Confession…
I’m secretly (or not so secretly anymore) psyched that the majority of you guys wanted to see a monthly favourites post instead of an extra What I Ate post every month.
Not that I don’t like sharing my eats with you, but despite how things might come across in light of this being a food blog and what not, I do actually have a big interest in things that aren’t necessarily edible… and I love sharing those with you too.
Partially because it makes things feel a little more varied and balanced, but mostly because I love getting emails and comments from you guys saying you tried something from one of my posts and loved it too. Would I be geeking hardcore if I said I jut find that freaking cool?
Anyways, it’s been a while since my last favourites post, but we’re getting back into it with a handful of the things I gushed over in July…
Uhm. I’m going to leave foodie favourites out this month because I have a solid handful of beauty favourites that I want to focus on as well as a somewhat lengthy book review, and I don’t want this post to reach epic lengths. BUT! I’ve gotta mention the blog recipes because they’re my babies…
No Bake Chocolate Fudge Protein Truffles || Chocolate Swirl Banana Oat Breakfast Bars
Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies || Almond Butter & Jelly Muffins
Greek Yogurt Banana Oat Bread || Dairy-Free Cookies & Cream Milkshake
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Fit Me Matte & Poreless foundation from Maybelline.
What it is: A liquid foundation that mattifies the skin and refines pores, leaving a natural, seamless finish.
Why I love it: Because it makes my skin look amazing, and it might work wonders for you as well if you have normal to oily skin. It’s got tiny micro-powders in it that help control shine and minimize pores, which gives your skin a smooth and satiny finish without feeling heavy or drying. It also sits in place all day without feeling cakey, and doesn’t turn orange due to oxidation. TRUST ME! I ran out of it and had to use a different foundation for a few days, and that stuff was slipping and sliding all over my face so bad that I had to run out and grab a new bottle of Matte & Poreless, stat. Night.and.day. Plus it’s super affordable as far as foundations go.
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Miracle Complexion Sponge from Real Techniques.
What it is: An edgeless, non-disposable makeup sponge that can be used wet or dry to apply and blend any cream or powder products that you use on your face.
Why I love it: Because it’s $6 compared to the $24 of a Beautyblender and, in my opinion, does a way better job at blending makeup… possibly because it’s bigger and has that perfect flat edge to really buff the product in. If you’ve never tried applying your foundation with a damp makeup sponge, you should definitely give it a shot because it gives you an absolutely flawless finish and removes any extra product that could end up making you cakey throughout the day. Plus the whole patting motion just feels strangely soothing…
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Micro Brow Pencil from NYX Cosmetics.
What it is: A 0.5 mm ultra-fine tip mechanical eyebrow pencil with spoolie that allows you to precisely draw and shape your brows for a well-defined look.
Why I love it: Because it’s… I forget exactly how much, but I want to say something like $12 dollars compared to the $27 of an ABH Brow Wiz, and it does the job just as well. It’s creamy enough to glide on smoothly, but also stays put all day, which means you don’t have to worry about losing your brows by 3pm. And if you’re wondering why on earth you’d want to define your brows, it’s because it can seriously change the shape of your face and give you a more polished look. On days where I’m not too interested in using a lot of makeup
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Gel Couture Nail Polishes from Essie.
What it is: A long lasting gel polish that requires no UV light to set, no crazy solutions to remove, and lasts for up to 14 days.
Why I love it: Because it does.not.chip. I mean, it does eventually, but I can go 10+ days without having to worry about my nails, which is insane considering I’m use to most polishes chipping on me after the first day. I never made it the full 14 days that Essie promises, but that’s mostly because I didn’t like the growth at my nail bed and I wanted to swap colours. The new formula is crazy easy to work with, and they put in a new rounded brush that contours to the shape of your nail bed so you can get a way more precise application. AND unlike most gel polishes, this one is super easy to remove – you just do it with regular nail polish remover like you would any other polish. Brilliant stuff. And if you’re curious about what the colours look like, this post from Beautygeeks has seriously beautiful swatches of all 42 shades.
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A Court of Mist and Fury
There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful.” I pictured each. “There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good.
What it is: A young adult fantasy book; the second instalment in the “Court of Thorns and Roses” series.
Why I love it: Oh man… where do I even begin? I technically read this book (twice) back in June, but I’m including it in this post because it’d be a crime not to recommend it to everyone I know.
If you guys remember, I could.not put this book down and it kept me up ’till 2-3am on a few occasions. The fast-paced storytelling, the amazing world-building, the perfectly imperfect characters that I absolutely fell head-over-heels in love with… all of it came together in a book that sucked me in completely and pulled my emotions in so many different directions that I literally didn’t know what to do with myself when I finished it.
The book explores a few different themes, but the one I love the most is that of the survivor. Of the idea that you can become so completely broken and lost in an inner darkness that feels like it has no end, but still manage to find your way out and emerge stronger than before. Of the idea that you can find happiness and joy despite carrying a painful burden that will never truly go away.
It’s seriously a beautiful book and I can’t wait for the next one.
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Disclaimer: this post was not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned, but it may contain affiliate links. I genuinely love all these products and that’s why I’m sharing them with you.
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Ahh I’m super excited about the foundation – I’ve seen it around, but I don’t usually buy new makeup without recommendations. Yay for an excuse to shop now! And I still need to find the gel polish!
I think you’ll love it! I was a die hard ColorStay fan for the longest time, but this one completely replaced that. And it doesn’t feel heavy or anything.
Need that essie nail polish! That book looks good too- I will have to check that out! Loving the monthly favorites Amanda
YES to Essie and YES to the book. Probably my top two favourites from here
I have been using the maybelline powder and was thinking about trying the foundation but I was wondering..do you set it with a powder after?
It really depends on how my skin is feeling. If it’s feeling a little oilier at certain times of the month then I’ll set it with some translucent powder, but I normally don’t use a lot of it. And generally only in my T-zone.
I bought that Dreamland book right after you mentioned it and I LOVE it. Obviously it’s not the most uplifting story, but it’s close to my heart as you know and all of it is so fascinating. Thanks for recommending it!
<3 <3 <3
I’m all about the ABH brow wiz, so I’m definitely going to check out the NYX as a cheaper alternative.
That’s my favorite foundation too! My skin tends to be on the oily side of things (joy) but this foundation seems to keep the shine at bay!
Agreed! My skin tends to get oilier at certain times of the month (joy), but this foundation seems to take it all in stride.
I lovvvvvvvvvve that Real Techniques sponge! It’s one of the best purchases I’ve made – cheap and works well. I just bought a new concealer – the Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer and I’m loving it. I’m also liking my new Smashbox foundation, though I have to use a lot of it to get the coverage I want. So, basically I’m loving makeup this month!
I’m a beauty junkie so I’m pretty sure I love makeup every month
And I’ll have to look into that concealer! Right now I’m using the Fit Me one from Maybelline.
I like the idea of the new essie polishes but I don’t know if it’s really worth the extra price tag. Even when I PAY for gels it doesn’t last for more than 2 weeks. If I do it myself with what I have, I get a really good week of wear out of them before they start to look a bit shabby but I usually wait 2 weeks anyways.
They’re a bit pricey for sure, but I’e actually been seeing them on salt in a lot of the stores around here and they end up only being $2 more than the regular bottles of Essie. Definitely worth it.
Would you believe I wear foundation only once in a blue moon. I’m more of an eyeliner and mascara kind of girl. The foundation is reserved for very special occasions.
Maybe I’ll check out those nail polishes. My big issue in the past was the chipping within a day. It never seemed worth it.
Yup that was always me as well, and exactly why I switched to clear and then gave up on polish completely. These changed everything.
I really need to get my hands on some of that Essie polish but I might have to be incognito about it. My hubby and I were at Target and I saw some and was looking over the colors when Ninja said “Umm you aren’t buying that stuff right? It’s over $10 for a tiny bottle!” He just doesn’t understand the cost of true beauty
Yeah it’s a little pricey, but the way I look at it, bottles last FOREVER, so it’s not a horrible investment
I’m having foundation issues with the heat we’re having and basically have given up. And in the summer my skin is definitely on the oily side so must try that foundation!
Do you use a primer before putting on foundation? And a setting spray after? I always find that helps in the heat!
I keep hearing about that nail polish! I’m pretty addicted to the Sally complete salon manicure ones. Oh and P.S. I made your AB/jelly muffins (with a few substitutions) and they’re delish!
Woohoo! I’m glad you liked them
And I’ve heard good things about the SH polishes but never tried them myself.
I NEED that gel polish! I got gel nails for the first time a few weeks ago, and now that they’re off I’m craving a good gel manicure again. ….but it’s probably cheaper if I just do it myself. Can you find it at the same places that sell regular Essie polish?
Yup! That’s where I found mine. I’d give you specific store chains but it probably wouldn’t be that helpful since I’m in Canada.
I am going to try that Essie gel polish! My nails are forever chipping. I do use the Sally Hansen gel polish but it STILL chips on literally the second day. Hopefully Essie is a bit better?
https://thedogtribe.com/2016/07/22/summer-shred-workout/
I haven’t tried the Sally Hansen one so I can’t compare, but I’m seriously getting awesome wear with Essie – and I don’t even have to baby my nails.