Best of 2012 Roundup - Makeup

Hello, Happy New Year!  I sorted through many makeup products and I have summed up the most amazing short list of products of 2012...

Base

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup was launched in Fall 2012.  It is by far my current favorite and the best foundation from Giorgio Armani cosmetics.  The new Fusion Technology covers imperfections flawlessly with only a thin layer.  It never looks heavy or feel cakey.  My color is 4.5 and it blends beautifully with my skin tone!  Thumbs up!

I have heard about Eve Pearl for over a year before I made my first purchase at IMATS in Los Angeles last year.  I do not why I waited so long, I should have made the plunge earlier.  I got a good price on this palette at IMATS;  I paid $40 less than the regular price.  The Eve Pearl Flawless Face Palette contains all the products you need to perfect your canvas.  The flat palette is great for travel.  The kit includes: 2 Cream Foundation Shades (Light 1, Light 2), 2 Cream Concealers (Fair, Light), 1 Cream Blush (Rosy), 1 Mattifier, 1 Illuminator.  I highly recommend this palette if you have drier skin and want to give Eve Pearl a try.

Bronzer

Guerlain Terracotta Spray Bronzing Powder Mist is my go-to spray bronzing powder for the last few years.  I like the fine mist that gives me an airbrushed and healthy glow any time of the year.  Besides this bronzer, I am a big fan of other Guerlain compact bronzers too!  Love!


Brows

When it comes to brows, I stick to brow pencil and brow gel.  When I want a super natural look, I will use brow gel alone.  Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel does it for me.  It is fantastic in adding a touch of color to the brow hairs and the gel grooms the hairs in place.  Granite is grayish taupe and it looks very natural on my black color brow hairs.  It softens up my natural brow color.

Eyes

For eyeshadows, the following brands are what I reached for the most in 2012.  They are all fabulous in texture, pigmentation, and blendability:

Inglot Freedom System for eyes

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow

Kevyn Aucoin Eye Shadow Duo

  

Blush

I tried many good blushes in 2012, but THE one that I was most impressed with was Illamasqua Powder Blush.  It might be the most pigmented and long lasting blush that I have ever tried.  I was amazed that it can last all day until I took it off.  As you know, the Illamasqua color range is always intriguing and beautiful, I am obsessed with this brand.

Lips

When it comes to lips, I had to choose my favorite texture of the year and a good drugstore find that was surprising smooth and hydrating...

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick

All in all, I was very adventurous in makeup in 2012, I was happy with many products that I got an opportunity to play with.  For the short list mentioned above, I have no doubt that I will re-purchase every single item in the future.  What were your favorites in 2012?

Thanks for looking!  Until next post......

IMATS Los Angeles

Hello, I returned home from a fabulous weekend in Los Angeles.  I was most excited about my first IMATS experience in Pasadena and it was bigger and better than I had imagined it to be.  I was like a kid in a gigantic toy store.  There were so many brands to explore, but so little time.  I went on Sunday and I had less than three hours to cruise through all the aisles at the event before heading home.  My only regret was not having more time, but it was not an epic fail.  I spotted many new brands and spent more time at those brands that are not accessible to me at home.

Some of the brands that really impressed me include Eve Pearl, Cinema Secrets, and Senna Cosmetics.  I love that I got to touch and try the products before buying at a discount at the event.  I would say all the brands sold their products with deep discount, IMATS is a very good place to stock up on all your wants and needs.  It was also interesting to see the different techniques used in the live makeup demonstrations.  

Eve Pearl in action

When in LA, I ate a lot of good food.  

Our snack before dinner from L to R - Ozzy, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Chili Cheese Stretch Dog

Tommy's in Burbank

Tommy's Chili Cheeseburger

I stayed at a nice hotel in downtown LA, Omni Hotel.

View from my room

Cool building in Venice

Lastly, shopping at Kitson on Robertson was icing on the cake...I look forward to attending IMATS again in the future, it is a must see for die hard makeup fans.

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next post......