2013 Favourites.

Well well well...... here we are........ 2014! A year filled with promises, potential and possibilities (as my pastor says) I am super stoked for 2014 as it is the final year of my bachelor degree. A lot of work ahead but I cannot wait.

So since it is a new year, I thought what better time to reflect on the year gone by and really highlight some of the amazing products I've gotten to try throughout 2013. Now I know what you're saying "you can't do a 2013 favourites as we are already a week into the new year" but better late then never don't you think?. Just so you know I am not sponsored by any of these companies, all opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. So without further ado let''s get into it.

MAYBELLINE Instant Age Rewind Under Eye Concealer

Ok so I know this product has been raved about this year by the YouTube beauty guru community and confession that is kind of why I bought it. During 2013 I was very busy with my university studies, working part time and ministry so needless to say I never got much sleep. This product was amazing for  covering the bags that appeared under my eyes almost on an everyday basis. It really brightens up the under eyes and makes you look more awake. Almost like you've never suffered sleep deprivation in your life. 

MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Liquid Foundation in NC15

So I may or may not of only purchased the full size of this on boxing day but I did get a sample in October so I am counting it. I have quite pale skin with a lot of pink undertones so it's difficult to find a foundation that matches my skin tone without making it look as if I've splattered a strawberry milkshake on my face and called it foundation. This foundation matches my skin tone exactly while still correcting all the pink undertones. I've seen a lot of girls complain that MAC foundations make their skin look oily or breaks them out. I personally have had no issues with this foundation what so ever. It goes on nicely, blends nicely and leaves my skin looking even without looking cakey. The only downside is for me is that it costs a lot more then what I would like to pay for a foundation, but it is so worth every penny. 

BENEFIT POREfessional Pore Minimising Balm 

This stuff is seriously the best primer I have ever tried! I am literally in love with it. It's a flesh coloured balm that goes transparent when you rub it into you skin. As the name suggests it's designed to minimise the appearance of pores. Now I have very oily skin so naturally I have quite massive pores. This product literally makes it seem as if my pores have disappeared. I've also noticed that this product seems to control the oil on my face which is a massive bonus.  I use it on a daily basis and I think I will probably never use another primer it is that amazing. 

BENEFIT Browzings Brow Shaping Kit in Light

Ok confession time. When I first started out with makeup I absolutely hated and I mean HATED filling in my eyebrows. To me when I filled in my eyebrows I looked like an angry librarian. As I have progressed in my makeup journey one of the biggest things I've learnt is that brows are what frame the face. So once I finally got them to the shape I wanted I decided it was time to invest tin an brow shaping kit. When the girl at Benefit put this on my brows I was blown away. For once I did not look like an angry librarian when I filled in my brows, I looked good. The product comes with a wax and a powder as well as a hard angled brush for the wax, blending brush for the powder and a pair of tweezers. The wax is used to give your brows shape while the powder is used to give them colour. Literally if you where like I was first of all go to your local beauty salon and get your brows waxed into a shape that you like, second of all invest in this product. I honestly cannot put into words how amazing it is, you have to go and try it for yourself. It is literally aBROWZING (get it?)

LIME CRIME Eyeshadow Helper

The one thing I hate about eyeshadow is how quickly it can come off, smudge etc. This primer holds eyeshadows so well, I can go to work and do a 10 hour shift come home and my eyeshadow is still on my eye lid, just as it was when I first put it on. Can we just talk about the packaging for just a second because it is majorly cute! Although it is majorly cute the only down side to the product is that it comes in a squeeze tube. I have had so much product waste because to much product came out when I squeezed the tube. I think either a pump or a doe foot applicator would be a lot better then the squeeze tube.

NYX Hot Pink Lipstick

This lipstick was my first ever NYX purchase. I bought it and a matching lipgloss off eBay for like $6. Sadly I lost the lipgloss but that is ok because this lipstick is literally amazing! It's definably hot pink but I reckon it has a lot of purple undertones. This was the lipstick I was wearing on an everyday basis for months. Every time I wore it I got a compliment on it. So needless to say I love the colour. For a drugstore lipstick the staying power is amazing! If you gave me the lipstick in an unbranded bottle I would guess that it would be a MAC lipstick.

MAYBELLINE Master Precise Liquid Liner

If your anything like almost any girl on this planet, you probably suck when it comes to liquid liner. Don't worry I suck to! I love the look of liquid liner but when it comes to applying it....... well I'm quite horrible. That was until I bought this! The liner has a felt tip so it makes using liquid eyeliner so much easier! When I use this it literally takes me a 30 seconds to do my eyeliner. Such a time saver! What I love most about this product though is the ability to control how thick you want the line! The thicker you want the line the more pressure you apply. Simple really. Pictured below is the felt tip and some swatches of the liner with varying pressures applied. 

BENEFIT They're Real Mascara

I am one of those lucky people who are born with extravagantly long eyelashes. My problem is that my lashes are so light they can barely be seen. What I love so much about this mascara is that not only does make my already freakishly long eyelashes about 10x longer, it gives them curl and intensity. I love the look of this mascara it really makes my eyes stand out. I love this mascara so much I recommend it to everyone and everyone I recommend it to who tries it absolutely loves it. 

For those who are wondering, yes this is only a sample. I've gone through about 3 samples of this mascara. I do plan to buy the full size one day it's just every time I go to Benefit they always seem to give me a free sample. 

BENEFIT Groovy Kind-a Love Set

This gift set was my first ever purchase from Benefit and my goodness is it AMAZING! It comes with a trial size of the POREfessional, They're Real Mascara, Benetint cheek and lip stain, Dandelion & Gimme Fever cheek powder duo and 4 eye shadows in the colours Tickle My Ivory, Gilt-y Pleasure, Shimmer Down and Kiss Me, I'm Tipsy. 

What I love most about this set is the eye shadows. They are so pigmented and they stay on really well. What I love about them though is because the colours are so neutral it gives a lot more possibilities to play with them. I've used all of these shadows with NYX jumbo eye pencil in Sparkle Nude as a base, Gilt-y Pleasure in the inner half, Kiss Me I'm Tipsy on the outer V and Shimmer Down in the crease. Then adding NYX roll-on shimmer in nude over Gilt-y Pleasure to really make the gold pop! That's just one of the ways I have found but there are so many other ways to play with these eyeshadows.

I love the set as a whole and it is really a great set for someone who is just starting to get into makeup.

 FORMULA 10.0.6 ABSOLUTE DREAM CLEAN CREAMY FOAMING CLEANSER

(say that 10x fast)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cleanser! I do not understand why this has not become a bandwagon yet but oh my goodness I cannot say enough good things about this cleanser! I could not find anything on this cleanser anywhere! Not even on the companies website! So I guess I'll give you the rundown. It's made with cucumber and grape to freshen and smooth your skin while fighting breakouts. The cleanser comes out as like a cream but once it hits water it becomes more like a foam. You can really feel the censer getting in and cleaning out all the nasties that live in your skin. This cleanser has really helped to clear up my skin. I love to use it just before I go to bed along with Lush's Grease Lightning Spot Treatment.

MACADAMIA NATURAL OIL Deep Repair Masque

I could not do a 2013 favourites without putting this product in. Now I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon but I'm on it now and I'm hooked.  I have highlighted hair and I use heat on my hair almost everyday, so you would expect my hair to be dead right? WRONG! This product has saved my hair lit it is absolutely amazing. I use it twice a week after I shampoo my hair and i leave it in for about 10-15 minutes. When I wash it out my hair is just so soft it feels as if I have never done anything to it. This is the second time I have bought this product and although the bandwagon has kind of moved on, I still really love this product!. 

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Well there you have it my 2013 Favourites. Some pretty awesome products if I do say so myself. I am so looking forward to the rest of 2014 and so excited to get to try all the new products. 

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Blog Lovin' so stay up to date. I will talk to all you beautiful girls on Sunday.

Love Always

- Gabby