Happy new year everyone! How is it even possible that a whole year has past... Like wut?!??? The first half of the year felt real but then the second half just like...evaporated before my eyes then BOOM 2016. I'm here to share the final monthly favourites of the year though and since last month was ALL ABOUT DA HAULS, I have quite a few new products I've been loving! I will be doing a 2015 favourites as well though tbh I haven't even thought about what's going in it...I need to have a proper sit down with my collection and assess the goods! Anyway, let's get into it as I'm wasting the precious seconds we have left of 2015...
Pretty much I've been loving ALL of the Antipodes products I have and honestly have to say they've helped my skin out! This night cream though has been especially lovely and one I've been using on a nightly basis. It's not too thick so it doesn't feel heavy or greasy on the skin, it just makes the skin super moisturised, and look plump and dewy. My skin has been super happy moisture wise, I literally have like no dry skin or flaky bits!
Max Factor Face Finity All Day Primer
I bought this in Priceline's 40% off sale after hearing tonnes of raves (especially from Katina!), and considering this is a pretty pricey number. I've been using this often, especially as during the Christmas period I've been working 10 hour days and want my makeup to last as well as it can! Of all the primers I have, this one definitely keeps my makeup on the longest. It's smoothing but not all that silicone heavy, it controls oil and helps keep makeup intact but isn't at all drying. The texture is really lovely and it works into the skin super well. It also has SPF 20 which is pretty handy! Come the end of the day when I've had my makeup on for 10+ hours, I have a bit of oil breakthrough on my nose and forehead but not as much as I'd have without the primer, plus it's not really oily as it is dewy. What we want ladies ;)
Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
If I REALLY want my makeup to last, I'll use the Max Factor primer, set with powder and do a couple of spritzes of this spray on top, and legit my makeup will still look fine after 12+ hours! You really don't need a lot of this and I find 2 spritzes is enough. I really wouldn't douse my skin in this as I feel like it could be quite drying. This isn't the spray you'd want to use if you want to settle powder down, if anything this can make your skin look drier! Though, it's main claim isn't for that, and it really works amazingly at prolonging the wear of makeup. I definitely think it helps bronzer/blush/highlighter last longer too!
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Captivating
I've been reaching for the blush all month long! It's is SUCH a typical "me" shade, though still a little different to everything else I have (shockingly, and emphasis on "little"). It's a matte, medium peach shade with slight pink tones. I find this shade super flattering and warming to the skin. I have another Tarte blush in Exposed which I do love and use often, but I think the formula of this one is slightly better. It's a little softer in texture (though still a hard blush) and is a bit more pigmented. I also think it's longer lasting (though that could be due to the setting spray)!
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop
It was inevitable that this would make it to a favourites, wasn't it. I've been busting to get my hands on this since it launched and pretty much as soon as it went live on the Sephora au website, it was in my basket. This highlighter is like no other in my collection, though I don't have many of the "new age" highlighters. This shiz is INTENSE. Like I barely need a tap of product for my cheeks, and even then it can be too much! Champagne Pop, which I'm sure you've all seen by now, is a stunning peachy-gold that is super flattering on my skintone. The formula is buttery, and the sheen it gives is BEYOND. It's like wet and metallic though it does contain silver shimmers that are detectable on the skin. I think I'm being nit picky as the overall effect is gorgeous, but I wish it was more of a metallic shine as sometimes I think it can look a liiiittle powdery/sparkly. Seriously though, I've NEVER been more glowy.
Zoeva 114 Luxe Face Focus
I made another Sephora order for their black friday sale and picked up this brush as I realised I didn't really have a dedicated highlighter brush! I do have a fan brush but the quality is reeeeeeeally bad. This Zoeva brush really appealed to me for some reason, and I haven't seen too many people talk about it. It's kind of like a traditional flat foundation brush in shape, but more fluffy and tapered - if that makes sense. Depending on how much product you pick up, and where on the brush you pick it up (like the tip, or the side) you can get a varied application. I tend to dunk the top/side in and sweep it over the cheekbones to give a rather concentrated application that's well blended at the edges. You could also use this for precise blush and powder application!
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Caramello
Another month, another Stila liquid lippy. I actually thought that Caramello would be my least used shade of the kit as it's a pale, browny-beige-nude shade that I thought would wash me out. BUT, I've actually gotten the most use out of it as I've been mixing it with other products! Due to the light colour, you can literally mix this with anything to create a huge amount of colours. It's just SO versatile. The easiest way to mix is just to apply a lip liner first all over, and then a small amount of this blended over the lips. I've been experimenting with a bunch of shades but my favourite mix is probably Colourpop Lumiere lip pencil + Essence Come Naturally Lipstick + Stila Caramello. The result is a greigy-purply-brownish nude that I LOVE. It also mixes well with pinks like Rimmel Eastend Snob and even peachier shades. I need to dedicate an entire post to these with swatches, but the formula is great too. It lasts so well and even when my lips are slightly dry, it doesn't feel uncomfortable or accentuate dryness too badly which is amazing!
Marc Jacobs New Nudes Sheer Lip Gel in Understudy
This was another product I picked up in my latest Sephora haul, heavily enabled by Vivianna does Makeup and others who were preaching about this formula of lipstick. This is my first Marc Jacobs product and I see what all the hype is about! The packaging thoooo, so gorgeous and really weighted and luxe feeling. The cap is also magnetic which is more fun than you'd expect. I legitimately think that this is the lipstick I've been searching for my entire life. For ages I've been looking for the perfect peachy-pink, but often some would be too peachy/light that they'd look garish, others too pink or bright, but Understudy is juuuuuuust right. It is a little darker and a little more rosy-pink, but still has a peachy warmth to it. It is SO flattering on me I die. It's more of an MLBB than a nude, but regardless, it's super wearable and will go with anything. The formula too OMG, it is SO. NICE. It has a sheer, balmy quality to it but is still decently pigmented. It wears so well as it's extremely comfortable, not too slippy and not at all drying, in fact it's possibly a little moisturising. The wear time isn't the greatest but it's what you'd expect from a formula like this.
Well, that was an extremely rambly favourites post...comes with the territory ;) I hope you enjoyed though and let me know what you've been loving this month! Next year should be an exciting one for favourites as my America trip is so soon (SO SOON OMG) so I will inevitably have a BUTTLOAD of new products to talk about! Hauls, reviews, faves OH MY. Anyway, here's to 2015 y'all, you were okay :P
*Product sent for consideration.
