2005 was the year that I spent more money on beauty products and their accessories than anything else.
I recently was sorting my receipts and thinking that 2006 might be the year of the "No Buy".
But then I thought... who am I kidding?
I am a sucker for a shimmery eyeshadow, a lovely fragrance and powders with sparkles. I will still hunt for the perfect pink lipstick even though I have a dozen in my vanity drawer. I will always look for holy grail foundations and eye creams. I will get excited when my nail tech shows me the OPI catalog.
I am a beauty addict.

Here is my list for my favorite product discoveries for 2005. They are a mixture of new and vintage scents, holy grails and guilty pleasures:

1. My favorite fragrance from 2005 would have to be Chinatown by Bond.
From the moment I sniffed it I was smitten. Laurice brought her lab bottle to the Bond store for cavewoman to try. It was such a thrill to sniff a fragrance before it was released.
The moment she sprayed it on cavewoman's wrist is one I will never forget. Chinatown filled the air in that Bond store and we all went nuts.
On this day 6 muaers with different tastes in fragrances agreed that this scent was full bottle worthy.
We have never agreed on a scent since.
Notes are: peach blossom with peony,bergamot, orange flower, creamy gardenia, tuberose, cardamom, patchouli and woods.

2. Annick Goutal Songes: This fragrance will be coming out in 2006.
I was lucky to be gifted with a decant from one of my friends. Just like Chinatown I was hooked by the first sniff.
It is a jasmine based fragrance with vanilla and wood notes. This might not sound like much but it is a slice of heaven. The drydown and staying power is incredible. By far this is the best Annick Goutal fragrance in the entire line.
You will see in January.
Prepare for your socks to be knocked off and to have a passionate lemming. I predict a MUA stampede.
MUA Stampede: A sudden frenzied rush of smitten fragrance junkies.

3. NARS Primer:
I have tried several primers this year but this one is by far the best.
I have worn this with and without moisturizer and the results are the same. A perfect face that actually lasts a full day. My makeup looked fresh and intact after 12 hours.
The others could not boast that feat.
MAC, Smashbox and Laura Mercier all failed when compared to NARS. I still have more to try but I can not see NARS being dethroned any time soon.
There is a great review at epinions.com by xiola25:
http://www.epinions.com/content_177470213764
She lists the ingredients and what they do.
I wish all reviews were like this!

4. Takashimaya Rose Tea:
An incredible black tea with roses. I bought a huge bag after I chugged my tea pot during lunch.

5. Chantecaille Future skin foundation:
I hated this product when I first purchased it. I thought that it was the wrong color and the coverage was too sheer. I chalked it up as an expensive mistake.
Time heals all wounds and I grabbed the jar when I ran out of Laura Mercier.
This time it worked beautifully. I loved the light texture and dewey finish. It is a buildable foundation that never streaks or cakes.
I was sitting on my holy grail foundation all along.
It is true love.
Some notes: 60% charged water and seaweed, aloe, chamomile, arnica, rosemary, green tea, and rice bran.

6. Shiseido Benefiance Revitalizing Eye Cream:
It works like a charm. My eyes have never felt or looked better.

7. Almay oil free eye makeup remover pads:
No greasy residue, no puffy eyes, and does not piss off my contacts.

8. Magie by Lancome:
I was surprised that many muaers did not fall under its spell of this reissued fragrance. It is a lovely scent with notes of rose, jasmine, violet, musk and amber.

Here is the description from the Lancome website. I have posted it before but it bears repeating:
Magic of a première evening. The divine actress has just left the stage, her arms laden with roses. In a corner of her dressing room is a vase overflowing with bunches of jasmine.
Sublime, in a dress designed for her by the leading Couturier, she is looking at herself absent-mindedly in a large mirror, when she sees a posy of violets on her dressing table. Touched, she presses this anonymous tribute against her heart, then goes out, leaving a scented trail of musk and amber.

9. All the urn fragrances at Caron:
It is hard to choose a favorite because they are all so breathtaking. My last purchase was the much lemmed French Cancan. My bottle is not much bigger than a beetle but it is cherished on my vanity.
The notes are lilac, white flowers, jasmine, violet and oakmoss.
The reviews on makeupalley are very interesting. Initially many were not charmed by it but slowly grew to love it.
Read the love stories:
http://www.makeupalley.com/board/

10. The Guerlains:
I am a late bloomer when it comes to fragrance.
This year I discovered that I loved a chypre named Mitsouko. This stunner has been around since 1919.
The notes are bergamot, rose, jasmine, peach, spices, oakmoss and wood.
This is worthy of all the poetic raves and raptures on MUA.

Honorable mentions:
Shu Uemura's Fiber Extension Mascara(the best), Shu Uemura's shimmer powder in sheer pearl, Caron's Poudre Libre Transparente in venitienne, Ormonde Jayne's Isfahan, zoya nail polishes, skunk brushes, MAC Madame B lipstick and Nars Foul Play gloss.

Hopes and dreams for 2006:
1. 2000 et une Rose is relaunched by Lancome
2. That there is a new fragrance by Ormonde Jayne.
3. Safran Troublant is released in a jumbo bottle
4. The Stella fragrance by Tocca finally comes out
5. I win a free trip to paris and I can take a friend
6. A Cmart opens up in my town
7. I stumble across a seve exquise bottle in T J Maxx
8. Fumerie Turque is released in the export range
9. Luckyscent has a discount
10. Vol de Nuit finally works with my chemistry

Want to see more Best of 2005 lists? Check out these fab blogs:

• An Alabaster Brow


• Beauty Addict


• Blogdorf Goodman


• Bois de Jasmin


• Brain Trapped in Girl's Body


• c'est chic


• Crazy Jay Blue


• The Great She Elephant


• Hrmph


• Koneko's *Mostly* Beauty Diary


• Make a Mental Note


• Monkey Posh


• Mothers Hen's Place


• my life my words my mind


• no one knows why the wolf laughs


• Now Smell This


• ¡Ombligo!


• Peppermint Patty


• Perfume-Smellin' Things


• Scentzilla!


• She'll be feverish after so much thinking


• Slap of the Day


• Victoria's Own