Philosophy
Best of Beauty 2009
Jan 2nd
Here are my absolute favourites of 2009. I hope you find this list useful, and let me know what your favourites are, too! 
Skincare
Best Body Scrub: Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Cocoa Butter, Nutmeg & Cardamom Body Scrub
I honestly believe that no other scrub will ever come close to Crabtree & Evelyn’s ($30). It sloughs off dry skin and moisturizes at the same time. Plus it smells incredible!
Best Face Cleanser: Philosophy Purity Made Simple
I tried to find a drugstore substitute for Purity Made Simple ($26 for 8 oz), but I failed. I went through a few bottles of this cleanser this year, and my skin loves me for it. It takes off all the gunk without drying out my skin.
Best Face Exfoliator: MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
I only need three words to describe this exfoliator ($22): Blackheads. Be. Gone!
Best Skincare Tool: Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser
This is my great drugstore find of the year ($23). Because the exfoliating pads are soaked in salicylic acid, this battery-operated tool is fantastic for treating acne and blackheads.
Makeup
Best Foundation: FACE atelier Ultra Foundation
No surprise here. I loved FACE atelier Ultra Foundation ($45) on first try. It is weightless and takes away minor imperfections. And psst, if you need a heavier coverage, try using a duo fibre brush (like Quo Bronzing Powder Brush).
Best Brush for Face: Coastal Scents Synthetic Wide Buffer Brush
This is an inexpensive brush ($15) that is great for buffing in my setting powder, speaking of which…
Best Powder: MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural
This super lightweight powder ($32) has low coverage, which makes it great for setting your makeup or for buffing in on a no makeup day.
Best Brush for Eyes: MAC #217 Blending Brush
A true multi-tasking brush ($27): great for cream products like concealer, as well as blending out eyeshadows like a pro. This is one of those things that I would take with me if I was to live in an island.
Best Eyeshadow Palette: MAC Passions of Red Fascinating Ruby: 6 Smokey Eyes
Technically this was from 2008, but I just got my hands on it this summer. This is the most versatile palette! Great for neutral everyday looks, to a smoldering smoky eye. It’s hard to get a hold of this now, but if you are itching to try an eyeshadow from this palette, MAC Satin Taupe is amazing!
Best Eyeliner: Lancome Gel Artliner in Indigo Charm
This shimmery blue ($24) makes brown eyes pop. And who doesn’t love a gel liner? I’m addicted.
Best Lipgloss: Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Candid
This sheer gloss ($24) is great on its own because of the pink and gold shimmer swimming through it, but is also a great boost over your favourite lipstick.
Best Lipstick: MAC Lipstick in Patisserie
My no-fail, everyday creamy pink lipstick ($16.50).
Best Makeup Remover(s): Alcone Makeup Remover Cloths and L’Oreal Gentle Waterproof Makeup Remover
Whatever the makeup remover cloths ($35 for 80 cloths) leave behind, i.e., waterproof stuff but not any residue, the L’Oreal Makeup Remover ($10) takes off easily. This is my one-two punch combination for taking all my makeup off.
Hair
This is where the great drugstore buys come out!
Best Shampoo: Pantene Brunette/Red Expressions
I just love Pantene’s colour expressions line. It smells so good that I become a crazy hair sniffing girl.
Best Conditioner: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeeep
This is still my best conditioner for really dry, damaged hair.
Best Hair Treatment: Alberto VO5 Hot Oil
A very moisturizing pre-shampoo treatment. I wish this comes in a box of 100 tubes.
Best Styling Product: None
Nothing stood out this year in hair styling products. Help? I have straight hair that tends to fall flat. I need volume and hydration.
Perfume
Favourite Eau de Parfum: Dolce & Gabbana The One
Surprise surprise!
Favourite Eau de Toilette: Dior Addict Shine
While it means absolutely nothing to me, here are its notes: cedrat, gardenia, raspberry, cedar woods. It smells good, ‘kay?
Beauty Spree: MAC Sonic Chic and Philosophy Amazing Grace.
Jul 13th
I’ve been bad; I haven’t been looking after this blog. I blame work. For the past couple of weeks, we plunged into some project work involving proof of concepts. It wasn’t working for two weeks. Until this Friday at around 4:00. How convenient is that? To celebrate and reward myself for all my hard work (what a lame excuse! lol), I went to the mall to feed my inner girly girl.
So you know how I only own one piece of makeup from M.A.C? One lonely Fluidline in black. Now, thanks to the new Sonic Chic collection, I now have a total of four! I fell in love with the blushes so much that I picked up two, Nuance and Dainty. I also got an eyeshadow in Expensive Pink from the Neo Sci-fi collection. Ahhh I’m this close to hyperventilating… I wish I could wear them all at once. lol
Continuing my beauty haul, I walked over to Sephora and picked up Philosophy Amazing Grace purse spray. I just love the smell. It’s very light and feminine, perfect for the warm weather. It just makes me feel like a woman. So good! It’s going to be my everyday summer fragrance. I have to put my Burberry Brit away for more special occasions.
I finally got to wear my new shoes from Nine West, and a $9 flowery top from Wal-Mart. Can’t beat that price!
Beauty Spree: Product Body and Sephora.
Jun 10th
I’m just so excited that I want to share my purchases with the world lol!
I got stuff from Product Body. I got the Crush on You Sugar Shea Scrubby Wash, and Pure and Double Whipped 100% Shea Butter, both in Yuzu. My package arrived last night and I already tried them out this morning. I’m all smiles about this one. Oh and yes, I got a sample of Crush On You in Gardenia. 
I’ll post a reviews in a couple weeks.
I had to make an emergency run to Sephora today because my all-time favourite facial cleanser, Philosophy Purity Made Simple, had just ran out. I got a giant bottle of goodness this time that’ll last me a long long time. I also got a Sephora Flashy Waterproof Liner in Flashy Copper. I’ll make this my go-to eyeliner this summer. And what’s Sephora without cute little samples? This time I picked up a sample of Smashbox’s famous makeup primer.
Wee!
Sephora, My Love.
Feb 3rd
Yesterday my boyfriend and I went to Yorkdale mall. He shopped for accessories for his sexy new Macbook Pro. By the way, I’m totally jealous of its massive desktop space and backlit keyboard. After the Apple store, it’s only fitting that I get a shopping fix as well. So I decided to pop in to Sephora for “two minutes.” Not!
I already had a couple of things in mind that I wanted to pick up so, without further ado… my mini Sephora haul.
shu uemura Eyelash Curler, $28
philosophy Purity Made Simple, $28
I already tried both products briefly and am very happy of their effectiveness so far. I’ll try them out for a few more days to get a true feel for them.
After shopping, we watched Cloverfield. I’m not much for stressful movies with monsters, so I didn’t really like it. But Is it also a coincidence that the movie’s lead characters stopped in front of a Sephora while in the middle of the hysteria? I think there might have been a hidden message there somewhere.
