Monthly Favorites January 2013

January Favorites

Thank god January is over.  This month has been a tough one for me.  I’ve been battling with my health all month long.  You all know that I was really sick at the beginning of the month, which is why I never got around to doing a monthly favorites post for December.  After finally getting over that, I had a week and a half of relative health.  Over this past weekend I started experiencing new problems and ended up having to go to the emergency room on Tuesday.  At this point I am hopefully on the mend, but boy howdy, my body could use a break.  Because I’ve been so miserable this month, I haven’t really been going anywhere and I haven’t been wearing much makeup at all.  That being the case, my monthly favorites are a little different this month.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

I’ve been enjoying John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full Shampoo and Conditioner.  The product claims to “Gently cleanse and weightlessly detangle for volume that looks and feels natural”.  I had been using Organix Coconut Milk shampoo and conditioner before this.  I’ve used two versions of Organix products, first the Moroccan Argon Oil shampoo and conditioner and then the Coconut Milk.  Though I did like the shampoos, I’ve decided that I hate Organix conditioners.  My hair is healthy, but I do color it, so I like a good conditioner that moisturizes my hair, but isn’t too heavy.  It is also fine and tangles like crazy.  That’s why I really like John Frieda Luxurious Volume.  The shampoo gets my hair nice and clean without stripping it of moisture.  The conditioner is lightweight, but leaves my hair feeling soft and looking shiny and healthy.  The built in detangler works well with my fine hair and I have no issues combing it out, unlike my experience with Organix.  The volumizing technologies are supposed to kick on when blow drying, but I usually let my hair dry naturally.  Even so, I think my hair does look a little fuller and more volumized since switching to this combo.  I’ve had good luck with John Frieda products.  I also really liked John Frieda Full Repair after some highlights dried my hair out last year.  It’s a good brand for me.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Aquaphor was an absolute necessity for me when I was sick.  I started off with a massive sinus infection (I went through two full Kleenex boxes).  Usually when I have a sinus issue, my nose area very quickly becomes chapped and raw.   Aquaphor Healing Ointment was a lifesaver in that department.  Though I still got a little dry and flakey from constantly wiping my nose, the ointment kept my skin from cracking and kept the pain and redness to a minimum.  I kept the tube within arms reach and just kept re-applying.  It helped a lot.

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter

I received this Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter in my January Ipsy bag.  I’ve been loving it.  The formula is moisturizing, but light, with a quick dry down period that doesn’t leave a greasy feel.  The scent is fantastic.  When first applied, you can really smell the orange, but quickly the fragrance morphs into something really complex and sophisticated.   It’s juicy and spicy, and just a really nice scent.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

I’ve worn makeup so rarely throughout January, but the foundation I have been using almost exclusively this month is the Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation.  I love how easy it is to apply with the included sponge.  I use the sponge first, and then just buff the last bit out with a brush to ensure a smooth finish.  The foundation looks great and doesn’t cake up or dry me out.  It lasts pretty well on me, though it isn’t the longest wearing foundation.  It starts to fade a bit after about six hours, so I don’t use it if it’s going to be a really long day.  If you have normal to dry skin, I really recommend it, though it might not work well for oily skin.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse is a cream pancake.  Here you can see the consistency.  I’m going to run out soon.  (I don’t know about you, but I get such satisfaction at using a product up all the way.  I have so much makeup that it means I really like a product if I use it all up.)  I might repurchase, but there are so many other foundations out there that I want to try that I may not.  I’m not going to rush out and immediately get a new one (like with the Revlon Whipped Creme Makeup) but I may repurchase in the future.

Coastal Scents Eyeshadow quad

Finally, I have been playing with this little sample quad from Coastal Scents that I received for free with my last order.  The shades are: Light Pink (TL), Elven Silver (TR), Gunmetal (BL), and Rosy Pink (BR).  These are not shades that I normally wear, but I have been really liking the looks that I have been coming up with.  Elven Silver, especially, is a gorgeous shade that is much more versatile than I originally thought.  I kicked around the idea of doing a tutorial with these shades.  If that is something that you are interested in seeing, let me know in the comments below.

That’s it for January.  Like I said, I’m glad it’s over and I am ready for some rest and recovery.  I really hope that February is better for me.  Other than my health issues, I am doing really well.  I have a ton of new products to photograph and review for you.  I’ve been so exhausted dealing with everything, but I am hoping that things will improve so I can get back to regularly blogging.

What have been some of your favorite things this month?

April Favorites (2012)

It’s time for another monthly favorites post where I show the products I’ve been reaching for over and over again this past month.  April has been a better month for me that February and March, though I’m still struggling.  I can definitely sense that things will be improving, but I’m not quite there yet.  I haven’t worn a lot of makeup this month, so I don’t have too much to show you, but I did have a couple products that stood out to me.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

The first thing I have to show you is Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation.  I picked up this foundation on a whim, not sure if I’d like the formula because I usually use liquid.  It has really been working for me, though.  I’ve reached for it almost exclusively this month.  The creamy formula is hydrating on my dry skin and doesn’t cake up on me at all.  The only complaint I have is that there is only 14 g worth of product, which is  not a lot.  The well that holds the foundation is pretty thin.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

I’ve been applying it with the sponge provided, and it goes on really well that way.  I quickly buff it out with a brush when I’m done with the sponge, just to make sure everything is even and smooth.  Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse lasts (on me) all day and is comfortable on the skin. It provides pretty decent coverage without being too thick or heavy.   Those with oily skin will want to stay away, though, because this is definitely designed for normal to dry skin.

Wet n Wild Coloricon blush in Mellow Wine

My next favorite is Wet n Wild Coloricon blush in Mellow Wine.  Just like the Coloricon eye shadows, Wet n Wild’s blush is packed with pigmentation, silky smooth and blends really well.  Mellow Wine is a natural looking, deep rose shade that can be applied lightly for a natural flushed look, or built up for a more dramatic look.  It’s beautiful.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

Something that most of you will recognize if NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.  I’ve avoided this start white shade for some reason, until the beginning of April when Ulta had that 40% off sale.  I finally picked up Milk, and I’m glad that I did.  Now that spring is here, I’ve been wearing brighter eyeshadow, and Milk is the perfect base to really get the colors to pop.  I can see this becoming a staple on my makeup arsenal, especially in the warmer months when bright shades are the thing.

NYX single eyeshadow in Mellow Yellow

Speaking on bright colors, my last favorite is NYX single eyeshadow in Mellow Yellow.  I went way out of my comfort zone with this one, but I love it!  Mellow Yellow applies true to pan, vibrant bright yellow.  The swatch above is over bare skin, no primer.  I’ve done a couple looks blending it with orange or green and can’t get enough of how bright and happy the shade is.  It is certainly not for everyday, but I am sure that I will continue to get good use out of it for the next several months.

That’s it for my April favorites.  I hope that you saw something that you like.  If you have any questions about the products mentioned, leave them for me in the comments below.