I spent most of January really working on my skin. I did a 7 day face mask challenge that really helped to rehydrate my skin after all the holiday travel and food. I outlined most of the stuff I used in my 2016 favorites which you can still check out if you missed it. The one thing I did switch out from recently was moving from SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence to Korean brand Missha's Facial Treatment Essence (post here). I've only been using this for a week so we'll see if it makes my February favorites list.
I've been really into highlighters but ones that don't have all that shimmer. (I'm looking at you Becca!) I don't want to see myself all glittery in natural light. So far, there are two in this list that I really love so read on for some of my reviews.
1. Clarins Face Contouring Palette ($42 at Clarins USA)
I don't know where this contour palette has been all my life! It's limited edition so I'd recommend you stock up fast on this. Don't be afraid of the word "contour". These three colors will easily help you get the best angle on your face! I use the middle bronzer color to accentuate my cheeks and the blush color on the right is so flattering! The highlight color is my favorite because you can subtly get the pretty highlights on the tops of your cheeks without any shine. The soft powder blends perfectly into your skin. The entire look gives me a warm glow. I have been using it pretty much everyday.
2. Pony Effect Strobing Luminizer ($21 at Memebox)
I have never used a liquid highlighter before and this one surprised me. It doesn't have that crazy sparkly shine. If you want that really natural dewy look, this luminizer is the one for you! I read the comments and some gals had issue with it melting off with their makeup. I think that may be the case with more oily skin. I have more dry to normal skin and have worn this all day with no problem (wearing a cushion compact instead of foundation). The great thing is you can really dab it over the apples of your cheeks with your fingers and blend it in.
3. Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum 1.0 oz Eau de Parfum Spray ($74 at Sephora)
My husband got me the J'adore Dior perfume when he was away on a business trip. I like to rotate using my fragrances and just started picking this one up again a few weeks ago. It's wonderful floral scent with a mix of Comoro Islands ylang-ylang, Damascus rose and sambac jasmine. For some reason, it's the perfect smell for me now in winter, making me feel all warm and cozy when I spritz it on each morning.
4. Marin Bee Honey Polish ($38 at Marin Bee)
Winter skin just feels rough so when I came back from France, I had to definitely exfoliate my dry rough feet and elbows. I love Marin Bee's products and their Honey Polish does the trick when I'm in the shower. I also had to use it on my hands to exfoliate some of the dry skin around my fingertips, especially around my thumbs. It really does the trick to get those dead skin cells off and when I add my body lotion (the Marin Bee Honey Butter), it just locks all that moisture in! Marin Bee uses natural and organic ingredients which is always a plus in my book!
5. Adidas Stan Smith Sneakers ($74.99 at Footlocker)
I love this sneaker trend so much! I bought these sneakers last fall and have been wearing them on repeat most of January when it wasn't raining. I love how instantly stylish they look with any outfit and when paired with warm socks, they keep your feet nice and toasty too. I got the all white version because I wanted a cleaner look without colored stripes. I was worried they would get super dirty but they actually haven't! The white leather has held up really well. I'm totally going to get another pair when I wear these ones out. Much more affordable than any other designer sneaker now and they are more on trend.
