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

Top 11 of 2011

I've been really enjoying reading the top beauty products on other blogs so I decided that I should do a quick post on things that I've been really enjoying in 2011. I believe that if you are a frequent reader of this blog, most products wouldn't even come as a surprise to you.

2011 has been a year where 'convenience' and 'fast' are the key things I look for in products. Therefore, the products which I'm about to show you are things I deemed as hassle free and constantly reach out for daily even up till now.

The Skin Care

Mandom Cleansing Express Bright Up Cleansing Lotion
Hands down my favorite makeup remover of all time. I can't remember but this must be my 5th or 6th bottle of it. Interested to find out more?  Please read here for a more detailed review.

MAC Fix +
This is my goto skin booster before applying the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation. For me, it works as a skin hydrator that counters the drying properties of the  foundation. I usually spray it on my face right after face primer and let it set for awhile before applying the Estee Lauder foundation. The combination is just perfect!

Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream 
This is my second bottle of water bank series moisturizer from Laneige. I love the hydrating properties and how fresh my skin feels right after it. I can't emphasize how important it is to keep skin hydrated at all times since it counters off aging, pore size and wrinkles all at once.

Face/Eye Makeup

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
Amongst the many foundation that I own, this is the one which I gravitate towards the most in 2011. I used it without fail everyday for work as I know that this would never fail me even if I end up staying out all day till late night. It is hassle free and covers all my flaws perfectly with just one pump of application.

Though I love almost everything about this foundation, one thing I really dislike is that it is extremely drying. I guess for people with very oily skin, this would be like something from heaven. But for my combination skin, I always need to prep my skin with extra hydrating products (such as Fix +) to make sure that no dry patches would appear on my cheeks. That being said, I guess I will continue stick with this untill I find another long wearing foundation.

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
This is yet another staple in my make up routine. It never fails to impress me with its results and the best part of it? You can't beat the price point. This is actually my second one and
I am pretty sure I will be ordering more of it as backups really soon.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer
With my trusty double wear foundation, I really didn't find myself having the need to apply any concealer. That being said, whenever I alternate to lighter coverage foundation on weekends, I always go for this concealer to cover any obvious spots. This is also my goto concealer whenever I don't feel like wearing any foundation out. A quick dab of the concealer on my spots and some Maybelline Dream Matte powder, and Voila, I'm good to go.

NARS Powder Blush in Sex Appeal
I can't rave more about this product. It is appropriate for work, outing and almost any events that you can think of. I got so many compliments wearing this blush and boy, do I love the subtle glow it gives me. Believe it or not, I actually just bought a back up for this blush.

MAC Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown
If I can only choose one eyeshadow for the rest of my life,  I guess Charcoarl Brown would be the choice. It is a versatile eyeshadow that can be used for brows, eyelids and even as an eyeliner. I feel that every gal should have a color like this in their collection (of course depending on your skin tone/hair color) that has the versatility to work as anything. And, I am glad that I found mind. =)

The Brushes

ELF Kabuki Powder Brush
This is my goto brush in 2011 whenever I'm applying powder to set my makeup. The bristles are soft, it applies setting powder perfectly, it does not shed, and it cost $5! I have been using this consistently for more than a year now and though I have a back up of it, my original brush is still good as new. If you are looking for a kabuki brush that is less dense, definitely go check this out.

Coastal Scents Brush BR 518
This is definitely a 'Youtube made me do it' type of product. I bought it after watching a review video by Lisasz09 and I fell in love with it. I use this as a stippling brush for my liquid foundation almost every single day since I got it in 2011. I love how easy this makes my whole morning routine goes daily and how I can be sure that my foundation would look good even when I'm applyinf it through my half opened eyes in the morning.

Lipstick

MAC Lipstick in Modesty
This is definitely the most reached lipstick in my collection in 2011. I wore it almost everyday since it's work appropriate and it just adds more color to my often pale complexion early morning. I often wondered before why MAC's lipsticks were so raved about, and I totally understand it now. Aside from the amazing color, the texture doesn't even enhance any of the fine lines on my lips. If you are searching for a work appropriate lipstick, definitely give this a try.

What are your top beauty products in 2011?

xx