March Favourites

As the song goes, two is better than one, and March has been about combinations. I've come to appreciate the value in mixing and layering individual eyeshadows, lipstick and nail polishes to produce different shades and effects. Certain products you barely use on their own could transform into exactly what you were after when put together. All it takes it a little experimentation and a good look at what you already have. I've also been loving two particular scents and the added functionality of a pump to my existing favourite foundation.

OPI Lights of Emerald City
You know when you persevere with a nail polish after two failed attempts, it must be something special. I wore this happily for most of March, including a stretch of a whole week before it started to peel, which is saying a lot since I usually get fed up of a nail polish after 1-2 days. Pairs perfectly with Revlon Pale Cashmere, though Sally Hansen Insta-Dri is a must in the process as the application is admittedly tedious.

Lush Twilight Shower Gel (Limited Edition)
This has become one of my favourite shower gels, except I only have this tiny 100g bottle to last me until the next time they sell it, if they ever do. It contains lavender flower infusion, lavender oil, benzoin resinoid, tonka absolute and ylang ylang oil. The scent is mainly sweet, a little woody with a touch of spice. It's warm, relaxing and enveloping, and best of all, the fragrance lasts on your skin after you get out of the shower. So annoyed I didn't pick up a bigger bottle at 50% off during the post-Christmas sales.

Too Faced Like a Virgin (Naked Eye palette) + Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Wild Orchids (701)
Earlier in the month I dabbled in mattes, but my most worn eyeshadow these past couple of weeks has actually been a combination of a matte powder eyeshadow and a shimmery cream. I've been applying as a base the second shade from the Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Wild Orchids, a sheer, cool violet with silvery-gold shimmer, then layering Too Faced Like a Virgin from the Naked Eye palette over it. The pairing reminds me of a darker, cooler, more purple-grey version of Laura Mercier African Violet. The lighter, shimmery base adds more warmth and depth to Like a Virgin, which can be too dark and grey on its own.

Kai Perfume Oil
Still obsessed. All other fragrances pale in comparison. I just haven't been interested in anything else. If I'm rushing out the door, I don't need to worry about selecting a perfume that I wouldn't mind spritzing on as I know I have this in my purse that I'll actually look forward to dabbing on my wrists.

BYS Longwear Lipstick in Beautifully Bare (L211) + Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Ginger Rose (131)
Another combination that I stumbled upon in March. I was re-watching My Everyday Makeup Tutorial from Jenn Im of clothesencounters and loved her lip colour in that video (Wet n Wild Bare It All). Not having that exact shade, I wanted to recreate something similar from my lipstick collection. I first tried on BYS Beautifully Bare, but it was too nude and didn't have the soft, natural rosiness I was after. So I decided to layer over it a lipstick that I rarely touch, Revlon Ginger Rose, which I've always found a bit too dark and mature-looking. I was surprised at how much I liked the end result, especially the way it just worked for my skin tone. Mixing lipstick can be a tricky affair, especially if two formulations aren't compatible, but these two melded together like a single colour. My newest go-to daytime neutral shade.

Foundation pump for NARS Sheer Glow
This doesn't really count as a favourite, but I finally remembered to pick up a NARS foundation pump from Mecca Cosmetica. It was only $4 which was cheaper than expected. Makes using my Sheer Glow so much easier as one pump is more than enough to cover my whole face and I feel I'm not wasting as much product.

And while we're talking about it, my love for NARS Sheer Glow only increases with time. It's my favourite of all the foundations I own, the best foundation I've used overall, and despite frequent comparisons to cheaper alternatives, they simply don't come close. It's actually much higher coverage than I initially gave it credit for. When used with a primer (I like Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for when I want my skin to look extra nice), it gives the most flawless, brightening finish. My only complaint is that it can look slightly cakey just above my chin if I scrutinise my face in the mirror, but that's a very minor issue.

l-r: Too Faced Like a Virgin, Revlon Wild Orchids (2nd shade), Like a Virgin and Wild Orchids layered together, BYS Beautifully Bare, Revlon Ginger Rose, Beautifully Bare and Ginger Rose layered together