CURRENT FAVOURITES / VOL 001.
Back when I was writing my former blog, The Pretty Vain, I would do a round-up of my favourite products each and every month. After going through a few of these posts I was reminded of my love for writing and reading them, and was inspired to share the products I've currently been loving. I don't think that this is something I'll be able to maintain on a monthly basis, however I definitely want to start sharing more of these posts. Now onto the products I've been loving this time around.
SKINCARE
Skincare is a beauty category that's always been important to me. Given that I wear minimal makeup day-to-day, I always want to ensure that my skin looks and feels it's best. However, thanks to a recent stint with lash extensions I hadn't put much focus on skincare; only recently getting myself back into a daily regime. Along with once again washing my face with a cleanser as opposed to micellar water, I've decided to incorporate a toner into my daily cleansing routine. The Face Shop White Seed Brightening Toner ($32) is creamy and gentle, yet features ingredients like White Lupin Seed and White Daisy Flower extract to brighten the skin, revealing a glowing complexion. Toners aren't something I typically incorporate in daily cleansing, however the results of this one are undeniable, already promoting a visible reduction in the appearance of hyper-pigmentation around my mouth from past blemishes. I definitely want to look further into the White Seed line by The Face Shop since trying this product.
Alongside daily cleansing, I've also been using face masks at least once or twice a week to promote a healthier complexion. My current favourites: the Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask ($108), which is a lightweight hydrating treatment, and the Origins Clear Improvement Mask ($31), which is a clarifying and detoxifying treatment. I even use the Origins Clear Improvement Mask ($31) as an overnight spot treatment for blemishes, which typically clears them up completely within 48 hours.
Finally, after my experience with lash extensions my natural lashes are now embarrassingly short, and although I've contemplated purchasing a product like RapidLash, I wanted to first test out the Saje Herbal Balm ($10), which I've had tucked away in my stash. This balm is primarily used to nourish cuticles, however it's also marketed as a lash balm among other things. I've been applying it to my lashes for approximately two weeks now, at least once a day, and I've already noticed an increase in lash length and fullness. Plus, it causes zero irritation to the eye area, while other lash enhancers tend to.
MAKEUP
After an exciting weekend at Generation Beauty this past month – see my post detailing the event here – I was introduced to a few new beauty products, and reminded of some old favourites. First and foremost, the upcoming release of the Too Faced Born This Way Concealer ($39) is simply too exciting to shut up about. Available June 15th, this concealer is bound to sell out quickly with bloggers everywhere raving about the consistency. The formula is extremely creamy, blends easily and seamlessly into skin, and never creases or fades – what more could one need?
I've also been a bit of a metallic lip addict as of late, which I'll blame on Kylie Jenner for snapchat-ing her Metallic Lip Kits. Regardless, it would appear that the metallic brown lip was my lip of the month - detailed in this post, which materializes when Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Amy ($24) is applied on top of the Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Chocolate Honey ($25). But I find this lip too heavy for day-to-day wear, especially while working, so I found a beautiful metallic pink, MAC Lipstick in High Strung ($21), which is the epitome of 'my lips but better... and metallic'. Perfect for the office or a date.
Finally, I've taken a cue from my university days and have begun to highlight the inner corner of my eyes and the brow-bone with my all-time favourite, MAC Eyeshadow in Nylon ($8). Doing so helps to brighten up the eye area, making my small almond eyes appear larger. This eyeshadow can be a bit too extreme for some, but given my addiction to a glowing complexion, I absolutely love it. That said I still want to ensure it looks somewhat natural, so I've been blending it out with my Sigma E71 Highlight Diffuser Brush ($26.60), available from Nail Polish Canada.
HAIR + ETC...
Haircare, for me, is equally as important as skincare, and although I gave you a run down of the products I use to maintain the colour in yesterdays post, Blue Dream, I still wanted to share the products I've used to style it as of late. I've let my hair grow out a bit, and therefore, thanks to it's awkward length, I've been wearing it wavy more frequently. To ensure that my waves look messy and never perfect I like to add a bit of texture using the John Masters Organics Bourbon Vanilla & Tangerine Hair Texturizer ($35). This stuff not only features an intoxicating scent, it also works wonders to transform your hair from 'bridal shower' to 'punk rock show'. Unfortunately I find the messy look can appear a little dull from time to time, so I add a healthy spritz of my Good Day HairShop Crystal Glimmer Shine Spray ($16) to instantly bring back the sheen.
And last, but certainly not least, I've started painting my nails again in an attempt to repair them from the damage months of shellac have cause. And it's been surprisingly fun experimenting with colours and designs after a package from OPI landed on my door-step. But it's the OPI Nail Polish in Oh My Majesty! ($10) that's left me awestruck. The colour can only be described as a beautiful shimmering white opal, and somehow makes white polish wearable for any occasion. I'm addicted.
SHOP THE POST
What have you been loving as of late?
Let me know in the comment section below.
XO.BB
[*]SOME OF THE ITEMS FEATURED IN THIS POST HAVE BEEN SENT TO BRATTY B FOR PURPOSE OF REVIEW. ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED REFLECT MY OWN OPINION ON THE PRODUCT/SERVICE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE SEE THE DISCLAIMER FOUND IN THE ABOUT ME SECTION.