January 2015 Favorites

January is finally over and even though it was not a very pleasant month, but it was a month of a huge amount of beauty discoveries that I want to share with you today. (Get ready, because this might just be the longest post ever written.)

MAKEUP

 As I mentioned in my Italy haul, I found some amazing bargains in KIKO at the beginning of the month. I had my eyes on the blush pairs for ages, and I found them in the sale section for half the price! I got the Top pairs blush in 03 Rosewood and Azalea. Both of the colors are gorgeous and very pigmented, but I've mostly been using the darkest one, given it is a bit more appropriate for the winter. It doesn't look as dark on the cheeks as in the pan, but gives them a bit of dusky rose color with a pearly finish.

I also got the Golden game Sculpting Bronzer in 01 Radiant Honey from the same collection. There is a warm bronzer, a sculpting color with a colder undertone and a white highlighter with subtle golden shimmer. My face has a slight yellow undertone, and these colors go perfectly with it.

Whilst I was in Italy I also picked up the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation. This is a full coverage foundation, and it works to the point that I don't even need to use a concealer. My skin has been acting up and looks awful at the moment and this is a must-have for me at the moment. I had some problems with the application, and I find that the best way is to use a buffing brush and really work it in the skin. To achieve a perfect finish I also use a beauty sponge and go over the face to achieve a flawless finish.

In the afternoon, my face tends to get a bit oily in the T-zone, and to prevent that happening, I love using the Catrice Prime and Fine Mattifying Powder. I had this in my stash for quite a while, because I bought it to use for a shoot where I was doing the makeup and then never used it on myself. At the beginning of the month I found it again, disinfected it and started using it on myself. It keeps my face mattified all day, helps the foundation last longer and ever reduces the look of pores on my face.

In the middle of the month I found this eye shadow palette in the online beauty outlet. It's the Cargo Let's Meet In Paris palette and it was a limited edition a while ago. The colors seemed amazing, and I was looking for something different to my usual neutral palettes, so I ordered it. Some of the colors are incredibly pigmented and unbelievably buttery. I haven't tried all of them properly, but I've been using this palette ever since I got it.

(STILL MAKEUP)

After the longest time using only brown pencil eyeliner, I got a black one. It’s the Essence Long-lasting Eye Pencil in 01 Black Fever, and I tend to put it in the outer corners of my waterline, to give my eyes a bit of depth. It’s cheap, pigmented and doesn’t smudge.

I also decided I had to try the Essence Lash Princes Volume Mascara. I like the slightly curved wand that makes it easier to get all the lashes and the natural effect it leaves on my lashes.

Whilst I was in KIKO I also got a Smart Lip Pencil in 712. It is the kind of “your lips but better” color and it reminds me of my all-time favorite lipstick that got discontinued.

In Italy I finally got my hands on the Maybelline Color Elixir in 710 Rose Redefined. Even though I am not fond of lip glosses, I am obsessed with this one. It is not sticky, very smooth and long-lasting. Combined with the lip pencil, it makes the best nude lips look ever, and I will do a separate post with swatches and the lip combination.

I mentioned these two Essie polishes in a recent haul, and I’ve had the Bahama Mama on my hands and Jump in my Jumpsuit on my toes for the majority of the month.

Fantasy EDT by Britney Spears is still my current obsession and I like using it especially in the evenings. I did a post dedicated to it and you can read all about it here.

Besides Fantasy, I’ve fallen completely in love with a roll-on perfume from a set I bought in KIKO. There are three roll-ons in the set, but I especially adore the Turquoise one that has notes of fiore and neroli. I can’t really explain why, but this smells so incredibly good, and I’ve been using it all the time. 

SKINCARE AND other

 I mentioned that my skin has been acting up, and to fix that I have been using the Garnier Pure Active Blackheads Uprooting Scrub. It is a very abrasive manual scrub and would probably not be suitable for very sensitive skin. The effects after using it are amazing, my skin is much cleaner, feels firm and refreshed. It also helps reduce the redness and any discoloration.

For my lips I’ve been using the Santa’s lip scrub from Lush and Labello Lip Butter in Vanilla&Macadamia. I use them every night and I have managed to keep my lips soft and moisturized, despite the cold winter weather.

In a gift set I got from Lush I got the Million Dollars Moisturizer and I thought I wouldn’t use it at all. I tried it and have been using ever since as an eye cream. It is a bit to strong and moisturizing for my whole face, but it has worked wonders under my eyes.

Because of the cold, my hands are very dry and to prevent that, I use the Dalan d’Olive Intensive cream every evening. My parents bought this for me in Turkey, so I’m not sure where to find it, but it is very moisturizing and has helped my hands and nail cuticles a lot.

I’ve mentioned a few times before, that I love essential oils, and this month I’ve been especially fond of Schlaraffen Land Jasmine & Orange scent. I use it every day and my room doesn’t feel “right” if it doesn’t smell of this!

My love for spicy teas is growing every month. I discovered this Chai tea from Tekkane, and I am obsessed with this. With a bit of milk and Stevia, it is a perfect afternoon indulgence.

The last thing (yes, I promise I am done now!) are tulips. I found some yellow tulips in the store the other day, and just couldn’t leave them there. They lasted for the longest time, and looked so pretty in our living room.

So, that is all for today. I wasn’t expecting this post to be as long, but I discovered a lot of new products this month and really wanted to share them with you.

Hope you enjoyed and see you in my next post!

Rawr, 

your Beautysaur