Current Faves June 2012

Since I obviously can't keep up with a monthly favorites, I thought that whenever I have a small group of products that I love that I would share them. Some of these are newly discovered while others I have loved for a while. Let me know if you've used any of these before and your thoughts on them!

1. Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub: I picked this up on an whim at Target towards the beginning of the year and have LOVED it ever since! If you are looking for a gentle exfoliator that you can use daily, look no further. Every night I apply a prescription gel to my face for rosacea, so when I wake up in the morning I have a dried "film" left over. This scrub is awesome at giving my face a deep clean, yet isn't too harsh that it irritates my skin. I keep a tube both by my sink and in the shower. Next time you're in Target definitely give this a try.

2. Benefit Erase Paste in Medium: For as long as I've used concealer (it was the first makeup product my mom took me to buy at 13. Plagued by dark circles at an early age!), I have yet to find one that I absolutely LOVE. I've always heard great things about Erase Paste, but for some reason it takes a lot for me to pay 20+ dollars on a concealer. I recently got this in a kit with a Benefit primer and so far have really enjoyed it! I've always been partial to more liquid-y concealers in tubes, but this is a heavier formula, yet it doesn't settle into my lines and crease.

3. CoverGirl Cheekers blush in Iced Cappuccino : I never would have bought this blush except for the fact that it was said to have been used in a look for one of Mariska Hargitay's magazine covers (does this surprise you at all?). This costs all of $3 and some change at the drug store. When I first bought it and swatched it with my finger it didn't seem to have much pigmentation, but once I put it on my cheeks I fell in love. It has very little pink in it, which I like since I don't want to accentuate my rosacea, but more of a golden tone so it gives a nice warmth to the cheeks. The only thing I initially had an issue with was the smell. It has the typical "old lady cosmetics" smell, but after the first time I used it I didn't notice it anymore.

4. Dior Hydra Life BB Creme: Presenting the most expensive beauty product I've ever bought! BB cremes have become all the rage in the US over the past couple months even though they've been around in Asian countries for years. I had tried the Garnier BB cremes, and while it was an ok product it left a very oily finish on my face that I had to set with a powder. I wanted a quick product that I could slap on and run out the door. And this is it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this product. Ever since I bought it, I haven't used foundation. It's the only thing I'm bringing on my trip to London. From the first day I wore it, my mom and others have complimented me on how great my skin looks. While most BB cremes have a grey-ish tint to them, this one does have a warmer color, so warm in fact that if I had tried this in the dead of winter it would have been too orange for me. But if you're looking to try out a BB creme, I highly recommend going into Sephora and trying this out and getting a sample.

5. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm: I bought this lip balm for the first time over a year ago when I made a Sephora order. I instantly loved it, but when my last tube ran out I wondered if it was really worth the $7.50, so I started used some of the random lip balms I had sitting around. I thought they were doing the same until I discovered a half empty Jack Black balm in my drawer. Holy cow I did not realize how great this stuff was until I went back to it! I only use it at night because it is a pretty heavy balm, but when I wake up in the morning my lips feel so silky and smooth. When I went to the beach last weekend I used another balm and my lips were noticeably dry by the time I got back.

6. L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Brown: I bought this eyeliner when I watched a YouTube video a couple months ago and someone was using it to line their top inner rim of their eyelid. I always try to line my inner rim and water line, and if you've ever tried to line either one you know it can be difficult! I first line my upper lid to warm the product up, then since the pencil tip of this liner is so long, I simply run it along my inner rim (instead of using the point) and the color applies beautifully. It's not waterproof so I do have to set it when applying it to my lower waterline, but so far I haven't had any complaints about this product.

 Hope you guys enjoyed this post. If you haven't already figured it out I am a self-professed product junkie, so let me know about some of your favorite products and anything else I should try! I'm currently posting this from the airport waiting on our delayed flight, so I will probably be MIA for the next 10 days, but I will try to update twitter and instagram as often as I can find wi-fi in merry old London!!

xoxo

Natalie