Why hello, it's the weekend, can I get an #amen and February Favourites are here. It's a slim lineup but the mix of beauty+random bits to round it out makes me all nostalgic for traditional favourites posts.  Anyway, February faves-some new beauty bits, a revisited read and more...

Fu$$y Gloss Bomb x Fenty Beauty: One of my chums, Eve bought this gloss to my attention and a lot of Fenty's products actually. She has a selection and I am jealous. Anyway, I am traditionally not a lipgloss person. This however, might just have me swayed. Well it does because I wear it almost religiously now when I am wearing makeup. Non-sticky, glossy, gorgeous colour, lovely scent. I can't fault it. Rihanna does gloss well. 

thank u, next x Ariana Grande: So I am lowkey obsessed with this album which will probably come as a surprise to nobody. What a bop. It's Ariana's second album in six months and it does not disappoint. Catchy songs and lyrics. I love it. My favourite tracks are: Needy, NASA, Bloodline, Fake Smile-the whole thing basically. Friends reading, be warned I'll probably be referencing these lyrics for the next while. 

Jet Lag Mask x Summer Fridays: So I only have a teensy sample pot of this from Mecca because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I get it now team. The hype is real. On paper you'd think I wouldn't like this, it is thick and smells slightly minty. I am a fussy lady ok? However the skincare benefits pay off. It is super hydrating and is my go-to for Sunday nights to give my skin a bit of oomph for the week ahead. You can also use this as an eye mask and a primer. It's a good all-rounder basically. Oh and it's good for the skin-being paraben free, pthalate free, vegan and free of synthetic dyes and fragrances. Yass. It's a pricey lil' thing, I am not going to lie but it can be used pretty sparingly. 

Pamper Me to Hell & Back x Hera Lindsay Bird: A re-read, thanks to Florence and Between Two Books. Here's what Florence Welch herself has to say about Hera's words: "Hera Lindsay Bird is intimidatingly good. Reading her is like having my brain blasted with cold water...These two collections make me extremely excited about poetry." That really epitomises what I love about Hera's work as well and I've loved revisiting it. My pencil was out ready to make annotations. Also "sometimes I get so tired I want to blow the stars out, one by one." Can relate. 

Dear Teddy Eyeshadow x MAC Cosmetics: When MAC make a collection themed around my favourite lipstick, Velvet Teddy, my ears naturally prick up. Dear Teddy is a beautiful, iridescent rose-gold. So basically your stock standard 'Sophie' kind of neutral shadow with shimmer. Old habits die hard. I love it though-especially paired with liquid liner and lashings of mascara.

-What did you love during February?

February has been most fabulous although it does feel fleeting. Which I say every month I know, it's a tired cliche. There's surprisingly not been much in the way of newness when it comes to beauty and after my massive cull, I've really been sticking to what I know and love. There's also quite a few non-beauty loves this month. Some of which let's be honest won't be that surprising but warrant mentioning again. Anyway, February Favourites...

Fairy Drops Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara: So this mascara is no stranger to me but I recently cracked open a tube of it that was in my backup stash and I gotta tell you, it is good. The brush on this one is unique with three spherical indents throughout. Sounds crazy, kinda is but whatever it is works to lengthen and volumise your lashes like nothin' else. 

Zoeva Brushes: So part of my makeup cull saw a major brush cull and now many of my brushes come from Zoeva. I love all their brushes. They're soft and super lightweight and are easy to clean. They're also relatively inexpensive as well and are such lovely quality. I recently picked up the powder brush, above and I love it. I've previously used bigger powder brushes but I find this one a better size for building up setting powder, rather than applying a shedload at once. 

L'Oreal Micellar Water*: My beloved Bioderma bit the dust this month and seeing as this was in my stash, I decided to whip it open. I'm very impartial to Bioderma but this may be swaying me. Which is a good thing because it is much much easier to get my hands on. Designed for normal/combination skin, it is fragrance free and removes every last scrap of base makeup. I use it to break down lipstick as well as clean up any eye makeup remnants. If you're after a good, relatively inexpensive micellar water, check out L'Oreal's. 

The Accidental x Ali Smith: I kinda regret including this book now because anything I say about it will not do it justice. I loved how Smith intertwined so many elements; descriptive narration, scattered dialogue, poetry. The novel is broken up into three acts, with each closing with some reference to film and it's just exquisite. Sure, I kinda kept seeing someone I know as one of the characters, which made it a bit more vivid but regardless I really loved it. The more of Ali Smith's work I read, the more I love it and her so I'm going to be working my way through everything she's written from now on.

Call Me By Your Name: If you haven't guessed by the amount of times I've worked this into conversation on and offline, or listened to the soundtrack while I work, or worked out when I should reread the novel the film is adapted from, I loved it. The cinematography is beautiful, the cast is fantastic, the story is so rich and vibrant. I have found myself fantasising about visiting Italy again, reading books out the window of an Italian villa. Pools so picturesque they may as well be sculptures, fruit for days and music everywhere. The monologue towards the end of the film with Elio+his father is so well done. I highly, highly rate this movie and know it's going to remain one of the best things I watch in 2018. 

Lana Del Rey: After remembering how much I love this song I've been on a real Lana Del Rey kick. I'm particularly loving her Honeymoon album but honestly all her music is pretty much the soundtrack of my Summer. Again, it's another thing I've been listening to while I work. Her lyrics and the vivid, cinematic quality of her songs are just magic. I hope she tours to New Zealand someday because I will be first in line.

The Good Place: This freakin' show. I remember seeing the preview image on Netflix and thinking 'frozen yoghurt, okay this looks weird' and not thinking much more of it. Well, I am on the bandwagon now. I won't say too much about this show because it is easily spoiled and you really just need to watch it for yourself. Kristen Bell is amazing as Eleanor and I also love Jameela Jamil as Tahani. Michael Schur, one of the geniuses who bought us Parks & Rec created this show so you know it's going to be special. Just watch it if you're one of the few people who haven't seen it yet.

-What have you loved during February?

*PR Sample

Another month, another lineup of loves-from beauty to jewelry to that show I finally watched. February's favourites had the potential to be rather jam-packed but I condensed things down to the best of the bunch...

Maybelline Master Drama Nude Eyeliner in Rose Pearl and Brownie Glitz-After spying these in one of Alix's videos towards the end of last year, I made a mental note and filed them away. They were released earlier in the month as part of Maybelline's hefty launch in NZ. They seem to often release a ton of new products in one go rather than gradually. Anyway, these were buy one, get one half price at Farmers so I picked them up and oh my goodness. They are so lovely. Creamy, velvety, pigmented and budge-proof. I use the shade Brownie Glitz to line my lashes and Rose Pearl in the inner corner to highlight. Well worth the inexpensive price tag. 

Stranger Things-After much persuasion and convincing that this show would not scare me I watched all eight episodes in under a week. Part thriller, part horror, part homage to the classic eighties films like ET and of course Stephen King. This is so clever and adrenaline rush inducing in the best way. Winona Ryder is in it too which helps of course but honestly this is good. Just watch it if you're yet to see it.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm-One of my friends gave me this mini tub of Omorovicza's cult cleanser and I love it. I've been using it when my skin's been a bit angrier and irritated this month  and not only does it leave things a lot less grimy, it also has my skin feeling so smooth the next day. It's a bit on the pricy side so I'd still reach for the Oskia cleansing gel over this one but for a quick skincare fix, it's kind of a lifesaver. 

Lovisa Celestial Silver Earrings-This month I really got back into wearing earrings, after spending ages thinking my piercings had closed up. This pair though have been on high rotation and I raced out the same day to get them after seeing this picture on Laura's Instagram. I'm kinda tempted to get the longer ones as well but I love these. Especially because they're much cheaper than some similar, more luxe ones I've been eyeing up. 

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Mont Blanc-A few years back this was my go-to foundation and I repurchased it in January after being displeased with the base I was using. Admittedly this colour is a tad too pale for me right now but I expect it will be matching me again in no time. It offers lightweight, buildable coverage and a flawless finish. If you have combination skin, this leans more on the satiny side of things so it's not too matte but not overly glowy either. Unlike Sheer Glow, it comes with a pump too. 

Simply Essential Brush Cleaning Pad*-If you're like me and find brush cleaning tedious, this is for you. You apply some brush cleaner to the pad, wet the brushes and then swirl them around the surface of the pad. I will say this is maybe a bit too small for larger brushes, like powder or bronzer but everything else comes up pretty clean quite quickly. 

Audiobooks-This month I've listened to two audiobooks; Lauren Graham's and Lena's and I've had some kind of epiphany. Audiobooks are actually kinda great. I did already know this, having listened to Enid Blyton's way back when but I haven't really appreciated them until I realised just how much I dislike the radio. That and how much Auckland's traffic sucks. They're the perfect distraction basically. Oh and they're entertaining. I think I'll stick to memoirs for now so if you have any great, read-by-author recs. for me, please let me know.

Modesty lipstick x MAC Cosmetics-After my somewhat ruthless makeup clear-out recently, I had enough products for two Back 2 MAC lipsticks. The first I chose was Modesty, which I was assured was pretty similar to Patisserie, another of my favourite MAC colours that I was getting rid of. It's not quite as glossy, which I like and has the perfect combination of pink and brown tones to complement my natural lip colour. If you're on the paler side of things, this is a beautiful nude.

-What have you loved during February?

*PR Sample

Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash-A handwash seems like such a bizarre inclusion but y'know what, Aesop do it really well. Cult Beauty describe this as an upper class hand sanitiser and it really is. Would I say this is an essential? Not really but unlike other hand sanitisers that make your hands feel gross and are drying, this one feels really nourishing. It helps that it smells divine as well, and a little goes a long way so it's not something you'd have to repurchase tonnes, unless you are a germaphobe. 

Don't Worry, It Gets Worse by Alida Nugent-Twenty-somethings and soon to be twenty somethings, you need to read this book. Alida Nugent's collection of life essays are so relatable, it's kind of scary. At the same time though it's also reassuring to know you're not the only one who doesn't have their life all in order. Does anybody actually ever have that though? I highly recommend this book if you want something both hilarious and insightful to read.

L'Oreal Superliner Superstar*-This is the liquid liner for liner klutzes like myself. It's super easy to apply and it lasts all day. There's not much more to it than that. If you're in the market for a new liquid liner though you should definitely check this one out.

Isehan Heroine Make Mascara-There's just something about conditioning, polymer containing mascaras that I love. It lengthens, curls and makes your lashes look all kinds of fabulous. It's not the easiest to remove, which seems to be typical of waterproof mascaras but I can overlook that. 

Ecoya Sweet Fruits & Pink Champagne candle, limited edition *sobs*-I feel mean talking about this candle because as far as I know it's no longer on sale anywhere. Cue Kim Kardashian's crying face. This candle smells divine, like tropical juices or fruit smoothies. It's quite possibly my favourite candle ever, aside from Diptyque's Figuier. If Ecoya bring it back this Christmas I am definitely going to buy the largest size of this. It's amazing.

Carol by Patricia Highsmith-This was a book I don't think I expected to enjoy as much as I did but I loved it. You can read my initial thoughts here. Carol, or The Price of Salt as it was initially titled is beautifully written. It's the kind of novel that you want to read extra slowly to savour, but at the same time you won't want to put it down. It's that captivating. You should definitely check out the movie as well. It's one of the most visually stunning films I've seen in a long time.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in Creamy Beige*-The color tattoo that changed my tune on color tattoos. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only blogger person on the internet that does not get the mass hysteria surrounding these cream eyeshadows. As I said in my original post, if this is a reformulation it is spot on. This applies so creamily and helps to neutralise the lids. It's one of those colours that just adds a little something extra to the eyes and I love it for that.

-What have you loved during February?

*PR Sample

I'm sounding the monthly favourites klaxon, reference c/Anna . This month's been a bit of in with the old and the new when it comes to beauty. I've rediscovered just how good a certain concealer is and found my new favourite bronzer. There's also my monthly book favourites and a DVD which I am sure will come as no surprise to many of you.. 

Beauty

Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes, #100 and #300-My brushes are dirty so yep, I have not cleaned them. *taps wrist for being a bad blogger* On the other hand, that just shows how well loved and used these gems are. I've already written about these here but in short, the powder brush is amazing for setting makeup down. Its density means it doesn't pick up too much product so you aren't left looking caked in powder. The blush brush is ideal if you find application scary. Its tapered edge fits perfectly into the cheekbone area. Lovelovelove. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla-My concealer of choice for blemishes and whatnot offers great coverage but I find the heat just makes it slip off my face way too fast. I rediscovered this Nars one this month and haven't looked back. I love that I don't really need to touch up concealer with this on because it just stays put. The colour range is fantastic as well and it provides decent coverage without being too thick. 

Soap and Glory Solar Powder-Aside from its cardboard packaging, this bronzer is perfect. It's matte so there's no shimmer if that's something you like to avoid. These two shades are perfect for paler complexions as there's no orangey tones to them whatsoever. If you can get your hands on this bronzer, get one asap. 

Mac Lip Pencil in Soar-This seems to be sold out everywhere online but try in stores because they may be floating around there. You've probably already seen this liner online a lot. According to Kim K, it's little sister Kylie's liner of choice. This mauve-pink liner is such a flattering colour. It'd complement a range of skintones. It makes your pout look fuller, regardless of whether you overdraw your lips. I like to wear this on its own or under my more brown based nudes. 

Fairydrops Quattro Mascara, a gift-Fairydrops is notoriously difficult to find unless you're in Japan or can easily access a BeautyMart. One of my friends bought this back for me from her travels recently and I'm not gonna lie, I was quite excited. The wand on this one is quite bizarre, google it to see what I mean. The effect it has on the lashes however is stunning. It's not the most dramatic of mascaras but it really separates the lash and holds a curl.

Extras

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven*-This has to be one of the best young-adult novels I have read in a long, long time. The way it presents mental illness, dealing with grief and the multi-faceted role that is being a young adult is fantastic. In no way does this book romanticise any of the serious issues at hand which some YA books/films tend to do. I found this book really touching and beautifully written. Read it. 

New Girl Season One-As always, I'm a bit late to the bandwagon with this one. I freakin' love New Girl though. It's one of those shows that never fails to put me in a good mood. The hilarity and awkwardness of Zooey's character, while a bit too relatable at times, is brilliant. Not gonna lie, I think Schmidt is rather fit as well. 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell-I couldn't pick one book this month so you're getting two. Again, Eleanor and Park deals with some heavier issues. It also unites two outcasts who bond over pop culture and their different upbringings. It's a sweet story but be warned, it will make you feel all the feels. 

-What have you been loving during February?

*PR Sample

It's February favourites time! This month I gave my makeup bag a good old reshuffle and even did a bit of a cull in the packaging, perfume and lip product departments. In fact, every month from here on in I've decided to shuffle products around a lot more-variety is the spice of life after all! Anyway, here's what I've been loving during February..

NYX Powder Blush, pictured are Mocha, Summer Peach and Taupe-These blushers are great quality given how inexpensive they are. They're pigmented, long-wearing and such flattering shades. All of these haven't left my makeup bag this month-Summer Peach is my current favourite and Taupe is great for contouring if you've got a fairer complexion.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara-Mascaras don't tend to smudge on my lashes but during the day mascara on my bottom lashes tends to which is frustrating if like me you don't carry mascara around with you. Bottom Lash will solve your problems. It has a tiny mascara wand, perfect for getting in close to the root of your lower lashes. It stays put and there's no black spots under my eyes by the end of the day. 

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream*-I love this eye cream from Bobbi Brown. It has a lightweight, gel-like formula but it is still incredibly creamy so you know it's going to be hydrating. I'm prone to getting dark circles, more so if I've not been sleeping. Using this nightly makes those much less obvious. You can also wear this underneath makeup as well because it is so lightweight. Love.