March 2014 favorites!

So this year, although it only just started, has been a year of trying new products and finding new products to love. My favorites will not only include hair products, but also makeup, beauty, fashion, music, etc. All of these things I bought or tried on my own. Nothing in this favorites was sent to me to try or a sponsor of my blog. So let's get to it shall we? 

Hair

So if you read my blog then you know that my absolute favorite hair product for my curly hair is TIGI Catwalk Curl Amplifier. Rather then beat a dead horse (I never realized how morbid that saying is until I wrote it) I figured I would do a new favorite of the month. So this March's lucky winner is...Marc Anthony Curl Envy Cream. This curl cream smells AMAZING, defines curls nicely, and moisturizes my hair. 

Bath and Body

This winter was much more harsh on my skin then any winter ever has been. I had several dry patches throughout my body, and my lips were constantly flaking and cracking regardless of how much lip balm I used. These products have been heaven sent for my skin!

So after watching and reading people talk so highly of Lush products I decided to give it a try for myself. Let's just say I am very thankful that the closest Lish store is 45 minutes away because I may be broke if there was one closer. A bought a few things, but I have only really tried one so far and I LOVE IT! Lush's Mint Julips lip scrub is the best! All you need is a tiny bit to rub on your lips with your finger, then rub your lips together. The scrub really works the dead, flakey skin off, then you just lick your lips to take the scrub off and you have a minty little treat.

Going along with the scrub theme, this next product has been crucial in getting rid of my dry patches. I went to Sephora in search of several different types of products, and while I was there I asked the lovely lady if she had any suggestions  for getting rid of dry patches. She suggested two products, the first being body scrub. So I made my way over the the Soap & Glory section and picked up a couple things. One of the first things I saw was the Pulp Friction Body Scrub. Of course I had to smell it before purchasing and oh my did it smell good. This body scrub is now part of my daily shower routine. I take a little but at a time and work it all over, concentrating especially on the areas where my dry patches have taken up shop. The scrub is gritty enough to exfoliate the dead skin, but not so much that it hurts. Love it! 

The next product that I was suggested by the lady at Sephora was a body butter. Before this I was only using lotion, Aveeno..which I still love, but it did not do enough to truly give my skin the moisture it needed. Body butter is much thicker then lotion, so if you suffer from dry skin then I definitely suggest giving this a try! While I was at the Soap & Glory counter I smell tested all of their body butter and I landed on the Butter Yourself body butter. This stuff smells so flipping good! I would seriously buy a body spray with this smell if it existed. So so so good! This butter has really gave my skin the deep moisture that it needed so badly this winter. Go buy it! 

So the next two products are for the face. I suffer from very oily, acne prone skin. About two years ago my skin was in a very bad place. My skin broke out so bad and I really didn't think it would ever go away. It was then that I found Cassandra Bankson on YouTube and she gave me so much valuable information which has truly helped me so much. I did go to dermatologists, but none of them could really help me. Funny how I learned more from YouTube then a doctor. Anywho..one of the products that Cassandra talked about as a favorite face wash was the Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub. So of course I had to give it a try. This stuff is amazing. It is absolutely part of my holy grail products now, and I couldn't be happier. I use this face wash at night, since it is a scrub, and I can truly say that my skin has benefited so much from it. I have even tried changing face washes and so far nothing works as good as it does. If you too suffer from oily, acne prone skin I would suggest giving it a try and also check out Cassandra's YouTube (diamondsandheels14). 

 

My next face product I decided to try on my own. I wanted to find a night time moisturizer that is replenishing, but does not make me break out. I used to think that because my skin is oily that I don't need moisturizer..wrong! I love Aveeno products so I decided to give Aveeno smart essentials nighttime moisture infusion a try. It smells great, really moisturizes, and does not make me break out. 

Makeup

I have just recently began really getting into makeup. I grew up in a family where makeup really isn't a focus in women's lives, so I never learned how to use it. Of course that was until I discovered YouTube. Yes I am very late. Anyways, here are some of the makeup products that I am really loving right now.

I have heard a lot of good things about NYX products so when I saw that section in Target I wanted to see what they were about. I picked out one of their blushes in Pinched and I really love it. It gives my face a natural looking but of color. It also isn't so pigmented that when you put it on you look like a clown..which is very important for me as a makeup newbie. NYX blushes are beautiful and inexpensive.

What do I like to apply this blush, and other face products with? Well I am very glad you asked! As I already said I am a makeup newbie, so when I say I just discovered Real Techniques brushes don't attack me. This brushes are AMAZING! You can see in the picture below which one I use for blush, and the one to the very right I use for blending right now. I am so in love with these brushes, and when I am less broke then I am now I will be sure to own the whole line. Great quality at such a great price!! 

This next product I wasn't really sure I would like, but I gave it a try anyway. I bought this double-sided Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes mascara. Although I was very skeptical about this mascara, mostly because of the size of the ends, I really did like it! I loved how it had one side for upper lashes, and a smaller brush on the other side for lower lashes. This mascara really lengthened and volumized my lashes in the very best way. I love it and would certainly purchase again. The only complaint I do have is that the upper lash section finished much quicker then the lower lash section because the upper lashes uses so much more. I would suggest to Maybelline to consider making the lower lash tube smaller since it needs less and give that extra room to the upper lash section. I am trying out a new mascara for my upper lashes, but I am still using the lower lash section while it lasts. 

The primer that I have been trying out, and loving, seems to be a favorite among YouTube beauty gurus so of course I had to try it for myself. The infamous Benefit Porefessional is amazing. It is sooo light weight and fresh smelling. It really makes my foundation and/or BB cream really last and look great all day. Love it!

 

My last makeup favorite is a foundation. This too is a favorite among YouTube beauty gurus, and it's great for me because it is a drug store buy. Covergirl 3-in-1 Foundation is to die for. It gives me great medium to full coverage while still looking natural. I also have a couple of higher end foundations, but this one is my favorite. It took me a couple of purchases to find my right color, but I am in 842.

Fashion

So I only have one true fashion favorite this month. I typically only really wear boots or flats, but I realized that on days that I wanted to be more casual that I had no black sneakers that could go with almost anything. I decided that I wanted a pair of all black, flat sneakers and after a couple of months of waiting I finally got them. My Vans original sneakers are my absolute favorites. I can wear them with almost anything, and they are super comfy. My only suggestion is not to wear them if you are walking a lot. I have learned this very hard lesson in my converses.

YouTube 

I have many, and I mean MANY, favorite Youtubers, but my absolute must watch is the SacconeJolys. I absolutely LOVE them! They are Irish daily vloggers and they are the absolute cutest!!! Anna, is due any day now with her second baby. Jofee is hilarious and such a great husband, and Emilia is the cutest little toddler in the entire world! They give me such great hope for a family in the future. I also love watching Anna Saccone's beauty videos and reading her blog as well. Go check then out now if you haven't already!!

Music

So I may be a little late here too, but I just recently heard Sam Smith and I am in love! His voice is absolutely AMAZING!!! Go check out his music on iTunes and YouTube..you can thank me later. And yes I will be buys his entire album when it comes out. My favorite songs so far are "Lay me down" and "Stay with me" 😍 so good! 

Ok so I am done now. All of the products will be listed on my luvocracy page if you want to purchase them there. Also check out the Youtubers and musicians I talked about as well and send them some love. Hope you guys are loving the beginning of spring..this warm(er) NY weather is amazing right now!