end of year favourites

That's right, I'm ditching my usual monthly beauty favourites post in favour of displaying my stand-out makeup products from the past whole year. Honestly I thought it would take forever and a day to select the best of the best from 2013, but it was surprisingly easy to narrow down what I'd consistently loved throughout most of the year.

Let's start off with my favourite lipstick of all time (so far!), MAC's Brick-O-La. I'm aware that is quite a bold claim for a lipstick obsessive, but there's something about this muted red that makes it oh so wearable whether worn opaque or just dabbed on lightly. It's a few shades darker than my natural lip colour and helps waken my face up as soon as I've applied it. I have a full review with lip swatches here if you're interested.

2013 was also when I discovered my two favourite mascaras - the Essence Multi-Action mascara (review here) and the Covergirl LashBlast 24HR mascara (review here). They both make my lashes look long and full, and I couldn't choose between the two as I wear each just as often as the other. I prefer the Essence mascara when I want to make my lashes look amazing, as it delivers marginally better results in the volume stakes, however as the Covergirl mascara's name suggests, it stays put all day and doesn't flake at all.
My most-worn blush has to be theBalm's FratBoy, although I have been reaching for the Sleek Blush in Flushed in the past month or two, I have to hand it to theBalm as I don't think I strayed from their blush at all at the start of the year. As for contour, I really only have one option and it's the NYX Blush in Taupe. Despite being a (fairly) new addition, I've quickly fallen in love with it - more specifically, its ability to mimic a natural shadow under the cheekbones and double up as an eyebrow powder as well. Holy grail product right there.
Another somewhat new addition, but one I couldn't help but slip in is the L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim* (which I still haven't given you a full review of - sorry!) as I'm sure you've heard me mention it in at least two favourites posts this year. I've now gotten to the stage with this where I can do winged eyeliner in a flash, and I love how versatile the thin nib allows you to be. Mine's drying up a little now, but you betcha I'll repurchase instantly.
Last but not least, of course I have to mention my favourite lip balm as that really is the one beauty product that I need - and the prize goes to a tube of nappy care ointment. Yes, I use Bepanthen as a lip balm, and I highly recommend that you do too as it is brilliant. Despite not being the most glamorous product on the market, this stuff will heal your lips up for good. I apply it every night before I go to sleep and use my NUXE Reve De Miel (which I've found is intensely moisturising, but only in the short term) in the day and after a week of having sore, chapped to the point of bleeding lips they're healed. Completely.

So that's about it from me this year, have a safe and happy new year and I'll see you in 2014!

*PR Sample.