February Favourites

Literally unbelievable March is here already. I've been having a great week off from work, so sad its almost over and I'll be back to the rat race on Monday, le sigh.
I didn't buy any new products in February and used some of the many new and unopened products I already have. I had such a frugal month it was really nice to use some lovely items I'd had sitting for months in my room.
I got round to opening the Soap and Glory set from 2011 so there's alot of it in my favourites

Soap and Glory; Hand Food and Heel Genius

Firstly I have fallen head over heels in love with the insane scent of Soap and Glory. Its so hard to explain because it isn't overly floral, or fruity, or anything, its just this gorgeous mixture of rightness. It has a clean smell to it that lingers for ages after using a product and I couldn't stop smelling myself the first week I was using Soap and Glory haha. I struggle to find hand creams that work for me as my hands get so dry I need a really intense cream but I hate having greasy/slippery hands so like something that sinks in quickly but lasts through hand washing. For me Hand Food ticks all these boxes which is pretty amazing. Heel Genius is a similar cream in its thickness and sinks in quickly too. I never usually use a foot cream just whatever body butter/lotion I've got going but my feet felt softer than usual with this. 

Soap and Glory; Clean On Me shower creme and Mist You Madly body mist, The Body Shop; Strawberry shower gel

Clean On Me has to be one of the most intoxicating smelling shower gels/cremes I have ever had the pleasure to use. It smells divine! This bottle is massive and a little goes a long way so it'll last me ages. I switched to the Body Shop Strawberry one as I get bored quickly and its nearly all gone so will go back to S&G. All Body Shop shower gels smell amazing and Strawberry is so sweet. I'm willing Spring to start! I've loved spritzing the Mist You Madly on as its the Soap and Glory scent in a bottle. If they had a perfume I'd definitely buy it! 

Soap and Glory; Face Soap 3-in-1 facial washer and Pulp Friction body scrub

Two more amazing products. I'm a Soap and Glory convert for sure. Just as well I bought the 2012 Soap and Glory set too, I'm all S&G'd out. I find it hard to find face washes and scrubs that don't make my skin feel tight and horrible so it was pleasant surprise that Face Soap left my skin feeling soft, smooth and clean. Its so nice to use I've been making an effort to remember to use it as I usually forget or can't be bothered. Plus it smells amazing and again a little goes a long way. The Pulp Friction is the perfect scrub for sensitive skin as most scrubs scratch my skin leaving it sore and red. A Lush scrub actually once left me with loads of scratches all over my arms like a cat had attacked me. Again it smells amazing and even my boyfriend liked using it haha. The only downside is all the grit it leaves in the bath/shower. But just shows how much they've packed in and how little you need. A quick squirt and it's down the plug hole and forgotten about.  

 Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion 

I've had this for ages which is testament to how much you get in a bottle. When I got this I didn't think it would make a difference to my skin but it has. My skin is softer, more subtle and brighter. It's always worth the extra money for a product that is going somewhere as important as your face as that's what will age you most. Once I hit 25 (in six months ARGH!) I want to start using anti-aging products as I was told that's the age...can't hurt even if its rubbish advice!

 Revlon lip butter in Strawberry Shortcake 

I bought this shade because everyone was raving about it and saying it was THE shade. However on the handful of times I applied it, I simply detested it. It looked tacky and cheap and horrible. It sat lost and unloved in my lipstick drawer until a few weeks ago. I was hunting for a subtle but pretty shade to wear out and grabbed this, applied it, and it was true love. Its the perfect everyday pretty pink. I'm bewildered as to how and why I overlooked this. Its been coming everywhere with me. Sometimes I think that with lipsticks you have to break through that outer layer to get the true colour/texture/application so it could have been that  as I've broken it now. I hope you know what I mean otherwise I sound crazy!

Rimmel Apocalips in Nova

Another colour I hated on first application. Then I used it for a day out and fell in love with the colour. Rimmel have really upped their game recently and have become much more popular. Its amazing to see all the new products coming out and how fiercely competitive brands are getting.I thought these might be sticky or tacky and collect on the inside of my lips. However its not the cheap product I thought it might be, I was really surprised at how much I liked it.  I want to get another colour but unsure what to go for. I'm braver with red lips now so it would be nice to get a red one to add to my collection.

So they are my favourites of the past month, I really like this month even though there isn't that many products and most are Soap and Glory. Now I'm back spending on make-up I'd love to see what your favourites are!

January Favourites

February is going in a flash, how can it already be the 8th?!

I didn't have too many January Favourites as I was spending my money in sales and not really on new beauty products. I spent late Sunday clearing out one of my wardrobes. My boyfriend had run out of his hair wax and I said I bought some more. I have a stock of toiletry back ups and it had got so messy I had no idea what I had and where certain things were. So it all came out of the wardrobe and I had a good sort through. Its now in order and I really must try not to buy anything more. I've set myself a challenge for February to use products lurking in there rather than buying new ones. Its going fine so far but I've still a few more days left in the month to resist! 

 Lee Stafford Sun Kissed Lightening Spray £7.99 Boots (bought in multi-buy offer)

I went on a splurge in Boots when I got my Soap and Glory Best Of All set and this was one of the items I treated myself to. It had caught my eye as it can ombré hair. I'm too scared to use bleach on my hair as I'm trying to grow it plus the amount of red dye still hanging on despite it being a temporary dye would make my hair look odd. I mean red and blonde, I don't think they'll go. I don't want to dye my hair brown just to ombré it. I'm trying to avoid dyeing it this year to see if it grows any quicker. This seemed the ideal solution as although it does contain hydrogen peroxide (used as a bleach) it would be kinder to my hair. The bottle warns "this is a grower not a show-er" and it really is. I've used it three times now (very lightly the first time) and the result is below. After washing your hair and towel drying it, before you blow dry spray this in the desired places. For me this was halfway down, with more sprays on the ends. Comb it through and blow dry. It was quite hard to blow dry my hair after so long of avoiding heat on my hair but I'm so pleased with the results.

 Please excuse my dishevelled appearance - I'd been at work for ten hours, been blown about in gale force winds waiting half an hour for my bus. I pinned my fringe back it had been blown out of place. 

It could just be me but it takes absolutely ages to get your hair completely dry after using this spray! The spray really smells and its sticky, but once fully dry both fade. Plus I have the desired effect so I can't complain. It just feels gross when its sticking to your neck and you are touching your hair while blow drying it. I didn't use a brush during drying as I was worried the sticky spray would cause breakage so I ruffled it with my fingers. It's almost brought the red back out in my hair as my roots are coming through (on a 24 wash hair dye?!) and appearing very dark.

 Avon Far Away Exotic EDP £13

"An inspiring journey of chai spice and lavish saffron rose entwined with the exotic richness of ambered musk"
I've only discovered Avon perfume in the past year or so. Everytime I find a perfume I like it gets discontinued so watch this space ;) I found I really liked Far Away and liked the sound of this. I definitely like my musky smells but sometimes they can make me feel like an old lady. This is perfect as its a girlie almost fruity musk and so nice to wear. Plus it looks really pretty sitting on my dressing table.

Garnier Complete Cleansing Milk £3.15, Garnier Refreshing Toner £3.15, Boots

I love Garnier products. They feel so good to use and always smell lovely. The pink milk has been a firm favourite for years, it really gets all the make-up off my face and leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. I got the Garnier Toner to try and love that too. I tend to use something different all the time but I used these consistently through January. As I'm appraoching my mid twenties skin care is definitely becoming much more important to me. I am trying to moisturise everyday and use products appropriate to my skin. 

Nivea Smooth Nourishing hand cream £3.16 (currently on price promotion in Boots)

I bought this hand cream as a travel mini in Primark for £1. Its ridiculous what I buy in Primark for a £1 sometimes. I thought it would be ideal in my bag during winter as my hands get SO DRY! I've never found a hand cream that's been perfect for me. It gets a pain to have to apply hand cream every hour especially as I hate having greasy hands. I used this and was amazed at how quickly it sunk into my skin and how long lasting it is for me. It smells divine too and even my boyfriend likes it!

Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners, around £4 but often on price promotion and I found some in Poundland!

Now I'm washing my hair less I appreciate products that really clean and nourish my hair. Herbal Essences stand out as lovely products. They smell amazing, leave my hair soft and shiny and I love using them. They lather up really well and don't tangle my hair.

Barry M magnetic polish £4.99, Gelly polishes £3.99

I've fallen back in love with Barry M nail polish after abandoning them completely for Models Own. I love the magnetic effect, its so striking. I love how easy it is to do as the 17 ones I'd used previously had been quite difficult with me re-doing certain nails to get them right. Plus the Barry M can be more than one coat which definitely makes them last longer. The Gelly polishes are just amazing, so shiny and pretty. Pomegranate is such a beautiful colour however I would strongly recommend a base coat as I think this would stain otherwise. I'm still using my peeling and brittleness solver from my previous favourites post so its acting as my base coat.

So that's another month done. I don't know what I'll have for February as I'm saving for several shopping trips and days out with my boyfriend in early March but I'm trying to get through my stash of toiletries so that will help. I found last years Soap and Glory set so I'm working my way through that :)