2011 was another awesome year for feline and human makeup and beauty. Along with rediscovering/falling in love again with a slew of pulse-pounding permanent products from some of my favorite lines like MAC and NARS, I also bumped into bunches of beautiful products to lurve on drugstore and department store shelves.
If you’re on the market for something special to spend a Christmas gift card on, consider one of the overachieving A+ department store products below. All of them are looking for new homes just like yours and can be found in stores now. 
$25 Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush
$57 Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanites
Pacifica $9 Color Quench Lip Tints
$24.50 MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush
$42 Kerastase Cleansing Hair Balm
$48 Tom Ford Beauty Violet Fatale Lipstick
$18 MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencils
Jillian Michaels’ $10 Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
10 of My Picks for Head of the Class: A+ Makeup and Beauty Drugstore Products of 2011 
Are There Any Makeup or Beauty Products You Were Surprised to Like? 
Does the New Kerastase Paris Chroma Sensitive Cleansing Balm Prevent Hair Color from Fading? 
The Fab 5, Vol. 2: Eye Makeup Brushes 
I really LOVE that Tom Ford lipstick!
Katherine recently posted … EXPRESS Beauty Collection
It’s a fantastic splurge. I hope you give it a try!
Oooh, I need to check out the MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencils! Your list rocks.
Thanks, Julie. The Pro Longwear Lip Pencils rule. So do the eyeshadows!
thanks for the list! i’m wondering how soft that becca brush cleansing bar leaves brushes… i have used everything from legitimate brush cleansers to gentle shampoos to bar soaps and i’ve never really been entirely happy with anything i’ve used. i seem to recall one cleanser that left my brushes really soft but i can’t remember what i might have been using!
i love that chanel quad, i NEED that eye brush and i’d love to play around with that tarte blush.. they’re all currently on my wishlist. after that i want those lip tints and the mac cleanse off! sigh…
Hi Caitlin,
The Becca soap leaves brush bristles super soft. I’ve used a bunch of brush cleaners, too, and it’s by far my favorite.
Definitely agree on the Tarte blushes. They’ve restored my faith in powder blushes!
Hi Heidi,
Do you have a fave shade? Mine is Tipsy.
Oh, Tipsy is awesome! I like a subtle blush most of the time, so I usually reach for Glisten or Peaceful.
For me, MAC Me Over was a pretty good collection for this year, and Wet n Wild’s The Gilded Age trio deserved all the hype.
Wheee I have Tarte Exposed and I love it (Peaceful is on its way)! Kerastase is my all-time favorite hair care brand. I have long hair (halfway down my back) and with the perm I had the ends are pretty dry, but the mask for thick hair continues to work its wonders!
Sunny recently posted … Review: Tarte Smooth Operator Micronized Clay Finishing Powder
oh my goodness — what a great list! i love love love the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes! ive said that those blushes are my 2011 best product of the year!!!
Just bought Chanel’s 2011 Spring quad Eclosion. The plum color is so pretty! I’ll have to search to see if you’ve reviewed any GA’s Eyes to Kill shadows. Looking to add a couple.
Chanel Quad and Tom Ford lipstick are tempting but I have to go for the Jillian Micheals Banish Fat Metabolism boost. I don’t even want to know how many pounds I’ve gained between Thanksgiving and Christmas! :/
Olfactory Obsessed recently posted … New Discoveries: Stunning Fragrance Jewelry from Aromawear
I love the Tom ford lipstick but it’s so expensive!! Is there a dupe colour MAC makes that u know of??! I may have to splurge if you don’t know of any
Karen, gurl, I bought the 226 based mainly on your recommendation. AND IT ROCKS (OCKS OCKS Ocks Ocks ocks ocks – that’s supposed to be an echo). Anyway, dramatic hyperbole aside :D, this thing does everything you said – it’s fantastic.
THANK YOU KAREN! HAPPY NEW YEAR!