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03 March 2016

Monthly Favourites: January + February Bundled Together

I can't believe it's been six weeks since I've last posted on the blog. I honestly thought that I'd find time to blog in-between writing my thesis, but that clearly didn't happen. There were quite a few products that I enjoyed using during January and February that I just had to share with you! This post is going to be long, so I suggest you grab a cup of coffee. (There are also three non-beauty products, so keep reading until the end to find out what they are!)




Nivea Perfect & Radiant 3-in-1 Mattifying Cleanser



I bought this Nivea face wash late-December to take with me on holiday. It’s a face wash, a scrub, and a clay mask in one, so you only need to take one tube with you to fulfil three different needs. I’ve put it in our shower and I’ve basically been using it every day (while on holiday and since we’ve been back). I normally just use it as a face wash/scrub, but some mornings when my skin is feeling extra “ugh”, I put a thick layer on and leave it for about five minutes before I wash it off gently. I leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh but not stripped. I do recommend that you put on toner immediately after, as it can make your skin feel a bit tight after a few minutes.

Clarins Bright Plus Brightening Repairing Night Cream



I can honestly say that, though pricey, Clarins make some of the best facial moisturisers out there. I’ve used the Multi-active day cream and the night cream, but I’ve used a sample of the Bright Plus before and who doesn’t want bright skin? I’ve been using it since the start of February and I can honestly say my skin looks amazing. It’s bright and plump and there’s a nice glow that’s not just thanks to my oily skin. The cream also smells amazing, which is always a bonus.

Freeman Acai Purifying Clay Mask



I bought this packet mask at the Dischem beauty fair for R15. I love Freeman face masks and I’m determined to try every single one. Most of their masks come in large tubes for around R75, but the packets are great if you want to try it out before committing to a large tube. I got two uses out of the packet mask, but I did layer it on quite thick so you should be able to get three decent applications from it. The mask is a very light blue and is super creamy and smells like berries. The mask doesn’t make my skin tingle or burn, and after washing it off after about 15 minutes (or whenever most of it is dry), my skin is left feeling smooth and clear. There is no redness and I haven’t had a breakout the next day, my skin is just clear and blemish-free.

L’Oreal Pure Riche Shampoo and Conditioner



I bought this shampoo and conditioner combo after hearing the girls from All Dolled Up rave about it. I have the combo for "Very ry, rebellious hair" containing nourishing Camelina oil. Both products smell absolutely delicious and very luxurious: it’s a grownup scent instead of the normal fruity scents. The shampoo and conditioner are both very creamy but don’t weigh my hair down or make it feel greasy. After blowdrying my hair is left feeling silky and smooth. I can't remember the price, but I think it was between R140 and R170 at Clicks. 

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm



I’ve used samples of this for years now, and finally decided to invest in the full-size at the start of February. Many people swear by this, and other people say they don’t understand the product. I have to admit that sometimes I also didn’t understand it, because to me it didn’t seem like it was doing much. After a couple of late nights writing my thesis, I used this the next morning as a makeup primer and now I get it. If you’re having a good skin day, or if your skin is already glowing, you probably won’t see much of a difference. But if you’re tired or feeling/looking run down, then this will brighten and lift your complexion.It’s not quite the same as applying an illuminating primer: it’s like you’re lit from within. Your skin looks healthy and glowing, and you look awake and alive. This is also not a very cheap purchase, but a little goes a long way. Besides, it's an investment in looking awake and alive!

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal (Yellow Corrector)

I already own the normal LA Girl Pro concealer, but this yellow version caught my eye on a recent trip to Dischem. I apply it on the dark circles under my eyes and it helps to neutralise the blue and horribly purple circles. It’s also super cheap, which makes buying it a no-brainer. Dischem are currently running a 3-for-2 special on all L.A. Girl products if you feel like trying some of their things.

Mineral Hand Cream



I tend to steer clear of Mineral products as I don’t know anything about it, and because the sales people are usually quite obnoxious. I inherited this hand cream from my mother-in-law, and it’s been the only thing I’ve been using at work since January. It has a soft and almost floral smell and it’s creamy without being thick and unmanageable. It sinks into the skin well, although I tend to only apply it to the back of my hands, and then use the leftover cream on the palms of my hands. It does make your hands slightly greasy, but that goes away after a minute or so. It also helps to only apply a small drop at a time.

Vital VitaCharge



My first non-beauty favourite is in the form of gigantic vitamin capsules. VitaCharge is said to help with peak mental and physical power. I drink one every morning after my breakfast and in recent weeks I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my mental power. I have to work on my thesis at night, so we will have dinner and watch a series episode or two, and then around 21:00 I will start working again. Normally I would be tired by that time and want to take a nap, but now I just need to get past the 21:00 “slump” and then I’m good to go until I decide to go sleep (normally around midnight). VitaCharge contains Ginseng extract, B vitamins, vitamin C, and certain minerals. I bought mine at Clicks (and the second bottle at Dischem) for around R85.

Nutribullet


In December I made use of a special offer on Yuppiechef and bought myself a Nutribullet. I deliberated for months if I should buy one. Will I use it? Is it really better than the blender I already have? The answer to both these questions is yes! I’ve been using it almost every day since buying it, and I love how easy it is to use, and especially how easy it is to clean. You also get the full benefits of the ingredients you put in: nothing is wasted. Every evening I chop up some fruit and veggies and put it in two Nutribullet jugs. The next morning the husband and I just blast our individual smoothies. He drinks his at home and I take mine to work. It’s such an easy way to get in some extra fruit and veggies. I’ve also used it to make guacamole (before the avo scarcity) and hummus. It takes longer to get the ingredients together than to make the actual guacamole or hummus! And cleaning it is as easy as washing the blade and the cup with warm soapy water. If you're thinking of buying one, let me tell you that it's well worth it. I bought mine for R1,550 but there's been a big price hike, so you're looking at R1,850 on "special".

House of Kallie necklace



The husband bought this as a birthday present for me in February. I’ve had my eye on it for a while and I absolutely love it. They took the design of an old 1c coin and made it into the map of Africa. It’s so beautiful and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments!

And those are my favourites! Congratulations if you've made it till the end! What is on your list of favourites? Let me know in the comments section.

Until next time!

Hildegarde
xoxo