It’s been WELL over a month since my last ‘Currently’ post, and I can’t quite believe how quickly it’s flown by.  I’ve been loving so many different things at the moment, and I love these posts, as sometimes the beauty things won’t even find a way into my monthly favourites, never mind the other things I’m currently loving.

I won’t delay any further – let’s just jump right in!

PRODUCT FIND

My sister has been on my case about this new foundation she’s been using, the Essence Camouflage 2-in-1 Makeup and Concealer.  She’s on her second or third tube already, and I have to try it.  Now, I’ve never tried an Essence foundation, so I was quite sceptical, but I went in store and swatched it.  I liked the coverage, that it seemed to show, but most of all, after seeing it on my sister’s skin, I thought that for the price point (a mere R79.95) I’d just give it a bash anyway.

I have one bad thing to say about it.  There are only 3 shades available here in South Africa, and even with my fair skin, I’m wearing the darkest one they have – 30 Honey Beige.  The first shade was far too light, and the second shade was too much of a pink undertone.  The third one seemed to fit perfectly, and even then it can come across as a bit light.

However, it works like a charm, sits beautifully and lasts all day.  I can blot it with a blotting sheet and lightly powder it, and it won’t break up or go cakey.  And most importantly of all, I don’t even need to wear concealer with it, as the coverage is fab!

PURCHASE

I finally purchased the Skin Creamery Everyday Lotion for Face and Body, and I love it!  It’s a little too rich to use on my face every night, but I use it on nights when my skin needs a bit more love.  I also use it on my body when my skin is feeling like scales, which it has more frequently than not this winter.  I don’t know if it’s just an age thing, but the skin on my body seems to feel drier each year, and I need richer and richer creams.  Years ago, my skin could never have handled a body butter in summer, now it NEEDS it!

This stuff is luxurious and so delicious to use, so I don’t slather it on every day, but I do on days where it’s been particularly dry and my skin feels that much more parched.  I’m left with silky soft, smooth skin that loves me so much for treating it.

You can buy it on The Beautiful Store too, for a slightly lower price point, and you get R50 off your first purchase!  Plus, with each purchase you make, you earn points towards another voucher.  Their customer service is also some of the best I’ve received in this country ever!

SERIES/BOOK/MOVIE

We’ve always loved watching the Food Network, but lately we’ve been binge-watching episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives – a show where Guy Fieri travels around the States looking for off the radar places that the locals love, and where you find some of the best food in the country.  It’s amazing and it WILL make you hungry, regardless of the time you watch it.

LUSTING AFTER

I’ve been hearing about the brand The Ordinary all over the internet – here in South Africa and overseas on blogs, YouTube and in social media.  They’re an insanely affordable, yet fabulously well formulated skincare brand that really really works.

My skin has become crazy-dehydrated and it was a mission of note to get it hydrated in time for my wedding.  I didn’t get there, and am still suffering.  I blame the heaters being on or airconditioner being on, and the fact that the weather has been so dry.  I should be using my humidifier religiously, but I don’t.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% and B5 serum is pretty much a tall glass of water for your skin, and it sounds like just what my skin needs.  I’ve seen a few sites that sell it here in SA, and while some are out of stock, I managed to snag one for R200 on Fashion Police, after doing some checks on whether they do sell legit products.  They do, and I threw that serum so quickly into my check out basket that I’m surprised my laptop didn’t fall off the desk.  I now sit here with bated breath waiting for it to arrive, and desperately wishing for teleportation or a portkey to bring it to me NOW.

SNACK/DRINK

I am all about rusks right now – the South African, dunk-in-your-tea-or-coffee-every-morning goodie.  I love me some delicious Ouma rusks, and they’re a staple that will never go out of style, especially the buttermilk ones or the condensed milk ones.  BUT Woolworths has upped the game with rusks, and you can now get these amazing Cinnarusks (think the love child of a Cinnabon and a rusk) and Waffle Rusks (they taste like waffles that have been drizzled with syrup and baked until they’re hard).

These delicious alternatives are NOT diet friendly, and you can’t have just one.  In fact, I’m picking up another bag on my way home from work, and I’m going to attempt to have JUST ONE each morning with my tea in bed.

OBSESSION

I recently discovered a brand that isn’t very well known yet here in South Africa.  It’s Nikel Cosmetics, and they’re produced in Croatia.  I attended an event for them at Sibaya Casino this month, and since then I’ve been trying out the samples we were given, and the two products I bought from their range.  Also – the gorgeous and bubbly Leigh-Anne Williams of the Expresso show is their face in South Africa, and we got to meet her too.  She and her mom (who was also there) are such warm, kind, lovely people.

I’ve loved all of the samples (although the Nikelift eye cream has been too rich for me, I still finished up the sample at night time, and my under eye area has never been smoother – it would be fabulous for more mature skins), and we did get to try the products on our hands on the day, so I knew that the Evening Primrose Oil and the Nikelhidris Hydrating Face Cream were right up my street and boy was I right.  I’m loving using them, they’re super luxe to use and how cute is the ‘ice cube’ packaging of the face cream?!  Plus they smell divine!

I’ll be doing a blog post on the brand and the products I’ve tried soon, but in the meantime, check out their products on Beauty Worx!

INSTAGRAM CRUSH

I’ve been browsing a lot on Instagram lately, and so far my favourite Instagrammer has got to be local gal @kayoss_za aka Kayleigh Ross, who posts some of the most stunning makeup looks, has greener-than-green eyes and is a brand ambassador for Swiitch Beauty.  Plus she seems like such a down-to-earth, genuinely sweet person!

What are your current loves?