June was a decidedly better month than May – hooray! I have a few ongoing love affairs with some products and have one that I am still undecided about. I’ve really tried to whittle things down a bit because I can ramble on and on in these types of posts. Here we go…

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation (R129.95 from Dischem or Clicks): I have always loved using my MAC Studio Sculpt but since my current one was on its last legs (you know when you’ve cut it in half and you’re now scraping the barrel with your pinkie trying to get the last remnants out) I decided that I wanted to get something a bit more budget friendly. I was advised by some fellow bloggers that the Rimmel Match Perfection was incredible and so I scoured every Dischem and Clicks until I found my shade. I can honestly say this is one of the best foundations I have ever used. Ever. I love that you can build it for maximum coverage or just keep it light and fresh. It truly does blend to your skin tone and so I no longer have to worry about the dreaded tide marks on the neck and next to the ears. Phew! I’ve been obsessed with watching Tati’s YouTube channel (Glam Life Guru) recently, it’s basically my 6.30am – 8am daily ritual, so spoilt, I know. Anyway, she keeps going on about how she likes to press her foundation into her skin with her brush so I decided to try it out with my Real Techniques buffing brush. Wow, it makes a huge difference! My foundation almost looks airbrushed, give it a try and see for yourself!

The Body Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (R150 from the Body Shop): If you’ve been keeping up with the [skincare 101] series, you’ll remember I spoke about how beneficial double cleansing is. The Body Shop was having a 3-for-2 special and so naturally I had to go and see what I could get my grubby little paws on. I decided that I wanted to try different cleansing oil as all I have ever used is Precleanse from Dermalogica which can get a bit pricey. I was a bit hesitant to use this cleansing oil, I’ve always found the products from The Body Shop to have a very strong scent and didn’t know how I would feel about that going onto my face. To my suprise, this product is hardly fragranced at all, only a very very faint whiff which is perfectly fine. It removes make up like a dream and there isn’t an oily film left on your skin once you have removed it. I’m definitely enjoying using this and think it might even become one of my holy grail products. The other two products I bought was a new blush brush (it didn’t have a specific code or anything) which is of course, cruelty free and then the Aloe and Soft Linen diffuser which smells absolutely incredible and has a new home in my lounge. While we’re on the topic of cleansers, I’m LOVING my LUSH Ultrabland cleanser as well. I love the cream to oil consistency and my skin feels incredible after using it.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector (R460 from Red Square stores or online) : I received a travel size of this product at a Clinique event I attended that was hosted by Grazia. I have to admit, I’ve been conditioned to think of Clinique skincare as the enemy, where that comes from, I don’t have a clue. You know me though, if it’s going to attend to the dark circles under my peepers, I’m game! The cream itself is very lightweight which I like and is slightly tinted but I think that it would suit most complexions. It has a nifty metal applicator which helps in the puffiness department – the metal will be cool against your skin. It’s supposed to lighten dark circles by 30% within 12 weeks and I have to say, I have definitely seen a difference, I’m pretty much sold on this eye cream! I like to use it in the morning and then my Thalgo Collagen Eye Roll On at night. As with all products, you need to use this diligently and also treat the cause of your dark circles, for example getting more sleep or drinking more water.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Mask (R590 from Dermalogica skin centres or Dermalogica online): Ah winter, thou art a heartless um… you know the word I’m thinking of. My skin gets so ridiculously dehydrated during the dry winters that we have here in Johannesburg and so I have been using this mask about 3 times a week. Let me tell you, it has worked a small miracle. Although I prefer the old formulation (even though it’s been about 4 years since the change), this one works like a bomb. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid which besides aiding the skins hydration, it will help to minimise fine dehydration lines that you can often find on the cheek and forehead area. I’ve actually been using this on my skin every night since having my chemical peel and I can say without a doubt, it has really helped keep my skin super hydrated and kept the frosting (physical skin peeling off) to a minimum. Oh, how fab is it that you can now do all your Dermalogica shopping online?! Might be a bit dangerous though…

Beauticology Coconut & Lime Shower Scrub (R39.95 from Dischem): As much as I love a feminine, flowery scent, I was getting a bit over them and so when I saw this on the shelf, I snapped it up quick sticks. It still has quite a sweet scent but it has a bit more spunk and freshness to it which I really like. It’s great in the morning for a bit of a wake up call.  This definitely isn’t a very abrasive exfoliator, in fact, I could barely feel the granules to be honest. But I love using it as a shower gel purely for how it smells. I do need to tell you that it doesn’t foam up so if that’s a deal breaker for you then you probably wouldn’t enjoy this shower scrub. On the plus side, its paraben and cruelty free – yay!

Oh my gosh, when the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (R82.95) was spotted on the shelf at Dischem I was so chuffed – finally this cult product had found its ways to our shores! I couldn’t wait to get home, take off my make up and then reapply it using this primer. Does anyone else do cray cray things like that? Maybe its just me. Anyway, I gotta say, so far I’m not sure what the huge hype is. I can definitely see a difference to my skins appearance once I’ve applied it but I can’t really say that its any better than any of the other primers I own. Have you tried it, what do you think? I’m going to give it a few more tries before I make a final call on it.

I wanted to give you a little life update because as much as this is a beauty and skincare blog, its also my personal space that I love and I really do pour my heart and soul into it. I’m sure most of you are aware that I had a miscarriage in the beginning of May. First off, thank you for all of the support and kind words, I really was blown away!

The initial doctor that I was seeing was a complete nightmare and I eventually was able to get an appointment with another gynae 4 weeks (crazy how booked up they get!) after I miscarried to make sure that everything was fine. Turns out that I had actually had a missed miscarriage and I needed an emergency D&C. It really is a small miracle that I wasn’t showing any signs of infection! Anyway, to cut a long story short, it all went very well and the medical staff were incredible! I have been for a check up since then and have been given the all clear. Emotionally I am in a much better, more positive space, I’m so glad that Dan and I don’t have to worry about my health any more. I still feel a bit of a pinch of sadness every now and then, like when Kim Kardashian announced her pregnancy, I mean really, how silly! But that will get better with time, it really is a process.

I mentioned in that same post that I wanted to focus more on things that make me happy and that I enjoy and so together with Dan, I made the decision to resign from my job. Although I knew that my job was a huge catalyst for my stress and anxiety and it was the right decision to leave, it was really difficult to give up my salary! Like I think a lot of women do, I really put a lot of my identity into my career and I loved the fact that I was contributing financially. To me, it was a huge part of who I was and I never, ever thought that I would stop working (I also never thought that I would get married, look how that turned out). It’s been about a month now since I left and it’s made the most amazing difference, not only to me as a person, but to my marriage as well. I can say without a doubt that I am so much happier with life. People, I’m even taking up yoga! I am the most unflexible and zen person in the world but I am so excited! There have been a few challenges as well, like forcing myself to get into routine (it’s so easy to just stay in your pajamas all day) and rewriting the budget, it’s amazing to see how much money you spend on things when you’re forced to actually consolidate everything to re-evaluate! It’s also a huge learning curve, forcing yourself to not put all of your value into contributing financially but to seek other ways to add to your lives together. But for the most part the change has been positive. I’m so ready and excited to embrace this phase of my life and to actually move forward with so many ideas that I’ve had for so long.

What products made your month last month? Let me know in the comments below, I love reading them, they literally make my day!

PS Is anyone else obsessed with Rocomamas? Oooooooh my word, one has opened legit two blocks away from our home. This is bad news for my waistline. The BaconCheeseGauc burger is deeeelish! Dan says the ribs are absolutely killer as well.

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