December Beauty Favorites 2013

Ola beauty lovers. I just can not believe it is the end of 2013 already. My has the time gone by quick. I remember just starting out this blog in May and thought we have plenty of time till the end of the year.
But that time has crept up on us fast. Today I am going to talk about my monthly favorites. Now a lot of you may ask "What about your yearly favorites?" since we are at the end of the year, and I plan on doing a yearly favorites next week some time, I just need a minute to get together my favorites of the year. So today will be my monthly favorites. I don't know about you all but I just love these types of posts or videos because they tell me what that person enjoys using daily to monthly. Let's just jump right in.

1. California Mango Nail Cuticle Oil
- Every winter my cuticles get to the point where I am afraid to leave my house looking like a crusty handed girl. No lie, so every time I give myself a manicure (every 3 days or so) I drench my nails and cuticles with this oil to ensure the moisture is put back into my nails and cuticles to prevent cracking, peeling, splits, breakage and all that jazz you ladies know about when it comes to natural nails. I have a refillable mango cuticle bottle to put in this little jar so this is my go to cuticle oil. Very affordable at Sally's. You can really use any cuticle oil you have at your finger tips, and if you don't want to go out and buy it, then just stick some olive oil in a little reusable cuticle bottle and use it that way. Very cheap and at your finger tips :) Love you girls!

2. Mango Vera Hand & Body Lotion: Professional size
- Again every winter my skin just gets so dry that I get dry rashes because my skin gets overly dry. So this huge bottle of body lotion has been my go to for months, but especially this month since this month is when it got really cold in Canada. This lotion smells like mango with a hint of Aloe Vera. Very affordable under $10 at Sally's and lasts a long time. I have had this bottle for about a year and use it every day. Doesn't leave your skin greasy and that is why I enjoy it so much!

3. L'Oreal Youth Code Eye cream
- Got this eye cream months back at Wal-Mart for under $10 and it has lasted me so long, I am trying to finish it, I enjoy it a lot as a drug store under eye cream. Doesn't leave your skin greasy, and works great when you apply it before your makeup/concealer. I have dry under eyes so this stuff helps out with moisturizing.

4. Lancome Multi Vital Face Cream (Deluxe Sample size)
- I have so many face creams to get through, and so far out of the ones I have tried, I really enjoy this Lancome one. The amount of moisture built into this cream is phenomenal. This has SPF 30 which is an added bonus, and when I apply it before my foundation, it applies smoothly and doesn't leave behind any greasiness. Love this cream this winter. I can imagine the regular tub is expensive so I will hold off buying it until I finish the rest of my creams. #Beautyloverproblems

5. Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Perfume
- Been a fan of Britney Spears since I was 9. Don't judge lol anyways, loved her perfumes as well. Midnight Fantasy is a great perfume for those who do not like the strong scents out there. This perfume you can spray on a few times and the strength will not increase from when you apply only one spray. Very subtle and smells soft. This perfume has been my go to all month long, I have been enjoying it. You can get these perfumes at your drug store.

6. Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Bad to the Bronze"
- These are great alternatives to the MAC paint pots in you don't want to go spend a lot of money on the MAC paint pots. I have a few colors in my collection but this month I have been using the Bad to the Bronze shade. Love this color for all over the eye lid by it self with nothing else. Simple and classic especially for those days you are rushing out the door. These color tattoo's go for $7-$9 depending on where you get them. Love these baby's. Word on the street is that there are limited edition ones that are matte and are the same color as your skin tones but I haven't been able to find them. But nonetheless these are great.

7. Sigma Eyeshadow Base in "Persuade"
- Another lazy route I have been going is applying a shadow base and some liner with mascara and out the door I go. When I do that I have been going to my Sigma shadow base in Persuade. Love this pink flesh tone. It just makes your look so much more crisp and simple. Love it. I think these bases go for around $10 give or take a few bucks. The staying power of this base is long lasting and keeps the look fresh throughout the day. Love it. This is also another dupe for Macs Painterly paint pot.

8. Clinique Intense Chubby Stick Lip Balms
- Now these balms I have done a more detail review a few weeks ago. But I just love, love, love these sticks. They are so pigmented, moisturizing, and they don't chap my lips like matte lipsticks do in the dead cold of winter. Love these, I now have six shades, I got a few from Christmas :)

9. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
- For those days when I use shadows, my go to palette this month has been the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I received it in the mail at the end of November and I did not put it down once this month. I also did a more detailed review on this palette, so go check out my previous posts! Anyway, love this palette, love the rose gold theme, and I love how its a more subtle palette that I can work with for work on an everyday basis.

10. Clarisonic Mia
- I have had this baby for two months now and I have been using religiously since it arrived. Love this thing to exfoliate and polish my skin. The amount of dirt it removes that I didn't see it before is mouth dropping. I don't know what I would do without this baby now. It is expensive, but it is so worth it in the long run. I have the Clarisonic Diaries posts to tell you my journey with this baby but I must warn you, it is a love hate relationship. Go check out my posts and you will see why!
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/12/clarisonic-diaries-dec-6th-2013.html
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-clarisonic-diaries-nov-23-2013.html
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/search?q=clarisonic+diaries 

11. TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Protection
- This is one of the most well known products over YouTube. This is my heat protect-ant I use every time I flatiron my hair. Love this stuff. Doesn't leave your hair greasy. Keeps your hair soft and silky and is VERY affordable, about $5. Love this stuff so much that I have a back up of it. Yup I am not ashamed.

12. Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum (Sample Size)
- Got this as a sample at the Toronto Hair Show and I have been using it since March and its been lasting me ages. Love it! It makes my hair feel so silky and soft after I blow dry it. It makes me want to caress my hair all day. I definitely notice a difference when I don't use it and that should tell you something! I am not sure what a regular size bottle would cost, but if you can get your hands on the sample size it should last you a while. Love it, been using it all month long.

Well ladies and gents, that is all of my favorites for this month. Hope you enjoyed, and I wish all of my fellow readers a Happy and Safe New Years! Don't forget, if you are drinking, DON'T DRIVE!

P.s. Don't  forget to check out my YouTube Channel: MacGril25Antonietta

Until next time beauty lovers <3
MacGirl25

December Beauty Empties 2013

It is that time of the month where I show you what is in my garbage bin other wise know as my December beauty empties. This month I have a bit if stuff since I didn't do a mid December empties. So let's just jump in and take it from there. 

1. Delon cotton rounds

- if you read my blog you have seen me bring these up time and time again. Love these cotton rounds and I purchase them at Costco for a big pack for $10. Will always re purchase these.

2. Preven's Paris facial makeup wipes 

- I bought these at winners in bulk three packs for $7. Never tried them before but I figured for the price can't go wrong. Well was I half wrong. They take off makeup with no issues, the clothes are moist. However the smell of these cloths are horrendous. I had already finished two packages so I will finish the third one and never purchase these again. When something doesn't smell right to me it just throws me right off and I don't enjoy using the product any more. Definitely not a re purchase for me. 

3. Balea face masks

- love these masks. I use them all the time, very affordable at your local drug store. Definitely a re purchase and if you read my blog you know I have used these frequent in the past. 

4. Proclaim intensive hair mask with keratin

- tested out this hair mask and it was nice. I enjoyed it, if it didn't have keratin in it I would use it everyday as a regular conditioner but since it has keratin then you need to be careful that you don't over deposit keratin in your hair because that can cause breakage. Too much keratin causes your hair to become weighed down. Therefore causing breakage on your hair shaft. Don't believe me go look it up.

5. MJ face masks

- I have also used these masks in the past. Love these as much as the Balea brand. Affordable and easy at home process . Can't go wrong for those who are on a budget but still want to pamper themselves. They come in different scents and types for different skin typed or needs. Always a re purchase.

6. Biore pore strips

- I used these strips occasionally to remove and tough black heads that my clarisonic wasn't able to remove. A pack of 8 lasts me a few months because I don't use these often. They are a bit pricey around $11 for a pack of 8. Even though they are pricey a pack of 8 are expensive the do last a few months for me. 

7. Elf brush shampoo 

- this is a great alternative to your makeup brush cleansing routine. It's cheap, around $3 and a little goes a long way. Making it last longer. I don't have a local elf counter near me, so I won't be repurchasing this anytime soon. But if it pops up at my local TJ max store then I will be picking it up.if you have elf access locally go check out this brush shampoo. I love how it cleansed and conditions the brushes in one step.

8. Neo strata micelles cleanser (sample size)

- I had another sample size if this last month and loved it. I still enjoy it to cleanse off makeup but full size is a bit pricey $30-$40. So unless I get a gift certificate or more samples I don't think I will be purchasing this product in full size. Good product though. Loved it while it lasted.

9. Enjoy professionals luxury shampoo and conditioner 

- got these sample sizes if shampoo and conditioner from a long time girlfriend of mine. She is a purchase rep at a chain of hair salons and spas. She sent me some goodies to try and review and I am on the fence with these babies. The shampoo claims to be sulfate free however on the back ingredients it does advertise that there are sodium sulfinate products in the shampoo which doesn't make it completely sulfate free. The shampoo didn't do much and I find that it didn't leave my hair clean at all. The conditioner on the other hand I love! The conditioner is so packed with moisture that when you apply it to the ends it makes your hair feel rejuvenated back to life. Both products smell like coconuts but I prefer the conditioner over the shampoo. These products you can get at your beauty supply or your hair salon depending on which hair salon carries the brand.

10. Seche vite nail top coat

- love this top coat. Fast drying, and gives a glossy finish. The only down fall is that this top coat dries out quick. By the time it gets three quarters empty the product is gooey and hard to apply which causes bubbles. So then it's a throw out product by then but still worth the first three quarter full.

11. St.Ives fresh skin apricot scrub

- love this face scrub. My ultimate favourite scrub from the drug store. It doesn't break me out, keeps my skin hydrated and gets rid off all the unwanted dead skin especially in the colder months. Very affordable you can't go wrong. 

12. Urban Decay Naked Skin BB cream

- I did a full review on this baby a few month ago, go check it out. I love this BB cream, it blurs imperfections and adjusts to your skin tone. It is on the high end side but so worth it. Will repurchase once I try a few more BB creams to report to you all :) 

13. Smash box photo finish foundation primer (sample)

- loved this sample works just as good as the famous Benifit porefessional. I will be picking this up in full size for sure once I finish some of my other primers. It is a high end primer so it lands in the $50 range in case you want to try it, I suggest you grab a sample first before you make that big of a commitment.

14. Michael Todd samples

-  I tried the hydration boost serum and citruct cream from the Michael Todd line and I really enjoyed them. The serum was a bit greasy at first but nice my skin soaked it in my face felt amazing. The citric cream was a good face cream for the morning. Loved both, and will consider buying the full size in the future when I need a face cream. I am trying to worth through a few other creams before then.

15. Nivea pure and natural mint and minerals lip balm

- this has been in my favourites plenty of times this last couple months. Loved this balm at night time, it is very hydrating and light at the same time. Repurchased already :) 

16. Bath & Body Works candles

- yes these candles are pricey and that's why I get them when they are two for $20. Love the fall scents and I can't wait for the summer scents to come out! These candles are always a repurchase for me as they set a more relaxing mood in my room. 

That is it for my December empties. I hope you enjoyed.

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone, thank you all for following my blog. It means so much to me that you all have the same interests as I do!

Until next times beauty lovers

MacGirl25❤️