2012 has been one heck of a beauty-packed year. It’s a year of new discoveries for me, learning that expensive beauty products doesn’t mean they are better, cheap doesn’t mean it’s worse and learning not to write something off without actually trying it first (with plenty of eaten humble pie along the way). It’s a year of learning what my skin needs.
I’ve been going through my archives for 2012 and have picked some of my favourites for the year. Could they be yours too? 🙂
Favourite Cleanser: Konjac Sponge
I love experimenting with different cleansers but really, the Konjac sponge does enough wonders, even in comparison to the expensive Clarisonic. I don’t even have to use a cleanser with the sponge to cleanse my face if I don’t want to. Currently on my second sponge.
Favourite Serum: Dr Lewinns Line Smoothing Complex S8 Super Hydrator
This serum doesn’t brighten the skin. It doesn’t erase wrinkles. What it does is that it gives a boost of hydration that is pretty damn awesome to the skin. I find that other serums work better with this serum underneath. For that, I give this serum #1 of the year. I just finished my first bottle and am going to get another one soon. Come on Priceline/Chemist Warehouse, do a sale on Dr Lewinns already!
Favourite Moisturiser: Uriage AquaPrecis Moisturizing Refreshing Cream Gel
It’s light, oil-free and smells good. It’s a no-fuss moisturiser that I love. I’m currently on my 2nd tube.
Favourite Sunscreen: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid UV Moist Emulsion
I found this to be a great makeup base as well. It doesn’t smell sunscreen-y and doesn’t leave any icky grease on the skin.
Favourite BB Cream: Garnier BB Cream (Asian version)
I have backup of backups of this BB cream, and am currently on my second tube. It’s everything I look for in a BB cream – decent coverage, light and oil-free. I certainly didn’t expect to like it so much since it doesn’t come from an Asian brand (they usually do better BB creams).
Favourite Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Whipped Créme Makeup
Fantastic coverage without looking like I’ve had a very made-up face. Oh Revlon. If only you didn’t make this in a freakin’ jar. If not, I’d put this baby on a pedestal.
Favourite Mascara: Australis Voluptulash Mascara
I haven’t been repurchasing mascaras for years. Till this year, I’ve been avidly searching for The One hence I try all sorts of mascaras there are in the market (gladly hoarding samples from beauty counters too). I’m so glad I stumbled upon this Australis cheapie. It’s my go-to mascara; it doesn’t smudge after many hours of wear. I’ve cried with this on without any black streaks on my face. I’m now on my second tube. Big love.
Favourite Lip Balm: Pangea Organics Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom Lip Balm
Non-waxy. Lavender. SOLD.
Favourite Lippie: Guerlain KissKiss lip gloss in #420
This was a gift from LeGeeque early this year. Of all my lippies, I found myself reaching for this most often. It’s not sticky and the colour just pops.
Favourite Face Powder: Guerlain Meteorites Perles Illuminating Powder
This has been around for years and I’ve always mocked it for being so expensive when you can barely see any colour from each ball. Yes, this year I have to eat my hat for it turned out to be the only powder I now use on my face (aside from blush). I’ve skipped loose powder altogether and use this to finish my makeup instead. Beautiful results. In fact, there is a lot of humble pie to be eaten too because I didn’t only get one tin; I now own 3 (with one more – the new Paradis – on the way). Ahem. 😛
Favourite Blush: Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush in Orpheline
I’ve been contemplating between this and Tom Ford’s Flush. It’s obvious which one’s the winner when I can barely see the flower print anymore 😛
Favourite Nail Polish: Saint George by a-England
A lacquer so stunning that literally takes my breath away at the first swipe on the nail deserves an award. No other nail polish did that for me this year except for a-England’s Saint George.
Favourite Brand Range: Natio Wellness
It’s incredibly rare that I like every single beauty product in a brand’s range. In fact, I don’t even know if I ever had. I stumbled upon the Wellness range when I purchased a gift pack of body butter, body scrub and hand cream many months ago. I’m now on my 3rd jar of scrub, 2nd jar of body butter and 2nd bottle of hand cream. If they make any of these edible, I’m screwed.
Were there any misses of 2012? Not really. I didn’t encounter any that are particularly bad to mention. There were a number of items that were just meh, but nothing awful.
There are plenty of products I’d love to try in 2013. I’m looking forward to YSL’s Glossy Stains, Le Métier de Beauté’s Kaleidoscope palettes, more Guerlain Meteorites (these balls are an addiction, I tell ya) and probably 2439617 more BB/CC/DD/ZZ* creams.
What are your best and worst beauty discoveries of 2012?
*ZZ creams. Zit Zappers. It’s going to happen. Maybe. I’m calling it! 😀
Konjac Sponge I started using a few weeks ago and love it! I received it in a LHI Eco Box, but had recently read about it. You are on to your 2nd one – about how long did the first last? I’m guessing once the bits of sponge start coming away, it’s time for a new one!
My first one (original) lasted about 4 months before it started looking manky. I’m still on my second one (the green clay one) is now on its 3rd month and have bits coming off now. It’s supposed to last you about 3 months before you need to change it. But I say, use till it falls apart. I’m cheap like that 😛
Great post Tine!! you’re so organised, I might have to do a late post early Jan..
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Aww thanks Yishan! Looking forward to reading your best picks of 2012 🙂
DD creams meant to give me a boost in the ahem.. Chest area? 😛
Well if F-cup cookies can do the job, I suppose DD creams could as well. HAH!
The Garnier BB Cream seems like a great product. I have to agree that I always think Asian brands make better bb cream. And yes, I definitely think someone is going to come up with zz cream LOL
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Haha you never know 😉 Damn I better trademark the name first then. Hee hee!
hahah seriously. Someone should just trademark all the letters + bb cream names and they’ll probably be super rich LOL
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Love your favourites! Unfortunately, the Hada Labo UV Moist isn’t for me… I keep procrastinating the review to give it more time, just in case I can still fall in love with it. But I don’t think so. haha. I think it takes way way to long to set.
Too bad for me that the Orpheline blush isn’t a suitable colour for me. I just packed away the RBR blush into storage unit. Don’t think it will see daylight next year.
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Noooo! Sell the RBR blush on your blog or something. Am sure someone will want to pick it up 😉 Then you get some $ and then buy more makeup. See how my enabling mind works? 😛
Love your list Tine!! Guerlain Meteorites are the bomb aren’t they? I have the Spring Paradis one on the way too 😀 Oh and ZZ creams – YES! lol
Oh yes they are. I can’t believe I actually said one was enough. What the heck was I thinking?!
Glad I’ve somewhat influenced you to Dr.Lewinn’s. Love the super hydrator, great for winter and for travelling too. 5 years later I am still loving it!
Haha you didn’t somewhat influenced me, you VERY influenced me on this one. Love it. Need to get another one pronto.
guerlain wins hands down for the awesomest face powder! it’s the one thing i do everyday, along with a blush and maybe a lip colour, and that’s it! simple and quick 😛
though it’s no good in oil control (it doesn’t say it does :P), but I am rather irked by the oiliness on my t-zone, should I decide to skip on normal loose powder and powder it with the magic balls instead. if i use normal loose powder first then the guerlain, then the effect isn’t as great as before layering, but the oilies are in much better control.
not sure how i want to counter the oilies, the only thought i have is “blot the oilies off!”
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I can’t be stuffed with regular loose powder anymore. I used to use it religiously. I reckon it must be age (POO!!) and more fine lines because I find that loose powder tends to sink into the fine lines now and emphasise them. With the Meteorites, I don’t get that and it makes my skin look even better.
I agree, it’s not for oil control, which is why my T-zone (especially the nose) tends to shine quicker with the Meteorites. Still, a shiny nose (easily done away with blotting papers) is better than a crepe-y face 😀
Great list, Tine! The Guerlain Meteorites are the bomb!!! Love ’em! Tops the list for me too 🙂
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Woohoo! Great products and mind think alike 😀
The Konjac sponge is my favourite too! Haven’t even touched my Clarisonic since getting this in September at IMATS. Love love luff it!
I’m ashamed to say I have the Guerlain Meteorites powder and don’t know how to use it so haven’t. It’s four months old and unopened. Shame on me. I absolutely adore my Chanel Mat Lumiere powder though. Any tips for using the Guerlain?
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The Konjac sponge has made my very expensive Clarisonic a white elephant in the bathroom. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or not >.< Ahh the Meteorites. I didn't know how to use them at first but you'll get the hang of it very quickly. Ditch the sponge that comes with the tin. Other than keeping the balls down and preventing them from moving around and crushing into powder when you're travelling, it's pretty much useless. Give the tin a gentle shake to move the balls around (lid closed). Use a fluffy face brush (the fluffiest you can find), swirl on the balls, tap the excess powder off and apply on the skin. Most people use this as a finishing powder, which means after they've applied foundation, they set it with loose powder and then finish with the Guerlain Meteorites. I find that the loose powder tends to sink into my fine lines and accentuating them even though I have combination skin (this usually happens to those with dry skin). So I skip loose powder altogether and use this to set my foundation instead. The Meteorites are not meant for oil control on the T-zone so if you do have oily to combination skin, the oiliness will show after a while. But I still use this instead of the loose powder because of the radiance and glow I get from the Meteorites. That's it! Hope it helps. Do give the Meteorites a go. I'm not sure which version you have. If it's the conventional ones (ie not Holiday collections), then those aren't very shimmery on the skin, which is a good thing. Let me know how you go and if you fall in love with it as much as I did! 😀
Oh crap, just when I’d sworn t not buy any more make up along you come with these magic balls! I can’t wear powder or mineral foundation because it just makes me look soooo much older, so thought I was resigned to doing without. Being 40 + isn’t much fun sometimes when it comes to make up but maybe this will make me look better and not worse for a change 😉 Thanks Tine x
I believe this will make you look better 🙂 It’s not powdery so it won’t sink into any fine lines. It’ll just give you a gorgeous glow 🙂