September Favourites!

I am super excited about the products I am sharing this month! There are some weeks when I don't pay much attention to beauty products and feel less enthusiastic about monthly favourites-not this time!

For new readers (or anyone really)... I rotate between 'Favourites' and 'Empties'. For example: I will do an October Empties, November Favourites and eventually a December Empties but not two in one month. I find this way I have more products to share in each post and the extra 4 weeks gives me more time to use up products.

Alright, so this was September for me (beauty wise) in a nutshell..

Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion: This has been a skincare addition! I use it in conjunction with cetaphil cleanser. I heard kokolaroo talking about keeping her skin 'on it's toes' by using multiple products at once. I liked the idea and this cleansing lotion even more! It stings a bit so maybe not best for sensitive skin, but I find it does a superb job of removing makeup at the end of the day.

OPI Rapid Dry Spray: No polish this month. I've been using different colours every week, however this spray has been a constant! I scrolled through my blog and realized I'd never talked about it before. Basically you spray it on wet nails and it help them dry really quickly. Fantastic! Just a tad overpriced :P

Di Palamo Fig and Grape Body Set: Mentioned this in a haul and I've been loving it! Unfortunately this isn't available in Canada and I am nearly running out of each product :( The scent is rich, deep and delicious. The smell of the shower gel lingers on your skin.

Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara: This has been a favourite for the past few months. Gives very dramatic results, is affordable and easy to remove. What could be better?

CARGO Cosmetics One base Concealer + Foundation In One: <- That name's a bit of a tongue twister! Regardless, the dofut (is that the right word?) applicator is handy, the coverage is perfect and it matches my pasty skin wonderfully. I've used it almost everyday since it was sent to me.

Gwdihw Orange Lemon Lip Balm: Don't be fooled-this lip saviour isn't just here for the adorable packaging. My lips have been in the best condition I remember thanks to this little pot of heaven. Full review here!

CARGO Beach Blush in Sunset Beach: Last time I posted about this, it received quite the applause in the comments. It warms up my skin with bronzey shades while still giving my cheeks a pink flush. And yes, I'm still mesmerized by the colours + shimmer! 

Have you done a monthly favourites post?

Please leave your information in the comments-I really want to check out some new blogs!

CARGO Cosmetics Overview

If you follow me on twitter you've most likely read some ecstatic tweets regarding recent items sent to me from CARGO Cosmetics. A brand that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in the beauty blogging community despite the fantastic quality of their products.

The lovely Jessica (virtual hug if you are reading this) sent me four products...

1. blu-ray high definition pressed powder in shade 10
2. Tinted Moisturizer spf 20 in shade 02 Nude
3. One Base Concealer + Foundation In One in shade 01
4. Beach Blush in the shade Sunset Beach

This powder is heavenly! It immediately caught my eye on the website and lived up to expectations. I wore it with my MUF Foundation and it definitely made it last longer. After 8 hours it stayed put and still managed to look fresh!

The colour suits my skin perfectly (fairest shade you can get) and doesn't leave the classic 'cakey powder' look on my face-score!

In general I love the idea of a tinted moisturizer. CARGO's version has all the perks one can imagine... paraben free, spf 20, formulated without chemicals. Unfortunately 02 is too dark for me. When I tried it on it applied well, looked very natural and gave a nice light coverage. I could still see some of my acne scarring, but hey, that's tinted moisturizer.

 So I gave it to my Mom to try and she really likes it! She isn't much of a makeup girl but found this to be really hydrating for her dry skin. 

Out of the four products they sent, this was the dark horse for me. A dofut applicator for concealer? Say it ain't so.

The past week I've had a general lack of sleep and this concealer (in conjunction with a nearby coffee place) has been my saviour! It covers dark circles, blends well and is build-able. After all, I don't look like a zombie every morning. I also used this to cover some redness/discolouration around my nose and liked the effect.

The brown and deep pink tones warm up my face while the shimmer gives my cheekbones a bit of definition. I'm not one to stray from Nars blushes but the past few days I've been using this nonstop. I think this colour would look good on people with olive or darker skin tones as well. It is pretty in the package and on my cheeks!

^ mediocre swatch alert. I will make an effort to improve my camera skillz.

Expect products from this post to pop up in my September Favourites! If you're interested in their products take a gander at their website.

In other news I finished a Lush Fresh face mask (Cosmetic Warrior). Let me know if you're interested in a review/ramble!