Well it's February already, and I can hardly believe how fast the time is going. They say as you get older, the time goes quicker, and although I'm only 19 I can say that they are definitely right! But anyway, it's now the beginning February, which means it's the end of January, and that can only mean one thing. January favourites post! My first ever monthly favourites post, too, so this is exciting stuff. I'd better make it a good one. I have a range of skincare and make up, some of which will have been posted on my blog before but I'll go into more detail. So let's start with the skincare!
Oh my lord this is heaven in a little black tub. I adore the scent of it - it smells like soft vanilla with a hint of rose. As I have mentioned before, I have incredibly dry skin, and instead of just soaking into your skin to give you a bit of extra moisture, this moisturiser actually creates a sort of barrier on your skin that keeps it moist for hours, and yet doesn't feel sticky or greasy. It creates a gorgeous, dewy look. I just can't fault it. It also contains almond oil which is absolutely fantastic for hydrating skin and keeping it hydrated.
The first thing I have to say about this is that it definitely will not appeal to everyone. It is very strongly scented and the scent lasts a very long time, so if you don't like strong scents under your nose for a prolonged period then this isn't for you. I, however, absolutely LOVE it! It's a solid bar that you rub between your hands and as it warms up, it creates an oil like substance which you then rub all over your face and massage in. It's fantastic as a pre-treatment for a face mask because it increases the effectiveness, but it's also great as a night cream which is how I've been using it. It smells very strongly of rose. It contains far too many fantastic ingredients to go into detail on them, so here's the ingredients list:
Murumuru Butter, Calamine Powder, Cupuacu Butter, Fresh Rose Petal Infusion, Organic Almond Oil, Perfume, Fresh Portobello Mushrooms, Chamomile Blue Oil, Rose Oil, Tagetes Oil, *Eugenol,*Geraniol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate,*Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool
*occurs naturally in essential oils
The thing I love most about this scrub is the scent. It smells very fresh, reminding me of cucumbers and Aloe Vera but it is also incredibly feminine. It's what I'd call a very delicate scent. The scrub itself is mild so it can be used every day without irritating the skin at all or causing scratches or soreness. It also contains moringa oil which is fabulous at hydrating, and is something my skin desperately needs. If used after washing, I've also found that the scent lasts a surprising amount of time (although that may have something to do with the moringa body butter I use afterwards haha).
That's it for my skincare. I've loved so much this month that it's hard to narrow down, so I decided to just stick with my top three or I'd be rambling on for a year and a day. Which means it now boils down to the make up/beauty section, and oh boy do I have some exciting things here.
The Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - £37
I absolutely adore this palette, but then again you've probably seen a million and one reviews and swatches of it by now so you know what it's about. I much prefer a neutral eye and a bold lip as an everyday look, so this can create both feminine and delicate looks without being over the top if required. Rose gold is also one of my favourite colours so this palette is a must for me. All of the eyeshadows are buttery and creamy, and all of them show up really well on my skin tone. This has been my favourite for the last couple of months, not just January.
Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel Eyeshadow in Pink Gold - £4.99
Although this eyeshadow has possibly the longest name known to man, I absolutely adore this colour. I usually it it as a base for my Naked 3 looks but if I'm in a rush or just fancy a slight pop of colour then one quick swipe across my lids is enough to achieve that. And honestly I think the 24 hour claim is 100% accurate - I got in really late the other day and fell asleep in my make up, and when I woke up my eyeshadow was still in the exact same condition as it was when I fell asleep. It impresses me, and makes me want to try the MAC Paint Pots even more. This is my second one of these, that's how much I love it!
Lypsyl Lip Balm in Strawberry - £1.35
One of the cheapest lip balms there are, and also the most effective lip balm I've ever tried. I have this in a multitude of flavours and each and every one is simply perfect. It hydrates and soothes the lips and smells amazing. My lips are soft as a baby's... well you get the idea. For the price, I can't fault it.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 51 Vanille Clair - £10.99
I much prefer a dewy finish in a foundation, and I much prefer a medium coverage as I don't really have blemishes but I do have redness. This foundation gives me both of those and blends seamlessly into the face so it doesn't even look like you're wearing any. It also manages to glide over all of my dry skin with ease. The wear time isn't that great, but I really don't mind touching up during the day. I've worn it every day without fail and I adore it.
Benefit Benetint - £24.50
Now I know this seems really steep for a tiny bottle of liquid stain, but keep in mind that mine has lasted me over a year. You literally only need three tiny dots of it and it gives you such a rosy glow and it lasts for the entire day. Plus it smells like roses. There's nothing I don't like about this, and I have my eye on the Lollitint one they've just released. The colour might look a bit daunting in the bottle, but it comes off quite subtly on the face. It can, however, be built up for a stronger colour.
Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara - £9.99
This is my holy grail mascara. It lengthens, defines and volumises while not clumping or looking spidery. It looks dramatic but not unnaturally so. I much prefer a rubber brush to a bristle brush, and this one has that and is thin enough to get the little tiny hairs in the corner of your eyes. Absolutely perfect mascara, although I am going to try False Lash Effect when this one dries up.
MAC Violetta Amplified Lipstick (Pro colour) - £15
Unfortunately I can't find a link to this online besides eBay or the US version of the site which doesn't ship to the UK. I bought it at a MAC Pro store in London and you can't get the pro line of products on the UK site. But all that aside, I absolutely adore this colour. It's the first purple lipstick I've ever tried and suits my pale skin perfectly. It's creamy and moisturising. It's not particularly long lasting, though, but I don't mind reapplying as it's so quick and easy because it just glides over the lips and gives you the magnificent pop of colour in one swipe. LOVE this lipstick.
So that's it for my make up picks this month. Now for a couple of random lifestyle favourites.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - RRP £7.99 but £5.59 in Waterstones at the moment
I can't go into too much detail about the book without spoiling it, but it's absolutely amazing and has had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I've been reading it. I can barely put it down at the moment. If you like crime thrillers, you HAVE to give this one a go, and that's an order ;)
Wax Lyrical Oriental Wild Orchid Candle - £3.99
This is just a beautiful scented candle and so far has lasted me a fair old while. The product description says it burns for up to 40 hours and I'd definitely agree with that. I cover the candle with the lid after every use to keep the fragrance strong. It's so delicate and feminine. Just lovely. I've already put an order in to repurchase it, and plan on getting a larger one of the same scent as well.
That's the lot for my January favourites! Give me the links to yours in the comments, or comment with what you liked/didn't like out of my list. I love hearing from you guys!
Thanks for reading,
Kerry x
P.S. My Lush bath bomb today was PINK! Wanna see?
