Top 12 Beauty Shout Outs and Flops of 2012

Whew - 2012 was here and gone! And to commemorate, I thought I'd share my top beauty products of the year - these include items that were released in 2012, as well as products I found/rediscovered that stand out above all of my other beauty products - both good and bad. In no particular order...

Beauty Shout Outs of 2012

#1. Real Techniques brushes

I cannot rave enough about how much I love and adore my Real Techniques brushes. On my Christmas vacation to the States with my in-laws, I picked up a few more additions to my collection. They're affordable, the design is ingenius, and they are - by far - the best brushes I own. I feel like a princess every time I get to use them.

#2. Uniq One All in One Hair Treatment

I don't know if I can ever turn back now - I've tried this fantastic product and I feel like nothing else will ever suffice. The way it makes my hair smell and feel, not to mention the numerous ways it benefits my hair and increases the ease of styling... One of my most treasured beauty products.

#3. Wet N Wild ColorIcon Eyeshadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells

One of my makeup staples. I love everything about this palette - including how easily the shadows blend, the rich pigmentation, the combination of colors, the affordability...

#4. China Glaze Nail Polish in Flip Flop Fantasy

Who doesn't love a little neon pink happiness splashed across their fingertips?! I know I sure do, and I cannot get enough of this color. I'm so happy I finally went out and picked up a bottle to add to my collection!

#5. Urban Decay's Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion

I haven't branched out yet to try any other eyeshadow primers that are available on the market. I'm just so in love with Urban Decay's version - I keep going back for more. I think I'm on my fourth or fifth tube since I first bought it, back in 2008.

#6. L'Oreal Infallible La Rouge Lipstick in Unending Kiss

I recently picked this up from Shopper's Drug Mart when they were having a sale. This is one of those "my-lip-color-but-better" shades. It's long-lasting without being too drying, the packaging is tres chic, and I feel like it's a lip product I'll actually keep reaching for.

#7. Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Polishes

Totally blown away by the amazing quality of these polishes. It's like a unicorn pooped glitter all over my nails - absolutely stellar. A pain in the patooty to take off, but when your nails look that good, who cares!? My favorites are Big Money and Be-Jewelled.

#8. Essence Powder Blush in Renesmee Red

From the limited edition Breaking Dawn collection. I didn't think I'd be able to pull off a 'true red' colored blush, what with my being so fair skinned and all, but I absolutely adore this powder. It's pigmented and smooth, blends like a dream, and gives me this healthy flush of color that I don't seem to get from pinks and peaches. On another note, it was dirt cheap. Heck yes.

#9. Cetaphil Barrier Cream

Best hand cream ever. Hands down. The only downside - the price. Why can't great products just be free!?

#10. NYX Single Eyeshadow in Black

I got so much use out of this shadow after I started doing smoky, sultry, smudgy black eyeshadow looks. This is one of the best matte black eyeshadows I've ever had the pleasure of using - it only takes a little bit of powder to achieve the look that you want, so this little compact will last you forever and a day.

#11. Torrid Skinny Sophia Jegging

Probably the comfiest pair of jeans that have ever hugged the curves of my lower half. Yes, I paid a little more money for them, but I think it's definitely worth the investment when you feel like a goddess in your jeans. One of my most beloved purchases of the year.

#12. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stains
I'm actually pleasantly surprised with these. I found myself reaching for them more often than I expected, and quite often I found myself wandering back to buy more shades. I love how I can pull off a red lip without breaking out a lipstick - I get color payoff without being WHOA BABY matte-opaque-lipstick-face. There are colors for every day wear, and then some brighter fun colors for the bold and daring.

Beauty Flops of 2012

#1. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters

These were a huge let down for me, and I'm not sure why. I don't know what exactly I was expecting from this product, but I picked one up and hated it. Not a product I'd ever see myself using or repurchasing.

#2. Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm

An overpriced, underachieving product, in my opinion. Another one of those things I really regret purchasing, because I never reach for it and I feel like it was a waste of money.

#3. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Whew, another lippie flop! I got these as a free birthday gift from Sephora for being a Beauty Insider. I was thoroughly underwhelmed. Not worth the price tag, at all. They're definitely taking up space in one of my makeup drawers, begging to be thrown in the garbage. The only redeeming quality of these balms, in my opinion, is the cute and unique packaging.

#4. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes (Carbon Black) Mascara

This is actually a fantastic product, but my eyeballs are ginormously allergic to something in the mascara itself. I'm so sad that I can't wear this mascara - it was so wonderful.

#5. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

So I guess I'm one of the few people who doesn't like these at all. I felt like they peeled right off, the wear time was total crap. I'm also of the mentality that getting one, maybe two, uses out of a stick on polish isn't really great bang for your buck - especially when you change your nail polish as often as me. Disappointment.

#6. L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray

I heard so many great things about this hairspray. I first tried a sample bottle (the scented version) and just about puked my brains out after spraying it once. Then I tried a large bottle of the unscented version, and I just didn't get what all the hype was about. Sure it's brushable, but it doesn't do crap for holding my hair anyways... a waste of my money, fo shizzle.

#7. L'anza Healing Smooth Thermal Defense Treatment

This product created a build-up in my hair, not to mention how drying it was as I used heat on my hair. I've never experienced such dry, dull, unmanageable hair, especially from a styling product. Sad face, especially since my hair stylist recommended it to me.

#8. Essie Good to Go Top Coat

And I heard such great things about this product - it's not very glossy or shiny, I found that it bubbled my nail polish a lot, and it's expensive - especially when it does virtually nothing that a $2 clear polish couldn't do. I also found that it didn't extend the life of my nail polish at all. Now it's just taking up space in my collection.

#9. Tender Tootsies Now! Alexis Boots

Picked these up from Army & Navy, and they literally lasted me two weeks before the heel of the left boot had given out. It pretty much disintegrated, so every time I step, the heel collapses in on itself. I am heartbroken and crushed, as they were the first affordable boots I found that actually fit around my large ham of a calf. There's a very sore spot in my heart right now.

#10. Milani's 3D Glitzy Glamour Glosses

I picked up two colors in Designer Label and Stylish. I'm not a huge lip product person, but I found these glosses uncomfortable on my lips - too sticky and thick. Wayyyy too glittery, and I didn't particularly care for the scent either.

#11. Revlon Scented Nail Polish in Lemon Meringue

Such a beautiful buttery yellow color in the bottle, but man, is this polish a pain to apply. It's sheer, and the application is streaky and uneven - even gloopy at times. It takes forever to dry, and you need (literally) five coats to achieve a flawless finish - but then it smudges as soon as you think it's actually dry (3 hours later). And while you might think that scented polish is the bomb-diggity, I don't know that I particularly love the lemony after-scent on my nails - it sort of reminds me of household cleaner. I only used this polish once, because I was so disappointed in it.

#12. ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzer Duo

This is supposed to be an affordable dupe for the NARS Orgasm and Laguna face powders, but I feel that the quality is somewhat lacking. They're beautiful colors, and super affordable, but the amount of glitter in these powders is unreal. I feel like a disco ball immediately after application. Not to mention the horrendous wearing time - I don't think I even get a few hours out of this powder before it's completely disappeared from my face - minus the glitter stuck in my pores. How I wish for a matte alternative of this product...


So those are my shout outs and flops of the year. There were some products I tried that I was neither here nor there about, but they weren't worth mentioning as the 'absolute best' or 'horrifically worst' products of the year. Here's hoping 2013 is full of new fun and exciting products that don't leave a sour taste in my mouth (figuratively or literally), haha.

Let me know: what were your stand-out beauty items from 2012!? They could be products in the makeup, hair, jewellery, personal hygiene, or clothing categories... I'd love to hear about what products got your motor running last year!

Happy New Year, you guys! Can't wait to see what this year holds!

June 2012 Favorites

Hola my beauty lovin' babes!!


Another month has come and gone, and it's that time again!! I really do love month end, because some of my favorite blogs and videos to indulge in are 'monthly favorites.' I love getting inspiration from others' most used products; especially when it comes to seasonal products. 


#1. Annabelle Le Big Show mascara.
I love this mascara. I get the luscious voluptuous lashes I desire every time. One of the happiest parts of my day is putting on my mascara.


#2. Lise Watier Summer 2012 Sunset Bronzing powder.
Ever since I got my hands on this, I've used it practically every day. I absolutely adore this bronzer. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be buying a back up of it, just to have on hand for the sad day when my current one runs dry. What deliciousness it is... definitely worth the money.


#3. Revlon Colorstay Longwear Base Coat.
I picked this up in the anticipation that it would prolong the life of my manicures, and while I don't necessarily think that it extends the life of my nail polish significantly, I do find this to be a fantastic base for my polishes. It evens out my nail surface, and makes polish application a dream.


#4. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.
I finally found this at my local Rexall when on a shopping date with my sister. I snatched it up immediately, because it's the first I've ever seen in stores in Canada. I have not regretted this purchase once - it's creamy, smooth, and intensely pigmented. I love using it as a colored base, or under my brow bone as a highlight. 


#5. Essie Bikini So Teeny nail polish.
I love this powder-y periwinkle blue polish. It looks fantastic on my nails, not so grotesque as other blues have the tendency of looking on my pale skin. The only downside is that the shimmer doesn't show up on my nails like it does in the bottle...


#6. Conair You Wave Ultra Tourmaline Ceramic Styler.
Though I haven't had this for the entire month, I have been using it a lot lately. I'm crimping my hair rather frequently lately, and this has definitely made it a lot easier for me to get my hair evenly crimped from start to finish. Fantastic results.


My 'bonus' favorites of this month are the Bailey Flanigan series by Karen Kingsbury. I'm currently on the second book, Leaving, and I'm totally hooked. I've read the Redemption series, the Firstborn series, and the Sunrise series, and I'm quickly tunneling through the Bailey Flanigan series in anticipation for the newest book release by Karen, Coming Home, which I'm absolutely dying to read!!


If you'd like to check out any of Karen's books, please feel free to visit www.karenkingsbury.com.


What were your top 3 favorites of June!? I'd love to hear all about them!


xoxo

April 2012 Favorites

Hola my beauty-lovin' babes! My apologies for the extended absence - we managed to find a new apartment last Saturday and moved in on Monday, plus I started my new job on Monday - and we've been internet-less until now. Hopefully the internet stays functional for the next little while :)


Anyways - it is the beginning of May, which means the end of April is past, and we need to talk mis favoritas!!


#1. Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24H Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe.
This was definitely a huge favorite of mine this month. It made quick-and-easy, out-the-door looks possible in very short amounts of time. I loved it so much I went out and bought Bad to the Bronze yesterday. A review on these babies will be coming soon...


#2. Schick Hydro Silk Razor.
I was fortunate enough to receive this razor for free when I stumbled into Shopper's Drug Mart one day. They were just handing them out to people, with coupons for ridiculously good discounts on the refill razors, should you choose to repurchase afterwards. I ADORE this razor. My husband always makes jokes about how many blades razors have - this particular one has 5. He jokes that the fifth blade "mulches," he's so silly. But no seriously, this razor is AMAZING. Review coming asap...


#3. L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Blush in Immortal Flush.
I got this under the recommendation of Sam Schuerman on the YouTube. I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous orangey/peachyness that is this delicious little blush. Definitely a must-try, I'm so going to look into getting a few more of the shades from this collection. LOVE!


#4. Nicole by OPI Nail Polish in Kim Konfidential.
This is a gorgeous, flesh-toned nude. I have worn it SO much this month, and I'm really loving it. Such an office-appropriate shade of polish for your nailses.


#5. Hard as Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream. 
I've been using this cream again on my cuticles and nails to strengthen them and get them in a summer-ready condition. I've only been using it once to twice a day, but it's already made a HUGE difference. My nails are getting stronger, growing faster, my cuticles are smooth and not peeling nearly as much. Yahoo!


#6. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black.
This has been my new favorite eyeliner, and I've definitely been using it every day. I need to get back into the habit of creating perfect winged looks, but this liner makes it incredibly easy to create opaque lines. Love it!!


#7. George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion.
I picked this up when my old tube of the original George's formula ran out. This one has saved my hands a lot lately. The Light formula has made it SO much more easy to use in comparison to the thick, original formula. LOOOOOOOOOVE this stuff. I need more tubes/bottles of it in my life.


My music favorite. I'm going to add this dimension to my Favorite posts now, because I freaking adore music... and usually when I find a new song that I love, I play it to death until I hate it...


#1. Payphone (Clean/Radio edit) by Maroon 5 (I prefer the version without Wiz Khalifa).
I stumbled across this beauty by accident the other night (yes, very close to the end of April, but I know it's my new favorite song...). I was singing it in my sleep last night. Ya. I adore Maroon 5, and this song is just balm to my soul... <3

Anyways ladies, I hope you had a fantastic month. Here's to another amazing one! May is my birth month too, so I'm super stoked for that!!

Let me know what your monthly favorites are in the comments section, or send me a link with a like to your monthly favorites on your personal blog!

xoxo

March 2012 Favorites

Yes, this is a few days late, but better late than never, eh!?


I didn't use a ton of makeup this (err... last) month, just because I was so crackalackin' busy with school. Que sera sera. This month, likely, won't be any better.


1. Urban Decay Half-Baked and Snakebite.
I frickin' loved these shadows this month, especially Half-Baked. It's the most beautiful gold shadow that looks like liquid metal on my brush (and my eyes!!) I love how it's so intense, yet subtle - and it really brings out my green eyes. And Snakebite is the best shadow to pair with Half-Baked - I just put it on the outer half of my eyelid and through my crease. UGH! The perfect combo.


2. Cover Girl LashBlast Volume mascara.
This was always my favorite mascara. I picked it up again because I just wanted the comfort of  an old (but a good) love. It's really amazing, but I wish it was more lengthening. But still - I <3 this.


3. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Hibiscus Toner.
I ran out of this at one point this month, and I thought - MEH! I don't need to buy another bottle. I'll be fine. Holy crap. My whole face went awol - acne everywhere, irritation, oiliness. I immediately went out and bought another bottle and have been using it religiously again.


4. Cetaphil Barrier Cream.
Has saved my life. 'Nuff said. Check out my review on this bad boy: http://beautyblurbsbybekk.blogspot.ca/2012/03/cetaphil-barrier-cream.html

5. China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy.
I have been wearing this non-stop on my fingernails. Every time I want to do my nails again, I always end up repainting them this color. It is the perfect color for my skin tone - it's so bright and vibrant, and definitely makes me feel in a spring/summer mood. Best $7 I ever spent.


6. Conair 264XR Infiniti You Reel Folding Handle Dryer, Blue
FRICKIN' love my new blow dryer. It's basically the same one that I had before, except in a brilliant almost-cerulean blue. The cord just shooshes up into the handle, the handle bends over for a more compact shape when you're travelling. AND it works amazingly on my hair. I LOVE it, definitely a good purchase for like $30. Here's hoping it doesn't crap out in 2 years like my last one did...


And THOSE, my loves, are my March 2012 favorites. I apologize for my tardiness in uploading this post, but I really did have difficulty thinking of what products I actually used religiously this month. There weren't very many, in all honesty. 


Anyways, please link to your March 2012 Favorites blog post down below, as I love love love reading them!!


xoxo

Josh's Manly-Man Picks!

So I know that my husband won't be 'guest blogging' anytime soon, but I do know what his favorite manly hygiene essentials are. The medicine cabinet in our bathroom reveals all to me...


I figured this might be a fun change from the routine girly nail polish this, and fancy palette that... I challenge you, ladies, to share with the beauty community what your man's favorite hygiene/personal care essentials are!! I'd love to hear too! Maybe get some new and exciting ideas for the... bathroom?? :)


Numero uno. Down Under Naturals Ultimate Hold Styling Gel.
Josh normally has anywhere between 3 and 5 bottles of these in the drawer at all times (no joke). If he even begins to smell that he's on the verge of breaking into his second-last bottle, he immediately runs out and picks up another 3 or 4 more - just in case. This goes in when his hair is in-between damp and dry - he just shooshes it through his hair to get a piecy, messy, spikey look. He's told me before that he likes this particular gel because it doesn't flake out of his hair - it holds like it should, and doesn't make it look like he's got dandruff (as some gels do because they flake). That seems like good sensical man-talk, doesn't it? As far as we know, this is only sold at Superstore and, I think, London Drugs. Superstore is the cheaper bet though...

Photo credit: http://www.themanroom.ca/Down-Under-Naturals-Ultimate-Hold---Styling-Gel

Numero dos. Adidas Action 3 Anti-Perspirant in Control.

Okay, so this might be one of those products that I forced Josh into using, but hey! It isn't killing him any. Josh prefers clear, gel deodorants/anti-perspirants, but he admits that they get really messy and tend to run out more quickly than stick versions do. This deodorant seems to keep him fairly dry too - I mean, he doesn't sweat like a pig in any case, but this helps keep him extra dry. It can tend to leave smudges on dark shirts, so I'd caution you, ladies. I could not really describe Control for you, except to say that it smells like clean, sexy, amazing man whose armpits I want to bury my face in. Josh is currently using the same deodorant in the scent Intensive, and it's not half bad either - a good scent to switch it up with - more sweet and less in-your-face-amazing, but I still like it.

Photo credit: http://www.cosmopolitanusa.com/Items.aspx?id=3&grpid=1&rama=2

Numero tres. Pert Plus 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner in Classic Clean.
I do not know what this boy sees in his Pert Plus, but he loves it. I've had to hide it from him recently to force him into using up the last of our Head & Shoulders, otherwise he'd just keep buying it. He keeps asking for it though, so I'm sure I'll have to crack it out one of these days... either way, it's one of his top picks.


Numero cuatro. Toothbrushes.
One of Josh's favorite things of all time are toothbrushes. Before we got married the boy was constantly buying toothbrushes. He never kept track of the ones he bought and he hoarded those suckers up. I remember helping him move into our new place and creating, quite literally, a toothbrush drawer, where all of his purchases went. We will never have to buy toothbrushes again - I swear. Josh is a pretty diligent teeth-brusher though. And he brushes his teeth until they are squeaky - I suppose what he lacks in flossing gumbo he makes up for in brushing vigor.


And those are his picks. Seriously. This guy doesn't get too picky about too many of his products - he just uses whatever. That goes for his razors and shaving gel too - otherwise I would've included them in this post.


Let me know what you guys think about this post. What sorts of products does your man use on a regular basis?? What are his 'holy grails'??
xoxo

February Fancies 2012

So long February - hello, March! The beginning of this month dragged on, but the last two weeks have just whizzed by. I can't believe that I'm half done my last full semester of University. Craziness will now ensue.


I called this "February Fancies" instead of "February Favorites" because the word "favorite" is so abused at the end of the month haha.... we'll switch it up a little for now...


As for my favorites, or fancies, this month, they've reflected how busy I've been lately. One of the two following scenarios are always true of me lately: 1) I value my sleep more than I value an elaborate makeup scheme on my face, or 2) I don't have the time to care about anything besides looking like an alive female in the morning.


* China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy. I know I purchased this pretty late into the month, but this has been SO worn for the time I've had it, I can't imagine life without it. Seeing this on my fingers makes me SO happy. I honestly have no words for how gorgeous this polish is.


* Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original). With all of the stress and craziness of this month, I've been disturbingly emotional which means that I bawl my eyes out rather frequently. UDPP has kept my makeup intact through several sporadic bouts of tears, long days at school, and sweaty minutes on the elliptical trainer.


* Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub. Whoa, that was a mouthful. Recently my skin has been going bazerk, breaking out all over the place - which is less than a desirable look to rock. I use this when I feel my skin getting 'too oily' or like it's on the verge of more than one zit. After scrubbing this all over my face (in the evening before bed), I let it sit for a few minutes while I floss my teeth. I rinse it off and follow with my Alba Botanicals Hawaiian Hibiscus Toner and moisturizer. It keeps my breakouts minimal and at bay. And it smells so good I wanna eat it - can't go wrong with that.


* Annabelle Smoothliner in Brownie. Perfect for smudging on my upper lashline when I want a polished look, yet without appearing 'overdone,' or like I spent too much time on myself. Freaking adore this pencil.


* Annabelle Mono Eyeshadow in Vanilla Chilla. There is no better brow and inner corner highlight than this. The satin sheen creates a beautiful, almost natural-looking glow without looking powder-y, cake-y, or like a glitter-bomb went off on my face. And I've hit pan, in a major way... If I don't use this in my inner corner every day, something about my whole look seems 'off.'


* Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess. I didn't love this at all when I first got it... the shimmer in it seemed 'too much' for me. But as I've used it more and more, I've found that I really like using it on my ELF Studio Powder brush around the outside and high points of my face to create a subtle, but natural looking bronzed glow. It doesn't look as artificial as contouring with my MAC bronzer can, but creates dimension and makes me look more alive than albino.


* Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Tease. I am definitely enjoying my Naked 2 palette, but lately, I've been using the shade Tease A LOT. It's just the perfect crease color for on the go. The purple-y hint really brings out the green in my eyes, and gives a subtle, yet defined look to my crease. LOOOOOVE it.


Now for a random favorite... Whoooo! We're shaking it up a little!!


* Old Navy Perfect Rib-Knit Tanks. I freaking adore these. My sister and I stumbled across them on a shopping date and fell in love with their neon-esque colors (such as Pink Icing Neon 118 and Dayglow Dina). For $8 CDN, you can't really go wrong. Old Navy's also 'reformulated' their standard rib-knit tanks so that they're fitted now. The stretchy nature of the new tops does not lose its shape throughout the day like the old ones did or through the washing process, and fits to your body so you don't look like a square. Love the colors SO much, but love the fit of these even more!!


And that's about it. I loved more products this month, but I think that these definitely topped my list. I'm still playing around with other new products I've picked up, so you can bet your bottom dollar I'll have more new and exciting favorites come the end of March.


What were you loving this month? Do you have any favorites that you'd recommend?! Let me know in the comments!!


Happy March!!!
xoxo