2007 Favorite Things
I think I am going to miss 2007.
My highs were beyond fabulous. My lows were traumatic but a learning experience. In the end 2007 was interesting, memorable and mindblowingly wonderful. The same could be said about my beauty discoveries. I stumbled across some holy grail products along with some clunkers. I learned more about my skin and what works for it. I realized that you could fall in love with a fragrance all over again. I learned that there are many variations of nude lipsticks. I discovered that not all masks can be uncomfortable. I fell in love with a navy blue nail polish after a solid year of wearing black and vamp shades. Here is my humble list in some kind of order of importance. My #1 pick this year is not a fragrance or a shimmer powder.
1. Zoya's Indigo
No one did a navy polish better than Zoya. This was a true midnight blue with dashes of multi colored shimmer. The color was deep and saturated. It was a great alternative to the black trend. In fact my boss even sported navy nails. She chose Zoya over OPI. She just felt this was a more professional fit. Zoya polish also survives very well on fiberglass nails. I have no issues such as chips, bubbles or cracks when I wear Zoya. I chose this as my #1 pick because the navy nails trend was huge among my small band of friends. We discussed the merits of all the navy shades from Sally Hansen to Nars. We hunted down rare shades and always brought the bottles to show off during lunch. I have photographed polish bottles in the parking lot of a local chinese restaurant to the streets of NYC.
Zoya's Indigo was the best out of all the navy shades I tried. It was a deep midnight blue with twinkling stars captured in the bottle.
2.Face Time Velvet Veil Primer
The primer that rocked my loyalty to Smashbox. This is a silicon based primer that managed to keep my makeup fresh and intact after going to sleep with it still on. This was not just any sleep. This was a restless flu sleep with night chills and sweats. I woke with my makeup in all its glory. My blush was still vibrant. My shimmer powder still sparkling and glittering. It was a feat that no primer had ever been able to do.
3. Eve Lom Rescue Mask
This is a mask that manages to not tighten your face to the point of physical pain. It is gentle and refreshing. You can eat, talk and show facial expressions while wearing this. It rinses off with ease. The results are wonderful. It really helps with lackluster skin in a gentle way.
4. Lancome's PS Kiss Lipstick
I loved how it performed on all different skin tones and colorings. It looked amazing on each and every wearer. It looked slightly intense in the tube but was surprisingly buildable. I applied it with my finger and topped it off with a lip balm. This was suggested to me by both the Beauty Addict and Miss Twizler.
5. Putain Palaces by Etat Libre d'Orange aka Hotel Slut
I am on my second bottle. I discovered this at NYC Henri Bendels. The names of the fragrances are naughty and foul but the actual juice is impressive. Who would have thought to mix Jasmine with Cigarettes or Bubblegum with Incense? Think Christopher Brosius ...but with his mind in the gutter.
6. Poppy King's Oxymoron in Honest Politician
It applies like a standard lip gloss but gives a matte finish. It does not dry or leave any mess on the lips. The shade, Honest Politician, is a great cross between Nars Foul Play with MAC's Spice Lip liner. It is a cool blue based nude that works well with a smokey eye.
7. Bond 9's Bryant Park
Just all kinds of pretty. Notes are lily of valley,rhubarb,pink pepper,rose, patchouli,raspberry,and amber. I did not think I would succumb to this Bond because I am not much of a lily of the valley fan. But to quote the Godfather, Bond made me an offer I could not refuse. That offer was a great combination of rose and patchouli.
8,9 and 10. Chanel's Poudre Universelle Libre in Merveille (shimmer powder),
the Exclusifs, and the relaunch of Coco Mademoiselle
2007 was all about Chanel for me. They are responsible for my favorite shimmer powder, all my high end fragrance lemmings and my great love for Paris.
The shimmer powder manages to straddle the line of shimmer magnificence and subtlety. It adds more than a touch of shimmer but manages to not go into drag queen territory.
The Exclusifs are fragrances that were created by Jacques Polge. They are works of art.
The six scents are Coromandel (dry amber-ish oriental), 28 La Pausa (iris), Bel Respiro (green leaves and stems), No. 18 (Ambrette seed), 31, rue Cambron (an experimental chypre that omits the classic oakmoss note), and Eau de Cologne. They are currently available at Bergdorf Goodman. My first perfume crush was No.18 but lately my heart patters for 31, rue Cambron. I have to be quite frank but there is no clunker in the bunch. Each scent is a masterpiece and worthy of hoarding.
2007 is the year that I went to Paris for the relaunch of Coco Mademoiselle. It was magical and unforgettable. As a child I dressed up as Chanel for my 4th grade history day project. I read all her biographies and created a speech that included a very colorful paragraph concerning her choice of lovers. My teacher pulled the plug before the speech concluded and promptly called my parents. My mother was 100% supportive and was proud that I did not go as Florence Nightingale and Betsy Ross. I am sure she never dreamed that one day I would stand in Chanel's living room. I know that I never dreamed that big.
During the trip I fell in love again with Coco Mademoiselle. I wore this fragrance during my first years at my current job.
Now it smells like Paris to me.
It is an incredible memory and the perfect fragrance to capture it.
11. Bobbi Brown's Stonewashed Palette
I never believed that Bobbi Brown could top her Chocolate Palette. I was wrong. I loved the cool taupes and rich browns.
12. Smudge Brush
How the hell did I survive this long without this brush?
My smokey eye game has improved dramatically. I can not boast that I am professional but I can manage to fake it now.
13. Parfums de Nicolai's Sacrableu
This is a fragrance created by the granddaughter of Pierre Guerlain. It is exquisite yet modern.
Griff brilliantly stated that this is "like a Guerlain without dust".
14.Guerlains Poudre Sublimatrice "Forever Gold" Dust
I spent $85 on glitter.
But it is the best damn glitter I have ever seen.
Microscopic shimmer with the power of a million fireflies.
15. MAC Our Ladyship and Sweet Sienna pigments
I have a respectable collection of MAC pigments. Nothing to wow my friends at Specktra but enough to be able to say that these two pigments really belong in the MAC Pigment Hall of Fame...if a Hall of Fame existed.
Our ladyship is a pigment I use often for eye washes along with sprinkling it in my loose powders. It has a twinkling pixie-like shimmer that is a pale pink gold. This is a pigment that I will mourn when I use it up.
Sweet Sienna is a dirty taupe/pewter color that flashes green and gold. A must for the smokey eye fans. I will be bold and say that this is my all time favorite pigment.
It is a masterpiece.
16. MAC Family Silver Mineralize Eyeshadow
Everyone I know from beauty bloggers to MUA members owns this eyeshadow. It is a dirty light silver with flashes of copper.
17. Estee Lauder Private Collection Gardenia
I loved the tuberose note in this fragrance. Tuberose and I have never been friends. Fracas scares the bejesus out of me. The most intimating and powerful women in my life wear tuberose. One of my bosses wears Michael Kors and the minute we whiff the sillage....our hearts race and our minds scramble.
It smells like fear.
Estee Lauder has managed to tame the wild beast of tuberose. They have managed to make it dainty and blissfully feminine.
18. La Mer The Lip Balm
I live in a climate that it can be 60 degrees in the morning and by mid-afternoon it can be an Arctic low 20's.
Ohio can inflict stress to your skin,hair,mind,body and soul.
My lips suffer greatly during the winter. I tested the La Mer lip balm and saw immediate results. My lips settled down and gave me no grief with just one application. It also feels like silk and smells great. I know that people weill mutter under their breath about the price and discuss the merits of chapstick but I am going to be bold and say that this worth the coin.
19. Caron Powder Puff
Just a piece of pretty that makes putting powder on a more elegant experience.
20. Chanel Rose Blossom Pressed Powder
A shimmery pink pressed powder compact that has managed to control my life. It is never out of my purse or makeup bag. When Delta recently lost my luggage, my first thought was on this powder. Tears actually rushed to my eyes. Call me a dramaqueen but the thought of that powder in a Delta warehouse made me crazy.
What makes it worth tears and panic?
The pink shimmery goodness can not be matched.
21. Space NK Energizing shower gel
I have finished two tubes very quickly. So quickly that I know I have to slow down or beg the powers that be for an economy super size. I think a vat will do me just fine. The notes are sweet orange,grapefruit,bay,bergamot,geranium,patchouli and rosewood oils. I can promise you that once you showered with this...you will be hooked. It helps soothe your soul after a stressful and hectic day.
I jokingly refer to this as "Shower Valium".
22. Chanel's Brilliant Lumiere Fluorescent Glossimer in Mango
I wish I had stockpiled this gloss. I literally emptied the tube clean. I contemplated sawing the rest of the tube open to get the remaining gloss. You know a gloss is great when you are thinking of trying to operate a power tool. It literally was a spotlight on your lips.
Please visit these fellow bloggers and check out their picks for the best beauty products of 2007. You will discover shared favorites and potential new lemmings.
I want to thank everyone for participating and being so patient with me this year. Special thanks goes out to my dear friend Melanie Parker who created the adorable graphic and who managed to fix the final link list. She really saved the day!
Credits: Blogdorf Goodman, Notcot, FaceTime, and Melanie Parker.
posted by Annieytown @ 10:18 AM
37 Inspired Comments
37 Inspired Comments:
This is a beautiful list...wow! Thanks again for organizing this event and a wonderful wonderful 2008 to you!
Grayburn
I love Family Silver too, which was actually very different from what I usually pick. I need one of those Caron powder puffs, and anything from Space NK!
Thanks for organizing this list once again, and for including Beautiful Makeup Search again as well.
Happy New Year!
Wonderful list! *Still smarting because I never got my hands on PS Kiss*. Thanks for pulling this together ~ Happy New Year!
As a former elementary school teacher AND lifetime cosmetics junkie, I appreciate that Chanel presentation in many ways.
And how cool that you lived out a childhood dream! :)
I wore PS Kiss and Family Silver to my holiday party this year -- when I first put PS Kiss on, I thought it was too dark, but as you say, dabbing it on with my fingers makes it much more wearable. I'm definitely looking forward to Pixel Pink, too!
Thank you again for organizing this!
Thank you so much for inviting me to participate again this year, Annie. It's great fun!
Sweet Sienna is a marvelous Pigment and definitely one of my favorites. I will have to try to get my hands on that Chanel Glossimer - maybe MUA.
Happy New Year!
I love your list! I need to check out that Bobbi Brown eyes hadow palette. I've been looking for something like that and all those colors are great!
Grayburn: Your list was lemming inducing. I have to own the Cleopatra oil. You seriously had me at incense.
Teri: You need a Caron puff. It will make makeup application 1000 times more glam and fun. I feel very "DitaVonTeese worthy" when I use it. They even make a tiny size that can fit in a compact. That is my next one!!!
Space NK is a beauty mecca. You must go and visit. You will love their candles. They are AMAZING.
Thanks again for joining us. I seriously want to thank all of you with putting up with the techie glitches.
beauty411: I swear I thought I saw a tube at Bergdorfs. It was a crazy day and I was still in shock at spotting Serge Lutens bell jars. It can not hurt to check and see if it is there.
I hope it is there!!! That would be a great story to end 2007 with!
Amp: My teacher was horrified by it all. I might have "forgotten" to mention that I had nicked one of my mother's cig holders for the presentation. This was the early 198o's...so I got away with it.
The next year I went as Edith Head and tanked. LOL
Jeanne: I am wearing PS Kiss tonight and will try it with my family silver shadow.
Everyone: Thanks again and make sure to visit the other bloggers throughout the day. There are time differences and a few bloggers are posting a little later after the holidays. Every year I discover hoards of new products from these lists. This specific gang of beauty bloggers know their stuff! Also try to visit the perfume bloggers such as Now Smell This and Bois de Jasmin for their own best of 2007 lists. Also read Sweet Diva too! Her list was fabulous and amazing too.
If anyone wants to participate next year...let me know at:
annieytown@yahoo.com
Toya: I need to hit the smaller mall Chanel counters to see if there is a forgotten one in a cupboard. If I spot any I will pick one up for you. I loved it but MUA reviews have been mixed. I used it alone and successfully layered it with other lippies. It just was like liquid spotlight. i hope they bring it back.
Sweet Sienna changed my life. I love it so much I want to mix it with nail polishes to see what it does. Can you imagine it in nail polish form?
Coquette: The only bad thing about BB palettes is that they sell out quick. I always manage to get there before the counters put them out. This palette is long gone except for Ebay(the prices are too high) and MUA.
I want to thank you for introducing me to Forever21. You did a post on a sweater last year and I have been hooked ever since. My local store knows me and I think they call me "high roller" behind my back. They seriously assign me two girls.
You also are the one responsible for my JCrew addiction.
Thanks for all your wonderful lemming worthy posts. I hope in 2008 we finally go shopping in real life!!!!
Blogdorf -- Whose smudge brush? Must. Have. Now.
Love, love, love your list! So many greats that I'd forgotten about from this year! Can't wait to read other lists, too!
Wow, great list! Has anyone ever told you that you are an enabler extraordinarie? I want it ALL. Now.
Wow, Coco's living room, I'm impressed!
I love my Caron puff too, I just admire it, but don't have the heart to actually use it! LOL
Best to you in 2008!
From this former Ohio girl,
Victoria O
Oh, what a fantasic list! The primer goes on my must-try list (better than Smashbox? truly?!), as well as at least 5 other products.
Looks like I will have to try out #2.
And it was great to finally put a face to the blog after so long back in November--even if it was for only 30 seconds in the Hotel QT's elevator!
xo
Shannon
Great list, Ann. I love the picture of you on Chanel's sofa. That trip was definitely fate working its magic!
I still haven't tried the primer, but after this list, I feel like I must order it!
Happy birthday tomorrow, girlie!
p.s. kiss is a favorite as well. it's on my list this year. thanks for organizing this and for including shopdiary. it's been great seeing everyone's lists!
and yes, i must try that primer as well!
As always, your list is amazing. I dream of seeing Space NK. ;) You've definitely inspired some lemmings here, especially with the Lipstick Queen stuff.
Annie, I always take note when you're enthusiastic about something and have probably discovered many of my favorite products right here. Face Time products are on top of my list to try next year, but I promised myself to finish up my current Smashbox primer before I buy something else (who am I kidding?).
My own list should have probably included my smudge brush (I'm emotionally attached to mine and considering naming her), and could have had more Chanel items and probably a Guerlain or two.
Thank you for being such an inspiration and for organizing this project again. I wish you a wonderful 2008, full of joy and fabulous moments.
Thanks Annie for organizing this, and having me participate. Your list is fab . I love t Sweet Sienna and Your Ladyship as well. The two together are fab. and A caron puff is a must this year i think.
Happy New year all
Great list! I have some of the products that you mentioned but not the Etat Libre perfume. I cannot wait to try that one.
Have a happy new year and thanks for organizing everything!
I adore your 2007 Favorite Things list. It must have been so exciting and meaningful to have been a part of Coco's relaunch!!
I don't know if I should curse or covet this list because my pocketbook is really going to be angry with me for all the wonderful beauty purchases I'll be making in the next year.
Happy New Year!
o o o ... I've not heard of that primer, but certainly going to have to give it a try with that whopping testimonial! Loved the Chanel piece as well ... you're absolutely fabulous, Annie!! 3 or 4 new products I've simply got to try now ... ugggghhh! ; ) xx
ahhhh I'm so jealous that you got to go to the relaunch of Coco Mademoiselle! I'm obsessed with Chanel...I'm loving this list! and it seems as if I'm the only one without P.S. Kiss =(
New purchase for the new year maybe ;)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
thanks for the list...
misswhoever-you-are.blogspot.com
Ok, you guys need to stop making me lem LE things like P.S. Kiss! It's just not fair :~P
Love the list! Happy New Year!
Thanks so much for organizing this network list. I'm enjoying reading everyone's recommendations. It's going to be a beautiful (albeit expensive) 2008!
Happy New Year!
I so want a Caron powder puff! I loved your list and am very curious about Putain Palaces by Etat Libre d'Orange aka Hotel Slut. What does it smell like and is there a store in California that carries it? I loved seeing and reading of your Chanel experiences this year as well.
I have the Guerlain Forever Gold spray powder on my best of list too! That stuff is AMAZING! I absolutely adore it!
Great list and Happy New Year to you!
Happy new year Annie. You forgot one item on your list - your great blog!. Please continue the great postings in 2008.
p.s. I am so jealous - you got to go to Paris and see Coco Chanel's apartment...how are you going to top that in 2008 ?(LOL).
Annie!! What a great list - I loved hearing about your trip to Paris and the Chanel experience! Thanks again for pulling all of us together for this!
Happy Birthday, Annie! I loved reading this list of 2007 Favorites, especially since I was with you when you encountered a few of them, and I've seen you wearing others, beautifully. Happy New Year too!
Fantastic list, A! Dana is submitting her red lippie review by Friday, BTW. I'll send you the link once it's posted! I'm sold on the la mer balm! Love the chanel photos! Happy new to you!
Thank you for organizing the list. I just received my SacreBleu. It's divine. You are such a beautiful person, inside and out. Happy new year to you. May the new year be with you.
Thanks so much for turning us on to so many fabulous products and giving us your descriptions that are just detailed enough for those obsessed with beauty! I wish I had had time to participate in the event, pleast let me know about the next one you run.
Annie, it was so nice to meet you and now be part of this list. Thank-you so much for including me!
I am so happy you got to be part of the Coco relaunch! that must have been so exciting!
I took my little family to Paris in April but kept it to kid stuff for the wee ones. I cannot wait to go with my daughters when they get older, maybe by then they'll let me in her apartment lol...
I need to get the Caron puff and the Hotel Slut scent that is just too good!!
Your choices always inspire me, and I know that we often have many of the same favorites/choices (that BB Palette, I'm also obsessed with Trifle Lip glass and that Family Silver eye shadow), so I'm going to go and hunt down that glitter, the Chanel lip gloss and I will need to actually visit my Saks and smell more of these scent you mention, you are much more knowledgable than I about scent!
does anyone know where i could go to get a bottle of Putain Palaces by Etat Libre d'Orange in LA? or order online please??
hey annie, what brand smudge brush do you recommend?
glorious! it's all really glorious! the caron powder puffs are so sweet and the girl i bought one for is still using it. i will definitely try Family Silver, and the Chanel pressed powder.
here's to a new and stunning 2008 set of finds!~
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