christmas shopping. I was without my favorite Qtica lip balm, so I popped into Sephora (convenient, huh?) and found this. The packaging was so lush and I had heard some good things, so I got it. It's been great, smells lovely and helps keep my lips hydrated and flake free. So far it definitely delivers on the smoothing action, but I'm yet to be convinced that it's worth the $27.00 price tag for a product that looks very similar to the iconic (and much more reasonably priced) Rosebud Salve.
12.
YSL Rouge Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain in #26 Violine Surrealiste - ($32.00 at Nordstrom) - This color is a new release for the spring. Love these. Will buy more of these. Rich color and great staying power. 'Nuff said.
13.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-5 - ($30.00 at Nordstrom) I'm one of those unfortunate ones that gets hyperpigmentation really easily. I have a constellation of dark spots on my face from previous breakouts. They're annoying and unsightly. And until they fade, they need to be covered. I've tried a few different concealers, but finding the right consistency AND color has proved to be a challenge. I feel like Goldilocks sometimes with my constant chirping, "This one's too dry." Or "This one's too wet." Hopefully Laura Mercier's highly praised Secret Camouflage will be just right.
14.
Guerlain LIU Calligraphy Palette (LE) - currently unavailable in stores - When I opened this present on Christmas Day, I SQUEALED. My lovely and dedicated mother-in-law literally HUNTED THIS DOWN just before Christmas (aside: Thanks, Mom!) and I'm so touched and ecstatic that she did. The palette is / was the star of Guerlain's holiday collection. I'm probably not going to do a full review as this product is LE and unavailable in stores now (why tempt you with what you can't have?), but certainly, I will post pics of any looks I create with this.
15.
Louise Young Brushes - LY34 Super Foundation Brush / LY19 Taklon Shadow Brush - ($41.00 and $18.00, respectively - exclusively in the US at Nordstrom) OMG. A full review on the foundation brush is going to be featured as the first post in a new series on this blog called Passport to Beauty. Hailing from the UK, I was jumping up and down when I saw that these were now available in the US. I confess - I sometimes stroke this brush as if it were a cherished pet. So soft. So perfect. I'm totally smitten. I haven't touched my Beauty Blender since this arrived.
16.
Jane Iredale Crease Brush - ($17.00 at Beauty.com) - Sigh. It's hard to follow on the heels of the Louise Young foundation brush. I bought this because I needed a pointed crease brush for more precise application. Saw this on beauty.com and tossed it in with the order. It's a totally fine brush, perhaps a tad spendy for what it is, but it does the job.
17.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blushing Bride - ($25.00 at Beauty.com) - I love a healthy plummy flush during the colder months. It seems that every beauty guru has talked about Tarte's Amazonian Clay blushes. I jumped on the bandwagon and sure enough, these are great. I love the color, but other than that, I'm not sure what else to say about it. I didn't think it was particularly long wearing, but I don't have overly oily skin, so in general makeup staying power hasn't been a problem for me. Good product.
So after receiving such an embarrassment of riches for Christmas this year, I'm officially on a self-imposed No-Buy for a while so that I can really play with all these new lovelies. (I know, I know - famous last words!) If you want swatches or an in-depth review of any of the products I mentioned in either Part 1 or Part 2, let me know! Ta, for now!!
