Last week's most loved #1

I'm constantly trying out new beauty products for my job, which means that I don't have one set makeup look or many repeat offenders lining my bath tub at any given time. That said, there are a few miraculous products that I always seem to go back to, as well as some products that are so fantastic that I end up wearing them every day for weeks on end.
This past week, I've found myself using the following beauties on a daily basis:

Dior DiorSnow UV Shield BB Creme SPF50 PA+++

I have tried many BB creams and there are a couple that stand out in my mind as being absolute winners - namely Estee Lauder's version, Bobbi Brown's BB Cream SPF35, and this little stunner. As someone who likes medium to full coverage, I think it's safe to assume that I am not the target market for BB cream manufacturers, but I find that the above-mentioned products cover blemishes and imperfections really well, while still looking 'fresh' and natural on my skin. Since discovering BB creams over a two years ago, I've switched to wearing a BB cream during the day, opting for foundations for evening or special occasions only. I find that the DiorSnow BB Creme is particularly perfect for those who prefer slightly more coverage - it is aimed at women who struggle with pigmentation after all. This BB Creme goes on quite thickly to begin with, but soon melts into your skin, diffusing any dark spots or other blemishes as it goes. It smells really good too, and I love the fact that it contains an SPF 50. This product has been well-loved for a while now, not only this past week. It's a must-have in my opinion - if you have the money to splurge, that is!

Dior DiorSkin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder in 002 Sunlight

The minute the weather turns chilly, out come my bronzers! This pretty palette has been in my collection for a while, but I haven't had the heart to use it - until now, that is. And boy, am I glad that I finally took the plunge and put brush to blush! This beautiful bronzer is a flattering combination of three slightly shimmery bronze hues and a dusty pink shade to add just a touch of colour. This creates the perfect healthy glow, in my opinion. I've been applying this bronzer to my temples, cheekbones and along my jawline, using the kabuki brush that comes with it, and I absolutely love the way it makes me look as though I've spent an afternoon sipping cocktails in the sunshine. I have a feeling that this is going to become a staple during winter, when my complexion has a tendency to look even paler and pastier than it does right now! 

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 Petrolatum Skin Protectant

I recall talking to one of SA's most admired and respected makeup artists a couple of weeks before Kiehl's launched in South Africa, and she told me that I simply had to get my hands on a tube of this stuff. Fast forward to the actual launch and, being the good girl that I am, I dutifully snapped up not one, but three tubes: one for my handbag, one for beside my bed and an extra, just in case. Later that evening, after getting back to my hotel room and spending the next couple of hours dabbing and smearing my most recent purchases all over my face and body, I was left with a rather underwhelming sense of 'meh' when it came to this lip balm. It seemed, to me, to be nothing more than an average lip balm. How wrong I was. I don't know what it is, but this lip balm has fast climbed to the top of my must-have list. Yes, it's nothing more than a lip balm, with no hint of colour, no scent and no miraculous plumping effect, BUT it softens, smoothes and heals my dry, chapped lips like no other balm before it. The first thing I do in the morning, after brushing my teeth? Apply Kiehl's Lip Balm #1. The last thing I do before turning out the light at night? Smear Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 onto lips and cuticles (yes, it's one of those double-duty beauties that can be smeared all over, if you can bear it). In fact, I've just applied another coat right. this. minute. I love it. It's simple. It's effective. That's really all there is to it. 

MAC Lipstick in Fire Sign

It's no secret: I looooove red lipstick and I'm not afraid to wear it. Much to my husband's horror, at the best of times. He'll never tell me that he doesn't like a particular lipstick shade or that I look bad per se, but when probed, he often tells me that a specific shade is "a bit loud" or "a tad too bright". I suspect that my husband is slightly more conservative in the lipstick department than I am, but it has encouraged me to keep an eye out for a slightly 'quieter' red during recent shopping expeditions. And that's where MAC Lipstick in Fire Sign comes in. Less va-va-voom fire engine red and more schoolhouse brick red, this shade isn't as bright as the majority of red lipsticks, making it the ideal hue for during office hours or for those who are only just starting to experiment with wearing red lipstick. If I want just a touch of colour, I apply this shade to my bottom lip only, then press my lips together to transfer colour to my top lip, and finish with a coat of clear gloss. If I want something a little more dramatic, I use a lip brush to line and fill both my top and bottom lips, blot, then reapply to build a more intense hue. In fact, this lipstick is so versatile and so wearable, that I've found myself wearing it every day over the past few days. (Also, the smell of a MAC Lipstick. Is it just me, or does it just reek of beauty heaven to you?!)