Winter Beauty Favourites

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I'm half way through the last month of winter and I can't see myself deciding on any more beauty favourites before September so I thought I would just share these with you now. I'm not a big fan of winter and I felt like some of these favourites made the season a little more bearable and lightened my mood a bit. Even though some of these beauty favourites are very winter oriented, some aren't specific to any season and I hope there's something useful or interesting in this Favourites post for you regardless of where you live or what season you live in. 

I spent most of my spare time on the couch during winter. I have been watching TV, online shopping, drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate and hanging out with pets. I haven't really accomplished anything else. I can't believe it's nearly September and my end-of-year goals are looking a little neglected. I have also managed to get a bit of a sniffle, not really a cold, just the effects of cold weather and allergies. Things flower here in winter. I live in North Queensland, so it doesn't get any where near as cold as a lot of other places during winter. I have never seen snow or frost, and I consider anything under 20 degrees celsius to be too cold. 

I didn't really do anything too exciting over the course of winter. I went to the Superboats again, I discovered a new make-up brand I liked. I honestly can't think of much else. I watched a lot of Youtube. I had pajama days... It would be an understatement to say that I'm looking forward to warmer weather...

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SKINCARE:

• My skin has been disgusting this winter. My hands cracked open a few times regardless of how much cream I put on them and my acne reached a whole new level. So I'm not sure if there is too much I can really recommend here. I don't know if it was so much the products I was using, as it was the change in whether, unhealthy habbits (eating/sleeping/water drinking) and stress that affected my skin. My face seemed to completely change and while I had a lot of blemishes, my skin was 100 times more sensitive and I had dry patches starting. Products that worked previously for me were too harsh, so I had to go buy gentler stuff which didn't seem to do much about the blemishes. 

• One thing that I noticed worked for me was the TheBodyShop Elderflower Cooling Eye Gel which didn't affect my sensitive skin and worked wonders around the nose and on other dry partches. A trick I learned from a Make-up Video  by Shaaanxo on Youtube. 

• I ended up re-purchasing the Garnier BB Cream Sensitive in Light/Clair which is still one of my favourites after trying so many. I have noticed it's a little bit on the pink side though, which is a shame considering my skin naturally quite sallow. 

MAKE-UP:

• I have really been enjoying using the Models Prefer Argan Concealer in 'Light' for underneath my eyes. It is so creamy and brightening. 

• I got a Benefit They're Real Mascara sample with a magazine and I think it's pretty good. I don't think I will ever by the full size though. The price is a bit too high for my wallet. 

• I rediscovered the Besame Violet Powder which I have used to set my face a few times this month. The only downfall is that I think this actually makes my under eye area look ashy, so I have to use something else to set my under-eye concealer. I really want to try the Vanilla version, because even though it's recommended for 'Light-Medium' skin (and my skin is Light), it seems like it would be better for me because I've got yellow undertones. 

• When my lips haven't been super dry and gross I have really enjoyed wearing the Besame Lipsticks. I think I wore the two shades 'American Beauty' and 'Red Hot Red' the most, but I did wear all of the shades at some stage. 'Red Hot Red' is probably my absolute current favourite. It's so vibrant and flattering.

• I discovered Colourpop Highlighters this winter and I bought quite a few of them. My absolute favourites at the moment are 'Hippo', 'Teasecake' and 'Wisp'. I have another Colourpop order coming in the mail soon and I hope to do a post about all of them with mini-reviews and swatches. 

• I have been using a lot of single eyeshadows lately. The ones that get the most use are Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eye Shadow in 'Bella Ivory' (I use this for my brow-bone), 'Bella Cafe' (Transition shade) and 'Bella Taupe' (Crease Shade). I also really like the Essence I heart baked nude shadow in '05 My Favourite Tauping' as a transition shade. I have been using Colourpop Supershock Eyeshadows in 'Play' (My absolute favourite shade, which I use for lid or crease colour), 'High Tide' (Inner corner shade) and  'Bill' (A Mauve-y Mid-tone Brown which looks absolutely stunning with 'Plunge' worn over the top. My favourite combo). Finally, the Chichi Baked Eyeshadow in 'Living on a Prayer' is a great dark taupe for the crease. 

• I also have some brushes favourites to share. I recently bought the Ecotools 6 Piece Essential Eye Brush Set and I am obsessed with the two larger brushes, which work great for blending the Colourpop shadows (though a finger is your best tool if you want good colour payoff). I really enjoy the Crush Cosmetics Precision Angled Brush for highlighting, setting my under eye area and for detailed contouring if I feel like it. The Crush cosmetics 217 brush is great for using darker colours in the crease. I also recently discovered the ChiChi Make-up Blending Sponge which is supposed to be a dupe for the Beauty Blender (which I have not tried. I like how affordable these sponges are. I don't really like it for foundation, but it's good for blending out concealer over blemishes. 

HAIR:

• I still haven't really found a shampoo that I really like and I'm waiting for one I ordered from Avon. I have mostly been using the Organix Coconut Water Shampoo & Conditioner. Which can feel a little bit "heavy" sometimes. I think it would suit someone with long frizzy hair better than someone with short hair. 

• I really like the TheBodyShop Brazil Nut Define & No Frizz which I put on damp hair before I comb and style it. I also use a little bit of the Toni&Guy Creative Stick it Up Gum sometimes to mess it up if I feel like it. I use these with some other products that I have mentioned in previous favourites posts.

FASHION/STYLE:

• Unfortunately I entered winter with the misconception that all my winter clothes still fit me and they didn't. I was so grateful that my Target Hot Options Cord Jeggings still did because I love them. 
• I am obsessed with a peach coloured Mix Apparel Cardigan I got. It's a bit thicker than my other cardigans and I think it looks so cute. I have it in other colours, but the peach one got the most wear. 

MUSIC:

This is a pretty random combination of songs that I have been enjoying. I bought a lot of them of itunes. 

• 'Higher' by Creed
•  'I'm Not in Love' by Fun Lovin' Criminals (Cover of 10cc)
•  'The Other Side of Love' Jack Savoretti
•  'Another Way to Die' Jack White and Alicia Keys
•  'Unchained (The Payback/Untouchable) by James Brown and 2Pac
•  '2 Hearts' Kylie Minogue
•  'We Can't Be Friends' Lorene Scarfia
•  'Run On' Moby
•  'Temptation' by New Order
•  'Blue Orchid' The White Stripes
•  'Love Never Felt So Good' Michael Jackson (Demo Version)
•  'Cinema' Benny Benassi
•  'She' She and Him (Cover of Charles Aznavour)

OTHER:

• I have been watching a lot of TV lately. So You Think You Can Dance (America) is on at the moment and I am obsessed with it. Especially the Stage Routines. I am a Team Stage girl, though I must admit JaJa is pretty damn cool too. I also recently started watching The Mysteries of Laura which features Debra Messing. Unfortunately the Australian TV channels are messing the times up on me. Do you here me TV channel people? Please don't do this to your viewers. Also if you live in America, please don't share spoilers with me. Aussie TV is always behind. I've also been indulging in a bit of The Voice AU and I've been re-watching Gilmore Girls on DVD. 

• I have really been enjoying watching Youtube. At the Moment my Favourites are LipglossLeslie, Post Modern Duke Box (especially when Sarah Reich is Tap dancing), Pixiwoo, KathleenLights, and VintageorTacky. Most of these are beauty gurus, except for the Post Modern Duke Box which does old school covers of modern-ish tunes. 

• Tomato tart. It's simple to make and it tastes good, and I've lost track of how many times I have made it over the winter. It's just a sheet of puff pastry with garlic butter, sliced tomato and grated cheese. One sheet is a "snack" for three people. Half a sheet is a meal for one. I'm also obsessed with ABE'S Bagel Bites in 'Pizza' flavour. YUM!

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I hope you are all enjoying (or at least tolerating) your Winter (or Summer) weather. What are your favourite things at the moment?

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie