Monthly Favorites #3: 2012 Quarterly Favorites

I've always not been a really close observer of monthly favorites post. Simply said, I just do not see a point for myself  as I'm always spending weeks/months to decide whether I really like a product. Furthermore, I also always seems to be enjoying similar products especially now that I'm on a tighter beauty splurging budget. With that in mind, I decided to do a quarterly favorites (slightly late still ;P) instead, just to showcase some of the noteworthy products that I've been really enjoying.

Recent obsession with bath & body products

So yes, I am pretty much addicted to natural handmade bath and body product now. I remember that I used to be so addicted to purchasing makeup and skincare but I guess I have reached the saturation point of purchasing more, especially after trying so many brands, I now know what works and what don't. Lush Vanilla Dee-Lite is one of my very first 'natural handmade' body lotion. I love the scent and find that vanilla scent is one of those that really relaxes me after a long day of stressful work. The texture is non-stickey and more watery as compared to body butters. More importantly, it absorbs into my skin almost immediately, leaving my skin soft and smooth.

However, after more exposure to the natural handmade community, I've come to a realization that Lush's contain Parabens, an ingredient shun away by the natural & organic conscious community. Since then, I begun my search for alternatives, which led me to stumble upon Nikory Bath Treats. I ordered a bunch of products from their website and Honey Vanilla Dust Body Butter Cream is the first that I tried outta my entire order. I must say I am very impressed by the quality, texture, scent and pricing and absolutely am in love with this baby. With the thicker consistency, I only use this before going to bed around my feed (the roughest area) and will usually wake up to a smooth feet the second day. Hallelujah to that!

Staple everyday makeup 

By now, almost everyone who frequents this blog would have already known about my holy grail combination, Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation & NARS Sex Appeal. The former is one of those foundation which gives me my desired coverage and staying power while the latter is awesome for everyday subtle glow for the office. I have heard complains about double wear being cakey but I beg to differ on that. The tip to remember would be that 'a little goes a long way'. However, I do not dismiss the fact that it can be rather drying especially on a poorly prep/moisturized skin.

The rather recent favorites would be Maybelline The Falsies mascara & Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre. I have been using both for quite some time now and I can safely vouch for their quality. Maybelline The Falsies adds volume and decent length to my lashes, yet it does not clump up at all which is the main criteria I look for in mascaras. Though the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre does not give very good oil control, I love this for the finely milled texture and the finish that it provides my skin. This is perfect with the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation as it counteracts the really matte finish of the foundation by adding a soft glow to the skin. Wonderful finish I would say, but not so wonderful price tag!

Ikea Brush Holder?

This is one of my really good finds from Ikea. It's meant to be a flower pot but I decided to use it as a brush holder instead. It fits all my face brushes perfectly and add a touch of cute element into my current set up. Most importantly, my face brushes doesn't fall everywhere when I'm rushing to grab it in the morning. If you happen to drop by Ikea, do keep a lookout for this at the gardening section. 

That's pretty much a wrap for my favorites in 2012's first quarter. Let me know if you would like a detailed review of any mentioned.

xx