Category: Monthly Favorites

January 2014 Favorites!

Happy Thursday! January is quickly coming to a close, and it’s time for me to share some of the things I’ve been loving this month with all of you. I don’t have too many beauty favorites this month, since I’ve been keeping it rather natural in the new year. Nonetheless, here are my January 2014 favorites!

NAIL POLISH

Milani – Sugar RushMilani Nail Polish in Popping Pink and Sugar Rush [REVIEW 1] [REVIEW 2]

As you may have guessed, I am just obsessed with the new Milani Gold Label polishes that will be in CVS stores starting in February. My favorite combination is one coat of Sugar Rush over Popping Pink. This manicure is so fun, and I love everything about these polishes. I highly recommend them!

BLUSH

NYC Cheek Glow – Riverside RoseNYC Cheek Glow in Riverside Rose [BUY]

I recently picked up this blush from NYC at Rite Aid during a sale event (see my haul post HERE), and I’m so impressed! The color is just right for my skin tone, and it looks so natural. I can’t believe this costs just $2.99! Run to the drugstore and grab this now!

MASCARA

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly MascaraL’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara [REVIEW] [BUY]

It’s probably no surprise at this point that I love this new mascara from L’Oreal! As much as I love trying out different mascaras, I am rushing to finish the other ones in my stash so I can wear this every day! The wand is beyond amazing, and the formula is perfect for my lashes. Every mascara fan needs this one in her collection!

HAIR

Got2b Guardian AngelGot2b Guardian Angel Heat Protectant [BUY]

I purchased this heat protectant several weeks ago during a sale event at CVS. I had a coupon, so I figured I would give this a try at a low price. I’m so glad I picked it up! My hair has never looked more smooth or shiny (yet not greasy). Since I straighten my hair most days, this heat protectant is tailored to my needs as well.

BODY LOTION

Nivea Extended Moisture Body LotionNivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion [REVIEW] [BUY]

As soon as I returned to NYC after my winter break, I couldn’t wait to grab my Nivea lotion. It really is my all-time favorite body lotion thus far. Not only does it work, but it doesn’t have an annoying scent. Keep an eye out for coupons in the Sunday paper for added savings!

FOOD

Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filled PretzelsTrader Joe’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels

I grabbed these pretzels at TJ’s and quickly devoured the bag. In fact, I may have polished off the remnants while I’ve been writing this post… whoops. These may not be the healthiest snack in the world, but at least I know that they’re all natural. I think I’m going to hold off on buying another bag for a while, though. I just don’t have any self control when it comes to these goodies!

MUSIC

Justin Timberlake | The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 by Justin Timberlake [BUY]

I’ve been listening to JT’s latest album nonstop lately. Granted, everything he touches turns to gold in my eyes, but this album is fantastic! I love the entire thing, but my favorite songs are Not a Bad Thing and Murder. If you don’t have this album yet, you should definitely buy it!

That’s it for my January favorites! I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’m currently loving, and please share your favorites with me as well. Leave your thoughts in the comments, or use hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

December 2013 Favorites!

Happy Friday! It’s officially 2014 now, and that means I need to share my December 2013 favorites with all of you. December was an interesting month – it started quite stressful with finals, and then ended with the holidays and spending time with family. I even spent half of December without any nail polish on at all (okay, to be honest I’m STILL not wearing any, but that will change soon!). Despite my nontraditional month, I managed to love some certain things. Here are my December 2013 favorites!

HAND SOAP

Bath & Bodyworks Fresh Sparkling SnowBath & Bodyworks Fresh Sparkling Snow Foaming Soap [BUY]

I don’t typically buy foaming soap, but my mom gave this to me when I visited for the holidays, and I’m obsessed with it! The scent of Fresh Sparkling Snow is so yummy! Bath & Bodyworks describes it as snow-covered pine, musk, and moss, and I think it’s the perfect combination. I’m thinking of stocking up during the clearance sale to make sure I’ll have enough to last me the year!

LIP BALM

eos lip balm in summer fruiteos Lip Balm in Summer Fruit [BUY]

Every night before bed I’ve been applying this lip balm, which I recently discovered is pronounced ee-ohs (that blew my mind!). While this isn’t my favorite lip balm of all time, I’m definitely a sucker for the unique packaging and application. Plus, I really like the Summer Fruit flavor!

CONCEALER

Manna Kadar Concealer WarmManna Kadar Concealer Trio in Warm Front [BUY] [FULL REVIEW]

I’ve been loving this concealer trio since I first tried it! The light shade is just perfect for my skin tone, and it applies flawlessly. I’ve even worn it alone without foundation on days when I’m not wearing much makeup at all. It’s a bit expensive, but 100% worth it!

BODY LOTION

Gold Bond Ultimate Healing LotionGold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Cream [BUY]

My mom gave me this mini size Gold Bond, and I’ve already used up the entire thing! It is so amazing – no scent, very moisturizing, and not greasy. I definitely still love my Nivea lotion, but this one is fantastic as well. It is very healing and perfect for the winter months. I highly recommend it (and yes, it would be great for swatching!).

BAR SOAP

Wisalya Apple Jack SoapWisalya Soap [BUY]

Last year my brother and sister-in-law gave me a trio of Wisalya soaps for Christmas, and I knew I wanted more this year! I got a variety of scents as gifts, and this month I’ve been loving Black Raspberry Vanilla (but took a picture of Apple Jack since the other is half used in my shower!). I really love Wisalya soaps – they’re handmade with natural ingredients and smell wonderful. Plus, you support a small business with your purchase! Definitely check out the shop!

EXPERIENCE

JulieGBeauty and Adventures in Polishland

Julie G NYC Meet Up [FULL DETAILS]

One of the highlights of December was meeting Julie G of YouTube. I wrote a full blog post about the experience, but I definitely wanted to include it in my favorites post. It was truly a wonderful time, and it brightened up the middle of my final exams.

What were your favorites in December? Share them with me in the comments or use hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

November 2013 Favorites!

Happy Monday! I can’t believe it is already December, and November has come to a close. Time flies by this time of year, and I try to enjoy it as much as possible. Let me share with you the products I loved during the month of November!

NAIL POLISH

IMG_3296Michael Marcus Once You Go Matte – $15 [BUY]

I’ve been obsessed with this black matte nail polish! I’ve already worn it twice! I definitely suggest following up with a matte top coat to ensure it is long-lasting.

CLEANSER

IMG_3674

Murad Clarifying Cleanser – $26 full size [BUY]

I received this cleanser in a swap, and I am loving it! It’s gentle, clears my skin of impurities, and smells like lemon-lime soda. I’ll be sad when I finish this travel size!

MOISTURIZER

IMG_3673Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer – $65 [BUY]

I received this moisturizer in a PopSugar box, and it’s amazing! It smells like lemons, and is perfect as a day moisturizer since it is not greasy and quickly absorbs into the skin. I’ve been combatting my winter skin this month, and this moisturizer has really helped!

EYESHADOW

IMG_3676 Maybelline Color Tattoo in Just Beige – $8 [Drugstore!]

For a long time I’ve wanted a MAC Paint Pot just to cover up all of the veins on my eyelids. I didn’t want to splurge, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this Limited Edition Color Tattoo from Maybelline. It matches my skin tone well, and covers up the imperfections on my eyelids. Check your local drugstore to find it!

LIP PRODUCT

IMG_3681

Baby Lips in Peach Kiss – $4 [BUY]

I am a self-diagnosed Baby Lips addict! I love all Baby Lips, but in November I wore Peach Kiss a lot. It is a gorgeous nude shade with a hint of sparkle. It moisturizes my lips while adding a little bit of color. I love it!

PERFUME

IMG_3685Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck – $49.50 full size [BUY]

I’m not a Taylor Swift fan, but I tried out this perfume sample and I’m hooked! It smells amazing, and I made this sample last as long as possible. Enchanted Wonderstruck is a great scent for the fall, and I even added the full size to my Wish List!

FASHION

IMG_3690Guess Pumps – $29.99 [BUY SIMILAR]

I was invited to my school’s annual gala, and I desperately needed some simple, black pumps. I found these ones from Guess at Burlington Coat Factory for just $29.99 with the original retail value of $60! I was so surprised at how comfortable these heels were, and how easy they were to walk in. I meandered the streets of Manhattan with ease!

BOOK

allegiant-book-cover-high-res

Allegiant by Veronica Roth – $6.99 [BUY]

I made time in my schedule this month to read Allegiant, the last book in the Divergent series. It is amazing! I won’t say too much, because I don’t want to spoil the story, but I did love it. I ordered the Kindle edition of the book so I could read it on my iPad and not wait for it to arrive in the mail. I highly recommend this book!

That’s it for my November favorites! I hope enjoyed this post, and be sure to let me know what your November favorites were in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

October 2013 Favorites!

Happy Tuesday! I am so excited to bring you my first ever Monthly Favorites post. One of my favorite bloggers, Love for Lacquer, inspired me to start sharing my favorite products with you every month. It’s a great way to share some of the items I use on a daily basis that might not make it onto the blog for a full review, or simply highlight my current obsessions. Let me share my favorites for the month of October!

NAIL POLISH

IMG_3434 IMG_3437I received Julep Char in my October PopSugar MustHave Box [review HERE] and I am blown away by its beauty! The dark blue color is stunning, and the formula is flawless. I wore it for nearly a week in October, which is a long time for me. I highly recommend it!

HAIR

IMG_3303

I’m also obsessed with The Wet Brush that I got in my October PopSugar Box! It is a miracle for my fine, tangly hair. I even tried switching back to a regular brush after using this, and I could definitely tell the difference. It might sound weird to have a holy grail hair brush, but this is definitely mine!

BLUSH

IMG_3450 IMG_3451A splurge product that I’ve been loving is Benefit Hervana, a gorgeous boxed blush that looks really natural. Plus, it has an amazing smell! If I’m reaching for a blush, it’s been Hervana. I definitely want to try out more Benefit blushes, too!

EYESHADOW

IMG_3453 IMG_3454You’ve heard me say a million times that I rarely wear eyeshadow. Well, I recently picked up the Physician’s Formula Canyon Classics palette and I can’t get enough! The shadows are great quality for an affordable price, plus they are really natural looking. The colors are swatched above in a clockwise rotation beginning with the top left corner. I’ve never actually worn the grey shade, but the rest are amazing!

MASCARA

IMG_3459 IMG_3461I love my drugstore mascaras, but the Manna Kadar Extreme Curl Mascara has been my go to this month! I got it in my October Wantable Box [review HERE] and I can’t get enough of it! The formula is just perfect for my lashes, and I’ve worn it nearly every day in October.

FOOD

IMG_3462I’ve been on a huge peanut butter kick this month! In fact, I devoured over half of this jar in October! You can grab 365 Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter at your local Whole Foods. It’s affordable, and tastes amazing! Plus, if you’re a vegetarian like me, this is a great way to get some protein.

SONG

Maybe it’s the native New Englander in me, but Ylvis’ new song Massachusetts is amazing! The tune is catchy, the lyrics are hilarious, and I just can’t get enough. I’ve had it on repeat since it came out!

EXPERIENCE

IMG_3440One of the most exciting moments of the month was getting to meet one of my favorite YouTubers, Meghan of Strawburry17. She and fellow YouTuber Arden Rose had a meet-up at the Nintendo World store here in NYC, and I just had to go! It was so great getting to talk with them, and both were so nice. If you haven’t checked out their YouTube channels, be sure to do so. I know you’ll love their videos!

And that concludes my October Favorites! Before I go, I wanted to share a new social media site that I joined! It’s called Luvocracy, and is a Pinterest-inspired website that you can shop from! I’ve curated my October Favorites into a collection, making it easy for you to purchase anything you see above. Plus, you’ll get a $10 credit when you sign up! Visit my profile HERE.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Keep a lookout for one of these at the end of every month, and make sure to let me know what your favorites were this October!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.