Saturday, February 2, 2013

January Favourites

I don't know what's been up with the weather this past month. From extreme heat to non-stop rain, I've come down with something in the past few days that I haven't managed to shake, even with lemon and honey, Panadol and baths with eucalyptus oil. Coughing hurts my throat, my voice sounds like death and my mouth feels dry and scratchy. Needless to say, I haven't been terribly enthused with makeup in my current state, though I do have a few standouts from the past month that comprise my January Favourites.


l-r: Benefit Sugarbomb, Rimmel Soft BeigeLaura Mercier Twilight GreytheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer


Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation
I've been meaning to buy this foundation for ages after reading not a single bad review. I managed to nab this for just under $10 due to the 50% off Revlon, Maybelline and Rimmel sale at Chemist Warehouse. I was tossing up between Soft Beige and the shade down, True Ivory, but I found it hard to tell the difference between them. Soft Beige is warmer and more orange/yellow than True Ivory, which is more olive-toned, but they seemed more or less the same darkness when I swatched them alongside each other.

In the end, I chose Soft Beige, which turned out to be a mistake since it's way too dark for me. The first couple of times, I didn't use that much product and I had my neck covered, so I didn't notice just how hilariously wrong the shade is for me until I had my hair up and was wearing a scoop neck top. I started to mix it 50/50 with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 52, which is too light for me, and the two turned out to be the perfect combination. The thickness and coverage of the Rimmel mixes with the more fluid, satiny Healthy Mix to form an ideal everyday foundation.



Benefit Sugarbomb
My favourite discovery for the month. Sugarbomb made me believe that a blush could be genuinely easy to wear and work effortlessly with my skin tone. Full post here.


Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Twilight Grey
I've used this consistently since receiving it in Sue's giveaway parcel at the beginning of the month. So pigmented, smooth, easy to blend and with minimal fallout. I use this with my default Maybelline Bad to the Bronze or the purple colour in Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment.



theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
I've come to appreciate this powder highlighter tenfold just recently. I found the trick is to forget about brushes. Use your fingers. The texture is so blendable, soft and almost creamy, and it's so luminous and pigmented, that using the fingers gives the best result. You get better control, you don't overload on product and it blends more seamlessly into the skin. This is a much stronger highlighter than the more subtle Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème, so it's my pick for when you need that extra glow and lift.


Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Cream
I bought this as part of a Clarins "Renewing" Set on Boxing Day, which also contained a Gentle Foaming Cleanser (100ml), Toning Lotion with Camomile (125ml) and Beauty Flash Balm (30ml). I use this at night mixed with a couple of drops of Josie Maran Argan Oil and/or Antipodes Divine Oil. It feels refreshing and intensely hydrating, without being greasy or heavy. It's gently perfumed with an uplifting, soothing scent. The pin hole opening is hygienic and ensures that you have control over the amount that comes out each time. This is the first skin care product I've tried from Clarins and I'm definitely keen to try out more.

59 comments:

  1. wow you sound like such a sick duck :( get better soon!
    benefit sugabomb is such a pretty color!
    have i ever mentioned how much i love your photos & swatches?? lol
    great post as always :)

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  2. I have tried a sample of this Clarins cream and I really liked it

    get better soon!

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  3. Sugarbomb looks so pretty! I never tried it before but I may need it now ;)

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  4. So many lovely products here. I'm still wanting to try Wake Me Up x

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  5. Aw no I hope you feel better soon!!
    Some great favourites, hehe glad you're enjoying the Laura Mercier eyeshadow! I think I need to grab one for myself haha :D

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  6. I love the look of the Mary Lou-Manizer. I only have one highlighter - I get the feeling I should have more!
    S xx

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  7. oo the twilight grey looks gorge and constantly hear good things about the wake me up foundation! x

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  8. Wishing you a speedy recovery, dear. The balm Mary lou manizer looks very pretty. Rimmel wake me up is already on my list to buy! Lovely favorites.

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  9. Lovely favourites!
    I've heard so much about the Lou-minizer, I want to get my hands on it now!

    Aww hope you get better soon! <3

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  10. Twilight Grey looks like a lovely eyeshadow oh and I've always wanted to try the Mary Lou-minizer. Maybe it's time to get my hands on it! Great favourites, love!

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  11. Sugarbomb and Lou-minizer look absolutely gorgeous! Highlighters are on the way to becoming my new obsession. Definitely need to invest in some products from the balm, heard such good thinks about the brand.

    Get well soon lovely x

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  12. I recently started using my Wake Me Up foundation again and instantly fell back in love - it gives such a pretty glowy finish for summer :)

    Hope you feel better soon xx

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  13. I have wanted to try the Rimmel WMU foundation FOREVER but absolutely cannot find it here in the states... ugh!! And I also want the Mary Lou-manizer but need to save up some funds first haha :)
    I hope you're feeling better soon; sounds like you've got a nasty bug :(

    Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  14. I like your tip about using the highlighter... I don't actually like using brushes all that often :P Mary Louminizer looks like it would make a great eyeshadow colour too! :)

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  15. Haha I had the exact same problem with choosing the correct shade for Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation (which I remember you commenting to me about!). I agree- when True Ivory and Soft Beige were swatched, they looked so similar but I decided to play it safe and go for something lighter- as I had plenty of darker foundation I could potentially mix it with. Turns out it was a good match :) I have the Bourjois foundation in 52 too, which I also think is slightly too light for me but the 53 is much too dark. Sigh! Mary-Lou Manizer looks so pretty, I absolutely love creamy formulations. I've got a sample of this Clarins Recovery cream too so I'm excited to try it! Hope you start feeling better soon!

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  16. So keen to get more Laura Mercier, but I now share your abhorrence for waiting for parcels to arrive! Gah. I'm deciding whether or not to get the Benefit Power Pop! travel set on SNet, since they've got a 10% off discount going atm. How do you find Dallas? Loving the way you photographed things this post! The angles do worlds of good. :) xx

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    1. Haha I haaatteeee waiting for parcels so much, it's such a drag. Especially as I never know how these things work anyway, with missing deliveries and pick up and items potentially getting lost. Such a potential mess! Though I guess most of the time it's just the annoyance of needing to test one's patience and the frustration of delayed gratification :p

      Dallas is nice, but not my favourite. I think it looks more beautiful on fairer skinned people. On me, it's very similar to Tarte Exposed actually, maybe a touch more red. It's quite rosy/plummy.

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  17. The Rimmel wake me up foundation has been in my Jan faves too!
    I've loved it this month, especially as my skin has been so dry!
    Charli @ Charli-dot-dot-dot.blogspot.com


    x

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  18. I quite like the shade of sugar bomb! I thought it would be more pinky or peachy when I saw it full sized but I do like how its a brownish type of peach, very wearable! In terms of rimmel, I'm dying to get some scandalous eyes liners! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. I've always wanted to try Mary Lou Manizer!
    Such pretty picks! Great post girl!

    -frominsidemycloset.com

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  20. I've wanted to try Mary Lou Manizer for a long time - good to know it's worth the hype! :) xxx awkwardpandamusings.blogspot.ca

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  21. oooh love all the swatches, esp the shadow n the highlighter

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  22. I've been wondering about that Rimmel foundation because I've heard nothing but good things. :)

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  23. I also find applying the Balm Mary-Lou-manizer with your fingers is the best way to go. I tried brushes and the brushes pick up way too much product. Finding the right shade of foundation must be the hardest thing to do. I have spent almost an hour trying to pick out the right shade, guessing what the product would be like inside the bottle if there is no tester around. Frustrating!

    Hope you will feel better soon! When I'm coming down with a sore throat or a cold, I take echinacea pills right away to boost my immune system. Take care :)

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  24. I hope you feel better soon! I really want to try the Mary-Lou Manizer!

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  25. I have the rimmel wake me up foundation but it is too greasy for me :(( I am a fan of Rimmel 25hr foundation and had high expectation for the wake me up foundi but unfortunately it didn't do me any good.. great that it works well for you! ^^

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  26. Same here about the weather!!! This severe heat wave is awful. Anyway, hope you're feeling better as we speak Lena ^^ Very nice pick for January, I have the theBalm luminizer in the Balm Jovi palette and it really is amazing, I don't use brushes to apply it either, it's so soft and blendable that there's really no need for that. I wish I could try more Rimmel foundations, they all seem great. We'll se how I manage : ) xx

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  27. Really lovely blog :) So basic!
    Kisses :D

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  28. Laura Mercier Twilight grey is gorgeous!!! I now need it!. x

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  29. That Sugarbomb blush is so pretty, and I'm also loving the look of that Laura Mercier shadow!

    xx

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  30. Really good favorites! The Clarins cream looks really good, I've yet to try anything by that company

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  31. I haven't tried any of your faves! The Mary-lou-Manizer looks really nieca and subtle!

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  32. Lovely favourites this month. That LM eye shadow is perfection.

    Hope you feel better soon :)

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  33. Great faves! I'm glad to hear that you love Rmmel wake me up too, I have it in soft beige as well and at the moment it matches perfectly but it may be a bit too dark in the winter time... and I have also just ordered the bourjois healthy mix foundation in #52 as well! I want to try the balm Mary-lou Manizer if I ever finish up my lightscapade!

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  34. Nice post!

    Everyone is raving about the Rimmel Wake Me Up, i've definitely got to try it!

    I'm a new follower :)

    Kimberley x

    http://kimberley77.blogspot.com

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  35. Feel better soon!
    I love the Rimmel foundation and I also completely bought the wrong shade the first time haha!
    That LM eyeshadow looks like such a gorgeous colour!!

    xoxo

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  36. I love that foundation

    check out my cath kidston giveaway 1stepclosereveryday.blogspot.co.uk

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  37. I badly want the The Balm Mary-Lour Manizer! I've heard so many great things about it, and it looks great from the swatch too! I'm still kicking myself when I didn't took advantage when they had it on NZSale.com =/

    and awwhh.. i hope you feel better soon! and i know what you mean with the crazy weather. rest well hun :)

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  38. Nice January favorites, also
    get better soon with your
    cold!!

    xx

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  39. Sorry to hear you've been feeling under the weather, hope you feel better soon! x

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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  40. Those look like really great and useful products! Gained a lot of information from this post! Thank you! :)

    callmemaddie.blogspot.com

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  41. Ah sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Hang in there and hope you are better soon! <3

    ~ Yun

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  42. I believe that Mary Lou Manizer will last you for ages since you need the tiniest amount to get a nice glow!

    xx

    http://holaflo.blogspot.com/

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  43. I love love Mary Lou Manizer! It's the perfect texture <3

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  44. FEEL BETTER!!! That sounds horrible :( Get lots of rest, drink lots of water! Last month there was a "flu outbreak" and everyone was getting sick!

    nice faves! loving the sugarbomb a lot, it's a fun girly color! clarins is a brand on my to-try-list for 2013...i only hear good things about that brand!

    alex @ carouselstreet.com

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  45. Twilight Grey is SO pretty. But I look shit when I wear grey shadows. :(

    Really want to try that Mary-Lou Manizer. Hear such great things. Kicking myself for not getting it when theBalm had a 'buy one, get 50% off the second' promo. Dang. hahaha

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  46. Everyone has been raving about the wake me up rimmel range.. think I'm going to have to get a bottle when I next shop! (trying to avoid the temptation!) hehe

    www.bohemianmuses.blogspot.com

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  47. Beautiful products! I'm very curious about the Clarins.

    xx

    ENTER MY GIVEAWAY: WWW.STYLEOFPURITY.COM

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  48. Twilight grey is gorgeous! I tried to pick up the Rimmel Wake Me Up in that sale too but sadly they did not have my shade :( I'll get around to trying it one of these days.

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  49. I hope you feel better soon! I just got over the flu that's raging the US, a week long misery of fevers and coughing. Make sure to drink lots of vitamin C! I just bought the Mary Lou Manizer using my birchbox points and I'm so excited! I've never applied it with my fingers so I'll have to try that, thanks for the tip!!!

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  50. I've seen so much about the Benefit Sugarbomb already :D It's amazing to hear yet another post about this :D I love favourites posts and your pictures are amazing.

    <3
    Sonshu
    www.thesonshu.com

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  51. I love sugarbomb. It's so fantastic. theBalm highlighter looks really great too.

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  52. I've been looking into a lot of theBalm products recently! The highlighter looks like a perfect color. Get better soon, too!

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  53. I've heard so many great things about the balm MaryLouminezer!

    www.chochalistas.blogspot.com

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  54. I've been loving my Rimmel Wake Me Up and Mary Lou-manizer also!

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