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When I was asked to write a guest blog post about my ‘5
favourite products’ by Charlene, I was so elated and excited… until I actually
sat down to think about it. I started wearing makeup less than a year ago so
I’ve been on a rampage for the last couple of months to collect and try out all
the gorgeous beauty products I see on social media and read about on my favourite
blogs (since I’ve missed out on it for the last 28 years). To pin
down only 5 products in my extensive collection was a task beyond measure. So
one night I lined up my products in each category (lips, primer, etc.) and
eliminated until I got down to my 5 favourites. All of these were no-brainers
as I tend to find myself reaching for these more than others and I’m dreading
the day I run out of these specific products.
First up is the MAC Complete Comfort Cream. I bought this
with a gift voucher I received for my birthday and never thought I would walk
out of the MAC store with skincare instead of makeup.
I had constantly been
complaining about how cakey my foundation looked on my dry AND dehydrated skin regardless
of whether I used primer or not. The lady at MAC recommended I use the cream as
a replacement for my current moisturiser and from the first application I
noticed a huge difference. The MAC Comfort Cream is formulated for severely dry
skin and claims to relieve, sooth and calm any itchiness, redness and
irritation because of its plant and marine based ingredients. The cream is very
thick in consistency but it absorbs completely into the skin without feeling
oily or greasy. Even though it is targeted at dry skin, it can be used for any
skin type since it doesn’t clog the pores, including those with sensitive skin.
It retails at MAC stores for R380 for a 50ml tub and all I need is a pea-sized
amount to rehydrate the entire face and neck area to leave behind smooth, plump
and glowing skin.
Then on to my second tub of Catrice’s Prime and Fine
Smoothing Refiner. Catrice have about 5 different face primers and I like this
one the best for various reasons. The formula itself is like a fluffy pillow of
mousse and I prefer a waxier primer because it creates a barrier between my
skin and all the makeup I apply above it. This primer smooths out all
imperfections and fills the larger pores above my lip and around my nose whilst
cancelling out any redness I have as well. I do find I tend to use a bit more
than any of my other primers as it is thicker and not as easy to spread on the
skin because once you start massaging it in too much, it can create tiny white
flecks which need to then be dusted off. It’s also a great inexpensive option
for those on a budget as it only retails for R70 for a 14g tub from Spree
online or Dischem.
Another holy grail product I absolutely love is MAC’s
Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade. I initially only picked up this
highlighter because of the newly released packaging and limited edition woven pattern
in the Lightness of Being Collection which I reviewed here. Every time I use it though, I
fall more and more in love with it. I think it’s a phase I might be going
through, but the plastic looking cheekbones are something I aim for when going
out. I feel it slims the face down and draws attention to all the places I want
to stand out. It is very pigmented and opaque and I only require a few dustings
to achieve the look I am going for. I paid R450 for the MAC Limited Edition
Lightscapade (9g) but it is part of their permanent range and retails for R305
(7g) at MAC stores.
Then this was a tricky one and I could not decide which of
the two I loved more. The Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Waterproof and the
Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express Waterproof is a must for every makeup artist
working on brides. Both of these mascaras were recommended to me by fellow
beauty bloggers when I was on vacation and needed a waterproof mascara for
swimming. I find myself alternating between these two for weekends and special
occasions because they hold the best curl after I use my Ardell Heated Eyelash
Curler for my pin-straight-Chinaman lashes (thanks Grandma). They are sometimes
a pain to get off after the day is done and I have pulled a couple of eyelashes
out but totally worth it since they don’t smudge, budge, transfer or bother.
I’ve bawled my eyes out on numerous occasions wearing these mascaras and even
though my eyes are red and bloodshot, the mascara looks as if it has just been
freshly applied. The Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Waterproof retails for R130 and
the Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express Waterproof retails for R115 at Clicks or
online at Spree.
Lastly is a very unconventional beauty product and I thought
long and hard about whether I should even include it in this post. But since I
use it every night in my wash off regime, I’m going to share this tip with you.
If you’ve read any of my blog posts, you might have picked up that I am a habitual
lip biter, every day without fail. As you can imagine, lips that are pierced,
shredded, torn, painful and left bleeding only with scabs to form afterwards.
This was a problem for me until someone suggested using nipple cream as lip
balm when I gave birth 2 years ago. I haven’t looked back since. I tried many different types but the Lansinoh
HPA Lanolin is by far the best. It is made from 100% lanolin, a waxy substance
extracted from sheep’s wool. It is used to relieve chapped and cracked nipples
in breastfeeding mothers. I apply just a dab every night before bed and the
warmth of my skin allows it to smooth evenly between my lips. In the morning I
wake up with perfect looking lips that are plump and soft. If there was any
product I would swear by it would hands down be the amazing powers of the Lansinoh
HPA Lanolin that is available for R94 (10ml) at most pharmacies and Dischem in
the baby aisle.
Thanks for reading and thank you again Charlene for having
me here. If you would like to check out any of my other blog posts, please head
over to http://belleblushh.com or stalk me
on the following social media platforms:
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Lots of Love
Belle BluSHH
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