Monthly Favorites: May 2011

There are a lot of products, but since I didn't have a monthly favorites post last month, I guess it's alright. I'm really excited to talk about these things, so lets get right down to it!

• Nars Orgasm/Laguna Duo - I've had this for almost a year, and have used it almost everyday ever since. I usually alternate between MAC Pinch O' Peach blush and Orgasm. I've been using Orgasm a lot this month, and I use Laguna for an all over bronzed glow.
• Nars Copacabana Illuminator - I'm in LOVE with this highlighter! It's a gorgeous pale pink shimmer color, and you only need the teensy tiniest bit to highlight your entire face. I use it on my cheekbones, down my nose, on the browbone, on the eyes, on the cupid's bow and on my decollate. It's amazing, and I definitely enocurage you all to try it.
• MAC Harmony Blush - This is a really great contour color for me. It's about 3-4 shades darker than my skin tone and a nice neutral color. 
• Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Fair - I really liked the Instant Age Rewind Concealer, so I was encouraged to try out more of Maybelline's concealers. It's the perfect consistency for the summer. It's a liquid formula so it's nice and light and perfect for the under eye area, while still being opaque enough to cover any blemishes (which I have had plenty of this month. LAME!).

• Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden - This is a really really great eyeshadow primer. My eyelids are naturally really oily, so a good primer is a necessity. I do have to set it with a powder, and my eyeshadow last for 12+ hours.
• MAC Reflects Antique Gold Glitter - This glitter is BEAUTIFUL! I either use this as an all over lid color, or just lightly over told of a shadow to liven up any look. It's just beautiful and I will definitely repurchase it.
• MAC Eyeshadow Quad - I know I got my 15 pan palette this month, since I depotted all my shadows into it, I was able to pick my favorite fun colors (Burmese Beauty, Twinks, which is another monthly favorite, Skintone 2, and Satin Taupe) and bring it along to Florida. I took this and my Physicians Formula Matte Quad, and I had all the shadows I needed for the entire week.

• Real Techniques Brushes by Samantha Chapman - I've been really impressed with these brushes!! I brought these with my to Florida and I only needed 2-3 extra ones to be set for the week. I like them all, but I feel like these in particular stand out from the rest. I use the Stippling brush for my foundation (since the weather is getting warmer, I want to get in the habit of using less foundation). The Deluxe Crease Brush is perfect for blending, and the Accent Brush is great for smudging as well as lining the eyes. I want to try more of these brushes sometime soon.
• ELF Angled Contour Brush - I've had this brush for a long time and have usually just been using it for blending on the brow bone. But I have found that it is perfect for my Maybelline Mineral Powder Concealer. It's nice and fluffy and blends the concealer effortlessly.
• Aerie Superfruit Vitamin Gloss in Coy - This is a really nice color that just adds a little interest to my lips without being too much. It's a sheer peachy beige color, with multicolored micro-glitter. If you have a chance to find these at an Aerie store, pick up a few. I got mine for $2.50.
• Johnson's Melt Away Stress Lavender and Chamomile Lotion - Lavender and Chamomile is probably my favorite scent combonation ever. I use the body wash, the body oil, the spray and now the lotion. I bought this because I wanted to bring a small tube of something on my trip, and this is a really lovely moisturizer. I'll probably end up getting the full size soon. 

What have been your favorites this month?

Monthly Favorites: February 2011

I've always wanted to do a post like this! If you have been following along, then some of these wont be a surprise at all, because I've been using most of them everyday.

I have found that the Studio Sculpt and MSF Natural is the best combo I have ever used. It just gives a flawless finish, without feeling like I have a lot of makeup on at all. I have used Pinch O' Peach nearly everyday since I got it. It's such a lovely color and really compliments my skin, because it's so light and I can't overdue it. I only just purchased the Maybelline Instant Rewind Concealer and Highlighter recently, but I really am in love with it. I like that the concealer gives great coverage, and the highlighter gives such a natural sheen that is not too glittery. I've used the ELF Setting Spray for a few months, but it really does make my makeup last a long time.

I have been using my MAC shadows a lot this month, especially Blanc Type, Satin Taupe, and Beauty Marked. Also, I use my Physicians Formula Matte Quad in Canyon Classics just about everyday since I bought it almost 2 years ago. It's great for helping my eye shadows blend together. I bought the Maybelline One by One Mascara last week, and it's really great for separating my lashes and adding volume. I like this better than my Covergirl Lashblast, because the One by One doesn't make them clump together as much. I've really liked using the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed sample I got in my Dangerous Palette, especially when I do shimmery looks. I've been using my L'Oreal Linear Intense Liquid Liner a lot in the last few weeks, because I finally got the hang of using it. The one I have has a brush tip applicator, rather than a felt tip, so it can be a little difficult to work with. I need to draw out where I'm going to put it with a black shadow first, but it's really dark, and lasts all day without flaking or smudging. My favorite lipstick for this month has been MAC Milan Mode, because it's a luster finish and I can make it as sheer or opaque as I want.

I don't have the box for it anymore, but one of my favorites has been the hair color I use, which is L'Oreal Feria in Starry Night. It's a beautiful dark cool toned black, and makes your hair look kind of blue in the sunlight. Love love LOVE that color.  Since I've been dying my hair black, I've been using the Garnier Frutis Color Shield Conditioner (this is a new bottle, and I also picked up the shampoo to go with it.) It's a nice thick formula and is very moisturizing. When I use it, I like to mix it with a bit of the Hi-Gloss Conditioner that came with my hair color, and let it sit while I'm washing my body, and rinse right before I get out of the shower. I've been wearing my hair curly a lot this month, and I've been using my Conair 1 1/4 Tourmaline Curling Iron to style it. I love the nice loose curls it gives. I've used my ELF Matte Finisher top coat on all my manicures since I bought it, and I love the look that it gives. I am wearing it now over ELF Metal Madness. Finally, I've been loving this Body Butter by Basin in the scent Therapy. It's a very clean and soothing scent and the body butter is super moisturizing. I use it when I get out of the shower.

I think that's everything! What have been your favorite product for this month?