Favourites time again; and this month has been a little less heavy on the product side. I’ve been steering clear of bases and skincare while my dermatitis/eczema clears up and sticking mostly to the basics the last four weeks. After a couple of months testing out a few different eyeshadow palettes, I’ve gone back to Urban Decay’s NAKED 2, which has been perfect for a simple everyday look. There’s a reason why so many people own this palette (or 1, or 3…); for one, it’s incredibly pigmented – although there can be a little powder kick up if you’re little to eager with your eyeshadow brush – and not to mention quite versatile. Personally, I’ve been using ‘foxy’ all over the lid, and ‘tease’ in the crease to add a bit of depth to the eye socket. It’s such an easy look that I like finishing off with a little eyeliner along the lash line. For special occasions or going out, my favourites from the palette are Chopper (a rose-toned shadow with silver flecks) and Half-Baked (a true metallic gold), both swiped all over the lid.
The eyeliner I’ve been reaching for a lot this month is from NYX, and it’s their ‘Two Timer’ eyeliner. My Kat Von D liner seems to be drying out, and while this doesn’t compare in terms of intensity of colour, I’ve found that it lasts all day without budging an inch. I’m a huge fan of its dual potential for a smudged out kohl look or a slick cat flick, and at $10, I think you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.
One thing I’ve been dying to do for the longest time is get my teeth whitened, so I recently dropped by Pure Smile in Broadway (this is in Ultimo, Sydney, for those wondering!) for a whitening session. The whole process was incredibly comfortable and for me only took 45 minutes (it can go up to 60 minutes, depending on the shade of your teeth), and I have to say I’m really happy with the results. My teeth are noticeably whiter, which is one of those small but subtle changes that I think gives a person a bit of added confidence, especially if you’re always having a giggle or a big grin on your face, like I often do.
For my lips, I’ve got a new favourite lip liner, and it’s from Topshop. The shade I have is ‘Deception’, and I don’t think it’ll be the last. Given winter is on its way to Sydney, it is the perfect colour to crack out to match some of my favourite cranberry and wine toned lipsticks. The formula is incredibly creamy and opaque, and I’d say it is pretty much on par with my MAC lip liners but at a fraction of the price. In terms of actual lipsticks? I’ve ben loving E.L.F’s matte lip colour in the shade ‘Tea Rose’. It’s a very muted pale mauve shade – I’d almost say it’s like a desaturated natural lip colour as it has a greyish tone to it. While the packaging describes it as matte, I’d say it is more of a natural finish, which I prefer for this particular shade.
On my nails, I’ve been reaching for Mudslide from Sally Hansen, as it is just a really pretty posy pink, and paints on opaque with one swipe. The brush is quite flat and wide making it incredibly easy to use and it has a thick formula which I’ve really become quite fond of.
Lastly, lets talk hair care. I’ve been meaning to try Bumble & Bumble’s thickening shampoo and conditioner for the longest time, so when I last dropped by Mecca, I couldn’t leave without the combo in my shopping bag. I’ve been using this religiously (in combination with B&B’s tropical riche treatment) and I’ve definitely noticed a difference. I’m also a sucker for cucumber scented anything so I think it’d probably be a winner in my books regardless.
So those are all my favourites for April! I’d love to know what you’ve been loving this last month, and if you haven’t seen it yet, my monthly favourites video is just below x
