Monthly Favourites - January 2013

Hello there my lovely readers, how are we all doing? I know that we are halfway through February but I have taken pictures for this post and I didn't get round to writing it up
Let's get cracking..

Benefit 'the porefessional'
MAC 'studio fix fluid'
MAC 'select cover-up'

Benefit 'the porefessional'  - I have oily skin, I need a primer that will keep the oiliness at bay, now this primer doesn't keep my face matte the whole day but it does minimise oiliness and shine. I find that I don't need to blot as often when using it.

MAC 'Studio Fix Fluid' - This foundation has been a favourite of mine throughout 2012 and it still is a favourite. The coverage is build-able (medium to full) and it's oil free so it's perfect for my oily skin.

MAC 'Select Cover-up' - This is thicker than the moisture cover concealer which I tend to use. It has more coverage and lasts longer. It's great for covering up my dark under eye area and blemishes.

NARS 'Casino', Illamasqua 'Ambition'
Benefit 'Moon Beam'

NARS 'Casino' - Another 2012 favourite is featured this month! I can't live without this bronzer. I use it every time I wear make up. It sculpts and gives my face some colour. I love using it with a big fluffy brush and dust it on my temples, cheeks, jaw line and tap a bit on my nose.

Illamasqua 'Ambition' - This is a great everyday blusher for my tan skin. What I love about it is that it's really pigmented so you don't need to pick a lot of product and really compliments my skin-tone.

Benefit 'Moon Beam' - I love pairing this highlighter with Studio fix fluid foundation, it gives a nice dewy look. I tap a little amount on my cheek bones and blend it in. It's always best to apply creamy highlighters/blushers on top of liquid foundations or tinted moisturiser as the products won't separate.

Benefit 'they're real', Urban Decay 'Corrupt'
Benefit 'High Brow', MAC 'Vanilla'
MAC 'Painterly' and 'Mythology'

Benefit 'They're Real' - This mascara volumises and thickens the lashes, I love the big wand as it helps in lifting my lashes and separating them.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye-pencil 'Corrupt' (wow that's a mouthful!) - Loved using this eye pencil on my water line and lash line when I didn't feel like rimming my eyes with black kohl especially in the morning. It gives a softer look than black eyeliner. This pencil really glides on the eyes without tugging.

Benefit 'Highbrow' - I apply this pencil on my brow bone, I love that it gives a lifted look to the eyes and makes the eyebrow area look clean.

MAC 'Painterly' - Perfect as a base as it neutralises the eye lid/crease area.

MAC 'Vanilla' - I use this product to highlight my eyes, inner corner and my cheeks. It's a great little miscellaneous product that will last ages.

MAC 'Mythology' - My go to eye-shadow  when I want to wear neutral eyes with a kick. It's perfect as a lid colour paired with warm browns in the crease and lower lash-line. It's also a good lustre which is bonus!

No7 '20 Nude', MAC 'Deelight'
MAC 'Offshoot', Blistex

No7 '20 Nude' - I got this lip pencil as a freebie when I bought something from Boots a very long time ago . I didn't think it would work for me but it actually does. It has a creamy texture which helps it go on smoothly. I like that it neautralises my lips and keeps it hydrated. I find that lip pencils by other brands can be really drying. 

MAC 'Deelight' - I love cremesheen glasses as they are creamy, smell lovely and pigmented. It doesn't have the sticky-ness texture of MAC's lipglasses. This is a pinky-nude shade, great for everyday.

MAC 'Offshoot' - Cremesheen formulas are a favourite of mine. I love this shade because it's wearable for work. I've been using it almost everyday in January. 

Blistex - Who doesn't love a little lip treatment when the weather gets cooler and the lips get dry and chapped?  I've been using this moisturiser on my lips before bed time so that my lips stay hydrated and it works it's magic while I'm asleep. 

What's your holy grail lip balm/moisturiser or treatment for the lips? I would really love to know so please comment below!

Swatches of the lip products:

Right to left
Deelight cremesheen glass, Offshoot lipstick and No7 20 nude lip pencil

Bath and Body Works 'Black Raspberry Vanilla'
Liz Earle 'Gentle Face Exfoliator' and Illamasqua 'Freak'

Bath and Body Works 'Black Raspberry Vanilla' - As you can tell this tube of body cream is on it's last legs, I have squeezed the hell out of it. The triple moisture line is my favourite, It's incredibly moisturising and isn't greasy.

Liz Earle 'Gentle Face Exfoliator' - This is my favourite product that I have tried from Liz Earle. I love how fine the exfoliating beads are. Other face scrubs and exfoliators contain really harsh beads that can irritate the skin. However, this exfoliator is very gentle and removes dead skin, leaving your skin feeling refreshed, smooth and clean.

Illamasqua 'Freak' - This isn't my type of perfume at all. However, it reminds me of arabic perfumes, it's musky yet sweet and it's not over powering.

There you go, those were my January favourites. What were your favourites?
Any new beauty discoveries?

Share your thoughts below, I would love to know them.

x x