little white truths

I promised myself in May that I would get on top of my draft posts and reduce the amount of drafts I have by at least ten. I did manage to do that but somehow the list has crept up again and I'm once more looking at over fifty options when I sit down with my morning coffee each day.

In theory that's a good thing because there'll always be something to write, but in practice a lot of those drafts contain only half the photos they need to contain (generally shots of a product and not the swatches, which I haven't taken yet), so I must get on to the photos over the next few days while my husband is home and can help look after the little one.

Anyhoo. I'm rambling. Let's have a look at this product.

I bought this cream on a whim when I was in the supermarket and saw it heavily discounted: I liked the look of the pump and also the larger-sized bottle, since I get through body creams so quickly and for ages I've needed a big bottle like this on hand so I don't find myself reaching for Mex's stuff when I've run out.

I'm so glad I bought it! It's a great, easy product that hydrates my dry skin beautifully and the pump makes it as fuss-free as possible, which is exactly what I wanted. Plus it's not expensive, so I can see myself buying it again.

• Intensively moisturises your skin and delivers a 24 hour irresistibly smooth skin feeling
• Indulgent formula enriched with ginkgo extract, shea butter, Hydra IQ and vitamin e
• Provides the perfect combination for beautiful, silky smooth skin 
• Lightweight formula softens and nourishes your skin
• Enhances your skin's natural moisturisation
• For noticeably softer skin 
• RRP $7.99 for 400ml, but do shop around (I bought mine at half price)

Verdict

This is a beautiful product and I recommend it if your skin is dry and you need something with some punch that won't weigh the skin down or break the bank.

It's a thick, rich cream with a slightly greasy texture that I quite like because it feels so nourishing and hydrating. It does leave the faintest residue behind but it's a good residue that's not too heavy and it leaves your skin feeling soft and silky, so that claim is true.

The product has quite a strong, creamy scent - I'm smelling the shea butter - and it does linger on the skin in a way I like because it's a soft, inoffensive smell, but do test this first if you can't stand fragranced products because the scent mightn't be for you.

It spreads and absorbs beautifully well, and this is what I love most about the product: it just nourishes without fanfare. A little also goes a long way so the bottle should last a good while, and my skin never feels uncomfortable or tight after using this because the product does its job with a minimum of fuss.

I love the pump packaging so much that it might have spoiled me because I now want all my body creams to be packaged in this way. I guess when you're dispensing product over a large area and your hands are covered in muck from applying the product, a pump just makes sense for something like this.

On the claims: yes it intensively moisturises the skin and the effect lasts (whether for 24 hours I can't say, but the hydration does hang around); yes it gives you beautifully smooth, silky skin; and yes the formula is lightweight while still being rich, and it does soften and nourish the skin.

All in all, I can't fault this product and it's quickly become one of my favourite body creams. It's cheap and it does the job faster than many creams because it spreads and absorbs so well. 

Love.

Normally when I write my monthly favourites posts, I reach for things I've recently reviewed because they tend to be the items I've been using while I've been working out what I think of them, plus the review process has left them front of mind.

This month, however, will be a touch different: I'm including a couple of long-standing favourites that I've yet to review, so I'm sorry that I won't have links to full reviews for all products but I wanted to pick the things I can't get enough of this month, rather than things I've already talked about and loved.

Anyhoo! Let's have a look : )

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

It's criminal that I haven't reviewed this one: I've had it for a couple of years now and I use it every day, as you can see from the pan showing in my favourite shade, Dim Light, which I use as an all-over setting powder. I use Radiant Light frequently to warm up my face if my blush/bronzer combo isn't quite hitting the mark, and while the middle shade (Incandescent Light) is a little cool for me, I do occasionally use it as a highlighter.

This palette was my gateway drug into the Hourglass range and I just can't get enough of the few products I own. Yes they're pricey, but there's nothing quite like them on the market - not that I've found, anyway - and these powders really do lift the face and diffuse light, making you look younger and more even overall.

I'll have to review this product before I finish Dim Light off completely! Problem is, the subtle effect of these products is so hard to capture on camera, which is why I've shied away from it thus far. I must try.

I've reviewed this here. It's a more recent discovery of mine and I did review it during the month, and it's one of those products that hit HG status almost from the first use and I now can't imagine being without it.

It indeed hydrates and manages frizz, and it defines curls and waves without weighing the hair down or reducing the time between washes. I also love that it adds shine and makes my hair more bouncy, and a little goes a long way so you only need a small amount each time and the bottle should last for ages.

If you haven't tried any haircare from OGX, I urge you to give it a go. It's not expensive and it's usually on special somewhere, and I've had such good luck with the different products I've tried from these guys that OGX has become my favourite haircare brand almost overnight.

This is one of those products that I'll often forget about for a while and then rediscover and become obsessed with all over again, as I've done this month because I've wanted something easy that's kind to dry skin, and this is. I've reviewed it here.  

It gives such a natural, beautiful colour to the cheeks that lasts well throughout the day and is super easy to apply and blend. I love the warm, red-based tan colour of this shade and it's a product that goes with any look and works with any bronzer I own.

If you haven't tested these products, I urge you to do so. They're not super expensive and they're easy to use and travel-friendly to boot, and if I didn't already have a bundle of cheek products, I would consider buying more shades. Love.

Full review here. I'm sure I've included this in a monthly favourites post before but I had to do it again this month because it's been my cleanser of choice throughout May.

I'm pregnant at the moment and the weather is also getting colder, so my skin has thrown a tantrum and is even more dry and sensitive than usual. This means I need to be careful with my cleansers - I can't use anything too harsh that might make things worse - but I've found that gentle cleansers tend not to do enough for me.

This one's different. It cleans beautifully and removes the gunk without stripping the skin or drying it out. It's also not an expensive product so I can see myself repurchasing this one over and over again because gentle cleansers that work aren't so easy to find. Such a great product and one that feels nice on the skin too.

I haven't reviewed this product I'm afraid so I'll have to do that soon, but I had to include it this month because I've been reaching for it more than ever as my sleep continues to be bad throughout the pregnancy and there's been a build-up of sleep-deprivation that's now showing clearly on my face.

This is one of those polarising products that people either love or think is useless. I'm definitely in the love category, and you can see from the dent in mine that it's had some good use, even though I've only had it for a few months.

You apply it below your concealer and it somehow boosts the effect of whatever under-eye product you're using and gives you better coverage. It also brightens the area and makes it look more awake, and it's worked well with any concealer I've tried it with.

A fantastic product but one that's worth testing first because it doesn't seem to work for everyone (tip: a little goes a long way!).

In sum

I always love looking back over the month and picking out the products I've loved more than all others, and this month is no exception.

I also love reading about others' favourites each month so I hope you've enjoyed this post. Do let me know what products you've been loving throughout May : )