As we welcome the new year, it's great to take a look back at 2014 and see what beauty products made it on our list of most used and loved! We are covering drugstore and high-end splurges for our 2014 ultimate favorites. These are our must-have products:
1) Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum: What it is best used for is before applying your favorite mascara. It lengthens, supplies volume, and conditions your lashes. It doesn't matter what mascara you use, this lash plumping primer will transform your lashes for a fuller and longer effect. This lash serum can also be used on it's own. It contains active ingredients such as soy protein which promotes lash growth and strength in long terms.
2) Dose of Color Matte Lipsticks: Dose of Colors had a very successful year in 2014 launching 3 highlighters and the amazing matte liquid lipsticks. Dose of Colors has become a permanent favorite in our beauty bags. Their matte lipsticks come in a liquid form and dry to a matte, but not too drying finish. The color that stole our hearts and many other makeup lovers is "Berry Me." You can get a more descriptive look at this product and other Dose of Color products in our previous "Dose of Color Review" post.
A similar drugstore find is the NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream. They have a wide range of colors and have a lasting and hydrating effect as well (did we mention that it's only $6).
3) MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter: This pen-style highlighter works wonders to highlighting the under-eye area. We suggest concealing before using this highlighter since it tends to be sheer on its own. But you can also use it under your concealer if you don't want such a bright highlight. The product comes out quite sheer but can definitely be thicker if more product is used. The MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter comes in four colors, but our favorite is "Light Boost." It is a yellow based color which is perfect for providing a brightening effect. You can use this product in many other places to highlight as well the cupids bow, the highest points of your cheeks, your brow bone, down the bridge of the nose, on the forehead, and on the chin. It can even be used at the inner corner of your eyes! This highlighter gives you a lot of control on where on the face you want to brighten up. It is a very versatile product that delivers major brightness.
4) Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: We simply cannot say enough about this foundation! Having a bunch of make up is a great thing, but having a great foundation is a basic necessity that provides a clean slate to work on. This foundation feels silky and leaves a slightly dewey finish. This doesn't mean that an oily person can't use it, rather after applying this foundation they should set the parts of their face that tend to get oily with powder. It also looks amazing when photographed and gives an airbrushed look. Although many people recommend using this during night time we definitely also wear it during the day by using slightly less product. This foundation looks and feels amazing!
5) Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: A look is not complete without polished brows. One of the best part about Anastasia's Brow Wiz is the spooly brush on the other side of the product. Brushing your brows with a spooly allows you to see where your natural brow lining is and to get a more precise image of wear your brow needs enhancing and filling. The small, retractable tip is perfect for mimicking brow hairs and making a more natural filled brow. Unlike most brow pencils, this brow wiz stays put all day long. Filling in your brows after doing make up might not seem that important, but trust us it makes a huge difference. By lightly filling in your brows and brushing it out with the spooly brush, you get to form the perfect brow shape that looks best on you.
6) Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: This is not a surprise pick for our favorite primer since we have done a previous review under our "Holiday Beauty Must-Haves." The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer blurs out any fine line and smooths the skin for a flawless makeup application. The best part of this product is that it is an oil-free product. That prevents the oil from breaking through the skin and moving your foundation around. Absolutely in love! Since this product can tend to be on the pricey side, our top drugstore pick for primer is the NYX Cosmetics Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer. This product has a more satin finish compared to the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. It also creates a smooth complexion which helps making your makeup stay in tack for any event.
7) Eyeko Brow Gel: If you're looking for a great brow gel, the Eyeko Brow Gel is a must. Unlike most brow gels, the wand's size is very small and not the size of a typical mascara wand which gives maximum control to any user. You can create a bushy or polished look with this product. It comes in a universal color which will assure to match any color brow you may have. It does not flake after many hours of use and truly defines each brow hair to ensure a fuller effect. This brow gel also contains ingredients such as keratin and other blends of vitamins to gradually promote brow growth!
We cannot wait to see what's in store for new products in 2015! We hope to add more makeup staples to our list!
XO,
RLS
