2014 BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Man, I love seeing everybody's yearly roundup. They're the best posts to read because you're really getting a look at the cream of the crop. So naturally I wanted in on a piece of the action. I'll try to keep it brief as there are so many things to talk about. Then again, I always say I'll try to keep in brief and I rarely manage to abide. Pfft, that Holly's such a flake. Pfft talking about herself in third person. And no I probably won't be getting any less weird in 2015.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
There weren't many skincare products in 2014 that I could say truly blew me away, but this is one of them. This silky smooth cleansing balm feels incredible on the skin and doesn't contain any irritating ingredients. It's perfect for all skin types.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume
Between the acne fighting products and the cold winter weather, my skin can get pretty flaky and gross sometimes. This balm is the best thing I've found to combat it. It's thick, soothing and, again, free of any irritants.

Nuxe Multipurpose Oil
I use this on my skin and on the ends of my hair. It's got a lovely weightless, dry consistency and, most importantly, it smells divine. I mean seriously divine. I often rub it on my neck to use at perfume.

Diorskin Nude BB Cream
There haven't been many bases that I've actually been able to wear without itching to remove immediately after application, but this is one of them. It adds an impressive amount of coverage for a BB cream, but feels quite lightweight. It sets at about a satin finish, making it a good pick for oilier skin types.

L'oreal Telescopic Mascara
I've tried a few other mascaras this year, but nothing does it for me quite like L'oreal Telescopic. The tiny, plastic wand is perfect for getting right into the root of the lashes and wiggling up and the wet formula instantly adds drama to the lashes.

Maybelline Gel Liner
This is a perfect product in my mind. The formula is the ideal consistency to control – not too stiff and not too liquid – and it doesn't ever print as you're applying it. I prefer this one to MAC and L'oreal's version.

Jouer Highlighter
The texture of this highlighter is absolutely gorgeous. It's so creamy and slippery, making it a dream to apply. The finish is perfectly glossy and light-catching without having any visible sparkles in it.

The Body Shop Bronzer
It's not always that easy to find a good matte bronzer with a natural tone to it, but that's exactly what this is. The pigmentation is about a medium level, which is great for building up without accidentally going too overboard.

Tarte Smooth Operator Pressed Powder
I switched from the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder to this one a few months ago and I can't imagine going back. This translucent powder is so smooth and silky. It sits beautifully and absorbs oil, while leaving a hint of luminosity to the skin.

Mac Studio Finish Concealer
If you are prone to getting blemishes, I highly recommend investing in this concealer. The high pigmentation and dry, grippy texture make it absolutely perfect for covering spots. I can't imagine being without this concealer now. It's probably my number one product of the year.

Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Afternoon Tea
While this is newer to me, I couldn't not include it in my yearly roundup. Out of the glosses I've tried this year – Revlon Colorburst, Maybelline Colour Elixirs, Revlon Moisture Stains – this is my favourite. It lasts well for a gloss and the pigmentation is really something special.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong
It's really hard for me to narrow down the best lip products of the year. They're a big weakness. But when I thought about what was a stand out to me in terms on colour, finish, pigmentation and formula I landed on Bourjois's Pink Pong. It's just so lightweight, so long lasting, so matte and the colour is so striking. So so so. Honourable mentions have to go to Mac Pure Zen and Nars Dragon Girl.

If you had to pick one product that blew you away this year what would it be?