Now that 2009 has come to an end, it is time to reveal our Editor’s Choice picks for the year or, in other words, my personal favorites.  The products chosen may be new releases from 2009 or products that have been available for years, but either way they are the best of the best from my past year on the hunt for the holy grails of beauty.

Cosmetics

Primer- Cover FX Clearprep FX creates a smooth, even canvas to get your look started, and the matte formula keeps the excess oil from coming back and ruining your flawless foundation all through the day.

Foundation- Chanel Teint Innocence Compact gives skin a flawless glow that will have you receiving tons of compliments and questions as to how you keep your skin looking so perfect.  This foundation is creamy and buildable, making it perfect for anyone’s foundation needs and the compact makes it easy to toss in a makeup bag or purse.

Concealer- For dark spots, dull areas, or under-eye darkness Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat is a miracle in a golden tube.  It magically brings light and radiance to the area to erase any visible signs of a flaw.  When it comes to blemishes and other imperfections of that sort, MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer does the trick with a creamy finish that blends smoothly and evenly along with foundation, powder, or even bare skin.

Powder- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is the perfect powder for everything from setting foundation, touch-ups, to wearing alone as a mineral foundation with a smooth matte finish that doesn’t give that obvious powdery look.  Since the powder is pressed, I find it a bit easier to work with that the loose mineral powders.

Highlighter-  Nars Albatross is hands down the best highlighter that has ever graced my beauty bag.  This powder gives an ethereal golden glow that is perfect for any skin tone and instantly brightens the complexion making skin more youthful and radiant.

Blush- Chanel Joues Contraste powder blushes have a texture like silk that virtually melts into skin and provides color that lasts the entire day without a need for touch-ups.  They are available in a range of gorgeous, yet natural colors that give cheeks radiant glow along with a pop of color.  Rose Bronze is my personal favorite everyday shade.

Bronzer- Benefit Hoola Bronzer has a natural, buildable color that is perfect for a wide range of skin tones, as well as great to use all year round.  The formula is smooth, velvety, and ideal for those who want a touch of bronze without looking like they were in the vicinity of a glitter bomb explosion.

Lip Liner- MAC Cremestick Liner is perfect for lining, creating a base, or even wearing on its own with a touch of clear gloss over the top.  The staying power is surprisingly amazing considering its creamy consistency.  There are quite a few shades to match up with your favorite shade family of lipsticks, Sublime Culture being my favorite.

Lipstick- Absolutely everything about Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick is love.  The rich color selections, the satin finish, and the fabulous packaging all make this lipstick my top pick.  The colors I most reach for are Admirable and Desirable, but every single one in the collection is gorgeous.

Lip Gloss- MAC Dazzleglasses are a ton of fun to collect and wear.  They have tons of shimmer to draw light and attention to lips and a super sticky, shiny formula that makes for longer wear than many glosses.  My favorite shades are Via Veneto and Smile, but all of them are wearable and glamorous as long as you like sparkle.  For those who prefer a smooth, non-sticky gloss, Purple Lab Huge Lips Skinny Hips is the best, with scent and flavor to-die-for.

Lip Treatment- To bring dry, cracked lips back to life, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is a life saver.  The lemony scent is both familiar and refreshing, and the rich moisturizing treatment stick repairs and soothes while protecting from further damage with an SPF of 15.  

Eye Primer- The jury is still out, but my vote will always be for Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It creates a smooth canvas for shadow that locks the color in place and holds all day without creasing or fading.  The tube also makes it easy to get every last bit of product before a repurchase.

Eye Shadow- MAC Shadows have to take this one for their huge array of color choices, as well as their vast availability and affordability.  Favorites to keep in my quad are Naked Lunch, Satin Taupe, Handwritten, and Carbon to create looks from simple everyday neutral all the way to high drama smoky eye.  For quality, NARS Shadows would be my pick, with their amazing texture and rich shades.  Cordura is always finding its way into my evening looks.

Eye Shadow Palette- The Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box has the most gorgeous shade selection, accompanied by their signature velvety rich formulation, making it my top pick.  This shadow collection has both neutrals and colors, giving neutral-bound people a chance to toy with color.  The 9 shadows have endless opportunities for combinations, and the packaging makes it simple to throw in a makeup bag and take a look from office glam to evening drama in a pinch.  Also notable, is the fabulous NARS Pleasures of Paris Palette, featuring 6 neutral shades that immediately caught my eye and quickly became my most loved palette of the year.

Pencil Eye Liner- MAC Pearlglide Eye Liners really do glide on effortlessly and provide  a smooth line with the perfect hint of shimmer.  Black Russian has been a staple for me ever since its release, replacing my simply plain black liner with its touch of blue sparkle.  Because of the glitter, Black Russian can’t be worn on the waterline, making Stila Kajal in Onyx still my favorite waterline liner because of its creamy formula that glides on without tugging and its waterline staying power.

Liquid Eye Liner- L’Oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black is the most amazing liquid liner that I have come across.  The long felt tip makes for a flawless line, and the color is a true, rich deep black.  And it comes with a price tag that can’t be beat for such high quality liner.

Color Eye Liner- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils come in rich, creamy colors that add pop to any look and can be worn on either lashline or waterline.  These pencils come in a wide selection of fun, high-intensity shades, Lust being my absolute favorite, that just can’t be matched.

Lash Primer- Lancome Oscillation Powerboost Primer vibrates out the clumps to create a smooth, even base for mascara.  While it does create a fairly thick, white cover to lashes, the white color is completely masked by mascara and it gives a definite boost in the results of your mascara with thicker, longer looking lashes.

Mascara- Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils is easily the best mascara that my lashes have ever worn.  The formula is a rich, deep black that thickens and lengthens with absolutely unbelievable results.  People will ask if you are wearing false lashes!  This mascara even smells amazing and the lovely golden tube isn’t too shabby either.

Brow Pencil- Clinique Superfine Liner For Brows is perfect to fill in bare spots in brows naturally without looking too heavy or obvious.   The pencil is designed to keep its fine point so that its always easy to create fine strokes that blend.

Nail Polish- This year I was impressed with Sephora’s release of their polish line, Sephora by OPI which offered a large color selection, including the popular Dark Room, along with OPI’s signature quality to bank on.  Also impressive is Zoya Nail Polish with their huge color selection, complete with every shade imaginable, and great polish quality and staying power.

Beauty Tools

Tweezers- Tweezerman Tweezers come in a fun variety of colors and prints, and when they get dull they can be sent in to be resharpened if they become dull through use for life without any charges.  I keep my pink ones handy and they always stay nice and grabby.

Lash Curler- The Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, though some magic, outperforms any other lash curler available.  This tool creates the perfect lasting curl, without that annoying crimp, every single time.

Makeup Brush Set- Coastal Scents’ Deluxe Reptile Brush Set is of absolutely amazing quality and has every brush needed to create any everyday look.  The clutch-style brush roll is so cute and easy to organize brushes.  This set has easily become my most-used brush set and it is perfect for when I am in a hurry or need to be somewhere other than my vanity to apply makeup.

Travel Brush Set- The Eco-Tools Travel Brush Roll includes 5 super soft brushes rolled up into a small bamboo roll that makes them perfect to grab and go.  This brush roll would fit easily into most handbags or desk drawers for when you need a brush to touch-up.  This would also make a great set for someone that is starting out with brushes or simply doesn’t use a lot of brushes but wants the basics on-hand.

Makeup Brushes- Chanel Brushes may not have the widest range of tools, but the quality is outstanding, and with proper care, they will remain amazing tools for a lifetime, or longer.  As far as the widest variety of brushes, MAC Brushes, take the win, as well as the most quality for your dollar.

Skin Care, Face

Cleanser- June Jacobs Creamy Cranberry Cleanser is a thick, creamy wash that lightly lathers to leave skin soft, smooth, and cleansed.  The scent is divine, like cranberries and cream, and its paraben and preservative free, which makes me feel good about what I’m putting into my skin.

Scrub- PRIORI Advanced AHA Invigorating Scrub is the perfect consistency.  It is coarse enough to really get off dead cells, but not in the least bit painful.  The AHA formula works to reverse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for those of us starting to notice them.

Toner- JUARA Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner is the perfect toner because it isn’t stinky or sticky and you don’t have to dig out the cotton balls in order to use it.  This toner doesn’t dry out skin at all and calms down the rosiness in my cheeks rather than irritate the situation.

Day Moisturizer- Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Creme gives the right amount of moisture to soak evenly into skin without feeling heavy or greasy.  It gives my skin just the right amount of glow and the scent is absolutely divine.

Night Moisturizer- Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle Night provides deep, rich moisture that gives skin glow that gets noticed.  This night cream is perfect for dry winter skin, but it is definitely my favorite year round.

Serum- Bliss The Youth As We Know It Concentrate sinks into skin without a trace to nourish and provide light moisturization while renewing.  The fresh, citrusy scent puts me in a good mood and definitely gives me extra glow.  This serum is enough moisture to be worn alone, but not too much that it can’t be paired with a moisturizer.

Eye Cream – Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle Eye is a smooth, silky cream formula that gives the under-eye area that extra boost of moisture that it needs.  This cream helps perk up my eye area and I notice a smoother, brighter appearance when I’m using it.

Mask-JUARA Tumeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask provides the most amazing, radiant glow to even the dullest skin.  This stuff is a miracle in a tub when it comes to absolutely glowing skin and the results last for days after use.  All of the JUARA masks are love, but this one is a definite favorite.

Makeup Remover- Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover does the trick to take off my dark eye makeup and even tough to get off waterproof mascaras.  This particular formula is one the few that I have found not to burn or irritate my sensitive eyes.

Makeup Remover Wipes- Garnier Nutrisse Cleansing Wipes are my absolute favorite way to take off my makeup.  They have an fresh, clean scent and it really couldn’t be any simpler to remove makeup than just pulling out a wipe and cleansing makeup away.  These are perfect for your gym bag, your desk, anywhere that you might need a quick refresh.

Acne Spot Treatment- bareEssentials rareMinerals Blemish Therapy is the best thing I have found to actually stop a blemish before it fully forms.  It also helps to dry up existing blemishes and create a matte finish on the area, making it easier to conceal with foundation or concealer.

Anti-Aging Skincare Line- Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle has gotten me more compliments about my skin than any other product or line.  When I am using this line, I constantly get questions about my skin.  These products definitely deliver on radiance and glow and are what I most often recommend to friends and strangers alike.  If your pocket book runs deep, Chanel Sublimage products provide amazing radiance and youthful glow, but if you’re like me, you only get to use this stuff when the counters are handing out sample jars.

Lash Growth Treatment- Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For makes for the longest, thickest lashes imaginable.  After testing quite a few lash growth products, all of which lengthened and thickened my lashes,  this one definitely takes the win for the fastest and most dramatic results.

Tooth Whitening System- GoSmile Whitening System whitens teeth quickly and simply, but what made it a definite winner by my standards is that it did it absolutely painlessly.  This is the only system I tried that doesn’t make my teeth painfully sensitive.  The ampoules are easy to use, great to throw in the handbag, and the availability of touch-up ampoules is perfect when I’m in need of a quick refresher.

Skin Care, Body

Body Wash- The philosophy 3-in-1 body washes are available in an array of “flavors” that is just so much fun.  There is definitely a scent for everyone, and the rich, creamy lather fills the shower with yummy scent and makes it so much more enjoyable.  Cinnamon buns will always be my personal pick.

Soap- LUSH Honey I Washed the Kids Soap smells absolutely wonderful, both clean and yummy, and its signature scent is easily recognized by LUSH lovers.  This soap is what started my love of the soap altogether, so I definitely have a soft spot for this one.

Scrub-Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Scrub is a coarse scrub in a moisturizing oil that both exfoliates and leaves skin feeling flawlessly silky.  These types of scrubs have always been a favorite of mine and I love this one, especially in Mandarin Lime, because it is far more affordable, and equally as effective, as many of its counterparts.

Moisturizer- Naturally Victoria’s Secret Acai Berry and Magnolia Lotion provides rich and yet weightless moisture that sinks completely into skin and leaves behind absolutely no residue, just its light, lovely scent.  I was so excited when Victoria’s Secret introduced this natural line because I try to take it easy on the parabens and artificial dyes.

Body Oil- Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt is absolutely the most luxurious moisturizing oil.  The formula is a solid at room temperature, but when warmed up in a little water becomes a light, divine body oil that sinks into skin flawlessly, leaving seriously silky skin.

Bath Product- LUSH Bath Melts take favorite bath product because they marry the fun favorite scents of the bath bombs and bubble bars with a slow-melting formula that makes the bath a highly scented, well-oiled, moisturizing experience.  These are my favorite, especially Mmm Melting Marshmallow Moment,  because I feel like the experience lasts longer and my skin always feels so silky.

Self- Tanner- Antidote Skin Care Summer Glow Tanning System is by far the best self- tanning product that I have tried.  This system allows me to take my extremely fair skin to a deep bronze without streaking or looking at all unnatural.  And the best part is that it is completely free of that notorious self-tanner stink.

Hair

Shampoo- Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo gives hair the most amazing softness and shine.  I never thought that anyone would pry the Fekkai Glossing out of my cold hands, but this one actually makes my hair look even shinier and without the fading and drying sulfates.

Conditioner- Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Conditioner finishes off where the shampoo left off, softening and shiny with its refreshing sweet yet citrus scent.  This conditioner also has a lightweight formula that doesn’t weigh my hair down.

Leave-In Conditioner- Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioning Cream is a light weight formula that smooths and detangles hair without making it look greasy or heavy.  This is a staple for me for beachy summer hair that doesn’t look dried out or frizzy.

Hair Serum- Jonathan Create Smooth Anti-Frizz Volumizing Serum is an absolutely fabulous hair serum that adds shine and smoothes without adding greasiness.  This serum has become completely vital to my daily hair routine, even if I do nothing else, and it is also a vegan product.

Curl Cream- Sunsilk Waves of Envy Gel & Cream Twist is perfect for days when you want to create lazy waves without that major crunch that straight up gel causes.  This product has both gel and cream swirled together to create soft, beachy waves without any of the frizz.

Hair Spray- Jonathan High Shine Flexible Hair Spray not only smells amazing, but adds shine and has great hold as well.  This spray leaves hair touchable, not crunchy, but still locks style into place.

Heat Protectant- Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry Lotion leaves hair silky smooth while protecting against the heat damage that regular blow drying creates.  This blow dry cream is my personal favorite for its lightweight formula that adds shine and silkiness.

Hair Mask-Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Mask is the best treatment for damaged or color treated hair, with its rich, thick formula and peaches and cream scent.  This stuff leaves your hair feeling brand new, as if you didn’t torture it daily with heat styling.

Blow Dryer- The T3 Evolution Dryer is a big purchase, but since it cuts my drying time it half, it is well worth it.  Some how this magical dryer not only dries my hair faster, but leaves it feeling smoother and straighter.  If time is money, this thing has to have paid for itself several times over by now.

Straightening Iron- The GHD IV Styler absolutely changed how I feel about my hair.  If I had to give up every single hair product and tool in order to keep this one I would do it.  Before this straightening iron I thought that I would always have that annoying wavy patch in the back of my hair no matter what I did, but this completely straightens my hair leaving it shiny and silky every time.