Monthly Favourites | January

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Hi everyone! Well, that's it.. January is over now. The bluest, dullest, skintest and most depressing month of the year is DONE! Woo - now we can all go back to being happy and get excited for spring and summer, roll on a bit of sunshine! I've managed to keep my 'January Blues' at bay this year and have felt extremely positive about life; I'm so content with everything right now and feel like I have nothing to moan about (this makes a huge change for me - I am #1 moaner!) so I hope that everyone else has coped with the dull and dark nights and cold, wet and windy weather too. Enough rambling, it's time for the first favourites post of 2013! Read on to see what I have been loving and why...



Soap & Glory - 'Smoothie Star' Body Milk

I've totally gone mad for Soap and Glory recently and could easily have dedicated this post entirely to their products! I've restrained myself and included just two for my favourites this month; the first being this body milk called Smoothie Star. I got this moisturiser as part of my Best of All gift set (Christmas present to myself) and didn't expect I'd be able to love a moisturiser as much as this. Point A: pump dispenser. Yes. Anything else is just too messy and this is just perfect to pump it into your hand then you're good to go, and you can easily go back for more and dispense as little or as much as you need at a time. Point B: the scent. Almond! This contains almond, cocoa, yoghurt, oat and honey but I find the only detectable scents really are the almond and cocoa, both beautiful. Point C: it is a 'milk'. Being a milk means that it is lightweight and absorbs into the skin really quickly so there's no hopping about with no clothes on waiting until you're not sticky any more. Point D: being lightweight doesn't compromise it's intensity and it is still deeply moisturising and nourishing. Point E: the most impressive thing for me was how long this really lasts on the skin, e.g. shower and apply at 7am.. same day get ready for bed at 10pm and can still feel in on the skin - in a good way of course! I cannot get enough of this and I'm sure I'll be buying more if this ever runs out (it's a very big bottle!).

Soap & Glory - 'Glad Hair Day' Intensive Conditioner

Yay for Soap and Glory! When I bought the Glad Hair Day Shampoo there was a 3 for 2 offer on S&G and as I was deliberating between the regular conditioner and the intensive conditioner I decided to opt for both. It turns out that the Intensive version works better for my hair type, but I think it would be too heavy to use each time I wash because it is reallllly intense, so I use it more like a weekly treatment instead and it works an absolute treat for me. Not only does it smell like heaven (heaven smells like raspberries, right?), a little goes a long way and this balm like conditioner leaves my dry, frizzy mess smoothed down, tamed and soft to the touch. At £5.50 this is one of the best value for money treatments (if that's how you want to use it) and one I will surely buy again!

Lush - 'Snow Fairy' Shower Gel

Snow Fairy. Arguably the most hyped up shower gel, ever. I was a first time user of Snow Fairy this Christmas and on first impressions I was far from impressed - the scent is understandably not to a lot of people's taste and I was convinced it was too sickly sweet for me and left it neglected for weeks. Recently, I gave it another chance and have decided now that I do in fact really like it! It is really strong smelling and although it doesn't linger for long on the skin it does last forever in the bathroom and smells very sweet and girly - it's candyfloss and bubblegum, I think. A little goes a long way with this, it lathers up well and what better way to perk up a morning shower than with bright pink shimmery bubbley shower gel that will give your nostrils a sweet treat. I am definitely a convert to this and next Christmas I'll be sure to buy a bigger bottle.

Clinique - Chubby Stick Intense in 'Plushest Punch'

Last week I did a review on this Chubby Stick Intense (link) and compared it to the regular Chubby Sticks and also to Revlon's Kissable Balm Stains, but this variant is the clear winner in my eyes, even if it does cost double what I would prefer to pay for a lip product. I adore the super bright, hot pink shade of this and how highly pigmented it is, with a super glossy finished combined with a moisturising balm and an amazing staying power all in a cute crayon form. There's no better combination!

The Body Shop - Almond Hand and Nail Cream

It was the falling in love with the scent of Smoothie Star that led me on to purchase this hand cream from The Body Shop in December; I couldn't get enough of the almond fragrance and needed more! I'll admit that my main reason for loving this is because of the smell... are you sensing a theme within this favourites post?! My nose has been leading the way in this one but of course a good hand cream is an absolute essential throughout the winter months and The Body Shop products are such high quality so this one was perfect. Ideal for popping into my bag for a top up throughout the day to keep hands soft and moisturised.

   

Paco Rabanne - Lady Million EDP

Ookaaaay, so sticking with the theme of things that smell gorgeous, I'm going to end this post my perfume of choice for this month. This was a Christmas present from my boyfriend and I sure almost everybody has smelt this before and knows just how beautiful it is - this is well known favourite of many. I'm no good at describing what a perfume smells like but this is simply gorgeous, and just look at it! I am so stingy with this though; I want it to last forever and ever!