Sammi the Beauty Buff: My Favorite Things: February 2015

Hi, friends! Wow, I haven't done one of these since October! My 2014 Favorites kind of replaced My Favorite Things for the past few months, but now they're back and I can't wait to share my most-loved products with you! There's a surprising amount of makeup, and almost NO skincare (*gasp*). These are the products that I would be most likely to recommend to a friend, because we're all friends here. Without further ado, here are my favorite products for the month of February!

BENEFIT Peek-A-Bright Eyes ($32)

I've always liked this palette, but this month it seems like it was all I wanted to use! It's been my go-to eye look recently because you don't have to think about it in order to get a put-together eye look. I can do this half-asleep and still come out looking okay. And what I like about it most is that it lets your eyes be the star. It simply enhances your eye color, rather than taking all of the attention away, which is how makeup should be (to me, anyway). The colors look really boring in the pan, but they're just so beautiful on the eyes. If you're fair like me, be warned that the brown color is extremely pigmented, so I barely tap my brush in when I want to use it. It'll basically last me forever. [read more: March 2014 Favorites]

DR. JART+ Black Label Detox Beauty Balm ($36 for 1.5oz)

I received this in my October 2014 Birchbox and I like it just as much as I predicted I would! It gives natural-looking coverage and you can still see your skin through it. I would say it's sheer to medium and buildable, depending on how much you apply. I don't think I'll ever use foundation as long as Dr. Jart+ is still in business. I can't decide whether I like this or the Premium Beauty Balm better. The Premium might just win because it has more SPF.

THEBALM COSMETICS Stainiac in Beauty Queen ($17 for 8.9ml)

I don't have too many products from theBalm but I haven't tried a product I didn't like yet! I received sample this all the way back in my November 2013 Birchbox, so while looking through my stash I decided I should pull it out and use it. It provides more color and staying power than Benefit's Benetint, though it's more of a gel as opposed to a liquid. I haven't tried this on my cheeks yet, just because the gel texture is throwing me off, but that's on next month's to-do list!

MAYBELLINE Color Tattoo in Bold Gold ($7)

When I wasn't wearing my Benefit Bright Eyes Palette, the only other eyeshadow I was wearing was this. Whenever I'm wearing earth tones, I just automatically jump to this. The antique gold color pairs nicely when I'm wearing greens, maroons, and creams, and it makes my blue eyes pop. Plus, they don't crease on me, even if I don't use primer or a powder shadow on top of it. My only gripe is that I've had mine for a year and it's starting to dry out. I would love to have a whole collection of these at my disposal, but I'm afraid they'll dry out before I get to really use them. [read more: October 2014 Favorites]

PIXI BY PETRA Shea Butter Lip Balm in Natural Rose ($8)

This was a new find this month, and I'm really liking it. I don't have much experience with the Pixi brand, but now I want to try more products. This shade is almost identical to my natural lip color, just a little bit more rosey, so I like to wear it on my super natural makeup days, The formula is also really smooth, and it glides onto your lips easily with a moisturizing feel. Like most tinted lip balms, I don't think it'll replace a product like Aquaphor if you're lips are super chapped and dry, but this is a great option for every day (especially when it's the wintertime and I won't go near matte anything). I definitely want to get my hands on more shades, especially the coral color for spring.

EGYPTIAN MAGIC All Purpose Skin Cream ($38 for 4oz)

EGYPTIAN MAGIC All Purpose Skin Cream ($38 for 4oz)

I received this sample in my June 2014 Birchbox and have been using it since September (this is picture isn't super recent, so it's not accurate as to how much I've used). It's been a great nighttime lip balm and cuticle cream. I like how multipurpose it is, so you can basically use it anywhere you're feeling dry. I don't know if I would repurchase the full size since it's so expensive, but if you see this sample on somebody's swap board, I recommend giving it a try! Plus, the sample will last you months! Mine is still going strong.

PERLIER White Almond Absolute Comfort Body Butter (34.50 for 6.7 fl oz)

If I could marry a brand, it would be Perlier. I've been raving about them since before I started this blog, so I was happy to receive another product of theirs to try in my November 2014 Birchbox. This body butter is light, but hydrating, so it doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy (though I don't seem to mind that). It has a light, almond scent, which instantly reminds me of biscotti. The scent's not heavy, so if you're a person who doesn't like to wear scented hand cream when you're sleeping, this would be a good option for you. Oh, Perlier, 'til death do us part.

These are the "wilted roses" of the bunch (you know "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens"?) These are the antithesis of my favorite things--my "unfavorite" things, if you will. These are the products that essentially made me a sad panda, and I will tell you why.

BORGHESE Fango Ristorativo Hydrating Mask ($33.50 for 7oz)

I really wanted to like this face mask. I really did. I thought it was going to be so great, but I guess that's what I get for "indefinitely borrowing" another product from my mom's stash. This advertises that it's going to be a hydrating mask, but due to the kaolin clay, mud masks are inherently drying, so it didn't make much sense. I tried it anyway, and when I felt the tingling, cooling sensation, I thought "Oh, crap." Menthol is a counter-irritant, meaning it makes it feel like you're soothing your skin, but really you're just covering up any irritation with an irritant (menthol) that's more powerful. I looked on the ingredients list and didn't see menthol, but when I looked it up, I found that menthyl lactate means the same thing. Foiled again! When I took this mask off, my skin was all red and splotchy, as if I'd had an allergic reaction or rosacea or something. I knew as soon as I'd put the mask on that it would be irritating, but I so wanted to be hopeful. Mega bummer. A full review of this to come next month!

Crispy M&Ms

In case you don't go on the Internet (or simply don't make chocolate candies your highest priority like I do), Crispy M&Ms are being sold in the US again! Lovers rejoice! They went out of production in 2007, but I found them again while I was studying abroad in 2012, so I guess they've been making them in other countries this whole time. When they brought them back to America, they changed the packaging, but they're still delicious. Reunited and it feels so good! I currently only have three bags in my room since I ate two of them. Maybe I should stock up again soon...

I don't care what anyone says, "Uptown Funk" (by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars) is THE catchiest pop song right now, and possibly ever. More pop songs need trumpets. Seriously.

Also, Fall Out Boy's new album, American Beauty American Psycho was released this month and it's really the only thing I want to listen to. I'll look at my other playlists, and be like "nah," and then play this. I love them so much!

For my final music favorite, my mother got me this set of two waterproof Bluetooth speakers for Christmas, and I didn't know how much I needed these until I got them. I always listen to music in the shower (because it's my jam time, and because I get bored in the 18 minutes or so it takes me) and the sound quality on these is so much better than my phone! Plus, I've always been worried that the steam would affect any electronics I bring in, but these speakers are made for that. I place these right outside my shower (just because the suction cup isn't too strong and I'm afraid they'll fall down and break) and I can rock out to my heart's desire (usually to Fall Out Boy). I have one at home and one at school, so I never have to be without them, and if you're someone who always needs music wherever you go, you need these!