Best 13 Finds Of 2013

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask // Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Booster // Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream // Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation // NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer // Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Concealer // Diptyque Philosykos edt // Living proof Prime Style Extender // Bumble And Bumble BB Texture // Tangle Teezer // Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder // Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow // Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Eyeshadow Palette

Looking back at 2013, there are a few products that pop into my mind whenever I think about my best beauty discoveries. Last year I stumbled across some amazing releases and caught up with some blogger favourites and recommendations and these are the 13 products that made it to my favourites list - get comfy, it's a long one -.

Starting up with skin, last year I developed a wee bit obsession with skincare products and face masks in particular; I've collected a few along the way but the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (£30) is probably the one I've used the most and the one I reach for every time I long for that extra boost of radiance. It's a great way to approach chemical exfoliators for all skin types - including sensitive complexions like mine -, because it's packed with amazing ingredients and gentle but effective at the same time. It leaves my skin feeling and looking uber bright and like new in just a handful of minutes.
For a daily dose of luminosity I couldn't live without the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream (£23), which not only brightens and de-puffs the under-eye area but creates a flawless base for my concealer. Soft pink hues and loads of natural reflective particles help to banish dark circles and make you look fresh and awake.
I also fell in love with the Hydraluron Moisture Booster (£24.99), a fantastic serum that helps lock the moisture into the skin and quickly improves the appearance of dehydrated complexions. I use it every morning before my moisturizer and it's definitely one of the best skincare products I've tried.

Moving on to hair stuff, I'm still deeply in love with the Living Proof Prime Style Extender (£18). This amazing hair primer - which is still a quite odd thing to think about - really changed my styling routine: my hair stay clean for longer without losing their volume and also hold whatever style I decide to create twice as long as before. It doesn't weight my hair down and a tiny blob goes a very long way, so it's definitely worth the investment.
Another styling must have for me is the Bumble and Bumble BB Texture (£10), absolutely great to give extra grip to freshly washed hair without making them look greasy. It's perfect to tame soft and fluffy hair and make them more manageable and a lot easier to style, while adding some extra volume as well. Of course it couldn't be a serious hair talk without my beloved Tangle Teezer (£10.20) in Disco Purple. At first I purchased the travel size brush, which comes in handy on the go, but the full sized one has really changed my life. It makes it easier to brush my hair while still in the shower and work hair masks and styling products into my locks. I definitely noticed less fly-aways and decreased hair loss lately; if you're wondering if it's worth the splurge, you get a big thumbs-up from me here.

Makeup wise, I think the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (£38) in Diffused doesn't need any further introduction at this point. It's easily my best purchase of year and something I cant live without anymore: it's a Photoshop brush that blurs away pores and imperfection, disguised as a luminous setting powder. It's definitely worth the hype.
For concealer, at the beginning of the year I kept going on and on about the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (£21) which is excellent for the under-eye area, as it offers the perfect combination of moisturizing yet long wearing formula and great coverage. Early in September, however, I fell and fell hard for the Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Concealer (£17) that made me put its NARS counterpart aside. It's moisturizing, a perfect match for my skin tone and really brightening, thanks to the peachy hues. I use it on my dark circles and on my blemishes as well and I can't go without it anymore. I have a soft spot for treatment makeup - you all know that by now - and this product is definitely a top favourite of mine and possibly a forever repurchase.
Last but not least for the base, I can't stress you enough about how amazing the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (£34.50) is: it's light on the skin, long lasting and looks absolutely flawless. The finish is radiant and oh so natural and the coverage is easy to customize for effortless day-wear or nifty night-outs.

Of all the beauty brands I've approached in two thousand thirteen Charlotte Tilbury's own makeup line is the one that truly stood out to me and completely knocked it out of the park, thanks to fabulous textures, stunning '20s-inspired packaging and an overall outstanding quality. Something I use on a daily basis is the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow (£49) to bring some Hollywood glamour to my skin. The luminous powder gives the most stunning candlelight glow to my cheekbones, bridge of the nose and Cupid's bow, while the tan side is great both to warm up my complexion and sculpt the hollows of my cheeks for fuss-free, day-appropriate contouring. Finally, my crush for the amazing Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette (£38) in Golden Goddess can't simply go unnoticed. It features three buttery soft eyeshadow and a pressed glitter shade to spice up any look; the shades included in this quad aren't particularly groundbreaking but their quality is absolutely striking and I can't recommend it enough.

Lastly on to perfumes, I've never been the loyal type when it comes down to fragrances but the Diptyque Philosykos edt (£50) won my heart and became my signature fragrance throughout summer and fall, with some little features here and there even in winter time. It's sweet and fresh, persistent but never overwhelming and if you've been around here long enough you'll know everything about my fig obsession, so I'll stop rambling right now.

Have you tried any of these products?
What product really stood out to you in 2013?

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Winter Skincare Upgrade

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum // Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream // Soap & Glory Hand Food  // Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask // Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream

With my skin not at its best, thanks to freezing temperatures, central heating and the trails of a spectacular flu, I thought it was time to revive my skincare routine and update it with some old wintertime essentials and a few new bits to bring some moisture back to my poor, distressed skin.

First off in my daily routine is the Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum (£26.10), a thin milky serum that goes straight to the deeper skin layers to really tone and moisturize from within. This fellow here kept my skin in great condition all through last winter and now is back into my everyday routine to get me past the colder months once again. It's one of those products that make such a big difference from the very first use: there's no flakiness in sight, any redness is pretty much gone and skin looks overall fuller and healthier. It provides an awful lot of nourishment without in fact weighting down the skin or bothering my makeup as the day goes by. Same goes for the Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream (£25.99), the next step of my morning lineup. I bought it on a whim a few months ago - without reading any review first, which is not something I do very often - and it actually turned out to be a great purchase. As the name suggests, it's a lightweight moisturizer that sinks in quickly, leaving the skin nice and plump and uber soft; although the texture itself is quite thick and requires a little bit of work, my skin just drinks it up without a hitch. It's not your typical thin moisturizer for daytime but I wouldn't call it heavy either; it's simply perfect to keep me hydrated even on the chilliest days without leaving my complexion feeling greasy or congested.

I do love a good, rich cream at night time and I've recently rediscovered the Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (£32.99), which truly does wonders for my skin while I snore blissfully. This evening moisturizer it's like a facial in a jar; it's absolutely overflowing with natural oils, vitamin E and honey which are a perfect fix for dull and pesky skin and the strong herbal scent is so relaxing and soothing it makes me fall asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow. It gives that lovely 8-hour-sleep glow and completely sorts out any blotchiness or dry patches; it makes such a huge difference and really changes my skin when I use it.
If all these extra nourishing products weren't enough for my thirsty skin, my trusty Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask (£21.50) is always ready to step-in in times of need and save the day. It's a great all-around face mask that cleanses the skin deeply, unclogging pores and soothing redness and blemishes, while bringing intense hydration and nourishment to the skin. It also doubles up as spot treatment on not-quite-raised pimples: I simply pat a little blob wherever I'm feeling a sore spot lurking underneath the surface and leave it on overnight to control the damage.

Nothing to say about hand creams except that I'm absolutely obsessed with them and also a bit of an hoarder. Lately I've been loving the Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream (£2.50), a great fuss-free moisturizer that sinks in quickly without leaving any residue or greasy finish behind. It smells gorgeous - like fruit salad and fresh cut flowers - and I love this little travel size, great to just pop in your handbag for on-the-go application.

How do you handle these seasonal changes?

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