Annie over at Blogdorf Goodman has invited me to participate in this year's beauty blogging panel of the Top Ten Products of 2006! Thanks, Annie! Here are the products that have wowed me this year (I couldn't narrow it down to 10, so you're getting my Top 12):
Monave Mineral Foundation. I have searched high and low for the perfect mineral foundation to suit my needs and I have found it. Monave is absolutely wonderful! It has a soft, silky-feeling application and leaves my skin looking flawless, but not at all powdery. Monave foundations come in a ridiculously wide range of colors and the company offers a sample set of four foundations for only $10 - so that you can try the products at home before you buy. Included with those samples, they'll also send up to six of their other products for you to test. It is a small, woman-owned business and, even better, it's headquartered right here in Baltimore. I don't have to look anywhere else for a mineral foundation. I encourage all mineral foundation lovers or those who are curious about this new wave in make-up to try Monave, especially all you women of color who find it hard to match your skintone in the other mineral make-up lines.
Bobbi Brown Chocolate Palette. This link is from eBay because, otherwise ... it's gone. Gone, y'all. As you can see, the prices have jacked up sky high because it's almost impossible to get. You can't get it in the stores or on the Bobbi Brown website. It was that popular ... and rightfully so. The shadows included are exquisite and some are only available in this palette. They range from the lightest matte shadow to a deep dark shimmery brown and, of course, are all browns, creams, and golds as they're supposed to look like chocolate. Well, they do. And they're just as addictive and yummy. I wear the colors from this palette regularly, but gingerly. I can't believe I didn't buy more than one. I'm trying to preserve this one. I hear that Bobbi will never produce another Chocolate palette, so if you really want it, head over to eBay and hope for the best.
Kimora Lee Simmons Fabulosity Glossamer. I am not a fan of plumping glosses, so I was wary of this one. Fortunately, while it does have a cool tingle, I didn't notice that it plumped anything ... it may be that my lips are as plump as they're going to get. Still, I love these glosses. They're sheer and beautiful and really do make your lips look shiny, shimmery and sexy. The colors are wonderful and appropriate for all skintones and the packaging is really fun. I am irritated that my new favorite glosses come from Kimora Lee Simmons, who has always irked me, but what can I do?
Maybelline Full 'n' Soft Mascara. You may remember that I was a participant in The Great Mascara Hunt. At the end of it, I'd decided that my favorite mascara was L'Oreal Volume Shocking. Well, that was because I hadn't tried Maybelline Full 'n' Soft. On the recommendation of Melissa at DeLush, I tried it. I've been in love ever since. It does exactly what I want mascara to do - makes my lashes look longer and thicker, but doesn't give me spider eyes. My lashes look as if they grown that way naturally. Soft and beautiful lashes. It's the Holy Grail of mascaras.
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I was a latecomer on the primer bandwagon and now I can't imagine why. I absolutely love this stuff. My skin looks smooth, polished and oil-free. My foundation looks fresh all day. It's worth every penny. This is the stuff to get if you want to use primer. Don't waste your time with the imitators.
MAC Blush in Fleur Power. I am a faithful watcher of What Not to Wear. While I love to watch Clinton and Stacey transform a frumpy fussbudget into a fashionista and it amuses me to see Nick Arrojo give the same bob or shag to every woman on the show (not to mention that it greatly amuses me to try to figure out what the heck is going on with his hair), the true highlight of the show is Carmindy's make-up transformation. I'd noticed for a while that she used the same blush on quite a few of the ladies - she always just referred to it as "pinky coral". I could tell it was MAC, but had no idea of the shade and was getting frustrated until she did an interview on DeLush and gave it away. It was Fleur Power! I ran and grabbed it the next day and it's been one of my favorites since. It is the perfect shade to give a brown-skinned diva a healthy flush.
Laura Mercier Shimmer Loose Powder in Sun Dust. This recommendation was given to me by Julia from All About the Pretty. It is a rich, coppery shade that, when used lightly (very lightly), gives your skin the most beautiful glow. It is a kickass bronzer. Just a touch on your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, and hairline make you look like a bronzed goddess. It even looks great on your decolleté.
Kimora Lee Simmons blush in St. Barths Peach. Yet another KLS product. But, as the saleslady in Sephora told me, "It's the Black girl's Orgasm." It is lovely - a saturated, shimmery peach. If you want the effect of NARS Orgasm, but it's too light - try this. You won't be disappointed.
Elasta QP Glaze Conditioning Shining Gel. It's a Godsend. It smoothes my hair (which is really hard to do), while adding softness and shine. Wonderful.
Curls products. Wonderfully scented, tons of moisture. They are the best products I've found for my dry, kinky curls. I encourage all curly girls to give 'em a try!
Queen Helene Cholesterol Conditioner. An old standby from my childhood. I would never have tried this again, if not encouraged by a fellow dancer, who's also a natural haircare technician. She told me to use it to coat my hair before cleansing, as a conditioning treatment. I use it to detangle and deep condition and my hair has never been softer, more supple or more manageable. Great stuff.
And finally, MAC Studio Mist Foundation. Once again, while watching Carmindy, I wondered about the spray foundations she uses on the majority of her clients. But I wasn't about to spend the $55 for the ERA Classified spray foundation that she uses. So when MAC came out with their version, I was psyched! It is fabulous! Lightweight sheer coverage that can be built to medium coverage. My skin looks airbrushed when I use it. Good for those who want to use foundation, but don't like the feel of it on their face.
So, there you have it ... my Top 12 of 2006! I hope you give all of these worthy products a look-see and that you continue to travel through the Land of Beauty with me in 2007. I am having such a blast on the journey ... I hope you are, too. Thank you so much for your support and readership. (Readership ... did I just make that up?)
The bloggers posting their tops of the year are:
Great list, and I'm dying to try the Queen Helene -- love the line, love the price.
Posted by: Robin | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 10:38 AM
Ugh, you just reminded me how much I regret not snatching up the bb chocolate palette when I had the chance (and I had LOTS of chances!). I kept telling myself it's just a bunch of browns and I already have lots of browns. But deep inside I knew... (sigh).
I love this list -- I got to try the Smashbox foundation primer this year and I also think it's fabulous stuff. But now I think I must have the MAC blush and LM shimmer powder and... :)
Posted by: Gigi | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 01:47 PM
I love your list! I've fixed your link url too btw. :)
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Coquette | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 04:38 PM
The only reason the chocolate palette didn't make my top 10 (although I use it a few times a week) is that I'm annoyed with the lightest color, Bone). It doesn't show on my skin. At all. Is it visible on you?
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Gaia, the non-blonde | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 04:47 PM
Robin - You absolutely should try it! It offers great moisturization and is an awesome detangler.
Gigi - It is the best eye palette I own. I am so glad I jumped on that bandwagon.
Coquette - Thanks!
Gaia - The Bone does show on me. It's what I use as my highlight shade. I love it. I think that it's perfect because my skin is dark enough that it shows. It's probably just way too close to your skintone. Maybe try an even lighter shade?
Happy new year everyone!
Posted by: toya | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 06:42 PM
My sister is just wild about the Full n Soft mascara, too - it's her holy grail mascara.
Everyone seems to love the Smashbox primer - I wish it worked better on my skin, but it just wasn't meant to be.
Kimora irks me, too, heh, but the glosses do sound awful nice. Perhaps I'll just overlook her involvement, hehe.
I somehow always forget about the Queen Helene line! QH makes a super reasonably priced mud mask I like, but I never thought about trying the other stuff. This is the most affordable lemming I've got thus far from reading these lists - thanks!
Posted by: Katie | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 07:36 PM
Gotta try that Queen Helene, I'm made some notes to check out your faves! Thanks, Happy New Year! - Victoria
Posted by: Victoria's Own | Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 05:03 PM
fantastic list! i'm definitely going to check out that Studio Mist foundation (with fingers crossed that i won't be allergic) - i despise the feel of foundation!
happy new year :)
~risa
Posted by: risa | Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 05:06 PM
Love the MAC blush and the BB chocolate palette...great list!
Posted by: Hautemommastuff | Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 05:17 PM
Great list! The Studio Mist foundation sounds cool, but I'm curious - do you spray it on your face directly, or apply with a sponge?
Posted by: beautychick | Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 12:06 PM
Hi Beautychick!
I don't spray the Studio Mist directly onto my face. I find that using either a sponge or a foundation brush works. You either spray it onto your skin or a palette, then use the foundation brush to apply it to your freshly moisturized face. If using a sponge, moisten the sponge first (I spray the sponge with a Paul Mitchell moisturizing spray) then use the moistened sponge to apply the foundation to your face - you can spray the foundation directly onto the sponge. Using the brush gives about medium coverage, using the sponge gives sheerer coverage.
Hope you like it!
Posted by: toya | Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 03:42 PM
I've been nervous about spray foundation for that very reason, unsure of how to apply it. I might give it a try now. Love your list. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Carla | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:32 PM
Hey Toya!
I love your list!
The Maybelline Full and Soft mascara is a MUST HAVE. So good and so reasonable priced. Also that Bobbi Brown Chocolate Palette is gorgeous!
Thanks for your comment on my blog--I agree with you, CArol's Daughter Products are amazing!
Lovely New Year to you!
Posted by: MonkeyPosh | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 07:42 AM