December is my favourite month every year because that's when I have my school breaks and it's also my birth month! I got a lot of presents this year, some were chosen by my friends and some by myself. Here are some of my favourite things I received!
Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne
This is one of their best sellers and also my first ever Jo Malone fragrance. It's a beautiful girly fruity floral scent that's light and subtle. It has red apple for a fruity top note, peony for a fresh floral heart note and suede for base. I love the smell and I could use it everyday because it isn't too strong for me. The staying power isn't as strong as I expected since it is a very expensive bottle but it could still last for more than half a day. I read online that it would smell nicer and last longer when you layer it over their lotion of the same scent but I don't think I wanna spend that much on a body lotion so I usually layer it over a rose scented lotion and I smell like a garden of flowers!
I got the one in full size (100ml) and they gave a complimentary engraving service so I had my name engraved on it! I also received a free sample of their Wood Sage & Sea Salt cologne but I'm not really a fan of the scent.
Nars Orgasm Blush
I've been wanting to get a blush from Nars for a long time and I finally got it as a gift! I got their blush in Orgasm, it's from the Nars Orgasm Collection and it's one of their most well-known blushes. It's described as a peachy pink blush with golden shimmer. They have a new oversized limited edition Orgasm blush that is more worth the money and it also has prettier packaging but I don't think anyone will need that much blush of the same shade.
As usual, not really a fan of their matte packaging that gets dirty super easily but I like that it has a mirror in it. I usually wouldn't like blushes that are too pink-ish because I always end up looking like a doll but this blush has a very natural coral-ish pink colour. The gold shimmer isn't too glittery, it gives a very beautiful golden sheen on the cheeks. It applies smoothly on the skin, doesn't give a chalky look and it blends so nicely, I love it and I think I'll be replacing Too Cool For School Angel Blusher with this as my favourite shimmer blush.
*scroll lower to see swatch
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| Picture might look slightly darker than the original colour |
MAC Burnt Pepper Blush
This is a matte blush, described as a dirty tangerine. It looks really dark and orange but when I apply it very light-handedly with a brush it's a nice coral-ish red that looks natural even on my fair skin. It's super pigmented, a little goes a long way, I only need very little product and I have to apply it lightly or I'll look like a red pepper! I usually take very little of it and apply layer by layer to slowly build it up. It's very soft and easy to blend, it's not powdery or chalky even though it's really pigmented. I can wear this to school since it's not shimmery or satin, it gives a very natural cheek colour and it looks like skin.
*scroll lower to see swatch
MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish / Shiny Pretty Things
This metallic gold highlighter has been around for a while but they came out with a new design and repackaged it for their holiday collection - Shiny Pretty Things. This one comes with 10g of product while the original one is only 9g but you pay the same price and you get a prettier packaging so it's definitely worth the money!
The formula is so soft and buttery, it's pigmented and really easy to blend for a beautiful metallic sheen. I use a fan brush for a more natural sheen, it gives me glowy and healthy-looking skin. For a more intense shimmer, I use a denser blush or highlighting brush, the powder picks up well and applies evenly on the skin.
*scroll lower to see swatch
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| The holiday edition packaging is so pretty! |
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Top: Orgasm; Middle: Burnt pepper; Bottom: Oh darling
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Burt's Bees Mistletoe Kiss
This is a limited edition gift set for this year's holiday which has 3 different lip products - moisturising lip balm, tinted lip balm and lip shimmer. Burt's Bees is well known for its natural lip care products and it's definitely a NEED for someone with dry lips like me.
One of the products in this set is their pomegranate lip balm. It has a nice natural pomegranate scent. I don't usually put on lip balm during the day because I don't like the sticky feeling and the wet look on my lips but this lip balm feels comfortable on the lips and it's also very moisturising so I put this on when I go out sometimes when my lips are very dry.
This tinted lip balm is in the colour Hibiscus, it's a sheer pinkish nude. It moisturises my lips and gives my pale lips a very natural colour at the same time. It looks wet but not too glossy and it doesn't feel very sticky. I love the floral scent of this lip balm.
The lip shimmer that comes in this set is in the shade Peony. It's a very sheer pink colour with shimmer that isn't too intense. I can wear this with very light makeup or with a full face on. It has a strong peppermint scent and I feel a tingling cooling sensation the first few minutes after applying. It contains vitamin e and beeswax which helps to keep my lips moisturised.
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| Top: Tinted lip balm; Bottom: Lip shimmer |
Pandora Clip Charms
This is another one of my luxurious gifts. I got two clip charms from the Pandora Rose series since my bracelet is also from that series. The clips help to keep my other charms in place so they wouldn't move around too much. The first one is a heart shaped clip with rose pink & light pink crystals and clear cz on the side. The second one is a round shaped clip with clear cz around it.
Swarovski Bracelet
This Swarovski custom bracelet from the Remix Collection is the most expensive thing I received for this year's birthday. It's made up of 5 charms: the alphabets of my nickname ASH with white crystals and rose gold plating, a blue coloured crystal to represent the December birthstone and a Swarovski swan with white crystals. I like how the charms in this collection are made to be easy to add to and remove from the bracelet so I can wear different charms for different occasions and also buy more charms to add to it next time.
Charles & Keith Long Wallet
I've been using the same wallet for the past 3 years which I got as a birthday present (also from Charles & Keith) and the skin is already wearing off. I didn't want to change because I was really comfortable with that wallet and I couldn't find anything else similar so my mom brought me back to Charles & Keith to take a look. This wallet is very similar to the one I had, it also has a magnetic closure and a zipped compartment for notes and coins. It has some differences: it's about 2cm taller, has more pockets for cards (a feature I love because I don't carry a card holder and I just keep all my cards in my wallet) and it's in a very beautiful peacock colour. One thing I don't really like about this is the metal tassel detail on the zip, I feel that it's too much to carry it out everyday but other than that it's the perfect wallet for me!
*I only got the things below after Christmas so they weren't included in the picture at the top
MAC Marrakesh Lipstick
This isn't really a present from anyone but I redeemed it for free with 6 empty MAC packagings / containers. It's an orange brown shade with a matte finish. Though it claims to be a matte lipstick, it looks satin to me and it looks more reddish on my lips for my skin tone. Just like all the MAC lipsticks I've used, this creamy lipstick is highly pigmented and doesn't feel drying on the lips. It's not entirely transfer proof but it's still long lasting with some touch-ups after eating.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel
This oil-free moisturiser for oily skin is one of Clinique's bestsellers. I like how it feels so light on the skin but it's still so hydrating. It sets really fast and doesn't leave that sticky or greasy feeling on the skin. I use this during the day and use a heavier moisturiser at night.
I got the one in full size which comes in a bottle with pump (the smaller size comes in a tube).
It's a light yellow gel which becomes transparent as you spread it. I don't like the scent but it fades away really quickly.
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
I got the Butter Bronzer in the shade Bronzer which is their medium shade. The price of this is a little pricy for a drugstore brand, but the quality of the product makes it worth it. The texture of this is so soft and buttery, it blends beautifully on the skin to give a naturally glowy bronze finish. It doesn't look dirty or too warm on my face, it's just the right amount of "bronze" that isn't too orangey.
It has a really unique packaging, you can flip up the bronzer and there's a mirror and a small space to store the sponge applicator (included when you purchase it). I don't use that applicator, I find it easier to apply it using a brush, but it's very convenient to carry around when you're travelling.
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