Best New Products of 2012 (and One Big Disappointment)

If I sat down and tried to write a post about my favorite products of this past year, it would be a novel.

Seriously.

There are tons of products that I loved in 2012, but some of them I've loved for years now and I've already mentioned them more than enough times on this blog anyway.

Instead, I thought I'd focus on new products that I found this year that really knocked my socks off.  Now, I've probably blogged about some of them plenty of times but this will be my last word on them, I swear.



1. Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup

Revlon Colorstay Whippsed Creme Makeup

In general, it's hard to find a good foundation when you've got super fair, often flaky skin - it's even more of a challenge to find a good foundation at the drug store.

That's why I was pleasantly surprised by Revlon's Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup. It's a formula that works for most skin types (except the extremely oily and extremely dry, I'd say), has a lovely natural finish and lasts like nobody's business.

And the Ivory shade (110) is definitely the best match that I've ever found at the drugstore for my uber-pale skin.

You can find my full review and swatches here.

2. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

Urban Decay's Naked Palettes are hugely popular - and for good reason (that's why the newest one made this list just down below!) - so it's no wonder that UD decided to expand the Naked line.

Enter the Naked Skin Makeup.

It's a genius concept, really.

A foundation that feels light and looks totally natural on the skin, but still delivers medium coverage - and fortunately, UD's Naked Skin actually delivers on those pretty lofty claims.

I love the way this foundation looks and feels.  It's got such a lovely natural finish - UD refers to it as demi-matte - and while it doesn't cover everything, you can pair it with a good concealer and look totally flawless without looking like you're wearing a mask.

I wear the Naked Skin in shade 0.5 and it's a pretty good match for my fair skin.

You can find my full review and swatches here.

3. Urban Decay Naked Basics Eye Shadow Palette

It may seem like a simple, almost boring concept - a palette of nothing but neutral, matte shadows - but the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette is the kind of essential item that every makeup fanatic can use in her bag of tricks.

I've only had the palette for about a month, but I've already gotten so much use out of it.  The colors are plain but extremely flattering on pretty much all skin tones.  UD's matte formula is also one of the best out there - smooth and creamy, with plenty of staying power - so these shadows are a dream to work with.

If you're low maintenance when it comes to makeup (an utterly foreign concept for me but ....), you could probably get by with this palette and a few shimmery colorful shadows easy.

The Naked Basics is simple, but it's versatile, handy and pretty much perfect.

 You can find my full review and swatches here.

5. LORAC Pro Palette

As much as I love my Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 Palettes, the limited number of matte shades in them is kind of a drag.  The same could be said for my beloved The Balm Nude'Tude Palette and Too Faced Naked Eye Palette.  UD has remedied the situation with the introduction of the Naked Basics Palette (and the Balm is coming out with a new Meet Matt(e) Palette with nothing but natural shades in the next couple of weeks) but it would be nice to have plenty of shimmery and matte shadows in a single palette.

Enter the LORAC Pro Palette.

With 8 shimmer and 8 matte shadows in natural colors that correspond to one another, there's no look that you can't really pull off with this palette. 

Whether it's a soft daytime look or a bold, smoky eye for evening, the LORAC Pro Palette has got you covered.

If you've been in the market for a natural/neutral palette and can't decide between the two Nakeds, the Nude'Tude, or any of the others out there, I say go for this one.  It really delivers the most bang for your buck.  

You can find my full review and swatches here. 

So those are the products that really stood out to me in 2012, and while I didn't love everything I tried this year, there's only one item that really sticks in my mind as a huge, colossal, staggering disappointment.

The bareMinerals Ready Foundation.

I have always been a fan of the original loose Bare Minerals Foundation, and in the past year or so, I've become a big fan of the Ready pressed mineral line - the shadows are fantastic, as are the blushes and highlighters - so it's safe to say that I had pretty big expectations for the Ready Pressed Mineral Foundation.

Sadly, it didn't really meet a single one.

The formula is surprisingly sheer so I don't find that it provides much coverage. And yet, despite the sheerness, I haven't yet found a way to apply it without winding up with a cakey mess on my face.

Total bummer.

You can find my full review and swatches here.

What new products did you love in 2012?  Were there any big disappointments?