Beauty Favourites | February 2017

I struggled to look back over the products I've loved throughout February, it seems like a really month and at the same time I have no idea how we're through with the second month of 2017. There are a lot of products I've used and loved this month BUT I have only included the products that I have loved AND used consistently throughout the whole month.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation 

Sometime last year this foundation was a favourite of mine. But as I love exploring new options, it eventually found itself un-used and shoved at the back of my drawer. I have started using this foundation again and really love it. The lasting powder is really good, especially when set with a power. It doesn't cling to any of my dry patches and

Sometime last year this foundation was a favourite of mine. But as I love exploring new products it eventually found itself shoved at the back of my drawer. I started using this foundation again and have remembered why I loved it so much! It lasts for a good amount of time, especially when set with a powder. It doesn't cling to my dry patches and gives my skin a nice texture and like the sticker on the bottle, it makes my skin look dewy + smooth.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream 

I have always had rough and dry skin around my nails. I use hand cream but this cuticle cream from Burt's Bees has helped get rid off all that dry peeling skin. After using this nightly for around a week, my skin looked dramatically better. I highly recommend this cuticle cream!!!

Fanola Nutricare Shampoo* 

Full disclosure, I received this product for review purposes. However my opinion is 100% honest and unscripted. First up, this shampoo gets bonus brownie points for it's scent - it's a very calming warm scent that is described on the label as "milky". I also detect caramel/vanilla scents, I think? I'm dreadful at identifying scents but I do know Inlove this scent! The shampoo is quite liquid-y and lathers nicely into my hair. It doesn't strip my hair or make my hair feel too squeaky clean after use but does make my hair feel clean. I would definitely considering purchasing this shampoo with my own money (you can buy it from https://amr.com.au)

Mecca Cosmetica Happy Hands Hydrating Hand Cream (Limited Edition)

First of all, I am really sorry this was a limited edition product from Christmas. However I am hoping that this hand cream reappears again, or perhaps there is also already a hand cream in the Mecca Cosmetica line? This hand cream makes me so happy! :) It smells divine, it reminds of a fancy hotel room??? and it really moisturises your hands well without leaving behind any residue. I don't need to mention the gorgeous rose gold packaging, do I?!?!?!

O.P.I 'Ducle De Leche' Nail Polish 

I can't say no to a good pinky nude nail polish and in February 'Dulce De leech' from O.PI won my heart. I absolutely adore this shade and have re-applied it to my nails multiple times this month. I rarely reapply the same colour to my nails back-to-back however this polish is really perfect.

Milani Baked Blush 'Luminoso'

This blush gets so much hype and I do think it is deserves it. It gives your cheeks a healthy pinch of colour and a glow that is beautiful but not OTT. I also like this blush because it's easy to apply and you don't have to be too careful with it.

Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolour in 'Desert'

This is a brand new lipstick that Revlon just launched in February and I LOVE IT!!! The colour 'Desert' is my favourite type of lip shade, a warm pinky peach nude. You get great pigmentation, hydration and lasting power with these new lipsticks. You can expect a review of these on the blog soon.

2016 Skincare Favourites

Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen SPF50

I adore Mecca Cosmetica's To Save Face Superscreens. They come in both SPF50+ and SPF30+. For some reason there is a difference in how they feel and their formulas. I typically stray towards the SPF50 because it offers a higher level of protection. It doesn't have that yucky sunscreen scent, it absorbs into the skin super quickly and makes applying make-up easier, it sort of acts like a primer too. Bonus! You can read my full review by clicking here. Compared to the SPF50 version the SPF30 version feels more creamy.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Last February I visited Las Vegas and I had to pay a visit to Sephora. Which is where I purchased two sugar lip treatments from Fresh. AND OH MY GOD it is seriously the only lip balm I have worn all year. In 2015 I would easily have tried out at least a dozen lip balms. This though is my holy grail of lip balms. Unlike other lip balms it doesn't dry out lips out in the long-term. It has a luxurious plump feeling on the lips, lasts forever on the lips and has a delicious scent. The tinted version is also really nice.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturiser

When it comes moisturiser, my list of requirements is rather long:
- Leaves  no yucky residue behind.
- Doesn't interfere with how my make-up applies.
- Doesn't interfere with how my make-up lasts.
- Doesn't make me feel oily at the end of the day.
- Absorbs into my skin instantly.
- Leaves my skin feeling moisturised but not overly moisturised (does that make any sense?)

I find that the Ultra Facial Moisturiser from Kiehl's satisfies everything I look for in a moisturiser. I'm on my second tub of it and I'll probably re-purchase a third. It's a great basic moisturiser.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion

I overhauled my skincare routine in 2016 and for the first time in a long time I have been using more than just a cleaner and moisturiser. I introduced the Clarifying Lotion from Clinique into my routine and noticed a definite improvement in my skin. Some people say bad things about Clinique and that this is a drying product. I'm not sure where I sit on all that but overall I really think it has improved my skin.

Clique Liquid Facial Soap

Continuing on with the Clinique theme...I splurged on this cleanser and really enjoy it. It doesn't dry your skin out but it still gives that clean feeling. Used in combination with the Clinqiue Clarifying Lotion and the Ultra Facial Moisturiser, I noticed a drastic reduction in pimples and break outs! Yippee.

Review | Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50

Regardless of if it is a freezing cold day, a scorching hot day or somewhere in the middle... we should always wear sunscreen. The say sunscreen is one of the bets anti-aging products you can use but we typically only start thinking about sunscreen when it is sunny and hot. Even when its cloudy and "meh" weather sunscreen should be applied. The Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen with SPF50  has been my go-to SPF product for the past couple of months. It's a no-fuss product that I absolutely adore and will repurchase when my current tube empties.

This post has been sitting in my "drafts" folder for close to a week. I think it's because I want everybody to love this product as much as I do!

This sunscreen is skin-coloured but becomes invisible once applied, leaving no white cast. It feels really hydrating on the skin, absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth. I find that this can be applied instead of or over moisturiser and used like a primer, as it provides a good base for make-up. It doesn't feel greasy and it doesn't leave any residue behind.

The packaging is great, a sleek black tube. The only thing that would improve the packaging would be if the lid flipped open instead of of the screw-off lid. There is no yucky sunscreen smell. It has no real scent, but smells nice at the same time.

Overall this is a luxurious feeling sunscreen that feels moisturising and works as a great base for make-up.

September Beauty Favourites

Time for September favourites and I have a group of really good products this month to share with you. I really love all of these products and they have been working beautifully in my make-up routine. 

Mecca Cosmetica To Save face Superscreen SPF 50

Everybody knows that sunscreen is a brilliant way to prevent wrinkles and ageing skin, however, I think there are many people that don't follow this beauty and skincare rule. I certainly don't in winter (and yes I know this is bad of me!). But I am trying to change. I have been wearing the 'To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50' from Mecca Cosmetica over my usual moisturiser and underneath my primer and I am really liking it. I don't think it has caused any breakouts, it smells really nice and not like sunscreen at all, absorbs nicely into the skin and hopefully is keeping my skin protected from evil sun rays. It doesn't seem to interfere with the wear of my make-up either which is great!

L'Oreal Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer

This primer makes your skin feel like it is covered in velvet, makes applying your make-up more effortless and I could swear it makes my make-up stay on for longer. With some primers I am dubious about their ability to make my make-up last longer but with this one I feel like it does something - yay! I have really been loving this primer, so much so that I can forgive the fact that it comes in a jar.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light Highlighter

I have been using this underneath my eyes as a bit of a concealer. It's the first concealer I have ever used underneath my eyes and I don't really know how to judge such a product but I like it so there you go. Let me know what you think is important in a under eye product!

Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream 

I always walk past the Antipodes products in Priceline however I saw KitschSnitch on Youtube talk about this hand cream and decided I needed to try it for myself! The scent is amazing but I'm hopeless at describing scents so I'm not really going to try. It smells warm and a bit sweet??? On the hands it absorbs really quickly and makes your hands feels really smooth.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment 

I really should sit down and write an actual review on this lip balm because I just love it so very much! This is thicker than your typical drugstore lip balm and it lasts a really long time. Whereas some lip balms can make your lips more chapped and dry, I feel like this one isn't one of those lip balms where your lips get drier and addict to.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Lipstick '54 Rock n' Roll Nude'

We will address the elephant in the room first - yes the rose gold packaging definitely contributed to me wandering across to the Rimmel London stand! This is a really nice pinky nude, however it is slightly more pale than the nudes I typically wear. Really nice for spring.