January was a pretty good beauty month for me : I haven’t been overly spendy, I’ve just found myself getting rid of all those nearly-empty and unloved products to make way for those I have been hoarding away to try. A good de-clutter in the new year made me feel a lot lighter and less confused with all my different lotions and potions. I’ve discovered some fabulous new products and a couple of totally new brands so a great way to start my ‘Beauty Year’.
Haircare
Weleda Hair mask My hair is bleached to shi* right now and it is seeing no signs of vast improvement. I have been going through hair masks by the dozen and just started using this a couple of weeks ago. Instantly makes my hair feel softer and more manageable and smells delicious!
Skincare
Lancer The Method Polish I have the method cleanser also and it’s realllly good. An expensive brand so I use this face polish sparingly, maybe 1-2 a week when I am in the shower. It makes my skin baby soft and I think it’s really effective. Kind of similar in texture to Dr.Brandt microdermabrasion. I’m saving up to try the blemish control cleanser next.
Antipodes Vanilla pod hydrating cream* This is a mini size (full-size comes in a tub), and I started using it when I was travelling lots over Christmas 7 New Year; it’s gorgeous. I only need a teeny amount to make my whole face feel really nourished. This is one of those instant feel-good (and smell-good) face creams: perfect for dehydrated/dry/sensitive skins.
Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus* I have been alternating this with various other face creams, including the Antipodes one above, and this is the one I am using when I want something incredibly light and fresh on my skin. Smells like heaven in a jar and full of lovely natural plant and flower extracts too soothe and hydrate the skin. I think this will be THE ONE for me in the summer.
Simple BB cream This is lovely and lightweight for those *no-makeup days*. I think it only comes in this one nude shade which suits my skintone perfectly right now, probably a touch pale for when I get tanned in the summer so am hoping they expand the colours in this.
Nip + Fab Dragon’s Blood cleansing pads* These have been really good for those evenings when you are wearing little or no makeup and can’t be bothered with the sink cleanse. I know….the horror..but these occasions happen to the best of us. These are lovely and cooling on my skin and eyes and feel a lot nicer on my skin than the standard cheaper face wipes. I often leave a pad on each eye for a minute or so just to soothe my eyes.
Makeup
Models Own HyperEyes mascara* I didn’t even know Models Own did makeup – did you?! This mascara is the first thing I have tried from the range and I’m pretty impressed. It has a silicone plastic wand that is actually verrrrry similar to the new Benefit RollerLash which is coming out next month. It has longer bristles on one side for the top lashes and shorter bristles on the other designed for the lower lashes.
Paul & Joe Brow pencil* (Shade 01) You know my troubles with finding dark brown brow pencils without red in them, and this one is such a great colour. It’s a twist up pencil, similar to the MAC ones but these actually twist back down!
Rodial Instaglam Magic Pen* This is a crayon concealer as opposed to liquid and gives instant brightness wherever applied. I don’t use it for blemishes, but great for dotting around the eyes and skin in areas you want to lift and brighten. Also great under the brow bone and on the cupid’s bow.
Pur Minerals Disappearing Act Concealer* This was sent to me as part of me creating my look for a recent giveaway & I was really impressed with it. Quite a nice full coverage, reminds me a bit of the benefit boi-ing concealer or such. Great for hiding my dark circles and over my blemishes, and I love a concealer that does both.
Topshop Gel eyeliner I’ve been stuck like glue to my Illamasqua precision ink liner for a good couple of years now, and the Topshop one seems really good, and a more enticing price of just £8. I think I will keep my Illamasqua one now in my kit as it has a bit more staying power but the Topshop one is perfect for me day-to-day.
MAC Paint Pot (Quite Natural)I have so many of these paint pots from MAC and they are really good (painterly is a must-have if you don’t have!)..this month I have been using ‘Quite Natural’ as a really easy quick daytime eye look. I just press it all over my lid and it is really natural matte brown that just gives a bit of oomph without being overly ‘done’ or showy. Teamed with a touch of eyeliner and mascara, this is my daily thang right now.
Too Faced melted lipsticks I used these a lot last year, and found myself wearing these 2 shades a lot of Christmas and January. Easy to apply with the applicator and they stay on forever. These shades are ‘Melted Nude’ and ‘Melted Ruby’.
Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked blusher (Make Love instead) This has been sitting around in my makeup room for a few months now, and I kind of used it by accident as I couldn’t find any of my normal go-to blushers. It’s now been on my face daily since the first stroke. It’s a blusher and highlighter/glow in one which is what I love to give my skin radiance and flush.
Me Me Me ‘Coral Blossom’ lip and cheek stain This is a really cute peach flush. I often wear this with my Simple BB cream on the ‘bare-faced’ days. A perfect shade for very pale skinned girls/scaredy blusher cats as it’s so subtle. It’s a thick gel texture that you literally paint on with the brush applicator, similar to Benetint but a thicker consistency.
Illamasqua Skin Base I only used this for the first time quite recently, and it took a few goes,but then I mastered the application and I love it for when I need a bit more coverage.
Cover FX ‘Sunkissed’ Bronzer This is a really subtle, non-tango bronzer. The powder is really fine so lovely to apply with a very natural finish on the skin, again this shade is a must-have for people with paler skins as it’s a really pale bronzer. Just gives lifeless skin a hint of something!
Zoeva Rose Gold Eye brushes* I did a review of these brushes here. They are glorious in both appearance and performance and are purse-friendly. Cha-ching. Ba-Bling.
Nail polishes
I wore the Models Own HyperGel nude for most of the month as I just couldn’t really be bothered with colour. I go through those phases when I like either totally nude nails or bare nails. Less hassle.
On the flip side I wore this unusual deep green shade from Collection ‘Poison Ivy’ on a few evening/ glam occasions. It looks seemingly murky and boring in the bottle, but it’s a really beautiful shade. Also, the applicator brush is great and so easy to paint nails..why can’t EVERY brand do these wide brushes?!
Have you found any good new beauty products this month? Did you have a clutter clear-out and get a new skincare routine after the new year?
