Top 10 Makeup Finds of 2013

Hi, everyone! As we see 2013 coming to a close, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at the goodies I discovered over the year and shine a spotlight on those that have stood out most. Not all of the products below were released this year, but it was 2013 when they made it into my stash. This list represents the best of the best from the past 12 months, those items that I've been reaching for again and again!

Here's a shot of my picks:

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher in Cherub
This has to be the most unique, long-wearing blush I've ever tried! Snagged up in my Feel Unique Haul this past September, it became an instant staple. It blends seamlessly and effortlessly into the skin, provides a natural, glowy finish, is a perfect wearable shade for my fair skin, and truly lasts all day. Plus, a little goes a long way, so the tiny bottle will last forever! To see a full review, click here!

Illamasqua Blush Duo in Lover/Hussy
When Illamasqua came to Toronto late last year, I couldn't have been more excited. I'd heard so many raves for their unique, pigmented shades and their blushes in particular piqued my interest. While I've sampled and loved several goodies from the brand over the past year, it was my most recent purchase (full review to come soon!) that took the cake. This duo features the two blushes on highest up my wishlist, Lover (a warm, matte true peach) and Hussy (a warm, rosy coral pink). Both are ultra flattering and extremely long-wearing. They're quickly climbing up my list of favourite blushes! To see me wearing each of these shades, click here and here. 

Tom Ford Cheek Colour in Flush
Followers of the blog will know that I finally decided to splurge on this last month and am so happy I did! By far the most luxurious blush in my stash, Tom Ford Cheek Colour offers an elegant, finely-milled formula with very subtle shimmer and pigmented, yet buildable colour. Flush is the ultimate shimmery peachy pink that would be flattering on a variety of skin tones and wears for hours without fading. Plus, the packaging is ultra chic. To see a full review, click here! 

NYX Matte Lipstick in Merlot
NYX is a brand that I finally got to delve into this year, and it's been a treat! While there's no question my stash isn't in need of any new lip products, I was inspired to pick up Merlot based on a post by the lovely Viola at Killer Colours. Merlot, as the name suggests, is a deep rich wine shade that's the perfect balance between vampy and bright. The formula doesn't dry out my lips like other matte offerings and the wear time is fab! To see Merlot in the context of a full makeup look, click here!

YSL Glossy Stain in Beige Anarchist
Rounding out the list is another new addition, my first-ever Glossy Stain from YSL. I'd been eyeing these lip colours for ages, and finally snatched one up earlier this month. My collection of nude lipsticks was seriously lacking, so I was super pleased to discover Beige Anarchist, a warm coppery pink that creates the ultimate neutral-but-not-boring lip. It's super flattering and incredibly long-wearing. I know I'll be reaching for this often in months to come! To see me wearing it, click here!

Hard Candy All Glossed Up Lip Crayon in Mauveous
This is a product that I haven't featured yet on the blog, which is a shame, as it's fantastic! Previously smitten with Revlon's Kissable Balm Stains, I was tempted by Hard Candy's bid in the chubby lip pencil craze. I'm glad I took the plunge, because this lip pencil provides long-wearing, saturated, glossy colour without drying the lips or leaving a heavy feel. I find it to be even more moisturizing than the Revlon version and Mauveous is a wonderful, wearable yet vibrant pink that's gotten a ton of wear. Very pretty and a great bargain!

Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl in No Regrets.
Marc Jacobs' makeup line was a new launch in 2013 and I was eager to determine whether it was worth the hype. The brand is rich with unique, bold shades, but the one that won my heart was Lust for Lacquer in No Regrets. The perfect strawberry red, this gives an amazing glossy flush to the lips with a comfortable, long-wearing, non-sticky finish. Incredibly flattering, punchy, yet elegant. Plus it plumps lips and gives a bit of a tingle. All good stuff! To see me wearing it, click here.

Urban Decay Naked Palette
This palette is perhaps the most highly hyped makeup product of all time, and it finally made its way into my collection during the Sephora VIB sale in November. I had no doubts that Naked would win me over, and it most certainly has! It really is the ultimate collection of neutral shadows, from truly nude to rich and smokey. It is incredibly versatile and the pigmentation of the shades truly can't be beat! To see the four looks I featured using Naked, click here, here, here, and here.

BeneFit They're Real! Mascara
I've been a loyal Clinique mascara user for years, so am rarely tempted to try new formulas. But when I received a mini-sized version of this in my Sephora birthday gift last May, the opportunity arose. While my past experience with Bad Gal had left me sour on BeneFit mascaras, I'm so glad I was able to put my prejudices aside and gave it a go. They're Real! gives amazing length, volume, curl and separation without clumping or smudging, and it wears all day! It became an instant favourite and I've already purchased a full size. To see a full review, click here!

RMS Living Luminizer
Another new product that was love at first sight. Or at first application, I guess! RMS had been on my radar for some time, as it's ethical and eco-friendly principles and super chic packaging seemed right up my alley. Living Luminizer was the most tempting goody from the brand, so I was thrilled to spot it in-store earlier this month. This applies effortlessly and leaves a natural, ethereal glow on the skin that lasts for hours! Heavenly, really! And it's natural enough to eat, though I'll be sure to leave it for my cheekbones ;) To see a review of it, click here!

And there you have it! Hope you enjoyed taking a peek at my most-loved makeup products of 2013. It was definitely difficult to narrow down the list, but I'm pleased with the end result! Really reminds me of all the gems I discovered this year :) Here's one final shot of everything:

Have you tried any of the goodies I featured here? What were your favourites this year?

And stay tuned for my next post, a list of my favourite skin care, hair care, and beauty tools of 2013 :)