january favorites

I haven't done a monthly favorites post in what seems like ages, so i figured i'd try and start doing them again. Not making any promises though! ;)  These products are either newer ones that i've just discovered & have really liked or old favorites that i've rediscovered over the past month.

What have you been loving this month?

♥ Dove Heat Defense Therapy conditioner.  This is one of the products i've rediscovered.  I used to use this everyday but i realized that it was contributing to the product buildup in my hair.  I put off using it for a long time, but have come back to it.  It makes my hair smooth & helps protect my hair from the heat.  I generally use this on the days i blow-dry my hair (i usually shower at night & leave my hair to air dry).  This is the old packaging of this conditioner, but this stuff is still available!

♥ Favorite mascara combination.  I've been loving super thick, dark lashes this past month (well, every month really!) and these two products together help achieve the look.  Clinique's High Impact mascara is my favorite mascara i've ever tried, but in tandem the sample of Lancome's Definicils mascara, it's even better.  I probably won't buy the full size of the Lancome mascara as i'm not made of money haha, but i'll enjoy the little sample while it lasts :)

♥ Favorite eyeshadow combination.  I've been finding it hard to get out of bed & putting the effort into looking super done up this past month.  But to prevent looking like a total mess, finding a quick & easy makeup routine in the morning was an essential.  Benefit's Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in RSVP (review here) was something i ordered from Sephora a little before Christmas and MAC's Satin Taupe eyeshadow is an old favorite of mine.  I put two layers of RSVP all over my lid & into my crease (as a base & lid color in one) and using a MAC 217 brush, i put Satin Taupe in the crease & build it up into the outer v.  Both quick & easy, but it looks nice and put together.

♥ MAC 129 & Sigma E65 Small Angle brushes.  One of the first things i ever purchased from MAC is the 129 Powder/Blush brush.  I love using it for blush, it applies & blends the color with ease.  Since it's getting quite old, it's getting a bit scratchy unfortunately but it's still nice.  I got a few Sigma brushes for Christmas and i have been absolutely loving them.  One of the eye brushes i got was the E65 Small Angle brush.  I love using this to apply eyeshadow on my lower lash line & i'm hoping this will work well for my recently purchased Clinique cream eyeliner.  We'll see how that goes!

♥ Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes.  This was one of the products i purchased in my recent skincare haul & since then, i've been able to try them out for a while.  Many of you commented on that post saying you loved these and they didn't disappoint!  These are really gentle on my skin & get my makeup off really well.  The towelettes are actually pretty big & since i'm quite cheap i cut them in half and find that's enough to do the job!  I use these to remove my makeup when the day's done, before i cleanse my face.  If i'm feeling particularly lazy, i'll just quick wipe my face with these, apply a bit of moisturizer, and go to bed!  Love these.

Three to follow: Morven, Kerti, Kelly.

♥

June Faves :)

Another month has gone by my lovelies...2010 is more than half over now - weren't we just celebrating the new year a couple weeks ago?!  Goodness!

Here's another June Favorites post, i'm sure your dashboards are blowing up with them right now, but i thought i'd share with you all what i've been loving this month :)

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair ♥

I already did a post including this product with a bit of a rave (link here), but i have been totally loving this product this month!  It has a thick consistency and creates the most rich, luscious lather which leaves my hair feeling super soft.  It also doesn't leave my hair feeling dried out like other shampoos seem to do.  Love!

I'm pointing to the shadow i'm talking about - it's the brown matte one :)

Lancome Eyeshadow in "Mochaccino" ♥

I have loved this shadow for the longest time, long before i got my Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows!  It's a very lovely light brown color that is quite buildable.  I usually do a light shimmery color (most likely Urban Decay's "Sin") all over, and then place this in the crease & build it up in the outer corner, with a black liquid liner, mascara, & a bit of black liner on the waterline - it's such a simple, but pretty look :)

Bare Minerals All-Over Face Color in "Warmth" ♥

Since it's summer, i've totally embraced the whole 'bronze-y' type of look :).  I use Warmth as a bronzer & a subtle contour and i love it!  It's really easy to work with and looks really natural - although it looks orangey in the pot.  You also need to smallest amount, so this sample-size container will last for a long, long time!

Maybelline Eyelash Curler ♥

I'll be the first to admit that i'm a lash fanatic.  I love my mascara, and i love my eyelash curlers!  Something as simple as curling your lashes can really help your lashes look longer and help you appear more awake - & i personally think it just looks really pretty :).  I curl my lashes before i put on mascara & in the middle of the day, i re-curl them as they can droop a bit :).

Up & Up Women's Daily Multivitamin Dietary Supplement ♥

My doctor suggested i go on a multivitamin, so of course i didddddd.  Up & Up is just Target's brand, and this bottle was only a couple of dollars & really has the same vitamins & minerals as the more popular & costly brands.  The only thing about these is that they smell kind of bad, but i just hold my breath :) - it also took a couple days to get used to swallowing that massive pill haha.

Boots Botanics Organic Face Rosewater Toner ♥

I bought this after i heard a lot of positive reviews on it, and i've had this for a couple weeks now.  I absolutely love this stuff!  I used it with a cotton ball after cleansing my face & it removes any makeup & soap that may still be on my face.  It's also gentle, unlike other toners i've used (*Clinique*...ahem).  I love that it's organic & as very few ingredients as well :).  I honestly noticed a difference in my skin just a few days after starting using this!  Lovelovelove.  (Boots brand is available at Target in the US if anyone was wondering :)

This was a blush-bronzer duo, hence the other pan :)

Clinique Powder Blush in "Iced Lotus" ♥

As you can all probably tell, this blush has been well-loved.  It's a very pretty light-medium pink (if that makes sense :), with a little bit of shimmer.  I don't usually like blushes with shimmer in them, as i have quite oily skin, but i feel in summer i can pull it off a bit more :).

What have you been loving this month? ♥

♥

FOTD: Girly Nautical - Lush Times & an Award!

I feel like this posts contains waaay too many photos of me...hope i don't seem conceited :O

So as you may have read in my previous post or on Twitter (same on you if you don't follow me! Click here if you don't already! ;), i dyed my hair!  I'm still loving it & i've really enjoyed styling it :)  I thought i'd show you all one of my favorite looks i've had this week.

I felt so girly wearing this & actually had an "i feel pretty today" kinda day ♥  I wore my sailor shirt (i haven't worn this in for.ev.er.) which is fitted & very flattering and i wore my anchor earrings to match which i actually made myself, as well as a bow i made.  My hair is messy & looked better IRL than these pictures show..haha oh well.

I feel like my FOTDs are pointless because i pretty much do the same makeup look everyday..i just thought i'd post this anyway.

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F A C E

Bare Escentuals Prime Time primer

Revlon Mineral Mousse Foundation in 010 Light

Bare Escentuals Foundation in Fair to set

Bare Escentuals Warmth as bronzer

CoverGirl Cheekers Bronzer in Golden Tan to contour

CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in 110 Classic Pink

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

E Y E S

L'Oreal Lash Boosting Serum

UDPP

Urban Decay "Midnight Cowboy Rides Again" e/s (all over lid & into crease)

Lancome "Lezard" e/s (outer corner blended into crease)

Sephora "Aspen Summit 23" e/s (inner corner & eyebrow bone highlight)

Bari Cosmetics liquid eyeliner in Black Tie (upper lashline)

Love My Eyes by Bari Cosmetics Kohl-Kajal Eyeliner Soft Crayon in 808 White (lower lash line)

CoverGirl Lash Blast masacra in Black

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Gel

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in 006 Hazel

L I P S

Maybelline Color Sensational l/s in Pink Please 025

H A I R

Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray

straightened with Remington straightner

pinned shorter layers up with bobby pins

Tresemme Tres Two hairspray

DIY bow

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I was flicking through my Lush Times the other day and came across this!  I LOL'ed & just had to take a picture to show you guys :).  It's a spoof on Twilight featuring one of Lush's Massage Bars!  Too funny ♥

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I also was given the Sweet Blog Award from Brooke, she's such a sweetie!  Thanks sooo much dollface :)

♥

My April Faves :)

1. Keds!  I have been quite literally living in these babies.  They look great with everything...jeans, leggings, jeggings, you name it - they look adorable.  These are the Champion Canvas Originals (link).  I bought mine at Foot Locker i believe and when i got home i sprayed them with Kiwi Select Rain & Stain Protector, in attempt to keep them as white as possible.  If i get a bit of dirt on these shoes, i just wipe/rub it with a wet cloth and it comes right out.  LOVE.  ♥

2. Urban Decay's "Midnight Tea Party" (Midnight Cowboy Rides Again is the original name) eyeshadow (third e/s on top row pictured).  I rediscovered this shadow & have fallen in love again.  It's super glittery and brings a bit of interest to the eyes.  I put this all over my lid & a bit into the crease, it looks super pretty & i've gotten compliments on my makeup while wearing this!  I have a full review on the Alice In Wonderland BOS, so if you want to check that out, link HERE!  ♥

3. Lancome Sensational Effects Quads.  I have three of these, but these are the two i use most.  I use these just about everyday and really like them.  I believe i got them in gift sets at Boston Store a couple months ago.  The pigmentation in these varies and the shadows themselves aren't extremely long lasting, but i really like the colors and they're fantastic for travel.  (link to Lancome's eyeshadows)  ♥

4. L'Oreal Lash Boosting Serum - i'll just start by saying this stuff is amazing for the price you pay.  It was a little over ten dollars ($13 i believe) and definately worth the value.  I've been using this for about two weeks & have already noticed a difference.  My lashes are naturally short & stubby, and fall out easily.   I've noticed my lashes are stronger & don't fall out so frequently while removing my eye makeup, and i've definately seen an improvement in the volume of my lashes.  I haven't really noticed at difference in the length, but for around thirteen bucks, i didn't expect to end up with false-looking lashes - they may be starting to curl a bit though, so i suppose the length could be improving (haha sorry for confusion...).  ♥

5. CoverGirl Cheekers blush in 110 Classic Pink.  I got this after recommendation from EGheartsSCC on YouTube & have been loving it!  I hit major pan on my favorite blush, Clinique Iced Lotus, and have been trying to find less expensive dupe for it, well i've found it!  This blush is pretty well pigmented, is fairly long-lasting, and it's such a pretty color - i'm a sucker for pink blushes :).  The only thing i don't like about it is the smell, a lot of people seem to like it, but i hate it!  The scent also seems to invade my nose, even if i'm trying to keep it at a distance...good thing you can't smell it while you have it on your cheeks!  I apply this blsh with a MAC 129 brush.  ♥

6. Love My Eyes Kohl-Kajal Eyeliner Soft Crayon in 808 White.  I absolutely adore this eyeliner!  Ohmygoodness.  I wear this on my waterline & it really brightens up my eyes, makes them appear bigger, and makes me appear more awake.  This eyeliner was only about $3 at Wal-Mart and it's probably the best $3 i've spent in a long, long time.  The pigmentation is really great, it's really creamy, & it's also very long lasting, even on the waterline!  Definately a product to check out.  ♥

7. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in 070 Soft Nude.  I'm usually the type of girl to go for a light pink lipstick, but i wanted to try out a nude lippie for a change (this is the first nude lipstick i've ever owned...sad isn't it haha).  I think i've found the perfect nude!  It's kind of a more peachy-toned nude, which i thought i wouldn't like, but it turned out to be really nice!  The lipstick itself is very moisturizing and very pigmented.  For the price, what's not to love?  ♥

8. CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume in Black.  The first time i bought this was several months ago and when i ran out of it, i was upset but kind of forgot about it after a while - i had a ton of other mascaras to use up so i didn't think to repurchase.  I was walking down the cosmetics aisle in Wal-Mart (the same trip as when i purchased the CoverGirl Cheekers) & spotted it, and just couldn't resist but to throw it in the cart.  This is my all time favorite mascara, it gives amazing volume to my lashes - i usually do two coats with this and it makes my stubby lashes look like falsies!  I don't know what i did for the past couple months without this mascara.  ♥

9. Vera Wang Princess perfume.  I've had this stuff since March 2009 and it's still going strong.  The scent of it is super girly & pretty and i just love it.  I actually rediscovered it about a month ago and have been using it constantly since.  I actually first tested out this perfume because i was reading a magazine and Joe Jonas said he loved this perfume on a girl...haha i was having a major Jonas Brothers-phase :).  Although my love for all things Jonas isn't as strong, my adoration for this perfume is still going :) ♥

10. Katie, Dollybowbow on Youtube.  This obv. isn't a product & isn't pictured, but i've been loving this girl & her videos!  I discovered her channel just this weekend and just thought i'd mention her.  She is super sweet & adorable, and i love her style!  You girlies should deff check her out :)

What products have you been loving this month?
Twitter / Formspring :)

♥