Favorites: 2012 - Skin Care, Hair, Body

2012 was a good skin care year for me. I felt that I know more about my skin and what to look for in cosmetic products. And maybe I was hormonally more stable :P
My skin used to be very dry and I've noticed this year that my skin has become normal to combination. Even though my skin rarely get uncomfortable like dry skin does, it's still sensitive to certain chemicals. So I tend to go for products for sensitive skin.
These are my favorite and most used skin, hair, and body products of 2012:


Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic - 5 oz $24
Very gentle and natural to the skin. It's very hydrating and absorbed quickly. It never broke me out. I'm very sensitive to alcohol so I don't think there's any alcohol in it. I think the price is pretty reasonable, too. I've been using the same bottle since the spring and I'm just now down to about 10-20 uses out of it. I also use it after makeup to take away the powderiness and it works pretty well for that.





Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash - 5 oz $20
I got a sample size in Birchbox and it lasted for MONTHS! You only need a little bit because it really lives up to its name "frothy." It's so foamy and feels nice on the skin. The best part is that it rinses off very easily and doesn't leave residues on the skin. It doesn't dry out the skin, either.






Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser - 4.34 oz $7.99
It's the kind of consistency I hate, but it just works so well! It doesn't foam up. It's like gel and oil. But it gets rid off every trace of dirt and makeup. It truly cleanses the skin. It feels like there's residue of the cleanser left on the face but when I wiped my face with the toner on a cotton pad the pad was crystal clean. It's not harsh on the skin, either.



Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream - 2.5 oz 15$
This hand cream isn't the most moisturizing. It's kind of a temporary fix. But I absolutely LOVE the scent. It's fresh and fruity, kind of smells like Starburst. I got a sample in Birchbox and later bought a full size one.

L'Oreal Ever Sleek Line
I started getting into sulfate free hair products this year and have tried several sulfate free shampoos and conditioners. The common problem with sulfate shampoos is that they don't lather as much so I tend to use way more product when I wash my hair. The Ever Sleek line shampoos lather up just like the ones with sulfate. The conditioners are really nice and hydrating, too. I've noticed that my scalp doesn't produce excess oil any more and my hair is smooth and soft. This line is more affordable compared to other sulfate free product, too.


Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Hair Mask - 8.5 oz $35.79
This is the most hydrating hair mask EVER! When my hair was damaged from a perm I used it 3 times a week to keep my hair less frizzy and smoother. After I got back to my natural hair I still use it twice or once a week, depending how much I heat style my hair that week. It's definitely pricey but it's totally worth it. I've already repurchsed a second one. It's not widely available. Some hair salon carries it. Amazon does, too.

Udderly Smooth Udder Cream - 10 oz $6.49
It comes with unscented and lightly scented. It's not super thick or super watery. It's perfect for year around. In the summer it doesn't leave the skin greasy and it doesn't sweat right off. In the winter it's moisturizing enough for normal skin.







Burt's Bees Radiance Serum - 0.45 oz $17.99
It's gentle and hydrating. It's completely liquid and it comes with a dropper, which I really appreciate. I find it better than some of the high end serums (Estee Lauder, Ole Henriksen, Caudalie)









Burt's Bees Sensitive Night Cream - 1.8 oz $14.99
It's very moisturizing and absorbed quickly. Feels very nice on the skin. It doesn't break me out. Perfect for the winter times. I also put it on dry patches on my face before putting on makeup.







Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick - 0.5 oz $2.99
Most chapsticks I've try have the really made-up chemical, kind of plactic-y scent and I can't stand it. This chaptick has a very natural cocoa butter, vanilla-y scent, which smells and taste really good! The cocoa butter is very moisturizing and the mineral oil locks in the moisture. It's my before bed and makeup chapstick.





Clinique All About Eye Rich - 0.5 oz $30
It's a very thick and rich eye cream. It claim to minimize dark circles but I don't really see the difference. But I love how it feels under the eyes and it makes applying under eye concealer the next morning smoother.






Befine Exfoliating Cleanser - 4 oz $24
I got a sample from Birchbox and then I bought a full size one. It leaves the smoothest skin. I also like that it's exfoliator and cleanser in one and it does a really good just in both.









Feel free to request any reviews of these products!