2011 Favourites!

You have no idea what has gone into this post.  I had a whole post on high/low favourites in most every category, bronzer, blush, etc.  but I wasn't really feeling it.  Then I realized that part of the problem was breaking it into categories, rather than just picking things I discovered and loved last year.  

So with that in mind, here is my 3rd try at this post.  

These are things I started to use/discovered in 2011 and have grown to love.  I hope you enjoy!

Bioderma Micellar water

Actually any micellar water.  I'm now using one from Vichy that I like just as much as the Bioderma.  I love this for removing eye makeup.  I wear contacts and this is one of the few things that doesn't irritate my eyes, while still removing my make-up.  It also doesn't dry out my skin & feels so refreshing.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores

This powder is amazing.  Hands down the best finishing powder I have ever used.  It gives you that soft blurry finish, minimizes your pores and doesn't look like you're wearing any powder.  Also doesn't give you that white cast like other HD powders.  LOVE & will re-purchase again & again!

NYC Creme Stick blush in Plaza Pink

I LOVE this little cream blush.  I warm it up by circling my finger over top of it and then just blend it on my cheeks.  I use this almost like a blush/highlight, because it does give a bit of a glow.

I definitely want to try a few more cream blushes but not until I use up what I have.  

In the meantime, for less than $5 this is a winner for sure. 

Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadows

This particular one is Skinny Jeans but I also have Birthday Suit.  These are exactly what they are advertised to be, CREASELESS.  You can wear these on their own or layer powder shadows on top, for a completely different look.  I use them as an eye base/cream shadow and find my powder shadows last much longer, when layered over these.  Beautiful!!

ELF Mineral infused mascara

I tried this on a whim and I have to say it's a great little mascara.  I love the brush and I also love how it tapers at the end so you can get even the smallest of lashes. Didn't flake or clump on me and applied beautifully.  I will say they dry out more quickly than other mascaras I've used.  But all in all, for $3..I mean come on!  I still love my Clinique and other drugstore mascaras, but if you did a blind test with this mascara and other high end ones, I'd bet a number of people would choose this one.   

Kerastase

The line in general is one of my favourites.  This happens to be the Cement Thermique reconstructor milk, but I also have one of the serums and I just got one of their masks for Christmas.  I will be reviewing the mask soon because it is so amazing I can't barely stand it.  

What I don't like about this favourite is the price.  It is not my nature to spend this kind of money on products, but I have now fallen under the Kerastase spell and I can't help myself. 

Goat's Milk Soaps

This happens to be Winter from the Beekman brothers 1802 line, but any pure goat's milk soap will do.  I LOVE goat milk soaps.  For those of you who haven't tried them, they have so many benefits for your skin leaving it so moisturized and silky soft..without any harsh chemicals.  This particular one 

smells like winter heaven! 

AVON Ideal Shade Custom shade foundation

Despite the ridiculously long repetitive name, this one is an exact dupe for Origins VitaZing.

Exact.  I'm almost completely sure of it.

I wear this and often just finish it with a little of my LM mineral foundation for the perfect everyday look.  This is a great one to wear on it's own if you were going to be out in the sun but wanted some SPF (15), it evens out your skin, provides a little coverage but looks like you're not wearing anything!

Clarisonic Mia

Was there ever any question?  Much has already been said so I need not drone on.  Love it!

ULTA

Might sound strange but until this past summer I had never been to ULTA.  I'm now a fan and only wish there was one much closer to me!

Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter & E25 Eye Blending

I got a few Sigma brushes late in 2010 and a few more in 2011.  These two have 

become two of my very favourites.  

The F35 tapered highlighter is perfect for highlighting and/or contouring. 

The E25 eye blending brush pictured is the travel size, I also have the full size version of this.  

This blending brush corrects every mistake you might have made like magic.  I love it so much I gifted it to all the women in my family this Christmas. 

Cod Liver Oil

I started taking this & thought my skin seemed improved.  Then I started attributing that improvement to my skin care, MIA, etc and became lax with taking my CLO.  I now know that my skin is at it's best when I'm taking this, a 'high quality, fermented Cod Liver Oil.  

So there you have it.  Things I discovered and loved in 2011. I didn't include any skin care because honestly that's a whole nother animal altogether.  I'll have to do an updated skin care routine, because much has changed for me in the last six months or so.  

I think I'll try to do a Things that didn't work list as well, because I definitely have a few items for that and don't we all just love to whinge a little!

How about you, what have you discovered & loved this past year ?