28/11/2013

Monthly Favourites | November 2013

Can you believe it!? We're at the end of the year and are knee deep in the holiday season! By the time this post goes up I'll be in my last Chemistry exam for the year, and have one more exam after - then I'm done for grade eleven! :O Pretty shocked and I am NOT ready for grade twelve, aaaaaaaahh. Anyways onto da faves. I don't have too many this month as I've been using mostly the same things as always (featured in previous favourites posts) and I didn't want to mention things again.



I've been really enjoying using the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening toner which I will have a review up for after ample testing time. This is really nice and has filled the gap in my routine for a chemical exfoliator (though I am also using the Garnier Dark Spot Night serum, which could be counted as one). It's very gentle and feels like any other toner, no stinging or tight, dry skin after use. So far, I fell like my skin's appearance is brighter and a little more even, but only time and continual use will tell!

Olive oil has been featured on quite a few Beauty bloggers and vlogger blogs and channels. I recently ran out of my waterproof eye makeup remover without a replacement waiting in the wings. I wasn't able to buy another so I decided to try out some Extra Virgin Olive oil which is known to be rather effective as a makeup remover. I have to say, I really like it! It removes waterproof mascara really well, gently and my lids and lashes feel nourished after. It is quite oily (that's a given) but I wash my face immediately after so it doesn't bother me. I've put mine in an old Rosehip oil bottle so it's easy to use too!

A new addition to my concealer collection is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in the Brightening shade. I really don't have any brightening concealers as I've not really had the need for them. I don't have terribly bad dark circles at all, however I've had quite little sleep lately staying up and studying so I've noticed circles appearing. That and one of my friends said I looked like I'd been punched in the eye :P ...(thanks Tam !) Anyway! This concealer is very light and pink toned so it's very brightening - especially on my medium, yellow-toned skin. I tend to use it under my base so it's not too stark, but I've been enjoying it! There's no creasing and it is a nice thin, slippy texture that doesn't cake up.


My most used blush is still probably my The Balm Instain one, but a close runner-up this month is the Napoleon Perdis Cream Blush from the Instyle magazine freebie. It's a lovely natural pink that looks nice and dewy on the skin. It also applies fine over powder, though I usually top it off with translucent powder to try and make it last longer. I typically find that cream blushes aren't typically long lasting on me, but I still really like them!

I received this Essence Sun Club shimmer Bronzer in the shade Sunkissed (for Blondes) in a giveaway pack I won (thanks Sarah!). I was going to give it away as it was too light for my skin (as a bronzer) but I thought I'd give it a go as a subtle, natural highlighter as it is pretty close in colour to my skin colour. It then dawned on me that I could use this in a similar way to something like an Hourglass Ambient lighting powder - as a light finishing powder. The shimmer is quite fine and is really more of a sheen than anything, so it's totally suitable all over. I have been dusting this lightly mainly over the typical highlighting spots, and blending it all over the face. It offers a really nice soft focus glow to the skin, and makes me look slightly glowy - and overall I think it just makes my skin look better! I don't think I ever would have bought this on my own, so I am very happy I got to try it and get a taste of what an Hourglass Ambient lighting powder might look like (I wish!!!). It is definitely a good shade for those of fairer skin - it's very natural, rather light and not orangey at all!

Last up for lips is the Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lip Gloss in Bellydance which I won from Candice's giveaway (thanks hun!). I've actually been reaching for this on the daily. It's a lovely pinky-reddy-coral that is quite sheer. I apply it very lightly to give the subtlest hint of coral to my lips, but the colour can be built up to be a bit more noticeable (but no real opacity). It's not too sticky (has a thickness but not sticky) and very comfy on the lips. It also smells EXACTLY like Lipton Peach Ice Tea - love! A full review of this will be coming up soon!

Dark Circle Eraser in Brightening, Shimmer bronzer in Sunkissed, Cream Blush


A movie favourite this month too! I saw Catching Fire last Friday and by God was it GOOD! It was pretty dang perfect if I must say so. They stuck extremely close to the book which is EXACTLY what I want to see in a book-to-movie production. The new director was great - no shaky camera business that makes me feel motion sick :D. The casting was awesome, I LOVED Sam Claflin as Finnick and Jena Malone as Johanna! I just, the feeeeeeels were all there and it was amazing! I'm very excited for Mockingjay pt 1! This video pretty much sums up all my feels about the movie. I also saw Thor: The Dark World at the beginning of the month, and we all knew I would love that one. Please, it has Tom Hiddleston in it - love me some Sassy Loki. It was amazing too (maybe even my fave Marvel movie :o I dunno, but very close to the Avengers), lots of unexpected twists that had me SCREECHING in the cinema - a must watch!

Anyways, what were your favourites? Have you seen Catching Fire yet? If not, DO SO ASAP!

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tip about olive oil! Ooh you do chemistry? Me too, although I'm pretty sure I didn't do that great on my final chemistry exam ever -__-
    I watched Catching Fire and loved it too! One of the few movies where the sequel was just as good if not better.
    Great faves :)

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    1. Oh no! Yeah, my exam did not go too well. I seriously need to knuckle down for next year! I reckon Catching Fire was sooooo much better than the Hunger games movie. TBH I didn't superly like the HG movie.

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    2. I'm going to join the party and say that I just had my year 11 Chem exam too! Haha! I watched Catching Fire a couple of hours ago (wonderful reward for my last exam (Specialist maths, ew) today and I agree, it was so very good! I'm so pleased you like the Australis lipgloss, it is such a pretty colour! :)
      x

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    3. Haha, oh us Chem students! I love seeing movies to finish the term off! It's an awesome way to celebrate! I have my semi-formal tomorrow though, which will be a super fun way to end the year!

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  2. Can't wait to read your review on that toner! I'm nearly ready for a new one :D
    You'll be fine with year 12 just remember it's seriously one of the best years of your life so don't get all worked up over study (I know you still will :P) but remember to enjoy it as well!


    Sarah | More Than Adored

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    1. I'll try and have it up soon for you! But, I need to test it some more! Aw thanks! I will be sure to have as much fun as I do not-fun <- lol.

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  3. As usual, loving your monthly favourites!
    The olive oil mention was quite interesting for me.
    I too LOVED Catching Fire. Best of luck for your last exam and for year 12! :)

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    1. Thank you! I'm all done for the year now yay! The olive oil does work quite well but the oiliness is a bit annoying. It can be decreased by mixing it with water!

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  4. Great favourites! Oh and I watched the movie too and omg it was so good!

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  5. I cannot wait to watch the movie but I need to wait for some $$. Good luck for your last exam and have a nice break before getting into your final year. Like what Sarah said, it's the best year (of what I could remember of it). I tried olive oil once but it was too thick for my liking. I could feel the residue after cleansing so I had to stop it. xx

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    1. Aww, it's well worth the money! Yeah, the oiliness is a bit heavy but mixing it with water thins it down a bit.

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  6. Need to watch the movie - I've only read good reviews from people who have seen it.

    That Clarins toner has been on my wishlist for absolutely ages - I'm using Pixi Glow Tonic for now but may bite the bullet after it's finished up.

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    1. Yeah you do! It was on my wishlist for ages too! I'm super glad I got to try it now!

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  7. Great picks! I was actually asking on twitter recently if anyone had any experience with the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening toner as Im looking into trying it so i cant wait for your review!

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  8. Can't wait for that toner review - congrats on finishing that exam too! Been a while since I've sat a traditional exam but I can still feel the rush whenever someone mentions one ;) I loved Catching Fire too, going to see it again with my fam soon :) Saw it in gold class, was an awesome way to watch such a great film

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    1. Haha, exams are very nerve-wracking, I often feel sick before them too - not great. I really want to see it again too but I don't have the time. I'm waiting it out for the Boxing Day movies. I'm SO PUMPED for The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug!

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  9. The Clarins toner is amazing, and the Hunger Games was sooooo good!!! That movie had so many feels :D

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