I have to say that when it comes to beauty products I'm pretty much stuck in a routine. For the most part I don't venture past the daily tools that I know work for my skin and complexion. I am however, guilty of testing out cult favorites and do actually read reviews on beauty websites like Sephora and Ulta (which can be extremely helpful when shopping from home.)

Every year I do make a point of trying a few new products in hopes that I may find "the next best thing". This past year was no exception, in fact I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised on how many new products I tried and ended up loving. Continue on to see which products made my list of 2012!

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara: It's obvious that I'm so.. obsessed with this mascara. I've honestly never tried a drugstore product that delivers the coverage quite like this does. Since my lashes are already pretty dark I tend to look for mascaras which advertise length and volume, and if your in the market for either this product is the answer. 

I will say that it does take a few days to get past what you may think of as too much product. However, I find that if you keep a wand from a previous tube you can use that to apply to your lashes for the first few days. Overall, this is a product that I would recommend to any friend {

Brightening Cleanser: Before I start I have to say that when I first tried this product out I hated it! I didn't hate results as much as I disliked the product smell, which reminded me of anise. I'm extremely sensitive to smell so usually this would be an automatic no-go for me, but for some reason I just kept using it. I'm definitely glad I did because the within a month the results were apparent. The product did wonders at adding balance to my uneven skin tone. Thanks for the introduction 

Girl Meets Pearl : Liquid Pearl Luminizer for Face: It took me awhile before I could get into skin highlighter. Mainly due to the fact that I thought they made my face and skin come across of "too Shiny" or even sometimes dare I say..greasy. Yes, I know there is a specific way to apply the product and I definitely didn't apply it all over my face. After receiving this as a gift from a friend I decided to see if I was actually a disbeliever. To my surprise this product gave a softer and more polished glow than the previous products I had tried. The light soft pinkish color delivers a beautiful glow to highlight cheekbones and the Cupid's bow.

Essie Nail Lacquer in Wicked: The perfect deep cranberry hue, which doesn't take 8 coats of lacquer! Before trying this color I used to be a fanatic for

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (which I still like). This color although similar delivers more of a red color and less of a purple tint.

It's a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Kertin: This conditioner is a true miracle worker! It completely re-hydrated my hair during the summer when the chlorine and harsh temps dried up my ends. Although, I don't use the product daily I always make sure to deep condition a least one day a week. It not only hydrates my ends but gives me a gorgeous shine & the scent is great!

Soap & Glory The Righteous Body Butter: If the scent doesn't automatically draw you in then the softness after application will. After reading raving reviews from beauty gurus across the globe I decided to try out a small size of this product. Honestly, after a week I had used up the 1 oz travel size and ordered more. I use this every day and still continue to get compliments on the smell of the product. Its a little hard to explain but it's a delicious combination of fresh & floral notes. 

Revlon Colorburst in Berry Smoothie: If you're a daily reader you know that I love the Revlon ColorBurst colors. I think this is one of the best products Revlon has yet to come out with. They deliver just enough color without being a lip-stick with the added bonus of a hydrating lip balm. What's not to love?

UNITE GO360 Hairspra This has got to be one of the coolest beauty products I tried last year. I actually ended up stealing this from my mom because I was out of hairspray. {Needless to say it was never returned.} Unlike other hairsprays the nosel always sprays a constant and consistent amount of product and doesn't clog. The smell isn't intoxicating or smell of starchy chemicals either! But, the coolest part the GO360 has 3 different settings that allow you to adjust the level of hold you want just by turning the sprayer.

MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush The one and only brush I can't live without. Year after year this has been my go-to beauty tool. The soft fibres deliver a clean airbrushed finish without streaking or smudges. Although, I would suggest that you clean this brush after every few uses {or all makeup brushes for that matter} if you are using it to apply foundation.

What were your favorite beauty products of 2012?

xoxo,

Birdie