It's that time of the year again! Let's go over all the beauty products I've loved the most in 2014. But first, let me wish you a very happy new year. For some the new year isn't really that much of a big deal, but I like to consider it the start of something new and exciting. The whole year is still open for us to fill with memories - I am very much so looking forward to everything! Back to the favourites game now - it's been a year full of awesome discoveries! My skin hasn't always behaved this year, but it seems to have calmed down the past few months. Makeup wise I've gone through all sorts of phases again - matte, dewy, heavily contoured, nude lips, sparkly eyes, and more of that jazz. I've gone through my cabinets and vanity and have selected the products I've discovered & enjoyed using the most this year. I've also thrown in part of my little acne routine which is nearly unchanged, perhaps it can help a few of you in your search for new things that work on problem skin. I'm not good at keeping this list to just fourteen products across all categories (seriously impossible) and this is actually already the second narrowed down version of this post. This year review has been a few days in the making.. Let's finally get to it!


1. SKIN CARE:
DHC New Mild Touch Cleansing Oil: Oh how I have learned to love oil cleansing this year! I absolutely love this oil - it's gentle and aromatic and gets rid of all makeup easily. I use this as a part of a two step cleanse, and my skin has really benefited from it. In Japan this is promoted as the best oil to use in the shower, as it can be used on a wet face as well. // Garnier Micellar Water: I absolutely love this budget micellar water. It's much cheaper than some other pharmacy brands I've used and I have now completely transitioned to only using this one. // Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel: Yep, I've only discovered this one this year.. This is quite the hefty stuff to use, but I love going in with this product once a month in between other exfoliating products. Baby skin, what else?

2. NAIL CARE:
HEMA Glass Nail File: Thanks to my friend Amaury I've started using this file and I'm not ever looking back! It's budget proof, friendly for your nails and ultra easy to clean. // Morgan Taylor Make It Last: I have really loved getting to know this brand in 2014, I had never heard of it before but it can definitely compete with the big names. This top coat for example dries super fast! // Dior Bar: The perfect black nail polish. I feel like a simple black polish on a well manicured hand looks super sophisticated, regardless of the season or whatever you're wearing. Staple material!

3. ACNE FIGHTING:
Avène Cleanance Mask: The very best acne mask out there. Calms down skin considerably in 10 minutes! // Avène Triacnéal: The holy grail over the counter night treatment for active acne, dry acne and residual scarring. // Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel: Newbie on the block, but definitely a good option for a night treatment or day treatment if you're not wearing makeup. Apply only on the affected area for best results.

4. BODY PAMPERING:
Nivea Creme Care Shower Cream: A true blast from the past, this shower cream smells like the blue jars of Nivea cream. // Bath & Body Works Shower Gels: So many scents to choose from! I am very sad that these aren't sold in Europe.. // Soap & Glory Rich & Foamous: This scent.. IT'S AMAZING! And on top of that it's so soft and nourishing as well. // &Other Stories Cotton Care Madapollam Body Scrub: Best scrub of the year and even of all-time: this is one of my very favourite discoveries of the year. Will be repurchased many times for sure.


5. SCENTS OF THE YEAR: 
La Petite Robe Noire Hair Mist: I'm a big fan of hair mists and this one was a very pleasant addition to my fragrance cabinet. Compliments one of my all time favourite scents La Petite Robe Noire fragrance perfectly! // Estée Lauder Modern Muse Eau De Parfum: Probably my favourite perfume launch of this year (Belgium got it a little later than other countries), this fragrance is strangely addictive and an iconic scent in the making. // Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau De Toilette: I got to know this fragrance a little later than Modern Muse and it reminded me of it (although it's been around much longer), it's strangely similar but still noticeably different. Musky and ultra feminine! // Dior Addict Eau De Toilette: A beautiful warm floral scent with vanilla, sandalwood and neroli. I catch myself wearing this one for days in a row - the name really does it justice.

6. TOOLS & CO:
Sigma Copper Flat Kabuki F80: Not only is this the very beautiful limited edition rose gold version of the brush, it's also quickly become my favourite brush to quickly apply liquid foundation with. // Hakuhodo J5522 Brush: This one is so incredibly soft! The tapered end makes it the perfect brush for blending out eyeshadows into the crease. // Zoeva 227v Soft Definer Vegan: I love using this brush for applying cream eyeshadows all over the lid. I use a MAC Paint Pot daily and have two of these for my main two base cream colours I use all the time. // Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: This is a cult product and very righteously so! This is definitely the best eyelash curler I have ever used. And I'm still pretty stoked that I purchased it for just 7 euro at Narita Airport.. // Clarisonic Lux Facial Brush Head Cashmere Cleanse: A very recent purchase but HELLO this is soft! Completely changed the way I feel about my Clarisonic - I went from using it weekly, to using his daily at night during my double cleanse.

7. HAIR TLC:
L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Oil-In-Cream: My favourite leave-in cream of the year. Protects against heat damage, nourishes and defrizzes. And it smells divine too! // Kérastase Fondant Fluidealiste: Made especially for fine hair like mine, this conditioner makes my locks super smooth, soft and shiny. // CoLab Dry Shampoos: What a great launch this was! I'm already through two bottles and have three more in stock. // Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor: To be used no more than once every two weeks, this is a great reconstructing treatment for broken hair. Not to be confused with a conditioner! // Aveda Brilliant Damage Control: This thermal protectant spray is formulated with chamomile water, smells deliciously herby and can be used on both wet and dry hair right before styling. It protects against heat and UV damage.

8. CANDLE CRAZE:
Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works have definitely woo'ed me onto the fragranced candle side this year. I'm a huge fan of both lines and probably have a few too many in stock..

9. MAKEUP FRENZY:
Dior 5 Couleurs Cuir Cannage: Hands down my very favourite palette of the year! I love the warm shades in this quint and combine all of them for different looks, ranging from office proof nude makeup to heavy smokey party wear. Both pigmentation and lasting power is on point as well - so this is a definite hit for me. // Burberry Effortless Liquid Eyeliner: A late discovery this year, but still one of significance! This is the ultimate liquid liner for anyone who usually struggles getting their liner right. It's very pigmented, has a very handy felt tip that allows precision work and is long lasting too. // MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot in Groundwork: It's crazy how long these paint pots last, especially since I use this one pretty much daily. Staple! // L'Oréal Le Blush in Luminous Rose: Who'd have known that the spot for my favourite blush of 2014 would be taken away at the very last minute by a budget drugstore brand? It's pretty awesome! This blush is luminous, pigmented, blends well and stays put all day. The perfect flush in a little pot! // Maybelline Browdrama: I've gone from bushy brows to HD brows, and am now back again to somewhere in between those two. I use this one daily to tame my brows and keep them into place - either on its own or on top powder or pencil. // Burberry Lip Mist in Pink Heather: The perfect daily pinky nude lip. Enough said. // Dior Addict It-Lash: My favourite high end mascara launched this year. This mascara volumizes, holds my (eyelash curler) curl well and doesn’t smudge. // Max Factor Clump Defy: The very best budget mascara I've ever discovered. Pictured is the waterproof version, but the regular version is just as amazing. And both are clump free!


10. THE PERFECT BASE: 
Lancôme Le Correcteur Pro: My favourite corrector/concealer/setting powder palette to date. I learned to appreciate this one in Japan where it was super hot, so warming up the corrector is key! // Chanel Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer in Beige Rosé: A discovery from a MUA kit, I just had to purchase this one after seeing it in action. This is the perfect creamy pinky/beige concealer that will counteract any dark circles under your eyes. // Dior Star Foundation: This is definitely the high end foundation launch of the year! Dewy but not greasy, luminous but not shiny, high coverage but not cakey.. This is the good skin I'm looking for! // Le Blanc de Chanel: I read about this holy grail base often, and I'm very happy to finally be able to gush about it too! I use this on my cheekbones for a luminous effect, but also on my nostrils to reduce the dry area I usually have going on there after applying foundation. // L'Oréal Miracle Skin Cream: This is the best budget luminizing primer you'll find out there. Your skin will glow, and your foundation will look very flawless because of it! // L'Oréal True Match Foundation: This foundation has such a broad shade range, it's fabulous! I got one of the lightest shades in London and it's just perfect for my very pale skin. The thin formula of the foundation makes for a skin-like effect but pretty full coverage - this is one of my very favourite budget foundations.