Best of 2013: Skincare, Bodycare and Haircare

Welcome back to the second instalment of my Best of 2013 series, where I tell you all of my favourite products of the year. The first post was about makeup (here) and this is about everything else- skincare, bodycare and haircare!

Best Perfume: Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Toilette, this is a beautiful fragrance that works well both during the day and the night, with great lasting power

Best Shampoo: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil shampoo, this shampoo makes my hair feel so soft and helps to tame my unruly hair
Best Conditioner: Elvive Nutri-Gloss Light Shine conditioner, prevents greasiness and prolongs shine, what more could you wish for?
Best Hair Treatment: Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Intensive Mask, it's a great product to restore my hair and make it feel healthier and repaired
Best Styling Product: John Frieda 3 Day Straight spray, I spray this on wet hair and my hair stays straight until my next wash!

Best Body Wash: Palmolive Olive body wash, it's seriously moisturising and smells great, it's a really no-nonsense, no-frills product
Best Body Scrub: Sabon Tropic body scrub, it smells amazing, literally the smell lasts all day, and it sloughs off all the dead skin cells
Best Body Lotion: Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter, this smells lovely and provides instant hydration without feeling uncomfortable, sinking it quite quickly
Best Hand Cream: Elizabeth Arden Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment, a really intensive moisturiser that does the job without a feeling of greasiness

Best Makeup Remover: Bioderma Sebium H20 Solution, it does a great job as removing waterproof makeup and preventing greasiness
Best Cleanser: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, this smells amazing and feels so luxurious on my face, a definite pick me up
Best Toner: Caudalie Beauty Elixir, again, this smells amazing and feels really refreshing 
Best Serum: Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, really intensive for overnight moisturisation
Best Day Moisturiser: Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion, it's a lightweight moisturiser that makes a great base for makeup
Best Evening Moisturiser: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel, it's not a thick and weighty moisturiser, but it still does the job without any discomfort
Best Eye Cream: Esteé Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream, this is a very thick and intensive eye cream providing some serious moisture
Best Face Mask: Origins Clear Improvement mask, this is great for sorting out any pesky blemishes and generally for clearing up a bad breakout
Best Spot Treatment: Freederm Gel, this can literally do miracles overnight, making an angry inflamed spot much less noticeable

That wraps up my favourites of 2013, what a long way I've come since my 2012 days of black eyeliner, mascara and power, with the only skincare routine being makeup remover wipes and an occasional face scrub!

Best of 2013: Makeup

Since the beginning of December, I've been working on a mega list of all my favourite products of the year. This is the first of 2 posts, being all about Makeup Products/Tools and the other Skincare/Haircare/Bodycare. 

Without further ado, my 2013 favourites (and some very quick reviews!)

Best Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Camera Ready primer, long lasting and oil-free, a great all-rounder product

Best Foundation: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation, lightweight and long lasting, as well as buildable coverage

Best Concealer: Benefit Boi-ing concealer, very heavy coverage that covers all scars and blemishes pretty well

Best Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte powder in 'Translucent', this doesn't make my face look all cake-y yet keeps shine at bay

Best Bronzer: NARS Laguna, my only bronzer but still a great product for adding a healthy glow to my face

Best Blusher: MAC Gingerly, this was a tough choice but I've been using this blusher throughout the whole year, it just works at any time of year

Best Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion, put this on and my eyeshadow doesn't budge at all (can also be doubled as a lip primer!)

Best Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Half Baked, without a doubt the best eyeshadow I've used all year, a lovely golden colour that adds a beautiful glow to the lids

Best Eye Pencil: Bobbi Brown Long Wear Eye Pencil in Smoke, great for the waterline to make an eye look more smokey

Best Mascara: Benefit They're Real and Maybelline The Rocket, I couldn't possibly pick between them, as they're both so volumising and lengthening

Best Brow Product: Anastasia Brow Gel, great for keeping my unruly brows in place!

Best Lipstick: NARS Dolce Vita, a colour that I think would suit all skin types with a moisturising formula

Best Lipgloss: Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 'Candy Shimmer' moisturising and a beautiful colour

Best Nail Polish: OPI Dulce de Leche and Nails inc. Holland Park Avenue, both so sophisticated and wearable all year round 

Best Nail Care Product: Sally Hansen Maximum Strength Instant Cuticle Remover, it makes cuticle care 10 times easier!

Best Tool: Real Technique Stippling Brush, great for blending in foundation seamlessly

Stay tuned for part 2, coming your way soon!

Bring on 2014!

Today is the 1st January 2014 (it feels so weird to write that!) and 2013 has come to an end. I've had such a lovely year meeting new people, trying new things and seeing new places- it's been an eventful one, that's for sure!

This year I...
...travelled to France, Germany, Italy, America, Jordan and Iceland
...tried Benihana Japanese restaurant in Picadilly Circus - amazing food and the chef cooks in front of you!
...bought too much makeup! But you all know that, don't you?
...laughed at Modern Family, one of the best comedy shows I've ever seen
...got addicted to Breaking Bad, one of the best overall shows I've ever seen
...spent too much time on YouTube and Bloglovin'
...made my blog, one of my favourite things to work on!

I don't usually do resolutions for the New Year but I decided that it could be a good way to keep me on track for the next 365 days!

Stay focused - This is a really general one but I mean this in all aspects of life. I'm the type of person who hates to just do one thing at a time. I mean, as I'm writing this post I'm watching The Vampire Diaries on another window. I have important exams this year, exams that I need to focus for- no more movie-watching while revising!

Be happier - Cheesy, I know, but I've found myself getting so wound up over small things that shouldn't really matter. I need to learn to let myself enjoy everything I do, rather than getting caught up in something that happened 5 months ago.

Blog more! - Blogging is something that I really love to do and I've discovered a whole new world of people who share the same interests as me. Although I only really got in the swing of it a few months ago, I know this is something I want to keep doing into the new year and more. 

Sorry for all the cheesiness in this post, but I hope everybody had an amazing Christmas and New Year break as well as having an even better New Year.