‘Tis the season for year-end lists. With the New Year now upon us, it is a time to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2014. Starting out with the good, here are my top five favorite beauty products of the year, which have done everything from hiding the dark circles of my all-nighters to saving my heat damaged cuticles and are sure to carry you fabbylously into 2015.

1. Trublend Covergirl Foundation- This foundation is perfect for beginners or just those looking to switch up their makeup routine. Acting true to its name, it blends beautifully, but is light enough to give a simple, natural look. It eliminates a lot of the stress of trying to find the best color for your skin, because even if the shade is not absolutely perfect, it will blend to match.
2. Aquage Finishing Spray- This spray works for just about anything. Personally, I spray it on prior to flat-ironing to protect my hair against the heat. The spray gives hair a glossy finish, whether applying before or after heat, without the heavy or oily weight of typical hairspray.
3. Rimmel London by Kate Moss lipstick- I’m a bit of a lipstick addict, because lipstick is the one thing in my makeup routine that changes daily to compliment whatever I choose to wear. This being said, it is a costly addiction, and that is where Rimmel comes in to save the day. While I am a big believer in splurging on the beauty products that you will use daily on your skin or eyes, lipstick is one thing that can be bought cheaply, and used on occasion. Model Kate Moss’s collaboration with the brand has brought a whole line of deep burgundies and plums to the collection, perfect shades to warm up the pale winter days. In comparison to some other low cost brands, I have also found this line to last longer and go on smoother, allowing for the ideal matte finish.
4. Moroccan Argan Oil- At the beginning of 2014, argan oil was just making its way from professional salons to personal homes, but now it seems as though it is difficult to buy a shampoo or conditioner without argan oil extracts. Eager to see if it lived up to the hype, I invested in a small bottle of my own, and I must say, it is a bit of a miracle worker. Using a dime-sized drop on damp hair, it can protect it from heat damage and allow it to dry faster. Though it is intended for damp hair, I have found that using a very small amount on dry hair can add extra shine and life to hair overworked by the dry winter air and heat products.
5. John Frieda Hair Color- New year, new hair. That’s been my motto for about the last twelve months, and John Frieda is the reason. At first, dyeing my hair a completely different shade seemed a daunting and risky task, and that it was. After using a standard bottle of liquid goop, I got ready for school the next morning desperately wishing it were a hat day. When it came time to fix the color, I was determined to try something different, and John Frieda’s foam seemed the perfect fit. Promising on the box that the foam was no-drip and would eliminate the possibility of blotches, I was enticed but not convinced. Now, after using about five different boxes of it over the past year, I am a full supporter of the foam treatment, which has left my hair even-toned and my bathroom more like a bathroom and less like a murder scene.

These are my top five favorite beauty products of 2014, but they are perfectly suitable to carry you into the New Year, allowing you to look your best and brightest.