I’ve got a few favorites from December! I don’t know how that happened since I was in the middle of a makeup ban… Funny how things happen. Ahem, in any case, here’s twelve products—two lip, five eye, 1 set of tools, 2 face products, and 3 skin care products. Phew.

I hope you enjoy this roundup!

1. Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait in Orgueil (Review)

I purchased this on the last day of November, and loved it from the get-go, but I wasn’t able to include it in my November Favorites. The Rouge G L’Extraits are incredibly smooth, creamy and pigmented. A little lasts a long while, which is great considering the price point. I’d gotten two more shades (sale!) after Orgueil, but this remains my favorite.

2. Revlon ColorStay Ultimate in Premier Plum (Review)

An excellent drugstore find! Formula is great, though a bit tacky on the finish. The color is my favorite part, as it’s a beautiful medium pinky color that leans heavily towards plum.

3. Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette for Eyes (Review)

I was on the fence about it, but quickly picked it up when the SA said that it was their last piece on stock. Further Googling revealed that it is a Sephora exclusive, so I’m not quite sure how I got my hands on it because I live literally thousands of miles away. No matter, I’m just delighted that I have it, as I use it almost everyday. There’s just no running out of beautiful combinations with this palette. Even my sister is a huge fan.

4. Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscope Eye Kit (Northern Lights)

Ah, the “controversial” Kaleidoscope Eye Kits. These have been a sort of cult item that set American beauty bloggers a-buzz. The Kaleidoscope Eye Kits are four-tiered eyeshadow palettes, with a combination of colors that are meant to be layered on top of each other for an ultimate contrasting effect. This technique is called the couche de couleur. Many have sung it high praises but some dismissed it as a marketing gimmick, as these kits are pretty steep.

I used the eye kit & the couche de couleur technique on this post

Face of the Day 1 & 2 using LMdB and my usual eyeshadow application method

Though I have yet to review this item, I love it a lot and have come to love the subtle effect I get from both the couche de couleur technique and traditional (lid, crease, outer-v) method I am most comfortable using. The formulation is quite lovely as well.

4. shu uemura x Karl Lagerfeld Painting Liner in Blackish Purple Satin (Review)

December saw me using this a lot than when I first purchased it. I have a bit of trouble with eyeliner, since my eyes fold in a different way (as in the right is a bit more “hooded”), so it always appears uneven. With this painting liner, though, I tend to prefer a more dramatic line because the color is so gorgeous, so snaps for me! I also usually use it on the upper lashline as I tend to not like my face when I have eyeliner on my lower lashline.

5. K-Palette 24H Real Lasting Eyebrow Liner (01) (Hauled)

I’ve been using The Body Shop’s Brow and Liner Kit, which had been pretty good, but I was looking for something else to use. Instead of the powder that I was used to using, K-Palette’s product is liquid with a precise applicator that’s a breeze to use. My cousin, who has thin brow issues, tried this out and filled in her eyebrows without a hitch.

6. RealTechniques Travel Essentials Brush Set

photo from realtechniques.com

I’d been meaning to do a review on this set because it’s cheap/affordable, and it works wonders. I have two MAC eyeshadow brushes (217 & 239), and though I love those to bits, I find that my RealTechniques brushes do their own jobs well. My favorite is the eye brush, which is fluffy, domed and slightly tapered at the end. It’s ideal for patting on shadow, blending, and applying on the outer ‘v’. Great product, highly recommended.

7. NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

I’d been wanting to try Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, but it’s not exactly easy to get a hold of in Manila. I started looking for an alternative and arrived at the NARS counter. This is the primer that Christine M of Temptalia swears by, so I figured it was worth a shot. It’s really the best I’ve tried. Once, it even held my eyeshadow in place for 16 hours. It’s a bit pricy, so I’ll only use it when I need my shadows to stay put for a whole day, but I quite love it. Like a holy grail kind of love.

8. Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color in RS302 or Tea Rose (Review)

Another blush crush! Last month, I was raving about NARS’ Sin, which is still quite good but I enjoy the warmth and flush of color that this Shiseido blush brings to my face. The formula is quite good, as is the brush it comes with. I’ve been using it almost exclusively ever since I got it.

9. Guerlain x Emilio Pucci Météorites (Perles d’Azur) (Review)

I hadn’t been using my météorites in quite a while, so it’s a great rediscovery. The highlight and radiance it gives your face is really beautiful and subtle and I’m quite glad I picked it up when I did.

L-R: shu uemura Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lotion (sample size), MUJI Light Toning Water, The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner, all leaning to your left, lol.

10. shu uemura Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lotion

I’ve always wanted to moisturize, but creams did nothing good for me except grease up my face. The day after I moisturize, I almost always wake up to break outs. Not with this! I received it as a sample and my sister and I have been using it for a couple of weeks. It gives just the right amount of moisture and my skin feels smooth and healthy after each use.

11. MUJI Light Toning Water

A light toning water I wanted to try after seeing it on makeup artist Denise Go-Ochoa’s Instagram. I like the lightweight gentle feel of it. It really feels like water and is incredible on the skin. I like the non-sting formula and the clean freshness I feel after I use it. The price point is good, too!

12. The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

Alternately, I gave this toner a shot. My sister bought it to try. Her skin is more prone to acne than mine, so she has been looking extra hard for a great toner to clear her skin. I have a few spots and blemishes left over from when I used foundation and tinted moisturizers, so I wanted to get rid of them, stat! This worked wonders for that (I have a few spots on my forehead left), however, I have to say that it does sting quite a bit. Just a fair warning, but it does a great job and I would recommend it!