FAVORITES! | February 2014 ❥

G'day, mates!  Today it's time to share my Feb faves!  Since it stayed pretty cold here, most of the favorites last month were balmy skin-savers!

1. Ardell #110 Natural Lashes: Thanks to my super pal Alison at 10amBeauty, I've finally gotten the hang of wearing false eyelashes!!  I'm not yet ready to claim master status, but I have worn them successfully about 8 times since watching her video and I am LOVING it!  One of my biggest hesitations about doing my own makeup for my upcoming nuptials was that I wanted to wear false lashes but didn't really know how to apply them properly.  Now that I have it down, I have a definite sense of zen about doing my own wedding makeup.  So HUGE THANKS to Alison!  If anyone else has struggled with lashes, I encourage you to watch Alison's video here.  These Ardell #110's are fantastic.  They have a clear band, allowing you to wear any liner color you want, and they are ultra light so they don't make your lids feel like they're holding up the Rock of Gibraltar.

2. Aquaphor Healing Ointment: I'm sorry folks, but what can this balm not do?  This has been a constant companion of mine to hydrate, protect, and heal my lips and skin from extreme winter dryness.  I've also used it under my eyes at night for a big bump of moisturization come morning.  It's non-comedogenic so it doesn't clog pores.  Dry, peeling cuticles?  Slather a dot on and your done worrying about it.  Eyebrows out of control?  A little dab'll do ya!  Flaky hairline?  Pat on a tiny bit and forget about it!  Aquaphor has been one of my longest beauty BFF's and I always have some on hand.  

3.  Clarins Multi-Active Night: I'm about three quarters of the way through this gem and it's something that's been a big help to my dry skin this winter.  The luxurious cream absorbs surprisingly well and doesn't leave my skin overly oily the next morning.  The other huge positive of this product is the heavenly smell!  It smells like the Snuggle Bear's aftershave.  Fresh, clean laundry hung on s line in a pristine meadow where the air smells remarkably of dryer sheets.  Jason will actually sniff my face like a drug-addled huffer after I put this on, which I find incredibly fun.  I have recently started a skincare routine to target and banish my hormone-related acne, so while I won't be using this night cream over my entire face for now, I will continue using it on the areas of my face that have always been free of acne and in desperate need of hydration (forehead and around the eyes).  

4.  Nivea Extended Moisture Hand Cream:  Good 'til the last drop, I say!  Ha!  I was channeling Tracy there.  This hand-y (I'm on a roll!  Of CORNbread, obviously) silky cream has been pivotal in keeping my paws peppy and hydrated for the past 3 months, and also made an appearance in last month's faves post.  I got super lazy and stopped using it for 3 nights in a row and my hands looked like the Sahara and felt tight and itchy.  After 1 application, the dryness and itchiness was gone and my hands looked, well...pretty.  Smooth and hydrated and HAPPY.  Happy hands for the win!  

5.  Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm and Matte Balm: These are just...YASSS!  The Lacquer formula glides on effortlessly and deposits a good amount of color - medium to full coverage, for sure - and feels like a comfortable balm.  The Matte Balms deposit MEGA pigment - total opacity in a single pass - and don't make my lips feel incredibly parched and taught like most other matte lip products I've used.  I have a few of each formula, and they are truly FANTASTIC.  I feel like giving Revlon a big hug for these because they are seriously fabulous and completely affordable so a woman could have several in her collection without breaking the bank.  Pictured above: Tease (Lacquer) and Unapologetic (Matte).  I'm wearing Unapologetic here.

So, what say you?  What were some of your most reached-for beauty items last month?