Monthly Favorites

Monday, June 1, 2020

May Product Favorites from My Stash

Greetings, dear readers! I hope you had a fantastic end to May and the new week and month are off to a fabulous start! I'm still without my usual laptop and only got in for an appointment this past Friday! Unfortunately they couldn't fix it at the Apple store and had to be sent in for repairs, but since it was nothing more than an expensive paperweight, I'm just going to have to make do without it for another week. I've been able to hop on another a little this past week to get some of this together, but it's a little trying when I had to cram as much as I can in a short time. I do have a few posts I need and want to get up this week that I've been fervently working on, so cross your fingers for me! Until then, let's get to today's post!


If you've been following along my blog this year, you've likely seen my monthly favorites posts. Between being overwhelmed with so many makeup launches and just not having the funds to buy them, I wanted to focus some of my attention on things that may not necessarily be the latest release. There are certain products that I find myself gravitating to, and I wanted to create this series to highlight those products. This is my collection of products I found myself really loving this past month!



I have a few friends that I occasionally exchange products with, and we often exchange makeup, skincare and hair related items that we think the other would love or to try out if we already know we can't use or won't enjoy. It's such a nice way to ease some of the product load for those with Birchbox, Ipsy, FabFitFun and the other assorted boxes out there! I don't want to add more trouble to an already problematic 2020, but there is no way I could possibly use all the skincare and makeup items I sometimes get unless I grow another 8 heads, and I know many feel the same way! I was given this particular cleanser by a friend to try out, and to be honest, I wasn't sure it would be for me. I know many swear by cleansers with a creamy texture, but I am often underwhelmed by them. In the end, I opted to give this one a go, and I actually really enjoy it!

Why I love it:

Cream cleansers rarely leave my skin feeling clean, but this one was able to accomplish just that! I don't expect a cream cleanser to remove a full face of makeup, but I do want them to leave my face feeling clean. This one is gentle on the face and doesn't strip away oils and yet my face still feels clean! It's a little more expensive than I like at $35 for a product that literally goes down the drain, but I am really enjoying this tube while I still have it!


Bernadette Thompson Some Like It Hot Nail Polish

I had the pleasure of discovering this brand while at Cosmoprof North America six years ago, and it was such a pleasure speaking with Bernadette herself! She is such an incredible woman with an amiable personality, and I fell in love with her. I've used a few of her products since that time, and have enjoyed them immensely! 

Why I love it:

When I started this series, I never expected to have a nail polish make an appearance, but here we are! As much as I love to change my polish and wear a range of colours, the tomato red of Some Like It Hot really jived with me this past month. Perhaps the name played a roll in loving it as it has been getting toasty here in Arizona, but I have found myself reapplying this to both my fingers and toes throughout May, and that just never happens for me! The formula is fantastic, and I adore the satin matte finish when it dries. It's lovely with a shiny top coat, but I love it most with a matte top coat to add to the longevity.



While I've generally been a fan of pressed powders when it comes to blush, I opted to pick up this loose coral one from Doubledown Cosmetics to try out. Coral is a shade I have found myself lacking in the blush department, and it's a shame as it's a colour I feel suits my skin tone the best. I'm generally drawn towards coral hues once the days heat up, and as I fan of the brand for always giving back, particularly when it comes to supporting victims of domestic violence, I knew I needed to support the brand with this shade in particular!

Why I love it:

Loose blush (and eyeshadows, for that matter) can be a little daunting at first, but I've been enjoying them a lot recently. I'm careful to sift out a small amount of product before swirling in my brush and tapping off the excess, and BAM! My cheeks are then draped with this glorious hue! I've had other blushes fade throughout the day, even with my setting spray routine, but this one stays in place all day for me, looking just as vibrant at the end of the day as it did with first application. It is very pigmented so you might want to start out with a small amount and then build if you want more. I have also found this blush is less forgiving if you have....ahem...crappy brushes as I found when testing out some new to me brushes recently. This is something I'm going to have to keep in mind when I am trying out new brushes in the future. This is an issue with the brushes though and not the blush. I suspect I'm going to be living in this blush all summer long!



Between being sick and the days heating up, it has really been influencing all the products I am using from skin care to cosmetics, even to the eyebrow products. I might do the heavier "IG" brow look on occasion, but I've been really feeling softer, more natural eyebrows in general. I've been using Full Brow's Brow Fibre for a couple years now and am currently on my third, if not fourth, tube!

Why I love it:

I use my tube of Brow Fibre regularly in addition to other brow products, but I fell in love with it as a solo product in May. I may not have anywhere to be going, but I still like a quick and easy makeup routine in the summer, and you really can't get much easier than adding a couple quick swipes of this product in your eyebrows. I don't have to spend 10 minutes putting this in my eyebrows (followed by another 10 to fix it), and it adds a little colour and depth to my eyebrows. In the areas that are a little more sparse, I let this dry and add a quick second coat for just a little more fill. You really can't get much easier than this for your eyebrows, and the result is the lovely natural look I want right now!


Parfumerie Tiki Monoï Tiki Tahiti Tiare Oil

This is definitely a blast to the past for me! The hubby and I went to French Polynesia for our honeymoon almost nine years ago, and I brought so many bottles of this oil home with me! Those bottles have long since been gone, and someone gifted me this one last month. As you can see, I've really been going through it since I got it!

Why I love it:

This one is simple- it reminds me of my honeymoon on Tahiti and the neighboring islands! There are very few floral scents I enjoy, and Tiare, or Tahitian gardenia, is an exception. In truth I'm not sure I would actually like it if I didn't associate it with tropical weather and laid back times, but that's not really something I feel the need to delve into. The primary ingredient is coconut oil, which normally tends to dry my skin out, but there seems to be enough Vitamin E included to help balance it out. Also, because it is an oil, I apply it directly to my skin right after a shower while my skin is still damp, and that seems to be the trick that makes this work for me. Between the dry weather and my time in the pool, my skin gets dry quickly, but this really keeps my skin feeling soft!

What products were your favorites last month? Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

April Product Favorites from My Stash

Greetings, dear readers, and happy hump day! Yes, this is your notice that today is, in fact, Wednesday! I might have cried a little Monday evening when I realized it was still just Monday. Virtual schooling has been going pretty ok around here in general, but Monday was a particularly rough day for both me and my 7 year old. Thankfully he's back into his groove, but is was an intense start to the week.

For today's blog post, I wanted to continue with my series sharing the products I have been loving the past month. I didn't want this series to focus on just the newest releases, especially since we're constantly bombarded with new things. Instead, these are products I've used in the past and have either rediscovered while hunting around in my beauty stash or purchased again and the love kindled. Let's check out the products I found myself using over and over again in April!



This is a product you've likely seen pop up on the blog with some regularity and for good reason- it's a good sunscreen! We all know we're supposed to wear sunscreen every day, and I am willing to admit I used to not wear sunscreen anywhere near as often as I should. Thankfully, I found a few sunscreens over the past several years, such as this one, that I really enjoy.

Why I love it:

Say farewell to that horrible white cast that you experience with many sunscreens! This baby is lightly tinted so I don't look like I am trying to imitate Casper the Friendly Ghost with each application. Even better, this sunscreen leaves an ultra smooth finish on the skin, making it ready for immediate makeup application! If you are looking for a good sunscreen that lets you skip the added step of a makeup primer, this is for you!


All this extra hand washing and frequent use of hand sanitizer what little I have left my house has been rough on my hands! I've used a few different moisturizers and lotions, but I opted to go back to an old tried and true that has always helped my hands!

Why I love it:

Some hand lotions leave my hands feeling soft immediately after application but feeling tight and dry not long afterwards. The bottle may be small and seem unassuming, but a little of this hand cream goes a long way! Not only do my hands feel better immediately after use, the results are long lasting. You do have to take care to not use too much as the formula is thick and can leave your hands feeling almost greasy. My hands have definitely appreciated having this around!


I may be stuck at home with nowhere to go, but that doesn't mean I want to be suffering with dry, cracked heels! I'm still wearing my new sandals I bought prior to the lockdowns around my house, and I had noticed my heels were not looking too great. I had this sitting in my office and decided to give it a go. My feet are now thanking me!

Why I love it:

While it may be packaged to look similar to sprays, this is most definitely a light, mousse-like texture. Even though I knew that, I was still a little surprised the first time I used this. I admit I wasn't expecting much from a product that seemed so light, especially when thicker creams weren't helping much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The cracking in my heels has healed over (see what I did there); my feet are looking so much better! This is rich with lipids to really nourish your feet and I am delighted to have acceptable-looking summer feet for a change! Now if only I can get the hubby to use this.....


I picked up this perfume last spring when I stumbled into Bourbon French Parfums in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I had worn it a few times in rotation with my other scent selections, but it really became a star this April. Perhaps it's because of feeling like we're living a new life for the time being, or perhaps I just wanted to embrace something more floral with all the blooms in my garden; whatever the reason, this is such a lovely perfume.

Scent description:
This is a light citrus with a white tea bottom note. A light blend of lily, vanilla, tuberose, and dark musk in the middle. The top notes are grapefruit and bergamot.

Why I love it:

Scents are always so personal, and I cannot quite pinpoint exactly what it is about this scent I find so endearing. I tend to gravitate towards warmer scents, so the vanilla and dark musk really suit my fancy. The warmer scents are so perfectly balanced with the florals, and this scent really does remind me of New Orleans. I always find myself visiting the city in the spring when the days are getting warm and humid. My trip last month with the hubby may have had to be cancelled, but I still felt like I kept New Orleans close in spite of the distance.


Are there any products you found yourself gravitating towards last month? I'd love to hear about any old favorites you may have rediscovered!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


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Friday, January 31, 2020

January Makeup Favorites from My Makeup Stash

Happy Friday, dear readers, and happy last day of January! Does it feel like a year has gone by since the new year? I don't know about you, but this January has felt like the month that would never end. I don't recall experiencing this feeling in previous years, but it does feel the case this year! Rather than rambling on and on, only adding more length to this month, let's just jump in on today's blog post!

While I'm not on an official no-buy or low-buy this year, I decided that I wanted to appreciate the products I already had rather than jumping in on the next makeup release. The constant wave of release after release on top of all the cosmetic brands available has left me feeling overwhelmed in general, and the fear of missing out due to the sheer number of limited edition products has, quite frankly, ticked me off. I've mostly been able to ignore a large number of the releases and haven't gone into debt, but I feel as though I've spent more on makeup last year than I've spent in previous years. As much as a part of me wants to do the math to confirm, I REALLY don't want to see how much money I have spent on makeup last year. Instead, I decided this year to be selective in the items I do purchase and give items already in my collection some love.


This month, I have found myself really loving and grabbing for five items in particular, and I wanted to share them with you in today's post. Some items are relatively new releases while others are older, but because they were already part of my stash and not a new release or purchase, they all fit the guidelines I have set for this post. Let's get a closer look at each of the items I fell in love with this month!



Nobody would confuse this palette as being new or even gently used at this point, and that's a GOOD thing! I have used this palette a lot since I picked it up, although I have to admit the shades that have hit pan are largely due to my 6 year old digging in a little too roughly when I wasn't paying attention to him. He really enjoys swatching colours and I do let him play a little, but I forgot to remind him to use gentle pressure before getting into swatching. Oops!

Why I love it:
While they may not have the "oooooh" or "ahhhh" factor of shimmers or jewel-toned hues, I have great appreciation for neutral-toned matte shades. There was a time when the cosmetic industry tried to convince me that matte shades were REALLY hard to make well, but the influx of cosmetic brands over the past five years has made me think otherwise. I adore the creamy smoothness of these shades, and they both build up and blend out like a dream. The corner shades Fior Di Latte (light almond), Cantucci (light creamsicle brown) and Tartufo (cool medium brown) in particular are used all the time, sometimes with other shades in this palette and other times utilized with other palettes. The redder shades do get some love from me as well, although not quite to the extent as I do the more neutral options. I will confess that the full 9 colour story confuses me a little and I wouldn't wear some of these shades together, but overall, this palette is a staple in my collection especially when I want to mix and match with other palettes.



I've had this primer since late last spring, and I even reviewed it here. Sadly, after writing about it, it got placed in a drawer and forgotten about as other items have entered my stash. I decided on a whim early this month to pull it out, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this primer. I seriously never would have expected a primer of all things to make my list, but here we are.

Why I love it:

I found that this primer is really good at smoothing out the skin. Don't get me wrong, I've liked it before, but something about the dry weather has made me acutely aware of the nuances of how my makeup performs on my skin, and this primer really took my by surprise this month. Instead of rubbing into the skin, I would press this into my skin, and the final result was a smooth surface. I had noted before it dries to a slight tacky finish, and I came to really appreciate this fact this month. With drier months, I tend to not use setting powder often, and I feel the slight tackiness helped to keep my makeup in place. I've used a few different foundations throughout the month, and none had issues with patchiness with this primer. I wish I had given this primer more love before, but thankfully it can now get the extra attention it deserves.



I have reviewed a few different products from this affordable Australian brand here and here, but this is the first time this creme blush palette has made an appearance on my blog. I've never really been into using a lot of creme cosmetic items before, and I'm not really sure what possessed me to purchase this from the company. That being said, I have definitely been giving this blush some love! I personally prefer to apply with a beauty sponge to get a seamless blend.

Why I love it:

I've only had limited experience with creme blushes previously, and one of the factors that set these apart from the others is the amount of pigment. When I first used one of these blushes, I went in with a far too heavy hand as I wasn't expecting a lot of colour. BIG mistake, but I learned from that one quickly! I also love how easy it is to blend this out. As I already mentioned, I like to use my beauty sponges in particular rather than brushes, and the resulting finish is a gorgeous healthy wash of colour on the cheeks. Some days I stop there and go about my day and other times I follow up with a powder blush for even more dimension, but every time I use this cheek palette, I find myself catching a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and thinking how much I love the glow on my cheeks. This is currently the only creme blush palette by the brand, although I'm hoping they add to the brand lineup with another colour option. I do love these colours, but I am itching for some richer shades for deeper skin tones as well.



When Melt Cosmetics announced their Amor Eterno collection last year, I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on a few things like so many others. In spite of not wearing eyeliner on the daily, I wanted to try this formula and knew this colour NEEDED to join my makeup collection. The emerald green is stunning!

Why I love it:

The colour. The formula. The stay power. Where should I start? I LOVE to wear green on my eyes, and I surprisingly did not have a green eyeliner in my stash. Emerald hues always take my breath away so this fell into my shopping cart quickly. I also really enjoy this gel formula and found this and the other gel liners in this collection apply easily with a fine brush and dries pretty quickly. The quick dry time is pretty darn important with my hooded eye shape, but even more important is the lasting power against my oily lids. I have had so many smear proof, life-resistant eyeliners not live up to the hype on me, and I was honestly expecting the same from this one. It actually stays put until I wash it off at the end of the day and still feels comfortable throughout the day. I'm really digging this formula! The only reason I chose this specific shade over the others for this month is the colour although the black has seen a far bit of attention at my house as well.



This Viseart eyeshadow palette is another oldie but goodie to join this month's favorites lineup. I've used the bottom white, golden, and rust shades a little, but this month I found myself particularly attracted to the pinker half of this palette. I'm not sure if it's because I've got Valentine's Day on the mind, but I could not seem to get enough of this palette!

Why I love it:

Viseart products are not cheap, but if you do find yourself splurging on this brand, you'll quickly see why they are so beloved by makeup artists! The colours are beautiful and ultra pigmented. I also love the way they blend together. Thankfully Viseart offers a few small palette options to make them a little more affordable, and I love that the pans in this one can pop out and fit into a magnetic palette. I do recommend taking some caution with this brand as once you start using it, it can kill your love for other brands. The formula is a little drier than the Nomad Cosmetics palette shown above, so if you prefer this type of formula, you might want to check these out!

While used products may not have the nice crispness as a brand-new item, there is something satisfying about seeing a product getting some love! I've definitely enjoyed these and look forward to seeing if I continue to keep grabbing for them!

I'm adding these products back to my makeup vanity tonight although some may end up pulled out and kept at my makeup station for continued use throughout the year (looking at you, Tuscany Palette!). I'm so guilty of using whatever is at my station, but I am trying hard to put things away and really think about what I want to wear and switching things up. This way I'm not using just the newest items to my collection.

What products have you been loving this month? Have you pulled out any older items and given them love lately? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day and enjoy your weekend!
XO!


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