July/August 2012 Favourites

Hi everyone,

What's that you say...."July Favourites? But it's well into August!?"

I know - this month has been crazy busy and all I can say is "better late than never, right?". So I've decided to incorporate my July & August favourites as my August favourites is due in only a weeks time :) Hope you don't mind.

In July/August I continued my goal to simplify my beauty routine. Therefore, I haven't incorporated too many new products into my routine. I've been impressed with how my routine is working for me so far and I've enjoyed all the products included in my July/August 2012 Favourites. After receiving your feedback from last months 'June 2012 Favourites' you stated that a small paragraph about how the products work for me is preferred, so that's exactly what you are getting :)

As always let me know what your recommendations are for the months of July/August, and/or your experiences with any of these products. I always love to hear your opinions.

  July/August 2012 Favourites

       Makeup Products

• Rimmel 'Wake Me Up Foundation' in True Ivory

What can I say? I LOVE this foundation! At first I was dubious when I read its slogan of 'radiant glow', my mind immediately thought "grease-factory!'. I have combination/oily skin but I find this foundation provides fantastic oil-free medium to build-able high coverage, especially when set with a powder around the t-zone. I have a feeling this will be a definite repurchase item in my collection.

• John Galliano 'Parlez-moi d-Amour' perfume

'Excuse me, my love' has clear and intense blueberry notes with juicy mandarin and sweet raspberry. Heart notes of jasmine and rose, enriched with lavender, and a base of patchouli and vetiver softened with vanilla. I enjoy this perfume - it's one of those you can just pump a few spritzers onto your wrists (or where ever you put it) and run out the door. Also, how adorable is the packaging? An envelope, love it!

• Essie 'Sand Tropez' nail polish

You may recognise these Essie nail polishes from my recent 'Essie Nail Polish Haul + Haul' I featured in a post a few weeks ago. You can see this post with swatches HERE . Sand Tropez is described as a soft sandy beige and that's exactly what you get. In some lights is comes off as a grey taupe too!

• Essie '3-way glaze'

I've found the 3-way glaze works really well with both Essie and other brand name nail polishes. It provides great cover as a base coat and also gloss for a top coat. It usually makes my nail polish last about 4-6 days with NO CHIPPING! Amazing!

• MAC ' eye shadow in 'Shimmermoss'

I've been loving this colour in July/August! This shadow is a Veluxe Pearl and offers highly pigmented payoff. I mostly use it as a pop of colour on the inner corner and lower lash line. Great pigmentation and brightens up the eye area significantly. Here's my birthday makeup look I used a few weeks ago for my night out with friends!

• elf 'Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder'

This product has been in my monthly favorites before, and for good reason. A fantastic little compact to take with you in your handbag as it has both a contour and cheek blush + big mirror for application. In my opinion both colours are very reminiscent of NARS 'Laguna' (brown contour) and NARS 'Orgasm' (peachy-pink blush). It is available for only AUD$9.99 from the elf website - check it out!

• LUSH 'It Started With A Kiss' Lip Tint

Although I love this colour and the bright cherry red colour it offers, I'm a bit sad that my lip tint is drying out. I bought this cute little tin from LUSH back in January - so I guess I have had a good 7 months use. Apart from that I'm still using this product and every time I do I am impressed with its staying power and yummy scent.

• Sigma 'Eye Shading E55 Brush'

This is BY FAR my favourite eye shadow tool by Sigma! It's size is perfect to cover the eyelid area without to much fuss. It is super soft and gentle on the eye area. Winner!

• Sigma 'Blending E25 Shader Brush'

The Sigma Blending E25 brush is my second favourite, I use it every day to blend out my crease colour. Again, I find the Sigma range of eye makeup brushes to be the best I've tried to date. I think I will be using these Sigma brushes forever! :)

• elf eyelash curler

I bought this eyelash curler in February after retiring one that I had used for too many years to count. It works well and does the job that is needed.

• Revlon Lip Butter 'Candy Apple'

As you might know I'm loving the Revlon Lip Butters - having about 6 colours in my collection. After 'Berry Smoothie' and 'Lollipop' (pinks) this is my favourite (red) from the colour selection. They provide a suprising amount of colour to the lips and give that 'juicy' look to lips. Even though we are approaching the end of  winter (thankfully) I have still been fighting the 'chapped-lips-demon' that looms in the chillier months. Although you may have to reapply every few hours depending if you're eating/drinking, the Lip Butters keep my lips in great condition. 

• Maybelline Baby Lips 'Peppermint'

I love anything minty and this lip balm sure gives that minty punch! I really do adore the cute packaging of the Maybelling Baby Lips range! It feels sturdy and makes that reassuring click-to-close sound so you know it's not going to get damaged if you carry it in your handbag like I do. 

 Hair / Body Products

• TRESemme 'Heat Tamer Protective Spray'

I have to admit I am guilty of sometimes neglecting this step in my daily hair care routine, but not anymore! I've been using this product for about 8 weeks now and I can notice that my hair is stronger and thicker at the ends - where breakage would normally occur. I put this down to not using as much heat styling tools and of course, this product. It smells divine and is a pleasure to spritz onto my hair.

• L'Oreal Paris 'Elnett Satin - Normal Strength'

I love the light-weight feeling of this hairspray. It almost gives a volumising feeling to my hair, nothing like the traditional helmet feeling that hairspray sometimes leaves. I'm a big fan of the Elnett range of hair sprays, and I would definitely repurchase.

• EVO 'the great hydrator moisture mask'

First of all, I love the feeling this brand brings to its user. Just read the little blurb written on the packaging:

'this product is like a patient friend, gently combing out the knots in 

your hair with a thousand strokes of a brush while another friend 

lays petals upon the ground to soften your walk to the morning bus.'

This product smells fantastic - slightly floral with a hint of that 'baby powder' scent. Works like a dream, in fact I think it is the best hair mask I've used. Better yet, this product is Australian made & owned. I'm sold!

• Nivea 'Rich Nourishing Body Moisturiser - Dry Skin'

I enjoy using this moisturiser on my legs in winter. I hate having dry skin and I'm quickly becoming a bit of a moisturiser addict. In my opinion, it does give a slightly greasy (I hate to use that word) feeling to my legs after use. Normally I would loathe this anywhere else but on my legs I actually quite like it.  

• The Body Shop 'Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream'

This little gem featured in my 'May 2012 Favourites' which can been seen HERE . This is a light daily moisturiser which is great for oil control, and leaves a fresh feeling to the skin. 

• Le Tan 'Daily Glow Moisturising Body Lotion - with SPF15'

I started using this product last year for a gradual natural looking tan and that's exactly what it gives. It smells delicious - like cocoa butter/chocolate. It takes me around 3-5 day of application to see a notable tan developing - like it states,  it is gradual. Works great as an overall body moisturiser as well, its very moisturising.

• Dr Lewinn's 'Hand & Nail Cream'

I use this to moisturise my hands every night before bed (as a part of my nightly 'grandma' routine) It's very nourishing and non-greasy to touch. It has a pleasant floral scent. I will be sad when I finish this product.

• Garnier 'Invisi Mineral Deodorant' 

I just finished this product and would definitely repurchase. First of all, I love the packaging! It has a slight but not overpowering floral scent, and doesn't leave white marks. I don't know about '48hr non-stop protection' though, who wears deodorant this long?! Good product, try this one.

• LUSH 'It's Raining Men' Shower Gel/Shampoo

Honey honey honey! This month I've been using it as both a body wash and a shampoo for those days I want to add extra shine to my hair and also switch up my shampoo. If you haven't tried this product, please go into your nearest LUSH and at least give it a sniff. It's heavenly! 

What are your favourite products for July/August?

Feel free to comment below and if you would like please leave a link to your 'favourites' style posts!

Also, I just wanted to note and apologise for the pictures in this blog post. I have been playing with camera settings recently and realise these pictures aren't the best quality. Sorry, it's a work in progress, like most things in life! :)


Have a beautiful day!

x.k.