Favorites of the month: May 2012

Oh May, May, where are thou May? We're already June and that means: monthly favorites...yaaay!

I discovered some things that will last for quite a while in my beauty/skin care routine! Some of you may know that I recently purchased a Clarisonic, I'm liking it so far, but since I haven't been using it for a long period of time, it'll probably pop up in my next fav's. Anyway, less chit chat, more make up!

I'll start off with the eye make up: recently I bought Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette. I finally splurged on a must have according to a lot of beauty guru's.

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette

I've written a review on this, so feel free to check this out :) It's a neutral cool eyeshadow palette which contains matte to shimmery shades...LOVE-LY!

Recently I've been experimenting more with make up, but it's been a pain in the but to take the make up off before going to bed. But thanks to the invention of make up wipes, it made the job much easier! I've been using the Yes to cucumbers make up wipes to take everything off my face. These soothing facial towelettes cleanses, removes make up and nourishes the skin...all in one swipe! They remove all of my make up (actually, the remove all of my concealer and setting powder since that's pretty much all I wear). It's so much easier than actually cleansing it with a proper make up remover cleanser. Yes, I am lazy, now you all know :)

Yes To Cucumbers facial towelettes

Let's stick to face, shall we?
I've been using the Nivea Pure effect scrub a couple of times a week. It's a very light scrub with micro beeds in it which makes it less harsh for the skin. Something that got me over the fence of getting this is the matte effect it gives after washing your face, and my face LOVES matte effects :)

Nivea Pure Effect peel soft mild scrub

I have a combination skin (oily on the T-zone and dry cheeks). The scrub is perfect for my oily T-zone but the dry cheeks do require a moisturizer, enter Nivea Pure effect Control Shine mattifying gel. I like using a gel during the warmer months of the year so it's less rich on the face. And you've probably figured out I like using this because it gives me a matte finish. It says on the bottle it doesn't contain any oils, but ocean minerals (but I'll leave that up to you whether that's true). I've been using this gel on a daily base and I thought it deserved its place in my monthly favs :)

Nivea Pure Effect control shine mattifying gel

 
Pretty happy nails for this month! My friend borrowed me her Play Day from Mac, and boy oh boy, did I fall in love with this nail polish! It's a gorgeous coral/salmon color which is bright but not neon-bright. It's the perfect color for summer if you ask me. Only downside to this is that this polish is a LE, booooooo! Unfortunately these were sold out in the first week they came out on the market. MAC, if you read this, please put this one in the permanent line? *puppy eyes*

Mac Play Day

And we're nearing the end of this article...boo!
But not to worry, I'll be posting again soon and before you know it, another month has passed and I'll be writing my FOTM for June! :)

Want to get Naked 2?

First of all, if you read the title... I'm not a perve, haha!

And secondly, yes, I'm still talking about make up on this blog: I'll be sharing my thoughts on the Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay! :) I think I'm probably the last make up lover on this planet who finally got her hands on one of these babies!

Urban Decay Naked palette

For all the make up lovers out there, if you haven't heard of this palette before, you must have disappeared for a couple of years :)

Urban Decay was very well known for their primer potions. I got a sample before, but unfortunately my oily lids kept the make up away in spite of using a UDPP (=Urban Decay Primer Potion).
Then they released their first Naked Palette. It's a neutral palette which has 12 neutral warm shades, a brush and the original primer potion. Beauty guru's have been raving about this palette, so - as smart as UD could be - they released their second palette. Again, this was a HUGE must have in the make up world. This palette contains 12 shades as well, including a white and a black matte shade (yay!), a double-ended brush and a travel size lip gloss.

UD upgraded their packaging and made a tin case instead of the brown carton which didn't always close properly. Next to the packaging they enlarged their mirror, and you know we, beauty lovers, can never have too many mirrors :)

Anyway, on to the colors!
This is the back of the palette. There's an attempt of displaying the colors in powder with their names below. These shades are all for neutral looks and the finishes are matte, shimmer and glitter.

Sorry for blinding you with the mirror on this pic, forgot to turn off my flash, but at least you're assured the mirror's big enough :)

Here's a zoom on each six colors of the palette:

• Foxy: matte cream
• Half Baked: metallic gold
• Bootycall: satin champagne
• Chopper: metallic rose gold with silver micro glitter
• Tease: matte, taupe with purple undertones
• Snakebite: satin deep bronze

• Suspect: satin light taupe
• Pistol: satin warm steel grey
• Verve: icy silver
• YDK: metallic mauve with micro glitter
• Busted: satin plummy dark brown
• Blackout: matte black

A lot of people were contemplating on whether to buy the original or the Naked 2.
Even though I don't own an original Naked palette, the Naked 2 seems to be more my cup of tea. There's a bigger variety in colors and finishes.

For those who are still on the fence:

Naked 1:

* warmer golden shades
* brown colors

Naked 2:
* cooler shades
* metallic taupe colors

It really depends on which colors you prefer. By reading blogs, watching vids and testing out I can assure you the quality is exactly the same from both palettes: PERFECT! The shades are extremely creamy and pigmented!

I'd say: no need to buy them both, just think it through on which colors you'll be using the most.

So beauties, tell me, which one do you prefer? :)