Wednesday 27 November 2013

November favourites

It's the end of the month and I'm already soooo excited about December being here, and all the boxes with Christmas stuff are lined up and I'm ready to start decorating this weekend but before we get completely immersed in Christmas, it's time to have a look at what I've used all the time and LOVED in November.

Let's start with the BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl (£149.99) which I reviewed in a previous article. It's a completely new approach to hair curling. Instead of the hair around a wand or barrel, you clamp  the curler around a section of your hair and voilà, it's automatically sucked up into a ceramic curl chamber, and when you release it a couple of seconds later, you have a gorgeous and perfect curl. It's so easy to get the hang of, it's gentle on the hair and leaves less frizz than when I use a curling wand. It takes me about 25 mins to do all of my hair, using quite thin sections and the curls last for abut 4 days - obviously depending on how much you brush the curls out and if you secure them with some hair spray. I've used it every week since I got it - it's amazing and I have a feeling it'll be on many ladies' Christmas wishlist this year.

To secure the curls I've been using quite a lot of the Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry & Vanilla Hair Spray (£4.99). It's a spray that will hold the curls up to 24 hrs and despite being strong hold it doesn't make your hair crispy and hard. A couple of short bursts of spray will keep your curls in place and it adds a nice shine. The best bit though is definitely the scent, it's so fresh and crisp and fruity that I almost tend to add a little bit more than necessary just to get my locks to smell lovely.
I don't know about you, but it's so cold in the mornings and evenings now that I've got my mittens out to keep my paws nice and warm, and to protect them from getting dry. I also take out the loveliest richest hand creams I've got and this month I've been using Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream in Feuille de Cassis (£6) religiously. It's rich with softening and nourishing products like avocado and shea butter and the hands feel luxuriously soft. The cream also works great to soften up the cuticles and to give them a nice little treat and you could even apply quite a thick layer of the cream, put your hands in plastic bags, wrap them in warm towels and leave them for 10 mins - the cream will just soak into the skin and cuticles. This is very subtly scented with black currant which gives a feeling of great warmth and earthiness - perfect for winter.

Every morning I use a lip scrub to prep my lips for the day ahead and I can't be without the lip scrubs from Lush to help keeping my lips conditioned and smooth. Unfortunately my absolute favourite - Bubblegum, broke on the bathroom floor so I had to start using the Christmas special - Santa's Lip Scrub (£5.50) a little earlier than I had planned. It has a lovely Christmasy red color that doesn't stain your lips and it smells gorgeous with a strong scent of ginger and spice that smells exactly like Coca Cola - yep.... Coca Cola! I follow that with my Gatineau Defi Lift 3D Perfect Design Revolumising Lip Care (£29.52 for 2) to hydrate the lips and also to plump them a bit before applying the lip product of the day. The lip balm has a silky glossy non sticky consistency that you can use both as a primer, a lip gloss or a lip contour mask because of its firming effects. The plumping effect is immediate and noticeable and will last for a few hrs before you need to re-apply it - pure luxury for the lips.

The past month I've completely embraced just using two very seasonal perfumes, which is highly unusual for me. As a lighter scent and body spray I've been wearing the Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin that I've mentioned earlier. It's a stunning light, spicy and fresh scent of apple, ginger, cinnamon, pumpkin, vanilla and rum - very comforting and warm. If you like foodie scents you'll definitely love this and I have already decided that I'm going to repurchase it next year - talk about planning ahead... I've worn Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin either on its own or layered it with the DKNY Energizing Fall EdT (£32.95). This is another warm and interesting mix of scents that create a warm, spicy and fruity scent by mixing citrus fruits like mandarin and lemon, delicate white flowers like jasmine and magnolia, musk, vetiver and cardamom. It's fresh, but not forgettable, warm but not over powering and fruity with lots of substance and I've loved wearing it this month.

My skin has been a bit temperamental the last month and I've had a few blemishes, both hormonal and as a result of trying new products. As annoying as it is, at least you can get rid of them and minimise them quickly if you use the Origins Super Spot Remover (£14). It's a clear gel that calms down any redness, heals and eliminates excess oil and you dab it on the spot a few times a day. It works ultra fast and already the day after, you won't notice the spot as much. The gel comes in a tiny little bottle, but since you only need very little, it will last a good few months before you need to buy another one. It's my go to product to get rid of pesky little blemishes, but if you use it a lot you might notice that it dries out the skin where the gel has been applied, so you'll need to follow up with a good moisturiser.

That's that for this month's favourites - which products have you loved this month?

47 comments:

  1. Great favourites! I love Lush's Santa's and Caudalie's hand creams too :)

    AddictedtoOPI

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    1. Thanks a million - there are so many great products to choose from this season :o). Xx

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  2. I might need to get that lush lip scrub- my mint julips is drying out a bit. I've not tried a caudalie hand cream before but I've been loving weleda skin food! :)

    Hannah
    Girl+World

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    1. I've never tried Weleda so might give that a go next :o). Xx

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  3. Åh blir nyfiken på läppskrubben från Lush...måste kolla in nästa gång jag beställer från Lush. ;-)

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    1. De är så jättehärliga och med läckra smaker också. Den enda jag inte är så förtjust is är Pop Corn.. :). Xx

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  4. There's a gift package of 3 mini Caudalie's hand cream available on feelunique. I think I will give it a go now :) A small gift for myself.

    Blu Button Box

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    1. You're right, I picked it up at my salon a few weeks ago, and it's a great deal for 3 products :o). Xx

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  5. Love the Lush lipscrubs! So excited for December too!!!

    Stevie | Stevie Hearts Makeup
    xxx

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    1. The only thing is I need to get moving with those X-mas presents... :). Xx

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  6. I'm loving the sound of the Fragrance

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    1. It's really lovely - I just picked it up by chance, and I'm so glad I did! Xx

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  7. ooh I really need a hair curler and your review of the babyliss pro perfect curl is urging me to make the purchase!

    www.steffysworld.com

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    1. I promise you won't regret it - it's absolutely amazing! Xx

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  8. Ooh I love favourites time :) Some great products this month, that body spray sounds amazing. I keep meaning to try some Bath & Body Works products, are they as good as I hear? x

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    1. I think they're amazing, the shower gels and body washes are so creamy and gentle on your skin, and the body creams and butters very creamy and rich and feel as if they were from a premium brand. Go for it - I think you'll enjoy them :o). Xx

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  9. Love your November favs. I was looking for a lip scrub badly. My lips so chapped. What's better Bubblegum or Santa Charlotte? My November favorite a lip balm from Labello. I bought it yesterday and it's the only thing that helped so far. Thanks for the like on Bl. I liked your post too :D

    xx Mira

    www.glamdevils.com

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    1. The consistency is the same, but as much as I like the Santa scrub and enjoy using it, I can't wait to buy another Bubblegum - for me it's the best scent, followed by Mint Julips :o). Xx

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  10. LOVE YOUR NOVEMBER FAV!!great ideas!
    love your blog!
    if you like we can follow each other!


    Fashion side of moon
    Fashion side of moon Facebook
    Fashion side of moon Bloglovin

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  11. Oh how I want the Babyliss curler. I have such a nightmare curling my hair I feel like this is the answer to all my prayers!

    Victoria
    FlorenceandMary.com

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    1. It's creates such beautiful long lasting curls and I know it's expensive, but so worth it! Xx

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  12. Need to get my mitts on that Fudge hairspray, love those scents x

    fabheadtotoe.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. It's a great hairspray - I just need to hide it from Him Indoors LOL. Xx

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  13. Bubblegum made me feel ill :-( so I am a bit iffy about trying another :-(
    Really want the hair curler. It looks and sounds amazing!

    Rachael x
    All The Little Things x | Rachael McClenaghan

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    1. Oh dear, that doesn't good at all - well, it seems you can easily make your own, so perhaps youäll come up with an even better scent and one that doesn't make you sick :). Xx

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  14. I recently got that lip scrub! Works like a charm :) Great November favourites!

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  15. Santa's Lip Scrub is amazing! I have the same hand cream from Caudalie but in Pamplemousse, it smells so good!
    -
    Ester @ Drawing Dreaming

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    1. They do wonderful products and it's just the right size to carry around in your handbag :o). Xx

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  16. I really need to try the Santa lip scrub :).


    www.Chaneletco.blogspot.com

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    1. It's wonderful and the red color really puts me in a Christmas mood :o). Xx

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  17. I so want that babyliss curler for Christmas. I always struggle doing curls with a wand!

    http://allaboutevesbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. It's brilliant - I can't rave enough about it :o)! Xx

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  18. I can't wait to try LUSH Santa's lip scrub. I love LUSH around Christmas time!

    http://beautylovesbooks.com

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    1. Me too - I've gone completely crazy in Lush this year :o). Xx

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  19. Great favourites! That lip scrub looks so cool, and I really want the Babyliss curler,
    Alanah
    xxx

    www.alarahblog.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thanks a million - they're both super products :). Xx

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  20. I love the smell of pumpkin scented products! So I think that I would definitely fall in love with Bath and Body Works spray!
    www.chrysalisgals.blogspot.com

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    1. It's so warm and lovely, one of my favourite B&BW scents for sure :). Xx

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  21. Replies
    1. It's a very unique taste and the effect is incredible :). Xx

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  22. Hey :)
    Your blog is really great-i love it so much. Maybe you're interested in following each other ? I would love it ❤ Pls let me know in a comment on my blog
    kisses, Anna ♥

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    Replies
    1. That's very nice of you thanks. Follow you now. Xx

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  23. Lovely favourites! Especially the lip scrub, I'm dying to try it out myself :)
    x

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    1. I love them and would highly recommend either the Bubblegum or Mint Julips :o). Xx

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  24. I really want the babyliss pro curl!!

    theglamaddict.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Hiya Hannah - it's brilliant and I really can't recommend it enough! Xx

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