7/31/2013

July Favourites

It's that time of the month. Beauty bloggers and vloggers everywhere gather up their beauty stash and start thinking about what products have really stood out. I just made that decision making process sound a lot more dramatic than it really is. Formalities aside, July saw a bit of a mixup to the beauty and skincare lineups for me. There's nothing wrong with a touch of variety and I tried quite a few new beauty and skincare bits this month.

Here's what's made its way into my July favourites..



The Makeup

Benefit The Porefessional* This product had me a little bit uncertain at first. I found it a little drying but since I've changed up my skincare routine (more on that soon)  I haven't had a problem with this primer. If your skin is drier then I'd suggest getting a sample of this first to try out. This primer dries matte once on the face and is supposed to help your foundation last longer on the skin. Judging by the amount of foundation my Bioderma-soaked cotton pad picks up I'd say this is definitely doing its job.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette This wax to powder formula pencil is foolproof and long lasting. The pencil itself is quite hard so it is pretty difficult to go overboard when using this on your brows. I find this shade quite subtle yet it still manages to leave my brows looking much tidier.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent  I've had this powder for a while but haven't really been using it properly until this month. This powder is great for on the go touchups or applying over foundation if you just want a light layer of powder. It doesn't go cakey over makeup and because this is the transparent shade it isn't too noticeable. Like the name suggests this leaves you with a matte complexion, eliminating shine. While this powder may not be as long lasting as some of its higher end counterparts, it does the job and lasts pretty well.

Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation in Petal* I love this foundation, evidence here. It doesn't go cakey and offers lightweight, buildable coverage. It's also oil free so you aren't left with any unwanted shine and as an added bonus it has SPF 25, perfect for Summer. It definitely sits better on the skin than some heavier foundations and it lasts nearly all day.

Mac Paint Pot in Eclair  (limited edition) This pigmented pot of gorgeousness has made its way into the favourite selection, again. During the semester break I was a bit lazy with eyeshadow application and often reached for this shade and Let's Skate to quickly apply across the lid. It's easy to apply and blend with your fingers and lasts all day. You can't really fault these.






The Extras

Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser* This cleanser is part of Shiseido's new Ibuki range, out August 9th. I'd never actually used any Shiseido products before but I really like this one. This cleanser is neither harsh nor abrasive, as the name suggests it is really gentle and creamy. It lathers up a little bit on the skin and I remove this with a warm muslin cloth. Your skin is left feeling super soft and I have definitely been noticing a difference in the appearance and texture of my skin. My skin also hasn't been breaking out as much either which is a huge bonus!

Real Techniques Brushes Again, another repeat offender. Aside from my Mac eyeshadow brushes I'd have to say Samantha Chapman's Real Techniques brushes take the cake. New to the stash this month was the Expert Face brush which makes blending in foundation a whole lot easier. These brushes are also super soft and multi-purpose, the blush brush is great for bronzer as well. If you're after affordable, good quality brushes then definitely have a look at these ones.

Tigi S Factor Heat Defender It's rare for a haircare product to make its way into my monthly favourites. I love beauty but haircare is something I don't find as interesting as say makeup or skincare. Anyway, I needed a new heat protectant and picked this one up when I was re-ordering some products from Feel Unique recently. I use straighteners on my hair most days and just need something that's going to stop my hair getting damaged. It has a delectable scent that reminds me of tropical juice in Summer. I really love this heat protectant, it doesn't make your hair go overly crispy and as an added bonus it adds a touch of shine to your hair. 

Origins GinZing Moisturiser Sometimes moisturisers can be just a little bit too thick or leave too much shine on the skin. Not this little zesty gem. GinZing is a lightweight, oil free moisturiser that sinks into the skin rapidly. I had a really dry patch down the centre of my face which this has cleared up. I love the scent of this moisturiser as well and if you're a fan of Origins products then you should definitely go have a look at this one.

*PR Sample

2 comments:

  1. I also really like Rimmel's Stay Matter powder, I love how it doesn't get cakey. I really want to try the Origins moisturiser, oil free sounds perfect for me x

    http://anna-blush.blogspot.com

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    1. That powder is fantastic-it's great it doesn't go cakey, especially if you're mirror-less and can't see how much you're applying. Definitely have a look at the moisturiser. It's fab!


      S xo

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