I was super duper slack last month, and never got up my April favourites, even though I had a few things pegged mentally that I had wanted to mention.  Doing an ‘April’ favourites now would have been a bit ridiculous, so I’ve rather mixed both my April and May favourites together, and I’m even getting them up on the very first day of June – I’m even impressed with myself!

I have a nice mixed bag of hair care, skin care, makeup and even a supplement, just no body care this month – the body care I’ve loved most was only bought this last week, so I can’t really put that in as a favourite for two months prior.

Let’s start with what I’ve been loving!

HAIR CARE

OGX Argan Oil and Shea Butter Smooth Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner

When winter started really kicking in, my hair was super dry and in need of some smoothing.  I stood reading the OGX labels, trying to decide which of their shampoos and conditioners would work for me, as I had a number of them on my wishlist to try.  I went with these two, and I haven’t looked back!

They smell absolutely incredible (and your hair is left with a lingering, but not overpowering scent too – I love that!), they are rich enough that they nourish and smooth my hair, yet they don’t weigh it down at all.  I have fine hair and I wash it every two days (three if I can get away with it, which isn’t often as I just love clean hair), and these have not only lasted amazingly well with both me and my fiance using them, but they just work so well and do exactly what I need them to.

Would I repurchase?  I already have backups!

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Strength Serum 

I have a number of different hair oils/serums/sprays at home, yet they were all either not enough for my winter hair, or super heavy.  This Garnier one is SO crazy affordable, yet it does such a wonderful job!

It’s light feeling on the hair, yet you can see the shine and smoothness that it leaves behind.  My hair is definitely feeling stronger than it did, with the combination of this and my shampoo and conditioner, and I smooth this through my lengths and ends after washing and before blow drying and heat styling (yes, I still use a heat protectant too).

If my hair is still a little dry, I use a little more to just smooth down the lengths and ends, and brush it through and tada!  Smooth, sleek, shiny and soft hair!

Would I repurchase? Probably yes!

SKINCARE

Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask

I did a mini review on this in my Pink Cosmetics blog post which you can read HERE.  I’ve only used the mask once – you get 3 uses, but according to Wayne Goss, he can get around 5 uses before it doesn’t do anything more – and it was absolutely gorgeous!

It left my skin smooth, even, less red, glowing and soft.  Super red-carpet style skin!  I’m saving my second use for my wedding day – what bride wouldn’t want that?!

Would I repurchase?  In all honesty, I’d only think about it if I was going to a special event.  It was pretty pricey at R385 on sale, and I bought it specifically with my wedding day in mind.  It was a luxury wedding spoil.  You could probably do an exfoliating mask (think the L’Oreal Pure Clay Glow mask) followed by a hydrating one (think the Avène Soothing Moisture mask) and get a decent dupe for the finish, although nothing has ever left my skin so smooth and glowy before.

Esse Cocoa Exfoliator

My favourite exfoliator of all time.  This baby smells like chocolate covered Turkish delight!  It’s quite a grainy, gritty scrub, but even with my sensitive skin, I have no issues with it.  I just massage it into my face, rinse off, and my face feels like a baby’s bottom (strange that we describe softness like that – surely ANY skin on a baby is soft, not just their tush?).

This scrub is choc-full (see what I did there? hahaha!) of organic (29%) and natural (99.8%) ingredients, and the main ones are cocoa (for it’s ability to gently exfoliate, as well as soften and lubricate the skin), Marula oil and Manketti oil (to nourish and protect the skin).

Would I repurchase?  I already have, and I will continue to do so!

SUPPLEMENT

Biopharm Technology Relax Melatonin supplement

I have been an insomnia sufferer on and off throughout the years.

With my wedding coming up fast, and having to balance a full time job, studying part time, blogging (you can see I’ve slacked off on this, and I’m trying my best to make up for it), a bit of makeup artist work here and there, planning my wedding and trying to keep some semblance of a personal life, I’ve been having a fair bit of anxiety and insomnia.  I just have so much to remember and so much on my mind, and even with my obsessive list making (I have a full on file just for the wedding, with colour coded file dividers, something my future father-in-law finds most amusing) I battle to shut down at night time.

The lady at the health shop recommended I try melatonin, after I’d complained that I hated taking prescription sleeping tablets, as they left me drowsy, groggy and actually physically bloated the following day.  Even the sleeping tablets you can buy off the shelf at Dischem left me groggy the next day.

She suggested I take one of these, and then a calcium and magnesium supplement at the same time, and wow does it work!  I fall asleep as naturally as if I was doing it unaided, and wake up fresh and rested.

I plan on taking some of this natural mixture the night before the wedding too, so I’m super rested for the big day!

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I’m buying more today!

MAKEUP

Essence Volume Stylist 18h Curl & Hold Mascara with micro styling waxes

I had to chuck out my beloved L’Oreal mascara, as it had possibly gone bad or bacteria had gotten in – my eyes had been watering and stinging non stop whenever I used it.  I was browsing the Essence and Catrice counters at Dischem, looking for a new mascara, but fully aware that it was before pay day.  I had to get something as I was NOT going to go around mascara-less, yet I couldn’t get my usual L’Oreal one.

This one looked promising, and was super affordable, so I popped it in my basket and off I went.

It is phenomenal!  I’ve had a couple of people ask me what mascara I use when I’ve worn it, and another ask me if I had lash extensions.  The only con to this mascara is the brush.  It picks up FAR too much product, and if you don’t wipe enough off, you’re going to have extremely clumpy lashes.  My trick is to wipe some off on a tissue (never the tube itself, you’ll create such a mess then) and then brush it through my lashes, slowly building up rather than going in with too much.  With the mascara being so cheap, you can’t expect it to be completely perfect, so I don’t have a problem with this, as the shape of the brush and formula are just so amazing.

Would I repurchase?  Definitely!  It’s a hassle to clean the brush off each time, and does seem wasteful, but with each use I can see I have to wipe off less product.  I think they possibly just put too much product in the tube, and with it being a thicker formula, it cakes on the wand.  However, the effect of it is totally worth all the hassle.

MAC Prep + Prime Fix + travel mini in Coconut scent

Fix + is such an international favourite, and with good reason.  I hadn’t had any in a while, and was so sad I missed out on the scented ones a while back, so when I saw they had the travel mini’s in the scents, I grabbed the coconut one.  It smells so fresh and clean, it’s not super strongly scented, and it works just like the original.  What’s not to love?

Would I repurchase?  Definitely.  The new Fruity Juicy one is in the same scent, in a prettier bottle, so I’m hoping to get my hands on one of those!

The Body Shop Lightening Shade Adjusting Drops

While I don’t rate the Darkening drops in this range (they make the foundations I use look ashy when mixed in), these Lightening drops are amazing.

I used to self tan like a machine, or be out in the sun a lot, but lately I have started embracing my natural pale skin.  A lot of my foundations are quite a bit darker, and with the addition of these drops, I can get them to match my current skin tone.

They’re quite thick, and the dropper doesn’t work so marvellously, so I end up having to pour them out of the bottle, but I’m not complaining because they’re doing the job that they say the do.

Would I repurchase?  I might try the white shade of the L.A. Girl HD foundation when this is finished, and see how that works mixed into foundations instead.  It’s almost half the price, and you get more product too.

MAC x Fleur de Force lipstick collaboration nude cremesheen lipstick

I absolutely adore Fleur de Force, and avidly watch all of her videos and vlogs.  She’s just so down to earth, natural and lovely.

When I saw she was collaborating on a lipstick with MAC, one of my other great loves, I knew I wanted to try it.  When I saw the shade and finish it was in, I just had to have it!  Unfortunately, it was only available in the UK and it sold out within a few hours online, but I managed to grab one for me and one for Camilla from Jane Wonder, and using Aramex Global Shopper, we got them back to South Africa.

I was quite worried, as they sat in London for a while, and I have this as one of two nudes I’m considering for my wedding day, but we finally got hold of them, and I’ve been wearing it non stop.

It’s a lovely light (yet dark enough) nude, with a glossy finish.  It’s pretty much my perfect nude after Velvet Teddy!  It’s quite a warm nude, although it looked cool in the tube, and makes my teeth look whiter somehow too, so this is just a huge win.

Would I repurchase?  I wish, but I’ll have to make this one last – it was limited edition sadly and is sold out.

Have you tried any of these products, and did you love/hate them?