Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you had a lovely evening, however you celebrate. I had to mess around with this photo to make it usable, as it was rather dark (candlelight!), but D and I spent our evening cooking supper, chatting and enjoying some couple time as this was our last NYE before we become a family! This was our main course, pommes dauphinoise, venison with a shallot and juniper sauce and greens, washed down with Fentiman’s rose lemonade as a change from sparkling water. We had scallops with chilli and lime to start, and chocolate mousse for pudding. I felt very spoilt and we didn’t even need to call a cab to get us home – a perfect start to 2013.
I’d better get on to December’s beauty empties – a bit more of a selection this month:
Orofluido hair mask (£13.99): This is a thick, highly scented mask that claims to ‘intensively moisturise and repair every strand of your hair’. The packaging looks gorgeous, and the mask itself is a golden colour and very thick, making it easy to apply and comb through. The product has a strong, perfumed scent that lasts well on the hair -I like the fragrance, but it is worth having a sniff of this product before using as it really is strong and if you don’t like it, you’d be stuck!
This did add shine to my hair and rinsed out well but was not as moisturising as I expected from the description. I’ve enjoyed using it but probably won’t repurchase it.
Prada Infusion d’Iris Eau de Toilette: This is my ‘signature scent’ and I wear it every day. It’s fresh, with some woody hints and floral notes, and I find it lasts really well on me. It dries down slightly powdery, which I think is typical of iris perfumes?
I was so pleased when this came out, as a lot of the lighter perfumes around seemed very citrus heavy and citrus does not work well on me; this has mandarin and orange but somehow it works. It’s very classic, without being too old-fashioned, if that makes sense? I was very pleased to get another bottle for Christmas as this ran out on Christmas Eve!
La Roche Posay Effaclar A.I (£8.00): This is sold as a ‘targeted breakout corrector’; it’s a white cream you apply to blemishes and red marks that contains niacinamide, La Roche-Posay spring water and some other spot-fighting ingredients. I find this really effective, I use it morning and night. The massive benefit for me is the cream base, which means it can be applied under make-up without pilling, a problem I often have with gel products. It’s also very gentle, so has been a godsend for me as I have quite sensitive skin but have had a lot of hormonal flare ups during my pregnancy. I would definitely repurchase and recommend this one.
Korres Brightening and Line-Smoothing Serum for face and eyes (£28.00): I bought this on holiday in Santorini and I have been really impressed with it. The ingredients seem to be mostly natural, and it has a lovely light texture, meaning that it applies beautifully. It has a slight rose scent.
I don’t think this is marketed as a heavyweight anti-aging product, but I have definitely seen an improvement in skin texture and brightness since I started using this. In the daytime, I like to use a serum and then either a lightweight lotion + foundation or a tinted moisturiser, depending on my skin condition and my plans, and this is perfect for that. It doesn’t break me out or affect the staying power of my makeup. A lovely product, especially if you prefer to stick to natural formulations; I would repurchase and recommend, though I’m currently trialling something a little lower in price 
Erbaviva Mommy-to-be milk bath and stretch mark cream (travel sizes):I was lucky enough to get these as part of a ‘mum to be’ kit from my lovely mother! I’d not come across Erbaviva, but they appear to be another brand focusing on high quality natural ingredients. This range is focused on helping you with dryness and itching as your bump grows, and it is certainly effective!
I loved the milk bath, it was very soothing and softening without any strong scent, great if you are suffering with a sensitivity to smell during pregnancy. The stretch mark cream absorbed well, it’s totally natural and packed full of essential oils. It had quite a ‘herbal’ scent due to this but this was not too strong and didn’t clash with my perfume. It certainly prevented the itching I was suffering with, and I don’t have any stretch marks yet – I’d be happy to say this was good for your skin! I’m still using the oil from this kit, so probably won’t repurchase as I only have eight weeks of pregnancy to go, but I would definitely recommend this range for mums-to-be or friends who want to treat them!
Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion mascara (£8.99): If I could marry a mascara, this would be it! I have very fine eyelashes that are blonde on the ends, and I use mascara nearly every day to give them a boost, even if I am wearing no other makeup. Over the years I’ve worked my way through the high end (YSL, Lancome) and the cheaper brands but I just couldn’t justify spending the money on the likes of Diorshow, especially as mascaras need to be changed so frequently.
I was recommended this by a friend and have worn it for the past year. It’s reasonably priced, lasts without smudging or flaking (I have REAL issues with smudging and it’s a pet hate of mine) and is a good, deep black. Whilst any ‘false lash’ claims need to be taken with a pinch of salt, this does lengthen and thicken, and I find it is also buildable without getting too clumpy. The brush is one of the rubbery ones and it’s not too enormous, I find it works well for me. Max Factor definitely do great mascaras at high street prices and I think I’ll be wearing this for a long time to come. Highly recommended – a ‘HG’ product for me.
Have you found any special products this month? What mascara do you swear by? Let me know in the comments!
I used to have that Prada perfume, it’s gorgeous! I swear by Lancome Hypnose mascara xx
Hey Sian, I also love Hypnose, one of the best out there! I’ve not tried any of the variants of it, just the classic, but it is a great mascara