December Favorites (a.k.a. LUSH, blush, and brush)

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a good holiday season, and are energized to start afresh. I made a few resolutions this year, the most important of which is to stop worrying, and just get things done! There’s a lot going on in work and in life, so I hope this attitude will help me in the coming year.

Speaking of getting it done, one thing I’ve wanted to do for a while now is a “favorites” post. I really love reading favorites posts, because they’re so personal and unique to each person. It’s kind of like reading the “Best in Beauty” sections in magazines, but better since the products have actually been used. So without further ado... my December 2010 favorites!

1. LUSH Snowglobe soap – Grapefruit is my favorite smell, and this is the best grapefruit scented soap ever! It smell is amplified when I use it in a hot shower, because of all the essential oils. I stockpiled $40 of this at the LUSH after-christmas sale (for $20 of course), especially since it was limited edition. I really really hope it comes back next year.
2. NARS blush in Orgasm – This month I’ve been all about a fresh, natural look, centered around blush. It’s also because I realized I just look pallid without it. “O” (more pictures here) gives the perfect natural flushed look on my light skin.
3. NARS blush in Deep Throat – I went through a really peachy phase this month, so this blush was perfect. It’s a bright peachy pink that’s more pigmented and a lot less shiny than “O”. Even though the colors are so similar, there is a definite difference when worn.
4. LUSH Seanik shampoo bar – Did you know that using solid shampoos is a “green” thing to do? Apparently a lot of energy is saved on transportation and packaging. I was skeptical about a bar shampoo (I imagined rubbing soap in my hair, ick), but now I’m a convert! This shampoo is incredibly sudsy and only requires a few swipes here to get enough bubble action =P. My scalp feels great, probably because there aren’t weird chemical additives that build up as with normal shampoos. Seanik is for thin / oily hair, but there are lots of different bars for different hair types.
5. Sephora Professionel wide-toothed comb – You’re not supposed to use typical brushes on curly / wavy hair. So I did, and it was great.
6. Buxom lip gloss in Amber – I love this peachy-pink gloss. It looked great paired with NARS deep throat when I was going through my peachy phase. BUXOM glosses are so moisturizing for my dry lips. I love the caramel-y smell and tingly mint feeling they have.
7. Lancome lipstick in Voile de Rose – Lancome is an animal tester, so I don’t buy. However, I got this free from some gift with purchase my mom had. It’s a bright warm pink that looks really fresh, so I’ve started using it lately. There are dupes out there (ex Chanel Jersey Rose) so no need to buy from Lancome in the future.
8. Bobbi Brown Day to Night Warm eyeshadow palette – I didn’t use it much when I first got it, however it’s been getting a lot of use recently. All the eye colors are great for a natural look, with darker colors for more drama if necessary. I use the Expresso (the matte brown) for eyebrows. This was a very good purchase. Lately, I don’t feel the need to go out and buy more eyeshadows.
9. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude – This is a sample size that I started using thanks to Project Ten Pan (link). Turns out I really like it. It’s sheerer and more natural than regular foundation. It doesn’t cover my blemishes really well, but it can be layered for a little extra coverage. It’s good for everyday use, and I don’t have to deal with major color-rubbing-off issues like you do with regular foundation. Only complaint is that the sample isn’t oil-free. I think it does bother my breakouts if worn for long hours. I might get the oil-free version in the future.
10. EcoTools blush brush – This month saw a lot of blush and this was my favorite brush! No animals cruelly treated for their fur, and more hygenic since I can wash the heck out of the synthetic fibers. I think blushes tend to grow more bacteria if you’re not careful, so a clean blush brush is key.
11. BUXOM mascara in black – It’s not my #1 mascara (yet), but it’s growing on me the more I use it. The brush is really really great for application and separation, and the formula is really lengthening and volumizing. There’s no fallout beneath my eye, which I really like. Plus, there are less chemical nasties, and a lower price tag than most high end mascaras.

Phew, that took a lot more effort than I thought to write. I just moved into my new place and there’s no internet yet, because the AT&T installers didn’t come on the day they were supposed to. Really horrible customer service. I learned how to write text on a photo using GIMP software, which is like the freely distributed version of photoshop. I think it’s going to be fun learning how to use editing software in the future!

Love in the dove,

Dovey