VIDEO: Top Five Beauty Products of the Year

Here's the best of the best- my favorite beauty picks of 2012!

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Best beauty products of 2012
Best beauty products of 2012

A slew of new and revolutionary beauty products arrived to the makeup world this year, but of all the great gadgets, colors and innovations available, I'd like to focus on the five products that I couldn't live without in 2012. Among my new favorites, my must-have tool for getting rid of all the impurities and my personal solution to acne. Also, Urban Decay had a huge year in 2012, with the release of their Naked Skin Foundation, Vice Palette and now the new Naked Basics Palette- some of my new beauty BFF's. Also featured in my top five is a makeup sponge that applies any foundation flawlessly, while still being hygienic. Rounding out the top five are my favorite glosses of the year made by the Australian brand BECCA. Don't miss it!

Check out the video showcasing the top five in beauty:

Must-have face and body cleansing tool
I've been using the Clarisonic Plus Sonic Cleansing System for months, and I can't imagine not having it in my life! Before Clarisonic, I just used my hands to massage in my facial cleaners and always felt my skin wasn't clean enough. It's amazing how this product transformed my acne-prone skin into one that's smooth and supple. For anyone (especially Latinas) struggling with large pores or acne breakouts, using a Clarisonic can improve their appearance and size, as well as virtually eliminate acne. The system comes with a body polishing brush head, perfect for those with body acne. I have it in white, but Clarisonic Plus also comes in seven other colors. The tool comes in many different models, like the Mia, that are affordable and great for traveling.

Check out this video blog for a sexy New Year's makeup tutorial


Juicy glosses

BECCA is an Australian brand that recently started selling in Sephora. I love BECCA because the products are makeup artist quality, yet makeup newbie friendly. BECCA's Ultimate Colour Gloss is literally a delight for lips! I am always searching for pigmented glosses that go on smoothly, without unnecessary stickiness and last for hours. The glosses not only do that, but they also leave your lips moisturized and hydrated. My favorite colors are Miami Vice and Pink Lotus, which play up olive skin tones perfectly.

A reusable makeup sponge

Ask any professional makeup artist what their favorite tool is for applying liquid foundation, and more than likely their answer will be a Beauty Blender sponge. You really can't appreciate how awesome the Beauty Blender is until you try it yourself. This little pink, elliptical-shaped sponge allows you to perfectly stipple and blend out your foundation, while getting in all the little corners of your face. The sponge is reusable for months when properly cleaned; I prefer using the Blender Cleanser sold at the Sephora and the Beauty Blender website, but you could also use baby shampoo.

Get Naked!
I love Urban Decay! Their Naked Skin Liquid Makeup is a must for anyone searching for the best, light and natural-looking foundation. Every time I wear Naked Skin, I get compliments on how beautiful my complexion looks. The formula is also great for practically every skin type; I have oily skin, and even though there is a very slight dewiness to the foundation, it gives the perfect lift to my skin without looking oily. I love applying it with Urban Decay's Optical Blurring Brush for an airbrushed look. To go along with your nearly Naked looking skin, try Urban Decay's new Naked Basics Palette, the perfect everyday neutral and matte palette.

Get the products:
Clarisonic
Becca Ultimate Colour Gloss
Urban Decay


To see more of Charleen's beauty videos check out her YouTube channel


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