May Favourites

May was largely uneventful, though I was grateful for the delayed winter Sydney seems to be experiencing. (Also, thank you to those in my last favourites post who left me kind comments in response to the loss in my family.) Warmer temperatures made getting up in the morning just that bit more manageable, though I have been trying to squeeze in every last millisecond of sleep possible. There was a bit of a slowdown in posts, not for any particular reason except that other things in life took precedence over blogging. I've also been purchasing less new makeup (with the exception of two cheeky additions from Mecca Cosmetica), instead making a conscious effort to use and appreciate what I already have.

Dove Triple Moisturising Deep Nourishing Body Wash
I forgot how good this stuff is and was only reminded when I stayed over at a friend's place and she had this in her shower. Why bother with Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser when this exists? It's rich and creamy, lathers up luxuriously, feels so smooth and nourishing on the body, smells of clean, pure, soapy heaven, and leaves the skin pampered and pristine.

Pixi Glow Tonic
I'm now halfway through my bottle and there's been no loss of enthusiasm since I last featured this in my November 2013 Favourites. Some nights after stepping out of the shower, I simply can't be bothered with toner as part of my evening skin care routine, but I really start to notice the difference if I skip it just a couple of times. I feel that Glow Tonic essentially helps to properly prep my skin so it's more receptive to the serums/face oils/moisturisers I apply. It's a very hydrating and gentle toner that doesn't feel harsh or drying despite the presence of chemical exfoliants. With regular, long-term use, it's extremely effective at refining the texture of my skin, making it appear smoother, softer and more plump.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow SPF 25 Brightening Makeup in "Cheers to Me" Champagne
My go-to foundation if my skin's spotty and slightly flaky, which it has been lately. Unlike the majority of my bases, I can be fairly confident that this foundation won't result in more breakouts. It's oil-free and water-based, a major selling point that the girl at the Benefit counter emphasised when I bought it. It has medium, buildable coverage and is very forgiving on dry skin.

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen
My eyeliner of choice in May. Most mornings, I struggle to open the cap of my Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, I'm trying to preserve the last remnants of my beloved Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, pencil eyeliner just doesn't cut it, gel liner is way too fiddly and time-consuming, so it's Revlon all the way. It might not be the blackest or most budge-proof of felt tip eyeliners, but it's easy to control and draw with for my eye shape. My pen has also lasted forever. Seriously, I've been using it on and off for I can't even remember how long.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in My Two Cents

Since selecting this cream shadow in my last Shop My Stash, I've have been consciously reaching for it more. It's probably the closest thing I have to my treasured limited edition Essence Eye Soufflé in Pas des Copper. It serves as a quick, effortless, all-over lid wash for a lazy weekend, but also works well paired with a darker powder eyeshadow like Burberry Midnight Brown for extra definition.

Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies in Blackest Black
Starting to understand why this is Tanya Burr's mascara of choice. I've always liked it, but I feel I've only unlocked its full potential in the last month. I find the trick is to almost close my eye as I'm applying it (the other eye being open of course), so I can really get to the base of the lashes. Doing this helps to thicken, lengthen and curl with maximum impact, good separation and no clumps. The wand allows me to reach the outer corner of the top lashes and works equally well for upper and bottom lashes.

Antipodes Joyous Protein-Rich Night Replenish Serum
Already written about it here, so I won't say anything further except that I've basically forgotten all about my other face oils in favour of this serum.

NUXE Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm
Still loving this. The perfect finishing step to my nighttime skin care regime. The tiny exfoliating beads are a little unusual but they're a novel touch. The thick paste simply melts into the lips and is soothing without containing menthol, an ingredient I'm partial to when it comes to lip balms (see Maybelline Baby Lips in Relieving Menthol, Blistex Lip Conditioner). The weighty frosted glass jar and refined honey/apricot scent only add to the enjoyment.