The Review Team’s Top 12 Beauty Products of 2012

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Our group of beauty junkies shares their faves of the year

photos: we heart this

Happy New Year we heart this readers! We’ve got lots of great posts and events planned for 2013 that we can’t wait to share with all of you. But today, we’re taking a look back at the year that was with one of our favorite posts – a beauty list!

We asked our seen-it-all review team to share the top beauty products that they tested over the last 12 months. We couldn’t whittle it down to a Top 10, so to honor 2012, we’re going with our Top 12. Once again, three items on our list distanced themselves from the pack for a top spot on our beauty podium:

1.Too Faced La Crème Color Drenched Lip Creams ($21)
Too Faced grabs the gold medal with their exquisitely golden packaged, rich and moisturizing lip colors. We got a look at all 16 shades and fell for each and every one. As tester Krista said “These fulfill my love for tinted lip balm, but with more tint and more balm. These are the most moisturizing lipsticks I’ve ever used – they have the feel of a balm, but the color payoff of a lipstick. What’s not to love?” (buy it here)

2. MAC Marilyn Monroe Limited Edition Collection (various prices)
MAC always has a few stand out collections every year, but this Marilyn inspired grouping surprised even MAC with its popularity and instant sell out. Our testers swooned over its old Hollywood glamor and gorgeous hues. Amanda exclaimed “This collection not only had awesome packaging but it celebrated classic red. Whether that be on your nails or lips, there was a perfect red for everyone in this bunch!” (sold out)

3. BPAL Fraggle Rock Collection ($26)
There’s always something magical inside the distinctive brown bottles from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (BPAL), and this muppet themed collection enchanted our review team. As Kari explains “I think BPAL is quite ingenious with not only their fragrances but also with the themes behind each one, so when I got the Fraggle Rock bottle I flipped out! Fraggle Rock was one of my all time favorite shows as a kid. So when two companies that I think are both smart and fun collaborate on such a high quality product, then there’s no way I could not love this one!” (buy it here)

The following products (listed in alphabetical order) narrowly missed the medals and round out our Top 12 of 2012:

4. Aveno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo ($7.99)
Our busy and sleep deprived team knows the value of a great dry shampoo, and the affordable price of this drugstore fave from Aveeno makes it a true winner. Melinda tells us that the green bottle “has become a staple in my hair care routine for the day after wash to give volume, style, and clean smelling hair.” (buy it here)

5. Dixie Bits Bath & Body (various prices)
This cruelty-free and vegan line is an up-and-comer you should discover now – and then you can claim you’ve been a fan forever when the brand is on everyone’s must-have lists. Stef and I flipped for the intoxicating scent and foamy goodness of their Rave In Body Wash, while Lucy shares that “out of all the lotions I’ve sampled this year, hands down my favorite is Whippa Peel. It has a lovely scent and is so moisturizing.” (buy it here)

6. FAB First Aid Beauty cleanser ($18)
Great beauty products don’t have to be complicated, as this frill-free cleanser proves. The unscented, dermatologist tested face wash cleanses all types of skin with its simple and creamy formula. Marilyn claims “this is one of the all time best cleansers I’ve used – a pea sized amount gets my face squeaky clean, it’s helped clear up my acne, and it’s affordable. You really should try this, especially mixed with a little baking soda! (buy it here )

7. It Cosmetics Hello Lashes! 5-in-1 Volumizing Mascara ($24)
The makers of our fave concealer (Bye Bye Under Eye) had us at ‘Hello” with this multi-tasking wonder and ingenious wand that combines a comb brush with a ball wand. A giddy Alyssa exclaims “The wand! This baby conditions, lengthens, volumizes AND gets to even my babiest of baby lashes. I love it!” (buy it here)

8. Le Métier de Beauté CHEM60 Pro-Peel and GLOW10ai Mask ($265)
In 2012 our team learned that everything from this line delivers high quality, luxurious beauty that is well worth the splurge. And the latest skin enhancing treatment from LMdB wowed us with just one trip to the counter. Sherri shares that the set is “clearly, my number one pick for the year. I only used this once as an in-store demo but it kept my skin new and glow-y for a week. I was blown away. I have never experienced any product that transformed my skin so thoroughly and so noticeably. Redness decreased dramatically in the hours after the peel, while my skin’s texture transformed to a smooth, pliable, youthful look and feel.” (buy it here)

9. Milani Shadow Eyez Pencil ($6.99)
While we may lust for expensive beauty, we’re just as big of fans of drugstore items that don’t break the bank. This past year, we’ve been impressed with every affordable Milani product that’s gone through our testing process, but none more so than these vividly hued and long-lasting pencils. Marissa admits “In the packaging, these look a little scary and quite bright. However, the Shadow Eyez stick in Winter White is perfect for brightening the inner corners of eyes. These get an A+ for their bright hues and lasting eye formula!” (buy it here)

10. Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer ($39)
Stef and I first got a look at this water-based primer at IMATS LA and were wowed with the formula; so we were thrilled to find the wht testers agreed it’s one of the very best on the market. Instead of silicone, Auto Pilot relies on chamomile, yarrow and vitamin E to prep skin for make up. Kellie gushed it is “one of the best primers that I have ever tried. It provides just enough slip without overwhelming and without an oily or silicone feel. No irritation and excellent staying power for your make-up.” (buy it here)

11. tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush ($25)
Known for their natural formulas and flattering hues, our review team found plenty to heart with tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blushes. With 16 sweetly packaged shades to choose from, there’s one that’s perfect for you too. Our resident blush fiend Krista first laid her hands on the Shimmer formula and says it was “love at first swatch, folks. The shimmer gives an etherial glow and the Amazonian clay formula imparts a color payoff that lasted for hours – miraculous on me, I assure you. These created an addiction and I’m on a mission to collect them all, with shimmer or without…*insert maniacal laugh here*” (buy it here)

12. The Organic Pharmacy Skin Care (various prices)
Eco-friendly beauty junkies take note: this line will bring you joy. The British company offers a range of organic skin care crafted with highly active extracts in luxurious, effective formulas that look good and smell great. Melissa claims “their Antioxidant Face Firming Serum was the first product I fell in love with this year, and my usually fickle heart isn’t budging. The serum smells like oranges, and just a few drops a day leaves my skin clear, firm and glowing.” (buy it here)

we heartsters – what were your favorite beauty discoveries of 2012?

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.