Forget resolutions, the end of one year and the beginning of another can mean only one thing – beauty favourites!
‘Class of 2013’ was one of the first posts I wrote last year when WhatSheDoesNow was just starting out, it’s amazing to look back and see what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in a year. I love end-of-year favourites, because they show the products that have stood strong through all of the new launches and temptations, and haven’t been demoted to the ‘once in a while’ makeup drawer.
2014 was a great makeup year for me, and by that I mean I discovered so many new products that have become firm favourites I use everyday. I don’t have a stand-out product for every makeup category, but here’s the lucky few who excelled and have graduated as part of Class of 2014:
Primer – Kiehl’s Micro Blur Skin Perfector – 2014 was the year of primer for me. I used to think primers were useless, until I started using this one. It smooths and evens the skin like no other, and gives the perfect base for makeup. (After taking this photo I plan on chopping the package open so I can get every last bit – that’s how good it is)
Foundation – NARS Sheer Glow – I never thought I’d move on from MAC to another brand for foundation, but NARS changed it all. This is my second purchase of Sheer Glow, and I can’t see myself stopping soon. It’s the perfect everyday foundation – it’s light, gives full coverage and doesn’t wear off during the day. I can’t recommend it enough.
Concealer – Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – There was no competition for this one. It’s affordable, covers spots, covers dark circles and has long-lasting power – what else do you need?!
Powder – MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in Light – Another repurchase, MSF has been my go-to powder for the entirety of 2014. It isn’t powdery or cakey, but leaves a really nice finish on the skin without making it look flat.
Bronzer/ Blusher – Maybelline Dream Sun – I raved and raved about this stuff all summer long after picking it up on my holidays, and still use it to this day. The blush is a really pretty pink, that gives a really nice flush to the cheeks, and the bronzer is a light, matte brown that works really well for both bronzing and contouring. The fact that it smells like summer in a tub is a huge bonus.
Cream Eyeshadow – MAC Paint Pot in Vintage Selection – Cream shadow is something that I never thought I’d like. Won’t it crease and go gloopy on my lids? Does it blend out? Will it rub off after ten minutes? Well, this one changed it all. No creasing, no rubbing off and easy to blend make this the perfect cream eyeshadow. The light, shimmery bronze shade is super easy to apply with your fingers, and looks great with a slick of liquid eyeliner.
Individual Eyeshadow – MAC Woodwinked – A product that I’ve mentioned on these parts at least 25 times. Woodwinked is my favourite MAC eyeshadow of all time. Coming from someone who owns two palettes, and around ten individual shadows, that’s a bold statement. Whenever I don’t know what eyeshadow to go for, I use this one. It’s duo-chrome, so when you blend it out it turns into a different shade and makes it look like you’ve spent a lot longer on your makeup than you actually have.
Eyeshadow Palette – Urban Decay Naked Palette – Does this one even need a description? 12 matte and shimmer eyeshadows in every brown/bronze shade you’d ever need for any occasion. Another bold statement, but it’s true.
Mascara – L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes – This mascara conquered my fear of plastic mascara bristles. After stabbing myself in the eye with Benefit They’re Real one too many times, I said I’d never use a plastic mascara brush again. But then I tried Volume Million Lashes, and it lengthened, curled and lifted my lashes like no other. And I never stab myself in the eye with it as the bristles are really, really small.
Liquid Liner – L’Oreal Super Liner – While I still haven’t mastered the cat-eye flick, this liner gets me closer every time. The tip is super fine, allowing you to create whatever liner look you please. It dries really quickly, but not too quickly, and doesn’t fade during the day.
Eyebrow Pencil – Anastasia Brow Wiz – Okay, 2014 was the year of primers and eyebrow pencils. No need to fear the Scouse-brow with this pencil. The nib is so small that it actually recreates brow hairs, meaning you can take total control over your brows and how they look, and make them as thick or thin as you like.
MAC Lipstick – Hue – MAC has a whole category of its own as its my favourite brand for lipsticks. I used Hue so much that the stick broke in half, as you can see in the pictures, and is now hanging on for dear life. It’s my favourite everyday nude, that is creamy and moisturising (of course) and isn’t too pink or light.
Luxe Lipstick – Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Stoned Rose – The introduction of Charlotte Tilbury into my life was the beauty highlight of 2014 for me. The packaging alone makes this a 2014 favourite. The fact that the deep, nude colour is absolutely stunning is just an extra.
Lip Pencils – Maybelline Colour Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Nude Perfection and Minimalist – At the start of the lip-liner craze, I began using these to fill in my lips and make my lipstick last longer. The nude and pink colours work with nearly every lipstick I own, but look gorgeous on their own too.
Brushes – Real Techniques – Real Techniques have taken over the makeup brush world like no other. They’re the brushes I turn to everyday, even over my MAC brushes. My favourites are the buffing brush for flawless foundation, the contour brush for sculpted cheekbones and the powder brush for keeping shine at bay. With the release of their new luxe collection, I can see Real Techniques brushes being in my favourites for years to come.
And there you have it, the Class of 2014. I’m so excited to see what 2015 brings!
Here’s the link to Class of 2013 if you want to see what I was loving this time last year – a few of them are still the same!