Cream of the Crop: Best Makeup of 2014

Happy New Year Everyone! Here are my absolute favorite makeup items that graced my makeup bag in the past year. I've developed a new and more minimalist philosophy in the past year whereby I only keep things that I really really love and my favorite products are things that I use heavily. I'll skip my usual ramble and get right down to the nitty gritty- the cream of the crop for 2014:

TOP BASE PRODUCTS

FOUNDATION: My most loved and most worn foundation of the year has to be Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation. It's a light-medium buildable coverage foundation with a very skin-like satin finish which also photographs well. It applies well with a brush or fingers. 

Find my review here.

PRIMER: A lovely primer to add luminosity and life to the skin is the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer. It gives the skin a gorgeous and healthy glow that helps to blur imperfections on the complexion. It's also multi-purpose to be used under foundation, mixed in foundation or tapped over the face to highlight the high points of the face. It performs like a high end product for a drugstore price.

Find my review here.

CONCEALER (Blemishes/Imperfections): The Maybelline FitMe Concealer  is a more recent addition to my makeup bag in the past month but has quickly grow to be a favorite. It's a creamy and blendable concealer with fantastic coverage that does not look dry or flaky over blemishes. 

CONCEALER (Under Eye Circles): This product must have been made for shift-workers and tired mothers. The Clarins Instant Concealer is a hydrating concealer which gives under eye bags a run for their money. For the constantly sleep deprived like myself, this concealer looks exactly like skin without creasing or highlighting crepey texture around the delicate eye area. 

PRESSED POWDER: NARS Translucent Crystal Powder has been my favorite powder to set my makeup without making it look flat or cakey. It adds a healthy sheen to the face and makes base products last all day. 

TOP CHEEK PRODUCTS

BRONZER: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer is my absolute favorite bronzer. It gives the look of real sun-tanned skin. I use it on a daily basis to add some color to my pale complexion. A beautiful luxury item with a huge amount of product in it (21g!).

Read about it here.

BLUSH: This blush made it to the top of the list for the simple fact that it is highly pigmented, long lasting and under $5 CAD. Essence Silky Touch Blush is super affordable and performs amazingly. It has a buttery smooth consistency that applies evenly on the skin. My shade is Babydoll, a neutral dusty rose that looks good with most makeup looks. 

Read about it here.

HIGHLIGHTER: Another drugstore product that has wowed me this year is the Wet N Wild Reserve Your Cabana Bronzer. Although it's marketed as a bronzer, it's a light champagne gold highlighter that looks gorgeous on top of the cheek bones. As it doesn't contain glitter, it imparts a pretty golden sheen that is subtle enough to be worn on a daily basis without looking over the top. 

TOP EYE PRODUCTS

MASCARA: I no longer waste my money on high end mascaras as I've found the one at the drugstore. Covergirl Lashblast Volume is a fantastic mascara that provides a hefty amount of volume to the lashes while separating the lashes to make them look full and doll-like. It layers well and lasts all day without flaking or smudging. 

EYELINER: My most loved eye liner of the year was the Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Pencil in Espresso. A dark chocolate brown eyeliner that can be worn as a defined line or smudged out for a sultry smokey look. The formula glides on smoothly and lasts all day. 

EYE SHADOW PENCIL: Lise Watier 24hrs Glam Eyeshadow in Bronze Glam is a great weapon to have in the makeup bag for early mornings and makeup on the run. This is my favorite swipe-and-go product to create a wash of colors on the lids that lasts all day while creating a polished look. Unfortunately, this product was limited edition in the Fall 2014 collection.

EYE SHADOW PALETTE: My most used palette was easily the Charlotte Tibury The Sophisticate Quad. It contains matte eye shadows in a range of neutral colors that I find use for on the daily. There is not one dud in the palette and the creamy formula of the powders blend easily together. 

Read about it here.

BROW PRODUCT: The Anastasia Brow Whiz is a cult favorite for a reason. The shade Taupe is perfect for my light blonde eyebrows without making me look like Oscar the Grouch. The brow whiz is the most natural looking brow product I have come across. 

Read about it here.

TOP LIP PRODUCTS

NUDE LIPSTICK: Although this was like picking a favorite child, I have to say that Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Penelope Pink came out on top. A gorgeous peachy nude with a touch of brown.

See me wearing it here.

PINK LIPSTICK: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Turn On is my favorite pink ever. It is a very flattering plummy rose with a touch of warmth. It's versatile used as a light stain patted into the lips or full-on for a complexion-brightening pink lip. 

See my review here.

NATURAL LIPSTICK: MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick is a unique and beautiful lipstick that everybody should own. I think it would look great on a variety of skintones, especially those who lean warm in tone. It's a gorgeous matte deep pinky-brown nude and happens to be one of my favorite lipsticks of the year. 

LIP LINER: The best lip liner of them all is Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk. The perfect liner that mimics the natural color of lips and looks great under most of the lipsticks in my collection. It glides on smooth and provides a long lasting base for lip products. I love that it doesn't leave those unattractive lines around the lips as my lipstick fades. 

LIP GLOSS: My favorite formula of lip gloss comes from the drugstore. The Maybelline Gloss Elixirs feel smooth and hydrating on the lips and dry down to a pretty stain after a few hours of wear. This formula is better than any high end lip glosses I have tried. 

So there sums up my favorite products of 2014! It's been a great year for beauty and I look forward to  blogging in 2015. Please let me know if there are any beauty questions or techniques you would like me to post about this year. Thank you again to everyone who has supported NFBB and I wish you all a happy, healthy new year!

Thanks for reading. 

Lipstick of the Month: Rimmel Notting Hill Nude

My love of nude lips has been well documented here on Newfound Beauty Blog. The lipstick that I've been wearing constantly this month is a gorgeous nude from the drugstore. Since starting Accutane two weeks ago, my lips have become horrifically dry and chapped. Wearing lipstick has been a struggle as most of my favorite formulas highlight the unsightly dead skin that graces my lips at the moment.

I picked up the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Notting Hill Nude a few weeks ago and I've literally worn it every day. It's the one lipstick that actually helps to seal in moisture to my perpetually dry lips. I like to put a heavy lip balm on first to prime the lips and follow with a few swipes of the product which can be applied sheerly or opaque, depending on your preference. I love the creamy satin finish that helps accentuate the lips to make them more full and the color is nude perfection. Notting Hill Nude is a peachy nude with a touch of brown, which I think would be universally flattering on a variety of skin tones. The formula feels silky and creamy like no other lipstick I have tried. It's giving my high end lipsticks a run for their money.

Rimmel Notting Hill Nude has climbed to the top as one of my favorite lipsticks and my favorite drugstore lipstick formula of all time. It's probably the only lipstick my poor lips will be able to handle for the next six months so I'll be seeking out more shades in this range in the near future. If you are looking for a gorgeous nude lip for this holiday season, I could not recommend this product more.

Have you tried the Rimmel Moisture Renew Line? What shades are your favorite?

The Holy Grail: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

Left-Right: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer, Benefit Hoola Bronzer

I have a new bronzer in my collection and it deserves it's own post. After watching one of my favorite Youtubers, Barbara from The Persian Babe (check out the link to watch her videos), I purchased her favorite bronzer, Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer. Although Barbara is a few shades darker than myself, I picked up the lightest offering of the bunch called 01 Light. The bronzer comes in four shades which include 01 Light, 02 Medium, 03 Medium Deep and 4 Deep. It retails for $40 CAD which is definitely pricey but it comes with a whopping 21 grams of product. For reference, the ever popular Benefit Hoola Bronzer is $36 CAD and comes with 8 grams of product. Hence, it is not insanely expensive relative to the amount of the product you get. I'm sure that with daily use this puppy could last well over a year... not that we need to justify every purchase. Here is a quick breakdown of what I love about this bronzer and why you should consider picking one up if you so happen to be in the market for one!

Disclaimer: I happen to be a person that the world's beloved Benefit Hoola does not suit. I've been trying very hard to use it up to buy another bronzer but I am tired of wearing something that makes my skin look slightly ill and grey. Hoola is a very cool-toned bronzer with grey undertones which many people use as a contour or all-over bronzing powder. Hoola and Bronze Goddess are very very different in tone and if you like cool-toned products, Bronze Goddess is not for you. See comparison pictures above for reference.

PACKAGING: Tortoise shell- the classiest packaging ever. Not that packaging matters, but you know. I love how pretty this looks on my vanity.

COLOR: I love how Bronze Goddess has a very coppery burnt red undertone. This type of color is best for mimicking a realistic sun tan on the face without looking orange AT ALL. The product looks incredibly dark and scary in the pan but blends seamlessly into the skin. I've never seen another bronzer that pulls off a burnt coppery tone without looking super orange and fake on the skin. When I wear this bronzer, it reminds me of the type of products the Victoria's Secret Angels wear on their skin to make them look like they've spent a month in Tahiti. I think this color could look great on a variety of skin tones (warm and neutral) while shade 02 medium has rosy tones that could look more flattering on cool-toned girls.

FINISH: The bronzer appears to have gold shimmer running through it in the pan but it does not translate onto the face. Instead, it has a satin-matte finish that makes the skin look glowy without any glitter or shine. It can be used to contour the face but I like to use it all over the forehead, cheeks and nose to make myself look like I've been out in the sun.

APPLICATION: I apply the bronzer with my Real Techniques Blush Brush for a sheer application of product. I end up dipping into the bronzer a few times to get the color I want but I find it easier to start with a small amount of product on the face and build up the intensity slowly. It applies smoothly without looking powdery or streaky. It feels very silky to the touch when swatching with fingers.

OVERALL: 10/10

I have nothing bad to say about the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer and it has already become a holy grail product in the short amount of time I've had it. I think this is a beautiful product for those who like that sun-kissed look and would make a gorgeous gift that would last a very long time. For now I think I've found the one and I won't be purchasing another bronzer any time soon.

Have you tried the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer? Do you prefer warm or cool toned bronzers?

Thanks for reading.

Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation: A Review

Bare Face

Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation- 2 layers over blemishes

Full Face of Makeup

A new foundation has recently come into my life. After getting a pretty nasty breakout recently on one side of my face, I decided that I bring out the big guns and get a proper full coverage foundation. I picked up the Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation which boast a long list of claims. It's an oil free foundation which claims to wear for 15 hours with a buildable medium to full-coverage. It's a hydrating formal that is resistant to water, sweat and humidity.

Although this foundation does have many claims on the box, I actually don't disagree with any of them. Here's a quick break down of my thoughts on the foundation:

COVERAGE: I agree that it's a buildable medium to full coverage foundation. I apply one thin layer all over my face and go back over my problem areas (note: blemishes in first picture above) with a second layer. As you can see in the second picture, it did a pretty decent job of concealing blemishes on it's own, without the need for concealer.

LONGEVITY: I don't know how many people need their foundation to last for 15 hours, but I have probably worn it for about that long and it really wears beautifully throughout the day. The foundation does wear down a little around my chin and nose by the end of the day, but it lasts the longest of any other foundation I have tried.

FINISH: I love the finish of this foundation. It definitely has a very skin-like finish for a full coverage foundation. While it helps control oil, it definitely has a very slightly glowy finish. It has light-diffusing properties which help the skin look alive rather than matte and dead. Although I powder my t-zone out of habit, I've worn Studio Skin for an entire day without it and stayed matte. As you can see from the picture, it photographs beautifully and I would highly recommend it for brides and special occasions.

APPLICATION: Studio Skin is a thicker foundation with a gel consistency. Due to the thickness, I would recommend moisturizing the skin really well before applying or using a primer underneath. It also sets pretty quickly on the face, so I would recommend blending it in to separate areas of the face as you apply it.

COLOR SELECTION: This is literally my only issue with this product. I have the lightest shade, 1.1 and it is very dark for a fair girl like me. It also has a lot of yellow in it, which is fine for a warm-toned person like me but would not work for those with pink undertones. I need to wear a considerable amount of bronzer on my neck to make my face match the rest of my body. That said,  I love the foundation dearly and it is definitely worth it, but I wish there was a lighter shade that I could mix in to lighten it up.

OVERALL: 9/10

So that sums up the newest foundation in my collection. I'm pretty bummed that Smashbox doesn't cater to pale skin tones like myself but I truly think the formula is out of this world. If you can find a color match, I highly, highly recommend the foundation.

Thanks for reading.

November Favorites

Does anyone else feel like November flew by? In the hustle and bustle of the last month, my makeup routine did not change very much. I have been wearing similar looks throughout autumn and there are only a handful of products that stood out in my makeup bag this month. I've been busy working what feels like endless shifts over the past month, so my looks have been minimal and work appropriate. Though I haven't made many product discoveries, there are a few bits that I've come back to time and time again.

Here's what I've been enjoying in the month of November:

MILANI BROW SHAPING CLEAR GEL
I've really never felt the need to spend more than a few dollars on a brow gel. Although I love my former Essence Brow Gel, I found that it distributed way too much product on my brows so I would have to wipe off the majority of the product on a tissue before applying. Since the Milani Brow Shaping Clear Gel came into my life, it's made my brow routine an absolute breeze. It has a tiny brush which is the perfect size to shape and groom the brows into place without looking heavy or cakey. This product retails for around the 5 dollar mark and it's a definite must have.

NARS LUSTRE BLUSH
I'm back to loving peachy blush and NARS Lustre is a thing of beauty. It's a gorgeous copper-peach shade with a shimmer that looks amazing on the cheeks. Although it looks scary in the pan, it's actually a great shade that fair girls can wear as well. This is definitely one of my favorite blushes that looks pretty on my warm-toned skin that pairs well with nearly any makeup look.

SONIA KASHUK VELVETY MATTE LIP CRAYON IN PINKY NUDE
This pencil is a complete dupe for the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. The shade of this lip color is stunning and I love to wear it with a nudey pink lipliner and occasionally with a gloss over the top. My only gripe with this product is that it's matte texture is unforgiving on my dry lips that have come about with the chilly weather. I find wearing a gloss over the top helps to seal in some moisture. but reapplying throughout the day is impossible for me without first applying a lip balm.

BURTS BEES TINTED LIP BALMS
To combat my horrifically dry lips, I've been wearing these lovely little tinted lip balms on the daily. Blossom, a light pink, has been a long-standing favorite, but Red Dahlia is a sheer red that I've been enjoying recently. The color pay off is sheer and unoffensive but perfect for busy nurses like myself.

GOSH COSMETICS FOREVER EYE SHADOW STICK
Another swipe-and-go product for early mornings. I'm really impressed by the formula of these eye shadow sticks from Gosh which literally do not budge all day. They have a pretty metallic finish without any sparkle fall-out. I have the shade light copper which is a pretty golden copper that looks great against blue eyes and actually looks as if I've put a lot more effort into my makeup than I really did. I literally swipe the stick all over my lids and blend the edges in with my finger.

LE CHATEAU GOLD NECKLACE
I'm a big fan of gold accessories and this simple long gold necklace is my go-to necklace for jazzing up nearly any outfit. I love the look of a long necklace paired with a chunky sweater or even with a little black dress. I've gotten a lot of use out of this necklace and I would love to get another necklace of similar style in a silver tone for variety. I'm sure I'll continue to sport this classy necklace throughout the holiday season.

So there sums up my favorites of the month of November. What have you been loving in the past month?

Thanks for reading!