Monthly Favourites // December 2014

Happy Boxing Day peeps! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas Day yesterday (or today depending on where you live!) filled with food, fun and family! This year I've chosen to chill at home instead of shopping the Boxing day sales. I was planning on going out to see the last Hobbit movie but will be seeing it a little later, and today I'll be marathoning the first two Hobbit movies :D. But anyway, we've made it to the last monthly favourites of 2014! Can ya believe it?! I decided to do a December faves this year just because there are quite a few new products I've been using that I haven't yet shown you guys - not even in a haul! I will be doing some sort of yearly faves within the next couple of weeks (don't even know what products I'll be featuring yet, oops) but it'll be there ;).

L'oreal True Match foundation in N2

I decided to finally give in and buy this foundation during Priceline's 40% off cosmetics sale. This is definitely a well-loved foundation in the beauty community and most notably Lauren Curtis' holy grail foundation! I have been using it for the past few weeks and I definitely see the appeal, but I'm not sure if it's lived up to the insurmountable hype! It is indeed thin and lightweight, yet still offering a good medium - full, buildable coverage and good lasting power. This particular shade is a tad too light, though the step down was too pink (from what I recall). Like Anna, I ironically haven't found my true match! There's not much else to say really - it's just a really good foundation. Will need a bit more time to see whether it's STANDOUT AMAZING, if ya know what I'm sayin.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger

After letting this chill in my drawers for a little while, I've finally gotten around to using it on a more regular basis, and boy oh boy, the hype be real. This concealer is thick, creamy and pigmented - but it blends easily without losing coverage. It doesn't cling too badly to dry skin and lasts really well throughout the day. Ginger is a tad dark for me, but workable with some of my foundations. Definitely my new favourite concealer!

Australis AC ON TOUR Contouring and Highlighting kit

After being sold out for weeks on end, new stock finally came in and I managed to grab one! The main attraction about this palette is its incredible similarity to the Anastasia contour palette. It contains 3 highlighting shades, and 3 contouring shades. I've mainly been getting use out of the contouring shades, but the yellow and shimmery highlight powders are quite nice as well. Out of the contour colours, there's one neutral one that works well to give shadow as well as warmth to the face, one extremely cool-toned one for sparing contour action and one warm toned one strictly for bronzing. I've been using a combination of all three and it's been working very well! I will say the quality of the powders isn't amazing, they're pigmented and blendable, however they kick up a lot of powder, like a lot. Regardless, they still work very well!

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise

Josie Maran recently came into the Australian market through Mecca Maxima and Kit cosmetics, and I was so excited to get my hands on some of her products! So far I've only got this blush, but the Coconut water eyeshadows are definitely next! This blush is absolutely gorgeous - it definitely has a jelly like, almost siliconey texture which blends and melds amazingly into the skin. It really gives a flushed and fresh translucent look. They last super well on the skin, and Poppy Paradise is a gorgeous corally-pink shade. The other thing I love about Josie Maran is that their products actually aren't that expensive! This blush was only $27. 

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer

After having this on my wishlist ever since it was announced, I finally bought it! (Can ya tell I've been buying things I've been wanting for ages...wooo for having a job!!) My love for Mary-Lou has been well documented, so I knew I'd love Cindy. She's the more peachy-pinky-rosey sister but still has the same smooth and pigmented formula. I will say it probably isn't as intensely shimmery as Mary but still gives a gorgeous shine to the skin. For paler gals, you could definitely use this as a shimmery blush! One thing to note is that these powders are extremely soft, and very easily broken. I almost bought a broken one but luckily I checked it beforehand! So definitely be wary :)

Rimmel Provocalips in Make your Move*

Read my full review for swatches of the whole range of shades, but Make your Move is definitely my favourite, and the one I've been getting the most use out of. It's a really wearable, slightly deeper browny/peachy nude - bordering on the Kylie Jenner lip. I absolutely LOVE the staying power of these. They really last the whole day, no transfer or smudging and don't dry out the lips. It didn't however survive Christmas dinner last night - but wow...the amount of food I ate... :P

Whew! That was longer than I expected! There was definitely a lot to say about these new prods...heh! Be prepared for a few more favourites posts coming soon!

*Product sent for consideration.

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