Skincare:
Olay Night of Olay Firming Cream ($6 ~ 2oz)
I absolutely love this moisturizer. I've been using it for years, and though I try new things, I always come back to this. I haven't found a thick cream that moisturizes nearly as well, yet doesn't over-moisturize my T-Zone on days when my combination skin decides that on a day it's going to be a little more oily. It's my favorite night time moisturizer and without it, my face will feel really tight when I tr to smile come the morning! You can find this at any drugstore near you.
Perlier Shea Butter Body Butter with Citrus Extract ($17.50 + $4 S&H ~ 1oz)
This was in last month's favorites so I won't go too much into it. Basically, this product is what all body butters wish they were. It's as thick as actual butter and it's a spectacular moisturizer for those patches that get really dry, like your elbows, knees, and heels. This has helped get my feet soft and summer-ready, which is why it's landed in my favorites for a second month in a row! It also has a mild citrus scent that's strong enough for you to smell it, but mild enough where it'll wear off and not conflict with any fragrance you're wearing. I grabbed a five pack of them at an introductory price of $20, but I think I would still purchase this at its current price because it lasts an eternity. I wouldn't buy it to use as a all-over body moisturizer, because then it'll be gone in a snap (plus that's just not necessary). However, this is the only product I know out there that has this consistency, so I think it's worth it. You can find it on HSN.
Makeup:
Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 Beauty Balm in Light Sheer Tint ($9 ~ 1oz)
Another repeat favorite from last month! I really like this product, though it's gotten mixed reviews. I have dry-combination skin and I've found that worked well for me. It really is quite sheer, so if you have any huge skin concerns this might not be the best product for you. Personally, I've just been using this and then going over any red spots with a concealer. I think less is more, so I like the whole idea of a sheer coverage. If you're interested in trying this, you can find it at any drugstore.
Yaby Concealer Refill Pan in Buff ($5 ~ 3.5g)
I received this in this month's Ipsy Glam Bag and I really like it! I've placed it in my GlamRX from March's Ipsy Bag and I use it all the time. As a whole, I generally like creamy concealers, since my skin is dry. Plus, I just think they look more natural since your body heat helps it melt into the skin. You can order a refill pan on Yaby's website but their shipping to the U.S. is a crazy amount ($20!), so unless they're having a special free shipping offer, I would advise against it. For $25, I could find something else. However, for $5 I think this is a fantastic product! If you're interested in joining Ipsy for more products like this, you can join here. This is my referral link, but if you wanted to be mean about it, I suppose you could Google it and sign up that way.
Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink ($15 ~ .28oz)
I love this lip gloss! I received this in this month's Ipsy Glam Bag as well. It's my new go-to gloss, since it tastes/smells good and makes a great "my lips but better" color. Plus, it's completely smooth. I don't typically mind sticky lip glosses, but it is nice not having to pull my hair out of my mouth when my hair sticks to my lips! I would definitely repurchase this, and you can find it on Juice Beauty's website.
NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm ($3 ~ 3.5oz)
If I'm wearing the Juice Beauty lip gloss 90% of the time, I'm wearing this the other 10%. I received this in my Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox this month. I really like it for the summer, since it has that "I just ate a cherry popsicle" red tint to it. I guess I really like sheer lip colors for summer! Either way, I think it makes a great summer lip, with a slight pop of color. It also smells and tastes like apple! It's not that glossy, but it's definitely balmy and applelicous (I'm running out of words here, come on!). You can find this at any drugstore, and for $3, why not?
Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush ($12)
If I could only have one eye makeup brush, it would be this one. It applies eyeshadow into the crease beautifully and it blends really well. I also use this to apply translucent powder under my eyes to keep my concealer in place, and you can also use this to apply highlighter on the high points of your face if you wished. I just love it, and I think it is absolutely worth the $12. This is a natural-haired brush, but they also have a separate vegan line that uses synthetic hair only. You can find this brush on Sigma Beauty's website, and shipping isn't that bad at all.
Sigma F40 Large Angled Contour Brush ($16)
If someone really hated me and stuck me on a desert island, and I could only have two makeup brushes (why that would be my concern, I don't know), I would take the E40 and this one. It applies blush so beautifully! It also doesn't have a problem with picking up too little product like other brushes I've used have had. It's also angled, which really can't make applying blush any easier. If you wanted a more dramatic contour, you could also use this to really get in below the cheekbone to apply bronzer. I love it and I use it for blush all the time. I really think these brushes are fantastic quality, and with MAC brushes getting more and more expensive, I think Sigma is a great alternative. This is a natural-haired brush, but they also have a separate vegan line that uses synthetic hair only. You can also find this on Sigma Beauty's website.Fashion:
Bracelets
A good friend of mine studied abroad this past fall semester and brought back these bracelets for me from Ghana! I'm completely in love with them and I wear them almost every day. They especially feel very boho-summer to me. I suppose if you wanted to, you could find something similar elsewhere, but I love these because they given to me from a friend, and they were hand-made in Ghana. I just think that's so awesome. :)
Food:
San Pellegrino Aranciata
I'm addicted to this stuff! It's basically carbonated water and orange juice, but I don't know how they do it. I've tried mixing carbonated water (even the Pellegrino) with orange juice, and it didn't taste the same. I tried mixing Pellegrino with juice from actual oranges, and it didn't taste as good. I don't understand, but as long as I can keep drinking it, I don't mind. It's a little expensive, but I stocked up when it was on sale so I've had quite a few cans on hand. I have a problem staying hydrated since I don't like water, so I like to think I'm helping my body out by drinking this. I'm really not, because there's quite a bit of sugar in it, but don't burst my bubble. They also make limonata, which is basically carbonated water and lemon juice. Also, fun fact: aranciata in Italian means "orange juice," which is quite fitting. I think it tastes better when you buy it in the little glass bottles, but that might just be psychological because I like drinking out of glass bottles better than cans. Either way, you can find these at grocery stores near you, so give it a try!
TV Show:
The I.T. Crowd
Game:
Tiny Tower
Song:
Crazy in Love (Kid Koala Version) - Emeli Sande
I first heard this song on the Great Gatsby soundtrack and I can't stop listening to it! The whole soundtrack is fantastic, but this song is the one that gets stuck in my head. I didn't think anyone could ever make a Beyonce song better, but they did, by making a 1920s remix of it! It's just everything I could ever want in life. You can listen to it here, but if you like it, you should probably be a good person and buy it off iTunes so you can support the super-talented people who created it.
What were your favorite things this month?
