Best of Beauty 2013 Tag

I saw this tag floating around on YouTube which was perfecting timing since I was toying around with a favorites of 2013 post. But I didn't want to be all over the place with it. So helped me focus...to a point. I do have more than one answer for some. I mean come on, some times it's hard to have just one product for a category. These are not necessarily products that launched in 2013. It's a mix of stuff I bought in 2013, items that did launch in 2013 and stuff I just reached for a lot.

Let's get to it!!

Primer - Black Radiance Primer
I had thought that this primer was only good for me during the summer but I had used it a lot in December with Urban Decay's De-Slick. They are the perfect combo on my skin all year round. So I think it's safe to say that this is my holy grail primer. I picked up two more during the CVS sale when they were 50% off.

Foundation - Bare Minerals Matte Foundation
No surprises here but Bare Minerals Foundation in the matte version is hands down my favorite foundation. I use it everyday. The coverage is buidable to light/tinted moisturizer coverage to full coverage. There are other foundations that I kind of want to try, Then I'm like why bother when I have one is working for me just fine. If you've played along with me on my blog then you know I've stumbled across a liquid foundation at the drugstore. It popped up in my December favorites.

Concealer - Bare Minerals Stroke of Light
I know this more of an eye brightener but it is toted on providing light to medium coverage for the under eye area. I don't have major dark circles, so this perfect for me. Some other concealers I've used for the under eye I think were too heavy or I was too heavy handed with them. You can use a little or a lot of this and not have any issues with applying and blending the product. It's lightweight and blends nicely into skin. I've also used to to brighten other areas on my face. So it can be a 2 in 1 product. I think I'm on my second or third tube of this. It will always be in my stash. I do what to try their newer concealers in the pot.

Powder - Bare Mineral Bronzing Mineral Veil
I have several versions of Bare Mineral's Mineral Veil and I enjoy all of them. But THHHHEEEE one that is my hands down favorite in the Bronzing Mineral Veil. It's just bomb. It just is. I have the regular sized and a super sized that I got from QVC and I am still tempted to get another jar. It's not permanent to their line and I wish it was. For deeper complexions they always push the Tinted Mineral Veil. The Bronzing Mineral Veil in 10 times better in my opinion!

Bronzer - Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep Chocolate
Y'all already know how I feel about this bronzer. So there is no need for me to say anything else. I mean look at the huge pan in the center of the product! This gets used. No doubt about it.

Blush

• MAC Raizin - finally got my hands on this through a MAC sale that was taking place on Beyond the Rack. This in THEEE blush that MAC artists mention for brown girls. I can see why. Ladies that use this blush absolute love it. I reached for this several times throughout the year and had to force myself to put it away each time since I have a crap ton of blushes. It is the perfect everyday blush no matter what eye look or lip color you have on. It's a matte blush described as golden reddish-brown. It is a matte blush.
• NYX Desert Rose - I picked this one up in 2013 and it's the perfect pink blush for deeper skin tones. It's another blush that goes with just about any eye and lip combo. It's another product I had to force myself to put away. Y'all have seen my blush drawer :)

Highlighter - Bare Mineral Advanced  Bare Radiance
This is another product that I had to make myself put away. I'm not a big fan of highlighters. Some I feel require to much "effort". You have to be careful not to pick up too much product, blend it, blah, blah, blah. If you are someone who is "afraid" of highlighters or feel that they are too much effort then check out Bare Minerals Radiance powders. They are some my favorite products to use for highlighting. I picked up the Bare Minerals Advance Radiance from QVC. It is so pretty. It is described as a amber-nude sheen . I have also used this as an eye shadow and got a several compliments. For some skin tones, you may be able to use these as a blush. Radiance powders are multi-use products.

Brows - Iman Brow Pencil
Another product that should be no surprise. I found a seller on Amazon selling it with free shipping, so I ordered two more pencils. It's the perfect dark brown that doesn't run a warm brown or red.

Eyeshadow Palette - Urban Decay Smoked Palette

I gushed over this palette in my August Top 3 post. It's just the perfect palette to me. It's right up there with the original Naked palette. You can do a full look with this and not reach for any other shadows which is a big plus for me. It has neutral shades and pops of color.

And a quick honorable mention to the original Naked Palette. It's funny that I saw this palette in a a bunch of people's favorites videos for 2013 and it's not a "new" palette. It's just bomb and another product that I had to make myself put away. I'm undecided if I am going to pick up the other Naked palettes. Perhaps Naked 2 and maybe Naked Basics but I think I'll pass on 3 based on some of the comments I've heard. I may swatch it next time I'm in Ulta or Sephora.

Eyeliner

• Pencil - Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in Espresso and Evercolor Ultimate Waterproof Eyeliner in Express-O-Lance
• Gel - Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Espresso
• Liquid - LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner in Black

As I've mentioned before dark brown liners are my happy place. They give you definition to an eye look without being too much like black can be. Mally and Bobbi Brown's liners were three that I reached for a lot. The LORAC liquid liner is so easy to use and goof proof for me.

Mascara

• Lancome Definicils Precious Cells (not pictured) - this is my absolute favorite mascara. It's pricey but I still love it. It's a good every day, all occasion mascara. I love the wand and the formula. This'll be something that I purchase once a year since it is a pricier mascara and mascara is the one beauty product that doesn't keep for long.
• Mally Volumizing Mascara - this is my second favorite. It's funny that a long time ago I didn't like this mascara and now it's a favorite. I love the formula which is a little drier than some. I love the wand and just what it does for my lashes. With various sets I order from QVC, I always have a tube on hand.

Lip Pencil - NYX Lip Liner in Expresso
Again this shouldn't be a shocker. I use this lip liner everyday.

Lipstick 

• MAC Riveting Rose - this is another product I got when I didn't know about stuff being limited edition. I keep checking on eBay to see if I can find one at a decent price. When it comes to lipstick shades, I like the deeper berry tones. This is described as  a rich red-berry with purple and plum frost.". I just love it and it wears well throughout the day. I went through my stash to see if I have something similar to this and I don't, which is shocking. I'm going to be bummed if I can't find another one or if Mac doesn't re-release it.
• Wet n Wild Sugar Plum Fairy - another product that doesn't need explanation since I've talked about it so much. Another berry toned lipstick that I wear all year.
• Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - yes I'm mentioning a whole line of lipsticks lol. These lipsticks are bomb.com. What makes them even more fantastic is that they are available at the drugstore. So you can catch them on sale, use reward coupons on them, catch other deals, etc. The color selection, formulation and staying power on the lips is awesome. I have 6 of these lipsticks and I still have a few more on my wish list. Pictured below are the first 3 that I purchased. If you are new to lipstick, want to play around with color or looking to try a new brand then check these out!

Lip Gloss 

• Buxom White Russian Lip Cream - these lip creams are newer to the Buxom line. I got my tube based of all the hype I heard about this gloss. It is well deserved hype. Times when I didn't know what to put on my lips I reached for this throughout the year. It's the perfect nude gloss for any skin tone.
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lip glosses - I have gushed over these all year. They are fantastic glosses that are available at the drugstore. They have great pigmentation for a lip gloss. They are moisturizing and feel good on the lips. I have 13 of these glosses and of course I want more colors. Sick I know.

Beauty Subscription - QVC New Beauty Test Tube
I am not currently subscribed to this but I was earlier in 2013. I enjoyed it and may subscribe again. The QVC version of the New Beauty Test Tube includes products from brands at the Q. In some cases you receive full sized products and the sample sized products were generous amounts. You also get the New Beauty magazine. Through QVC you can do a single shipment or auto delivery. Auto delivery is a total of I think 4 shipments every 90 days.

Skincare - Serious Skincare Glycolic Cleanser
Skincare wasn't a part of the tag but I decided to throw it in. I tried this line late in the year but the products I've tried are awesome. If I had to pick one product that I've tried then it would hands down be the Glycolic Cleanser. I've been using this day and night and I feel that it has been a game changer for my skin.

Nail Polish - Essie Smokin Hot

Also nail polish wasn't part of the tag and I wasn't going to mention it but one polish that I really loved for 2013 popped into my head. I picked up Essie's Smokin Hot after seeing in a video on YouTube. It's purple gray shade and I love gray based polishes. Took this one with me on a work trip and wore it on my toes for the longest time.

And there you have it! Let's see what  2014 brings!