BrunetteBeautyBanter 2011 Product Awards!!

Good afternoon lovelies!!

After my quiet spell over Xmas and New Year I am now BACK and i have been thinking very hard about what products I have loved the most over the last year. I started my blog in April 2011 and at that time i did not own half of the makeup and beauty products i own now and tended to stick to products i knew. I credit my lovely Twitter buddies and fellow bloggers with pointing me in the right direction and some of their recommendations, along with a few little gems i have discovered on my own, have become well loved in my collection. So i decided to put together a little post to tell you about the best of the BEST in my make up bag over the last year. Please note that a YEARS' worth of favourites = PICTURE HEAVY POST!!

And here they are!!

Foundation of the Year Goes Toooooo......

MAC Matchmaster in Shade 4.0!!

I have been through a few foundations in my time, even before i started blogging. I used to lean towards Maybelline foundations, however, i feel like they have changed their formulas/colours a little of late and i switched to Max Factor Xperience, which remains my go-to drugstore foundation. On my birthday i took a little trip to Meadowhall and a lovely lad on the Debenhams MAC counter took it upon himself to match me to a foundation. We tried a couple but Matchmaster really did jump out at me! The demi-matte finish is perfect for my normal/combunation skin and it covers flaws brilliantly! It doesn't leap back at you in photographs either! I really couldn't be without this now and just bought a replacement. For my full review click HERE!

Bronzer of the Year Goes Tooooo.....

VIVO Cosmetics Baked Bronzer!!

This was a relatively late edition to my collection. I picked this up at the TOWIB event in October. This is a range that is sold exclusively in Tesco and, as i live at least an hour away from the nearest Tesco, I was so lucky to receive this. And i have used it almost every day since. It is just a perfect bronzer for every day and is neither matte nor overly-shimmery. I don't contour with it but a spot of this over the cheeks, nose and temples produces the most lovely, natural glow. It also lasts AGES! I took this photo this morning and you can hardly see any wear on it at all! Major value for a budget brand! For some reason i have failed to do a full review on this yet so i will certainly pop one up in the near future. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

Blusher of The Year Goes Tooooo.....

Well i couldn't pick just one could i!! However, i did identify TWO that were worthy of the joint honours...

1) BeneFit Coralista

This has been my best friend ever since i got it. I just adore the shade and it can be as subtle or vibrant as you like. Its a very pinky coral and it has the most gorgeous sheen to it without being over the top. I have worn this shade EVERYWHERE from work to a night out and it has been admired. I find BeneFit blushers rather pricey but the packaging looks beautiful on any dressing table or vanity. It even SMELLS nice!! I can see this working for most skintones so its definitely worth a swatch at LEAST!

2) MAC Melba

I'd been recommended this by so many people when i was on the hunt for the perfect peach blush. I like that it isn't an orangy peach as i already own one (Sleek Life's a Peach). This leans more pink and gives a gorgeous glow to the cheeks. Again, i'd say that it is very versatile and could be worn for any occasion. MAC blushes as a whole are hard to fault and are more affordable than BeneFit or NARS. I can't wait to pick up more of them in 2012!

Lip Product(s) of The Year Goes Tooooo.....

Lipsticks...

Again, i can't pick just one. It's impossible. My go-to shade of the summer was undoubtedly MAC Vegas Volt (Amplified) The most beautiful bright coral i have ever seen! It's not so much a daytime shade for me, although it could certainly be worn as such with neutral eyes (and it works, i've tried it) but it dazzles on a summers evening. The amplified formula is very creamy and i do not find it drying on my lips. When i think back to last summer i always see this colour. 

MAC Hue (Glaze) is my lipstick saviour. It is always in my bag, nomatter what the occasion. It's just the most beautiful, subtle, nude pink shade out there. When i bought it i worried it would be too pale on my medium skintone but it has proved to be perfect for me in every way. I would not be without it and will be buying a back up very soon as i'd hate to lose it. 

My drugstore lipstick choice is definitely Rimmel Nude Delight (Moisture Renew). This isn't the longest lasting lippy in the world: In my opinion Rimmel's lipsticks rarely are. But I love the colour and it makes my lips feel gorgeous!! I'm not the best at spotting tones in colours but i'd say this was a peach/beige kind of nude. Definitely a warm toned nude anyway (I might be totally wrong). 

Lip Glosses...

I'm not a lipgloss freak. Never have been. I think it makes my lips feel like ive been sucking on a candle. But, when MUA brought out their Out There Plumping Lip Glosses, the pigmentation of them had me suckered in and, at £2 each i bought 4 of them!! The two i have featured here are Buff (a brown toned nude) and Pin Up Pink (a bold pink/red). These are such good value for money and do not feel at all sticky or heavy on the lips. The pigmentation is almost akin to a lipstick and i, personally, love the tingliness of the MaxiLip ingredient. They have changed my view on lipglosses. Read my full review HERE!!

Nail Polish of The Year Goes Toooooo....

1) OPI: Barefoot in Barcelona

I love the warmth of this shade. It's been my favourite for the Autumn and Winter months. I just love the terracotta/brown tones in it. OPI formulas in general i find are very good and i have no complaints whatsoever on this polish. I just love it! 

2) China Glaze: For Audrey

This has been a constant favourite throughout the year. The colour is just so striking and goes with almost anything! I suppose i'd describe it as turquoise/aqua but its been lovely for both summer and winter. Definitely worthy of award status!! The China Glaze formula is possibly my favourite of all the brands ive tried. You could even get away with a single coat of this polish and it lasts a long time before chipping (even for a pot washer like me).

Eye Product of The Year Goes Tooooo.....

Well, of course it was going to go to my Urban Decay Naked Palette!! I haven't loved any other palette anywhere NEAR as much as i have loved this one. There are other contenders of course. Sleek and MUA both produce wonderful palettes which i adore but there was only going to be one winner here. It is just the most PERFECT collection of neutrals which can be so easily worn for day but then vamped up for night. I am willing to accept the little issue of some fallout with a couple of the shades, just because it is so FABULOUS!! I would love to get my paws on the new Naked2 palette which has emerged this year, but i do not feel like i NEED it because i have this one. Maybe when my bank balance has recovered from Xmas i might see about investing. 

Other Honourable Mentions.....

Fragrance of the Year: Diesel Fuel for Life

Body/Tanning Product of the Year: Xen Tan Dark Lotion

Hair Product of the Year: Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

I really hope you ladies enjoyed reading through my product TRIUMPHS of 2011. Over Xmas and New Year i have discovered even MORE fabulous things which i can't wait to share with you. I am really looking forward to improving my blog in 2012 and i would love to hear any suggestions you may have or posts you'd like to see. I will be getting back to my Sunday Salon series and playing with new looks to share with you. AND i swear i will revive my much-neglected YouTube channel. I look forward to sharing it all with you.

What were YOUR product winners of 2011??