Over the past month I have shared some of my beauty favourites, which were some of my stand-out products for 2013. Today I am going back to posting my monthly favourites – starting with January Beauty Favourites.

January was such a busy month which has somehow, in the blink of an eye became February! I have been trying lots of new beauty, makeup and hair-care products. These are a few of the makeup, nail polish and skincare products, which have made a great impression, so far this year!

I will start of with some of my skincare favourites for January:

• Bioderma Sensibio H2O ~ This is a product which I have read quite a few reviews about and eventually decided to try. The Sensibio range was developed for sensitive skin, which can be prone to redness and easily becomes dehydrated. Sensibio H2O is a soothing non-rinse cleanser and make-up remover. Its is also fragrance and alcohol free. To use simply apply to a cotton pad and wipe gently over your face, it looks and feels like water but miraculously your makeup is removed and your skin is cleansed – it even removes water-resistant makeup! Recommended Retail Price R159.95 Rubybox.
  

•  Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant ~ As most of you know I have been struggling with pigmentation and uneven skin tone for a while now. I have tried a host of different products to help correct these problems, with little or no results. My beauty therapist recommended that I start using this product as part of my weekly exfoliation regime. Multivitamin Thermafoliant, is a skin polisher, which combines physical and chemical exfoliants, to help refine skin texture and enhance penetration of age-fighting vitamins into the skin. The resurfacing micro-granules gently polish off dulling skin cells to reveal smoother, fresher skin. The unique thermal technology activates when it makes contact with water, to help stimulate penetration of skin-sloughing Salicylic Acid and Retinol.To use wet hands and rub a small amount between your palms to activate, then apply to your face. It also contains Prickly Pear Extract, which accelerates the skin’s natural exfoliation process. White Tea suppresses the formation of collagen-degrading MMPs while Licorice and vitamins C and E brighten skin tone. I use this product every second day and must admit my skin looks visibly brighter and feels smoother immediately after using. Recommended Retail Price R735.00 Dermalogica

• Catrice Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette ~ On my quest to find a drugstore (In other words affordable) nude eyeshadow palette, I happened upon this one from Catrice. The All Nude palette, features six nude shades: subtle sand, delicate beige and brown in various facets. Some of the shadows are matt, while some have a bit of a shimmer. The shadows have a wonderful soft texture, with high pigmentation. This palette is ideal for a natural-looking eye but you can also create a smokey eye for the evening, using some of the darker shades. I have really been impressed with the Absolut Nude Eyeshadow Palette, not only because of the extremely affordable price tag but also because of the wonderful smooth application, which lasts for hours! The palette does come with a double-ended applicator but I still prefer to apply it, with my own eyeshadow brushes. Recommended Retail Price R64.95 Dis-chem Stores.

• Benefit Watt’s Up Highlighter ~ I was lucky enough to receive this product as a Christmas pressie, from my awesome brother and sister in-law! there are definite advantages to having family living abroad! It is unfortunately not available in SA 🙁 but I have fallen in love with it! Watt’s Up is a soft focus highlighter for the face – the pretty champagne highlight gives your cheeks or brow bones a soft glow. Apply the highlighter, directly to the area you would like to highlight and either use the attached blender or your fingers, to create a smooth luminous glow. Watt’s Up has a gorgeous cream-to-powder finish, which I love. You can apply it on its own or over your existing makeup. Recommended Retail Price $30 Benefit

• Bourjois Effet 3D 8Hr Lipgloss in Beige Elastic ~ this is the very first Bourjois product I have owned. I have heard so much about their foundations but I have quite a few foundations which I still need to finish off, before I try anything new. So I thought I would try a lipgloss for my first buy. The Effet 3D 8Hr lipgloss, has recently had a makeover, for its 10th year anniversary, with a new formula, new shades and sleek new packaging! The shade I chose is Beige Elastic, a pretty pinky gold, with a gorgeous light reflecting shimmer. It looks super pretty worn on its own or slicked over a nude lipstick. Recommended Retail Price R119.95 Clicks Stores or online at rubybox

• Tip Top Nail Polish in Coral Candy ~ This product was actually part of a goodie bag I received recently – what a score! Often the nail polish colours I receive in goodie bags, are not really to my taste but this Tip Top shade, Coral Candy, is gorgeous! Truth be told I have not owned any Tip Top products, until now and I have been wearing it pretty much non stop, since I got it 🙂 One of the great things about Tip Top Nail Polishes is they are toxin free! They also contain Vitamin E for extra moisturisation. I must admit I have been very impressed with how long this polish lasted on my nails and seems to be fairly chip resistant as well.  Recommended Retail Price R 39.00 Zando 

• Catrice Ultimate Nail Lacquer in Two Million Dollar Baby ~ I have been having lots of fun with this product! After seeing so much hype about glittery nail polish effects – I had to try it for myself! There are loads of nail polish shades, which contain glitter but I wanted something which was more of a “top coat”, so that I can add a glitter effect to the nail polish colours I already have. You can see the effect, in the image above on the right – I am wearing Two Million Dollar Baby over a pretty gold shade – so pretty and sparkly! Recommended Retail Price R34.95 Dis-chem stores

• Real Techniques Core Collection Brushes ~ This was another Christmas spoil – yes I was a lucky gal! After seeing this brushes mentioned, all across the blogosphere I had to have them! They are indeed all they are said to be which is AMAZING!!! Again unfortunately they are not available in SA. correction I have found out the are indeed available from All4Women.{*see the link below} The Core Collection set includes 4 full-size brushes plus a case. the 4 brushes consist of: a detailer brush, precision cut to effortlessly conceal problem areas or use with lipstick for long-lasting shape and definition. A pointed foundation brush, to use with liquid foundation to build custom coverage. A buffing brush{my all time favourite}, which ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation – I however use it to apply liquid foundation and it gives you a beautifully smooth finish! Lastly there is a contour brush, which can be used to delicately apply highlighter or as I do, apply bronzer, to contour my face. The ultra-plush, synthetic bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free and them extended aluminum handles are light and easy to use and clean. Recommended Retail Price  R349 All4Women

For more Beauty related posts and reviews pop over and check out my Beauty File.