29/08/2013

Monthly Favourites | August 2013

And so comes the end to another month! We are getting closer and closer to the end of 2013 - shocker!! I don't have very many new favourites this month, but I have also been testing quite a few new products which will probably crop up in next month's faves. Onto the goods!



First up my skincare favourite of the month has been the Soap & Glory Night in shining armour cream. I haven't done a full review on this yet but it's a work in progress! I've been thoroughly enjoying using this cream lately (not just through August). It's a pretty basic night cream as it does what it's meant to - moisturise the skin really well. I've also really been liking mixing in Rosehip oil to add a teensy bit more moisture but also to aid with dark spot correction.

A new product I've been using is the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer which my sister gave me. I hardly use primers, the only other one I've tried is the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot which I honestly found to do nothing for me. This one I find helps more so in the longevity department. I find my foundation just wears better and looks better by the end of the day when I use this primer. I'll probably do a full review on this one also, so keep an eye out!

My brush fave this month has been the Real Techniques Deluxe crease brush from the Starter set which I just reviewed. I really like using this for applying and blending out concealer. It's much quicker and easier than using fingers and it lends a much more flawless finish.

I've also really liked using the Neutrogena Hand Cream this month which I got in the sample pack a few months ago. I don't love this all over the hands, but more so in particular dry areas. The texture is quite weird, very thick and ointment like. It doesn't spread very well over the hands. It doesn't leave a very greasy or sticky residue though. Lately parts of my hands have been quite dry and itchy and I find this has been soothing those areas quite well.


A repeat offender in the favourites department is the Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells mascara. I seriously love this stuff! I am treasuring my little sample tube, haha, despite my love I don't think I could ever (at least in the near future) shell out that much on a mascara. I've talked about it enough but I seriously love the natural, thickened and fluttery lashes this gives me. Also no smudging - bonus!

The blush I've been using pretty much everyday this month is the Estee Lauder Tender Blusher in Fresh Plum. This has been discontinued unfortunately :( and it's actually my mum's haha, but I adore the shade! It is a lovely dusty plum/mauve perfect for the cooler weather (which will soon be gone)! Despite its deeper, cooler tone it was still quite brightening on the face and also quite natural. 

The perfect complement to that blush is the Estee Lauder Signature Hydralustre lipstick in Soft Amethyst. I've worn this lipstick all through Autumn/Winter so it's more of a seasonal favourite than a monthly one, but I still wanted to mention it! It's a gorgeous plummy mauve shade that is purple but very wearable and nice for any occasion!

The other lipstick I've been reaching for a lot this month is another repeat fave, the Essence lipstick in All about Cupcake. This is a great shade that I gravitate towards all the time. It's a pinky-nude shade which I find is a great My-lips-but-pinker shade. It is sheer and glossy with a slight moisturising factor.

Hand cream, All about cupcake, Soft Amethyst, Fresh Plum


I also want to sneak in a bit of an UNfavourite this month - not makeup related- but it was hands down the The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie which came out recently. I have been reading the books (currently on the latest one!) and have been really enjoying them. I was super excited for the movie but honestly, and many a fan (of the books) can attest, that it was a complete and utter fail. It did not stay true to the plot of the books, most of the acting was poorly and there was hardly any chemistry between the main couple. They completely butchered the plot! They put things in from two books away, and spoiled major aspects of the future story lines. The only good thing about the movie was Robert Sheehan (who played Simon) because he is such a cutie and honestly one of the only good actors in the movie. I would not recommend seeing this movie, but if you do, please don't judge the books on the merit of the movie! The books are very good! Rant over, haha.

Ugh, I can't bear to look at it.

Those were my favourites for the month of August! I expect I'll have a much more exciting one for next month - yay Spring!

What have you guys been loving this month?

19 comments:

  1. I love that book series so much! I can't wait to watch the film either, I was sooo excited when I saw the posters! I absolutely love that blush shade, it sooo beautiful!!

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    1. I love the series too, but the movie was just so disappointing for me!

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  2. DJs in Queens Plaza now stocks mini Laura Mercier primers! I was going to get the mineral but thought I'd use up my FOA primer first (not going to happen). I haven't tried any of the Neutrogena minis yet- but I did have a little test of the hand cream and I know you what you mean- it's more of a 'flaky patch' remedy than a moisturiser. I have an unfavourite this month too! Ugh sometimes it's so underwhelming. Like the Hunger Games movie.

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    1. Ooh cool! I've heard so many good things about the radiance one too. At least THG kept to the storyline (besides Peeta's leg, haha) but honestly it was a disgrace!!

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  3. I love that essence lipstick! I've heard a lot about that Lancome mascara but I can't bring myself to fork out money for high-end mascaras!

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    1. I don't think I could ever! Those sample tubes last for AGES, and it seems wasteful to spend so much on something that's just going to dry out!

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  4. Oooh nice favourites! I also love that Essence lipstick, it is just the most wearable shade! I like the look of that blush :)
    x

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    1. Thanks! I love it for everyday, and the blush is super pretty! I'm sure you can find a dupe somewhere :)

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  5. Hmmm after reading what you wrote about the Essence lipstick I really want to get my hands on some now. I feel as though your posts always convince me to add things onto my wishlist, ha! I bet the S&G night cream smells lovely too - considering most of their products are heavenly!

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    1. It's a really great shade and super cheap too! The night cream is actually not heavily scented at all, which is good and bad at the same time, haha!

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  6. My favourite kind of samples are mascaras and eye creams as you need so little so the samples go such a long way! I am currently using and LOVING the Dior show extase mascara that costs a bomb but I do adore the formula and the brush. I have been using the sample every day for just about 3 months and I think I can eek it out for another 2 before I chuck it! :) xxx

    MISSY IN THE MIRROR

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    1. They are so good, they do last for ages!

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  7. Oh no!! I have been loving the Mortal Instruments series. I was hoping I would enjoy the movie. It sounds like it is going to make me sad. It might end up a red box or amazon rent now. The Essence lipstick looks really good. I am in need of a nudey pink color.


    Emily
    eageremily.blogspot.com

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    1. Yeah, I say save the money and rent it out instead. I had really low expectations and it even failed those!

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  8. Nice favourites! I really want to get my hands on the Real Techniques eye set, the brushes look so amazingly soft! I quite like the Neutrogena hand cream- it is extraordinarily rich but heaven for super dry hands. It is really thick but it absorbs into the skin really well :) I really want to try Soap and Glory products but I don't know what to go for first!

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    1. The hand cream is really well absorbed - I like that it doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy! S&G certainly offer a bit of everything, don't they?

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  9. My experience with Laura Mercier base products has left me pretty impressed with their range - I would love to try the foundation primer. I think I saw it once on StrawberryNET as one of their daily specials and it was sold out (because it was like $23 for the full tube or something). All About Cupcake has been on my radar for ages - I have so many lipsticks/lip balms/lip tints/lip crayons etc. that I couldn't possibly allow myself to buy another one ... but it is awfully tempting being so affordable and such an understated, wearable everyday shade.

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    1. I really want to try out more Laura Mercier, namely their silk cream foundation or tinted moisturiser and their blushes. Haha, well you should have a swatch at the very least! See if it's anything alike what you already own :)

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  10. Yay Essence! :) Been contemplating on whether I should get the lipsticks since when I swatched some of them all were glittery/satin, I'm not fond of those :(

    The movie was that bad? Dang. And I thought otherwise.

    FMWL

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