Winter Favorites/ Essentials

Hey loves!

Can you believe January is almost over? Time is flying by and I'm enjoying every minute of the chaos as I hope you all are too :) Last year came and went so quickly but I found quite a bit of favorites and essentials throughout the months. Some new and some old but I wanted to share them with all of you!  I love finding new products and trying out new items. I moved around quite a bit last year as you know if you've been keeping up with me either here or on my youtube channel, shameless plug ; subscribe to my beauty channel, http://www.youtube.com/ohsolovelyx07 :) 

Now...let's get into My Winter Favorites/Essentials :)

Random and Beauty Favorites

As you can see I have a lot of favorites this month! Since moving to the Middle East and currently not working, besides Youtube, I've had a lot of time to try out new products and read...I found Dillon's Nook and have been catching up on the 50 Shades Of Gray Trilogy (haha.) I actually reaaaalllly like this book and just started the third! Have you read it? What did you think? So far, I'm into it and can't wait for the movie..Of course, I know it will be nothing like the books, they never are.

Random Favorites

Neutrogena Deep Clean Make-up Remover Wipes

I absolutely LOVE these wipes!! The packaging is a lot different here than in the states but it's still the same amazing product. I've been in love with these make up remover wipes for years now and I was so excited when I realized I could still get them over here. They completely remove all of my face makeup and my pounds of eye makeup as well. I know some people prefer washing their face at night because it feels more "clean" than just using a wipe, but my face always feels incredibly cleansed when I use these wipes. I'd highly recommend them if you're on the hunt for a good make up remover wipe.

Nivea Express Hydration Moisturizing Lotion

I was looking for a really good, super moisturizing lotion and I found this one by Nivea. I hadn't really used any Nivea products before and was a little unsure about this one, but my friend Josie told me she had used the line before and absolutely loved it so I thought I'd give it a try. . and now I'm pretty much obsessed. Not only is this lotion incredibly hydrating but it lasts all day long! I have this weird obsession with being super smooth, my arms, legs, etc. I hate dry skin, it creeps me out and grosses me out haha. We went back to WI for Christmas and my skin became so crazy dry, it was disgusting, but this lotion was definitely a life saver. This lotion has definitely been a favorite and an essential this winter.

Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Shampoo

My mom got me the Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde gift set for Christmas and I can honestly say it is now my all time favorite hair care line ever. I used up the conditioner pretty quickly so that's not in the picture, but I still have some shampoo left and I loveeeee it. It's a purple shampoo and not only do I feel it keeps my color bright and vibrant but it leaves my hair feeling so soft and shiny. I'd highly HIGHLY recommend this product if you're a blonde looking for a great shampoo that will keep your hair looking gorgeous and feeling amazing :)

Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Dramatic Repair

This was another item included in the gift set and first off, let me tell you...the scent is amazinggggg. My hair has never smelled better haha. I absolutely LOVE it!! I spray this product on my roots and throughout my hair after I get out of the shower and then blow dry, and it leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft and smelling amazingggg. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff!!

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

I used this apricot scrub years ago and really enjoyed it but stopped using it once I began religiously using Proactiv. I decided I wanted to expand my horizon with facial cleaners once again and decided to stop using Proactiv and try out some different drug store cleansers. I purchased this scrub a few months ago and have been using it once a day and it has really made a difference! I don't have horrible acne, or even acne by any means, but when I find myself with break outs here and there (mostly on and around my chin ) grrrr... this really helps. It leaves my face feeling incredibly cleansed as well :)

Michael Kors Women's Chronograph Mercer White Silicon Watch

This was by far theee BESTTTTT Christmas gift I could have ever dreamed of!! Dillon completely surprised me, I gave him a Christmas list and didn't even think to put a MK watch on it, just because it was more of a dream present to me...but he went above and beyond and totally surprised me with this one!! Ahhhh. I was so surprised and shocked when I unwrapped the gift and saw "Michael Kors"...Speechless to say the least..anywho I've been obsessed with this watch ever since. I wear it constantly and couldn't be happier with the quality. This baby is beauuuutiful :)

Merry Cookie Candle

This is my all time favorite scent from Bath & Body Works. It smells like a delicious freshly baked christmas cookie, nom nom...makes me crave one just thinking about it. I'm not shore if I'm a big fan of the new packaging on the candles, but the scent is still the same, so I'm happy :) My seester got me this one for Christmas and I LOVE it..it's already pretty much burnt out, but I'll definitely be repurchasing this favorite.

NOOK

I found Dillon's Nook just laying on his nightstand one day and I decided to start reading. I usually read a lot but I left all of my books back in the states ( I had only planned on being here for a couple of weeks,) but obviously that changed haha..so when I got here, I really started to miss just picking up one of my books and reading..that is, until I found his Nook. I started reading the 50 Shades of Gray Trilogy and am now just starting the third book. I really love the book and like I said earlier, cannot wait for the movie to come out. I'm curious what you guys think of the series...let me know :)

Beauty Favorites

Benefit Hervana Boxed Powder (Blush)
This blush has been a favorite for a long long time. I love the purply-blue based color. It works great as a highlight or an all over color for my cheeks...absolutely love this if I'm going for a more subtle look.

Benefit Coralista Boxed Powder (Blush)

Just like the Hervana, Coralista is another long time favorite. I love this gogeous coral color. It looks great on literally any skin tone..I've worn it when I'm super tan and now, when I'm pale as hell...and it's beautiful.

Lorac Pro To Go Palette
I received this palette at Beauty Con and have been obsessed with it ever since. I'm actually writing a review of the palette in my next blog post, so keep an eye out for that, but this palette is the best. I love the colors; the pigmentation is incredible and these colors last all day long! I love the sleek black packaging as well. The blushes are gorgeous, bronzer is perfect, and the eye shadows have been my go to colors for months now :) Thanks Lorac!!

Someday by Justin Bieber RollerBall Perfume
I'm not a huge Justin Bieber fan by any means...besides the song "Boyfriend." I could care less for his music or his life choices, but his perfume..is so sexy...I love it. Every morning after I shower, I apply this roller ball to my wrists, behind my ears, and the middle of throat/neck. It smells amazing, super sexy and sensual.

Tarte Lip Surgence in Elite
These are most definitely my favorite lip products out there!! Tarte is brilliant..the colors, the pigmentation, the lasting power, everything is perfect.!! I love how smooth and hydrating these lip pens are. They don't get clumpy or leave that weird white residue on your lips. They are beautiful and super moisturizing!! My sister got me the mini lip surgence gift set for Christmas and before that I had the full size set, but I am just in love...

Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched
I've loved this lip balm for so long now, it's not even funny. I love the packaging, it totally reminds me of cotton candy haha. This lip balm is incredibly hydrating and moiturzing. I know people have mixed reviews on these lip balms but I'm in love.


Venique Nail Polish in Dominating Thigh Highs & Silver Glitter Silver Sea Diamonds
My mom got me this mini nail polish gift set for Christmas and I was so surprised to find that the colors were incredibly pigmented!! I have a deep black nail polish by Essie that takes at least four or five coats to get the darkness and thickness that I like, but this black polish gave me that result in literally one coat..I couldn't believe it!! I even told Dillon how shocked I was that the cheaper version gave me better results than the high end brand and he told me "yeah babe, that's usually how it is." haha..how right he was!! I love this polish so much. I only wish I had the full size version!! The glitter polish is great too, only thing I didn't like was how much came onto the brush and onto my finger nails with each stroke. I found a simple solution fairly quickly; use less product...I found that it worked much better when I wiped off a bit of the polish before applying it to my nails ;) A simple solution. These polishes have definietly been a Winter essential, as I love having darker, deeper colors on my nails in the colder months, even if it's still like summer here haha.

I hope you enjoyed My Winter Favorites/Essentials and stay tuned for the video :)
My beauty channel on youtube

xoxo

V