A Year in Beauty: The Best of 2011

Happy New Year to all my readers!  I can't believe how fast 2011 went by and now we're off to a fresh start!  I can't wait to see what this year will bring. 

Well the year has finally come to an end and it's it's a year of new beginnings I thought I'd do a post on my favourite products of 2011.  Check it out!

Best Foundation 

Hands down my favourite foundation ever is Face Atelier Ultra Foundation.  It is my HG of foundations!  I love that it give me a flawless finish everytime!  It's lightweight and also photograph's really well.  This is a must have for anyone!

Best Face Primer

I've used the Korres orignal primer and I do love it.  I like this one as well as it has anti-aging properties.  It's moisturizing and helps keep my makeup on all day!

Best Eyeliners

I have a toss up between two liners.  The Annabelle Smoothie Liners are awesome for bases and shadows as well as liners.  I also really like the Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes which are a staple in my kit!

Best Lipstick

I absolutely love these Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipsticks!  I haven't done a review yet but these were my go-to favourites of last year.  They're so pigmented and last a long time!

Best Eye Primer

Lime Crime Eye Shadow Helper is my #1 primer of choice.  Excellent for oily lids like mine!

Best Eyeshadow Palette

Of course the Urban Decay Naked Palette had to make my list!  What's not to love?

Best Highlighter

LORAC Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in Radian is the perfect highlighter in my opinion.  It's not too heavy and adds the perfect glow to the skin.

Best Lip Balm

eos lip balms are awesome!  They're moisturizing and soothing which is exactly what I need for my dry lips!

Best Moisturizer

Consonant Body Ultra Moisturizing Organic Face Cream is so amazing that my cheeks have been baby butt smooth!  It's so soothing and everytime I put it on I feel like I'm at the spa!

Best Face Wash

I love Consonant Body Organic Foaming Face Wash.  I love that it can take off waterproof makeup so easily!  And it feels refreshing too!

Best Bottom Mascara

I love that Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara has the cutest little brush that it gets every single tiny hair.  The formula is great too as it does not smudge or flake at all!

Best Blush

All year the blush that I have been grabbing for the most would have to be Benefit Coralista.  I find that it gives me a pretty flush.  Just a little the apples of my cheeks gives me a natural look.

Best Bronzer

Vasanti Cosmetics Brazilian Bronzer makes my skin look bright and radiant.  I love this bronzer!  Doesn't give you that muddy look!

Best Concealer

Benefit's Erase Paste is the best concealer to cover those darn dark undereye circles.  You'll be amazed at how well it covers!  It also brightens up that area too!

Best Face Powder

Love MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural!  Wear it alone or on top of foundation and it gives you the perfect finish everytime!

So what were your favourites of 2011?

Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil Review

If you read my post on The Beauty Premiere then you know that Annabelle was handing out their Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil's on a silver platter.  I've managed to grab 6 of them been using these for a few weeks now and all I can say is that they are amazing!

I love that these pencils are so versatile.  You can use them as eyeshadows, eyeliners, or an eye base.  One thing I should mention is that if you plan on using this as an eyeshadow you have to work pretty fast. I found that they dried pretty quickly making blending somewhat difficult.  But blending with a warm finger usually solved this problem for me.

As for application and colour payoff these Smoothies applied so smoothly and are packed with pigment.  They are extremely creamy but not messy.  Unlike Stila Kajal liners these liners stay put and don't crease!  An eyelid primer isn't necessary, trust me I'm an oily lid sufferer!  I am so impressed with the colour payoff one swipe and immediately you can see how rich it is .  If you're a makeup artist like myself I'd keep a few of these in your professional makeup kit!  

L-R: Absinthe-Minded, Mokamirage, Cocoaloco, Acaidasian, Blubomb, Licoriche

All in all Annabelle's Smoothie pencils are worth getting.  Lichoriche a rich black is my go to pencil as I love using it for a smokey eye and lining my waterline.  And can you believe this did not budge on my waterline either?  Ah-mazing right?!  I promise you these won't disappoint!

www.annabellecosmetics.ca

Suggested retail price: $8.95 CDN

And the winners of my Holiday Giveaway are...

I am so excited to announce the winners of my Holiday Giveaway.  First off I want to explain how I chose the winners.

• First I had to check if each of you followed the rules of the giveaway.  
• I then plugged your names onto a spread sheet on excel.  If you entered 5 separate times I entered your name 5 times (i.e. you were entered in cell's 1 through 5).  
• I used the True Random Number Generator on www.random.org and entered the minimum number and maximum number of cells I had.  
• I then hit generate and chose the 1st winner and then repeated the process until I had 4 winners as there are 4 prizes to be won!  

Without further a do here are the winners randomly chosen in this order...

dreamer 

Since you were the 1st winner you picked MAC EYES as your prize and so you shall have it!

Elaine A (TO Beauty Reviews)

You picked MAC LIPSTICKS and now they are yours!

Danielle Thompson

Your first choice was MAC EYES but I already have a winner for that.  But since MARCELLE was your 2nd pick you can have that!

And lastly...

cyndiycs  

I know you picked MAC EYES but the prize has been chosen by another.  But don't worry you get the ANNABELLE prize!  Two of those lipglosses were CUSTOM MADE by Yours Truly!  I hope you like them!

Congratulations to all the winners!

Please check your e-mails.  You will have 48 hrs to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone who participated.  If you didn't win don't fret!  I have another giveaway coming up in the new year in February...hint that's my BIRTHDAY month! ;)

'Tis the Season of GIVING: A Holiday Give Away!

'Tis the season of giving and I'm giving away some goodies just in time for Christmas!  This is my very first give away so I hope you all have fun!  This give away is open Internationally.

Prize #1 MAC EYES

Eye Shadow: Lustre Leaf

Mineralize Eye Shadow: Sea & Sky

Pearlglide Eye Liner: Fly-by-Blu

Prize #2 MAC LIPS

Lipsticks in Hipster & Bubbles

Prize #3 ANNABELLE

Smoothie Pencil: Blubomb

Glitterama Liquid Eyeliner: Solar Flare

Two Big Show Custom Made Lipgosses by Me

Prize #4 MARCELLE

Lux Eye Dust: Vegas & Illusion

Lipstick: 702 Attitude

Waterproof Eyeliner: Blue Lagoon

This give away is simple all you have to do is the following:

1.  Follow my blog by clicking "Join this Site" on Google Friend Connect (Right side column)

2.  Tell me which prize you'd most like to win (If you want them all you must comment separately or it won't count!)

3.  Leave your e-mail address below so I can contact you if you win

BONUS ENTRIES:

1.  "Like" me on Facebook  (leave a comment when you have done so)

2.  Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment when you have done so)

3.  Subscribe to my blog by email (leave a comment when you have done so)

4.  Tweet, Blog or update your Facebook status about my give away and leave the link in the comments section 

Winner will be chosen on Thursday December 1st, 2011 and announced on Friday December 2th, 2011 at 8:00 AM.  Winner will have 48 hrs to claim their prize.  If prize is not claimed a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

The Beauty Premiere: A Marcelle and Annabelle Party!

The Toronto Beauty Bloggers have been waiting for this event for weeks and it had finally come!  Tonights event wasn't your typical sit down and listen to the speaker event but a chic and hip party located at the Toronto Thompson Hotel's Rooftop Lounge.   We were able to get a sneak of the Spring 2012 Collections which I am so excited for!  Check out my pics below of the night for a sneak peak into the collections and all the fun we TOBB's had!

I had been in contact with Isabelle (Social Media & PR Director of Groupe Marcelle Inc) because she needed a makeup artist to do her makeup and hair for the night.  I was lucky enough to glam her up! Isn't she stunning!  (Thank you so much Isabelle for allowing me to do your makeup and hair.  You were wonderful to work for.  I had a fab time at the party!)

Back of Isbelle's hair

Side shot

I also had the opportunity to Isabelle's colleague makeup as well.  Gorgeous girl!

Our view from the top!

Annabelle and Marcelle hors d'oeuvres served on a platter!  How cute is that?!

Glitter Liners

Big Show Lipgloss

Swatches of some of the glosses which are non sticky by the way!

Smudge Paints...LOVE these!  I have it in black and it lasts all day long!

These are a must have.  I will do a separate post reviewing these!

BB Creams are all the rage in Asia.  And Marcelle will be introducing it to Canada and launching it this February!  I can't wait!  I used this on Isabelle's face and it is wonderful!  

Marcelle ladies posing with the BB Creams

New Mascara I can't wait to test out!

Rubber brush head which is popular these days

Anti-aging skin care

Check this out.  We got to custom make our own lipgloss!  How cool is that?  

These are the colours we got to mix and match

My finished product!  I'll call it "Donna Marie"

Custom made gloss by Lisa Marie (Beauty Crazed)  She calls it "Slutty Beauty Crazed Coral"! Haha!

Tess and Kelly from Glitter Diaries says "Don't mind if I do!" 

Anjali (Rock That Look), Fiona (fionaman) and Jill (Batting A Lash) catching up

Me and Isabelle our hostess of the night

Elaine (TO Beauty Reviews) and Tess (Makeup By Tess)

Me and Fiona

Fiona having fun swatching the Smudge Paints

Arianne (Glitter Geek) and Tess

Me and Makeup Artist Lelo

Fiona & Makeup Artist Mariana 

Last minute goodies to take home! 

End of the night with gift bags!

And there you have it.  Be sure to check out your local drugstores to pick up the new 2012 Collections launching this February!

A special thanks again to Marcelle and Annabelle Cosmetics for such an amazing event!  Looking forward to the Spring 2012 Collection!

www.marcelle.com

www.annabellecosmetics.com