Best of 2012

I just wanna start of by saying happy new year!

My posts will lack during January because of my exams so I thought I would do a pretty extensive blog post reviewing all my favourite products (as well as books, movies and music favourites) of 2012 today. Links are added to reviews :)

Best eyeshadows (palette): Urban Decay Naked 2
Best mascara: Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal Eyes or Clinique High Impact
Best pencil liner: Avon Supershock or MAC Stubborn Brown or Rimmel Scandal Eyes in Nude
Best liquid liner: Maybelline Master Precise
Best eyeshadow base: MAC Paint Pots
Best eye lash glue: Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive
Best eyebrow product: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

I'm not a lip product fan, the only lip products I use are MAC lipsticks. My favourites, and most used, during 2012 have been: Myth or Hue or Honeylove or Sunny Seoul.

Best liquid foundation: Esteé Lauder Double Wear in Fresco and Desert Beige
Best powder foundation: NARS Powder Foundation in Fiji
Best primer: Smashbox Photofinish
Best concealer: Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in Fair
Best bronzer: NARS Laguna
Best blush: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Best powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus

Best volumising product: TRESemmé Volume and Lift Mousse
Best dry shampoo: TRESemmé Instant Refresh
Best heat protector: TRESemmé Keratin Smooth
Best treatment: Moroccan Oil or Leo Bancroft Instant Sleek or Kerastase Nectar Thermique or Macadamia Oil
Best straightening balm: Redken Power Tame 16 or Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Best self tanner: St Moriz Mousse in Dark
Best face moisturiser: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel
Best body moisturiser: Shea body butter from The Body Shop
Best hand cream: L'Occitane
Best universal cream: E45 or Sudocrem (not pictured)
Best acne/red skin treatment: Mario Badescu Control Cream

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Favourite books of the year

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

- Unwind by Neal Shusterman

- Holy Bible (ESV)

- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

Favourite movies (and shows) of the year

- Project X

- Ted

- Sherlock, both series

Favourite albums of the year

- Born To Die: Paradise Edition by Lana Del Rey

- Take Me Home by One Direction

- Life is Elsewhere by Little Comets

- Babel by Mumford & Sons

- Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

- What's The Story (Morning Glory)? by Oasis

So thats all of my favourite things of 2012. I hope you had an amazing year and I hope that the new year brings you happiness and lots of laughs.

Suzanna xo

Redken Straight Power Tame 16

I recently bought a few new haircare bits (see here) and one of the items I picked up was the Redken Straight Power Tame 16 which is marketed as an "intense straightening balm for coarse hair." Feel Unique, on their website, says that it "slims down coarse hair and helps to tame frizz and transform unruly textures, sealing in lasting smoothness and shine." What I also loved about the claim was that it "helps protect from heat damage" which is perfect for me as I straighten my hair every day.

Redken Straight Power Tame 16, 5fl/oz / 250ml

This is probably a biased review as I have only used it once, yet I know for sure that this is my new holy grail hair product. It hands down beats my Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum by a long shot and here's why.

Despite the fact it's a thick lotion, it is really light weight and disappears into the hair without leaving it greasy or sticky. It tames frizz dramatically - I didn't even have to use hairspray. The smell of the product is really pleasant and, to me, smells like fruit salad. My hair felt so much smoother than if I didn't use this product and also added the perfect amount of shine. It says to "apply to damp hair and blow dry" and, when I read this, I was a bit sceptical. Products that I apply whilst my hair is damp never seem to work well. For instance, Moroccan Oil doesn't work for me when my hair is damp yet is a miracle when my hair is dry. This product did work though, which I was very happy about.

However, I can vision this product running out soon. This is because I use a decent amount of product due to my hair length. Yet, one good thing is that I only wash my hair every other day so I hope I can make it last.

What are your thoughts on this product? Have you tried it?

Suzanna xoxo

Recent Purchases from Feel Unique

In my last post I mentioned about an order I placed with Feel Unique, one of my favourite online shopping websites. Today, the package arrived so I'm going to show with you what I got!

Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Facial Mask, Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil, Cosmopolitan Beauty Expert Face Brush, Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique, Redken Power Tame 16, Joico Smooth Cure, Neals Yard Remedies Remedy to Roll, Wedla Wild Rose Eye Cream

The main reason for going on Feel Unique was to get some new haircare bits. Ever since Vivianna's review on the Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique (£18.90), I knew I wanted to try it. She has the same type of hair as mine (long, thick, dry) therefore I hope that it works just as well as it does for her on me. I also picked up the Joico Smooth Cure (£11.95) travel set which includes a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment. With high-end hair products I always get travel sizes or miniatures before investing in the large bottles, just to make sure I like them. The last hair product I bought was the Redken Power Tame 16 (£15.15) which is an intense straightening balm for those who want straight, non-frizzy, glossy hair. I have seen any reviews on this, so I'm excited to do my own.

I picked up two skincare items with the first being Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Facial Mask (£11.99). I've been using my Body Shop face mask for a long time so I decided to venture out and try a something from a brand I have never used before. It's organic and is therefore filled with properties that are good for your skin. I also bought the Welda Smoothing Eye Cream (£13.45) that says it softens fine lines, preserves the skin's youthful vitality and reduces puffiness. I'm excited to try this. The size of the tube is absolutely tiny - it only holds 10ml's of product which, for the price, isn't a lot. I'll tell you my thoughts and whether it's worth it when I review it properly.

The last three things I bought were random and last minute. I've heard good things about the Neal's Yard Remedies Remedies to Roll (£5.50) oils and heard that they are particularly good for long-haul flights. They have a range of different types such as relaxation travel, yet I decided to try the energy version. I picked up a boring old face brush by Cosmopolitan (£5.95) to use my Mario Badescu powder with. The last thing I bought was the bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil in Translucent (£22.00) which was definitely an impulse buy. I've nearly finished my Urban Decay De-Slick and, considering bareMinerals were having a sale, I decided to purchase it. 

I'm really happy with my purchases and, as always, expect individual reviews on each of them in the upcoming weeks!

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. The Vaccines just came out with the second studio album. I'm in love and I definitely recommend you should check them out, here.