The Cosmo Awards: Best of Beauty 2014!

I really wanted to get this post up before the start of the new year but better late than never! As I work in cosmetic sales and represent various high-end brands, I'm fortunate enough to try just about every product you can think of. As a makeup collector, my love for cosmetics seems to grow deeper each year. While one of my major new year resolutions is to "shop my own stash" as much as possible and to purchase only when necessary, I still have to share my 2014 faves! Without further ado, here are the beauty products that I enjoyed the most this year!


MAKEUP

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eyeshadow: MAC/Gucci
Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette/LORAC Mega Pro

Eyebrow Pencil: Clarins (Shade 02)
Eyebrow Powder: Billion Dollar Brows
Eyebrow Gel: Benefit Gimme Brow/Anastasia Beverly Hills (Tinted)/Billion Dollar Brows (Clear)
Eyebrow Product: Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade

Eyeliner Pencil: Urban Decay 24/7
Eyeliner Liquid: Lancome 24H

Mascara: L'Oreal Miss Manga/L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes/Tarte Lights Camera Flashes

Concealer Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer
Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
Foundation: Urban Decay Naked/Dior Star
BB Cream: Dior Diorskin Nude
Face Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer

Blush: Charlotte Tilbury/MAC
Bronzer: NARS Laguna/Benefit Hoola
Highlighter: Chanel Holiday/Becca Moonstone/Hourglass Ambient/Bobbi Brown Holiday Shimmer Brick Copper Diamond

Powder: MAC Studio Fix/Gucci/Chanel Les Beiges/Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Reserve Your Cabana
Translucent Setting Powder: Tarte/Makeup Forever
Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter/Chill

Prep Spray: Evian
Contour: Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit/NARS Laguna

Lip Balm: Burt's Bees/Chanel Hydra Beauty Balm/Maybelline Baby Lips
Lip Exfoliator: Philosophy Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub
Lip Liner: Urban Decay/Milani/MAC
Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury/Gucci/MAC/Chanel
Lip Gloss: Revlon HD/L'Oreal Colour Riche/Maybelline Elixir/Clarins Instant Light
Lip Product: Liquid Lipstick- Shiseido, Various Brands/YSL Volupte Sheer Candy

Eye Brush: MAC 217
Face Brush: Crown Brush Fan/it Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush/Real Techniques Blush Brush
Tool: Beauty Blender Sponge/Stainless Steel Mixing Tray


SKINCARE

Makeup Remover: Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover
Cleanser: Clarins Water Comfort One Step Peach Cleanser/Bioderma/Dove Beauty Soap
Toner: See Softener
Softener: Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resit Enriched Softener
Serum: Shiseido Future Solution
Moisturizer (Day): Clarins Hydraquench Gel
Moisturizer (Night): Shiseido Future Solution
Eye Serum: Clarins Extra Firming
Eye Cream: Clarins Super Restorative Eye Cream/Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream/Shiseido Future Solution
Neck: Clarins Extra Firming Neck Cream
Exfoliator: Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
Shower Gel: Philosophy/Victoria's Secret/Bath & Body Works
Bubble Bath: Philosophy
Body Lotion: Clarins Moisture Rich/Clarins Extra Firming
Body Oil: Clarins Tonic Oil
Mask: Sheet Masks (Epielle/Shiseido)

HAIR

Shampoo: Pantene Moisture Renewal
Conditioner: Pantene Moisture Renewal/Macadamia Deep Repair Mask/Aussie 3 Minute Miracle
Hair Oil: Orofluido


NAILS

Nail Polish: OPI
Base Coat: Butter London
Top Coat: Dior Gel Top Coat
Remover: Chanel/Anything!


OTHER

Fragrance: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black/YSL Manifesto/Gucci Guilty
Deodorant: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
Toothpaste: Crest 3D White
Candle: Diptyque Feu de Bois
Tweezers: Tweezerman/Billion Dollar Brows
Etc: Shiseido Cotton (for makeup removing, cleansing, softener, nail polish removal...)














Now Playing: "Lights and Camera" by Yuna
*Perfect song for such a vain post ;)

Recently Purchased

1. Guerlain Meteorites Pearls (Rose) and Brush.
I've really been getting into the notion of quality over quantity and trying to edit down my makeup collection. I love the weight of this product. It's beautifully packaged and so well made. I could easily repurpose it for trinket storage when I'm through with the makeup or even hold onto it as a keepsake to be passed on. Guerlain is the best of the best.

2. The xx Concert Tickets at Stage AE.
I haven't seen them since Bonnaroo a few summers ago. I'm so excited! They're one of my favorite groups. Such beautiful music. They've become quite popular but if you haven't heard of them, check out "Intro", Crystalised", "Islands" or "Together."

3. MUJI Acrylic 5-Drawer Organizer.
I purchased one of these a couple years ago and really like it for storing my lip glosses. I don't really have the counter space for another one at the moment but I know around the holidays they tend to go out of stock and are slow with delivery. I bought an additional unit because my eyeliner collection has grown substantially. I want to be able to see every piece that I own. I highly recommend the MUJI drawers. They are sturdy, smooth and overall fantastic. If I ever have more space, I might invest in The Clear Cube for storing a great deal of my entire makeup collection but for now, these things are lightweight and efficient.

4. Steelers/Patriots Game Tickets.
I'm so excited to go to Boston for the first time! Per usual, Halloween weekend should be quite memorable. I look forward to our annual Steeler away trip all year long. This one will also be a blast. I haven't decided what I'm going to be yet or if I'm even going to dress up in a costume at all but I'm thrilled to finally see Salem and other parts of New England.

5. The September Issue. Vogue.
Well, technically I have a subscription so I didn't buy this at the newsstand. But every year for as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed a glass of wine (or a few) and reading this. I have a collection of September issues that I'm always looking to build upon. This year, one of my favorite actresses is on the cover, Jennifer Lawrence. I adore her real life sense of humor and loved her in Silver Linings Playbook.

6. A Blank Canvas.
As mentioned above, I've been trying to scale down a number of things in my life. One that has gotten desperately out of control is my nail polish collection. I had amassed nearly 500 bottles. I told myself I would never let it go above that number so I've donated many bottles, given some to friends and family and put others away to sell. When I get my collection whittled down to where I'm comfortable with it, I plan on painting a swatch mural. One of the reasons I love polish so much is because they remind me of miniature works of beauty. Art in a bottle. I'm very open-minded (as you'd have to be to acquire so many different colors) and love to look at all of the different shades, textures and shapes.

7. Shiseido Wrinkle Resist 24 Night Emulsion.
I've really been appreciating Japanese beauty products. Their quality and packaging are among the best in the world. They pay such close attention to detail. I wish I could go to one of their drug stores or spend time inside their shops. I actually got a Japanese Maybelline Hello Kitty mascara on eBay because I found it so precious. Americans can be so square when it comes to presentation. I really like Shiseido's skincare line. I still have their Future Solution cream on my wish list but for the time being, I'm trying out their Wrinkle Resist 24 range of products.

8. Urban Decay Glitter Liners.
As much as I love makeup (eyeliner in particular), I've only owned one or two glitter liners. I tried out Urban Decay's Spandex and fell in love. I picked up that along with Mullet, Midnight Cowboy and Stagedive. This is stunning for the evening!
















Now Playing: "Junk of the Heart" by The Kooks
*Wish they'd come back to Pittsburgh. Luke Pritchard stole my heart.