Friday 30 May 2014

May favorites

Yesterday I did a post about Unfavorites, which if you consider the amount of products that I try every year since I'm a beauty junkie were surprisingly few, but today as it's the end of the month we move to the other end of the scale - it's time for favorites, what I have loved the most in May so it's kind of ironic that my first product this month is something I bought specifically for Christmas.

You may remember that I went a little bit OTT with the amazing Christmas collection from Lush so it probably isn't a surprise that I'm still working my way through what I got in that massive Lush haul. The Ponche Shower Gel (£8.95) was part of the limited Christmas edition range, but personally I thought it worked better in Spring time since it's a fresh zesty and invigorating blend of juicy citrus fruits, tropical sweetness, warm spicy cinnamon and tequila - what an amazing cocktail. Even though I LOVE the Lush shower gels I often find that they are a bit harsh on the skin, e.g. Snow Fairy that makes my skin feel a bit stripped of moisture, but Ponche is lovely and creamy and gives a wonderful deep cleanse without leaving the skin dehydrated. As the sun has had its hat on, I've spent a lot more time outdoors and have managed to get some color, most of it quite unintentionally and some days my skin has even felt just a tiny bit tight. That's when it's nice have a cooling shower and then to apply some Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun (£13). The consistency is lovely, light and silky with a texture somewhere in between a lotion and a gel, which absorbs instantly into the skin, feeling incredibly soothing and restoring. It has a delicious sweet fruit salad scent of coconut and papaya and its yummy enough to eat. It's not exactly the most affordable after sun you can get since you only get 180 ml and during the summer I go through buckets of this, but the silky cooling sensation and the fabulous tropical scent are worth every penny!

A lot of people talk about several products as their skin saviours, but if I really had to, I think I could even narrow mine down to just one item: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (£22). I've mentioned this amazing mask previously - it's an all year round multi purpose product that I wouldn't dream of ever being without and as my skin is getting more exposure to the sun, this little beauty will be invaluable. It's famous for its lovely whipped creamy consistency and fresh orange peel scent and it does wonders for skin that needs a little bit of TLC. One application of this in the evening, and you'll wake up in the morning to soft, supple and hydrated skin. I use this mask a few times a week over night, but when my skin feels as if it needs something a little extra I'll even use it as an intense pre-makeup treatment for wonderful smooth skin for a deeply moisturising sensation that lasts all day.
Earlier this month I did a post on my latest scent obsession, Aerin's Lilac Path EdP (£85) - you can read the review here, and I'm not even sure that obsession comes close to describing how much I love this EdP. It's a graceful, delicate and airy soft floral scent mixing lilac, orange flower, jasmine and tiny bit of amber. It may sound like a heavy flowery granny scent, but there is nothing old fashioned or sickly sweet about this refined, harmonious, chic fragrance - it's a perfect Spring scent that captures sunny blue skies, delicate flowers in bloom, and playing garden games in balmy summer evenings. I'm so besotted and impressed with this exquisite scent that I've already added it to my birthday wishlist... for October... well, Him Indoors might need plenty of notice and this way I can gently remind him a good few times before then.

As I've mentioned before I've tried a lot of lip glosses this year, but the one I keep wearing and putting in my handbag is the gorgeous YSL Gloss Volupte (£21) and specifically the shade 04 Golden, a true rose pink with a subtle blue undertone and incredible high gloss finish. This is one of those gloss turn stain products that has amazing pigmentation and long wear. It has a smooth and light non sticky formula that adds a lot of hydration, giving a lovely plumping effect and after the initial glossiness has settled into a stain, the finish will easily last for at least 5 hrs even after eating and drinking. I'm so impressed with this pleasant formula that feels so comfortable to wear and compared to some of the other lip gloss launches this year from e.g. Dior, this is still the one to beat for me.

Something that I'm never without is lip balm, and if that should ever happen I'll go straight into the nearest Boots or pharmacy and get another one right away, but for some reason I have really struggled lately to find a great lip balm. Many of them give a little but of hydration and gloss, but it disappears quite quickly and often leave my lips feeling quite dry afterwards, but the last product among these May favorites is a lip balm that I actually quite like - the Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Balm (£5) in Juicy Peach. It's made from mango butter, apricot butter, lingonberry oil and pomegranate extract to add moisture, protection from the weather and to prevent loss of hydration. It comes in a little pot that reminds me of vaseline and the consistency isn't too dissimilar, although A Great Kisser isn't as waxy and oily as vaseline. It does contain mineral oil, so if you're concerned about using products that has this as an ingredient, you might want to avoid this one. The lip balm is scented with a peach scent, that is a tiny bit synthetic, but still pleasant and it gives a lovely shine at the same time as it looks after your lips. Soap & Glory also offers the Great Kisser in Chocolate Cherry and Vanilla Bean and they both sound so tempting, I might just get them as well.

46 comments:

  1. I've been using this aftersun on my holiday and it really is lovely!

    Tara xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the sheer and light texture it feels like liquid silk :o) Xx

      Delete
  2. Really want to try the YSL gloss! http://rosebeautynow.blogspot.co.uk/ x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like most YSL lip products it's absolutely amazing! :o) Xx

      Delete
  3. I really want to try the Origins Overnight Mask, one for the list - some great favs :) xx
    Do come and check out my Mac giveaway - http://insaneaboutmakeup.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, I'll check it out straight away :o) Xx

      Delete
  4. that perfume bottle is beautiful. Love all the favourites...and yep..now curious for YSL gloss!.. <3
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can never have too many lip glosses :o) Xx

      Delete
  5. I am a big Lush fan but I have yet to find one of their shower gels that I rave about, I do love the bath melts though!
    www.naomitalksbeauty.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean, for me the bath bombs are also much better than the shower gels :o) Xx

      Makeup by Candlelight

      Delete
  6. Great picks, I really want to try that Origins mask x
    http://whattaylorbuys.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so rich and creamy, a really fantastic product :o) Xx

      Delete
  7. Great list of products! That perfume sounds amazing. I need to go smell this! Also, that lipgloss is beautiful!

    xoxo Lauren from Will Sing For Makeup

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not the cheapest of EdPs, but worth it - you'll feel like a princess wearing it :o) Xx

      Delete
  8. I love the Origins Drink Up Mask, it's so lovely on my skin :)

    Rebecca Coco

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's great isn't it - it's a very hyped up product, but for good reason! :o) Xx

      Delete
  9. I quite like the sound of the Soap and Glory lip balm - I have the coconut one which is so delicate and feels really nice, more balmy than oily.

    The YSL lipgloss looks absolutely beautiful too!!! :)

    Layla xx

    www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, anything with coconut is yummy :o) Xx

      Delete
  10. Lovely blog. Think I will definitely be giving that face mask a go. Thanks

    Gaby x

    http://theglamdottylife.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Gaby, that's really lovely of you and I so appreciate it :o) Xx

      Delete
  11. So many good products! I've been really wanting to try that S&G balm! And I swear by that after sun lotion!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so gorgeous and they're on offer at the moment - 2 for the price of 1, not something to miss out on :o) Xx

      Delete
  12. You've persuaded me! I'm getting the Origins face mask ASAP! :) Thanks for sharing!

    Gemstones & Cities

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Success - I'm convinced you'll love it :o) Xx

      Delete
  13. Great blog!
    I love lush and soap and glory
    I have a few of there products
    Rachel XX
    http://bubbleblush11.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a million Rachel, that's so nice of you. Have a great weekend :o)! Xx

      Delete
  14. Great post! I have to say that gloss looks so so gorgeous! Bet that suits you beautifully!
    I love your blog - I've just followed you on bloglovin! would love if you could check out my blog back!

    stylelikehers
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lauren, thank you so much for visiting and following of course! Follow you now :o) Xx

      Delete
  15. I need Origins in my life! I've seen soo many people rave about this product and I think it will deffo help cure my dehydrated skin x

    bohorush.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On me any dehydrated patches disappear over night - it really is as good as everyone says :o) Xx

      Delete
  16. really want to try some ysl lip products!

    xx fameliquorlove

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're wonderfully luxurious, just what every girl needs :o) Xx

      Delete
  17. Oww the YSL Gloss Volupte looks beautiful I have been meaning to try out some more YSL products I have loved everything I have tried in the past!
    Loved this post!
    xo Holly xo

    HollyDolly. 

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Holly - have a great weekend! :o) Xx

      Delete
  18. Replies
    1. It's such a great brand, I hope it'll work as well for you as it does for me :o) Xx

      Delete
  19. How beautifulllllll is that YSL gloss?! I so want to get my hands on one of them! xx

    Gemma // Miss Makeup Magpie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yesssss - it's amazing and I'm debating with myself which shade I'm going to get next, probably another coral :o) Xx

      Delete
  20. That gloss looks beautiful. Definitely adding it to my wish list.

    katespitz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's just something very de luxe about YSL lipglosses :o) Xx

      Delete
  21. oh those YSL lipglosses-I want :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are absolutely amazing and so pleasant to wear :o) Xx

      Delete
  22. Great picks! Soap and Glory are amazing! :)
    lipstickandlightening.blogspot.ie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I especially like their body butters :o) Xx

      Delete
  23. I'd love to try the S&G lip balm and the Ponche shower gel from LUSH sounds delicious! xxx
    The Jolly Fashionista

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so refreshing and it's a shame it's not part of the usual Lush range :o) Xx

      Delete

Thank you so much for reading my blog and for taking the time to comment! Your comments are very important to me and I do read and appreciate all of them, even though I simply don't have time to reply to all of them!