2015 Favorites

2015 FAUX FAVES

So recently I have been asked by friends what my favorites were for various products throughout 2015 so I thought I would compile a list.  I'm simply going to link things.  Perhaps make a few comments here and there, but chances are if you search any of the following below in WWW.FAUXPRAH.COM there will be a full on review.

Some categories will have more than others.  I simply could not narrow this down in some categories.  Others may not reflect a current favorite, however may be something I used for most of the year.  I would say this is a comprehensive list of things in my collection that I would use time and again.

In the next few days as well I will list skin care, tools and other items.

Foundation

Cover FX Drops - $44 at Sephora.com - Amazing customizable foundation.  Use with moisturizer, oils, primers or other foundations for completely customizable foundations.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - $48 at Chanel.com - Completely gorgeous and buildable foundation.  I love this for its barely there feel.  The most comfortable foundation ever on your skin.  Absolutely hands down, Ms. Faux's favorite.

L.A. Girl Pro BB Cream - $4.99 at Walgreens.com - Surely Ms. Faux put this on here by mistake.  Nope.  This $4.99 foundation out performs many high end foundations.  I don't know what they put in this other than skin magic.  Lovely light finish.

Primer

Benefit - The POREfessional - $44 at Sephora.com - This is my favorite spring/fall primer as well as the one that I grab for when I do the rare more full coverage foundation on my face.  It is the most amazing poreless facial perfection maker.  Is that a think?  Yes it is.

Too Faced - Hangover RX - $32 at Sephora.com - This is my favorite winter/dehydrated skin primer as it is perfect at bringing your skin back from the dehydrated brink that you have put it in.

Blush

Milani - Rose Powder Blush - Romantic Rose - $7.49 at Walgreens.com - I was going to put in a few other blushes here as blush is one of my absolute favorite make ups to shop for but I would say more than 1/2 the time that I reach for a blush it is this one blush.  I think that is pretty telling on how amazing it is.

Eyeshadow

Sonia Kashuk - Fair & Squared Eyeshadow Quad - $13.69 at Target.com - These are much like the Tom Ford shimmer shades in the $80 Tom Ford Quad.  Those the colors are not the same, the formulation is.  Also... I prefer the colors in this quad more than any of the Tom Ford Quads.

Urban Decay Eyeshadows - $19 at Sephora.com - are the absolute best brand in shadows.  From their Naked Palettes to their single shadows, their mattes, shimmers, satins and duochrome shadows are absolutely the best ever.  The formulation is amazing and with 69 single shades, you will find what you need.

Pur Cosmetics - Eye Polish Pure Pigment Eye Primer & Top Coat $26 at Ulta.com - This is Ms. Faux's favorite dark, dramatic, sparkly eye shadow.  I love the formulation as the glitter just sticks to your eye and you can gradually build it from a sheer to a smoky and dark dramatic eye.

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows - $7.99 at Ulta.com - These shadows are complete dupes for the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eyeshadow formulation.  I love them.  They have many colors that can satisfy those thirsting for color to those wanting a neutral eye.

Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes - $8.99 at Ulta.com - This has built in fibers that can take the most tame brow and turn it into a falsie looking brow.  There are many mascaras out there that try to do this and this is a drugstore version that succeeds.  There are also many dual team fiber and then mascara versions of this and L'Oreal just put it in one.  It is amazing.  It is brilliant.  It is the mascara Ms. Faux reaches for most often.

Tarte Lights, Cameras, Flashes Statement Mascara - $23 at Sephora.com - This is another mascara that takes your lashes to, "on fleek," level.  Think about lengthening... it lengthens.  Think about thickening... it thickens.  Think about separation... it separates.  It is an amazingly amazing mascara.  That is all I can say.  It is perfect.

Maybelline - Lash Sensational Mascara - $8.99 at Ulta.com - Another drugstore brand?  Yep.  This is the one that Ms. Faux reaches for when she wants a very natural look.  It isn't the drag queen opulence of the above mascaras but rather a very natural, your lashes but better look.

Concealer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment Brightener Concealer $8.99 at Ulta.com - At first I was a little freaked out by the sponge top, but after I got over it and started stamping triangles under my eyes, I realized this was the best highlighting concealer and the one that I reach for all of the time. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - $29 at Sephora.com - Nars is the concealer that Ms. Faux took on vacation to Italy.  Why?  because I wanted one concealer and this worked for both under eye and also for blemishes.  It is so lightweight and beautiful on the skin.

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer - $21 at MACcosmetics.com - When I need to cover up any dark circles or blemish and I need it to stay and not crease, I reach for this concealer.  It is perfectly moisturizing and perfect for spot correcting and covering up stubborn discolorations

Brow

Glossier - Boy Brow - $16 at glossier.com - If you have been following Ms. Faux at all at the end of the year you will know that all brow cosmetics have been thrown in a drawer and this is the one that remains out on my make up table. 

Anastasia Brow Wiz - $21 at Sephora.com - So I just bought the new brow pencil from Urban Decay which will be coming up in a blog post soon, but for now... the one that started it all and ultimately the one that everyone is still chasing to be like as they will never surpass.  It is perfection.  Super fine pencil that can mimic actual brow hairs and a perfect spooly on the other end for blending.  If you need a brow pencil reach for Anastasia as they are the brow wizards

RefectoCil Brow Tint Kit - $23.30 at Amazon.com - should you be brave enough to dye your own eyebrows (it is easy if you are patient and take your time) this is the dye that Benefit uses.  I know because I paid extra special attention to how they did my brows and looked it up.  If you follow the link I attached here it will take you to the place on Amazon where the developer is in the same kit.  This will last you soooooooo many brow tintings and save soooooo much money.

Lip

Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick - $36 at Sephora.com - This is hands down #1 my favorite lipstick ever in the world.  I almost stopped here because this is legit my favorite, but I added a few more below for various reasons because at $36 it isn't really practical.  That being said, these glide on the lips, provide a ton of sheer shiny color and are extremely moisturizing.

Soap & Glory - SexyMotherPucker Extreme Plump - $14 at Ulta.com - like lip plumpers, but hate the stinging then this is the lip plumper for you.  What does it do?  Well it buzzes on your lips.  That is the best explanation I have for this product.  Like little flys buzzing on your lips.  It absolutely plumps lips but without pain

Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Colour in Rosewood - $28 at Sephora.com - This is a great formulation, however this choice was more for the color than the formulation.  It is a gorgeous nude and Ms. Faux's perfect nude for her pale skin tone.

Mac PatentPolish Lip Pencil - $20 at MACcosmetics.com - This is another nude Ms. Faux likes, but I listed this pencil more for it's amazingly shiny formulation.  It is so easy to use and places the perfect sheer color on your lips.  Lots of staying power.

Highlighter

the Balm - Mary Loumanizer - $21.59 at Amazon.com - Most times when I'm in a hurry this is the highlighter I reach for and for two reasons.  1.  It is a simply powder highlighter to apply.  2.  It is a very natural looking highlight depending on how much you apply.  I really do love this, however the next product is the brand with the most when it comes to highlighters.

Becca - Moonstone $38-$41 at Ulta.com - Becca is to highlighters what Anastasia Beverly Hills is to eyebrows.  Whether it be their backlighting primer, their pressed powder, poured highlighter or liquid hilighters they just get it right.  They are famous for their Opal highlighter, however my pale ass prefers the slightly lighter moonstone.  Also their collab with YouTuber Jaclyn Hill, "Champagne Pop," is a lovely champagne/rose gold highlight that is one of a kind.

Eyeliner

MAC - Teddy Kohl Liner - $16.50 at MACcosmetics.com - It is the perfect brown.  That should be enough, but it also is just warm and cuddly and smudges out gorgeously to add depth and dimension to your eye.

Sephora Collection Waterproof Retractable Eyeliner - $13 at Sephora.com - I will put these eyeliners up there with Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliners.

Bronzer

Dr. Hauschka - Transluscent Bronzing Tint - $33.51 at Amazon.com - Usually Ms. Faux skips the whole bronzer game.  Why?  Most bronzers are too orange on my fair skin.  I can't find something that looks natural and not ruddy on my skin.  Until this product.  It puts a lovely flush of color all over your face so looks so natural.

Powder

Ben Nye - Luxury Powder - Cameo - $20 for 3 oz. at Amazon.com - I checked into this powder based on a recommendation.  I remember using it when I was taking stage make up classes in college as this is a make up artist based line for stage, however it is a beautifully milled powder that is so beautiful on the skin and one of my favorites.  Perfect for setting under eye make up and all over application as well.

Hourglass - Ambient Lighting Palette - $58 at Sephora.com - And speaking of finely milled powder... I would have to say if you are looking for a gorgeous illuminating powder that doesn't look like unicorns puked all over your face with their glitter puke then this the the powder for you.  Hourglass knows how to do subtle illuminating powders.  They have an entire line, but with this palette you get several of them to use on their own or blend all together.  Absolute perfection.

Eyeshadow Palettes (More than a quad)

NYX - Butt Naked - Underneath it All - $12.49 at Ulta.com - This is an amazingly inexpensive palette with blush, eyeshadow and bronzers and highlighters.  The thing that drew me to it though is the gorgeous eyeshadow colors that I felt were perfect for year round use.  Formulation of the shadows are also very good.

Wet & Wild Color Icon Palette in Comfort Zone $4.99 at Walgreens.com - This is like the cheapest palette every and it is absolutely one of the best.  The crease and definer colors on the rights are complete dupes for Urban Decay duochrome shadows, however all of the other colors are gorgeous and have a couple great transition shades at the top.  For $5 (or cheaper if you get it during a BOGO 1/2 off sale) it cannot be beat.

Tartlette Amazonian Clay Matte Palette - $45 at Ulta.com - This is absolutely my favorite matte palette.  While I mainly use the 6 shades in the middle the darker shades are great for lining and the lighter for blending.  Absolutely the best matte palette (and also one of the only all matte palettes) available.

Honorable Mentions...

Inglot - Custom Palette - I can't place a picture of this because it is completely customizable.  A build your own.  It is absolute perfection.

Urban Decay - Vice4 - This palette was a limited edition that just stopped being made so you may can go get one, but the colors are absolutely gorgeous and out of this world.

Brushes & Tools

Sonia Kashuk Multi-Purpose Brush $15.79 at Target.com - While this claims to be a multi-purpose brush, due to it's dense bristles I use it as one of the most perfect foundation brushes.  Crazy affordable as well.

Artis Elite Mirror Collection Linear 6 Brush $45 at artisbrush.com - and now to the more expensive.  While I do this this brush is outrageously priced the one reason that I justified this one is that I use it for foundation and it more than any other, perfectly hugs the jawline.  Use it once and you will be hooked.

Elf Cosmetics $3 Stippling Brush at Target.com - Now for real multi-use there is this brush.  Since they are only $3, I have like 5 of them.  This is mainly so I don't have to clean them all the time.  They are so cheap you can get a ton of them and only clean for time to time.

I have used these for foundation, blush, highlighters, blending, etc...  Seriously it is an amazing multi use tool.

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Jumbo Powder Brush $58 at ULTA.com - Oh lord.  This brush is just... it's just...  amazing.  It is so incredibly soft and brushing it across your face is just delightful.  That is good because the best way to ensure perfect make up is to blend.  You are going to want to do nothing but blend with this brush.  Just incredible.

BeautyBlender - $20 at Sephora.com - Sooooo... if you don't have one of these, stop reading this blog and go straight to sephora and get one.  "But it's $20," you say "and this one at the drug store is $6."  Don't waste your money on that $6 unless you are planning to use it to wash your dishes and then a store blender will do that better.  I don't know how they make this perfect make up tool, but they do.  I hope they enjoy their patent.  Use wet or dry (wet is better) and create seamless looks.  Blend out cheaper foundations and expensive ones for that matter to perfection.  Above all else, experience the BeautyBlender.  It is the FauxFave of all Faux Faves.

Clairsonic Mia 3  - $199 at Sephora.com - so Ms. Faux has to say she is blessed with pretty normal/unproblematic skin.  I will have a break out every now and again and otherwise I deal with normal to dry skin, the latter mainly due to age.  So really no complaints.  However, when my skin does freak out... this is the tool I reach for.  It makes short work of breakouts over a few days.  Also when I use it I realize there is more of a luminosity to my skin and smaller pores.  Just an amazing tool.

So there you go.  Ms. Faux's best in beauty for 2015.  Stay tuned because in the next few days I will be adding skincare, body care, tools and other bits.

Also if ya'll love it please tell all of your friends and follow her on the following sites.  If you don't... tell your enemies and just sit back and laugh at how they were sent to my ramblings.  And remember... if you don't look good, then Ms. Faux be lookin' like a damn fool.

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