January Favourites

It's that time of the month again. No, no that one - it's time to share with you the products that have well and truly kept my boat afloat throughout the month of January.
This month was a bit of a toughie, and I did struggle narrowing it down to just seven products. There were some fantastic offerings that  I began trialling more towards the end of the month, so you can expect to see those popping up in the February edition, should they continue to impress.
So, with that out of the way, let's get on with the matter at hand.

Origins Make a Difference Cleansing Milk and Rejuvenating Serum

I received the Origins Make a Difference 'Moisture Makers' gift set for Christmas (review here) and of the four products I received, these were my favourites (although I do really like all of them - just didn't want to go Origins crazy in this post!) Both smell absolutely fantastic, like fresh oranges, and a re an absolute pleasure to use. The cleanser is a milk, so I prefer to use it in the mornings, as it's a little bit light for getting off all my makeup in the evenings. It does do the trick, but requires a double cleanse in that situation, so as this was only a 50ml bottle I chose to conserve it. My skin feels lovely and soft after use, and the serum (which I cleverly forgot to include in the photograph) leaves it plump and hydrated. This is the first time I've regularly used a serum in my skincare routine, and I will undoubtedly continue to do so, as I've really noticed the difference it's made to the condition of my skin.

Laura Mercier SPF20 Tinted Moisturiser

I'd had my eye on this for an age, and after falling back in love with tinted moisturisers since using the Caudalie Teint Divin, I decided to bite the bullet. I use the shade 'Sand', which is a perfect match for my skin tone, and thanks to the SPF it saw me right through my seaside break. This is great for when your skin is looking pretty good on it's own, but it really does make a difference when it comes to evening out skin tone. A lovely every-day product.

Balmi Strawberry Lip Balm

Another item from Suzy's giveaway, and something I'd been intrigued by for a while. There was a huge craze for EOS and Balmi going on early last year, but while I liked the sound of them, I was feeling a bit fed up of lip balms that promise the earth and yet do nothing. However, this one is a real treat - it smells exactly like strawberries-and-cream sweets, and moisturises my lips a lot better than anything else I've tried, actually sinking in rather than just leaving a barrier.

MUA Undressed Palette

I'd been wanting to get back into wearing eyeshadow, having gone without for the past couple of years (apart from nights out). I think this was down to my favouring brighter colours in my younger years, and never really bothering to learn how to apply it properly, essentially meaning I grew tired of it. But having tried this palette, neutral eyeshadows have become a definite staple in my daily routine, particularly the matte shades. These are really highly pigmented and are a pleasure to use.

Origins Intensive Overnight Drink-Up Mask
Yes, I know I said I didn't want to go too Origins mad in this post, but I did get a fair few of their products for Christmas, so it's only logic that they'd appear in my January favourites. This is a product which, despite my being quite the Origins fan, I had never got round to picking up, so I was glad to receive it as a free gift with my Moisture Makers set. This mask smells absolutely divine (think passion fruit) and leaves my skin feeling beautifully soft come morning time. Expect a full review coming soon.

Model's Own Winter Wonderland Nail Polish in Northern Lights
Just look at it. What an absolute beaut.
This reminds me of snowflakes and raindrops, and looks beautiful layered up over an array of different shades. I'm yet to find the perfect pairing, so watch this space for a NOTD once I do.

That's it for January - I hope you saw something you liked. If you have tried any of the products mentioned then please do let me know your thoughts on them, as I'd love to know if they have impressed you as much as they have me.

xx