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December 31, 2012

12 Beauty Favorites of 2012

There are just a few hours left of 2012 and as I get ready for a night of celebration, I'm thinking of the closing year. I'm eager for a new beginning, but first I'd like to reflect on my beauty favorites of 2012.



1. Clarisonic Mia
I use my Clarisonic Mia every night to cleanse my face no matter what. I admit it's not easy to commit to a nightly cleansing routine, especially when a comfy bed looks so inviting, but my skin thanks me for it in the morning. It works great to remove my makeup  and I've also seen a significant difference in the smoothness of my skin over the past year. I can't imagine going to bed without using it! My review of the Mia.



2. Smashbox Blush Rush - Peony
I acquired this Smashbox blush through a kit I bought from Ulta. Those kits suck me in everytime! You can find my full review of the kit here. I love this pink blush because it brings a natural rosy flush to my cheeks. It's light and applies easily. I haven't even made a dent in it yet.




3. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
I know I'm not the only one with this product on my favorites list. This moisturizer from Clinique is one of the best products I've ever used. I usually buy the full size and it lasts forever.  I'm sure it will be among my favorites for a long time. It's not heavy, nor does it leave any sort of greasy residue on my skin.




4. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder
This powder is very inexpensive (around $5!) and lasts for a few months at a time. It sets my makeup so that I don't have to reapply throughout the day. It works just as good as the high end powders I've used. I really just stumbled across it one day at the drugstore and have been using it as my daily powder ever since.





5. Ultra Chi Flat Iron
I received this flat iron as a gift about a year ago. It straightens my hair quickly while giving me volume and shine. Many flat irons seem to flatten hair, but with the Chi my hair maintains body and fullness. I always love the designs on them too.




6.  Birchbox subscription
I have now been subsribed to Birchbox for over a year and plan to keep my subscription into the new year. Many of my boxes have been pretty generous with various full-sized products worth more than the full price of the box (only $10/month). If you're interested in reading all of my Birchbox reviews, go here.




7. Naked palettes
I couldn't choose between the two palettes. It was way too difficult, so I counted them as one favorite. I didn't think I needed both palettes at first because they seemed so similar, but it turns out I use them both equally. The shadows are different enough for me to justify owning both. I have a review/comparison of the two here.



8. Nivea Touch of Renewal Lathering Body Scrub
I was lucky enough to be sent this scrub for a review (which can be found here) and it quickly became a favorite. It's not a harsh scrub like many tend to be. It's gentle enough for daily use and my skin feels silky smooth after each use. I highly recommend trying it for yourself!





9. MAC Fluidline - Blacktrack
This amazing gel liner is very easy to work with. You can use it for a smudgey, smokey look or a more crisp, clean defined look. I use an angle brush to apply it. I prefer it to liquid liner because it's more flexible and doesn't look too harsh, yet has major staying power.




10. Urban Decay Primer Potion
If you haven't used an eyeshadow primer, you're really missing out. This one works great. It prevents creasing and keeps eyeshadow in place all day long. I don't apply eyeshadow without applying this primer first. Even when I'm not wearing eyeshadow I use a little of this primer to even out the look of my lids.





11. Essie Mod Squad
This pink polish is one of the few I like to wear year round. Some polishes are ideal for events or holidays or specific seasons. Mod Squad is just right for anytime and whenever I have it on my nails, I can't stop looking at it. It's one of those colors that just makes me feel happy.





12.  Coach Poppy Flower
The bottle alone is one of the reasons I love this fragrance. It's super pretty! The scent is equally as pretty with notes of sweet freesia, juicy grapefruit, jasmine petals, and rose. It's a light floral fragrance with a little bit of fruitiness. Some florals are just too overpowering for me; this one is more than tolerable. I happen to love it.



So now that you know my favorites for 2012, I want to know some of yours! Tell me a couple of your favorite products below. Did you have any in common with me?




Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are entirely my own. Some affiliate links were used.

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