monthly favorites Archives

Posts Tagged ‘monthly favorites’

02
Dec
2013

November Favourites!

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?

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?

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!

03
Feb
2013

Things I’ve been loving in January!

categories: Favorites, Random Favorites

Hi all!
Here are a few random favorites from January

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1. The Office USA.
Edd and I are big fans of both the original series as well as the US adaptation but recently we rewatched all the US seasons and have started on the new ones. I love this show and the amazing characters that drive its 30 minutes of non-stop laughter. A great distraction from a few of the more stressful aspects of my life at the moment.

2. Blue and gold iPhone case from Forever New.
Let me start by saying that I love Forever New, such a gorgeous shop that I spend way too much time in considering I can afford very little of their beautiful stuff. This is a iPhone case/wallet that is a cornflower blue with gold inside and I had been lusting after it for ages! Finally I saw this with 50% off and I grabbed it with a huge smile on my face! Now it’s my favorite iPhone accessory. I should add that the colours of my upcoming wedding are this kind of blue and gold which probably explains my love of this combo!).

3. Game of Thrones season 2.
Edd and I are also huge fans of GOT (the first season and book) so we were excited to watch this latest season last month! I was slightly disappointed with the small amount of story lines concerning the DRAGONS! But otherwise it was amazing and wonderful. As good as the first season? Maybe in different ways but definitely filled the gaping hole in my life that the first season left.

4. Monopoly deal card game.
I don’t know when this game came out but my brothers got it for Christmas and we have been playing it nonstop!! Luckily for me I love it so this isn’t such a big issue haha. A great short alternative to the board game that can take us all day to play. Even mr 5 is able to play it ( and beat me pretty consistently I should add) so a game that pretty much anyone can enjoy.

5. Homemade peach iced tea.
We all know by now I have a tea problem but at the moment in the heat of summer my hot tea drinking has declined dramatically and in its place a large icy pitchers of peach iced tea. I make this using this brands cordial type drink that can be used 1 part to 4 with water and then customized with sliced fruit and in my case a squeeze of lemon to enjoy on those insufferable days.

Oh well another month’s favorites over and out! There won’t be an albums of the month as I’m running behind on a few wedding posts I’d like to put up on the next two weeks (14 days til the wedding!!!!) and my music has been pretty much the Of monsters and men album from last month still on repeat.

Let me know any of your random favorites or any TV recommendations you may have!
Xx