Monthly Favourites: January 2012

I had such grand ideas of getting this post up in plenty of time before the end of the month, but as is usually the case with me, it's been left to the last minute!

Therefore without further ado, here's what i've been loving during January...

Maxfactor Masterpiece Glide & Define Liquid Eyeliner

This was given to me as part of my Christmas presents and i've really enjoyed using it. It has a fine 'felt tip' style nib similar to that of the L'Oreal Carbon Gloss liner which makes it really easy to use. It gives a fairly matt-effect, and the staying power is good, although it is also easy to remove at the end of the day.

St. Ives Microdermabrasion scrub

This was another one of those products that was languishing in my bathroom for a while, but in an effort to be economical and use up products before buying more, I started using this and I'm glad I did.

Unlike the traditional hard-core St. Ives scrubs, this is more of a gentle paste, and can be used on a daily basis. I really like using it first thing in the morning and it definitely gives a nice glow to my skin, whilst providing a good canvas for moisturiser and then make-up to go onto. Only costs about £4 and a little goes a long way.

Yankee Candles (pictured is Black Cherry)

I'm going through a bit of an obsession with making my room smell nice, and have been reaching for the old classics, Yankee candles. My mum bought me this jar for Christmas, and i'm desperate to try more.

Vintage Watch

A bit of a random one I know, but given that i've worn this constantly the past month I feel it's only fair I include it! It was my grans, and whilst it doesn't work (and i've been wearing it alongside my other watch - I do get questions as to why two watches!), there is great sentimental value to it.

John Frieda 3 Day Straight

This product (much like the Naked palette) has been all over YouTube/blogs therefore i'm sure people are tired of hearing about it, but I wanted to include it as it has actually made a difference to my hair.

I have very frizzy/curly hair to start with, therefore I wasn't expecting miracles with this, nor does it perform them in terms of making my hair straight, but it definitely makes the drying process a lot easier/quicker and my hair is a lot sleeker too.

Bobbi Brown Party Collection Deluxe Travel Brush Set

(This was a Christmas present and i've just choked on my tea when I saw how much it was!)

This little beauty is my new baby of the moment - i'm actually in love with it. I've always wanted to start a 'proper' collection of brushes, and this has definitely got me started. I'm going to do a review very soon which goes through each of the brushes in turn, but for now i'll just say I love it!

Soap & Glory Flake Away Scrub

As I epilate/wax my legs I suffer from dry/flaky/itchy skin, even if I moisturise regularly, so a good body scrub is a must. I decided to go for Soap & Glory as i've heard good things about their scrubs, and so far it hasn't let me down. Another product I want to review, this scrub smells yummy and does the job perfectly: sloughing away dead skin whilst moisturising/soothing at the same time. I'm desperate to try out more S&G products and am kicking myself I never bought the Big Splendour set that was on offer in Boots over Christmas...

Eylure 'Cheryl' False Eyelashes

Ok, as much as I do love these particular ones, I have to say I have been loving false lashes in general again over the past month (as I mentioned in my November favourites), and have recently received an order from E.L.F. for (ahem) 8 pairs.

Now i've got the application technique down, I am LOVING wearing lashes on a daily basis, as I really think they make such a difference.

Favourite blog

Blusher and Blogging

A fabulous beauty blog from the beautiful Footballers Wives actress, Susie Amy.

I really love her down-to-earth posts in which she discusses/reviews both highstreet and 'up market' beauty products, and also really like those posts in which she calls upon her celebrity friends/make-up artists etc to give tips/advice and so on.

Definitely check it out!

Favourite book

The Cornerstone by Nick Spalding

I downloaded this to my Kindle on a whim as it was going for something silly like 99p, but as it was labelled as an Amazon UK Best Book of 2011, I reckoned it must be worth a read.

If you like the kind of fantasy genre which include His Dark Materials trilogy, Harry Potter or even Lord of the Rings, you will like this book, even more so if you like books which don't take themselves too seriously.

For a bored, x-box loving teenage boy the local library doesn't seem like an obvious choice of venue for an afternoon's entertainment. Yet that is where Max Bloom, a boy with "less purpose than an ambivalent sloth" finds himself one drizzly afternoon. Browsing a book he discovers a curious note which leads him to the Cornerstone - no ordinary book. It certainly makes his afternoon more interesting when it transports him to another universe, one which needs help saving itself (and Earth) from the Dwellers. Summoned by beautiful 16 year old Merelie Max is torn - delighted to have reason to talk to a gorgeous girl, but baffled by her insistence he must be able to harness the power of all the books on Earth to wordcraft. Yes, she's lovely but these Dwellers are pretty nasty and he's not convinced he can do magic.

Nick Spalding has created a great alternative world and society with means of travel to other places and a form of magic I thought was brilliant. As a keen reader I loved the concept of harnessing the power of words and instead of having a God having a Writer. The action was well-paced and there was plenty going on to keep me interested, although the plot is pretty straightforward and the style of writing (especially in the opening chapters) did make me wonder if the book was originally aimed at a younger audience.

I still whole-heartedly recommend it though!

Melanie x