The January Beauty Selection

Origins Calm to Your Senses stress relieving mask  //  Nars Sheer Glow Foundation  //  Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium  //  Bumble & Bumble Pret-a-Powder  //  Olivia Burton watch

There was a time when I'd do weekly favourites posts, but it isn't something I'll be starting again. These days, I find that I'm far more selective with my beauty purchases, and equally, they tend to remain in my affections for a great deal longer. I've long been one to do my research when it comes to beauty shopping, but at one point I was so eager that I'd buy several cleansers or lipsticks all at once, meaning that none of them received the chance they deserved, and my skin and hair had no opportunity to reap the benefits of the products I was putting on them. So, it's back to monthly round-ups, which personally, I find far more telling. If something has been able to hold my attention for several weeks or more, then it has to be worth some consideration.

Suffice to say, my favourites for January are all very well loved, and I can say with certainty that I won't be casting any of them aside the moment that February shows its face. All of my chosen five for the month have been featured here on the blog quite recently, and I like them so much that they definitely deserve a second outing. If you'd like to read the original reviews, then simply click on the names below.

The new Origins Calm to Your Senses stress relieving facial mask has become a firm bedtime favourite, with relaxing lavender and chamomile to soothe your skin as well as your mind. Although reasonably light in consistency, it's rich enough to pack a real moisturising punch, and a light layer massaged in before turning the lights out is all it takes to send me into an easy, peaceful sleep. In the morning, there's no sign of any residue, and skin is brighter and softer. This certainly isn't as rich as the iconic Intensive Overnight Treatment Mask, so if you find that one too heavy then don't be put off. A perfect multi-tasker for those who want to pamper themselves effortlessly, the Calm to Your Senses mask is a surefire winner.

The Nars Sheer Glow foundation is a repurchase, after I originally fell in love with the dewy yet flawless finish it provided back in October. Sheer Glow is absolutely one of those rare 'wow' foundations, and I can remember literally marvelling at the results in the mirror on the very first application. The only downside with this is that it doesn't come with a pump applicator, so I often find myself pouring too much of it out at once. That said, the medium, buildable coverage it offers is more than worth the hassle, and this is set to stick around my makeup back for years and years to come.

I received Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium for Christmas, and have been keenly spritzing it on ever since. It's been a while since I opted for quite such a sweet fragrance, but the undertones of vanilla and spices make this a sophisticated and mature scent that I just keep finding myself going back to. The packaging is definitely a plus point too, as in its glamorous black bottle with a subtle hint of sparkle, it looks the part as well as smelling it.

I certainly won't be the last person to sing the praises of Bumble & Bumble's Pret-a-Powder. This is one hair product that has achieved cult status for all the right reasons, and has become my trusted secret weapon against flat, oily or lacklustre hair. Perfect for freshening up a lank looking fringe, Pret-a-Powder's real power lies in its root-plumping qualities, and a light sprinkling of product massaged into roots equals instantly volumised hair.

Finally, a non-beauty item, which comes in the shape of my beloved Olivia Burton watch. With a large, rose-gold face and navy leather strap, it has instantly converted me from a non-watch-wearer to a wristwear obsessive, and I adore the way that it adds a simple air of sophistication to even the most casual of looks.

What have your favourite beauty products been for January 2015? 

Do you have any non-beauty picks?

xx

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