Top 13 of 2013!

Top 13 of 2013 title

A new year means a full 365 days worth of beauty products!

I have tried many products, from makeup to hair to nail polish over the course of 2013 and although I loved a lot of them, there were a few that stood out to me as being phenomenal and holy grail, cult-worthy, can’t-live-without-them products.  It was hard to pick just 13, but here are my top picks from 2013.

Other products

Pantene Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip

This Cool Whip-esque product leaves hair moisturized for 48 hours and helps protect against heat damage and regulate hair’s moisture.  As a result, hair is left silky smooth and soft to the touch.  I love applying this to my hair while it’s damp after a shower for some serious soft locks and shine.

DiorSkin Nude BB Creme

Although it’s pretty pricey (read: extremely pricey, C$50), this BB creme packs some serious punch. Although I haven’t gotten much wear out of it in the winter months, this stuff was my go-to face makeup for the summer.  Not only does it leave you with a beautiful finish, it comes packed with SPF 10 and moisturizes, smooths, corrects, and protects skin.

Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil

The ultimate makeup remover, this cleansing oil removes makeup and contains eight exquisite oils for some serious skin benefits.  Apply a few drops to your dry face and then add water and see all your makeup melt off (including the waterproof kind!). Skin feels soft, conditioned, hydrated, and best of all, gives you that special glow.  Shu’s cleansing oils are pretty pricey (C$90/450 ml), but they are oh so worth it.

Marc Jacobs Beauty LOVEMARC Lip Gel in Strange Magic

The perfect nude pink, this moisturizing lipstick (with a hint of shine) is super flattering and gives you the sexiest smile.  I have a ton of lipsticks, but this one has definitely been my most reached-for since I picked it up in August.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Magic Marc’er Precision Pen in Blacquer

Just when I thought I found my holy grail eyeliner (Lancome Art Liner), I tried out this bad boy and I fell in love.  This pen-like liner delivers the blackest line and doesn’t budge.  Depending on how hard you press, you can lay it on thick or thin, perfect for that flirty cat eye.

NYC Big Bold Gloss in Big City Blush

I’m not a gloss fan at all, but when I received this in my Influenster Maple VoxBox I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this.  Billed as a plumping gloss, the formula doesn’t leave your lips sticky (why I never wear gloss), and has a hint of mint to give you those Angelina bee-stung lips.  The colour also delivers a gorgeous pink shade. Layer it over another shade or wear it by itself, this gloss packs a serious punch.

Products 1

MAC 217 Blending Brush

If you had to buy just one brush for your collection, invest in this one.  Although MAC brushes aren’t budget-friendly, 217 is worth the extra cash for getting the right amount of colour in the crease.  You can also use this as an all-over eyeshadow brush as well.  Worth the investment.

Beauty Blender

Another stellar application product is the Beauty Blender.  This little pink (or black!) sponge doubles its size once wet and applies foundation like a dream.  Dab the product into your skin for a flawless application and long-wearing coverage.  There are many dupes out there, but I haven’t tried anything close to what the real thing does for my skin.

Clarisonic Mia

A hefty investment, but the Clarisonic Mia First (the entry level version of the Clarisonic) packs just enough punch to leave your skin looking amazing.  I use my Clarisonic with the Philosophy Purity Cleanser (or sometimes the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil) to remove every last bit of makeup.  A must for any beauty fanatic!

Yves Rocher Volume Vertige mascara

I’ve tried a lot of mascaras, but rarely do I mistake my real lashes for falsies.  This mascara has a reservoir in the middle so it maximizes and intensifies the volume of your lashes.  Lots of mascaras claim to do this, but few deliver.  This one?  It delivers tenfold.

Benefit Rockateur Blush

All I had to hear were the words “rose gold” and I was sold.  Benefit’s Rockateur is for those girls who don’t blush easy.  I love applying this product with the included brush for the right amount of colour that looks perfect on fair-skinned gals like me.  A must!

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Perfume

I picked up this scent in the summer of 2012 and has been my go-to since then.  Although it’s more summery, I still like to sport it in these winter months when I want to dream that the weather is warmer and the clothes are smaller. For those who haven’t smelled it, this sweet perfume has notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin, tickled with honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. Let’s not forget the amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline.  I have never finished a fragrance before, but I have a feeling this will be my first.

Deborah Lippmann Today Was a Fairytale nail lacquer

The perfect silver glitter, Today Was a Fairytale is the perfect polish for the right amount of shine. Unlike other glitter polishes, this one is opaque after two coats. It’s pricey at $22 a pop, but this is one that everyone must have in their collection.  The only downside?  It doesn’t last long on my nails, but the gorgeous finish more than makes up for it.

Phew! It was hard choosing just 13 products when I can think of a handful of others that I couldn’t imagine my year without (okay, that may be a bold statement).  What were your top 13 of 2013?  Any on my list that made yours?

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

Sephora.com, Inc.