July Beauty Favourites
My favourites for July are in, they are late, yes I know. But hey, better late than never I say!
Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser, Heal Gel Face, Darphin Hydraskin Serum, MV Organics Rose Plus Booster
Lets talk skincare first. Hands down my favourite cleanser for this month has been the Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser. I am a huge fan of all the Tata cleansers but this one has just been ‘the one’ for me lately. I use as a second cleanse and pump out around 2 pumps and gently massage into my face and add a little water to my fingertips just to work the product around a little easier. I then use a face cloth to remove thoroughly. This cleanser feels very clarifying on the skin and has more of a herbal scent rather than citrusy like the other Tata cleansers. I have not had one breakout, pimple, spot this month and I think this cleanser is (one part) of the reason for this.
Another huge fave this month has been the Heal Gel Face Serum. I have been using this reasonably consistently as a morning serum and I could not be more pleased with the results. This is kind of one of those ‘do-all’ type serums with anti-aging benefits, helping with redness/blemishes/pigmentation as well as hydration. I am absolutely shocked (in a good way!) at how my skin has been behaving and this powerful serum has helped clear up a couple of old spots and more importantly has prevented any more little critters cropping up. In. Love. ’nuff said.
Winter here in Australia has been a bit of bitch to my sensitive skin as far as hydration issues go. My face has been constantly dry (not flaky, just tight…) and has been requiring far more in the way of hydration boosters. Two that have been my go-to’s this month are the Darphin Hydraskin Serum and the MV Organic Rose Plus Booster. The Darphin serum is a watery type consistency that I apply just before moisturiser (day or night) whenever I feel like I need something more intensive. It sinks in immediately and really helps with keeping my skin feeling well hydrated. The MV Rose Plus Booster is an oil which I add a few drops to my night cream and apply together. This oil smells phenomenal. If you like rose scented products you will die over this – Obvs hopefully not literally 😉
Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet, Aerin Gardenia Rattan, Bourjois 1 Second Volume Mascara, Estée Lauder Double Wear Eyeliner, Real Techniques Setting Brush
Onto some makeup and other bits and bobs I’ve been loving throughout July. Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet is one of my all-time can’t-live-without foundations. Everything about this base is perfection to me from the colour, application, finish, longevity. I need to shake the tube quite vigorously first as it’s a very liquidy formulation and squeeze a small amount onto the back of my hand and apply in sections on my face just with fingers. The product is so quick to blend that I find working in smaller areas and fingers are the optimal way to get the most out of this base. I always set the t-zone area with a loose powder but as the product has an almost liquid to powder setting I don’t need to worry about setting the rest of my face. Lasts well all day with no separation and still looks pretty great after 8-10 hours wear. A minor touchup may be required if you want to wear longer, but that would be pretty rare for me.
Even though July in Australia is the depths of winter I’ve been favouring a more lighter floral scent. Aerin in Gardenia Rattan has been my most-worn this month and as per it’s namesake it literally smells like a bunch of gardenias which admittedly are one of my most loved flowers for the scent alone. I’m super excited that the Aerin line is now available in Oz albeit for quite a substantial price jump from the US (where I got mine from a year or so ago) but if you stop by an Estee Lauder counter they should be available to give a sniff test. All the Aerin scents are quite floral and are just gorgeous and I’d quite happily own the all!
Onto mascara, and a brilliant budget buy is the Bourjois 1 Seconde Volume. I have pretty much reached for this almost everyday and it’s just fab regardless of the price. Mascara is a product that I tend to not concern myself about much, as long as I have one that doesn’t smudge or flake I’m a happy girl. One coat and this one produces naturally enhanced lashes add a couple extra coats and you’ve got some va-va-voom.
When it comes to eyeliner I am the world’s laziest. At least 50% of the time I go without because I can’t be bothered faffing around with it early in the morning. But when I do I much prefer a brown over a black and I’ve been really into the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place liner in Coffee. The pencil glides on softly and smoothly and is very easy to smudge out, but when set it does not move. Now I don’t buy or use huge amounts of different eyeliners so can’t say how it compares to many but this one definitely does the job for me and does it well!
Lastly my most used brush this month is the Real Techniques Setting Brush. I use this to set my under eye and around my nose or anywhere I have applied concealer. Perfect size for getting under the eye and it’s pretty soft too. Sometimes cheap and cheerful is the way to go and I don’t have a bad word to say about this brush.
Phew, well that’s all my favourites and most loved for July. Have you tried any of these and what do you think?
