FAVORITE PRODUCTS OF 2014!

It's the first month of the New Year and of course I want to share all of my favorite products from 2014! Last year I added a lot of new products to my kit and I want to share them with you! These are some of my all time favorite, go-to products of the year!

1. MAC Cosmetics Pigment Melon 

• I love how versatile this product is! I use it as an eye shadow and I personally love it as a highlighter! MAC pigments can be used to create a sheen, iridescent shadow and are easily buildable for a more intense, bold look. To achieve its truest color, apply an eye shadow base to the eyelid and spray MAC Fix+ on a dense flat shader brush and dip into the pigment. Rather than using a swiping back and forth motion with the brush, you want to pack and press the pigment onto the lid. This product runs for $21.00 at MAC Cosmetics, which is a bit pricey, but it seriously will last you forever! Out of all the other MAC pigment colors I own, I find myself always reaching for Melon because of its beautiful shimmery gold color with a rosy peach hue! This product is in my top favs because it's so versatile, insanely pigmented, bold, and blendable. The possibilities are endless!

2. Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream

• I started using this product in Spring of 2014 when I received a free sample from Sephora and I'm so happy I did! I've tried various BB creams but didn't love them until I tried the CC cream. I have very dry, sensitive skin with a bit of redness. This product is great because it provides just enough coverage to smooth my complexion and cover the redness (used along with my MAC Select Moisturecover concealer and topped with the MAC Prep+Prime translucent pressed powder) while protecting against the damages of the sun and moisturizing my skin. One of the things I love most about this product is that it has SPF 30, making it great when I forget to apply sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen daily is something we should all try to do to protect against cancer causing UVA and UVB rays as well as helping to prevent wrinkles. It's also oil-free, which is great for all skin types, but I believe it works best on normal to dry skin. If you have oily/combination skin I would only use this in the winter. It works great as a base under foundation if you want a full coverage or alone for a sheer coverage. I have found that the coverage is buildable while still looking natural. It gives off a dewy, healthy looking finish, but if you prefer a more matte finish it is achievable by applying more powder. I use this foundation every day, whether it's a natural or bold look. 

3. MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Pressed Powder

• This powder is great for setting foundation and for oil control! What I love most about this powder is that it's a pressed powder! Most translucent powders are loose and tend to get very messy, which is why you will always find this product in my bag! It's so easy to take with you for quick touch-ups throughout the day. With this particular product I don't find myself typically needing to touch-up because it keeps my foundation looking fresh and in place all day. It sets my foundation without leaving a white cast across my face or setting into fine lines. It feels very smooth and silky and doesn't leave my face looking cakey (big plus for me because I love a natural, healthy look!). This product does leave somewhat of a matte finish, but without leaving the skin looking dull or dry. The only con is that it does not include a sponge to take on the go, but can be purchased separately (P.S. Target carries the COVERGIRL powder puffs for much cheaper than MAC). Overall, this is a great product if you want one powder you can use any time of the year and for any skin color. I've found it works great on all skin types (I use this in my professional kit as well).

4. COVERGIRL LashBlast 24 Hr Mascara

• I have been using the COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Waterproof mascara for years and I love it! I always like trying new mascara's but I've never found one that could top it. I ran out right before NYE and found a new, packaged LashBlast 24 Hr mascara in my makeup drawer. I was hesitant to use it (especially for NYE) without trying it before, but after I tried it I fell in love! It didn't smudge at all and really did last 24 hours! I even had a harder time getting this one off than I did with the waterproof volume LashBlast. I use the Sephora Waterproof eye makeup remover and it works great. Both of these mascara's are awesome for volume and length and truly are waterproof. They last through rain, swimming, and tears! The affordable price isn't bad either! 

5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade

• My makeup looks are never complete without my brows and this product is probably one of the best I've ever tried! It goes on so smoothly and gives a flawless, defined, but still natural looking brow (it's pigmented but also sheer). It's water resistant and lasts all day and night! I use the MAKE UP FOR EVER 274 Double Angled Eyebrow brush (I personally like it better than the Anastasia Eyebrow brush) to apply the Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown and it has the perfect amount of stiffness to give a precise application. You can also use a shadow to set the Pomade or to give it a gradient effect. It comes in so many colors (11 at Sephora!) making it perfect for anyone and everyone! This product is a bit expensive at $18 but will last forever because you don't need to use very much (remember less is more!). 

6. Too Faced Primed & Poreless

• This primer gives me a beautiful smooth finish by minimizing my pores and fine lines. It also has a bit of a nude tint to even out complexion making it great to wear alone with a little bronzer and blush (for those days you want to give your skin a little breather) or as a base for foundation to keep it looking flawless all day/night! This primer is 100% oil-free making it great for all skin types and contains Vitamins A & C, Mulberry extract and Retinol to hydrate, brighten, firm and detoxify skin. It feels so silky when I apply it and leaves my skin feeling moisturized and refreshed! Too Faced also has the Primed & Poreless Pure for sensitive skin!

7. Stila Custom Color Blush Self-Adjusting Coral

• This blush is definitely one of my favorite blushes and I wore it a lot in 2014! I have olive skin and it gives my cheeks a nice healthy glow with a bit of shimmer. This blush is highly pigmented and you don't need much, which is a plus because it will last you forever! Start out light and build for the desired color (I always say.. less is more!). This blush is easily blendable and I love the self-adjusting feature because it really is universally flattering on all skin tones. The color is a perfect peachy coral tone and is bright and fun (I love it for summer especially!). The packaging is super cute too!

8/9. MAC Whirl Lip Pencil & Honeylove Lipstick

• I combined 8. & 9. because these two products just go together! We all know the famous "Kylie Jenner lips" and this was definitely a huge trend of 2014! I did own these products prior to this "trend" and I have always loved the combination of Whirl and Honeylove because they give me the perfect nude (not too pink and not too brown). I also like the combination of Whirl with Velvet Teddy and Faux (these give more of the Kylie Jenner pinky-mauve nude lip color). Honeylove is a matte lipstick but still has a nice creamy consistency when I apply it. I like to outline and fill in my lips first with the Whirl lip liner, then apply Honeylove and finally set it with a little bit of my Prep+Prime translucent pressed powder. Setting it with a powder is optional but I find that it helps make the wear time last longer, but I always like to carry my lip pencil and lipstick in my purse for touch-ups throughout the day.

10. Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

• As a makeup artist I want to look my best at all times and need my makeup to stay on all day/night. This setting spray claims to keep makeup looking "gorgeously just-applied for up to 16 hours" and it really does what it says (even in hot/humid weather or cold/rainy weather)! It mists on skin so lightly, dries within seconds and doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky or tight! After I finish my makeup, I spray about 2-3 times across my face and it gives my skin a beautiful glowing radiance. I use this on myself daily and in my professional kit for all of my clients! Urban decay also carries the De-Slick setting spray for oil control and the Chill setting spray for cooling and hydrating (all three are Vegan, Oil free, Paraben free and have a temperature control technology!). I also love that they sell a full size and travel size so you can take this with you everywhere! 

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Disclaimer: I was not sponsored by any of these companies and all of these product reviews are simply my opinion. Thank you for reading! XOXO