Hey all! Late, I know but here are my top beauty products of 2013! I couldn’t even think up an order because these products are all my loves and I use them almost daily, so yes, they’re that good!
Maybelline Baby Lips- Peppermint, Pink Punch
Of course again these are a part of my yearly favourites, just as in 2012. This year I tried the Pink Punch one which is slightly tinted and I remember at first I hated it. But after using it more frequently my lips now love it (maybe even more than Peppermint) and feel “baby soft”!
Natural Oils- Coconut, Tea tree
Just like last year and probably every year til forever, I will love my holy grail Coconut oil! It works for everything! Skin, hair, face, some cook with it, but I haven’t tried that one as yet. In 2013, I was experiencing some of the woes of shaving and tea tree oil came in very handy! (I plan on making a post all about shaving later) It’s an antimicrobial, antifungal, just about all powerful in it’s concentrated form. I’m not talking about those ones in light coloured bottles at all. Works great for shaving bumps, sores, skin problems like eczema, acne even, and you can use it on your scalp too to combat dry scalp (diluted, of course). Look out for a more in depth review of this amazing oil this year.
e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit- Medium
My brows are a mess on their own. I finally got a friend of mind to twiddle with my arches, so they’re not as flat as they usually look(yay!). I loved this eyebrow kit for all the time I had it in 2013 because even when my brows aren’t perfectly shaped, the mousse/wax in the kit actually holds my long stray brow hairs amazingly. AND it lasts all day, so no more wipe-off-your-brow syndrome before the end of the day!
Garnier Skin Renew BB cream (Oily/Combination skin)
My go-to for evening out my skintone, an even better BB cream in Barbados’ climate than the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB. It has nice light-weight coverage without looking like you’re wearing foundation, moisturises and lasts most of the day, granted you put some finishing powder over the top of it. I think my wear time would be better if I weren’t always touching my face or have my glasses slipping down my nose, haha.
e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing powder- Turks & Caicos (not pictured)
I can’t say enough how happy I am to find a bronzer that is dark to really contour my skin tone. Even though I’m not a mahogany and more of a caramel/cappuccino WOC, it’s hard to find a good bronzer here in Barbados. This one from e.l.f, although a bit shimmery in the pan, give a very subtle glimmer and looks glowy rather than disco ball when you apply it. The blush is ok, for a touch of colour, but I think on my complexion it looks more like a highlight. Also given the fact that there is so much more visible glitter in it than the bronzer.
Smashbox Cream blush – Captivate
I have hit pan on this, really bad, and if you remember I only had bought this in summer. I’ve never hit pan on ANY blush I own. But the colour and the buildability of this Smashbox blush makes me want to wear it everyday! I’m sure all my other blushes, especially my e.l.f. cream blush are jelly! What can I say I love it, and it gives me life.
African Pride Olive Miracle Leave-in Conditioner
Talk about moisture, my hair feels like it drinks this stuff. I remember Cantu Shea Butter leave-in used to be my thing when my hair was natural and freshly texlaxed. But I had stopped using it when I was relaxed because it make my hair go all weird like it’ll revert. When I put the AP Olive Miracle leave-in conditioner in my hair, it’s like my hair was in a desert and found a thirst-quenching oasis. Barbados’ climate is very tough on my hair! But this is the perfect moisture product to give your hair some life again. Be sure not to overdose on it like I did in the summer, despite the yummy smell, because your hair will go all wonky and be too soft due to the lack of protein in this product.
ElastaQP Design Silk
I had this product for maybe 2 years, and finally decided to try it again after I washing my hair. I have not looked back since. What had turned me off the first time I used this was the stickiness, but I now know I was misusing this delightful product. So far this is the only product I have come across that allows my hair to hold a curl longer than an hour. We are talking about 3 days of curls (if I don’t comb them out before then)! Hair spray just doesn’t for me, instead I get a stiff mess that I can’t run my fingers through. This stuff is amazing, your hair feels silky, is manageable, and holds the style for days. This is recommended for use as a setting lotion or when blow-drying your hair. I wouldn’t say it’s the best when used alongside a curling iron, but this makes roller-sets a breeze, even on not-so-fresh hair.
Bath & BodyWorks Body Spray- Bali Mango
This is a yummy, sweet, yet some what tangy fragrance that I’ve been making go ’round since I bought it in the summer. I think it only comes out one a year in fact, but while BBW was having it’s Semi-annual, I’m sure I saw this fragrance on sale. It’s been my everyday scent until about the beginning of 2014 and surprisingly, there is still a lot of product left in the bottle, hooray! It’s a fruity scent that’s not too overpowering with how sweet it is, but is just the right balance of citrus to keep you sane. Doesn’t actually smell like a mango to this island girl, but it’s still amazing.
Those were all my beauty favourites for 2013, what were yours? Any new products that were really able to surprise you last year?
Tina Takes Beauty 