Beautiful Makeup Search's Best in Beauty 2009.

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As the year (and decade!) comes to a close today, I thought I would finally share my best of beauty for 2009 with you. Many of these items are new for the year, but some are my favorites that I have gone on about for years. These best of products include beauties that I use at least a few times a week, if not on a daily basis.

 

Makeup

 

 

 

 

Skin Care, Face

 

 

 

 

Skin Care, Body


 

 

 

Hair

 

 

 

What are some of your best of 2009 beauties? Whether they are old stand-by favorites or new beauty discoveries, share them in the comments.

*These products were originally sent to me by a brand or brand representative for review. I have also purchased each of these individually as they are really my favorites and are continually in my beauty rotation.

Laura Geller's Delectable Chocolate Baked Color Collection.

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Normally, this should be filed under Beauty Promotions (Have you checked out the NEW Beauty Promotions section of the blog?), but as I am in love with Laura Geller's baked products, I figured I would highlight this QVC Today's Special Value right here. Hey, it also gives me an excuse to explain a bit more about the NEW Beauty Promotions section on the blog.

For today only, over on QVC and QVC.com, Laura Geller has a 5 piece Color Collection as the Today's Special Value. This is her Delectable Chocolate Baked Color Collection. The retail value of these beauties separately is $96.00, but the special today only price is just $39.98 - which is an incredible deal.

 

The 5 pieces are as follows:

  • Balance N Brighten Baked Powder
  • Blush N Brighten Baked Blush
  • Baked Marble Eyeshadow
  • I-Care Waterproof Eyeliner
  • Shine and Shield SPF 15 Lip Gloss

     "Laura's Baked Collection begins as a marbleized liquid and is baked in a terra-cotta pan for 24 hours, resulting in a silky, easy-to-apply texture. Balance-n-Brighten is infused with color-corrective pigments ranging from light tan to sheer beige. The dewy, shimmering Blush-n-Brighten drifts into place and looks natural. The Eye Shadow glides on, blends easily, and stays for hours.
      The long-wearing I-Care Waterproof Eyeliner applies with ease. Laura's hydrating Shine and Shield SPF15 Lip Gloss is full of natural moisturizers like jojoba and safflower seed oil and cocoa seed butter."

I was browsing the QVC forums and saw that some people were worried that these shades are "too brown". First off, this collection comes in two shades. Regular, which is the universal flattering shades and Fair for very fair skin tones. These are not very dark colors, so there is no need to worry. They are meant to brighten the skin, as there are strands of gold and a soft almost nude shimmer into them. The result is subtle, and never too bronzy for this time of year.

Now, for a bit more about the NEW Beauty Promotions section that I mentioned earlier in the post. Click up in the navigation menu to check out all of the beauty promotions that pop up through-out the week. I'll be updating this as I learn about promotions, but you will have to remember to click there as these special offers, contests, sales and more will not be listed on the front page. It's sort of a blog within a blog. Feel free to send in any beauty promotions you see or hear about too.

M∙A∙C Rounds Out the Year with 3 New Collections.

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Of course M∙A∙C didn't just end the year with it's legendary Holiday collections. They just launched their post-Holiday collections, 3 of them in fact, to round out the year.

Break out that Christmas cash and get shopping over at M∙A∙C, because there are some definite must-haves in these beauties.

M∙A∙C WARM & COZY


"A fireside fantasy far from the maddening crowd is undeniably appealing. Seek refuge in the warmth, the glow of skin rosy with Refined Golden Mineralize Skinfinish, Shadesticks in Cuddle, Nurture and Snuggle shades, cozy as a mug of cocoa on a bearskin rug. Care Blends Essential Oils in Sweet Orange + Lavender, or Grapefruit + Chamomile feels soothing and sultry when elements are harsh and extreme…add M∙A∙C signature innovation with Mineralize All-Over Moisture Lotion, a new permanent product, and see new radiance, revivified lustre, optimum health. Like going on retreat and communing with nature, it’s an earthly way to bring back what the city takes away, and a sensual solution to make life simple, but luxurious. Winter beauty begins here."

Must haves in this collection, for me at least, include the Mineralize Skinfinish in By Candlelight. It is a soft golden pink as it imparts the perfect glow my skin is craving this time of year. I apply this as I would a bronzer in the summer, on the top of my cheekbones, over my nose, a gentle sweep across my forehead and a dab on the chin. I am also loving the Tinted Lip Conditioner in Feelin' Good, the Lipstick in Warm Me Up, layered with Lipglass in Light That Fire!. The Mineralize All-Over Lotion is perfect for anywhere, like it says. It is a lightweight lotion that has a bit of slip to it, but it dries fast and is making my legs feel like silk.

M∙A∙C LOVE LACE

"This salon-intimate collection is all about a dramatic, intense, smoky eye, with shadows that flash frosty grey to deep blue. Kohl Power is brought back for a limited time in favourite shades plus a new blackened marine blue. And naturally, 44 Lash adds the depth and desire. Lips stay pleasingly pale and Nail Lacquer in Light Affair adds a hint of danger. If ever there was a moment to do away with the winter doldrums and add some instant intrigue, this is it."

I am obsessing of the Light Affair Nail Lacquer. It is the perfect pale taupe and it looks beautiful over a natural or French manicure. I love an unexpected pale nail in the winter and this is my new signature shade. I am also loving how pairing the Lipstick in Intricate, which is a beautifully frosty taupe looks with Lipglass in Utterly Discrete on top of it. Utterly Discrete is a frosty gloss as well, but this one is more of a mauve-taupe.

M∙A∙C IN THE STUDIO


"Dramatic, daring Lashes have been a chic and urbane part of the modern Artist’s persona since Edie and friends made it all happen Downtown, on block-print canvas or grainy 16-millimetre film. Multi-media, counter-culture, the ultimate cool. In The Studio is the epitome of the look updated, featuring new Studio Fix Lash in Black Fix or Studio Brown, with the latest thermoplastic synth-rubber moulded brush, designed to kill clump as it separates lashes. Go for the bold stroke, as they do In The Studio."

This new mascara is divine. I am using Studio Fix Lash in Black Fix. The bristles on the wand are very short, stiff and are rubbery. This lengthens my lashes and keeps them separated like no-one's business.  I usually go for more of a full lash look, but the utter ease with dramatic length and separation make for a welcome surprise, and I am loving the look. I am doubly thrilled that this new mascara is part of the permanent collection.

These new collections are available right now at your favorite M∙A∙C counter, store and online at M∙A∙C Cosmetics.

*Some of these items were sent to me as press samples.