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Sunday 2 February 2014

Monthly Favourites | January


Happy February folks! I do hope you've all had a spiffing start to the new year.  Mine has certainly been a busy one to say the least and I've had a tough time keeping all the plates spinning at once - juggling blogging along with final year uni work and actually managing to maintain having a life is a task and a half! This being said, I wouldn't be a blogger unless I'd managed to make time to scout out a few new beauty favourites, would I? January is always big on the discoveries for me - so many new releases make their way into the shops before Christmas and I often rack up a few new purchases (don't we all?!).  Anyway, without further ado - I shall introduce you to my January love interests... Grab a cuppa - there's quite a few!



Urban Decay | Naked 3 Palette | Full Review
Discovery of the month goes the the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.  I shall be honest and say I didn't expect to love this as much as the second one, but I must admit I've fallen head over heels for its rose gold gloriousness! The shades seem to really suit my skin tone at the minute - I find the rose-gold hues work really well with my eyes and I've been wearing it pretty much every day this January.  My favourite colours at the moment are 'Trick' - a beautiful rose gold and 'Factory' - a mid-toned brown.  I've also been using the matte shades 'Limit' and 'Nooner' as transition colours and for creating definition in the crease of the lid.  I have a full review including swatches and detailed photographs in this post all about the palette.


Bumble and Bumble | Thickening Hairspray |
In terms of hair products this month, this little spray has been a firm favourite of mine.  After wanting to try it for ages, I received a small bottle from my Mum for Christmas and have been blown away by it's volumising capabilities! I'm usually a mousse girl through and through, and if I'm honest I wasn't expecting this product to live up to its hype at all.  However, I've been proven wrong.  I can really see why this product received so much blogger hype.  It's amazing.  Usually, I don't find volume sprays provide that much texture or lift to the hair, but this one surely does!  I spray a little under my fringe and through the root area and after I've finished blow drying my hair looks and feels amazingly swoopy and voluminous.  I will be investing in the big bottle as soon as I run out of this miniature size as I can't stand to be without it on my dressing table at the moment.

Neal & Wolf | Heat Protection Spray |
Heat protection spray is pretty much a standard product isn't it? I don't often get excited about it at all and tend to opt for whichever one is on offer in Boots at the time.  However, I've recently been loving Neal & Wolf products (their conditioning treatment is amazing) and have found myself becoming addicted to the scent of their range.  I've mentioned it before - it's not to everybody's taste but I personally love it.  Their products have a sort of 'musky' smell to them that reminds me of being in a posh salon - if I've used Neal & Wolf on my hair I can smell it the day afterwards without fail every time I 'swish' my barnet! This is why I invested in their heat protection spray. Not only does it do an amazing job of smoothing out the hair and helping it to stay soft to the touch, it means that my hair can smell like Neal & Wolf all day long without fail! Perfect. It will be a definite re-purchase for me.


Jimmy Choo | 'Flash' | Full Review
I won't harp on too much about this little beauty as I've already written a full post on it this week which you can read here.  It's become my new every day fragrance and I adore it.  It's such a gorgeous, unique scent and it's really sophisticated and soft without compromising on staying power.  

Champneys | Skin Comforting Bath Milk (not individually pictured)
Oops. Somebody was a numpty and forgot to photograph one product out of the whole bunch - slap my wrist and call me a bad blogger! I've spoken about my love of luxurious bath products on my blog many a time before.  Through the colder months, there's nothing I look forward to more than a long, relaxing soak in a hot bath with a magazine and a candle or two. This bottle of Champney's Bath Milk has become my new favourite and I've been reaching for it loads just recently.  I must admit, when I first smelt it I wasn't instantly sold - it's quite a 'soapy' sort of smell. I'm aware I'm really not selling it amazingly well here - but it really is such a gorgeous, perfumed 'spa-like' scent. It fills the bathroom with a beautiful aroma within seconds and it always leaves me feeling all pampered and relaxed.  Its milky consistency fills the bath with moisture and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth to the touch when you step out of the bath. 


Clinique | Bottom Lash Mascara
Now then, now then.  Where do I begin with this little beauty?!  I don't want to say too much as I'm planning on dedicating a full post to it soon - it deserves it's own space on the ol' bloggles that's for sure!  I really have no idea why on earth I never purchased this before.  For so many years, I have struggled with mascara leaving black smudges and flecks underneath my eyes.  I have quite long bottom lashes and always like to use mascara to show them off to their best potential - but I always felt as if it was a wasted effort because an hour later I'd resemble a panda. Not in a cute way either.  Clinique's Bottom Lash mascara has solved this problem and I haven't experienced any smudging whatsoever since I started using this.  The teeny-tiny brush is amazing at picking up every single individual lash and my eyelashes have looked a million and one times better since I bought this. Honestly - if you're in the same boat as me I urge you to give this a try. 


Mac | Sculpting Cream in 'Accentuate'
Mac Sculpting Creams have become a firm favourite in my routine just recently - which is a bit of a shame since you can't pick them up anymore.  I actually bought this off Lisa's blog sale a while back now and have been using it ever since (I also bought the shade 'Coffee Walnut' which is gorgeous for a strong contour look!). This shade is a perfect highlighter! I'm not one for shimmery highlighters and very rarely feel the need to add one to my face on a daily basis (I go through phases with them) but this little pot has been the perfect solution for me.  I apply this to the tops of my cheekbones, my brow bone and my 'cupid's bow' area and blend in with a brush on top of my foundation before adding powder and it provides such an amazing, flawless finish.  Because it's a cream it doesn't look powdery either - it blends into my Nars Sheer Glow with ease and gives such a professional effect.  It looks so natural because of the lack of shimmer and sculpts the face really well.  I might have to do a tutorial on how I use cream products to contour - do let me know if it would be of interest as I find it looks much more natural than relying on powders all the time!

Benefit | Porefessional Primer | Full Review
Again, I've spoken about this product in depth on my blog over the past couple of weeks so I won't harp on too much.  It really is an amazing primer. It's one that I've maybe overlooked in the past and I have no idea why! It really does smooth out the skin and provides that 'high def' finish to your foundation.  It minimises pores (yep, it does what it says on the tin!) and gives a baby-soft feel to the skin making it the perfect base for your makeup.  My foundation has never lasted so long! Honestly, if you're going to invest in a primer and are fed up of your foundation slipping off your face or moving during the day - it's well worth the pennies.  It will make the world of difference. You can read my full review here.


And there we have it.  My January beauty preferences wrapped up in a post.  It was quite a task picking favourites this month - I've really found myself switching up my routine recently and have been using a whole array of different products.   


What have you been loving this January? Do you share my love for any of these products?

30 comments:

  1. Beautiful photographs! You chose some great products :)

    lovefrombethan.blogspot.co.uk

    xox

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  2. Gotta love the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara and I'm totally swooning over the Naked 3 palette.
    Cute post :)

    nailsandteapots xx

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  3. I love the Naked 3 palette, it's such a beautiful range of shades! Id love to see the contour tutorial with cream products :)
    Natalie xx
    youralmostalice

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  4. I would love to see a contour tutorial, I can never seem to get it right! x
    Maddy from UNSTITCHEDD

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  5. Love that Neal & Wolf Heat Spray!

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  6. I really enjoyed reading this beth! I'm feeling the need for a NAKED palette, but I feel like the second one might actually suit me better. I'm going more cool skinned as time goes on I swear!

    I really need to get back into doing my hair properly, and you might just have persuaded me to do this!

    xx

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  7. Its a shame you cant get the mac sculpting cream any more it sounds amazing and I never contour with cream products so a tutorial would actually be really helpful xx

    ~ VISUALCANDY INC

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  8. I agre with so many of these! The bumble and bumble thickening spray is so so good!x

    zoeyinwonderland.com

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  9. I love my naked three palette it is my favourite, I featured in in this months favourites video and post too!


    Emily xx
    www.beautybyemily.co.uk

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  10. Great post! Love the look of the jimmy choo perfume and love my urban decay 3 palette

    Sophie xx
    www.pocockins.co.uk

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  11. I had no interest in the UD Naked 3 but I saw it instore the other day and it's converted me! So pretty xx
    www.LaurasHaven.com

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  12. I haven't tried any of these products but I really want to try UD Naked 3, the B&B Thickening Spray, and the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara. I'm actually uploading my January Favorites tomorrow but I've been using my MAC Palette a lot more recently.
    Amber
    Lovely Notions

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  13. Yay, I'm glad you liked the sculpting creams! Your blog photos - ahh, I die. So detailed and pretty! x

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  14. Great little mini reviews :) I really want to try the clinique bottom lashes mascara too because i have really short bottom lashes and using the normal mascara wands can be a bit of a faff and quite messy too which takes a lot of my time in the morning when getting ready. The bumble and bumble spray sounds perfect for me too because i have really fine and limp hair which i find difficult styling.

    Thank you for sharing your favourites~ I hope you have a lovely day! <3

    Ying ♥ || *- YingcBeauty-*
    X x X x X

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  15. I have been really enjoying the UDN3 palette too this month!

    www.britishbeautyaddict.com

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  16. Your photography is amaaaaaazing! so beautiful ^_^
    I think you're doing a great job with keeping up with blogging on top of third year uni work! I'm only in first year and I'm struggling with keeping up reading my favourites on top of everything else :( getting the balance right is tricky, but that's why us girls are awesome haha
    Iqra |The Blushing Giraffe
    xxx

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  17. I think i'm just going to go ahead and finally purchase the Benefit Porefessional
    Casualllyawkward

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  18. I always look forward to seeing favourite posts, I really want to try the bottom lash mascara... sometimes I don't apply any at all incase it smudges :\ xxx

    Verity | Life of Verity

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  19. really want to go and smell the perfume now !!

    heypip.blogspot.co.uk xx

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  20. Some amazing products! I really need that UD palette <3

    Amy xxx

    www.floatylemon.com

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  21. Oooo some fantastic beauty picks Beth :D I want to buy the salt spray from bumble & bumble for when i go away on holiday - will be perfect for adding texture to my hair instead of straightening it etc :)
    I need to smell the Jimmy Choo perfume again & I really want the Naked 3 palette, everyone who has done tutorials using it, looks amazing :)
    Tanya Burr raves about using the bottom eyelash mascara from Clinique, I've got long eyelashes too & find if I've overdid it with the mascara & it goes clumpy, it tends to hit off my under eyes :( which is always a pain :(
    I agree with the porefessional, it really does minimize my pores, I have used it on my mum too & her foundation looks a lot better :) I've got two samples of it & they're both still full - i tend to only use it around my nose & chin area :)

    Fantastic pictures Beth :D I really must buy one lamp haha :P
    xxx

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  22. The bumble and bumble bits look awesome! Good haul love! :)

    Carlie @ http://pugginawesome.blogspot.co.uk/

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  23. These are some incredible products! I'm definitely interested in trying some of these out.
    xx
    Celina | The Celution | Bloglovin’

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  24. every other person these days goes about the clinique bottom lash mascara..i'l love to give it a try

    http://sarazbeautytonic.blogspot.co.uk/

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  25. Your photos are so gorgeous! I want to try nearly everything you've talked about! Damn you ;) xx

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  26. I've just finished my tube of Benefit Porefessional and was considering getting something else but it really is the best I've tried!

    Laura | Breton & Blush

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  27. I really do want to try out the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, heard so many good things about it, fab photos too :) xx
    http://insaneaboutmakeup.blogspot.co.uk/

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  28. The Champneys bath soak sounds lovely! And I'd love to see a tutorial on how you contour :) x

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  29. I love the Naked 3 Palette, such pretty colours.

    Katie | Hang up the Glamour

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I always read all of my lovely comments. Make sure you check back as i often reply but if you do have a specific question and want a quicker response then please do email me over at birds.words@yahoo.co.uk or tweet me (@Beth_BirdsWords). Thank you for all your support! x