Best Beauty Buys 2010

In apology for my long absence, my personal Best Beauty Buys for 2010; hopefully, not too late, because it's never too late to learn about some amazing new products, isn't it?

(clockwise: Mauve, Peach, Pinky, Angel, Taupe)

1. NYX Powder blushers
My most often reached for blushers, period. I'd even go as far as to claim that 2010 was a blusher year for me since my blusher collection grew considerably in the last 12 months. I find that on my pale skin, a touch of blush is indispensable, it just makes everything come together and evens out the complexion, giving it a healthy, glowy appearance. I like the fine texture and satin finish of NYX blushers and use the above pictured shades interchangeably. However, if you need one shade recommendation, I'd go for Angel: it's a perfect all rounder for my cool-toned skin.


2. Inglot Freedom eyeshadows
Thanks to these, I honestly haven't felt the need to check out MAC eyeshadows in ages. For my favorite neutrals with swatches, check out this post; I have also got three more shades on my recent trip to Poland and plan on posting a more wintery look soon. These are simply such a great quality and range for such a reasonable price, and the pearl finish blends like buttah.

(L-R: Hot & Sour, Lying Nails, Sharon's Heart, Vacation Time, Opal Glitter, Aqua)

3. Sinful Colors nail polishes
Best drugstore nail polish brand. I've heard there are some duds in the range, but I've yet to encounter them. Granted, my China Glaze polishes are just as good and their glitters even better, but then there's an obvious difference in price and for me, availability. I like how Sinful Colors are bringing out new trendy collections all the time too.


4. Ecotools brush sets
There's an assortment of different brushes and sets in the little glass holder above and I pinky promise to post a more detailed review and recommendations, but for now, let me just say that from all of the Ecotools brushes I've tried, there haven't been a single one I disliked. I use them every day and moreover, I'd be happy to go without all of my other brushes from various brands and use just these. They're that good, and vegan and sustainable to boot.


5. Tweezerman Slanted Tweezers
Staying in the tools category, this has become a staple in the Rocaille house. This is exactly what I mean when I say it's sometimes better to splurge on a quality item that quickly becomes an essential. I do my own brows and this has helped to keep the unwanted hairs under the browbone at bay; it grabs even the tiniest baby hairs and gets rid of them in a second.


6. Soap-free natural facial cleansers
I have tried two so far, the Bioelements All Things Pure organic cleanser with clay and this Alaffia Antixodiant Facial Cleanser with rooibos and unrefined shea butter. I seriously think that using a natural, chemical-free cleanser has changed the condition of my skin noticeably in the past 6 months, so much that even my family commented on how nice my skin looked. It has revolutionized my beliefs on treating oily, acne-prone skin. Let me know in the comments if you're interested in a review on the Alaffia cleanser, it's amazing to say the least.

(L-R: Vanilla in the Mist, Figs & Leaves, Oatmeal soap)

7. LUSH bar soaps
I've also been using LUSH bar soaps for the past couple months non stop. I'm particularly fond of the more sweet, foodsy scents, and so far my favorites have been the Honey I Washed the Kids and Vanilla in the Mist, this last one being a seriously underrated soap - it smells exactly like a vanilla latte. I find they're not too drying and a small chunk lasts a very long time, making them very cost-efficient.

So there you have it! Again, apologies for no posts in the past two weeks; I had every intention of scheduling some post for you, but I guess I got overwhelmed with the Christmas preparations and then my trip home, which, by the way, took us 25 hours. No amount of mini tooth brushes, travel pillows or great books is ever going to make such an experience better, but with 12 hours between flights to spare in Paris, at least we got to sample some French croissants and see the Notre Dame. And then, we had a Christmas Eve on Christmas Day, since we finally arrived in Warsaw at 1 am on December 25th. Phew!

I hope you all had a lovely Holiday and I wish you all the best for the 2011. x