Sunday, July 1, 2012

June Favourites

I skipped May, but here are my favoured products for June. I haven't included any eyeshadow, foundation or make up brushes, because those have remained fairly constant over the past few months. For my foundation, I've been alternating between Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (applied with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush). I've been largely uninspired when it comes to eyeshadow, sticking to my usual bronze and taupes, mainly from my Urban Decay Naked palettes or Sleek Storm palette. I'm still loving Essence Pas Des Copper, L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Sahara Treasure and HiP Metallic Shadow Duo in Electrified.



l-r: NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural, Bloom Sheer Colour Cream in Coy

Sally Hansen Radiant Hands, Nails & Cuticles Creme
Perfect for dry and brittle nails, I slather this on when my hands need instant and deep hydration. I usually concentrate a generous amount on each nail and rub the cream in. My skin drinks it up, leaving my hands softer and moisturised. Smells like orange Tic Tac.

Avène Thermal Spring Water
If you can get over the fact you're paying for water in a can, a misting of this over your face is soothing, calming and refreshing. Spray it bare-faced, after hair removal, or on top of makeup for a dewy finish or quick pick-me-up during the day.

Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black
I neglected this for a while in favour of my Essence gel liner in BBC All Night Brown, or Essence Kajal Pencil in Teddy (with a touch of Savvy by DB Luxury Liner in Brilliant Bronze), but came back to it this month. I lightly dip my Ecotools Angled Eyeliner brush into the pot, only picking up the smallest amount, and apply this to my lower lashline for subtle but effective definition.

Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara
I hated this mascara when I first tried it because it clumped like crazy and smeared all over the place. I've found the trick is to apply a first coat without turning on the rotating wand, and then a second coat with it on. It doesn't length or curl as well as Maybelline Define-A-Lash, but it thickens and voluminises well, and is very black, which is always a plus.

Sally Hansen
Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
I don't know how I painted my nails before this. It's an incredible product. You apply it to the nails when they're about 65% dry and within a few minutes, you can more or less go about your business without worrying about denting, smearing or smudging. It also makes nail polish last longer and imparts a super glossy, smooth finish.

Bloom Sheer Colour Cream in Coy
I bought this during Easter, thinking I'd use it primarily as a blush, but surprisingly I've been liking this more as a lip colour. It's not the most moisturising product, so I do have to use balm before and after, but it gives the kind of pastel peachy pink lip I'm always trying to find in the form of a lipstick.

NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural
I only have one NYX cream blush, but if my experience with Natural is anything to go by, I need more. This is very pigmented and soft and creamy in texture. It's easily blendable but not greasy when applied. I usually dot a small amount on my cheeks and then use my Ecotools baby kabuki to blend.

59 comments:

  1. I love Sally Hansen Insta-Dri! It is a must have for me :)

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  2. Those blushes look incredible...I don't own any NYX products, but I've heard they are pretty good and relatively affordable.
    x

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  3. I really wish I could get some NYX products easily :(
    I don't know how I survived without insta-dri either haha.
    I love a good spray too, may look into the Avene one :)

    xoxo

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  4. Bloom Sheer Colour Cream on Coy is such a girly shade! I love multi-tasking products!

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  5. Ooh the radiant hand cream sounds like something I need- my nails are so brittle at the moment! x

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  6. i was just gonna ask what brush you used for the cream blush cos i have that one too! but yeah i probably need a dense baby kabuki, as you said. this girl from napoleon perdis told me that this flat angled synthetic brush works wonders but i just don't find it blends nicely enough :(

    gonna dry that top coat! i'm always on the hunt for good top coats, and i feel that seche vite, even though it dries super quick, it shrinks my nail colour (if u get what i mean) and it's not that chip resistant

    but nice faves for the month! :)

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    1. The cream blush is a bit tricky, sometimes I just use my fingers. I haven't tried using a flat brush (then again, I don't own a flat, angled synthetic brush anyway), but I can kind of see how that might work out, especially if it's sheered out. I still prefer to buff it in with a kabuki-style brush though. Maybe something more fluffy and tapered, but still moderately firm, like the Real Techniques Contour Brush would also work well :)

      I think the Insta-Dri does shrink a bit around the sides, but I try to put a bit over the edge of my nail so I don't notice a huge, noticeable shrinkage. I've not tried Seche Vite so I can't say how much better Insta-Dri is, but I've really been loving it. I'd definitely repurchase :)

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  7. I haven't tried any of the Bloom products before, except for an eyeliner I recently I received in the Lust Have It bag. I may need to invest in some now! :) Great favourites dear!

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    1. I don't have a lot of Bloom products either, except for two Sheer Colour Creams (Coy and Dewy, which is discontinued) and a lip gloss. They seem to have really nice items though, especially some of their nail polishes :)

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  8. The maybelline eye studio gel liner is amazing, wish we had NYX here! :) I need to get the sally hansen top coat now! xx

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  9. I keep looking at that Sally Hansen insta-dri, I might grab it soon!

    Great post as always, Amy xx

    http://alittleboatsailing.blogspot.co.uk/

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  10. I've been wanting to try avene thermal water , and sally hansen top coat for a long time.. Here in germany, sally hansen retails for 15€, the same price with OPI.. I dunno how much does it cost there in aussie or USA, but 15€ for a topcoat is too expensive for me.. I stay happily with my essence gel nail topcoat which is amazing :)
    I also have NYX cream blush in boho chic which is really natural,I like the formula and of course need more colors ^^

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    1. Sally Hansen is quite pricey in Australia too. One of their nail polishes is $16.95, which is around the same price as OPI ($19.95). They do have cheaper nail polishes though, like the Xtreme Wear ones - I think they're $6. This top coat would probably be more around the expensive end of their range, but it's so good I would be prepared to repurchase even at that price :)

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  11. I've always wanted to try the nail & cuticles creme by sally hansen since my hands tend to be on the dry side~ glad to hear they worked well! I'm definitely going to check out that top coat as well. i used to apply a base coat & top coat when doing my nails, but i've just gotten too lazy to bother. glad to hear they dry fast! the gel eyeliner by maybelline (i use brown though) is my favorite as well! has good lasting power. keep in touch <3

    -Joyce
    carouselstreet.com

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    1. I think it's a really good cream, I like it better than a lot of hand creams I've tried, especially for the purpose of nourishing the nails after they're feeling a bit damaged due to the raves of nail polish :p I was like you and rarely (if ever) used a base and top coat, but after I did it once, I was converted - it really does make all the difference :)

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  12. Glad to hear you were able to make the Bourjois mascara work for you. Especially to the extent that it was able to make it into your monthly favourites.

    I've never tried the Sally Hansen nail and cuticle creme before. But I'm kind of sold, purely on the basis that is smells like orange Tic-Tacs! Yum!

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    1. It's not a bad mascara at all, and I've been using it a lot lately because my other favourite mascaras are running out and drying up :( I do think the rotation on the second coat does significantly thicken the lashes. It's kind of fun using it as well, I have to say :p

      I haven't seen the Sally Hansen cream in shops - I actually got mine from this GWP pack (with the Insta-Dri, a growth polish and a base coat polish, plus one pink nail polish) about a year ago. It was such an amazing deal! I am running out of the hand cream and I really need to find it again somewhere, soon!

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  13. Oooh, I really want to try the Sally Hansen top coat, sounds amazing! I have that NYX blush too, it's so pretty! :-)

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  14. The NYX and Bloom shades look lovely! xo

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  15. I looooove the Avene spray. I used to work in a pharmacy in germany and got it cheap. I want it so bad again but don't know where to buy it!

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  16. I'm the same - I haven't written a favourites post before because most of my favourites remain the same! I have that NYX blush too and love it; it's a no brainer shade :) xx

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    1. I think you should still write a favourites anyway, I'd be interested to read it :) I like seeing people's most adored/used products, even if they've posted about them before, lol.

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  17. looks like some great products. thanks for sharing. i have not tired any NYX blushes but i think i may have to. it looks like i need to stock up on american products while i am still in the US!

    xx rae

    http://www.loveforschoolgirl.net/

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  18. Ooo those two blushers are gorgeous! Have always wanted to try NYX blushers :)

    http://wewereraisedbywolves.blogspot.co.uk/

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  19. I love that eyeliner it stays in place, just in hot months it tends to move slightly... I have also heard a lot about the Sally Hansen hand cream, I might give it a-go, I love orange Tic Tacs xD.

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  20. I got nyx cream blush In glow... I really like it! :)

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  21. love the bloom creme blush! the name is perfect for the color, too.
    you're lucky maybelline gel liner works for you. i have one in deep navy color, but it wouldn't stay on me. ;-/

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  22. I seriously need to invest in that Sally Hansen top coat! And those blushes are so, so pretty! Love it xoxo

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  23. oh I will be posting my June favs soon and my list includes this Avene thermal water as well :-)

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  24. Yay Favourites post! I'd really like to find NYX locally- I really want to try that cream blush! I have a YSL stick blush but it dries quickly so it doesn't give me much time to work with it. :( The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri sounds like a great topcoat- I'll definitely have to check it out! xx

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    1. I always find NYX in really random places. This blush was bought at Chinatown markets. I have a Jumbo pencil and Milk that I bought at some random Asian clothes/accessory store and a couple of NYX eyeshadow singles that were bought at shopping centre makeup stalls and this discount makeup shop in Melbourne when I was on holiday. I have a couple of their eye pencils purchased at Terry White chemist and Paddy's Markets. I guess it's about looking around. I highly recommend the Insta-Dri top coat if you are inclined to do about 2 coats more than you need to and seem to be perpetually waiting for nail polish to dry :p (Totally me, hence why I love it so much lol)

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  25. Ooooo I need that insta dry!!! Thanks for sharing your favs! :)

    Evani

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  26. Those blushes are beautiful! And that top coat is one of my favorites! The only problem is that it gets thick pretty easily. And when it gets too thick...it looks awful! :[

    xx,
    Jordana

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  27. The Sally Hansen top coat bottle is perfectly shaped for blog-related photo shoots haha! Also, I've been seriously considering NYX Rogue Cream Blush in the same color. All the reviews I've read so far on it (including yours) have given it stellar marks!

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    1. Lol, you're so right! :p Funny you should say that, the Avene and the mascara were a lot harder to manipulate around for the photo, hehe. I think you should give the NYX a go, especially if you're into cream products.

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  28. Such pretty blush colors!! I have a bunch of face mist sprays too, keke. Love them, especially in the summer. =)

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  29. Hi! Love your blog and your recomendations! I follow you, please follow me back
    Kisses from spain
    www.atacadas.com

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  30. love the pictures! do you take these in natural light? thanks!

    anansays.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks! Yes, pretty much all my pictures are taken in natural light, which means I need to do a bulk photo-taking session on the weekend as I don't get up early enough and come home too late during the week to get natural light :p

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  31. love the nyx blush!!! you cant really get nyx over where im from!! come check out my blog too if you want, i just followed :) xx

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  32. The blushes look so pretty! I like your idea of using the Bloom cream as a lipstick. Totally ingenious! :-)

    ~ Yun

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  33. Love the blush choices and love NYX cream blushes!

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  34. I've always wondered about the Sally Hansen creme.. now I have a reason to pick it up!

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  35. Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog! I can't get over how amazing your pictures are :) What camera do you use? I'm in the market for a new one. I love that Avene Thermal Spring Water, it's so much more than just water in a can ;)
    - Lizy x

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    1. Thank you so much! I use a Nikon D40, it's a few years old now and a very basic, entry-level DSLR, but it seems to do the job just fine :) I have to say I'm inclined to agree with you about the Avene, even though it says it's just water and nitrogen, it is surprisingly multipurpose and feels really nice sprayed on.

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    2. It's my birthday coming up this month so I might have to make some serious hints! I actually talked to the Douglas Rep who distribute Avene in NZ about these products and she told me the 'story' of this Marquis who lived in Avene, France who had a horse with severe skin disorders. He noticed that the horse's skin was gradually healing and wondered what was happening so one day he followed it and discovered the horse had found this mineral-rich spring and was bathing in it daily. That's how the Avene water came to be supposedly. The French Government actually pay for burns victims to be treated at the Avene Hydrotherapy Centre it's that good! Not just water in a can now is it? ;)

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    3. That's such an interesting story, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing :) I guess it just goes to show that there's miracle water in it, not just any plain ol' water :p Off to spritz some on my face now! Hehe

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  36. I love the look of the cream blushes!

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  37. haha you did IP too? love it, prob one of my favourite subjects haha. anyway I've got the Avene water too! didn't really have to pay much for it I guess (came in my Glossybox) but the thought of paying for water in a can, is really a turn-off lol...it is pretty refreshing though. The smell can be a bit artificial at times but it does make me feel at ease when I'm worried about sweating, although during these cold days that's pretty rare!

    metallicpaws.blogspot.com

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    1. Ya, it was one of my final year electives. It was fairly interesting, more so than Statutory Interpretation lol. I know what you mean about the thought of paying for water in a can being a turn off ... you kind of feel duped :p But there's just something about it that is really nice and versatile. I haven't noticed any kind of smell, except maybe a very faint one which isn't strong enough for me to remember what it was like. I think it would be so refreshing when it's hot, just to mist it all over your face :) But yeah, it's been freezing lately :(

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  38. I like using the Avene Spray as well. It's a decent price compared to the evian one.
    I've left the maybelline gel eyeliner and started using collection 2000 more now. x

    http://kreamiblush.blogspot.com

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  39. The fact that you love Avène Thermal Water makes me want to use it asap! xx

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  40. I love the gel liner from Maybelline :) Its all Im using now a days :) I have the black one, the black with pink glitter and the black with gold :) Its an amazing product :) I love the colors of the blush and the colour cream :)
    hugs

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  41. I have nominated you for the Liebster award, I have done a post on it :)
    http://theshoppingdiaryy.blogspot.co.uk/

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  42. Nice picks! I love NYX products. They're so affordable and pigmentation is amazing as well. Both of the cheek colors you mentioned are really pretty! I've heard great things about the Maybelline gel liner too. Haven't tried it myself yet though :)

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  43. I really need to get my hand on the Sally Hansen top coat. The one I'm currently using is terrible!

    http://sandra-thepuzzleofmylife.blogspot.com

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  44. I'm looking for a new topcoat - I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for that one!!

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