Monthly Favourites | January 2014 |

Hello! As it's the end of January (already...!) it's time for the first installment of monthly favourites for the year. This month features a lot of make up, mostly lip-centric with a little bit of skin care thrown in for good measure. If you are more of a listener than a reader, I've included a video that I filmed to accompany this post too.

1. Revlon Lip Butter in 'Pink Lemonade': I'm a massive fan of the lip butter range and this shade is one of my top shades. A soft peachy pink, its easy to slick on and go and pairs perfectly with natural make up looks or to soften a smokey eye. I also find the formula nice and nourishing which is great for this time of year.

2. Topshop Lipstick in 'Idol': A while ago now I did a post on my Topshop lipstick collection, which now I have bought quite a few more I'm looking to update in the near future. This lipstick featured in it and it is still one of my favourite pinks. It's a bright, Barbie-esque pink which I've been wearing as a pop of colour with pared down make up.

3. Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in 'Brink Pink': This has been posted on really recently, so for an in depth review click here. As you can tell I'm well and truly in a pink phase at the moment, with this lip cream being the brightest and most statement lip out of the 3. 

4. Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm: The last of the lip products, this is an absolute must have for the colder weather. I like to use it before bed as it leaves a slight layer on your lips. It is so nourishing and smells delicious and works really well when used in conjunction with a lip scrub.

5. Benefit 'Million $ Mocha' Eyeshadow: A beautiful shimmery brown shade with pink undertones, I've been using this all over the lid for a really simple day time appropriate smokey eye. The formula is really buttery and easy to blend with no fall out at all. 

6. Estee Lauder Double Wear & Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: This duo is a perfect pairing in my opinion! With this brush you only need a tiny amount of the foundation and when buffed in properly it leaves a lovely natural, airbrushed finish. Double Wear doesn't have to be cakey! I also have a full review on this foundation.

7. Estee Lauder Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher: After receiving this for Christmas I've used this every day as my morning serum. I think its best suited for the day as it is so light weight, and as it melts into skin immediately it leaves a super smooth base, perfect for make up. The pump bottle is also a nice addition as it gives just enough for your whole face without being messy.

8. Clarins Lotus Oil: A whole post has been dedicated to how much I love this oil already! If you have oily/combo skin I urge you to try this as it has really changed my skin for the better. It is a really light oil which won't clog your pores or break you out, while still hydrating your skin really well.

What are your favourites for this month? xxx

Review: Clarins | Lotus Face Treatment Oil |

Oily/combination Skin // £30 // 30ml

Considering I have combination to oily skin, my skincare routine was always focused on using products that would strip the oil away. That was until around a year ago when I realised that this only made the problem worse and so started to switch up the products I was using. Even though I made those changes it was still weird to consider using an actual oil on my face but after seeing positive things about the benefits of using a facial oil I put this one from Clarins on my birthday list.

Clarins do a range of three different oils depending on your skin type - this one in particular is focused on oily/combination skin. This oil contains 100% natural blend of lotus, geranium and rosewood which are supposed to be naturally astringent and the claim is that they help to purify and refine pores as well as refining skin's texture. Hazelnut oil is also present to seal in moisture and prevent fine lines. The blend of these oils leads the oil to smell like citronella candles which is quite strong but it isn't unpleasant at all. The pipette for dispensing the oil is also really useful and enables me to get just the right amount of product. 

I apply this on damp skin (from toner) and sometimes layer on a night cream afterwards or mix it in with the cream. From the first use I could tell this worked wonders - my face in the morning was matte (something which never happens), smooth and even textured. It has also really helped with dehyration too. Only a few drops are needed as a little goes a long way - you can see a few months usage from the pictures above. This has definitely become holy grail status and something which will be a staple in my skin care. I rotate it every other night with my ANR and always see a positive difference after applying it. I loved it so much I even bought the formula for dry skin for my Mum and she loves her version too! Clarins are really on a roll at the moment and I am enjoying using quite a few of their skin care and make up bits (reviews to come!) 

If you suffer from combination/oily skin I really urge you to pick this up. It is a bit pricey but is definitely worth it. What are your skin care holy grail products? xxx