Hey everyone! Here’s a quick post on some of my favorite finds this year. I had a really, really hard time narrowing down my picks because, frankly, 2014 was a great year of discovery for me, as far as beauty products and cosmetics are concerned.
I’ve mixed in fragrance and skin care picks, as well as other products I really wanted to mention that I really loved as well. Let’s start with makeup!
Foundation
2014 was a great base year for me and I got to try a lot of beautiful formuls, but the Ellis Faas Skin Veil* (review) takes the cake. It’s extremely pricey, but I absolutely love the finish it gives my skin.
Honorable Mentions: NARS Sheer Glow, Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, MAKE Soft Focus Foundation
Concealer
I was in love with the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for most of the year, until the Ellis Faas Concealer* (review) came along. It gives a much more natural finish without creasing.
Honorable Mentions: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Correcteur Concealer
Eye Products
OK, this was pretty much the impossible category, but I picked the Urban Decay Naked 3 (review) because it just gives me a flawless eye look every time I use it. I also loved the MAKE Palettes (reviews), some of which were sent to me, because well. That’s a really long story, but I love them. Both the Nature Republic Botanical Eye Primer and the Wet n Wild x Fergie Eye Primer could stand in for my UDPP, which is great because both are a great deal cheaper.
* I forgot to include the K-Palette 2Way Eyebrow* in the photograph, but it was my go-to eyebrow product for most of the year.
Honorable Mentions: NARS NARSissist Eye Palette, 3CE Stylenanda Gel Liner, NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow, Cle de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quad, Nature Republic By Flower Auto Eyebrow
Powders
The Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder (forgot to put in the photo, but here’s a review!) has been my favorite setting, touch-up, everything powder since I got it. I love this powder so much.
Honorable Mention: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette, technically a find from 2013. I discovered this range in 2013, but the palette itself has been a constant travel companion. I particularly love using Dim Light and Radiant Light.
Blush
INTRODUCING MY FAVORITE BLUSH OF ALL TIME: Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Abundance. Seriously. I didn’t realize I hadn’t put up a post solely for this! But it’s amaze.
Honorable Mentions: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush & Palette, Illamasqua Cream Blush, ILIA Multi-Stick
Contour
My go-to contour: the NYX Blush in Taupe! I previously dismissed this as too light for me, but I’ve been using it non-stop since repurchasing it. (I lost it… after I promised it to Rae. Ack.)
Lip Products
My favorite new lipstick range discovery is the NARS Audacious Lipstick (review)! I only have two shades because I’m trying this new thing called restraint (lol) but my favorite red lip discovery is the NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Mascate (worn). The MAKE Super Matte Lip Pencil (review) was also a great discovery.
Honorable Mentions: ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner, ILIA Lipsticks, BITE Beauty Lip Products, Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippies.
Fragrance
Ahhh, my favorite scent of all time: Commodity Moss. I also loved Aromateria Ender and Diptyque Vetyverio.
Honorable Mention: Commodity Book, Commodity Mimosa, Aromateria Blue Oyster
Skin Care
I tried an inordinate amount of skin care but the ones that stood out were the One Love Organics Skin Savior Beauty Balm (featured), One Love Organics x Elizabeth Dehn Vitamin E Eye Balm (featured), Indie Lee Squalane Oil (derived from olives, featured!), La Roche Posay Redermic R, and La Roche Posay Redermic R for Eyes (featured). My skin has been loving more natural concoctions (I also really like using honey as a face wash!) as well as retinol.
And there you have it! Hopefully this wasn’t too long. Let me know what your favorite finds were in 2014.
* PR Samples
Softly Sometimes 
Hey Carina, nice round up post you’ve got here. I was contemplating on getting the NYX Blush in Taupe for contour since the alternatives are more pricey and I can’t really splash out the money right now and have been worrying that it might be too light for me (MAC NC35?). But you said that it works for you so do you think it’ll work on me too? Haha. And your review on the Elis Faas concealer is really making me wanting to try it. I also like the NARS one but find it creasing sometimes for under my eyes (another shade ref, I’m ginger on NARS concealer). Well then, happy new year for you! 🙂
I have no idea how to gauge MAC foundation matches (sorry huhu) but I’m light-medium and it works for me. Try swatching it in store nalang. 🙂 I wear Ginger also so it may work for you too! Happy new year 🙂
Love the products you’ve listed down here Carina. I honestly thought the Kjaer Weis foundation would be included in your favourites, at least in your honourable mention. Well, anyhow happy new year! 🙂
Yay! Haha it’s great but certainly not something I reach for as often as I reach for these. 🙂 It’s a cream kasi so it tends to feel heavy sometimes. I still like it, though! Happy new year, Nikki 🙂
Great post! Happy New year!
Thank you, happy new year! 🙂
ELIAS FAAS for BEAUTY BRAND OF THE YEAR! Hehe LOVE ITTTT
Woohoo! Dutchies foreva!
I think I just might get the Veruca Salt and Trese from Aromateria. Love the scent of those two! Thanks for letting us know about this brand! 🙂
Yay! 🙂 Haha glad to hear!
Hey Carina, excellent picks! I SO want to lay my hands on Moss. Your post about the brand definitely piqued my interest 🙂 I have tried Redermic R eye cream but didn’t really feel that it did much. I still a lot left in the tube tho. Maybe I should give it another chance! Have a fabulous 2015! xx
Hey, let me know if you want me to send one over 🙂 I have an extra 10ml bottle coming in. I love it a lot, but I don’t have a lot of lines just yet. It’s supposed to be for more mature skin, though, but I guess I’m just lucky it works well for me. Have a great 2015, Sunny!
Happy 2015!! Great round up! Always love your under the radar picks! Cant wait for what you’ll show us this year 🙂
Yay! 🙂 Haha I hope I have some new discoveries D:
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