MY TOP 5 MAKE-UP PRODUCTS OF 2016

2016 is now a distant memory for most of us, but on the make-up front I personally discovered and experienced so many wonderful products that I just absolutely fell in love with and they are happily coming into 2017 with me...

I have increased my top make-up items for 2016 to include 5 products (+ some) rather than 3 but even that was difficult.

This post by the way, is not sponsored, despite there being two brands that seem to dominate my list.

I started my "Tops" post in 2015 and looking back over that post I find that I'm still using all of the products mentioned.

My Top 3 Make-Up-Products of 2015

1.

benefit rocked the world of beauty in 2016 and it was all thanks to the humble and often neglected "eyebrow".

benefit were magically transforming brows globally, one brow at a time and I have to say mine were included in that transformation, which is amazing, as previously I didn't use much more than tweezers and a eyebrow pencil.

(I highly recommend that you pop along to a benefit counter to find out more about the products and how they can help you achieve amazing brows) 

I have cheated a little with this one as its actually more than one product that came out tops.

To read my full review

2.

Another make-up item from benefit that I discovered in 2016 was the Sugarbomb powder/blush/bronzer and its become my everyday "go to" product.

I have so enjoyed this product that I have since bought their iconic shade Hoola.

To read my full review

benefit Sugarbomb

3.

For the past 5 years or so I have written an annual post about the Estée Lauder Blockbuster, which has been around for the last 30 years+ and its launched around the world just in time for the holidays and Christmas.

I treated myself to the 2015 box and it just has to make it onto my top 5 list due to its variety of quality products on offer and value for money.

Again you could class this as more than one product...oops.

Long live the Estée Lauder Blockbuster ...

To read my review

Estèe Lauder Pure Color Lipsticks

4.


This Stila Stay All Day Liquid lipstick had to make it onto my top 5 make-up products for 2016.
This was my first time dabbling into the melting pot of liquid or matte lipsticks and after much research I couldn't have chosen a better brand or colour to try first.


To read my full review

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick

5.


Stila came out tops yet again with another of their Stay All Day products and this time it was with their Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner and again I can highly recommend if you are a liquid eyeliner wearer, as this doesn't disappoint.


To read my full review

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

L'OCCITANE LAVENDER HAND PURIFYING GEL

I feel somewhat guilty for not writing about this product earlier, as it has been one of my personal "Must Haves" for the past couple of years. L'Occitane En Provence, which is one of my favourite french brands launched their Lavender Hand Purifying Gel (organic certified) as a limited Edition, but due to its popularity and effectiveness they added it to their basic product range and I for one, was very pleased.

It is by far the best of its kind!

Only a small amount of this clear, natural Lavender fragranced gel is needed to perfectly sanitize and purify without leaving any sticky residue on your hands and no rinsing is necessary!

I have tried several cheaper versions,but whilst the concept of the product is good, they always fail when it comes to the fragrance and the texture of the product.

There are no "fails" where the L'Occitane Hand Purifying Gel is concerned!

I always carry this product in my handbag, not because I am obsessed about germs, but there are plenty of occasions where I feel the need to sanitize my hands.

This is also an invaluable "must have" in your babies nappy bag or when you are traveling.

A little goes a long way and my 50ml tube (R105) lasts and lasts,

which equates to "good value" for money in my opinion.

Available in L'Occitane Boutiques Countrywide

L'Occitane Order Online

MUST HAVE TRIND PROFESSIONAL GLASS FILE

I have not bought or used an emery board for many years, as I always use a glass nail file and they last a lifetime! Well! that was until I misplaced mine somewhere....lost it somewhere to be more precise!

I recently replaced my AWOL glass nail file with the Trind one below and it has made my "Must Have" list without any hesitation....I cannot tell you how much kinder it is on the nails and although a pricey initial investment @R245, it is well worth it.

The Trind Professional Glass File is patented and made out of durable glass. This makes this file a professional instrument of the highest possible quality. The Trind Professional Glass File can last a lifetime and is easy to use. This file is also available in the Trind Magic Box, a “magical” box, in which you can protect your file from breaking. Very handy for in your handbag! Surely I can't lose this one!

Be careful: there are also imitation (crystal) files on the market. These files are provided with fine glass grit, which is glued to the file surface. When this file is intensively used, it will be worn out quickly and will require replacement.

To see a previous review on Trind products Click Here

www.trind.com

YANKEE CANDLES YEA!

I am so excited to write about these next products....Every time I go overseas my suitcase never returns without some of the Yankee Candle products squashed and squeezed into the "nooks and crannies" of my luggage!

The Yankee Candle Company is the largest U.S. manufacturer of scented candles and was established in 1969.. The company is located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts and has over 1200 outlets around the US.

So you can imagine my absolute delight when I recently went to a local shopping centre and this is what I saw as I pass "Mobelli" an upmarket outdoor furniture shop.

My stilletto's have never performed such a quick, controlled 180 degree turn before, it was like seeing a long lost friend....

but in my haste to get to the wall units crammed with all their goodies, I tripped through the door. 

I could sense that I was quickly loosing control of my "Kurt Geigers" but luckily with the help of some garden furniture on display, I didn't actually go down! 

Albeit my entrance was rather "un" lady like and looked more like a rush for a 5 minute special in a discount store! but I wasn't worried as "Yankee" was just a few feet away....

The Yankee Candle Company markets an array of products, including candles of various scents and sizes, scented wax tarts, candle accessories, votive candles (Samplers), votive candle holders, tart warmers, jar toppers (for use with the Housewarmer line of candles), reed diffusers, Pot Pourri's, Electric Home Fragrance units (scented wall plug-ins), car scents, room sprays, Good Air products, and more.

Jar Candles R145,R250 & R299,Pot Pourri R150,Room Spray R120,Votive R35

What is the attraction of these Home products you may be wondering...

Well! its simple, they have a choice of over 200 fragrances...and the fragrance is authentic and true to life, of a good quality & fragrant your room beautifully....and as an added bonus the prices are good!

How can anyone resist trying some of these :

                                                               

Clean Cotton

French Vanilla

Fresh Cut Roses

Fluffy Towels

Mango Peach Salsa

Pink Sands

  Beech Walk

                                                                      

Tarts Wax Melts R30..The burner is R45

The "Tarts" are one of my "Must Haves" as they are placed on the top of the burner and the heat from the tea light candle melts the tart slowly releasing its fragrance...

Upon cooling it hardens until you are ready to re light. 

They last for such a long time and the above makes a lovely gift for under R100.

My personal favourite Tarts are Mango Peach Salsa,French Vanilla,Fresh Cut Roses & of course the Strawberry Buttercream.

A limited range of Yankee Candle products are available only at the following Mobelli branches and John the manager and his team at the Durban branch are very helpful and will arrange to send to all parts of SA  :

Shop 112 The Crescent Shopping Umhlanga Ridge, 

Durban 031 566 5996

92 Regent Road Sea Point, 

Cape Town 021 434 2280

For Yankee Candles full range visit

 http://www.yankeecandle.com/

SUMMER IN A BOTTLE

After all the rain we have had in South Africa this past week, this is just what we need some "Summer In A Bottle" and the newly launched "Eau De Cologne" Collection from L'Occitane can do just that!

Across the lands of Provence, the old folk will tell you 
"L’AIGO ES D’OR" (water is gold).

The landscape of Provence is shaped by fountains, wells, springs and rivers. Their refreshing, crystal-clear, lulling murmurs create a soothing backdrop to the sun-drenched days.

To celebrate these sources of freshness, abundance and vitality, L'OCCITANE has created its first Eaux de Cologne collection.

Eau Universelle - Citrus with Bergamot & Grapefruit Essential Oils 

Eau Ravissante - Floral Citrus with Bergamot and Damascena Rose 

Eau Captivante - Aromatic with Bergamot and Mint Essential Oils

 These three fragrances come in a generous 300ml size bottle which can be used as a "splash on" to be liberally applied throughout the hot day or you can attach a nozzle in order to turn the bottle into a spray format...I like this idea especially as the Universelle and the Captivante are unisex fragrances...
Don't forget to also trying pouring 2 cupfuls of your cologne into your bath to fragrance the water or better still spray your bed sheets before settling in for the night! 

There is also a free gift with at the moment, which always sweetens the purchase!

Prices:

 Cologne        300ml  R595
 Shower Gel  250ml   R225

Now for just a quick spritz of my favourite cologne, the Universelle and I am taken back to a summer holiday in Provence....mmmm....see its worked for me...my "Summer In A Bottle".

Visit your nearest L'Occitane Boutique to discover your favourite Cologne!

L'Occitane

MUST HAVE "ANTI AGEING BEAUTY BIBLE"

Health and beauty experts Josephine Fairley and Sarah Stacey bring together everything a woman needs to know about feeling great, looking gorgeous and being fabulous in their most recent addition to their book collection..Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible! This book truely lives up to its name and has so many interesting facts and tips and for the over 35's ,it's a "must have" book.Available from all leading book stores and online.