January faves

Here are my current beauty faves this month - - -

1 - Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Crème Brulee. This is my favorite nude lip product out of all that I have tried. Some of the color of my lips still peeks through, as opposed to a true nude that I find completely washes me out. Plus, this formula works for me because the Lip Butters are moisturizing and very wearable.

2 - Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup. Because I have acne prone, oily skin, I have tried what feels like a million concealers to try to find one that doesn't break me out or make my face very oily. This is the best one I have ever found! This contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid and really cuts down on the oiliness. The only thing I don't like about this is the lack of shades. I think there are maybe 5 or 6 shades, if that. Because I am treating acne with prescription creams and face wash on top of using this which contains the Salicylic Acid, sometimes my face does get a little dry, but I just apply oil at night to combat that. Plus, this is buildable and really does a good job at helping cover acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Acne is a cruel cycle lol. I bought this at Macy's for around $25 I believe; making it also the least expensive concealer I've tried. I would not suggest using this around the eye area because of the Salicylic Acid.

3 - Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. This is kind of like a creamy gel that feels amazing. I don't use this everyday because it doesn't have SPF but apply it to dry spots whenever I need a little extra moisture. I love applying this to my neck and décolleté because it  is just so luxurious feeling!

4 - Lorac Take A Brow in Brunette. I bought this at a Sephora in Las Vegas about 6 or 7 years ago and am still using it! It contains two shades of brown, one light and one darker, and a clear stay-put brow wax. I only use the lighter shade because, for me, the darker one is just a little too severe because I am so fair skinned. This little kit has traveled all over the US with me and is a definite makeup staple. When I was home visiting in NY recently, I saw that Ulta now carries it (but not in my store in VA). Yes this is $22 but I can honestly say that I have spent more on much less useful things.

5 - tarte eyelash curler. Just my luck that tarte came out with this adorable pink and purple ikat design eyelash curler right as my old one was on its last leg. I found this at Ulta for $16. It also came with a mini mascara that I always stash away for traveling.

6 - L'Oreal Voluminous Original mascara in black. I was torn about this mascara when I first purchased it but it has definitely grown on me. This makes such an impact that I love to wear it on days when I feel kind of blah. It isn't the smoothest mascara so beware of some clumps, but it delivers on big, notice-me lashes that will open up your eyes and make you feel glamorous.

January Faves - non beauty

I thought I would include some other things that are my favorites right now that are not beauty products - - -

1 - Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange candle from Altar'd State. This candle smells so amazing! And it looks great, too. I have to admit that one of my pet peeves is having a well decorated room that you spent all this time and effort on making beautiful and then cheap looking candles mixed in. I am obsessed with candles because I just love how warm and comforting they are. Just the smell from a great candle can change your whole mood. This candle itself is made from a coconut blend wax and is in a beautiful red glass container that I plan on re-using once its finished.

2 - Moleskine lined journals from Target. Target sells these in 2-packs that come in the same color but different shades. So one of these is a darker green like a forest color and the other is more like a jade green. I find these so useful because they aren't bulky so I can carry them anywhere and great quality.

3 - Michael Kors Rain & Stain Repellent from Michael Kors. I've been trying to buy less based on quantity and more on quality. I picked this up with my last Michael Kors purchase and have since been using it on all my other leather purses to ward off stains and dirt and protect from the rain so that they last longer.

4 - Mint with gold polkadots makeup bag from Forever21. I was looking for a makeup bag that was slightly larger than what I had and found this one for less than $5! It keeps everything together and is really cute - I just couldn't deny that deal.

5 - Rebecca Minkoff iPhone 4 case. I love changing up cases and skins on my phone for an instant update. This case is from Nordstrom but be sure to check places online like eBay for some affordable options.

6 - Yogi Raspberry Passion Perfect Energy tea from Wegmans. I try to lay off drinking too much coffee since it sometimes makes me very jittery but I still need some caffeine in my day so I've started trying on different teas that contain caffeine. This tea is 100% natural (I found it in the organic section of Wegmans) and is a combination of Organic Green Tea and Organic Assam Black Tea. Both green and black tea have health benefits that may even help prevent cancer and other health issues which is a wonderful benefit.

December Faves

Some of my newest obsessions - - -

 

 

1 - The Body Shop Beautifying Oil in Olive. This stuff is a-mazing! It's a dry oil for face, body and hair but so far I've only used it on my body. I apply it after I get out of the shower and it seriously keeps my skin super soft all day with a scent that lasts for a few hours after. I have been trying out different body oils since lotion can sometimes clog your pores but I either hate the scent or don't find them moisturizing enough. This may finally be the oil that converts me from being a die-hard lotion user. Purchased from The Body Shop for $14 and comes in eleven scents.

 

 

2 - Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment. I have been a loyal Moroccan Oil user for many years and I'm not saying that I'm cheating on my beloved M.O. but maybe just having a fling on the side with Macadamia Healing Oil. I feel so guilty but this stuff just makes my hair beyond gorgeous. For me, this works best when applied to damp hair before blowdrying and straightening. It leaves my tresses super shiny and more tame after just blowdrying than anything else I've ever used. I purchased this .34 fl oz bottle from Ulta for $6.99 but a little goes a long way.

 

 

3 - Lush Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask. This mask smells just like Thin Mint cookies so really that's enough to justify me buying it! But seriously, this mask is deep cleansing, tones, exfoliates and brightens all while making your face feel refreshingly tingly. Just apply, let dry, and remove with water in circular motions to take advantage of the exfoliating grit. Purchased from Lush for $12.95.

 

 

4 - Carol's Daughter Moisturizing Leave-in Conditioner in Tui. This leave-in restores moisture and adds strength without silicones, parabens, petroleum, mineral oil or artificial colors, plus this scent smells like sweet candy or fruit that lasts for hours. Sometimes throughout the day when I need a pick-me-up I spray this both in my hair and décolleté. Purchased from Ulta for $1 4.00.

 

 

5 - Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment. Once I finally found the best way to use this for my hair, it has been a miracle worker. In the container this is a solid, but once you scoop some out and rub it between your hands, it becomes an oil. Because several years ago I had trouble with Ojon  products leaving behind too much residue and just being a pain to wash out, I was hesitant to use this and was actually using too little and not seeing any real improvement in my hair. I've since discovered that, for my hair, I need to put a lot in and really saturate all of my hair except near the roots. The directions say to leave in for 20 minutes but I always keep it in for an hour since I have thick, dry hair. I purchased this in a sample pack from Ulta but you can buy it separately for $19.50 for 1.5 oz. I know this sounds really small for the money but considering that it transforms into an oil, you really end up getting a lot of product.

 

 

6 - Essie nail polish in Mint Candy Apple.  I always love wearing bright and unexpected colors during the more dreary months and this is what I'm currently wearing. To me, this is more of a cross between mint and robin's egg blue and I just love the way it pops against my winter wardrobe. Purchased from Ulta for $8.00.

 

 

7 - Clinique Almost Lipstick in Flirty Honey.  These are my newest lip product obsession! I now own three colors and am looking to add to that collection. I don't really like my lips so I don't feel comfortable wearing bold and bright colors but still want to wear something. For best results, I apply these directly to my lips without chapstick. They are so moisturizing that I can go hours without needing to apply anything and although the colors look bright, once applied they give the most natural color. You can find these at Macy's for $15 each.

 

 



October Faves

From one product junkie to another, here are my favorite finds for October - - -

1- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous. I've tried a lot of stains and pencils   

    out there and this is the most moisturizing. This is in the form of a chubby pencil but believe me,  

    it is a stain and the color lasts forever. Word of warning from experience: this doesn't have a ton 

    of color when first applied but just apply it once and leave it alone, the color deepens 

    dramatically.

2 - L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Brown. This is the smoothest eyeliner I've ever 

    used (and I've been using eyeliner daily for ten years so that really says something). This goes 

    on like butter and is easily manipulated if you want that smudged look. I like cleaner lines so 

    after I apply this, I take an eyeliner brush and go over it once to make sure it doesn't smudge on 

    its own.

3 - Ole Henriksen Truth Revealed Super Creme with SPF 15. During the Fall/Winter this is my 

    absolute fave for daily face moisturizer. This creme is highly concentrated with vitamin C, 

    Omega 3 Extracts and micro algae to help with firmness, refine texture, fight free radical 

    damage, diminish the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles as well reduce uneven pigmentation. 

         

          I have oily and acne prone skin but have no problem wearing this. I only tend to wear it 

    during the colder months because it is a slightly heavier moisturizer but I find that after a few 

    months of use, I really like the way my skin looks. 

4 - Nail Guard System Gel Coat in the Strengthens formula. I used to have horrible nails that 

    would split despite all of my efforts and this is the only thing that has saved them. $25 a bottle 

    may seem overpriced but I will never stop buying this. 

5 - Lush Lip Scrub in Sweet Lips. Despite always obsessively applying products to moisturize my 

    lips, they would always look dry and cracked. I've tried Philosophy's lip scrub but that wasn't 

    strong enough and scrubbing with a wet washcloth did absolutely nothing (because whose 

    mother hasn't told them to try that). This isn't watery like Philosophy's lip scrub; instead it's dry 

    and rough. It's basically just sugar with vanilla and chocolate scents (ummm yes please!). Yes, 

    this is something you could make on your own, but looking over at my stack of unfinished craft 

    projects I know myself better than that and will instead happily hand over my $10 to Lush.

6 - Sundari Neem and Coconut Hair Treatment Oil. I tried this as a sample from Bloom.com  

    and immediately had to purchase a full size. I am a huge fan of hair oils and I love how silky and 

    smooth this makes my hair. I have fairly thick curly/wavy hair so I know that I can apply oils all 

    day long and after washing that my hair won't be weighed down. If you are not sure how your 

    hair will handle oils, start small and apply a minimal amount only from the midsection down; 

    staying away from the scalp. I keep this in for about an hour before I wash my hair. The 

    package says to leave in for 30 minutes, but again, I know my hair can handle it. 

       This contains:

            - Coconut Oil: strengthens the hair shaft and reduces protein loss 

            - Neem Oil: makes the scalp and hair follicles healthy, encouraging faster growth

            - Therapeutic Grade Plant Extracts: prevent and repair damage caused by styling heat,     

               chemical processes and UV exposure

7 - MOR Lip Macaron in Passion Flower. This is my third Macaron, so clearly I have a thing for 

    these. I love the way they look, smell, feel and how long they last. They come in little metal 

    pots, each one a different color depending on the flavor. The lid easily twists off and the pot is 

    full of lightly scented, clear lip balm. Some may think these are pricey at $10 each but honestly, 

    it lasts me months and I love using it. It's so pretty that I'm never embarrassed to take it out of 

    my bag (opposed to that busted up tube of chapstick that has been through the wash a few 

    times) to use and I always get questions on what it is.