InStyle 100 Best Beauty Buys 2012: Review

Hello lovelies, sorry I've not blogged in a while I've been really busy but I'm back now with a post on the best of the best.
Having had a little look through InStyle magazine's 100 Best Beauty Buys 2012, you can check it out here I particularly liked the introduction of the Hall of Fame, for products that have won awards in their category for the last three years in a row.

I couldn't help but notice that several of these products are currently snuggled up nicely in my own makeup bag, so thought I'd share reviews of them with you.

Best Cream/Gel Blusher:
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge (£17)

I actually got Powder Pink which is the middle shade on this picture, for Christmas. Although I don't usually wear a pink blusher, I tend to go for a more coral shade, I really like this as it has a nice creamy consistency and gives a rich colour from just a little bit of product. It looks pretty worn on its own or under a powder blush. It's a versatile product as well as it can be worn on both cheeks and lips.

Best Lipstick Range:

MAC (£13.50)

Now it's no secret that I love MAC lipsticks, other brands just can't touch them in terms of variety of shades. You can guarantee that for any lipstick trend, MAC is ahead of the game and has several shades to suit all skin tones. They are long-wearing, don't dry the lips, and come in an array of finishes such as matte, frost, lustre and satin. I've photographed a (small) selection of my MAC favourites, the shades are listen underneath.

Shades L to R: Costa Chic, Angel, Saint Germain, Impassioned,  Vegas Volt, Chatterbox.

The same shades above swatched on my hand:

Best Inexpensive Foundation:

L’Oréal Paris True Match (£10.20)

This foundation is quite nice for a natural look, what I'd call Sunday makeup. This is just because personally when it comes to foundation I like a really full coverage. The foundation itself is light and dewy. It comes in an excellent range of colours and does well to match to the skin tone of the wearer. For the price it's a really nice everyday foundation for someone who prefers a more natural look.

Having read through the 100 Best Beauty Buys 2012, I want SO many new things! However I think I'll have to limit myself to just a couple. I really want to try the Best Eye De-Puffer: Origins No Puffery Cooling Mask for Puffy Eyes (£19) as apparently it's great for tired or hungover eyes, something I'm definitely no stranger to!

Speaking of hangovers I'll leave you with a photo from my night out on Thursday. I went to a fashion show in Menzels (cocktail bar in Sheffield) with my friend Claudia. Her blog is hilarious you can have a look at it here.

Ok lovelies have a good week! Let me know if you've tried out any of the InStyle Best Beauty Buys!

Love

Alex xxx