December Favorites

Hi All,
So first off I need to apologize for the 5 month disappearance! My life got really really hectic and my computer has been out of commission.  I got a new laptop for Christmas (Thanks Mom!) so I'm hoping to keep up with my blog among other things now that I have a working computer. So I hope I still have people reading but if not I'll kinda be acting like this is a brand new blog, posting it out. I hope you all will share this too!

1. Primer - So I have finally fallen into the Urban Decay primer potion trend. I have tried so hard not to fall into high end trends for so long buttttt I got a sample of this in a palette I got on Hautelook in early fall.  I rarely use the palette but fell in love with the primer.  It's like now that I've tried something this good I can't go back.  Now ELF's primer that I had loved for forever feels gross and greasy and nothing really holds it own anymore. Now I have to find more because it's almost empty =(.   I have also been using the ELF mineral infused face primer to prime my face, although I'm working as a nanny now so I am rarely doing full face makeup.

2. Eye Shadow - This month I have been sticking to some very neutral eye looks, between the holidays and work I have tried to be natural and just perfect the blending of the eyes more than add too much color. I have been loving the Covergirl Shimmering Sands trio that I got last year during a sale at CVS. I'm really close to hitting pan on at least 2 of the colors, the lighter and the medium colors. I have also been using the Maybelline color tattoo's as base colors and I love them so much.

3. Eye Liner - This month I have continued to love my Prestige Total Intensity eye liner in black for my water line and a few of the Sephora Nano eye liners for my top lash line.

4. Foundation -  I haven't really been doing much foundation this month but have been loving my Loreal Frutis BB Cream in light/fair as well as my ELF mineral foundation in porceline.

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.  It is so creamy and thick enough that it really does cover dark circles.  I literally use it ever single day.  I also have been loving the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser.  It literally ERASES my dark circles without being cakey or too thick.

6. Blush- I  haven't loved any blushes this month really, but I have beem reaching for my ELF mineral Blush in Joy, which is a mauvey/pink shade, which isn't too shimmery.

7. Palette -This month I didn't really use any stand out palettes.

8. Face Applicator - this month I found myself reaching for the E.L.F. Powder Brush for EVERYTHING!

9. Eye Applicator - This month I've still been using my Sonia Kashuk Small Powder Brush. This brush will be a forever forever favorite.

10. Hair Product - I've been loving Argan Oil for the last few months, and along with my mom have gone through about 3 bottles in 3 months.

11. Perfume - Last month, when I went out black Friday shopping, I picked up a sample of the new Bath and Body Works scent in Forever Red and literally not gone a day without it. Got a larger roll on sample size for Christmas that I'm super excited for since I just finished my little sample. 

12. Mascara - This month a friend of mine got me the Loreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Black, which she had been suggesting for months but I never bought it because I liked the mascaras I'd been using.... man was I missing out!

13. Moisturizer - This month I have loved the Bath and Body Works triple moisture body cream in the scent Secret Wonderland.

14. Lip Products- This month, with such dry, cold weather, my main goal with my lips has been to keep them from being dry and cracky.  I have loved my Nivea Lip Balm in Honey and Milk, as well as their kiss of Shimmer lip balm.  I have also been loving my Baby Lips from Maybelline. I have two of those, the grape colored one and the shimmery peach color, both which work wonders for me.  And lastly I have been loving my Sugar Fresh Sugar Plum tinted lip treatment, which I have been loving for months now.  It is a beautiful color and provides so much moisture.

So those are my favorites and most used products of December.

TAG: 10 Little Secrets

THE QUESTIONS!
1. What is one product that makes you feel like a million dollars?
Whenever I wear any of the pH Matchmaker products from Physicians Formula I feel great, the colors are so vibrant and pigmented and my face look so bright and happy.


2. What is your skincare secret? / A passed down skin care tip
Um my biggest skincare tip is to wash your face everyday and wear BioOil to bed every night.  I love it so much. 

3. Share your hair care secret?
Argan Oil, my hair would be nothing without argan oil.  And try to stay away from heat. 

4. What is your biggest diet rule?
I don't really have any diet rules, I just try to be conscious of where my food is coming from mostly, I like being aware.

5. Any workout tips?
When I workout in the morning I feel happier throughout the day than when I try to workout in the evening after I have already had a long night.. 

6. Which perfume is your secret weapon?
Lavanilla is my favorite perfume for a boost of confidence, the scent is light and airy but long lasting.  I love wearing this to work. 

7. Show us a clothing item of yours which always turns heads. 
I don't have much head turning stuff lol. 

8. What is your most treasured piece of jewellery?
I have a celtic knot from my grandmother that I love but I try not to use it very often. 

9. Who is your style crush?
I love Taylor Swift and Sandra Bullock's styles. 


10. Tell us something we don't know about you
I love Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream

My Go To Skin Care Products

So today I decided to do a post specifically on skin care products that I use daily and highly suggest.

I am Irish and have dry, freckly, fair skin and thick, straight black hair.  I was negligent sun protection until about 2 years ago and my skin has been damaged by the sun for many years.   The result is very dry, sometimes painfully so, skin.  I also have patches of eczema that are constantly popping up on my arms and legs, particularly in cold dry weather or when I spend a lot of time in chlorine.

Here are the products I turn to regularly:

• U-Lactin Moisturizing Lotion by Allerderm- My mom actually brought this home from work one day a year or so ago and I was initially turned off by how plain it was.  She works in a pharmacy and had them order it for her.  My whole family suffers with dry skin but my younger brother got the worst of it, with painful eczema that covers his body head to toe.  This lotion has been the only thing that has helped his skin and after a month or two of everyone raving about it I tried it.  It is amazing.  It makes your skin so soft and literally allows it to absorb more moisture that regularly.  You can get this product in most pharmacies but they often do not keep it in stock so you may need to ask the pharmacist to order it for you.  A 16 oz. bottle generally retails for roughly $13-18 but it lasts quite a while and is well worth it.  You can also buy it online.

• Bio Oil- Every single night after I remove my makeup and waskh my face I place a few drops of Bio Oil in the palm of my hand and smooth it over my face.  Application is so simple, it smells fabulous and it literally removes patches of dryness that have accumulated under my makeup during the day.  I only suggest using this at night as it is an oil and does take time to absorb into your face but in the morning your face feels refreshed and smooth.   This product claims to help with scarring and stretch marks but I can't make any claims about that, though I do feel like my few acne scars have diminished since I began using Bio Oil.. It does seem to help even out skin tone also, which I love because I can be very blotchy and red.  Bio Oil comes in many different sizes but the product is all the same and can be found at any drugstore or pharmacy or online for around $8-12. In purchase mine in a 3 pack at BJ's for around $20.

• Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy Oil Body Wash-  I wholeheartedly love and believe in Argan Oil for anything and everything and this Body Wash has not let me down.  I have been a longtime user of Organix hair products, particularly the Argan Oil line.  This is such a creamy moisturising consistency and the smell is light and very similar to the hair products.   This product can be bought at any pharmacy, drugstore or  online for around $8-10 dollars.  I received a $2 off coupon for this product the last time that I bought  the hair products at CVS which brought the price of the product down to around $6

• Burts Bee's Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream-  The climate being what it is during New England  winters my hands become very dry and painful.  This balmy cream has been amazing in the winter and lasts so long.  I use this everyday at least once but a little goes such a long way.  I love the fact that this product smells like almonds and is very waxy, more like a skin protectant than a cream.  This is like chapstick for your chapped hands. It comes in a cute small glass pot that is very portable also.    Love. Pure unadulterated love.  Like all the other products listed above you can find this product at most drugstores, Walmart or online for $5-9 dollars. 

Well those are my most used and loved skin products.  If you have any comments or suggestions for me let me know in a comment por favor. I will be following this up with a similar post on hair care and lipcare products in the next week or so!