Happy New Year Friends!!

How has your year been so far? I've been having a 2010. Today actually happens to be a year since I started this blog. It's been a great first year for me. It started off slow, but Makeup By Kera has been growing over the past couple of months. To celebrate a year of blogging, I'm gonna post the top ten things I've bought over the past year that I love. Stay tuned to the end of the post for a chance to win a MAC eyeshadow. Here comes my top ten:

1.  MAC Smooth Merge MSF:
This came out in the summer time. I forgot which exact collection it came out with. I absolutely love MSF's. This one has three separate colors that you can use individually or swirl all together to make one color. I mainly use the two colors on the sides for a highlighter. Once in a while I may use this as a blush. The gold side in particular looks great on top of the cheekbones.

2. MAC Hello Kitty Eyeshadow Quad Lucky Tom
This was a part of the MAC for Hello Kitty collection. This quad has great colors in it. The colors are Creme Royale, Paradisco, Stylin', and Lucky Tom. I use Creme Royale almost everyday. It has a big dent in it now. For days when I don't want to wear much eyeshadow, Creme Royale goes on the lid with Paradisco in the crease. A little liner and mascara and finished.

3. MAC Mineralize Shadow Young Punk
Young Punk came out with the Style Black collection later in 2009. The collection was one of my favorites of the year. All of the mineralize shadows they released in it are gorgeous. They are so dark and glittery, so it is perfect for a night out. The glitter in it is fabulous. It goes great with the next part of my top 10.

4. MAC Greasepaint Stick
The new product also released with the Style Black collection is fabulous. It is a great black base for smokey eyes. It can also be used as a liner, although I mostly use it as a base. I don't know if you've heard or not, but MAC is releasing 7 or 8 new shades of their greasepaint sticks in an upcoming collection. I'm so obsessed with this product, that I'll probably buy all the ones that look half way decent. I really love this product and use it whenever I do a smokey eye.

5. Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara
I have found the perfect mascara for me! In addition to being in awesome packaging (I Love the purple!!), it does a great job lengthening and volumizing lashes. Its the perfect drugstore mascara. As I've said before, mascara is the one product I won't spend lots of money on. Why, when it only lasts three months? Sexy Curves is a great product!!

6. Red Cherry Lashes
I absolutely love using lashes for a night out. Well, once I actually learned how to properly put them on I loved them. For months I struggled and struggled to get these puppies on. I watched countless youtube videos on applying lashes. One day after trying and trying I finally got it. Once I finally knew how to do it, I use them all the time. Mostly for nights out. Red Cherry lashes are fabulous. A close second favorite brand is Ardell.

7. MAC Shadesticks
This is my other favorite base from MAC. The one pictured is Lemon Chiffon from the Sugarsweet collection. These can be used as a creme shadow or a base. I sometimes use Lemon Chiffon or Butternutty as a shadow on days when I don't wanna put a full face on.

8. MAC Lipstick Ahoy, There!
This is my absolute favorite pink lipstick. I use it almost everyday. This is yet another limited edition product that was released in 2008, but I did buy it in 2009 at a CCO so I included it in this year's favorites. You can probably still find this at your local CCO. I know mine still has some, and I plan on buying a back up because I love it so much.

9. MAC Lustre Drops
I use this product every day with my foundation. I like my foundation to be dewy, so I make a "cocktail" of my foundation, strobe cream and lustre drops. The one pictured is Bronze Hero, and it leaves my skin with such a glow. This product was released with the Style Warriors collection. Try and find it at your local CCO as I've seen Style Warriors products popping up lately.

10. Morrocanoil Treatment
Once I bought this product a few weeks ago, I have loved it. I use it before blowdrying my hair. When finished my hair is soft and shiny. I have really noticed an improvement in my hair when using this product. I have to use it sparingly because my hair gets oily easy, but I absolutely love it. I'll be using this for the forseeable future.

Well, those are the top ten products I have purchased over the past year. I totally didn't notice when picking these that 90% of them were limited edition. I didn't mean to pick them that way, its just what I use on a day to day basis. Some of the MAC products may still be at your local MAC store. Sometimes if you have a favorite artist and they have things they haven't sent back to MAC yet, they will let you buy them. Also check the CCO because you may be able to get these products at a cheaper price. I know I've seen some MSF's and the Shadesticks at my local CCO.

Now to celebrate the 1st anniversary of my blog....

Thanks for sticking around for a whole year!! As a way of saying thanks for reading my blog, I'm gonna be giving away one MAC eyeshadow to one reader of my blog. I'm starting off with a small giveaway, but as I gain more momentum the giveaways will become more frequent and more things added. I really appreciate all of you!! Now for the rules.

1. You must be a follower of my blog. (Although why wouldn't you be..lol)
2. Leave a comment telling me what you would like to see from this blog in the upcoming year. Whether it be hauls, FOTD, Weight loss stories, anything. I really read all of these and take each one into account.
3. Entries will be accepted until 1-12-09 at 11:59 pm est
4. You get to choose one eyeshadow that will be sent to you.

Easy isn't it! I'll choose a winner by using random.org and post of the 13th of January. Again, thanks for reading and have a great 2010!!!