Oh, 2013! You were such a lovely year…
Rose gold reigned supreme, blossoming on beauty counters as far as the eye could see, and then, as if by magic, you bloomed into an almost perfect eye palette at Urban Decay. Meanwhile, Chanel painted tips and toes with an out-of-this-world purple polish, and a golden highlighting lotion at MAC made long-time Strobe Lotion fans (like me) swoon.
Because it’s the time of year for looking back with lists, here are 10 of the most terrific makeup and beauty products I wholeheartedly lurved in 2013.
10 of the products I lurved the most in 2013
1. Clarins Be Long Mascara
Raise your paw if you want long, separated, luscious lashes with sky-high curl! My naturally unimpressive lashes need major help, like the kind Clarins Be Long Mascara provides.
Available now at Clarins counters and also online.
2. Chanel Le Volume Mascara in Noir
Through the first half of the year (up until I found Clarins Be Long), I wore Chanel Le Volume Mascara almost daily.
SO GREAT if you’re unafraid of drama and big, bold lashes.
Available now at Chanel counters and also online.
3. Chanel Taboo Le Vernish Nail Polish
Chanel’s shimmery purple Taboo stuns with dynamic flecks of galactic glitter, and it totally rocked my world.
Seriously, I could wear Taboo on my fingertips every. damned. day, and I’d never, ever tire of it.
Available now at Chanel counters and also online.
4. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone
Ah… Perfection in a pan.
BECCA’s golden Moonstone highlighter whispers “soft glow here,” and pores needn’t worry about being made the center of attention.
I think it looks fan-frickin’-tastic on all skin types, but it rocks the house on gals 30 and up.
Available now at BECCA counters and also online.
5. NARS Satin Lip Pencil
Love the satin finish (goes with everything), lengthy wear time and easy, effortless application of these NARS Satin Lip Pencils. My go-to shades are coral Lodhi, watermelon red Luxembourg, fuchsia Jardin Des Plantes and hot pink Yu.
Like with Chanel Taboo, I could wear these every day and be a happy, happy girl. 🙂
Available now at NARS counters and also online.
6. Sonia Kashuk Roll Up Valet
Sonia Kashuk’s Roll Up Valet bag changed my life.
BOOM! There, I said it.
My mobile makeup life experience a big organizational upgrade because of this bag, and now I never travel without it.
Available now at Target stores and also online.
7. MAC Golden Elixir Strobe Liquid Lotion
I’ve been wearing and loving MAC Strobe Cream for years! — but I always yearned for a warmer, golden version of this subtle highlighting lotion.
Well, enter MAC Golden Elixir, the stuff that highlighting dreams are made of…
Sorry, guys, but this one was a limited edition summer product. You may still be able to track it down at a MAC counter somewhere out there… After all, you never know what wonders are lurking under a cosmetics counter until you ask.
8. Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen in Deeper
Tom Ford’s Eye Definer Pen in Deeper is flat-out expensive, but day-um, Gina! It’s the best black liquid liner out there right now, as far as I’m concerned.
I love the smooth, long-lasting formula, and application’s a snap. I’m always looking for a more affordable dupe, but I have yet to find one on par with Deeper.
Available now at Tom Ford counters and also online.
9. Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector
Hello, hidden gem from Clarins. Nice to meet you. 🙂
I recommend Instant Light to everyone I know. It’s just so moisturizing and comfortable, and it makes lips look naturally flushed and oh, so pretty.
Available now at Clarins counters and also online.
10. Urban Decay Naked3 Palette
Naked3, the third installment in the much-vaunted Urban Decay Naked Palette series, sits atop Mt. Rosea Goldus, at the pinnacle of the rose gold trend. It’s a fresh take on neutrals, and the colors are super wearable.
Available now at Urban Decay counters and also online.
What a year it was. 🙂
Before you go, how about you? What were some of your favorite products of 2013?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I love that Chanel nail polish.
Hey Karen, happy new year! Thanks for sharing your list! I feel that while there are many products that are great quality-wise, it’s always fun to see what each blogger ends up connecting to on a more personal level. Taboo definitely made absolutely everybody’s list! What a beauty 🙂
I love the Tom Ford definer pen. His products are in a class all by themselves.
Your pictures are amazing! What camera do you use?
My favorite product of the year is the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. It’s perfect for everyday looks.
Ezzie xox
I can’t wait to try some of these! I’m ALWAYS looking for a better mascara! 🙂
I swear I sit and stare at my Naked 3 palette like a junkie. I totally blame being late for work on it.
I’m usually loyal to Chanel mascara, but you have me tempted by that Clarins one. Does it have a fragrance?
Chanel rocked my world this year, as well! But Bel Argus, Azure and Cosmic were my jam. Taboo is still in the untrieds. Maybe I’ll fall in love with it in 2014?
MUFE shadows, aqua creams, Buxom blush, Inglot shadows,…
Chanel cream blushes esp Presage and Intonation. I lurrrrvvvv….
So glad the Roll-up Valet makeup bag is back in stock on Target online! If you hadn’t mentioned it was available online, I wouldn’t have checked again. I just bought it! Loved the look of that bag when you originally reviewed it but wasn’t able to get it when it first came out – in the store or online. Yay!
I wound up buying all 3 Naked palettes in ’13. So glad I did! I love them! I also love the NARS Satin Lip pencils. Way to go, Francois!
I really like Naked 3! It’s such a pretty palette and I love rosy tones. Now that I think about it 2013 was definitely the year of rose gold lol. I’m also a big fan of Golden Elixir! Its so beautiful under powder and makes my skin look all glowy and pretty lol. I really want that Sonia Kashuk bag! It looks crazy useful!!
I only own 2 of them, is it bad? lol but I do love these 2, too! The Clarins lip perfector and the Becca shimmering perfector.
Happy New Year Karen!
Lancome Doll Lashes mascara
UDK Naked3 eye palette
UDK anti-aging eye primer
MAC Hang Up lipstick
Philosophy Purity facewash
Philosophy Release Me eye makeup remover
and last but not least
My Clarsonic! (wanted 1 for year. Thanks QVC EasyPay)
Hm, UD Naked 3, Maybeline Fit Me stick foundation for drugstore, those are two that I think of first.
But I just found out that one of my favorite products for years MAC Prep and Prime Vibrancy Eye is on the goodbye list! No!
I found best products for my skincare range and maybelline, colorbar is my fav in makeup range!
Augh! I wish I could get my mitts on so many of these 😀
That Tom Ford eye pen…*shivers of delight*…hm, I may be too attached to liquid eyeliners…
Happy New Year, Karen! My favorites for 2013 were Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks, Laura Mercier’s illuminator in Spellbound, Guerlain’s Crazy Terracotta Health Glow powder and Urban Decay’s Naked 3.
i finally splurged on the guerlain crazy terracotta a few weeks ago because it’s on a lot of people’s best of 2013 list, so it’s nice to see it here again. it hasn’t arrived yet, but hope i love it as much!
I loved UD’s Revolution Lipstick in Catfight! I get complements on it every time I wear it and my mom liked it so much that I bought it for her for Christmas. I also loved the Naked3 palette and MAC Ruby Woo lipstick.
Have you ever tried Kat Von D’s Autograph eyeliner ($18) for a dupe for the Tom Ford eyeliner? It’s pretty good stuff and it’s a lot less!!! Happy New Year! 🙂
OMG! Last year, I was gifted a rollup makeup organizer like the one in your post. Each of the 4 smaller compartments are attached with velcro and removable. I didn’t realize it at the time I received it, but it is Pure Genius! I love, love, love it! So far I’ve taken it to Costa Rica, Victoria BC, and Florida. It came with an extra stand alone compartment in velvet that I toss in my purse for the lipstick of the day, powder, blotting sheets, etc.
I got the Sonia Kashuk roll up palette after I saw it on here. Haven’t taken it out for a spin yet, as my trips have been brief 2-3 day-ers. But it sure if awesome in person. I can bring all the makeup, skincare, body care, hair care that I need and still have room for my lunch, ckckck.
My best makeup buy of 2013 would have to be Tarte’s Off the Cuff blush palette. It’s awesome. The Guerlain Crazy Meteorites Compacts would have to be second best.
oops, i meant valet. sonia kasuh roll up valet.
Hi Karen! Yay for best of 2013 posts! I have really been meaning to try that Clarins mascara. I’ve never found a mascara that knocks my socks off, so maybe that one will! I’ll share some of my 2013 favorites too. 🙂
Skincare: Fell in love with Arbonne calm gentle daily moisturizer, and finally got a clarisonic as a gift so loving that. Also delving into Josie Maran argan oil cleanser and liking that so far.
Foundation: Hands down, L’oréal magic nude liquid powder. It’s divine.
Eye shadow: Discovered and am madly in love with the YSL pure chromatics wet&dry quads. I have 08 and 19, and first loved them dry but now almost always wear them wet for more intensity. Try them. Love them. Cry at their price. Also the UD Naked 3, a redhead’s dream palette.
Eyeliner: Sonia Kashuk twist up long wear eyeliner. No need to sharpen, no mess, stays on all night.
Primer: Didn’t find a full face primer that I loved, but I did find an eyeshadow primer I loved- Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Champagne. Gosh this is so pretty. I’ve worn it as just the primer and received compliments. It’s the perfect pale gold shimmer to put under shadows.
Lashes: Only mascara I liked this year was the Ulta Amped Lashes that came in a free set. Actually a really great mascara.
Nails: ORLY stole the show for me. Their colors are so beautiful and long-wearing. I swear every time I wear “Oui” (shimmery purple with tiny gold flecks), I get tired of looking at purple nails before they start chipping and take them off before a single chip (talking over a week of flawless nails, gf.)
Lips: 2013 was my year for lips. O.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. Loved the revlon lip butters (I have over half the shades by now- Juicy Papaya remains the fave), Sonia Kashuk lipsticks- Rosette is my favorite, YSL glossy stains (Corail Aquatique, happy sigh), and all the chubby stick balms in all the brands, haha. Neutrogena is still my favorite for that category with scent, color, and wear.
Anyways, happy 2014, to another year of great beauty! (Although radiant orchid.. hmm… not sure if I can pull that color off LOL)
Hi Karen. I wanna ask about Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen in Deeper. do you think it is good for hooded and oily lids? Or could you recommend me any real black liquid eyeliner? I have been only using mac liquid eyeliner. It is good but I wanna try something new. Thank you and Happy new year!
Definitely :
MAC studio tech
Make Up For Ever lipstick palette
YSL lip gloss
Naked 2 palette
MUFE matte foundation (the best coverage)
Urban decay eye primer
Shu Uemura eye shadow and eyelashes curler
Etude blush on
I love all your favorites, Karen! Here are 10 of mine (I had more… this killed me to whittle it down, lol):
1. YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
2. Dior Airflash Foundation
3. Marc Jacobs Eyecon 7 Eyeshadow Palette in The Lolita
4. Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Radieuse
5. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #19 Fuchsia in Rage
6. Marc Jacobs Lip Vinyl in Kissability
7. Dior Golden Snow Eyeshadow Palette
8. Algenist Gentle Rejuvenating Cleanser
9. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water
10. Hourglass Script Liner
I agree about Chanel mascara and Clarins glosses, great list!