Another month comes and goes.  Why do I feel like time is just passing me by?  I have so much to do, and only a certain number of hours in the day to do it.  The faster these months go by, the more stressed out and anxious I’m starting to feel about completing everything I need to do.  My to-do lists right now are extensive and never finished.  I mean, it’s taken me almost half of August to get my July Favourites up!

How are you all feeling now that we’re well and truly into the second half of the year?  Who has tips for achieving everything on their list, while still feeding your family and maintaining some semblance of a social life?  Throw them my way, please!

Rant aside, let us jump into the products I’ve been using and really enjoyed during my favourite month of the year – my birthday month.

Bodycare

Neutriherbs Coffee Body Scrub

I usually opt for sugar-based body scrubs that work the best when I use them on dry skin.  This is quite a dry, crumbly scrub and is made up mostly of coffee grounds with some sea salt and natural oils thrown in too.

I found this works best after I’d wet my skin, and then I’ll scoop some out and massage it into the area that needs a good scrub.  It doesn’t immediately dissolve when mixed with the water, instead it slips nicely and I’m able to buff away at my skin without it dragging and crumbling to the floor.

With it being a drier scrub, I also found that I used less product each time I used it, so the tub lasted me so much longer than my sugar scrubs usually do.  I can usually get 3 good, full body uses out of a sugar scrub, but I got at least 6 out of this one.  I finished it up shortly after I started planning this post and took the photo.

The coffee fragrance is such a nice pick-me-up, and the fresh coffee along with the oils are fabulous for improving circulation and cell regeneration.  The caffeine also makes your skin feel firmer too!  Just make sure you rinse out the shower or tub after you use it.

Skincare

Kiki Beauty Volcanic Gold Face Exfoliator

Face exfoliators are some of my favourite skincare products.  I have tried so many, physical and chemical, and even one that was a combination of both (I’m looking at you with hearts in my eyes Dermalogica Thermofoliant).

I kept seeing Kiki Beauty doing the rounds in the bloggersphere, and figured maybe it was time to give their products a go.  They had a big sale around the 16 June, and I picked up this Volcanic Gold Face Exfoliator then.

It’s a gorgeous golden shade, and on your initial application it warms up slightly.  It contains a mixture of natural exfoliant particles and natural clays, and you can apply it to wet skin for a more gentle buffing or dry skin if you like a deeper scrub.  It also doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin at all, but leaves my skin baby soft and free of those pesky flaky patches of skin that are standard each winter.

Kiki Beauty is also a South African company, so support local and give their site a browse!

Filorga Nutri-Filler Lips*

I had this little gem on my birthday wish list, and the wonderful people at Filorga actually sent it to me!  I was thrilled beyond belief, and so so grateful.

This isn’t just a lip balm either.  Sure, it seems like a schmancy, luxury lip balm, but it’s just so much more.  It’s an anti-ageing treatment for your lips that nourishes, plumps and boosts the natural colour of your lips, making them more youthful and juicy-looking.

As with most anti-ageing treatments, you need to really commit to use for a good period of time to see a difference, but what I can tell you is that this is a lovely balm to apply and my lips have really been enjoying it.  It’s packed with soy and castor oils, shea butter,a pro-collagen peptide and the patented Filorga NCTF (their anti-ageing complex with hyaluronic acid, vitamins and minerals), so while it feels lighter than a heavy balm such as the Nuxe Rêve de Miel, it’s working hard to nourish, plump and smooth the skin of the lips, as well as volumise and redefine the contours of the lips.

It won’t plump you lips the same way filler will, but it’ll even out any fine lines and keep them so soft and smooth, you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again.  I’m addicted to it, and if I’m not careful it’ll be finished before August is!

Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator*

I’ve already waxed lyrical about the Clinique Moisture Surge in general – the previous generation and the latest one, this 72-hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.  In fact, I’ve raved about this so much, I worry you’re all starting to get a bit irritated – but trust me, it’s totally worth all of the hype!

This is my go to product when my skin is feeling extra parched, or when I go away somewhere that I know is going to be very dry and cold (like the Drakensberg a few weeks ago).  It’s such a light texture being a gel-cream, and you wouldn’t think it would be able to cope against the cold and dry that winter brings, but trust me, it does.  Activated Aloe Water and Hyaluronic Acid (my skin’s best friend) soothe and hydrate my skin, preventing water-loss and actually teaching the skin to rehydrate itself.

I was doubtful with all of the hype and these claims, but my skin has never felt so hydrated.  Usually at this time of year it’s tight and red and irritated around my nose and chin, where dehydration strikes me hardest, however right now it’s 100%.  Well, despite the slight flaking that’s around my little Rudolph nose thanks to the horrible cold that’s currently doing the rounds.

You can also buy a 30ml jar for R290, so if you’re not convinced, give it a try before purchasing a bigger size.  Trust me – you’ll go back for more!

Pink Cosmetics Facial Mist

You all know I adore my Pink Cosmetics Cleansing Balm, and their Brush Cleaner, so in my last order from the store I had to try out the Facial Mist.

It’s packed with rose water, aloe leaf juice, witch hazel and glycerin, so it’s a beautifully hydrating toner or makeup finishing spray, and you can use it to refresh your face throughout the day too.  I think in summer, it would be a lovely product to keep in the fridge, and spritz over your face and body when you’re feeling a tad sun-kissed.

I’ve been using this as my morning toning spray and really really enjoying it.

dr.dermal Total Rejuvenation Plasma*

This is now my second bottle of the Total Rejuvenation Plasma from dr.dermal and I know it definitely won’t be my last.  I was actually planning to purchase a brand new bottle, and was lucky enough to receive one in the dr.dermal skincare event that I attended a couple of weeks ago.

The dr.dermal products are ones I rave about constantly.  The quality you receive, the amount of really great actives, and the fact that they’re dermatologist and plastic surgeon developed make them a must have for anyone looking for quality anti-agers.  They’re also a South African brand!

This serum is an all-round anti-ageing potion that hydrates, smoothes, soothes, evens out and also primes my skin for when I want to wear makeup.  I use it morning and night, and will now never be without it.  Holy grail status right here!

P.S. If you’re keen to try some of the dr.dermal products yourself, head on over to THEIR SITE and browse.  You’ll get free shipping on all orders, and if you use my code SUGARANDSPICE5 you’ll also get a sneaky discount 😉

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile & Lavender*

I’ve now officially tried all three of the facial sprays from Mario Badescu, and love them all for different reasons.  Their Rose Water spray is addictive, smells like Turkish delight and makes skin glow skin so beautifully.  I love it for morning and night, and want to actually add one to my pro kit for bridal makeup – it leaves the skin glowing and fresh, just how a bride should look on her wedding day.  The Cucumber & Green Tea one is soothing and would be fantastic in summer as a post beach or pool spritz.

This Chamomile & Lavender one though.  Wowzers!  Not only is it filled with Vitamin C, but the Lavender and Chamomile help to de-stress both the skin and the mind, and I’ve been saving this to use as my nightly toner and also the final step in my nighttime skincare routine (yes, I use it twice at night haha!), as it provides my skin with hydration, antioxidants and that soothing fragrance that really settles me down for the evening.

I’ve always loved the scent of lavender, and chamomile tea is a must have in my night time routine, so this spray was basically made for me.  I’ll definitely repurchase this, along with the Rose Water spray.  So worth the hype.

Makeup

Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk

Ok, so we all know how popular Glossier is at the moment.  They’re flipping everywhere!  However, when my folks were heading to the UK and I had the opportunity to place an order and have it delivered to their friend’s place, I was wary.  How do you know what to buy?  Where do you let go of the hype and choose the products that you KNOW will work?  And so, I headed on over to Kiss, Blush and Tell and let Tori tell me.

The Cloud Paint is one of her must have products, so I opted for the shade Dusk – it’s a brownish nude shade that is more natural than the bright and intimidating ones like Haze (a deep berry).  However, it blends out so easily, you need a teensy bit of product, and all you’re left with is a natural-looking flush to the cheeks that you just want more of.

Did I also mention that I detest cream blush?  Yet this tube of gorgeousness has not left my side since I bought it.  It is a staple in my makeup bag, as I can touch up with ease and the shade is like a combination of blush and bronzer.  I now need more shades, MORE I tell you!

NARS Hot Sand Highlighting Blush

I actually won this as part of a set with a lipstick, on Prettiful Blog a while back, and was thrilled to finally have the chance to try out some NARS products!

The compact is a little mini, but I mean, how fast can you really use up a highlighter?  It’s perfect for travel and for my handbag, and even has a little mirror in it.  The name of the product claims it’s a ‘higlighting blush’ but this is really just a highlighter in my opinion, nothing like the Milani Luminoso blush, which really is a highlighter AND a blush.

It’s a soft peachy champagne shade that isn’t chalky whatsoever, and provides a beautiful sheen that can be applied more naturally or built up to look almost wet.  The swatch of it below really doesn’t do it justice at all.

Too Faced Just Peachy Mattes

I have wanted this all-matte eyeshadow palette ever since it was launched, as it’s a gorgeous mix of warm-toned matte eyeshadows.  I managed to order one on Debenhams and have it delivered to my folks friend in the UK for their trip over there and I haven’t regretted it for one second.

The palette has a peachy, almost slightly floral scent to it, and the shades are just so flipping gorgeous and pigmented.  As with all Too Faced eyeshadows, they blend like a dream, and I’ve been reaching for this so often, even if it’s just for a warm shadow in the crease on a day when I’m not wearing any other eyeshadow.

My favourite shades have definitely been Fresh-Picked (a warm mid brown), Just Ripe (a gorgeous plummy shade) and Peach Sangria (the only non matte in the palette, a subtle satin finish in a warm berry shade).

What products did you love during the month of July?

* Press Sample

DISCLAIMER: Even though some of these products were sent to me for review, please note that I am always honest – I will show that the product was sent to me, and my opinion will always be my own.