Beauty Favorites Archives

Archive of ‘Beauty Favorites’ category

01
Apr
2014

Moisture Boost with Antipodes

categories: Beauty, Beauty Favorites, Saving My Skin

Hi All,

So lately my skin has been better than ever. My face is even in tone with no pesky redness, hydrated and radiant. I honestly can’t remember the last time my skin was this good without medication.

The reason why? A cheeky little duo that was released in stores today by one of my new favourite brands, Antipodes. Their new Moisture Boost Mini’s contain a duo of two miniature sized products that work together to create moisturized and hydrated skin.

My skin has been loving the combination of these two natural products and I can see this becoming my staple skin care routine for sure.

So what are these two products?

1. Divine Face Oil with Avocado and Rosehip (10mL) – the first step in this mini skincare regime is applying this organic face oil over the face and neck area. This oil absorbs really well into my skin and immediately hydrates it.

2. Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream (15mL) – Step two is to apply this beautifully scented vanilla day cream which contains manuka honey for helping prevent blemishes and anti ageing antioxidants. When this is applied over the top of a thin layer of the face oil the combination leaves my face deeply moisturized and radiant for the entire day.

Although these two products work great at as a combination I love each of these products by themselves as well. I often use the face oil at night before bed because I love waking up to skin that looks healthy and nourished. The day cream is a perfect moisturizer for my skin in the morning as it hydrates without feeling heavy or greasy and my skin stays smooth and moisturized for the entire day.

I can’t think of anything negative about these two products and I am 100% sure I will be purchasing another mini duo to take travelling as well as the full size products to use as part of my daily skin care routine.

These mini duo packs are a great way to try out these products without committing to something new that might not be perfect for you.

At $19.90 the price is very reasonable and despite their size, go a long way. I have been using mine daily for almost a month now and am only about half way through. They are also limited edition so get in there and try them while you can!

You can buy these directly from the website or from stores like Farmers and selected pharmacies or health stores.

Disclaimer- I was kindly given these to try by Antipodes however I was under no obligations and all of the above opinions are 100% mine after enjoying them for the last few weeks. My skin is extremely difficult to please so when I find skin care that doesn’t make it worse and instead works exactly how it claims I couldn’t be happier to share my opinions

03
Mar
2014

February Favourites

categories: Beauty Favorites, Makeup and Beauty

Hi All,

Happy March! February is my favourite month of the year as it includes lots of my favourite things; Valentines Day, my wedding anniversary and my Birthday. Couldn’t get much better than that. The only downside to all that awesomeness is that the month is also super chaotic and leaves little time for blogging.

So to start off March, I thought I would cover a few of the things I enjoyed using throughout the last month (and more).

1. Makeup Forever Diamond Shadow

I don’t know if I am missing part of this eye shadow’s name but regardless I love it. This single eye shadow has been one that I constantly pull out to add a little shimmer to a basic eye look. Its a shimmery nude/gold shade and looks gorgeous with some darker matte colours in the crease. The pigmentation is pretty good and even better when layered on top of a cream base. I have no idea how to buy this in NZ as I had this brought back to me from the USA a while ago (thanks Mum!).

2. Dot by Marc Jacobs

I swear Marc Jacobs perfume can do no wrong. I got a couple of these smaller sized perfumes for Christmas and they are perfect for throwing in the handbag and using as a top up throughout the day. This has been my favourite this month, with a fruity floral top note (think juicy berries and honeysuckle) and a more musky, vanilla and coconut undertone. It’s fresh and perfect for the warmer weather. Wear time isn’t ages (a few hours or more) but with this little guy that isn’t really an issue for me. I am definitely eyeing up the 100mL…

3. Revlon Balm Stain in Honey

I have had this in a favourites post before but I can’t help but mention it again…considering it is one of the first lip products I have ever finished and repurchased without any time in between. I love this balm stain, it is definitely my go to lip product and is a constant feature in my handbag. Easy to apply (no mirrow required), moisturizing, minty and the perfect my lips but better colour. I couldn’t ask for more.

4. Pure Fiji Hydrating Body Lotion in Guava

Pure Fiji are a skin care brand that I can’t get enough of, all of their scents are mind blowingly delicious and they are super hydrating. This body lotion is my emergency stash that I keep in my handbag for when dry skin attacks (which is more often than I would like). The scent is delicious and fruity and the texture is moisturizing without being greasy. These gorgeous products can be bought online here and I have my eye on the Coconut Sugar Rub next.

5. Mac Lustre Lipstick in Sweetie

Obviously this month was a bit of a sucker for a good “my lips but better” shade as this new purchase from Mac has been another great contender. It was my first Lustre finish by Mac and I love the subtle shimmer that brings this neutral pink/mauve shade to life. It is a slightly purple toned pink that works perfect with any makeup looks. Lasting time is average as it is a bit on the sheer side but it is such a breeze to reapply that I don’t mind too much. The other thing I love is how light it is on the lips (doesn’t feel like you are wearing any lipstick at all).

6. Rose Jam Shower Gel by Lush

So I saved my favourite product of the month for last. I have already used up one lot of this shower gel and luckily was able to move on to a big back up I bought at Christmas time. Unfortunately, my favourite shower gel by Lush is a Christmas only affair, but here is a 10 month pre-warning for you to pick it up as soon as it comes back. The scent of creamy vanilla and rose are a combination made in heaven. I use this every night before bed and it makes me feel like I am wrapped up in Turkish Delight (mmmm sticky). Seriously good stuff and you need some in your life. Also lathers extremely well which I appreciate as it means I can ration it out for longer. Oh and did I mention that this is awesome used as shampoo…I don’t know if it is supposed to but sometimes I can’t resist lathering my hair up in its delicious scent and the next day my hair feels better than ever. They don’t have this in stock at the moment (sob) but try any of their other shower gels and I doubt you will be dissapointed.

So February was a good month, not only did it feature some of my favourite dates of the year, it was also a month of appreciation for some holy grail products that I know I will feature a lot in the rest of 2014 (which is speeding along terrifyingly fast). What products have you been enjoying lately?

Lizzy Xx

02
Dec
2013

November Favourites!

categories: Beauty Favorites, Favorites

Hi All!

Merry Monday and happy 2nd day of December 😀 My Monday was a little crazy and insane but all is good because Christmas is only 22 Days away! Only getting a little bit excited…

Anyway I am two days into a new month and thought it was definitely time to share a beauty/makeup related favourites as well as a couple of randoms at the end.

1. Lush Dream Cream
Without a doubt my number one favourite product this month and new holy grail skincare product is the ever so popular Dream Cream by Lush. This stuff is like magic lotion, supposed to be for hand and body but I also find it is one of the only moisturizers that I can use on my face. It is full of good stuff and you can read more over on my post at nzgirl. Long story short if you have sensitive or irritable skin this stuff could be your lifesaver and at $6 a pot (40g) it is pretty affordable as well.

2. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Fuchsia

I picked this up on a whim for $8 from a makeup sale store that has popped up on Queen street and couldn’t resist the glossy, fuchsia pigmentation. This lipstick is stunning and lasts a good amount of the time on the lips. After sticking to red lips almost exclusively it was quite nice to branch out and pop on a pink.

3. Butter London Nail Lacquer in Slapper

Butter London are a fabulous nail polish brand and this bright teal is one of my favourite colours in the Spring/Summer period. Bright and colourful with a formula that glides on with two easy coats the slightly higher price tag reveals itself in how great this polish is. One of those colours that I pop on when I can’t decide and just want an all round favourite.

4. Imogen Rose solid perfume from Lush

I love perfume. A lot. And yet my skin and I have this funny relationship where it randomly decides it doesn’t want to wear perfume and I am limited to spraying it on my clothes for fear of sending my skin into a spiral of angry irritation. For these times I thought I would try out a solid perfume from Lush and it doesn’t disappoint. I can use this on my skin and it just feels like a moisturizing serum. Most importantly it still smells amazing, of fresh picked roses (and not the artificial “rose” scent of most perfumes) and is very affordable at only $10.90. I think I may have to pick up the vanilla one next. Bear in mind this doesn’t last ages on the skin but is easy to throw in a handbag and reapply throughout the day.

5. Yes to Carrots Lip butter in Berry

I love the new “Yes to” range that has come out into supermarkets recently and this lip butter is no exception. Creamy and moisturizing with a delicious berry scent this clear lip butter is full of coconut oil, olive oil and other natural products that make it far superior to petroleum based lip balms in my opinion. It moisturizes for longer and feels better on the lips and for only $4.99 on special was a very affordable purchase.

6. Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Green tea and Cucumber

I had to mention this briefly as it is a great deodorant for only $5 approx at supermarkets and I love the crisp, fresh scent that lasts for what seems like all day. If you are on the hunt for a new deodorant to try then pick this one up (or the white nectarine one which also smells divine).

What I’ve Been Listening to: Haim (especially Don’t Save me and If I Could Change Your Mind) and La Sera’s song Love That’s Gone

What I’ve Been Watching: After finishing both Dexter and Breaking Bad Edd and I decided to try something new and are working our way through Downton Abbey (and both rather loving it!)

What I’ve Been Drinking: Tea (obviously. This month’s pick would have to be a new organic Peppermint tea picked up at the local farmer’s market) and also cucumber and lemon water which I have never tried before but is kind of delicious.

What have you been loving this month?

04
Oct
2013

Some September Favourites

categories: Beauty Favorites

Hi All!

So it is now the 4th of October and time for some of the things that have been high up on my radar for the past month. A couple of these aren’t new favourites but are just Spring essentials that I couldn’t help but include.

1. Daisy Eau de Toilette by Marc Jacobs: So this is one of my two go-to signature scents and I adore everything about it. During the colder months I have left this to one side in an attempt to revisit some other lovely choices in my little collection but as soon as it was officially Spring again I couldn’t resist pulling it straight out again. A youthful, feminine, fresh, floral scent that is relatively long lasting and wear downs well. My favourite notes with this scent is the gardenia and jasmine but there’s other lovely stuff in there I can’t quite specify.

2, Maybelline Colour Whisper in 45 Who Wore It Red-er: I finally picked up one of these to try out and am in love with the formula. It is moisturizing and strongly pigmented and lasts longer on my lips than I was expecting. I chose this colour because the others available at the pharmacy I went to were either bright pink or relatively pale/nude shades so this red toned pink stood out. The name is quite deceptive and for me this comes off much more as a pink with a red tone as opposed to a red but to be honest it probably suits me better that way (I have included a quick swatch at the bottom of the post to try and convey the colour). I will definitely go and pick up some more of these to try soon.

3. Evolu Day Cream with SPF15: I received this in a recent Sample Bar box and have been using it recently. I have been having a few boughts of dry skin and the rather thick formula of this moisturizer performs really well and keeps my skin hydrated for the full day without any irritation or strong fragrances.

4, Essie Mint Candy Apple: Another Spring classic that I was sporting on my phalanges as soon as it was spring was my favourite mint nail polish and a bit of a cult favourite as well. A beautiful blue/green mint colour and although the formula isn’t perfect, after 3 coats it looks gorgeous and lasts for a good while.

5. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy: This is one of my favourite lip balms/products but I sort of forgot about it for a while. I love this sensative skin range of products but this lip balm is probably my favourite because it is moisturizing and hydrating and is different from any other lip balms I have. There is no strong fragrance apart from a slightly minty scent.

6. Maybelline Mega Plush Volume: A new holy grail item of mine which I used a long time ago but bought a second time and just can’t get enough of. When I first open it the formula is a little wet but I found it perfect after a few uses. Builds volume and length beautifully without clumping and whilst still feeling just like natural lashes. Has replaced Benefit’s They’re Real as my favourite for the time being.

Maybelline Colour Whisper in Who Wore It Red-er

Random Favourites:

Monty Python
Turkish Apple Tea
Cronuts
Soy Mochas
Spring Flowers
Cat Shoes
Lorde
Breaking Bad
Obsessed with these shoes. The crazy cat lady reveals herself.

02
Sep
2013

August Favourites

categories: Beauty Favorites, Favorites, Random Favorites

Hi All,

So August has been an interesting month for me. I have had a lot of troubles with my sensitive skin which resulted in me completely retreating into a ball of insecurity but its getting better (with help, thank goodness) and slowly things are returning back to normal. Because of my skin being a pain in the … makeup has basically taken a back seat whilst I tried to avoid using anything that could irritate my skin. Nevertheless I have a few beauty related favourites and then a few other random things as well.

1. EOS lip balm in Summer Fruits. Mum brought this back from the US for me (YAY!) and it has been my main lip product all month. The scent/taste of this is my favourite so far, tropical and delicious, and I do find these moisturize and hydrate really well. In my opinion they are better that baby lips for actual hydration, I only wish these were more readily available here in New Zealand

2. Australis Go Longwear Lipstick in Diva: Probably the only lipstick I have reached for this month on the odd occasion I wanted something more than a balm was this beauty from the new long wearing range by Australis. I have a full review of the three shades in this range coming up in the future but this is a beautiful, bright, true red matte that is flattering and doesn’t dry out my lips. Also lasts well which is a big plus for me.

3. Thin Lizzy Mineral Foundation in … So I avoided most makeup this month but there was the odd occasionytg where I wanted to look presentable and needed some sort of coverage for my red, angry, dry skin. I would have thought this powder wouldn’t have worked that great, just because my skin was so dry, but somehow it worked better than any cream foundation to give me a natural, even colour without any irritation at all or any flaking. It is now my default foundation just because I love the finish and I can trust it won’t set my skin off. Around $40 from farmers I think but a little goes a long way and I feel like this will last me a while.

4. Nivea sensitive foaming wash: Okay, so I am sure you are sick of hearing about my skin issues but it has basically defined my month and this body wash was kind of a life saver. This thing is JUMBO and was only $8 or so from the Supermarket. I love it not just because it is cheap but because it is so gentle that my skin doesn’t react at all and yet it still does an awesome job of lathering and cleaning (which I guess is the main point). Will definitely repurchase this if I ever run out.

5. Essie Merino Cool: This has just been the perfect nail colour for the season. A dusty purple taupe that is sophisticated and appropriate for work. A cream formula but sometimes I do pair this with a rose pink glitter (see below)…I just can’t resist an accent nail. Speaking of nail polish who else is excited for Spring colours?? ALL THE PASTELS.

6. Essie A Cut Above: This is one of my all time favourite glitters that I add to pretty much any manicure but I especially enjoyed this in combination with Merino Cool. This has such a nice even formula for a glitter that I don’t feel like I have to mess around with it. And it’s gorgeous.

That’s it for beauty! But moving on….

TV show: The Mentalist – Edd and I have been powering our way through every season and I may die when we run out. I just love Patrick so much.

Tea: Peppermint leaves with Ceylon Cinnamon by Dilmah (read more here – this tea is perfection for only $4, I’m in love)

Accessory: My burgundy circle scarf from Cotton On. I think I got this cheap with other purchases but I wear this almost every day. Perfect colour for winter and super snuggly.

Food: Haloumi cheese. We bought some from the Auckland Food Show and I have been craving it every day ever since. This with hummus on crackers makes for a perfect post gym snack.

Random Buy: Our new DSLR camera!! Edd is already a pro whilst I still forget to remove the cap and then wonder why I can’t see anything…

What have you been loving in the past month?

Coming up next: Only one album has stood out in the past couple of months and I am OBSESSED.

01
Jul
2013

June Beauty Favorites

categories: Beauty Favorites, Uncategorized

Hi All!
Well its that time of the month where I hastily round up my favorites and let you know what has been on my radar for the month of June. June was a pretty good month for me with lots of socializing, work and time with loved ones. I also found a couple of truly incredible makeup products that will most likely be a core part of my makeup routine for the foreseeable(that word looks rather strange written down but less strange when I say it…) future. So here are a few favorites for June!

1. Benefit Brow zings eyebrow kit.
When I was at the Benefit blogging launch here in Auckland I was lucky enough to test out this eyebrow kit and it was love at first sight! I am notoriously avoidant when it comes to my eye brows…Love them on others but completely ignore them on my own face. After a couple of terrible experiences with eye brown pencils I was thoroughly terrified of anything to do with brows. Fast forward and here comes this small box of eye brown heaven and now I do them nearly every day (just not on those days when I wake up two minutes before my bus is due to arrive). I love this kit for so many reasons so I think a full on review should be arriving soon but for now just get yourself down to a Benefit counter so you can try one too! I bought this for $57 from the Benefit counter at Smith and Caughey’s in Auckland and it was worth every dollar.

2. Australia Curve Ink Eyeliner.
Yet another incredible yet this time very affordable makeup staple is this recently released curved liquid eye liner from Australis. Australis are just an incredible brand full stop. Their products are amazing and yet everything is relatively affordable when compared to the astronomical prices of most makeup here in NZ. After falling in love with their lipsticks and many other products I was in no way surprised when this eye liner turned out to be a winner. Pigmented, easy to use and SO long lasting. Not that I ever sleep with my makeup on….but if I did this would not fade AT ALL. That’s all I’m saying…hypothetically. I don’t know if I will bother shelling out for any other eye liner for quite a while. I think this was $19 from a pharmacy but I received it free on a promo after spending $25 on other goodies.

3. Benefit The Porefessional.

I don’t have oily skin so I tend to be lazy and ignore primers without much adverse effect. However when I received this as a gift from the Benefit blogging event a couple of months ago I thought I would try it and then maybe pass it on to someone without my very dry, sensitive skin. I think I can confidently say this will never happen. This primer has a gorgeous formula, silky smooth and so nice to use! I love that this primer has some pigment to it and quite often I will wear this either alone to just even out my skin tone and make my skin look nice and smooth, or I use it with a light BB cream for a light weight yet flawless and long lasting finish. A little goes a long way (which is important for these more expensive products) and I truly have never tried anything like it before.

4. Dr Lewinn’s Anti-Ageing Eye Cream

This is an old favorite that I haven’t mentioned before and that came back out of the depths of my cupboards last month. This ranks as one of my favorite eye creams as it is super moisturizing (and my eye area can get especially dry during winter). I find it soothing and calming when my skin feels a little irritated which is a big plus as often eye creams can just make it feel worse. A staple for my night time routine and something I will continue to buy until I find something better.

5. Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic

Red lips have been pretty big this month for me, being a great way to transition from a day look at work to an evening look in the space of 1 minute. One of this month’s red lip features was a kissable balm stain in Romantic which is a glossy, medium red. I love the balm stains which is probably clear by now and if I had to choose one category of lip products they would be it so I wasn’t surprised to enjoy this buildable red balm. The colour is vibrant and long lasting yet still fun and creamy. Perfect for dry lip days where a matte red lip is no go zone and I need something more hydrating but still with a punch of colour.

6. OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window

Let me start by saying that I dislike the name of this polish….however the colour is one I had been wanting for ages and found really hard to find. For autumn/winter I was desperate for a khaki/murky green colour as I was completely lacking anything like it. When I finally came across this one I was very pleased to get it and adorn my finger tips with this slightly strange colour. Not a “pretty” nail polish but one that looks very chic and modern on the nails, especially in this season. As per usual with OPI the formula of this creme polish is a dream to work with, needing two thin coats to give a glossy, creme finish.

So there are 6 beauty products for June that I have (obviously) being loving.

Come back tomorrow for some random favorites featuring a tv show that kind of broke my heart.

What have you been loving this month?

06
Jun
2013

A Bunch of May Favourites

categories: Beauty Favorites, Favorites

Hi All!

So its that time of the month for some very overdue favourites! Today’s post will include both my makeup/beauty favourites as well as a few random other bits and pieces that have made May enjoyable.

1. Lush Flying Fox Shower Gel
This was a gift from my lovely friend Karen (she knows I have a slight obsession with Foxes…) and I saved this for the colder weather due to its rich, jasmine and honey scent. Lately I have been loving lathering up with this shower gel and although the scent is strong, the lingering honey smell is rather divine and luscious.

2. Covergirl Nature Luxe in Hibiscus
I picked up this product at a makeup clearance last month for a very small amount of money and somehow it ended up being what I wore most days. I hadn’t heard of this range before but it says it is a gloss balm and I find it to be similar to a Revlon Lip Butter in that it is moisturizing, glossy with a buildable pigmentation. Hibiscus is a nice berry toned pink that comes across as a my lips but better type of shade for me. Easy to apply, easy to wear and perfect for everyday work routines.

3. Rimmel Powder Blush in Autumn Catwalk
Another purchase from the makeup sale was this new blush that I thought could work well for Autumn. It isn’t the best blush in the world but I have enjoyed using this, sometimes in combination with other basic blushes. This one by Rimmel is a combination of a matte pink, a shimmery pink and a darker brown-toned pink. Together it creates a warm-toned pink shade that is sheer but buildable and adds only a small amount of shimmer that looks quite natural on the cheeks.

4. Garnier BB Cream in Light
This is a big favorite for last month has been this BB cream that receives rather mixed reviews. For me this formula works really well as it isn’t drying on my skin, has buildable coverage yet looks natural. I already have a backup for this nearly empty tube and feel it will continue to be a staple in my everyday makeup routine when I can’t be bothered wearing proper foundation (which is 90% of the time).

5. OPI Nail Polish in Malaga Wine
This is a classic favourite of mine that I pulled out for the autumn/winter months. This rich burgundy is dark but still vibrant and has a gorgeous formula that makes application a dream. For more autumn nail polish check out some other favourites.

Other favourites include this new tea involving Strawberry pavlovas (need I say more? Sweet enough to feel like a real treat), home made dahl on cold nights, the 2 hour finale of My Kitchen Rules that felt a little like the end of an era, the new App from A beautiful mess that is all the rage right now it seems and big, warm burgundy coloured scarves that keep me warm on early morning walks to the bus.

What have you been loving lately?

04
May
2013

April Beauty Favourites

categories: Beauty Favorites, Favorites

Hi all!!

Sorry for running late with posts this month, I had my first week at the new job and came home pretty exhausted haha! Should get into a better routine soon (I hope) but for now you can enjoy some slightly late favourite beauty/skin care things for this lovely month (or last month rather…I shouldn’t write posts so late at night :-/). I apologise in advance for the very mediocre photo but the weather was not my friend and I got lazy waiting.

1. Aveeno positively radiant skin brightening daily scrub
I have trouble with face scrubs and my sensitive skin, usually resulting in tight, red skin and a pretty pissed off Lizzy … But not so with this one by Aveeno! This scrub is gentle yet still actually seems to be effective. A new staple in my skin care routine.

2. Davidoff Cool Water Woman
Although this isn’t the most modern or trendiest perfume at the moment I am a big fan of this classic scent. Having always loved the male scent this one was on my wishlist for a while and received as a lucky Christmas gift. This has been a favourite for work as its fresh and clean without being having a strong floral or fruity scent.

3. Australis Colour Inject Lipstick in Jive
There seems to be a rather work related theme to this month’s favourites as this lipstick was my favourite lip shade to wear to work when I wasn’t wearing another favourite (Revlon’s kissable balm stain in Honey). This lipstick is affordable enough to wear every day without fear of finishing and is my preference to wearing nude lipstick, being a very flattering and wearable light pink.

4. Model Co Black Eyeliner
This was a sample bar box product that I adored from the first time I tried it! Creamy and pigmented this applies like a dream. Nuff’ said!

5. Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla and Macadamia
I couldn’t resist the allure of these new Nivea lip butters and I rather enjoy us first one I picked up. It does show up quite white at first but I tend to use under lipstick so it doesn’t bother me. Creamy and hydrating with a little going a long way and a delicious scent to add to the mix.

6. OPI in Bubble Bath
Going through many job interviews and then Starting this new job I had no idea what the policy was on nails and what kinds of shades I could adorn myself with. So this classic nude pink came to the rescue. A favourite for many, this sheer blushing nude colour is the perfect my nails but better shade and made wearing nude nails (which has the potential to drive me crazy) rather endurable.

What makeup/skin care products have you been loving this month?
Xx

04
Apr
2013

March Beauty Favorites!

categories: Beauty Favorites, Makeup and Beauty

Hi All!

Here are this month’s beauty favorites including some lip products, a blush, skin care, perfume and of course a nail polish! They sort of all fell into the same colour family which I thought was cool (woah, calm down guys, it’s not that exciting). Anywhoo, here they are and tomorrow my random favorites will be posted!

Maybelline BabyLips Colour in R0se Addict: I couldn’t help but pick up one of the new baby lips with colour range and chose this light rose tinted balm to try out. I like the baby lips formulas for light hydration (not heavy duty but they do the job). The scent is obviously lovely, as all babylips seem to be, and the tint is very natural and sheer (a my lips but better kind of colour). I would love to pick up some more in the range to see what they are like. These are around $4 at places like Kmart, Farmers and at the Supermarkets too!

MUA Blush in Shade 4: I picked this blush up with an online order on the MUA website for a measly pound (which was a couple of NZ dollars) and was stunned with the quality and pigmentation! Next time I place an order I will definitely pick up some others in the range as the pigmentation is intense (as in it took me a while to learn how to not apply this in a clown like fashion) and the finely milled, soft powder blends into the skin beautifully letting you either create a dramatic blushed effect or go for a more natural, healthy glow. This colour is a lovely natural muted orangey-pink (a subdued coral according to the website). There’s no obvious shimmer but still has a little sheen which I love. Great product, great quality and amazing price. I have my eye on Shade 1 next!

Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Vivid Rose (904): Ugh the vivid range from Maybelline, where do I start!? I have two colours from this range and I was mindblown by their bright, glossy gorgeousness. This colour is a bright, vivid pink/red colour that I absolutely adore. Its pigmentation is great and the lasting power really surprised me as I wasn’t expecting much but this lasted really well on my lips. For around $24 at Farmers and Kmart I will definitely keep my eyes out for a chance to pick up some more (I’m looking at you Mandarin Orange!)

Some quick swatches for you: Top is the beautiful vivid rose lipstick by Maybelline and the bottom is a light swatch of the MUA blush (that’s right, light! This baby has some pigmentation!)

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil: I won’t say much about this other than it has become a new holy grail item for my skin care. Here is the review I did a wee while a go.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Perfume in Cherry Blossom: Along with Marc Jacob’s Daisy this was my other perfume during Summer. I love it’s fresh, floral scent with a hint of citrus and the green tea base notes (I should stop speaking like I have any knowledge about perfumes whatsoever) stops the sweetness from being too over powering. Clean and feminine and easy to wear.

Butter London Nail Polish in Macbeth: Last up is my nail polish for March and it was quite hard to choose one but in the end this beautiful pink toned red by Butter London had to be the one. I wore this several times this month and love the brightness and the beautiful formula of this creme polish. I also rather love the name…

That’s it for beauty favorites! Let me know what you have been loving or leave a link in the comments so I can check out your post

27
Feb
2013

February Favorites: Beauty!

categories: Beauty, Beauty Favorites, Favorites, Makeup and Beauty, Nail Polish

Hi All!

Here are 6 beauty related products I’ve been loving this month! I haven’t been using much makeup this month hence only 2 makeup products being included but there’s a couple other things I have been enjoying for the month of February.

1. Daisy by Marc Jacobs

I featured this in my recent haul post but this perfume has been a big favorite this month. Fresh and floral and perfect for the end of summer when I want something soft yet sophisticated. I can’t see myself ever falling out of love with this scent. Lasts a good few hours but is definitely subtle. I could easily see this being my signature scent and I haven’t ever felt that with a perfume before.

2. Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten

As you can see by the wear of this poor balm stain this has been in my handbag all month, not a safe environment for anyone. This month I haven’t been wearing much makeup but have been enjoying a pop of bright but easy colour on my lips. I love the fact these are moisturizing so I don’t have to worry about dry lips and this also lasts on me for ages! Better than other lipsticks or balm products I own. I also love these berry toned pinks. This looks a lot darker here than the pop of berry pink you get on the lips. Hasn’t replaced Honey as my favorite Balm stain of all but a close favorite.

3. Thin Lizzy Mineral Foundation in Oriental Doll

This was another product in my rather recent haul and has been one of the only foundations I have been using this month because it is so quick and easy to buff some on before I head off. Gives beautiful coverage without looking cakey and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. This shade is perhaps a tad to light for me at the moment but will be perfect in the Winter and seems to still work fine at the moment.

4. a England in St George

This has to be my favorite nail polish of the month even though I received it pretty late into Feb. This is a stuning teal/forest green colour that shimmers away all the time but when you step into the sun the holographic scatter throughout it really pops. This makes it a slight driving hazard I should warn you. Stunning colour with a stunning holographic shimmer. In summer the only dark colours I wear are these that are just to beautiful to wait until Winter/Autumn. If you haven’t heard of or tried a England nail polish before I highly recommend you do! They are very reasonably priced and there are often good specials on. I now have 7 in total and haven’t had any issues with them. They often only take 1 coat to be opaque!! And are always stunning and interesting colours that are hard to find elsewhere. Also, they ship world wide last time I checked, so no excuse!

5. SteamCream

So this is the pot of goodness I received in my sample bar glam pack in January and like all good sample box products it was put in some dark corner of the abyss that is my room, never to be seen again. Until a couple of weeks ago! I pulled this out just before bed to quickly moisturize my neck and decolletage area as well as my arms that were feeling a bit dry (too much info? Sorry, my skin thinks I am an alligator 90% of the time). The steamcream did a decent job of moisturizing, but so far nothing to write home about. But the reason I love this, especially before bed is the beautiful scent of lavender and orange blossom (mainly lavender but I find the orange blossom stops it being too strong, although I know lots of people dislike the lavender scent anyway). The scent of lavender always relaxes me and this is perfect to help me get to sleep.

6. Pure Fiji Coconut milk and Honey hydrating body mist

Another product from the haul…sorry, totally didn’t notice this when choosing my month’s favorites haha. This is my favorite of the two scents my brother got for me. It’s subtle and yet smells like I’m on holiday. I love the soft and sweet coconut with honey combination and have been spritzing this like a mad woman on the hot days we have been having lately.

So there’s this month’s beauty favorites, what have you been loving for February? Tomorrow my random favorites should go up so see you all then!

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