It was one rather exciting day last week when this parcel from Anna of Vivianna Does Makeup turned up for me. Anna and I have been exchanging emails and tweets back and forth for a while now so it was really awesome to get mail from her+also put together some things to send over to her as well. There were a couple of products I had requested, sadly Royal Mail destroyed the Barry M polishes, but the rest survived, along with some UK drugstore products that Anna threw in. It's safe to say I was feeling rather spoilt basically! I'll give you the scoop on what I was sent and also some mini reviews. I've not had time to try everything yet but I'll give you an update next month..

Martha Stewart Home Notebook-The bloggers essential basically. As you can see I've divided this up into all the various sections so I can better organise my blog posts and videos, keep track of what products I have to try and want to review etc. Maybe once I start using this properly I'll do a post on blog organisation or something.

Real Techniques Complexion Sponge-You can't really see this, as it's hiding away in the bottom corner of this photo but I was excited to see this as I nearly bought one at a pharmacy here the other day. Dubbed an alternative to the ever-popular Beauty Blender and great for days when you want a light but flawless coverage. 

Indeed Labs Minis-Who can resist mini things!? They're just so cute. I've actually tried Hydraluron before, review here but nothing else from Indeed Labs, as it's only recently launched here so I am looking forward to trying these. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks-Well I gotta buy a vowel because oh my god. I wore the vibrant fuschia, Ole Flamingo last week and it's a beaut. Think Mac's Show Orchid, but less metallic. I love pink lipsticks and the formula of these don't disappoint. They dry matte but don't flake or dry your lips out. You will need an oil based remover to get this off your pout but other than that you can't fault 'em.

L'Oreal Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara-I have heard such good things about this mascara, both the original and waterproof formulas. I am a bit of a mascara fiend so I asked Anna to pick this one up for me. There's a few mascaras on the go in my stash at the moment but once they expire I'll be reaching for this one.

No.7 Precision Lip Pencil in Nude-Again, I'm not 100 per cent on the shade name. Sorry guys! I'm writing this post from Uni as I have no internet at home. I've not actually opened this pencil yet but nude lip liners are often my go-to for accentuating my cupid's bow when I wear one of my daily nude lipsticks. 

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Anti-Blemish Clay Mask-I'm pretty sure we can't get Super Facialist products here but I know a lot of beauty bloggers are fans of this line of skincare so again I'm looking forward to trying this. I love clay masks as well because they really clear your skin of any dirt and nastiness. 

L'Oreal Colour Riche Mono Eyeshadows in Cafe Saint Germain (201) and Breaking Nude (106)- There seems to be both matte and shimmer shades in this range. I love the taupe above all over the lid and then the matte brown for a bit of subtle definition in the crease. Gorgeous combination! If you love the L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows then you should check these out as well. 

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink-Now I thought this was in my collection, as it has been on the blog before but I must've misplaced it. Nonetheless I'm glad to have it in my stash again. If you've been watching Anna's videos for a while then you'll know this is a favourite of hers.

Thank you so much Anna for sending over all these UK gems! I felt so ridiculously spoilt opening up this parcel last week and it totally made my day year xx.

*Have you tried any of these products before? 

It's January favourites time again! Crazy. This month I have been loving a range of products. There's a surprisingly small number of makeup pieces in this post which can largely be put down to the fact I get quite lazy with makeup in Summer. I tend to just slap on what I know, love, and use religiously #fail. Never fear, I have been trialling more American beauty products this month and came into possession of some Mac fashion week favourites yesterday. No doubt you'll be spying those on the blog sometime soon. 

Anyway, without further ado, here is what I have been loving and obsessing over this month..

Real Techniques Buffing and Multi Task Brushes-Ever since these brushes came into my possession I have been obsessed with them. The buffing brush is fantastic for foundation. It blends product in so seamlessly and is my favourite brush for creating a flawless finish. The multi task brush has been my go-to for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. It is very similar in design to the powder brush, also by Real Techniques, just smaller. It is the perfect size for powders like these ones and because of its density, it doesn't pick up too much product. 

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Body Butter, limited edition-Body butters are a great product to be using year round. Whether your skin is noticeably dry or not, an extra dose of moisture and nourishment can make all the difference. I've been alternating between this body butter and the Strawberry one this month. Unlike other body butters these aren't too thick. They sink into the skin really well and don't leave your skin feeling greasy. They also happen to smell divine as well. Wins all round.

Lush Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser*-This cleanser was in our goodie bags at a Lush blogger's event last month and I am so glad it was because my other cleanser just wasn't agreeing with my skin. With this cleanser you take a small amount and let it become an almost milky, paste-like consistency under running water. This cleanser works so well at removing any grime from your skin. It's very gentle as well so you aren't left with your skin feeling tight or irritated. This does have quite an unpleasant scent to it but because it works for me I'm willing to overlook that factor.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Creme Rinse Conditioner-I love the whole beachy, wavy, Alexa Chung-Esque hair, especially if it can be achieved at home and not through salt water. This conditioner is super creamy and after blow-waving my hair it has a nice wave to it. This can be a little drying on the ends of your hair so I use a hair oil on the ends once a week to combat that. I've also been loving the Surf Spray from Bumble and Bumble but more on that another day.

When I visited Priceline last year in Australia, looking for Hydraluron was one of the first things I did. My regret now is that I didn't pick up more along with Pepta-Bright, another of their cult products. If you have tried Hydraluron, you'll know why it is becoming a popular product on the skincare shelves. If you have not, here's the deets you need to know..

Hydraluron is a serum which contains hyaluronic acid, a common ingredient in moisturisers. This serum is said to increase skin hydration levels with continued use which means you end up using less of an additional moisturiser as a result.

I apply this serum after the bulk of my skincare routine is done at night and then apply moisturiser over the top.  When you apply your moisturiser you feel it binding to the serum. Your moisturiser isn't left sitting on the surface of the skin and it sinks in better. I use quite a light moisturiser but I imagine it'd be particularly effective if you're using something thicker as well.

The next day after using Hydraluron I noticed such a difference to my skin already. The texture was a lot smoother and not as bumpy in places where I had blemishes. One month on the texture of my skin is still noticeably smoother and it seems to be less sheeny on the surface which I'm putting down to my moisturiser absorbing easier. I am also using a lot less moisturiser too because my skin is much more hydrated. Wins all round.

If you can get your hands on a tube of Hydraluron then it is worth the investment. If you're in Australia they can be readily found at Priceline and of course Boots in the UK. I am yet to find it in New Zealand but if it does make its way here I will let you know.

*Have you tried Hydraluron? What are your thoughts on the serum?