It’s the beginning of the new year and looking at my Archives, man I tried and reviewed a LOT of beauty products in 2013! Out of the many products that I had the opportunity to try out, there were a few that stood out for me, which I thought I’d share with you today.
There are some that I didn’t review on the blog (the ones without links). I find shampoos, conditioners and body washes slightly difficult to review because to me, they’re either really good, meh or totally crap. The reviews would be just photos and one line: good, meh or crap and I don’t think you’d be interested in that. 😛
I won’t go into detail as to why these are my top picks as you can click on the links to find out more.
Alrighty, let’s get started!
SKINCARE
Favourite Cleanser: Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleaning System Specialty Cleanser
It’s gentler and more travel-friendly than the Clarisonic. Oh did I also mention it’s 10% of the price?
Favourite Toner: SKII Facial Treatment Essence
This used to work for me and then it stopped. I resumed in April and we’ve been going steady since. Skin does become softer, those darn smart Japanese.
Favourite Serum(s): Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II / Hydraluron
I couldn’t decide between the two so I thought, why not have two favourite serums of 2013? I used both when I was travelling a lot in August and September and they were both very good. One’s on the higher end price range and the other one’s more affordable.
Favourite Eye Cream: Dermalogica Ultracalming Ultrasoothing Eye Serum
Very light eye cream. No wait, make that eye gel. Keeps the undereye area well hydrated without being heavy.
Favourite Moisturiser: SKII Stempower
I love this moisturiser so much that I almost cried when I wiped the jar clean last month. A 80g jar lasted me 7 months! Definitely worth a repurchase.
Favourite Sunscreen: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Water Base SPF50
It’s light, non-greasy and does the job. I’m currently on my 3rd tube as I sometimes use this on my body too. Love this.
Favourite Pimple Treatment: Shiseido Aqua Label White AC Essence VC
I didn’t blog about this because I think you can only get it in Japan (which was where I bought mine). Boo! I’ll be a sad panda when this is finished because it zaps those pimple suckers just like that *snap*.
MAKEUP
Favourite Primer: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
I had this on all day and night at the weddings I attended in September. My foundation didn’t budge one bit. Sweet!
Favourite BB Cream: Skinfood Red Orange Jelly BB SPF 20 PA+++
I wrote about this in December 2012 but I still find this as my top BB cream for 2013 as it’s the one I reach for almost all year. It gives me great coverage and looks fantastic on the skin.
Favourite Foundation: Rimmel Match Perfection Light Perfecting Radiance Foundation
This foundation shares the Holy Grail pedestal with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. It just makes my skin glow like I’ve had a good facial (without the oil slick).
Favourite Concealer/Highlighter: By Terry Touch Expert Advance Ultra-Radiance Active Concealer
I find this a lot better than the YSL Touche Eclat (the founder of By Terry, Terry de Gunzburg, was the creator of the Touche Eclat). The formula is not as thick and glides on the skin much better. It conceals my dark circles well and doesn’t make the area look cakey. Downside is, it’s bloody expensive.
Favourite Lippie: L’Oreal Shine Caresse
I can’t believe I didn’t blog about these lipglosses when they were the ones I reached for the most in 2013! I prefer these to the YSL Glossy Stains. I like they feel watery on the skin and dry to gorgeous stains on the lips.
Favourite Face Powder: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Mood Light)
I call this Photoshop in a pan. Bam! Instant radiant skin.
Favourite Blush: Dior Blush Cheek Cremes (from the summer ’13 collection)
I reached for these blushes the most in 2013. It feels quite powdery to the touch despite being cream blushes and looks very natural on the cheeks.
Favourite Eyebrow Product: Benefit Gimme Brow
2013 was all about the brows for me. I tried a few eyebrow pencils but the one I used the most was the Benefit Gimmer Brow brow gel. It’s so easy to use and looks very natural on the brows.
Favourite Eyeshadow: Maybelline Colour Tattoo Bad to the Bronze
Next to the Urban Decay NAKED palette, this is my favourite-st eye shadow all year. I use them so often and it’s the only eyeshadow that has a big dip in it from so much use. I haven’t been buying eyeshadows for almost a year because I just stick to the Colour Tattoos and the Urban Decay palette.
Favourite Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Top Coat
I don’t have any particular brand and colour that I really like this year as I haven’t been wearing a lot of nail polishes. The top coat I reach for each time I do wear nail polish is the Sally Hansen Diamond Flash. I actually prefer this to the Seche Vite!
BODY
Favourite Body Wash: Sukin Botanical Body Wash
I discovered this during one of Priceline’s 40% off skincare sales. Tim and I are hooked. He usually prefers the cheapies from supermarkets but ever since we tried this out, he’s been asking me to repurchase this instead of the usual Palmolive. Love the scent. Reminds me of chocolate oranges. 🙂
Favourite Face/Body Scrub: Uriage Gommage Integral Gentle Total Exfoliant
Love that this is gentle enough for me to use on my face AND my body. Multitaskers FTW.
Favourite Body Lotion: NIVEA In-Shower Body Lotion Skin Conditioner
Best body lotion discovery all year! I can skip conventional body moisturisers altogether and my skin will still be well hydrated. In winter, for extra hydration, I top it up with an extra body lotion. Just a few applications and it was bye bye scaly skin.
HAIR
Favourite Shampoo & Conditioner: Original Mineral Hydrate & Conquer Shampoo and Seven Day Miracle Moisture Masque
I tried a lot sulfate-free haircare products in 2013 and the only one that worked for me was the one by Original Mineral. My hair is softer and a lot more manageable now (when it’s usually a big ball of frizz).
Favourite Hair Oil/Serum: David Babaii Miracle Elixir Nourishing Spray
A combination of argan and other oils in a light spray that leaves the hair soft and shiny.
Favourite Heat Protecting Spray: EVO Icon Welder Hot Tool Shaper
EVO products have the funniest product descriptions (if you haven’t seen them, go check them out!). The Icon Welder works well as a heat protectant before I use the flat iron on my hair. Smells good and also works as a styling product.
BEAUTY TREATMENTS
Favourite Spa for Facials and Massages: Endota Spa
I blogged about Endota Spa ages ago and to date, it’s the only spa I go back to on an almost monthly basis. Their spas are clean and service is excellent. Aurora Spa comes a very close second.
Favourite Brow Bar: Benefit Brow Bar @ Chadstone
I tried them out beginning of 2013 and have been going back to them on a monthly basis. I rarely have the same brow therapist on each appointment but their work is very consistent that I always end up with gorgeous brows after they’re done.
Favourite Hair Salon: Oscar Oscar @ Chadstone
Jacky and Nathan. Best hairstyling duo for cut and colour. Their services are not cheap but they always deliver fantastic results. If you do happen to be there, tell them Christine says hi. 🙂
I hope you’ve enjoyed my recap of favourite beauty products I’ve discovered and liked in 2013. I’m still using most if not all of these now and I have a feeling will continue to be favourites of 2014 as well. You know when you just need to hang on to great beauty discoveries that work so well for you? Yep, that’s what I’m doing. 🙂
Here’s to more fabulous discoveries in 2014!
What’s your favourite beauty product of 2013? The beauty product that really stood out for you? You don’t have to list everything down like I did (but if you do have the time, I’d love to know your favourite beauty products in the categories above), just one or two will do. 🙂
I love this post and I certainly love your picks! I do not use enough products or certain products long enough to justify a list of my own but here are some that I thought stood out for me:
1. Favourite makeup remover: Bioderma Micellar Water (the pink bottle): It just made my skin clearer and I believe it is due to exfoliation from the cotton pads. But it is rather expensive since I have to get mine in Singapore. I would probably switch to cleansing balms once my micellar water runs out.
2. Favourite sunscreen: Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF50+ PA+++ but Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion SPF50+ PA+++ runs a close second. I use Hada Labo on weekends and days when I am not working
3. Favourite loose powder: Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Beidge: It really makes my skin glow and I doubt I will use another brand’s loose powder after this although The Hourglass one is so tempting due to all the raves it gets. Is it true that it is more glittery than Meteorites?
4. Favourite eyebrow pencil: Shu Uemera Hard 9 Brow Pencil in Stone Grey: All the raves about this pencil is justified as it looks so natural on me especially this particular colour.
5. Favourite blush: I am still building up my very small stash (7 but only using 5, LOL) but I love Tarte’s Natural Beauty. It looks natural and lovely on my skin.
6. Favourite lipstick: Shiseido Rogue lipstick. Creamy, glossy, moisturising and long-wearing at the same time.
7. Favourite hair shampoo and conditioner: The Keratase range for damaged hair in the light green bottle. Always leaves my hair smooth and shiny and I always use this range after I have rebonded my hair.
8. Favourite body lotions: The Nivea Intensive Moisture with SPF 25 (I use during daytime) and the Nivea Intense Hydrating lotion (I use at night). One question: Does the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion Skin Conditioner functions like a hair conditioner i.e. it should be used after a shower cream and using this means I do not need to apply any body lotion when I come out of my shower?
Some worthy mentions are Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Moisturiser Fragrance-Free (On my second tub, skin does seem smoother but then again, it could be my imagination, LOL), Hydraluron (I have not reached 4 weeks of usage yet so will wait before commenting) and Make A Difference™ Plus +Rejuvenation Treatment (love the gel texture and scent).
By the way, which Urban Decay pallette do you have? Just realised my comment is so long. Sorry about it. Hahaha.
Wow thanks for sharing your top products of 2013! For the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, they have a variety of finishes from fully matte to super shimmery. Mine is somewhere in the middle or leaning towards matte. I definitely don’t find it more shimmery than my Guerlain Meteorites.
Yep, you got that right about the Nivea In Shower Body Lotion. Soap body, wash off, apply in-shower body lotion, wash off, dry off, done. You don’t have to apply extra body lotion if you don’t want to. When the air is cooler and drier, I do. It gives an extra oomph to the skin.
I have the Urban Decay Naked 1 palette. I wasn’t compelled to buy the other two because the first one serves me just fine. It has a variety of shades and finishes that I can create a lot more looks with. I’m not sure about the Naked 2 but the 3 leans heavily towards rose gold shades that I can’t do very much with.
I haven’t even given my favs a thought .. hence the need for an editorial calendar for my blog .. lol.
I’d say that bad to the bronze was a fav of mine this year too .. it’s one of those shadows that you can swipe on and go.
Monica
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Bad to the Bronze is AWESOME. So easy to use and looks good too. 🙂
Tine, how do you pack the Olay brush for travel? It doesn’t come with a case and I don’t want the bristles to touch anything else other than my face haha
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I usually just put it in a ziplock bag. The problem with that is that if you have anything hard pressed against it, the bristles will bend. Mine looks a bit squished after I got back from Europe. But it still works, so I’m good. 😛
love this post!
Thanks Su!
Yep, Love Oscar Oscar Salons in Chaddy. Went back to them after the less than amazing service I received at the Southland store, after my regular hairstylists all LEFT!! Jacky knows when to take risks – I love that because I get bored with my hair easily and Christof does my hair colour. He’s great too. Basically the service there is AMAZING. I mean for them to bother remembering me even after I switched to Southland – that’s something.
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Right right? I don’t go to them every month and they understand it because obviously they aren’t the cheapest around but still, every time I go to them, I get top notch service. Jacky’s a genius with hair and Nathan does amazing purple mine which is just gorgeous. Which reminds me, I really need to go see them again soon. My hair’s looking quite poorly.
Oh, another reason to go to Japan. Darn it! 😛
Fab post Tine, thank you! 😀 Will have to work my way through some of these now I think!
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Thanks Hilary! These are definitely worth checking out. 😉
Great post! I love the Color Tattoos eyeshadows. They’re among the few cream eyeshadows that don’t crease on me within minutes. Bad to the bronze will be the next shade I try. 😉
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Oh you have to try Bad to the Bronze. You’ll absolutely love it if you already love the Color Tattoos. It’s my #1 eyeshadow now. 😛
Paula’s Choice skincare stood out for me this year, loved it. Makeup wise I’ve been obsessed with Illamasqua blushes, Marc Jacobs eyeshadow palette, NYX butter glosses, Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Serum foundation and Stila smudge crayons 🙂
I haven’t used Paula’s Choice products in AGES! Should try them out again this year. I remembered really liking their moisturisers a few years ago. I recently tried the one of the NYX Butter Glosses and oh my, it’s good. Definitely one of the better lip glosses I’ve tried in a while.
Biore makes rather good sunscreens, with affordable price tags. I love the White bottle face milk (for oil control) but sometimes it’s a touch too much for my sometimes drier patch skin on my cheeks. Skin older and getting drier, at the wrong places on the face! Ha!
I think the Shiseido Aqua Label AC Essence is available here in Msia, around RM70? I remember seeing them and on Aqua Label Msia facebook 🙂 No need fly to Japan liao! 😛
My 2013 skincare picks would be Estee Lauder’s ANR, Kiehl’s MRC and Clinique’s Even Better brightening serum. I didn’t use them for a while, and when I started using them back earlier this week, I realize how much my skin loves them because it just shows! And haircare, Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum is awesome! Even my sister approves of it. Lightweight and never leaves a film on your hands, and gives you a really nice and polished, silky smooth looking mane. Major LOVE.
2013 makeup wise these would be in the list: Bourjois Healthy Mix foundations both serum and normal, acnes bb cream, guerlain meteorites, muji travel powder brush, posh blush brush, guerlain maxi shine lipglosses. I can’t fix my 2013’s blush because I have many of them and I love them all just the same >.< I go traveling with these so ya, these are essentials that I do not want to be without.
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Oooh the Aqua Label AC Essence is available in Malaysia?? Right, when Bea comes here to visit, I’m so getting her to buy one for me! Thanks so much for the heads up!
I’ve not tried haircare by Kiehls but that Silk Groom Serum sounds very good. Writing that down now to go get a sample to try. 😛
I love the L’Oreal Shine Caresse lip colours too. I don’t like lip gloss but these are a fantastic alternative without the sticky lips!
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I know right? They’re gorgeous. I much prefer them to the YSL Glossy Stains that everyone says they’re so similar to. I don’t know if my Glossy Stain is a lemon because it’s sticky and gloopy. The L’Oreal Shine Caresse lippies are much better in my opinion.