Monthly Favourites: January

Welcome to my first monthly favourites of 2018. January has been a bit of a month. There has been some ups and some downs but that's all behind me now and I'm looking back on the month with fond memories as I've both discovered a host of new products and fallen in love with some old almost forgotten products.

My first favourite of the month is one I had a good feeling about since I saw it promoted on Instagram. Maybelline's latest mascara release Total Temptation has blown me away. I never thought that Maybelline could beat the success of their Lash Sensational mascara but they have. The Total Temptation Mascara is amazing. It's soft bristle brush coats every lash and pushes them up to create a volumised, defined look that stays in place all day and doesn't droop or clump as the day goes on. I've literally worn this mascara everyday since I brought it and I can't see myself reaching for another mascara anytime soon. And the amount of compliments I've recieved since I started wearing this mascara has been amazing. My lashes have never looked this good and it's all down to this mascara. If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest you do.

My next favourite is another new release from Maybelline.Well in fact it's part of the shade extention Maybelline did on their SuperStay Matte Inks. This month they have released a dozen new neutral/nude shades of their SuperStay Matte Inks. And the shade Ruler has ruled my world. It's a stunning deep pink that isn't too raspberry toned or bubblgum pink either. It's perfect for my fair skintone and I think it'll look stunning on a host of skintones. What I've enjoyed the most about this product is that it lasts for hours on the lips and doesn't budge even if you eat or drink but it doesn't become uncomfortable. Whilst it dries down to a matte finish like the name suggess, there is still a slight tackiness to it that makes wearing for long hours bearable. And out of my entire lip collection, this has been the only shade I've wanted to/have been wearing this month. The only downside is that it's a bugger to remove at the end of the day.

And to coincide with my love of the Matte Ink, I've been loving the Kiko Intensly Lavish Lip Liner in 01. Sadly this shade is no longer available but it's the perfect pink to match Ruler. It's creamy, highly pigmented and just glides along the lip liner, something that is surprising considering it's a wooden pencil. I'm not going to talk about this a lot as you won't be able to get your hands on it but it's been the perfect companion to the Matte Ink. Now though, I'm going to have to find a similar shade to replace this when it's gone.

Onto skincare and I have a couple of new releases that I've been thoroughly enjoying this month. The first comes from Nip and Fab. Their Glycolic Extreme 6% Fix has been my go to toner this month. It's the highest % of Glycolic Acid I've ever applied to my skin and I was worried that it would irritate and strip my skin but it actually has worked wonders on my skin. It's done a wonderful job of retexturising and revitalising my skin without being too harsh. It leaves a tingle behind after every use and leaves my skin feeling soft, supple and smooth to the touch. It's also allowed my skincare and make up to apply evenly and easily over the top. It's pricier than other tones I've used but it's well worth every penny.

The next new release I've been loving this month comes in the form of the Loreal Smooth Sugars Scrubs. They are three new face scrubs packed with brown and white sugar granules as well as key ingredients such as Cocoa Butter, Grapeseed Oil and Kiwi Seeds. Each one is designed to target a particular skin issue and they work wonders. My favourite of the three is the Clear Scrub, infused with Kiwi Seeds to clear out impurities and purify skin. I've used it the most out of the three and I've loved how it leaves my skin feeling clear and smooth to the touch.

A product that's been sat in my collection for a while but I've never thoroughly enjoyed until recently is the Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Night Serum. I loved the original Hydrating Serum and didn't think that the Night Serum would be much different or provide different results but it really does. It's thicker in formula which is expected from a Night Serum/Night and whilst you think it's going to just sit on the skin and leave you looking a greasy mess, it actually sinks into skin quite quickly but the results last longer on the skin than expected. Most creams that sink in quickly make skin feel dry and papery after a short while but this leaves my skin feeling hydrated and soft all the way up to applying my Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream right before I get into bed.

It's January and TV wise that only means one thing to me. It's time for Silent Witness to make it's return. Silent Witness is one of my all time favourite shows and it saddens me that it's only on for a small period of time every year. This year the episodes have been amazing, carrying on a storyline that started at the end of Series 20. There have been some moments that have really had me rooting for my favourite characters and I can't wait for the final two story arcs that are coming up. I'd like to say I've watched more TV this month but between this and Criminal Minds, I've not watched much else.

This month has been surprisingly good for music. The first album I've fallen in love with this month was an unexpected favourite. Camila the self titled debut album by Camila Cabello wasn't something that initally caught my eye when it was released. Sure her loved her singles Crying In The Club and Havana but I wasn't sure I'd love her entire album. Oh how wrong I was. There has been very few times this month that I've listened to something that isn't her album. It's something I really didn't expect and I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. Real Friends, All These Years, Never Be The Same and Consequences are some of my favourites. The whole album has a vibe that'll get you pumped up and certain songs dancing but it's also got that vibe that makes it easy listening, something that could accompany even the most mudane of tasks and make them bearable. I can't get enough of this album and can see myself listening to this a ton in February as well.

And my last favourite of the month is something I've been waiting the best part of a year for. Johnny Strong is one of my all time favourite musicians. He has an amazing talent and creates some of the best music I've ever heard. He announced last year that he would be releasing a new album called Whitelight but kept fans waiting and waiting until last Wednesday when he finally released it. And I know this may be a bit of a cheat favourite but it's amazing. Eleven well crafted songs with amazing lyrics and beats, Whitelight is even better than his previous album War Horse, and trust me that's saying a lot. Tightrope, Time To Roll and Whitelight are my three favourites of the moment but I'm sure that's going to change as I listen to it more. My favourite thing about this album though is that it's slightly different to the others he's released and it's a nice change but there is still that brand of Johnny Strong running through it that makes it uniquely him.

2017 Non Beauty Favourites

On Monday I shared my make up favourites with you, on Wednesday it was the turn of my skincare favourites and today it's time to share with you my Non Beauty Favourites of 2017.

TV

I didn't get to watch as much a TV as I'd liked to last year, something I plan on resolving this year but there were several series that I did enjoy and could happily watch time and time again. The first is the new series of Strike Back. With a different cast than previous series, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it but the combination of a fresh cast and a series of kick ass action sequences has propelled it into favourite status. Another favourite of mine is Criminal Minds. I quite like watching a few episodes of this after work to just switch off. But I also like the fact that it makes me think and I always give myself a pat on the back when I guess the killer correctly. And the last is a national favourite which took an overhaul this year. Bake Off season is my favourite time of the year. It's not only a thoroughly enjoyable programme but it also makes me want to unleash my inner Mary Berry and bake tons of goodies. I didn't think it would be as good without Mary Berry and Sue and Mel but I was pleasantly surprised and can't wait for the next series. 

Albums

This year has been a good year for album releases. My favourite album of the whole year comes from Kelly Clarkson. I stumbled across her single Love So Soft by accident back in September and knew from that one single I would need her album when it was released. And I was disappointed. Meaning Of Life is along the same lines as Carrie Underwood's Storyteller a couple of years ago. It instantly hooked me in and I've spent everyday since it's release in October listening to it. I can't chose an ultimate favourite from the album but Whole Lotta Woman is a very strong, female empowering song that I listen to when I get ready for the day. Lady Antebellum's Heartbreak was my Summer soundtrack and it's country/pop hybrid meant that the songs stuck in my head for days. Famous, The Stars, This City and Army are some of my favourite songs not only because the melody sticks for days but they hold a poignant note that coincides with my actual life. Kathleen Munroe released her highly anticipated debut album. And it certainly didn't disappoint. Oblivion is a folksy gem that has haunting melodies and thought provoking lyrics. Good Name is my favourite out of the album, it's unique melody a somewhat upbeat turn to the album. If you loved her self entitled EP then you'll love this as well. And finally my favourite artist Johnny Strong collaborated with Bryan Arrigo to release a five song EP that just screamed out to me from the first chord. It has that distinct sound of Strong to it but Arrigo's vocals give it a unique twist that makes it easy to listen to for hours on end. 

Films

To say 2017 was a good year for film is an understatement. There was something released for everyone and I made a valiant effort to go and see something new each month. The year started with Beauty And The Beast, a film I've since watched a dozen times and never grown bored off. The casting, the scenery, the songs and the film as a whole was amazing. If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest you go watch it. Fast And Furious 8 followed on from that and this one I went to see with a little bit of hesitation. I wasn't sure how they were going to carry on the saga without Paul Walker's character but they managed to and produced a brilliant film that had laughs, shocks and plenty of action. Rumour has it that Jordana Brewster will reprising her role as Mia in number nine, so I'm intrigued to see how that plays out. June brought us Wonder Woman and whilst I'm not a big fan of DC, I am a big fan of Gal Gadot. And she brought the house down. Wonder Woman was full of action, laughs and comic book goodness but it also had a strong female empowerment to it and I for one left the theatre feeling as if I could take on the world. Which brings us to another strong female lead film. Atomic Blonde starring Charlize Theron was a whirlwind of action, female empowerment, a cracking soundtrack and a wardrobe to die for. It's a film you need to focus on otherwise you'll get lost but Theron knocks it out the park as does James McAvoy who is nearly unrecognisable in his role. And the final film of the year was the most anticipated for me. Kingsmans: The Golden Circle was the one release I was adamant about seeing. And it didn't disappoint. Like it's predecessor The Secret Service, TGC brought an outlandish take on the spy genre with a modern day twist. Taron Egerton was amazing as main character Eggsy and there was amazing supporting roles from the likes of Mark Strong and Elton John who is just a national treasure in my eyes after this. 

YouTube

YouTube is a big part of my year and I spend hours catching up with videos from my favourite YouTubers. However there have been four that created amazing content all year long and earned themselves a loyal subscriber. Victoria from Inthefrow not only creates gorgeous videos but has an arsenal of insanely gorgeous photos on her Instagram and blog. She works hard and is always striving to do the best she possibly can and in my eyes she is the epitome of a girl boss. The next two go hand in hand with each other. You can't watch one without watching the other. Alix from Icovetthee and Suzie from Hello_October are not only stunning but are down to earth and hard working women. I love the normality that comes from their vlogs which include cooking dinner and decluttering/cleaning their homes. Plus their friendship is the definition of friendship goals and reminds me a lot of me and my best friend Jasmin. And I couldn't talk about my favourite YouTubers without mentioning the Queen of skincare herself. Caroline Hirons may not post as regularly as the others but her videos are always enjoyable, humorous and informative. As somebody who has no qualifications in the beauty industry, I find Hirons videos to be great lessons in not only products and their uses but also in application. If you go subscribe to any new YouTubers this year, make sure it's one of these four, you won't be disappointed.

June Favourites

It's that time of the month again. This month I rediscovered my love for an old product but more than anything I've been trying out new products and loving them, so I thought I'd tell you about them.

Maxfactor Facefinity 3 in 1 Foundation in Warm Almond
This is my rediscovery of the month. I originally brought this back before Christmas and used it
religiously but then I found my interest turning to other foundations in my stash. However this month I pushed the others to the back of my stash and started using this again. For me it's like a flawless skin day in a bottle. With a buildable medium coverage, this hides all my imperfections in one layer. I do use a moisturiser to sheer out the colour a little bit but it gives a stunning flawless finish to my skin everytime. I've spoken more in depth about this product here.

Maybelline Matte Maker Mattifying Powder in Classic Ivory
This is a product I've been looking at for a while and finally picked up this month. And I'm so glad I did. This powder combined with my Maxfactor foundation gives me what I call ultra porcelain skin. It's a light powder which means it doesn't look cakey on my skin. A light dusting of this goes a long way and makes my make up last longer than normal. I'm sorry to say that as much as I love my Bourjois Healthy Mix, it may be retired to the draw of back ups as this become a firm part of my everyday make up. 

Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream
This became my hero product after the first use. I scoffed when I first saw the advert for this product as I didn't believe that it could change skin overnight but I was wrong. Usually when I wake I have extrememly bad dark circles, redness and the occasional bit of sallowness to my face but that has all completely gone. This cream has changed everything, my skin looks more glowy and feels more hydrated than it ever has. It leaves it in a brilliant condition not only for my morning skincare routine but also for my make up. The cream itself has a bouncy texture and reminds me a lot of the Body Shop's Drops of Youth Bouncy Cream but with a smaller price tag. A little bit goes a long way and whilst the cream is thick there isn't any tackiness on my skin after I've used it. 

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Rapid Moisture Spray Lotion 
Not only have I managed to find the perfect product for my face this month, I've also managed to find the perfect product for the rest of me as well. The Rapid Moisture moisturising spray is so quick and easy to use as well as smelling phenomenal. I spritz my legs and arms with this every morning when I'm getting ready for work. The best thing about this product is that you don't have to wait for it to dry, it's instantaneous so that you can put your clothes on straight away. It leaves my skin feeling ultra soft and refreshed and the coconut scent lingers well after it's soaked into your skin. If you're looking for a more in depth review I popped a post up on monday about it here.

 COLAB Sheer Invisible Dry Shampoo in Monaco
My last beauty favourite of the month is a dry shampoo. There are sometimes when my work is hectic and I don't get time to wash my hair so I chuck some of this in. I've always been a fan of Batiste but not of that slight white cast that it can leave behind. However this beauty from fellow blogger Ruth Crilly leaves no white cast and gives hair that refresh it needs. I have a feeling the Monaco scent is limited edition (I hope not) but has become my favourite because it's such a fresh scent and seems to do more for my hair than the other scents I've tried. I love this so much that I've actually got two back ups and a travel sized one in my stash. 

Operator- War Horse
This month I discovered a band called Operator fronted by the crazy talented Johnny Strong and I was automatically hooked. It's not the kind of music I would normally listen to but I found myself listening to all their albums constantly. My favourite though it their latest called War Horse. I'd call it a mixture of rock and heavy metal which is something I wouldn't usually listen to but there's something about this album that just dragged me in. Strong's voice is amazing and the guitar riffs are insane. War Horse, No More and Idols are definitely my favourites off the album, there's something about them that makes me pay attention to them more when I hear them. If you're looking for a new album to listen to or you're looking for something outside your comfort zone to listen to I hightly recommend you check War Horse out. 

That's it for my monthly favourites. Have you tried any of the mentioned products? If so what do you think? Have you any recommendations for me? If so let me know in the comments.