Monthly Beauty Favorites | January 2016



It's crazy to believe we're already over a month into 2016! January brought with it several new favorite beauty products which I couldn't get enough of. Let's take a look at what I've been loving lately.



Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light //
After hearing people rave about the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders for over a year I finally decided to pick up a travel-sized version in December to see what all the fuss was about. I'm usually more of a matte finish sort of gal (hello oily skin) so I didn't really think a glow-inducing powder would really be my thing. And in fact I was right. I tried using this as a setting powder and it just didn't have the power to keep me from getting shiny throughout the day. I reapproached the powder as a highlight (since I'm not into blinding, full beam highlights) and it's a beautiful subtle highlighting powder! It gives my cheek bones a lit-from-within soft focus glow that doesn't make my face look like it just produced too much oil. I know some people think this is too subtle for a highlight but if you have oily skin and aren't really into the dewy, beaming look this product will add some light and life to your skin.

e.l.f. Small Tapered Brush //
I've been struggling to find a contour brush I really love lately. I feel like it's so hard to find something that's precise but that isn't too dense and can still buff out the color seamlessly. I stumbled across this brush and the shape is ideal for a precision placement of powder right under the cheekbones. When clean it's also great at blending and diffusing. The tapered end is great for tapping highlighter onto the tops of my cheekbones. At $3 it's a total steal when compared to similarly shaped brushes.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadows //
I recently reviewed several shades from this new collection and these shadows are just stellar. They're gel-infused so they have a creamy texture that's so pigmented. I like to pat these onto the lids for a fuss-free one shadow look. The colors I've been obsessed with are 203 - Cafe Au Lait (a matte taupe brown) and 207 - Pain Au Chocolat (a shimmery taupe).



Rimmel London The One Lipstick in Naughty Nude //
I recently spotted this lipstick at my local Rite Aid and decided to pick it up on a whim. I'm so glad I did because the formula is fantastic. It creates a thin layer of color on your lips that really coats them and lasts a surprising amount of hours. It feels feather-light on the lips and although it's not creamy or hydrating I also wouldn't call it drying. It's has almost a gel texture. I love this nudey pink shade and it's perfect for a 'my lips but better' look.

Kiehl's Creme With Silk Groom //
I originally added this styling cream to my wish list because I heard Lily Pebbles rave about how it made her hair shiny and smooth. After receiving it for Christmas I played around with it for a bit but was a bit disappointed with the results. I think I expected this to be more of a defrizzer but that's not really what this baby's all about. It has a surprisingly thick texture that actually offers a great level of hold and gives your hair the added texture it needs to go from 'meh' to 'oh hey'. I would definitely still recommend a shine adding product be used in conjunction with this if your hair has a tendency to poof up but I think ladies with thicker locks will love this stuff. It holds curls shockingly well and really gives them added definition. My sister-in-law has thick, naturally curly hair and she loves what it does for her curls (even after sleeping on them).



Banila Co. Clean It Zero //
This Korean gem has been my go-to makeup remover for over a month. It's a cleansing balm that quickly turns into an oil as you rub it in. I spoke about it in depth in my recent Korean Skincare Haul and I just love how fully it removes my makeup without irritating my eyes or making my skin feel greasy. It's a perfect first step to a double cleanse and works great even on oily skin. I especially appreciate the tiny little spatula that comes inside for a hygienic application.


As you can see I've been playing around with lots of new things lately. Have you tried any of these products before? Any that intrigue you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.


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