So, I'm going to be doing a full series of posts about my favorites this year, including all of the major categories, much like I did last year, but I decided to do a post for New Year's Eve that is my knee jerk favorites for the categories of FACE, EYES, LIPS, CHEEKS, SKIN CARE, and HAIR CARE. I decided that I would just go with pretty much my first instinct as to what was my absolute favorite product in those categories and show them to you. Now, I have to suck a little bit here, because one of the products is actually discontinued, but I had to be 100% honest and this was literally the one thing that really stood head and shoulders above the rest, but we'll get to that.

Without further adieu, here are 6 products that were my knee jerk favorites of 2015!

I've been dying to try it Cosmetics for a while now, but in Canada it can be really hard to find. In fact, I'm pretty sure that you have no choice but to order online or TheShoppingChannel in order to get your hands on the goodies that so many of us see all over the internet from our American neighbors. Recently, TheShoppingChannel was offering a $50 off coupon code for new customers and I took advantage of it and finally got my hands on one of the items from it Cosmetics that I had been lusting over. Well, technically two items, I suppose! I've been trying them out almost every day for the past week or so and I am definitely ready to give my opinion!

Keep reading for a look at these items!

Recently, the drugstore has forayed into a space that used to be filled only by higher end, higher cost brands: The makeup setting spray. When it comes to my summer makeup routine, I've always loved to use a setting spray on the days when I know my makeup is going to be put through it because it means that I won't end up looking like a hot mess by the end of the day. Until now, I've always used the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray and been very happy with everything but the price of it. So when lower cost options were offered at the drugstore? SOLD! Within a few months, L'Oreal and then Hard Candy released their own setting sprays and I absolutely had to see how they stack up against each other.

Keep reading for my comparison!

I love BB Cream, I really do. Though I've been on a foundation kick recently, I'm still loving BB creams on days when I just want to do something quick and easy to even out my skin tone and hit it with some moisture and SPF. I feel like that's where BB creams really shine and why they've become such a huge hit. Now, I tend to find Asian BB creams to be head and shoulders above the products that western companies have on offer, so I really don't bother than much with trying out the options available locally and instead order my BB creams online directly from South Korea. Now that Flower Beauty is available in Canada at Walmart, I looked into their products and heard some pretty positive things about the BB cream that they have in their range, so I picked it up to try out and review.

Keep reading for my thoughts.

I admit it... Whenever a new foundation comes out at the drugstore, I want to try it. Considering how often drugstore brands come out with new foundations, this isn't the healthiest desire. Still, when I saw this foundation and read/watched a couple of glowing reviews about it, I had to have it. Matte foundations used to be my absolute favorites, but these days I'm more drawn to something that has a more natural looking finish, which can be hard to find with the kind of coverage that I'm looking for. Even when it comes to high end foundations, I have trouble finding the perfect combination of coverage and finish, but I'm always on the hunt. As far as price point, this is pretty high for a drugstore foundation. I've seen it ranging between $17 and $20, with the lowest sale price I've seen being around $15. For me, that's expensive for the drugstore, especially considering my most recent favorite is the Covergirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous foundation which is under $8. For me, if I'm going to pay over $15 for a drugstore foundation, it had better live up to my expectations.

So can the L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation tick all the boxes for me? Keep reading for my thoughts!

One of the best things that happened in 2014 for me was starting this blog. Honestly, I had been wanting to do this for a long time and it was such an exciting thing to start it up and start to grow it as far as content and readership. I think I've finally really found my style and my niche and over the holidays when there was just no time for blogging, I really found that I missed sitting down every day and banging out a post. I decided to start the new year with Top 5 lists. Initially, I was going to do my favorite products in every category of makeup and personal care that I could think of, but I found myself choosing products that were my favorites more by default than by sheer awesomeness, so I changed my plan and decided to do Top 5 posts in a series of categories so that I could really highlight products that I have absolutely been loving this year. I decided that the first post would have to be face makeup products since they're the foundation of my daily beauty routine.

So without further adieu, keep reading to check out my favorite face products of 2014...

I featured this foundation in my November Favorites, before I had gotten around to reviewing it, but I still felt like this needed a review. Even if there's no surprise left as to whether or not I liked it. I love it. And I am very, very surprised by that. I'm pretty picky when it comes to foundation and it's hard to surpass the foundations that I've had a longtime love for, but sometimes I venture into uncharted territory and give a new one a chance and they blow my mind. That's where I'm at with this one. And with a retail price of $7.99 (and often on sale for less) this is not only a really great foundation, but a really great foundation that's startlingly affordable.

Keep reading for more thoughts on this little bit of budget friendly awesomeness...

I was thinking about it, the content that I put on here, and realized that I'm always so excited to write about the things that are brand spankin' or that I've just discovered but I rarely dip into my stupidly sizable makeup collection to talk about those long loved workhorse products that I love so much. So I decided to change that. Every Friday, I'm going to try and write about a product that isn't new or fancy or maybe even the least bit exciting, but that I always go back to no matter how many shiny, possible replacements the makeup industry offers me. So without further adieu, I give you my first Friday Forever Favorite....

When I was making a list of the products that I could possibly use for these posts, the Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder was the clear winner for me. I have multiples of this product - one on my vanity, one in my desk at the office, and one that travels around with me in my purse. I've hit pan on several times on these and I always repurchase. I do try other powders, because the makeup junkie in me always has those nagging thoughts that there might be something better out there, and a few have gotten close and sometimes even tricked me into thinking they might be better, but then I use this one again and it's just everything I want it to be.

I will say that I have one complaint about this product and I feel like this is most people's complaint: The Packaging. While this works fine if you're going to be leaving your powder on the vanity, who always leaves their pressed powder on the vanity? The lid comes off. Easily. Way too easily. It's pretty clear that this wasn't designed to be a convenient compact for tossing in your purse, but that's exactly what I want it to be because this is my favorite product for those late in the day touchups when I'm feeling a little bit shiny and gross. I'm still crossing my fingers that they're going to repackage these someday soon and I'm going to get a sleek this company to toss in my bag... but I'll still keep buying it either way.

Now that we have the downside out of the way, let's talk about the upsides. For me, my biggest skin issue is uneven texture. I have enlarged pores and some small bumps and scars on my face that are probably my biggest insecurity, and I find that most foundations or bases will inevitably end up settling at least a little bit into those places of uneven texture and really highlighting them. A little dust of this over the skin is like an airbrush for me. Everything gets blurred and my skin looks perfected and smooth again. I've never found this powder too heavy or cakey, it's always just enough to give my skin a little oomph and make me feel just that bit more confident. Also, when I'm trying out less than stellar face makeup, this is a savior towards the end of the day when I start to look like a hot mess. 

With a price tag that usually falls right around $5, this is not only a really solid product but it's just insanely affordable - which makes all of the ones I have hanging out in every conceivable place that I could need one completely acceptable. Right????? In case it wasn't clear, I highly recommend this product.

For reference, I am NW20 and I wear 003 Natural.

Check back next week for another installment of Friday Forever Favorites and have a great weekend!

XO.

So I'm having kind of a weird week, which is the reason for A) random posts, and B) my perhaps not feeling 100% all in on the random posts. I feel like there's something that comes around this time every year that just makes everything feel like it takes just a little bit more effort than usual and it makes me just wanna hermit in my house with a quilt and rewatch Doctor Who. Which I'm doing. In fact, I've managed to harass my boyfriend into watching with me. We're almost through the first season (the 2005 first season, that is, not the 1963 first season...) and I think he almost might be starting to like it. Maybe. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Anyway, since I'm having one of those off weeks and I saw this tag over on Meg's Makeup Bag, I figured it was a good time for me to do another tag as well. You know how I love a good tag. 

Anyway... Here we go! Commence Makeup Tag Sequence. (And maybe stop being a nerd at some point in life. Maybe. Ahem.)

1. What foundation do you use?
I have a bit of an obsession with foundations and always have more on the go than I should. Lately, though, I've been pretty much loving the Maybelline Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation. Or my forever favorite Etude House Precious Mineral Bright Fit BB Cream, which really is basically just foundation. It has a bit of a grey tone to it, which I don't think I've ever mentioned on this blog before, and I feel like I should mention it now because I know that's a bit of a turn off for some people. Not for me, but for some. 

2. How about concealer?
I just tried MAC Pro Longwear for the first time (I KNOW!) and I'm pretty much a full out convert. I love the coverage and the staying power, but what actually won me over the most was the finish. I just love the way that it sets. I also still have my Maybelline FIT Me concealer on standby, because that's a long time favorite as well. I find it gives really good coverage to my undereyes and blends really, really seamlessly into the skin. The FIT Me is a concealer that I'll use when I don't want to wear any other makeup since it can blend so easily and give a really natural look to the skin while successfully camouflaging my dark circles and blemishes.

3. What do you think of fake eyelashes?
They always look so beautiful on other people, but I have a really hard time making them work on me. Generally I just end up ruining my eye makeup whenever I try to put them on and then I'm uncomfortable all night. That said, I tried out some half lashes recently and I found them both a lot easier to use, a lot more natural looking, and worlds more comfortable to wear, so I might play around with those a little more in the future.

4. What brand of mascara do you use?
I'm pretty much always trying out something new when it comes to mascara (because they constantly tempt me with new ones!), but my Holy Grail (thus far) is the Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay mascara. It's spendy (especially in Canada) but it's so gorgeous on the lashes. Another favorite of mine is the Cover Girl Clump Crusher, which I think is just a really easy, no brainer every day mascara. And about ¼ the price of the Tarte...

5. Sephora or MAC?
For me, this one is easy. Sephora. Sephora by a mile. For me, if I'm having a really bad day and I want to just decompress, I feel like I can go and wander around Sephora for a half hour (and you can actually easily wander around Sephora for even longer than that) and I just feel a little bit better. Plus, you can't beat the selection there. They have more than you could ever ask for.

6. What make up tools do you use in application?
I'm definitely a bit of a makeup brush junkie, so most of my products get applied with a vast series of blushes, but I also love my Real Techniques Face Sponge and my JULEP eyelash curler. My favorite brushes lately are from Sonia Kashuk, but I also love my Real Techniques brushes.

7. Do you use a makeup base/eyeshadow primer for the eyes?
Absolutely. I either like to use a cream shadow, like my MAC Paintpot in Painterly or one of the Maybelline Color Tattoos, or I'll go with a traditional primer, usually the Urban Decay Primer Potion. I always really feel like I can see the difference within a couple of hours if I forget to use something to prime my lids  before makeup.

8. What is your favourite eyeshadow/colour/shade?
Hmmmm. This is a hard one, but I pretty much always default to a taupe shade if I'm going really classic. One of my absolute favorites is Nutty by Wet N Wild. I swear, that shadow cost me less than $2 and it's probably my favorite single shadow in my collection.

9. What do you think of pigment eye shadows?
I don't really use pigments all that often at all. While they can have really, really beautiful colours, I feel like the mess isn't worth the punch. At least for me.

10. What is your favourite lipstick?
Um. How does one go about picking a favorite lipstick. My favorite lipstick of the moment is my BITE Beauty Luminous Créme Lipstick in Retsina. It's a really gorgeous true nude shade that manages not to wash me out or look like concealer, and the formula is absolutely to die for. I can't say enough good things about this particular lipstick formula.

11. What is your favourite blusher to use?
Blush is another product that I have and use many of, but the one that I've been reaching for the most recently has been the Essence Silky Touch Blush in 05 Sweetheart. It's a really pretty true pink shade with a bit of a glow to it that just gives a really healthy life to the skin without looking over the top. It's really great for every day. And it's really, really affordable.

12. Do you like drugstore makeup?
I actually love drugstore makeup. I think that it's come a long way in recent years and the quality and performance is continuing to improve, making it a lot more of a competition with the higher end brands. I mean, really, if you can get something that performs just as well at half the price, why go high end? I mean, unless you're me and you just want it all.

13. Name a makeup crime you hate?
Too much contour. I get that Kim Kardashian's contouring took the makeup world by storm, but it's getting pretty ridiculous out there lately. I think that the memo that contouring is supposed to create highlight and shadow in the face that tricks the eye got lost somewhere, because I look at these girls and all I see are these crazy stripes on their face that just look like too much makeup.

14. Do you like colourful shades of makeup or neutral ones (lipstick, eye shadows, etc.)?
I'm definitely not one for bright colours when it comes to my makeup, possibly because with my fair skin it would take a really well trained hand to keep me from looking like a circus clow, so I tend to stick with a combination of neutrals and deeper fall tones like coppers, warm plums, and deep reds.

15. If you could leave the house with just one makeup item what would it be?
BB Cream. I feel like a good BB cream wakes me up, covers my imperfections, and gives me that little boost of confidence that I need.

16. Could you leave the house without any makeup on?
Sure, I don't think I need to have makeup on at all times. That said, I would be more comfortable with it if I had slightly better skin texture. I don't need to have a full face of makeup, but I always feel quite a bit more confident when I've used a little bit of makeup to smooth out my skin tone and texture.

17. In your opinion what is the best makeup line?
I think, like most makeup junkies, it's pretty much impossible for me to pick a favorite line over all the rest. I think every brand that I've tried has their ups and their downs when it comes to their products and no one of them really stands head and shoulders above the rest.

18. What do you think of makeup?
For me, makeup is really about play at it's core. It's about experimenting and having fun and trying new things. Also, while I think there are really complicated issues surrounding women and their beauty identity, there's always going to be something to be said for being able to put on your makeup and get that hit of confidence. Beauty, to me, isn't rooted in makeup, but I think that sometimes you need a little help to feel beautiful and makeup can be one of the helping hands. Also... I just really love makeup. I really do.

Is it just me or does this seem like it's missing 2 questions. I think I have mildly compulsive tendencies, which is not shocking, so the fact that this ALMOST reached 20 questions but didn't drives me bonkers.

ANYWAY, I tag anyone who read this post and I'd love to see your tag posts or videos! Please link me down below if you do or have done this tag!

So... I've nearly bought this more times than I could count, but every time I had it in my hand or my basket something made me stop. I think part of it was because I was afraid that if I spent the money I'd end up regretting it or find that it wasn't as good as everyone claimed it was. I would imagine that I'm not the only one who has felt this way about this product. It is, after all, over $60CAD, and that's nothing to sneeze at. Anyway, I ended up with money and gift cards from the people who birthday spoil me and there was no way that money wasn't going to end up being spent at Sephora. I mean, really. And this was the first thing in my hand. I thought about putting it back, like the other times, but there was no way. This was coming home with me this time.

SPOILER: THANK GOD IT CAME HOME WITH ME....

I've been very interested in trying more Sonia Kashuk lately. One of my favorite fall/winter palettes, the Jewel Of An Eye palette, is from her and the quality is completely on point, so I figured recently that it was time to get my hands on a few more things and see how they pan out. I don't remember where I heard or read about this powder, but I do remember someone making the claim that the finish could be considered a dupe for an Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder. Now, if you've ever read anything resembling a wishlist from me, you'll know that I am desperately wanting to own those powders (and, to be honest, will be purchasing the palette of them literally tomorrow), but something dupable at a fraction of the cost definitely sounded like it was worth a try. It ended up in my cart at Target moments after I noticed it on the shelf.

I was actually planning, when I started this blog, on doing empties monthly... but then I realized how rarely I actually use things up and decided that I'll just do them when I have enough products to make the post worth it. 

Keep reading for a closer look at what I've used up and to see what I think of these products!

I had to run down to Shoppers on my lunchbreak today to pick up a few things. And when I say I had to go pick up a few things, I mean that I made the excuse of needing a box of Kleenex for my desk and the fact that I promised my boyfriend I'd buy him a new brush so that I could go and check out what's happening in the beauty section. Because that, my friends, is what I do. At first, not a heck of a lot of excitement at SDM today, but then... CLEARANCE! I actually really love the shopping the Clearance section at Shoppers because I almost always find something really good at a really good price. Like a special edition package of Venus razors and extra blades for like $3, which actually did happen once. 

Keep reading to take a closer look at what I found today...

Okay, I feel a little bit like this blog into turning into an Ode To New Crap I'm Going To Try... but I can't resist. In the future, every item in this haul will be reviewed. Well, maybe not the body scrub... because what can you say about a body scrub? Unless it blows my mind or makes my skin fall off, I'll probably skip it. 

Anyway... PACKAGES!!!!!!

I ordered this last Friday because the 40% off everything and the promise of free shipping once I got $50 worth of stuff felt like it was giving me permission to order a bunch of things I'd been wanting to try. So I did. I feel a little bit like I am the person that 40% off sales are designed to attract, because it feels like a license to shop to me.

ANYWAY... Keep reading to see what I picked up in closer detail and with descriptions from TheBodyShop.ca!