Monthly Favourites // May 2014

I cannot handle how fast this year is going! Half of 2014 is gone and I'm not ready for it to eeeend. Aaah, things are getting very real, very quickly. But of course, there will always be a favourites post to document the passing of another month. May was a good month - ma bday month as well as the birthday month of a lot of my friends, like geez there must have been much excitement in August '96...jus' sayin. So, there was much to be celebrated!

DKNY Delicious Night Eau de Parfum

Fragrance fave! My sister is moving down to Melbourne, *sad face* but that meant she was getting rid of a heap of her stuff - hair products, a couple of makeup bits and a shedload of clothes, as well as this perfume. This is probably one of the less popular out of the famous apple perfumes. I wasn't expecting to love this, but I have been spritzing it on most days! You would think from the name that it's more suited for nighttime wear, but actually since the weather has been cooling down it's not too heavy for the day. It's sweet and sexy but still has a fresh-fruity element. I might bring Smelly Sunday back to talk about it some more!

Garnier BB cream for Oily/Combo skin in Medium and Heroine Make Lasting Mineral BB cream in shade 2

A base favourite this month has been a mixture of these two. The Garnier being too dark and the Heroine Make too light, the combo of the two gives a really good shade match. The formulas are somewhat similar, the Heroine Make being superior in the coverage and lasting power departments, but together they give a really good coverage and lasting power, easily buffed on with a buffing brush.

MAC Opulash Mascara

Another sloppy seconds from my sister, and again I didn't really expect to like it because I've really heard nothing about it. Also, the brush is HELLA big, like the size of my eye. What surprised me about this mascara though is that it doesn't clump. Like the first time I used it I swear I put on 3 coats of the stuff, and didn't need to comb through with a spoolie. This is CRAZY for me because I can't stand clumps, and even comb through mascaras that aren't even badly clumpy/sticking my lashes together. Combing through is habit for me, and I didn't need to with this! It looks pretty natural, but gives good thickness, decent length and volume. It also doesn't smudge too badly by the end of the day.

Nvey Eco Natural Bronze Organic Compact Bronzer

Another product from my sister, and another that I didn't think much of to begin with. Wow, sensing a theme? Firstly, the colour didn't look too great in the pan. It's quite warm and red-toned, almost like…a dirt colour? Yeah, not so appealing and it definitely isn't appropriate for concentrated contouring. With a fluffy brush, I like the Real Techniques Blush Brush, it applies really nicely and looks very natural, especially around the hairline mimicking a sunkissed look. Also when swept lightly under the cheekbones it provides definition and shadow without coming off too ruddily.  It's completely matte, blendable and pigmented.

Essence Blush Up! in 10 Heat Wave

So obviously I love it, it's an ombre blush. Also the colour is absolutely up my street. The formula ain't too bad either, haha! It's very pigmented, but at the same time retains a translucency? I don't know how to explain it, or maybe I'm imagining things but it still lets your skin show through, with like a sheer...overlay of colour. Get me...? It's also pretty dang long lasting too!

Benefit Ultra Plush Lip gloss in Coralista

Out of the Benefit Go Tropicoral kit, this was the product I thought I'd be most 'meh' about, but turns out to be the only one I'm using on a regular basis. I haven't gotten around to reviewing that kit, I will though - once I get around to actually, properly using the products inside. This gloss though feels much like a balm, quite slippy and with a medium level of glossiness. The pigmentation is definitely on the sheer side, like the slightest wash of colour. It's also not sticky at all, even when it wears down it sort of absorbs into the lips. I like it a lot!

Bastille Bad Blood

A music favourite this month has definitely been Bastille and their debut album Bad Blood. My friend has been nagging me for ages to listen them, and sorry Yas for taking so long! I've basically been listening to the album on repeat, Dan Smith's voice is majestic, plus he's an all round cutie. Said friend plus a couple others are going to their concert in a couple of weeks which I'm so jealous about! I am going to Katy Perry at the end of the year though, so my concert quota is all filled up :( (but much excite for Katy). 

So it was a month filled with unexpected favourites, but favourites nonetheless! What have you been loving in May?