This month has surprisingly been all about trying new products - I've got a lot of new favorites, including some drugstore products (for once it seems).
For most of the month, I was still reaching for cream eyeshadows every morning before work because they're so quick and easy to apply and blend out. I finally got around to picking up the Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in Creamy Beige - once Essiebutton said that it's a dupe for the MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork (something that's been on my wishlist for ages), I just had to go out and grab it. This has a much creamier texture than some of the other Color Tattoos (I find some to feel pretty dry), so it's incredibly easy to apply and blend with just my fingers. This has been my everyday shade, for when I want something on the eyes without looking like I'm wearing much. The other cream eyeshadow I've been donning in between uses of the Color Tattoo comes in pencil form - the Rimmel ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze. It's a lovely warm coppery-bronze color, a perfect second option from my well-loved Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, which is more cool-toned. This is super easy to apply all over the lid from the pencil, but I find it's easiest to blend out with a brush (my MAC 217 works perfectly). This definitely makes more of a statement than the Creamy Beige Color Tattoo, so I should probably save this one more for weekends than use it for work, but it's been one I've reached for quite often nonetheless.
I've also got two other drugstore favorites, both from Rimmel. The first is the Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Deep Blue. I've really been into the look of navy eyeliner recently, and I love it paired with bronze-y shadows. I've been wearing this smudged into my lashline almost every day, as it goes really well with both cream eyeshadows I mentioned above. I always thought purples looked best on brown eyes, but the navy really makes my eyes pop as well. Since I love the color so much I've been looking into getting the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Sabbath, a more intense, blackened navy, and also the Stila liquid eyeliner in navy - I think I would definitely get more into using liquid liner if it was blue instead of black. The other Rimmel favorite is the Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in Eastend Snob. I actually bought this last summer before it came out that it was a dupe for the famous Charlotte Tilbury lip liner in Pillowtalk, but I didn't wear it much until now (my MAC Lip Pencils always reigned supreme). It's a lovely everyday replacement for my beloved MAC Soar, because it's a little paler and closer to my natural lip color and therefore less bold. It's super creamy and easy to apply, but like most lip liners it does catch on dry patches. Since it's so creamy it doesn't last as long as my MAC lip pencils, but it's such a dream to apply that I really don't mind.
I dedicated a whole post to reviewing the amazing Glossier Phase 1 Set earlier this month (here), so I'll keep this brief. I've been using all four products in the set pretty much every single day since I got them. They've been moisturizing enough to combat my terribly dry skin (thanks, winter), but my makeup doesn't slide off my face throughout the day. The two standouts for me from the set have been the Priming Moisturizer and the Perfecting Skin Tint. I'm really insecure of the red patches I get on either side of my nose and on my cheeks, and these have both helped to even out my skintone so I can feel comfortable wearing almost no other makeup.
My last makeup favorite of the month has been the rms beauty Living Luminizer. I picked this up off Beautylish, and I highly recommend doing some beauty shopping there - I've had the best customer service experience. The Living Luminizer (along with the Glossier set) has helped me on my journey to my ultimate goal of "ethereal mermaid" skin. Yes, I'm making that a thing now. This is a sheer icy white cream, containing castor seed oil and coconut oil to nourish the skin, that has the most subtle of shimmer. It really mimics a natural glow rather than a "Oh, you're wearing highlighter" look. I've been using this every day on my cheekbones and the inner corners of my eyes to make myself look a little more alive and awake, and it really has helped. I'm glad this tiny tub seems like it will last awhile, because I can't see myself stopping anytime soon.
My last favorite of the month (and one I forgot to include in the picture) is the REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial (full review here). For some reason all month I've been having really unusual clusters of breakouts (I'm guessing it's from the large amounts of chocolate I've been eating), but using this a couple times per week has really helped clear them up. This just makes my skin so unbelievably smooth. It's really cleared up the uneven texture in my skin, leaving it positively glowing. It's also been great for sloughing away dry patches brought on by the horrendous winter air, allowing my moisturizers and serums to sink in so much better.
What were you loving in February?