Favorite Things 2008

In what has now become a blogging tradition, a group of us (Many thanks to Grayburn for all the hard work) brings you our favorite things of the year. I recently went through my lists from previous years (2006 and 2007), wondering if I should write a post about which products have become perennial loves, but quickly realized I'd have to copy almost the entire post. More than 90% of the previous years favorites are things I've repurchased and still using regularly.

So here it is, not necessarily new releases, but all are items I discovered and loved in 2008. Links go to my original reviews.

1. Skin Care: Liz Earle cleansing products
Gentle, effective and smelling good. What more can you ask from something you put on and wash off?

2. Bath and Body: Bliss Sesame Carrot Scrub
The scent alone is good enough to be included in this list, but it also provides excellent exfoliation and skin softening. If only they had a matching body butter.

3. Hair Care: L'Occitane hair products
Shampoos, conditioners and hair masks that made a huge difference: My hair looks and feels better and I'm using less goop than ever before. And everything smells great.

4. Hair Styling: Sebastian Whipped Creme
The one product I do use on a regular basis. It's whipped cream for the hair, define curls without making them crunchy, sticky or anything other than soft, manageable hair. Imagine that!

5. Nail Polish: OPI-The French Collection
There was something about this collection that stood out among all the other seasonal/limited editions and other new polishes. The colors managed to look both edgy and elegant, while offering something to everyone. You Don't Know Jacques, a dark taupe, is probably the most memorable, with Tickle Me France, a nude mauve that should become a classic.

6. Palette: Bobbi Brown Mauve
Bobbi Brown is the undisputed Queen Of Palettes. The Mauve one from fall 2008 might be my favorite one so far. Yes, even more than the Chocolate. Muted, flattering colors with only a hint of shimmer and the prettiest blush one could ask for have made it into a makeup bag essential for me.

7. Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Allure in Attitude
As always, I find myself buying and wearing more Chanel lip color than any other brand. Rouge Allure lipstick in Attitude seems to work for just about everyone. A rosy red (reddish rose?) with just enough personality and completely wearable. And like all Rouge Allure products, it's kind to the lips.

8. Foundation: Benefit You Rebel (Lite) and Some Kind Of Gorgeous
Both the tinted moisturizer and cream-to-powder foundation made my life easier. Perfect light texture, sheer coverage that still performs beautifully and gives that most-wanted even look.

9. Powder: Laura Geller Balance-n-Bronze
A finishing powder with a hint of bronzer that matched my skin like nothing else. How good is this one? I'm already on my second compact.

10. Mascara: Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes
No lash left behind. In a year full of gimmicks, this mascara delivers like nothing else. Not for the faint of heart, but when I want to go all the way, this is my mascara of choice.

11. Perfume: Onda by Vero Profumo
Reminding us what perfume can and should be, Vero Kern from Switzerland has created a powerful masterpiece. All three of Vero's scents are now available in the US (from Luckyscent/Scent Bar in L.A.) and are worth trying. Onda is what Tim Gunn calls "soul stirring".
(My 2008 Perfume Retrospective is here)

For more suggestions, please visit the other participants:

Beautiful Makeup Search

Beauty 411

Beauty Talk

Beauty Tyrant

Binary Star

'*:.blu3.:*'

For The Love of Beauty

Grayburn

Life Of A Ladybug

lily loves mac

Make Do Style

Miss Whoever You Are

Perfume Shrine

Platinum Blonde Life

Searching the Inner Me

Slap Of The Day

The Beauty Alchemist

Urbane Girl