DECEMBER BEAUTY FAVES

Hello there, pals! I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite beauty/makeup products that I have been digging for the month of December. Upon compiling my list, I realized that I got nearly every one of these things at ULTA, and that is when I realized that I really need to stay away from ULTA for my wallet’s sake. Anyway, let’s get on with it!

First on the list is the Murad Acne Starter Kit

Down here in my part of the world (lovely Greenville, South Carolina), we typically have chilly and very dry winters that are super harsh on my skin. I am usually pretty lucky for the majority of the year, skin-wise, and have very few to no breakouts – but from late November through February, I look like a hormonal teenager.

In the past, I have splurged on Proactiv, which works very well, but is also very expensive. I have heard good things about the Murad acne line, and decided to pick up the starter kit. It includes a clarifying cleanser, an acne spot fast fix, an oil-control mattifier (this I have admittedly not used, as I don’t have a tendency to have oily skin), and an acne clearing solution.

Overall, I have been very impressed with this kit, and would definitely purchase it again. I noticed a difference in my skin within about a week (my break outs cleared right up and my skin regained some brightness). You really get a lot of bang for your buck, product wise, and truthfully, it really isn’t much different from Proactiv. They are similar skincare systems and work pretty much the same way – but buying Murad through ULTA means that I get rewards points, and that absolutely is enough of a perk to make me lean towards Murad in the future. I also like that these products are small enough that I can toss them into a tiny Cinderella mug that I had literally no use for when I bought it. Thanks for making adult acne fun, Cinderella!

 

Next in skincare, I have the VITABATH Lavender Chamomile Body Wash

OH.MY.GAWWW. This smells so amazing – and the scent really carries after your shower throughout the day. As far as the actual shower process, the body wash itself is so gentle, you immediately relax as soon as it is applied to your skin.

Because I loved the body wash so much, I also picked up the VITABATH Lavender Chamomile Lotion –

and #NOREGRETS. Both are $7.99 at ULTA, and are currently on a buy 1, get 1 half off sale. You get a TON of product here – each bottle is 12 delicious ounces. Bonus: there is a travel size of the body wash that you can find at ULTA, too. YAAAAS!

 

Onwards to haircare!

My largest complaint with my hair is that I have a lot of it, but that it doesn’t have any body. I’ve used tons of products that promise luscious and thick hair in the past, and have always been disappointed – so when I ran into NOT YOUR MOTHER’S Plump For Joy Thickening Hair Lifter

and saw the low price point ($5.99 at, you guessed it, ULTA), I was willing to try to find love again. And boy howdy, is this one a keeper! I use two pumps of this product in my hair – applied when it has been towel dried after a shower – and I’ve let it both air dry naturally and have also dried it with a hair dryer, and I’ve found that either way, my hair becomes an actual small creature that I think has a pulse and most definitely a zip code. It makes me feel like Priscilla Presley, and for that alone, I’m tickled. Definitely recommend.

Another haircare item – I love curling my hair, but am lazy and usually cannot be bothered. I also find that, because I have a finer hair texture, my hair does not respond as well to curling wands or irons. So I decided to give the Conair Flexible Rollers

a try, and I’ve been dazzled! They are VERY easy to use and produce a gorgeous curl that really lasts throughout the day (I tested this in Florida humidity, so I feel like I’ve done God’s work). One note: I personally like to wear mine to bed at night with a satin cap over them to keep them in place, but if you are very sensitive to something annoying you while you sleep, I wouldn’t recommend going that route, because they are not the most comfortable things in the world to wear to bed. These can be found at ULTA for $14.99.

Lastly, a gift that I have fallen in love with – Stephanie & I did a makeup exchange, which is pretty much like Christmas for makeup lovers – I boxed up a lot of stuff that I was getting rid of, and she did the same, and then we swapped and went at the offerings like vultures – one of her giveaways that I kept is Maybelline’s Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color in “Ravishing Rose”

 

This is definitely a holy grail color for me, I have pretty much worn it every day since she so kindly gave it to me. Drugstore lipsticks can always be very hit or miss, but this is a definite hit – I LOVE the color, love the texture, and love the payoff and pigmentation. It also doesn’t have that gross smell that some drugstore lip colors can have. Literally no complaints here, just many, many grateful thanks to Stephanie for a new favorite! $7.99 for a tube at ULTA!

That’s it for this month! I accidentally went to ULTA again last night (I’ve really gotta stay out of there) and bought a few new things, so I’ll return at the end of next month with more faves to share. Please let me know if there is anything you think that I would love that I can check out! xx