2014 Favourites

That time of the year again! Pretty much every blogger has or will post their 2014 Favourites list. I love reading these posts! I find it really interesting to see what products people have been impressed with enough to consider it one of their favourites for the whole 12 months that have just been. An annual favourites post can display some really outstanding products (and fill up my wish list all over again). 

I found picking my 2014 Favourites pretty difficult. My beauty stash is pretty large and I don’t limit my choices to products that were released or that I first purchased in 2014. There are some products that will feature in these posts year after year – they are just that good. 

2014 was really a year of discovering new base products and expanding my stash of products for the eyes. I purchased 8 new foundations last year and what seems to be an infinite amount of eye shadows. I had a massive problem with dry lips in winter last year. My lips were horribly dry for close to 3 months; they got so bad they were bleeding at the corners (OUCH!). I couldn’t wear lipstick because it irritated my lips too much and looked bad on (my lips were flakey & the skin around my lips was red). I lived for Blistex Medicated Relief – it was a lifesaver! This means I didn’t wear a lot of lipsticks for a quarter of the year, so they don’t feature heavily in this post.

Please excuse the poor photography - I am out of practice and had very poor light available. 

DIOR – DIORSKIN STAR FOUNDATION

This foundation is a new release for 2014 and hit Australian counters in the later part of the year. I love this for an everyday foundation. It applies easily, has good coverage, lasts well and looks great on. I will probably give this a full review later. 

CHANEL – VITALUMIERE AQUA FOUNDATION

This is the third year in the row that it has been in my yearly favourites. It is a Holy Grail product for me. ‘nuff said!

CHANEL – VITALUMIERE LOOSE POWDER FOUNDATION

This is a lovely powder foundation with buildable coverage that doesn’t look like a powder foundation. It blends seamlessly into the skin and is perfect for a ‘no makeup, makeup’ look. 

CLINIQUE – AIRBRUSH CONCEALER

This is an old favourite that I finally got around to repurchasing last year. It is amazing and I don’t know how I lived without it. It is perfect for brightening up the under eye, covering redness around my nose & chin and will even help disguise a pimple. This is a brightening concealer that actually has coverage.

HOURGLASS – AMBIENT LIGHTING BLUSH in ETHEREAL GLOW

I waited ages before I jumped on this bandwagon. On darker skins this shade probably wouldn’t work but on my fair skin it gives me what I like to call an ‘Angel Blush’ which suits very well with the shade name. This gives my cheeks a soft ‘lit from within’ glow, which I love. I also have the palette but to be honest, I haven’t used it a lot yet. 

CHARLOTTE TILBURY – CHEEK TO CHIC BLUSHER in LOVE IS THE DRUG

Charlotte Tilbury products are lovely and look very luxe. The Cheek to Chic blushes have two shades, a lighter shade to use across the cheek and a darker/brighter shade to use on the apple of the cheek. I just blend both shades together for pretty pink flush. Charlotte Tilbury is a brand I am hoping to explore a bit more this year. 

NARS – PRO-PRIME SMUDGE PROOF EYESHADOW BASE

The best eye shadow primer on the market, hands down. Eyeshadows look more vibrant, apply smoother and last longer when using the Pro-Prime. 

BY TERRY OMBRE BLACKSTAR ‘COLOR-FIX’ CREAM EYESHADOW in Bronze Moon

An amazing cream shadow that is super easy to apply (swipe on & blend out with a MAC 217), looks amazing using just the one shade and does not budge all day. I am hoping to buy more shades this year. 

CHANEL – ILLUSION D’OMBRE CREAM EYESHADOW in MIRAGE & NEW MOON

I love all of the Illusion D’Ombre Cream Eyeshadows I own, but these two 2014 releases are something altogether special (and not just because it took 10 phone calls to track them down). Mirage is a beautiful golden-bronze. New Moon is an amazing copper-bronze with a gorgeous sparkle that shimmers from every angle. Sadly New Moon was very limited edition but I would consider selling my left arm for it. It is that amazing. 

NARS – DUAL INTENSITY EYESHADOW in HIMALIA

Himalia is a champagne-bronze shade that looks amazing on the lids, even just on its own (which is actually my favourite way to wear it). The Dual Intensity Eyeshadows can be used wet or dry but I have found it is perfectly pigmented for daytime wear when dry. Colour is intense and lasts all day on my lids. 

CHANEL – LES 4 OMBRES in POESIE

Another limited edition release from Chanel in 2014 but I had to include it. The reformulated Chanel Quads are a massive improvement on their predecessors. The new quads are silky smooth, non-powdery and a dream to apply and blend. Poesie is a lovely neutral palette and a favourite of mine to reach for when I want an easy and soft, smoky eye. 

URBAN DECAY – NAKED3

Like any beauty lover, I raced out to purchase the Naked3 palette. It took me a while to use it but I really fell in love with a few of the shades. I use the Naked3 to create what I call a ‘romantic eye look’. With the Naked3 leaning quite rosy, I find it creates a very feminine eye look. My favourite shades include Liar, Factory & Mugshot. 

TOM FORD – SHEER LIP COLOUR in INCORRIGIBLE

For a sheer lipstick, this is actually quite pigmented. I love this fuchsia pink with a golden shimmer. It really lights up my face and is so easy to wear. Love the luxurious packaging Tom Ford is known for and sad it was limited edition. 

MAC – LUSTRE LIPSTICK in LOVELORN

Another repeat from last year, but I had to include it. This is a shade I always reach for when I want a pink lipstick that is easy to wear and helps me look like I actually put some time into my appearance between rolling out of bed and getting to work. This is the most used up lipstick in my stash.

CLINIQUE – LONG LAST SOFT MATTE LIPSTICK in MATTE MAGENTA

A super comfortable to wear matte lipstick, which may just be one of the best matte formulas on the market. This lipstick is pigmented, creamy, comfortable to wear and lasts really well on my lips. I only purchased this in October but it has become a firm favourite since then, I wear this at least once a week.

What were your 2014 favourites?