2012 Favourites - Part 3: Face

Here's another installment of my favourite products of 2012, this time it's the face products. I will start with the more exciting ones, ie. pretty highlighters. To me one of the most used highlighters of 2012 was Guerlain Cruel Gardenia. It is just so pretty both in the compact and on my skin. Just lovely.You can read my initial review by clicking on the link above.

See what other products I loved in 2012 after the jump!


Just like with eyeshadows, the star formula of 2012 when it comes to highlighters was the gelee powder / hybrid formula both Estee Lauder and Mac came out with (and in fact Cruel Gardenia is very similar to that formula too). Although Estee Lauder came out with the formula in 2011 when they released their Modern Mercury highlighter, me being me and not using it because of not wanting to ruin the pretty design, I didn't really try it out properly until 2012. They also released Topaz Chameleon, a golden copper colour and Shimmering Sands (click for review), a bronzy pink colour. Mac released 3 Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in the Mac In Extra Dimension collection and of course I had to have all 3 of them. You can find my reviews here for the skinfinishes.

Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands

Mac Whisper of Gilt, Glorify, Superb

Now onto the more boring, but essential stuff. I used not to wear foundation until a few years ago (until my late twenties or so), but now I find that I really need to, my skin isn't looking as good as I'd like. I don't need heavy coverage, but I still like to wear something to even out my complexion. The foundation I liked the most in 2012 I don't actually own (weird? surely not). I had a couple of samples of the new Clarins Skin Illusion foundation that I really liked, but I haven't actually purchased a full sized one yet due to the amount of foundation I own. My other favourite, which had actually gradually grown on me over the course of the year is Guerlain Lingerie de Peau. I don't know if my skin is getting drier or what, but the foundation that used to be quite dewey (ie shiny) looking on me now suits me really well. I also used Guerlain Parure Aqua foundation lots, but that's now discontinued.

2012 was the year of BB creams in the UK. There were a couple I found that are worth mentioning, Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream and No 7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream. I still don't know if I've found the ultimate BB cream for me, unless it's the one I'm planning buying next (and really loved the little sample that I tried), Estee Lauder DayWear Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit Cream. Since it has an SPF35, I'm saving the purchse to the spring/summer. But I wanted to include it in here because the sample I tried I loved more than my other favourite BB creams.

I also use a lot of pressed powder for setting my make up and last year I loved two Guerlain products the most: Guerlain Voilettes Invisible Skin Fusion Loose Powder (mentioned in this video) and Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating and Mattifying Powders. I love them both, the loose powder I use at home, the pressed one on the go. Neither of them were new products in 2012, but once you've found a good staple, why change it?

I'm really not a bronzer type of a person, but I did find a really nice one in 2012, it was Dior Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder in Aurora (click for review). I used it far more than other bronzers I own (and for not being a bronzer person, I do own quite a few actaully) and really loved the glow it gave me. Must remember to dig it out once the weather is improving and I need to start pretending to have a tan.

So there you have it. Once again, feel free to let me know about your favourite products in 2012. I'll be back with more favourites tomorrow!