MONTHLY FAVORITES: April 2012

April has been a pretty simple month in terms of beauty products.  Since it's warming up here in California, I haven't been going for very dramatic looks so everything is fairly neutral. But, April has been a really good month for finding products that I am in love with and are perfect for me.  I did not include things that would be my favorite for other months, such as my Lancome Teint Idole Ultra foundation, because it would seem silly to have that in every single Monthly Favorites post.  However, I will do a post on my "Holy Grail" Products that would belong in every Favorites post. 

YSL Parisienne Eau de Parfum Spray

This was featured in my 'Retail Therapy' post and has definitely been a favorite for me this month.  I've worn this basically every single day.  It's just a really great, every day scent that is not too overpowering.  Even my boyfriend likes this perfume, which is always a good thing. 

Redken All Soft Conditioner

As I've mentioned in my 'Hair Help' post, I have quite dry hair thanks to the bleaching I've tortured my hair with over the last year.  I've been looking for a good, every day conditioner I could use in my hair that wouldn't be too heavy for my hair.  I have been watching essiebutton's videos on youtube for quite some time now, and she has mentioned a few times that this line has saved her damaged hair.  I saw it at Target and decided to take the plunge and get it.  It's quite expensive for a 8.5 oz bottle, but it's totally worth it. I don't think I will buy another conditioner for a while because this is absolutely perfect for me.  It's lightweight, smells good, and makes my hair SO silky smooth and soft.  Softer than it's felt for a while.  I think I'll be purchasing this from an online dealer next time I buy it because I think I'll be able to find it at a cheaper price.

Tarina Tarantino Fleur de Lash Mascara in Black Opal

Tarina Tarantino Fleur de Lash Mascara in Black Opal

I recently received this as a 100 Point Perk from Sephora.  I'm a huge fan of mascaras and I love when Sephora has mascaras as samples, because it's an easy way for me to try out a high end mascara without dropping $20 every time.  My lashes are pretty average in length, but are really straight and droopy.  I've found a pretty good process to keep them curled throughout the day, so I've been looking for a pretty good volumizing mascara that isn't too clumpy.  This mascara is amazing for that.  It has a pretty large brush, but it is never gloopy with product, so it is never clumpy. The brush is similar to the Revlon Grow Luscious but the Revlon mascara gets way more product on it, which makes it a lot clumpier.  I may consider buying this product when the sample runs out, but I've noticed with a lot of mascara samples, the sample is a lot better than the actual product.  So, we'll see.

MAC 'Warm Soul' Mineralize Blush

MAC 'Warm Soul' Mineralize Blush

I purchased about a month and a half ago, and I've found that I've been reaching for it a lot.  I was at the MAC counter at Nordstrom and asked what their suggestion would be for a natural, every day blush.  The lady at the counter immediately suggested 'Warm Soul' and told me that it's their best selling blush and it's the perfect natural blush.  It's a gorgeous mid-tone dusty pink shade with some gold shimmer throughout.  It is perfect for every day because it's not an overpowering shade and the shimmer isn't too harsh.  I rarely like pink shades, and I find that since this is a dustier pink shade, it is a lot more natural looking and easier to wear.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black

I wear liquid liner almost every single day.  I've also tried almost every single drug store liquid eye liner. One of my favorites was the L'Oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black Liquid Eye Liner, but one day, while shopping, I noticed it had flaked off and faded.  I decided to give this one a try.  So far, it's been perfect.  Rather than being a thick layer of liquid liner, it's almost like a stain, so it doesn't flake or fade throughout the day.  I was afraid of it not being opaque enough, but it's actually quite opaque and buildable.  It's a felt tip, pen applicator, so it's a lot easier to work with than most other liquid liners on the market. 

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in 'Park Ave Princess'

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in 'Park Ave Princess'

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in 'Park Ave Princess'

Let's get this out of the way first: I absolutely hate Tarte's packaging.  Most of their packaging looks juvenile and tacky.  They have some products with fairly simple packaging that is tolerable.  But most of it is gaudy and awful.  Example: this bronze, crocodile, fake leather mess shown above.  What's strange is that their products are quite natural and sulfate/paraben free, so you'd figure they'd go for a more pure, simple looking packaging.  Also, their products are quite good and I really enjoy them, but their packaging really keeps me from wanting to buy anything of theirs because it's a pretty embarrassing part of my collection. But, oh well. Anyway, I had a sample of this bronzer and I really fell in love with it.  It is quite shimmery, but doesn't look that shimmery on the face.  It's a great color for me because it's not too orange or too dark.   It looks really good with matte blushes, since it has a bit of shimmer on its own.  I've been using this a lot, especially when I want a more cheek-focused look. 

Urban Outfitters Nail Lacquer in 'Tanline'

I featured this in my most recent 'Lacquer Lust' post.  I bought this a few months ago, and I'm actually not quite sure if you can still get this.  I wasn't able to find it online, but it still may be available in stores.  I was pretty afraid of this color at first, but in the last month, I've become absolutely obsessed with this nail polish.  It's a fluorescent orange shade, so it's perfect for the upcoming months.  I actually think I'm going to paint my nails this shade next.  Which will be like the 5th time this month.

NARS Lipstick in 'Barbarella'

NARS Lipstick in 'Barbarella'

I purchased this lipstick about a year ago and I've sort of forgot about it until a couple months ago.  I really like to wear peachy, nude shades on my lips but I think it's hard to find a shade that isn't too light or too nude.  This is the perfect, sheer peach shade.  Though it is quite sheer with one coat, you can build it up really well to create a more opaque kind of color. It's almost like a "My Lips but Better" kind of shade.  It's a great shade for girls who are looking for a good, neutral lip color to wear that doesn't make them look dead or like they have concealer lips.  I also think that it could look really good on a range of skin tones, especially medium skin tones.  It's really creamy and moisturizing, as most NARS lipsticks are.  I don't hear much about this shade online or anywhere, so I think this is a hidden gem amongst the NARS collection. 

Sephora Prisma Chrome Eye Shadow in 'Moon Beam'

Sephora Prisma Chrome Eye Shadow in 'Moon Beam'

I recently featured this in my 'Face of the Day' post.  I've been reaching for this a lot since I purchased it earlier this month.  It's just the perfect, shimmery champagne shade.  It's not too light, which I find to be a problem with a lot of champagne eye shadows.  It's quite sheer in color, but is easily buildable.  I'm really glad I purchased this after swatching it for months and months.  I still have yet to try it wet, but will keep you guys updated if I decide to do so.

xx,

Jordana