Here we go with our second installment of Dolly Rouge’s 2011 favourites. If you missed it, check out part 1.
La Roche-Posay Teint Mineral is a powder compact. It can be used on its own with a sponge for medium-full coverage (oily or combo-skinned ladies), dusted with a powder brush to set foundation, or provide more coverage over sheer foundations (combo-normal skins). It covers redness/imperfections, doesn’t look powdery, doesn’t oxidise, doesn’t budge when faced with oil, doesn’t clog pores and has SPF 25. Consider that all boxes ticked for me!
Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer has toppled Laura Mercier Undercover off the top spot. It has a salmon toned concealer for dark circles, a yellow toned one for redness/imperfections and a translucent powder to set the lot. Well worth €14. Check out Kat’s review here.
To adorn our peepers last year, we were loving Inglot eyeshadows. They boast amazing quality and pigmentation at half the price of premium brands. The Freedom System, where you can create your own custom palette of shades (of which there has to be hundreds), is so clever and convenient. Sound good? Check out Kat’s swatches.
Another budget product providing high end results is Avon‘s SuperShock Eyeliners. These deliver buttery soft, richly pigmented lines which don’t budge all day. Rachelle shows them off here.
And to finish it all off, we’ve been more often that not turning to Rimmel‘s Glam’eyes Day 2 Night mascara. It may seem gimmicky, with dual wands (one for length and one for volume) but it performs very well. Using the “Length” wand will provide daytime appropriate definition, whereas the “Volume” wand delivers oomph for nighttime. The Length wand can also be used to separate and define the tips of the lashes, adding extra va-va-voom! Unlike Rimmel Scandal’eyes, we love it. Rachelle dubs it life changing!
Sleek have knocked it out of the park this year with their gorgeous offerings – eyeshadow palettes, lippies, gel eyeliners, brow kits, you name it they have it. However their blushes are something very special. In a great range of shades to suit all skintones, they deliver highly pigmented (but blendable) un-budging colour for your cheeks. At €6.00 each for 8g (vs €29.00 for 4.8g NARS blush) these are a recessionista’s dream. Let Kat tempt you with her review and swatches.
2011 was definitely the year of the nail with indications that the recessionary “Lipstick Index” is turning into a nail polish index! With nail trends changing with the wind and the fact that most of us will never reach the bottom of a bottle, our nail polish of the year has to be Essence. Their 5 ml bottles are the perfect size and the perfect price (€1.29!) for us to indulge ourselves on a regular basis without guilt. And the fact that their vast range is not just on-trend, but often offers dupes of high end cult polishes is the icing on the cake. LOVE.
2011 was also the year of the nail wrap, with a number of brands launching their take on the trend. Our favourite has to be Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. The range of styles has something to suit everyone, application is a breeze (especially by comparison to Nail Rock Designer Nail Wraps) and they last. A+! Check out Kat’s review.
And to round everything off nicely we come to our favouritest gadgets of the year. Since you’re never fully dressed without a (pearly white) smile, we’ve been feeling all kinds of grá towards Philips Sonicare toothbrushes. The HX6731 model in particular is great, offering an extra whitening setting and a price slashed in half by many retailers. Well worth the investment.
BaByliss Big Hair, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: volume, shine and a hairdresser’s blowdry finish. ‘Nuff said.
What do you think ladies, do you agree with us on our favourites of 2011? Is there anything you think we’ve missed? Please enable us in the comments!
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