2014 Favorites
10:42 PM
2014 Favorites--The Best of the Year
This post is long overdue, but hey! December was crazy--shopping during the holiday sales, gorging on delicious winter treats and spending time with family and friends. But I am back to business now! Here, I will share my favs of 2014. These were the items that I used religiously in the past year. So obviously, I got to dedicate a post to them! :)
There lies all my most used beauty products of 2014.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++
This this this sunscreen is amazing. It is lightweight, easy to spread, not sticky, leaves no white cast and serves as a good makeup base too--everything you want in a sunscreen! It has a slight citrus-y scent, but it does not bother me in any way. It sinks into the skin so quickly and it's pretty refreshing. It is affordable too!
Kuan Yuan Lian (廣源良) Cucumber Water
This is my second bottle, except in spray form. It is a wonderful toner that is good for all skin types because it is natural and gentle. I have mentioned this in my Empties #2 blog post, so check it out!
Rosebud Perfume Co. - Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm
I featured this in my Winter Essentials blog post. I use this daily, in the morning and night (well, when I remember to...). But overall, it is a nourishing lip balm that smells great and moisturizes these puckers! I have been using this consistently for four months and I have only made a small dent. This will definitely last me for a long while.
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, Sweet Tart
I never thought I was a pinky-lip-kind-of-gal... But as I was planning this post, I realize that I reached for this color the most in 2014. I love how it gives my face a pop of color so I look more put-together on lazy days. It is so forgiving and I can apply this when I am on the go. It is pretty pigmented and fun to wear. Also the Revlon Lip Butter formulation is relatively moisturizing. What's there not to love?!
Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation, 4.0
I am almost done with this foundation bottle! Fascinating, isn't? I have never finished a foundation in my life. I usually use a good chunk of it, but I never finish the bottle. The reason being that I found something better or the texture was no longer as good as it used to be. Anyways, this is exciting news for me. The satisfaction I get from finishing a beauty product is immense! I did enjoy this foundation a lot. I got this a year ago and it has lasted me so long. It is pretty good overall because it is lightweight and good for everyday wear. However, having moved back to the Bay Area, my skin has lightened. Thus, this foundation is slightly too dark for everyday wear. I still try to use this by mixing it with my Lioele BB Cream or my Jouer Matte Moisture Tint.
Love & Beauty Nail Polish, Purple and Dark Purple
These were the colors I reached for the most this year. Yes, they are from Forever 21, so they are darn cheap. But the quality is probably not up to salon standards. However, I am an amateur nail polisher, so I don't mind using these. I just love the colors of these nail polishes. They are so wearable and chic. I probably will invest in higher quality nail polishes this year. I wish I knew the exact dupes for these colors in other brands!
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Got this more than a year ago. Yes I was late to the game. Out of all the UD Naked Palettes, I like this one the best. My skin is yellow-toned and therefore looks better in warmer colors. The other two palettes are too cool or too pink for my liking. So I am glad I settled for this. I enjoy using the colors: Naked, Half Baked, Toasted, Dark Horse. It is great for everyday and has all the colors you need for a day/night look!
Growing up, I love stationery. So I gotta feature them here!
Moleskine Orange Yellow Hardcover Notebook
Got this a couple months ago and I love the color. It is bright, easy to find and lights up my day. I am so glad I did not get the generic black one. I use this as my journal to jot down thoughts that I have. It is great to travel with. It is decently thick, but the size is perfect for my handbag. Good investment!
Bic Round Stic Fine Point Pens, blue and black
These pens are lovely to write with. I know, how can I forget my Asian stationery pens? But seriously, these Bic pens are great for everyday. They are just simple ball-point pens so they don't blend through pages. They are so handy, cheap and easy to find. I bought a box of both the blue and black pens, and they do last me for a long time!
The gorgeous blank pages of Muji Weekly Planner.
Muji Recycled Paper Weekly Planner
This is my second one already. I love how slim it is and it displays a weekly schedule. Yes you do have to fill in the dates for yourself, but I actually like that. That way, if I don't use it for a period of time, I can always go back and begin where I left off. One annoying thing for me is that each page starts with Monday and ends with Sunday. I am used to using calendars where Sunday is the first day of the week, not the last. Even now, I am still not used to it. But I gotta work with what I have! I have tried using Google Calendar, but I love writing my events down. It makes me feel more organized and ready to tackle my projects. I highly highly highly recommend it! I am not sure if they have this anymore though, but you can try to find it or something similar at Muji stores/website & it is relatively inexpensive!
The awards for my favorite snacks are:
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Triple Ginger Cookies
They are ginger cookies covered in dark chocolate! They are filling and wonderful with a cup of tea/coffee. These are a holiday edition treat. I eat one to two of these and I am satisfied. It satisfies my craving for a crunchy snack and chocolate. So if you like ginger treats and chocolate, go run to your nearest Trader Joe's! I think this is limited to the holiday season so do not hesitate!
Big Thunder Mini Chocolate Bars
They are the baby of biscuits + brownies, covered in chocolate. That may sound weird, but they are truly delicious. I am so sad I am on my last one already... My mom brought them back from Hong Kong so I am not sure if you can get them in the States. Although they are small, they definitely are filling. (Do you see a trend? I like filling snacks that feature chocolate!) I They are perfect on the go. I love love love these.
--- J.
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