Although in December I had more than a few new products added to the rotation, I have to admit that I probably wore makeup less than half of the time, much preferring to leave the time in the first half of the month for surviving the exam season and foregoing the whole application altogether simply to laze around at home in either pajamas or sweatpants. However, there are a good few products that I have been absolutely adoring over the last month…

Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama in Soft Brown ($10.99-11.99)

For months, I’ve heard great things about this fibre-infused tinted brow gel and I was ecstatic to find it on shelves here within the last month. I was even more thrilled when I discovered that the lighter brunette shade was on the ashier side of things, so while this gel does not have nearly as strong of a tint as the MAC Prolongwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette, I’ve been adoring how natural the product looks as a result of its colour and subtle pigmentation but brow-thickening effect. It does make a difference on its own but I’ve been enjoying pairing it with a bit of brow powder or another brow product to keep things in place and achieve a natural but defined brow. I actually like the ball tip applicator because I have a whole lot of brow towards the outer corner.

L’Oreal Collection Exclusive Pure Reds in Doutzen’s Pure Red ($11.99)

I may have only worn this semi-matte tomato red lipstick a good handful of times throughout December, but given how bold and gorgeous this shade is, I couldn’t resist including it. The warm-toned orange leaning red hue of this lipstick makes it very flattering on my fair skin and brunette hair and the comfortable formula with good longevity suits dry lips like mine well without any sort of worries. Within the last month I’ve been into that classic red pout, even on lower key days, especially paired with say a grey cozy sweater, skinny jeans and glasses.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat ($41)

I didn’t exactly make a conscious effort to wear this blush all month but chances are that if I was wearing makeup, this blush was gracing my cheeks and I was feeling it. It’s just as great as the Ethereal Glow shade that I adore, albeit much more pigmented with its stunning somewhat bright warm rosy pink shade – I own a million blushes within this warm corally-pink family but this one is certainly unique, leaning much more rosy and I’ve been enjoying the instant flushed effect that it gives to the face and instant glow.

Diorskin Star Fluid Foundation ($50)

I’m not going to even touch on the fact that I’ve been promising an actual review of this foundation for months on end and have yet to write up a full post on it. Although my skin is surprisingly clear and hydrated at the moment, I put it through the ringer last month with exam-related stress and later holiday madness, but this surprisingly skin-like heavier coverage foundation provided the glow that I love, lasted ridiculously well and did not highlight the dry patches I was experiencing in the slightest. This one’s a keeper for many reasons and one of them is just how well it works under conditions of notable dry patches.

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Eau de Parfum Rollerball ($26)

With December, comes the whole holiday season situation where you attend various gatherings where you want to look put together and all that jazz, even if you’re not much of a festive party goer like I am, and perfume tends to be something I reach for more frequently to achieve this and this has been the one I’ve reached for, namely because I’ve loved the fragrance to death since picking it up as a Sephora point perk ages ago and its finally seasonal to wear the slightly-masculine warm musky scent. The three notes are violet, sandalwood and vanilla and even my unsophisticated nose can recognize the floral, musk and good ol’ vanilla aspects and this scent feels very me without being offensive in the slightest. It doesn’t hurt that it lasts and lasts for ages, either.

“The Queen of the Tearling” by Erika Johansen ($25)

One of the very few things that I love as much as beauty products and lattes are books and as soon as I finished my exams, I headed over to Chapters and picked out this dystopian novel to devour and devour it, I did – in a matter of hours. It’s an ‘adult’ novel that has those guilty-pleasure aspects that young-adult novels seem to include with some depth that makes it a little bit more stimulating and thought-provoking. Its set in the near future where as a result of the decaying world and all that jazz, this group of people have rejected all modern technology and sailed to a new world, adopting a feudal lifestyle. I’m pleased to report that that this book is the first within a series and I’m eagerly awaiting news of the next book.

What did you love throughout December?

Maggie, x.