January 11, 2009

Year End Review: 2008 Favorites List

Happy New Year to us all! Let’s hope is shiny, new, and gives us all hope for the best things to come! I’m a bit late with this post but it’s here now.

If you read my blog daily you probably remember last year when I did a round up of allllllllllllllllll my very favorite bits and bobs that I loved over the course of the year. Honestly it’s difficult for me to pick and choose favorite items and do Beauty Award style posts because I have way too many favorite items that I love. For me it’s best to round up items that I’ve used all year and have grown to love. Considering the Muse’s “favorites” change so often it’s hard to nail down exactly what sort of products I’ve come to love over the course of the year.

Being the Muse means that products come and go out of my life at a rather constant and alarming speed. Makeup is like crack and what once got me high an hour ago probably isn’t giving me the same high in this present hour.

Alas you can see the dilemma of creating a list of items that I would award the best of it’s kind. However, instead of rounding up a massive amount of product the way I did last year (damn straight I was excited about alot of crap last year!), I decided to give myself a tiny bit of breathing room. I stepped back, I contemplated, I thought (don’t worry the thought process didn’t blow out any light bulbs or cause any world crisis that I know of. No that wasn’t me that caused the stock market crash!) and I decided that a few things have become really favorite items of mine. These favorite items are what I’ll share with you today!

I hope you enjoy this look at some of the Muse’s very favorite items of the year. These items aren’t necessarily released in 2008 but they are just generally awesome items that I either use daily or have used many a time that they are now considered a favorite.

I hope after you’ve read my favorites you’ll share some of your own with me!

Happy Reading!

Favorite Cosmetic Collection of the Year

There have been SO many collections released over the course of the year but none have thrilled me more than the inexpensive Spring Collection from Etude House entitled Lovely Face aka “Peach” Makeup Collection.

The collection consisted of some of my very favorite items released thus far from Etude House such as the amazing Pore Erasing Peach Base! Truly this was love! This collection makes a daily appearance in my looks especially the pressed powder and base.


My raves and excitement were so loud they reached the ears of Etude House and the Muse was featured on Etude House’s official blog and later featured in the Etude House Newsletter which is given out at Etude House stores in Korea. You can imagine my excitement over this! The Muse felt like she made a guest starring appearance in the New York Times on the front cover or something! For her appearing in this newsletter was actually better!

Upon reading her review you can obviously see why this Muse was so excited about this collection and deems it her very favorite of the year! Cheers Etude House! The Muse is looking forward the Spring 2009!

Favorite Blush

I won’t deny that it hurts me so many people thought that NARS Blush in Super Orgasm was a let down. I sob in agony when I hear a bad word against it. It was my ideal image of what I wanted the original orgasm to be and upon it’s release I couldn’t sit still as I wriggled in excitement at the prospect of chunks of golden glitter and a peach sheen! Understandably all that glitter is what makes it my favorite however I find once it’s blended the glitter goes away and a deeper color is revealed that is, in my opinion, perfect and a favorite. NARS Blush in Super Orgasm is definitely a Muse fav (#1)!


Honorable Mention

2. Pop Rose Belle Blush Palette
3. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips and Cheeks in Raspberry
4. Sugar Cosmetics Sweet Cheeks in Gingerbread
5. Lola Blush in Mistress
6. and 7. Jillian Dempsey for Avon Horizon Blush

Favorite Face Powder/Highlighter

Seems like just yesterday that I was ohhhhh’ing and ahhhh’ing over Benefit Thrrob! Almost a year later and it still tops my favorite list but I have a feeling it won’t remain there long as it’ll be quickly replaced by Benefit Coralista soon I’m sure! For now though Benefit Thrrob (#3) is a Muse fav!


Honorable Mention
1. Estee Lauder Shimmering Jewel Powder
2. Lancome Elephant Bronzer Powder

Favorite Single Eyeshadow

Lord knows last year I had a slew of shadows that were my favorite! This year I cut back drastically simply because I had fewer favorites plus I found one that I really loved so much that nothing else came close to topping it!

Now it may be unfair to deem it a single shadow since it’s actually two shadows in one but the Muse thinks that Jelly Pong Pong Venus Magical Pearls in Worship (#2) is absolutely the best shadow she’s used all year long! Shimmering golds mixed with copper created a stunning Summer look that the Muse favored well into the months of Fall and beyond!


Honorable Mention

Although Jelly Pong Pong Venus Magical Pearls in Worship are my very favorite I had a few shadows that I reach for almost all the time and they are truly worth mentioning for this round up!

1. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Kiddie Pool
3. Milani Wet/Dry Sparkling Eyeshadow in Beach Sand
4. MAC Eyeshadow in Antique Pink
5. Bare Escentuals Glimmer in Azure

Favorite Eyeshadow Palette

Lord knows I have a serious addiction when it comes to palettes. Would you believe at one time in my life I was only ever collecting single shadows? I avoided palettes like the plague simply because I was at a lost how to best use all the shades! Later in life I realized the joy I was missing and started to stash every palette I came across. A hundred years later and I’m the proud owner of one too many palettes and possibly out a year’s tuition of my future unborn child’s education.

Although the formula isn’t particularly amazing I name the DuWop Crush Trio my very favorite of the year (#1)! I’m still puzzling over how three simple shades can make any number of different, stunning, unique looks! It was my total go to palette for sizzling Summer eye looks and worked well into the cooler weather for a perfect sparkling Autumn look! It was a hard choice to deem this as my favorite considering it was up against my all time biggest crush, KATE Glamtrick Palette in GN1 but the Muse decided that she had a tiny bit of extra love for DuWop and thus it became her favorite.


Honorable Mention

2. Laneige Darling Big Eyes! Trio
3. KATE Dual Carat Eye Duo in GD-2
4. Clarins Colour Quartet in So Chic
5. KATE Glamtrick Palette in GN1
6. Lunasol Geminate Eyes Palette 01

Favorite Liquid and Cream Eyeshadow

I didn’t think anything could take away from my deep love and appreciation for Visee Aqua Shining Eyes. After all these were the liquid shadow that single handedly changed my mind about liquid and cream shadows! But after trying out Coffret D’Or Fluffy Shine Eyes (#1) my emotions turned and soon all that love and admiration was being poured all over Coffret D’Or for creating such an a gorgeous, shimmering shadow that this Muse thinks of as a fond favorite!


Honorable Mention

2. Visee Aqua Shining Eyes

Favorite Lipgloss

You already know what the Muse’s favorite gloss is dontcha? I’ve mentioned about 5 billion times since picking it up with the MAC Neo Sci-Fi Collection….yes….you got it….MAC Lipglass in Pink Grapefruit!!!!!!! Although MAC Lipglass isn’t really a favorite gloss of mine I can’t deny that it has incredible staying power, is nicely pigmented, and wears well however MAC Lipglass in Pink Grapefruit is possibly my most favorite lipgloss shade EVER! Peachy, Orangy, glorious! It is, was, and shall remain a personal favorite!


Honorable Mention

2. Stila Lipglaze
3.Lipstick Queen Sinner Shine Hardcore Gloss
4. MAC Lipglass in Cult of the Cherry
5. NARS Lipgloss in Orgasm
6. Majorca Majolica Rouge majex in PK338
7. Love Clover PopChu Gloss
8. Too Faced Mirror Mirror Lipgloss

Favorite Lipstick

Without question I was thrilled to pieces with the release of MAC Lipstick in Kiss Manish (#1) which went perfectly well with my MAC Lipglass in Pink Grapefruit! Obviously it’s not hard to see why I choose it as my favorite lipstick this year!


Honorable Mention

2. Urban Decay Lipsticks
3. Fafi for MAC Lipstick in Flash n Dash
4. Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Charmed Rose
5. Armani Lip Wax

Favorite Cheek and Lip Stains

The Muse is a big lover of cheek and lip stains! Anything to make her look flatteringly flushed is always good in her book. One of her very favorites of the year was of course Benefit Posietint(#1)! Fancy, flattering pink to make her flush a pretty pink shade was the order of business with the release of Posietint! Truly a favorite this year.


Honorable Mention

2. Missha Tinted Lip Markers
3. Etude House 55 Kissful Tint Chou

Favorite Eyeliner

Without a doubt my discovery of Bobbi Brown Gel liner(#1) was instant love! It applies beautifully well the first time, every time! The Muse thinks it’s well worth your time and it’s her favorite of the year!


Honorable Mention

2. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils

Favorite Eyeshadow Primer

There isn’t any doubt in my mind that my favorite primer is, will be, and shall remain Urban Decay Primer Potion (#1). The Muse is doubtful she’ll ever find a better primer that keeps her shadow fresh and long wearing all day and well into the night!


Honorable Mention

2. MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ocher
3. Benefit Lemon Aid

Favorite Eyeshadow Palette

It’s difficult deciding on just one palette but the Muse was quite pleased with Prescriptives Fall Dimensions Eye Color Quad (#1)! Creating two unique looks using this palette made it a fond favorite for the Fall and well into the Winter!


Honorable Mention

2. Bobbi Brown Holiday Lip and Eye Palette

3. Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes Palette

Favorite Mascara

It never really changes and this year remains the same, my favorite mascara that is. My absolutely fav mascara for a few years now is Majolica Majorca Lash Extender (#1). Any formula and this Muse is all over it for fatter, longer, and prettier lashes!


Honorable Mention

2. Lorac Visual Effects Mascara
3. Givenchy Phenonmen Eyes Mascara

Favorite Face Primer

I’m run across some great primers this year but I truly adored and favored Make Up For Ever HD Perfecting Primer (#1). Available in a wide variety of formulas and shades for correcting skin tone while priming, the Muse thought this was one hell of a primer!


Honorable Mention

2. Tricia Sawyer Skin Balancing Water Primer
3. Lavshuca Perfect Base Moist

Favorite Concealers

Without a doubt the most reached for concealer of the year for this Muse was the Bobbi Brown Concealer palette…it took a while for me to love it but when I finally did fall in love it was for keeps! Bobbi Brown Concealer Palette (#1) tops this Muse’s list as a fav!


Honorable Mention

2. Laura Mercier Undercover Concealer Pot Duo
3. Benefit Boi-ing
4. Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil
5. Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer

Favorite Beauty Tools

The Muse thinks nothing can top the simplicity of a sponge applicator (#1) for packing on color, blending color, and creating a great eye look! Cheap as day old chips, sponge applicators are a top favorite with the Muse!


Honorable Mention

2. Bare Escentuals Eye Buki Brush
3. MAC 183
4. MAC Baby Buki
5. Bobbi Brown Mini Blush Brush
6. Smashbox #60
7. Aromaleigh Fiber Optic Blush Brush
8. Bare Escentuals Dual End Smudge Brush

Favorite Foundation

The Muse has stashed away quite a few foundations as of late but she must say that this year she was pretty happy with Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation (#1). Instant Smooth was like no other foundation product I’ve tried and it became a fast favorite this year for beautifully perfect skin!


Honorable Mention

2. Lavshuca Creamy Liquid Foundation
3. Lancome Absolute Makeup
4. Etude House BB Magic Cream
5. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric
6. Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enchancer
7. Benefit Playsticks

Favorite Facial Moisturizers

The Muse was quite happy with the newest facial moisturizers released from Lush this year and she was absolutely thrilled with Lush Vanishing Cream (# 1). Vanishing Cream was this Muse’s ideal moisturizer for soothing her skin while offering a light formula that was easily absorbed into skin! Brilliant and a favorite!


Honorable Mention

2. Philosophy When Hope is Not Enough
3. Lush Skin Nanny
4. Lush Paradise Regained

Favorite Facial Scrubs

The Muse is a big lover of Lush Ocean Salt but she does so admit that after trying MAC’s amazing Volcanic Ash Exfoliant (#1) she was convinced it was her new favorite! Volcanic Ash played an important part is scrubbing away old dry skin and revealing softer, fresher skin! A true fav!


Honorable Mention

2. Lush Ocean Salt

Best Makeup Removers

The Muse has been known to brag about how much she simply adores Kose Airy Whip (#1) but she’ll keep this one short and say after all that bragging it remains a tried and true favorite for whisking away all the Muse’s makeup in one gentle wash without drying out my skin! Perfection!


Honorable Mention

2. Lush Ultra Bland
3. Mandom Cleansing Express
4. Jill Stuart Cleansing Oil

Favorite Toners

The Muse wasn’t really thrilled with the Etude House Aqua Sherbet Skincare line but one favorite did come out of it! Etude House Aqua Sherbet Ice Toner became an instant classic (and favorite) this Summer! Icy, cool, and refreshing it toned the Muse’s skin with a burst of coolness while prepping her face for foundation! T’was love!


Honorable Mention

2. Lush Breath of Fresh Air

2008 was a fabulous year for makeup, skincare, and general beauty bits and bobs and the Muse had a fab time discovering new products. She hopes that 2009 brings a slew of new options to adventure into and with it a new favorite list will be born.

Please enjoy her favorites list from 2007 as well to see what came back this year as a favorite and what made the list last year!

Do drop a comment below and tell the Muse what your favorites of the year were! She’d love to hear all about them!

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for being apart of my life the last year!

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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