MAY FAVORITES | 2016

by Brittany Lauren in ,


Monthly favourite videos are some of my most-watched videos on YouTube. I am subscribed to a large amount of beauty and fashion gurus that have similar tastes to mine, so when they post their "Monthly Favourites" videos, I am always excited. These videos are usually ten (ish) minutes where they talk about all things beauty and fashion related that they have been loving for that specific month. It's a great way to learn about new top-performing beauty products, and to stay on top of current trends. 

Below are a few of my favourite people that I love to watch:

 

 

Because I love watching them so much, I thought I would start doing a serious of my own monthly favourites. We all know my love for fashion and beauty is evident, so this will be a fun way for me to highlight my favourites, as well as give recommendations to those that have similar tastes in beauty and fashion to me. 

Enjoy! 

 

 

 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme, Mahogany - $38

Ever since the Kylie Lip Kits were released, I have been obsessing over the shade True Brown K. I actually set an alarm on my phone for the exact time she was restocking this shade, got online, and managed to order one before they were all sold out. However, much to my dismay, I received an email one week later informing me that they were oversold, and I would not be receiving one. Tears were shed, cries were had, it wasn't pretty. 

Anyways, since then, I have been on the hunt for a brown lipstick. A real brown. This task proved to be harder than I thought, as most of the brown lipstick shades I came across still had varying amounts of red in it. I then turned to the Marc by Marc Jacobs line, and found this beauty of a shade. It is definitely in the brown family, but does still have small amounts of red in it allowing it to be more wearable. For a lipstick that is not matte, I find it still has a significantly long wear time. In just one swipe, the colour is applied evenly and opaque -- these are highly pigmented. The packaging has a magnetic closure, making them feel even more luxurious.  I am absolutely loving this formula, and will surely be adding more to my collection in the future.

 

Miu Miu Fragrance, Miu Miu - $135

via WhoWhatWear

via WhoWhatWear

I discovered this fragrance upon walking into Sephora about a month ago. I can't simply walk by a brand new scent and not smell it. Impossible. I took the bottle down from the display and immediately sprayed it. It was love at first smell, if you will. 

Here is how Sephora describes the scent:

"Miu Miu starts with an elegant, sensual floral—lily of the valley—composed of real jasmine, real rose absolute, and synthetic green notes. The soft, fresh, ingénue scent is set against a deep earth-toned background: the wood and pepper of akigalawood, an extract of patchouli. The akigalawood adds a rich, brooding mystery to the subtle sparkle of the floral. The surprising combination feels natural and timeless—flower and earth—but the effect created by the multi-faceted process is utterly contemporary. "

These descriptions always make me laugh a little. How on Earth do people come up with these? Anyways, this scent is fabulous. It is unique, and a great mix of both feminine and masculine. It is very, very strong. I learned this the hard way after spraying myself three times in the store, and giving myself a small headache because of the overpowering scent. I now know that just one spray will last all day long, which I can appreciate! I don't love the design of the bottle, which is something to take into account I suppose. However, it's all about what's in the inside... right? 

 

Dior Hydralife BB Cream - $72

 

I absolutely love trying new face products, as I am always on the hunt for products that will help achieve a perfect complexion. This particular BB cream was purchased a few months back, but since I often rotate which foundations I use, this one went a while without being used. 

I rediscovered this last week, and fell in love all over again. This particular BB cream has an exceptionally hydrating formula; something my dry skin can appreciate. It has light to medium coverage, which is a quality I go for moving into the warmer months. I apply this using a wet beauty blender, which gives both nice coverage and an even finish. My favourite quality about this product is that it covers up the problem areas on the skin, but your skin still looks like skin. It has a very natural finish, and is easy to throw on when you're in a rush. If you have dry skin and are wanting to try a new foundation/BB cream that covers but remains natural, this may be for you. 

 

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, Dark Formula - $52

It's that time of year where we all start longing for the sun more than ever. I love a great tan as much as the next person, but I refuse to get one artificially from a tanning bed. The risks involved just aren't worth it to me. Luckily for us, we have something called St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse. 

I have been a long time fan of the original formula. After many bottles of it, I decided to switch it up and go for the dark formula. I don't think I will ever switch back -- this stuff is seriously dark. Every time I wear it, someone asks me if I just got back from somewhere hot. The St. Tropez formula has brown/green undertones; this is what makes the tan look so natural. There's nothing worse than self tanner that makes you look orange, am I right or am I right? The only downside to this product is the fact that you have a relatively short amount of time to blend it in, as it dries very quickly. Another thing I will say is that because it is so dark, I wouldn't recommend it for those with fairer complexions. I would suggest the original formula for those ladies. Overall, if you are someone with a medium skin tone and like to look more bronzed from time to time, this is product is a must. 

 

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick, Sandstorm - $11

With liquid lipsticks becoming more popular than ever, I have taken it upon myself to try as many different lines as possible. So far, I have yet to find one to disappoint, and this line by NYX is no exception. This particular shade is in the nude family, but a little on the darker side. It dries down completely matte, and will not budge no matter what you try; great for nights out! You only need one swipe of this lipstick in order to achieve highly opaque colour. And the best part? They are only $11!

 

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume - $10  

I know I've talked about this before, but this stuff deserves all of the praise in the world. Dry shampoo is a saviour for me on those days when I don't have time (or am too lazy) to wash my hair. I have tried many different brands of dry shampoo, but this is the bottle that stands out among the rest. I will say that for those who have dark hair, this may not be your favourite. It does leave a little bit of a white cast even after blending the shampoo into the roots. However, for those with darker roots that you are wanting to hide, this will work in your favour. Another bonus of this dry shampoo is the added quality of texturizing; it adds some serious volume to the roots, which I can appreciate. This product is only $10, and is very much worth a try. 

 

MAC Cremesheen Glass, Boy Bait - $24

This is actually my second tube of this gloss, surprisingly. I first purchased it back when my beauty obsession began about 5 or 6 years ago but soon ran out of it because it was very well-loved. I then went many years without, because I began to get into matte finishes. It wasn't until recently that I have been missing some gloss in my life, and decided that I needed to re-invest in a new tube of Boy Bait. This is the perfect shade to wear over my favourite lipstick, Honeylove. It is very comfortable to wear on the lips, and has a pleasant vanilla scent as all MAC lip products do. If you are in the market for a new gloss with a great formula, MAC Cremesheen Glass's may be the perfect product!

 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream - $54

I recently made a trip to Sephora determined to find the perfect skincare regime. Although I am embarrassed to admit it, I virtually do nothing to take care of my skin. If I remember, I will use a makeup wipe at the end of the day to remove my makeup, and that's about it. I have been noticing that my skin has not been so great lately, and decided that it was time to properly take care of it like I should have been a long time ago.

I arrived at Sephora and immediately asked for someone to help me in their skincare department. I had a wonderful girl, Courtney to be specific, help me pick out an entire set of skincare items that she thought would help out my skin tremendously. This is the product that I am loving the most; below is Sephora's description of this moisturizer:

"Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is a lightweight, daily antiaging moisturizer for all skin types, proven to minimize and prevent signs of aging, deliver intense hydration, and improve elasticity. It is formulated with Fresh’s proprietary super 7 complex—an age-defying, hydrating, and radiance-boosting blend of seven super-charged ingredients to defend against wrinkles, preserve collagen, support the production of hyaluronic acid, seal in moisture, and soften the skin."

What I love the most about this is its' ability to soak right into the skin, and not sit on top of it. I like this because I am usually applying makeup right after I moisturize, so I like to have everything absorbed as soon as possible. I also really love the scent of Fresh's skincare. It smells, well... Fresh, if you will. I have noticed that my skin has been significantly less dry since using this, so it is nice to visibly notice results. I really do recommend this if you are wanting a quality moisturizer that you can use both day and night. 

 

 

 

 

Wilfred Cecile Hat, Aritzia

As you may have seen from previous posts, I have been absolutely loving this hat for the month of May. I have always been a hat person, as I find they add a polished look to any outfit. This one felt a little out of my comfort zone when I first purchased it, but the more I tried it on, the more it grew on me. This particular hat is made from 100% Rambouillet wool, and features a genuine leather trim. Another great part about it is that it is water-repellent -- perfect for those rainy days. I love wearing this with undone hair, and with flowing casual outfits. It adds a structured and slightly western vibe to any outfit; a look that I have been absolutely loving. 

 

Oneiro BACCHUS Necklace - $139

This right here is my most complimented piece of jewelry. I wear it often at work, and am consistently asked where I got it. This is when I get to give the local jewelry line ONEIRO a shout-out! Alissa's pieces are unique, beautifully crafted, and very high quality. I love wearing this piece with more basic outfits to add an extra flair. Although I do love adding this to my more formal outfits as well. It features an amethyst crystal in the middle, which looks great against any colour top. I highly suggest you check out oneirodesigns.com to see all of the beautiful pieces the she has to offer!

 

 

Sol Sana Porter Heel - $200

As some of you may have noticed from the rest of my social media, I am LOVING these sandals lately. I purchased them about a month ago, and they haven't left my feet since. These are dangerously similar to the Isabel Marant Jaeryn sandals, but $800 less. I purchased them at Swank Shoe Lounge here in the city, and I believe they have a similar pair that are still in stock if you are loving these as much as I do. They go with literally any outfit, which is why I have been wearing them oh so much. Of course I love them because they are beautiful looking, but they are also very comfortable which is important as well -- especially for those ladies that are on their feet all day. 

 

 

That wraps up my May Favourites blog post! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it. There are sure to be many more of these posts in the future!

 

Brittany x