December 2012 Favorites

Here are a list of products that made the favorites for December 2012. These products made the cut due to awesome results that I see on myself.

1. Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Daily Target Wrinkle Treatment this super affordable serum is packed with antioxidants and pro-retinol from nature this product delivers results. My mini lines always creep up during drier climate seasons. I apply this every morning and night as my first serum, and massage it all over my forehead, around the outer corners of my eyes, my laugh lines in an upward motion. The product smells like bananas and sinks in immediately. Lines or creases are plumped up in a flash.

2. Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Oil

Due to increased amounts of stress my skin has been prone to ugly acne flare ups. The only solution to sap impurities in there place is this awesome essential oil. Tea tree oil is a cleansing and clarifying oil that banishes bacteria to the infection. I apply this right after toner on the acne itself or areas on the face that are prone to break outs. I like this before serums or moisturizers so the oil can penetrate to the deepest layer of skin first before all other treatments. Highly effective and very affordable. I hate the way my skin reacts with benzoyl peroxide and other very stripping harsh chemicals. So tea tree oil is my first choice. Also in my experience the tea tree oil at your local Trader Joe’s is the most affordable.

3. Clarins Paris Beauty Flash Balm

I received a sample of this when I was at Nordstroms, while I was there I went to pick up my boyfriend’s Clarins Men’s Anti Rides Fermetes Line Control Cream. The sales associate that assisted me gifted me with a generous sample of the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. Wow! Is what I first said when I applied this product. You can use this as a primer and as a hydrating mask. All I could say is that I am definitely impressed. Since my skin is dry right now and prone to dullness and lines around the ultra dry areas. This allowed my makeup to stay put in a sexy smooth kind of way. Thank God my sample is large enough to try a few more times. Next time I need to get my boyfriend’s cream I may pick up a full size of this product.

4. Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator I was raving about this product in one of my blogs I recently posted on best eye cream for puffiness. This is offically a holy grail item. It is quite pricey but its worth every drop and every penny. Puffiness is definitely something you don’t want to get carried away in the delicate eye area. Once the eye bag has stretched the skin around the eye area there will be no use for a product like this. The only resort would be to cut loose skin there or get a bit of lipo around the eye area or other extreme options. While I’m still young, and the concern is just starting to show, I definitely think this is a necessary treatment for maintenance. However, quick tip, this product is wonderful and all but if you are on the drier side after the application, use a more hydrating eye cream on the outer corners for extra defense against dryness. Wrinkles and puffiness begone!

5. Shiseido Eyelash Curler – this has been my instant beauty must have all month. I have been on the go and have been a busy bee! Curling my eyelashes is the only way I wear mascara. On a quick, I want to look good day, I curl my lashes, apply mascara, apply powder, lipstick and setting spray. This 5 minute look works everytime.

6. Shiseido Perfect Mascara Defining Volume , This my holy grail mascara. I have never really tried that many mascaras but since I am of Asian Filipina descent, I have uber straight lashes. This is the only mascara that works on my. It doesn’t clump, smudge, smear, or fade. I love the brush and I also wear this with my Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base. (only if I have extra time or I want uber long lashes and don’t want to wear any falsies.) *The only thing that drives me bonkers on this mascara is the fact that it never comes off. I can go work a 10 hour day at work, stop by the gym, do a cycle class, relax in the sauna, and then freshen up and see my honey bunny afterwards, girl the mascara is still on!

7. Shiseido Foundation Stick in O60, was discovered in my makeup collection earlier this month. I hardly ever gravitate towards a foundation stick. I bought one a while ago when a great gal friend of mine recommended it to me. To my surprise, this stuff is awesome. Another great product. This product offers moisture, great coverage and uber easy application. I have been applying this all over my face that needs coverage while I drive on the freeway. (please beware, this is what I do since I commute about 2 hours a day roundtrip) It covers imperfections like a dream, doesn’t get cakey and can be used as a concealer. Color/shade is perfect. On the other hand this color is perfect because it is winter time. I’m pale!!!

8. Shiseido Sheer Matifying Compact in O60, is a perfect product for setting foundation or for on the go coverage. Although, it has sheer on the title of the compact, it still seems to deliver great coverage. I have been using this instead of myMilani The Multitasker Face Powder. It offers a little more skincare benefits, great coverage, more SPF (great for communters like me) and is a bit more velvety and buttery than my alternative powder.

And that concludes my December 2012 Favorites! I hope you guys found this helpful and entertaining. Thanks again for reading and please follow if you love makeup. xoxo Happy New Year!