Monthly Faves: February 2013

Time for a roundup of the things I've been reaching for most often over the last month! I didn't keep a list this month, so I'm sure I'll be updating later with things I forgot!

1. Embryolisse - Lait-Crème Concentré
I just started using this, but I'm in love already. I use it morning and night, and it's like a really luxurious cold cream. I can see now why makeup artists love this so much!

2. Palmer's Cocoa Butter 
I get really dry skin, particularly in the winter. This has helped a bit - I like that it's not super oily and has a light cocoa butter/vanilla scent. And it's dirt cheap!

3. Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash
I got a bunch of Origins sample sizes as a Sephora 500-point perk set, and this was one of them. I decided to just take the sample size of this, along with my Embryolisse, on a trip to Vegas. I used both of them morning and night and my skin felt so good! I love that this foams up so much that you need to use very little, has a light minty scent and really seems to help my skin.

4. Nars Pro-Prime Multi-Protect Primer SPF 30
I'm always on the lookout for a good primer - and this works pretty well and has a lovely subtle citrus scent. I also love that it has such a high SPF, since my fave new cream doesn't have any. I don't use it every day, and I still like the MUFE HD primer better, but this definitely works well!

5. Dior Nude Skin Foundation (Shade 020)
I got this really cheap on All Cosmetics Wholesale because I was curious about how it compared to my fave Nars Sheer Glow. It's probably a medium coverage, and the colour works well for me. I generally mix it with my Laura Mercier Bare Radiance tinted moisturizer, but overall I like it.

6. Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm
This is the same formula as the original rosebud salve - but with a hint of minty tingle. I like putting this on before bed to keep my lips hydrated during the night. I also like the tube rather than the tub because it's less messy and easier to keep in my purse!

7. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector SPF 25+  (in Moonstone)
I first heard about this because Lisa Eldridge uses it all the time. It's now my favourite luminizer. It's subtle, not sparkly, smells lovely and even has SPF! I used this for my wedding and it gave just the right dewy glow in photos.

8. Bare Escentuals Pretty Amazing Lip Colour (in Witty)
I love this formula! Comes with a wand-like applicator and is kind of like a cross between a lip cream and a stain. Not shiny  like a regular gloss, and lasts for ages. It's the most amazing berry shade, similar to MAC Rebel, but perhaps a bit more pink/red. 

9. Shu Uemura Eyeshadow (in 856 Medium Brown)
One of my best friends went to Taiwan and brought this back for me (along with some other awesome treats!) and I've completely fallen in love with it. It's the most gorgeous metallic taupe that can work for day or night - I really like layering it over whatever I've got on for daytime to dress it up a bit for nighttime.

10. MAC Eye Pencil (in Coffee)
I've always loved this, but mostly use it on the upper water line because it stays put better than kohl. But over the last month I took to just using this for both the lashline and waterline and it's excellent.

11. Nars Eyeshadow (in Fez)
I have brown/hazel eyes and this bronzey shade looks gorgeous. I use a thin layer on the lid for daytime and apply more on the lid and along the lower lashline with a dark liner for nighttime. One of my all-time faves from Nars!

So that's most of the products I remember loving last month. What have you been loving lately?   

Winter Essentials!

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a tropical part of the world, you're in the middle of some cold, wet, dreary months. Aside from the extra layers of clothing needed to brave the increasingly frigid weather, there are some beauty essentials that you'll need to get you through until spring! Here are the things I just can't live without when the weather turns!

1. Hand Moisturizer

In addition to the dryness that accompanies the return of cold, I'm plagued with super dry hands during the winter, probably due to having diabetes. This means that not only do my hands get flaky, but if I don't moisturize regularly, they'll crack painfully. Further complicating things, I wash my hands all the time to avoid getting sick and HATE the feeling of thick, heavy moisturizer on my skin, particularly because when I touch my face it comes off and makes everything feel oily. So I'm always on the hunt for moisturizer that absorbs quickly, smells good, and, above all, WORKS!! I just discovered Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, which smells amazing and seems to absorb quickly as well. Even better? It's available at drug stores here in Canada and a 250 mL bottle cost less than $6.00! Another good one is by L'Occitane en Provence (their Shea Butter hand cream is good - my fave was the Desert Rose, but unfortunately it was limited edition!).

2. Lip Balm

I LOVE lip balm. Always have. I'm always trying new kinds, and there are always at least two or three in my purse. I rarely stick with just one kind for long, but my faves at the moment are Jack Black, MAC, and Smith's Minted Rose.

3. Face Moisturizer

Skin is dry all over - so making sure to keep my face moisturized is pretty important. I find that a good night cream makes all the difference, and this one has been on my bathroom counter for years. 

4. Nails

I like dark nails all year round, but in winter I like them even more. I really love OPI's I'm With Brad (available at Sephora) which is a dark, shimmery red. (It's actually darker than it looks in this picture.)

5.  Bright lipstick

As long as you keep chapped lips at bay with a good lip balm, there's no reason not to wear lipstick through the cold months. In fact, I find that on a wet, dark day, wearing a pop of colour can make all the difference to my mood. I'd like to think it cheers up the people around me, too! MAC Rebel is one of my all-time faves, but a good fuchsia pink or nice classic red work too!

What can't you live without in the cold months? Share in the comments!