2017 Favorites

December 11, 2017 | Beauty | 6 Comments »

I must have written this post about a dozen times. I don’t usually have issues when it comes to blogging. I just sit down and write about my topic. But as I started planning out my yearly roundup, I got to thinking about the year. I started thinking about all that has happened. Do I want to share all of that? Is it too personal? In the end I felt a little explanation was needed.

In the past I have closed up shop whenever the most minor thing inconvenienced me. I promised myself after the last time that I would never let anything get in the way again. Then this year some not so minor things happened and suddenly I had every reason to shut it all down. And I doubt anyone could blame me for it. But my husband suggested I keep going claiming if there was ever a reason to keep pushing forward it was this.

I did push forward and I’m glad that I did. I wish I could have done more. I wish I could have been on top of comments as quickly as I had in the past. All 5 of them lol. I wish I could have visited your blogs more and supported you the same way you have supported me. I tried. Believe me when I say that. Anyway, here’s a short recap.

In the beginning of the year my husband got a new job. We had to move to be closer to his new job. It was a welcoming move and a huge step up for our family. But since we had to move on such short notice we were unable to find a place that would allow us to take our Klaus. We had to give him up to a family member whom I’m not even close with. So I rarely get to see him. I do get updates and photos from time to time so I at least know that he’s being cared for. And he does appear happy. However, I’d be lying if I said a huge piece of me isn’t missing. It’s a pain that I don’t think will ever go away.

Then my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully it was caught in time. He had to have surgery to remove it. He didn’t require chemo or anything afterward. He healed up very nicely and things very quickly returned to normal. Of course the stress of all that weighed heavy on me and it showed. My anxiety reached an all time high and trying to keep it in check has been draining. I try to focus on the good though. My husband is ok now. We have been told numerous times how lucky he is. Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself of this. And by sometimes I mean constantly. Like I said. It’s been draining.

Somehow I managed to keep this place going. Even though I felt I had done the right thing, I’ve actually had people tell me they don’t know how I could focus on anything else. They actually tried to make me feel bad about… living my life? But that’s the one thing my husband wanted and needed me to do. And so that’s what I did.

There you have it. Of course there was a lot more to it than that. I highlighted the most important things though. The other stuff, while important, didn’t have as much of an impact on my life. These were the things that took some getting used to. And now I can get on with the beauty related stuff. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite items of the year.

Wet n Wild Queen of My Heart Collection
Wet n Wild didn’t slow down as we eased into 2017. The moment this collection hit stores I ran out to every Walgreens and CVS within a 50 mile radius to try and track it down. I was really impressed with all 3 of the eyeshadow trios as well as the 2 highlighters. I even featured some of these items in a giveaway.

It Cosmetics Confidence In Your Glow
I can’t even tell you how excited I was when this package of goodies landed on my doorstep. I love everything about these face palettes. The packaging is elegant and so pretty. They’re nicely pigmented and give your cheeks the most beautiful yet natural glow! One-step-wonder indeed! I can’t wait to see what surprises It Cosmetics has in store for 2018!

Sky Organics Dead Sea Mud Mask
Of course a face mask had to make my list. By now y’all should know how much I love my face masks. Out of them all the Sky Organics Dead Sea Mud Mask is what stood out the most. This wonderful mask does wonders for my redness flare-ups. It quickly soothes my dry, itchy, and irritated skin leaving it feeling moisturized and looking fresh.

Clarins Supra Volume Mascara
I can’t get enough of this mascara! I love how it lengthens my lashes while still looking natural. Most times I wear this mascara I don’t even feel the need to do a winged liner. This beauty stands out on its own!

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in I’m Shook
I’m Shook is definitely my most used lipstick of the year. It’s a medium toned burnt coral and probably one of the most flattering shades in my collection. It’s gorgeous!

Jouer Spring Collection 2017
I don’t care how ‘basic’ it is, I’m a sucker for rose gold! So I just had to pick up the 2 rose gold items from Jouer’s Spring 2017 Collection. They’re both beautiful products and I think the photos from that photoshoot are my favorites.

Kylie Cosmetics Take Me On Vacation Palette
You might be surprised to learn that my most used palette of the year is actually the Kylie Cosmetics Take Me On Vacation Palette. Heck, I’m surprised myself! But it is my most reached for palette. I have to keep it in my essentials drawer because I found myself walking over to my tool box to dig it out every day. I figured I may as well just keep it close. During the bad days it was easier for me to just leave the house bare-faced. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that I feel that it contributed to my negative feelings. So I started making it a point to do my makeup every time I left the house. It made me feel better about myself. I felt more put together. I found that the Take Me On Vacation Palette was very easy to work with. I could very easily create a quick look that was natural yet very pretty.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Neo Bronzer in Capri
Another face product that got a lot of action this year is the Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Neo Bronzer in Capri. I’ve used this so much that it already has a slight dip and looks very used even though I’ve only had it since mid-October! This beauty is a highlighter, blush, and bronzer all in one. I usually swirl it all together for a really pretty more natural looking blush. It also gives off a subtle glow!

Huda Beauty Contour & Lip Strobe Set in Trophy Wife / Shameless
I love these cute little tins so much! Each tin contains a mini Liquid Matte Lipstick, a mini, Lip Strobe, and a full size Lip Contour. You can use the products individually or together for a super glamorous lip! The tins are so cute that I currently have them on display in my bedroom.

Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser
Early on this year I received the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser in one of my Play! by Sephora boxes. I loved it so much that once I ran out of my sample I purchased the full size. This nifty 3-in-1 acts as a cleanser, exfoliator, and mask. All in a convenient, twist up, mess free container. My only issue with the full size is that the stick sticks to the cover and actually pulled out of the container when I tried to remove the cap once. Thankfully I was able to pop it back in with no issues. Try to keep it dry and be careful when removing the cap.

Of course I had to sneak in a few other wonderful products that wowed me this year. The Derma E Purifying Oil-Free Moisturizer is a nice lightweight moisturizer. It contains activated charcoal that is said to remove toxins from the skin’s surface. I think it’s cool because it’s a charcoal color yet goes on clear. It does feel lightweight and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth. It also plays nice with my sensitive skin.

I’ve also been loving the Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub. It’s a citrus oil blend with Dead Sea Salt. It claims to buff away dullness while smoothing away fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, and acne scars leaving your skin healthier with a more youthful radiance. And it does leave my skin looking radiant and much healthier. I’m also really loving the brand’s newer packaging this year.

I really wish I could list some more, but this post is already like a few miles long. Cheers to you if you made it this far.

So, what are some of your favorites from this year? Did you do a favorites post? Be sure to leave your link in the comments. I’d love to read it.

Share this post

Pinterest

Facebook

Twitter