Ok, cliche or not but how great was the weather in March? Sun all around, happy smiley people on the streets, everything tasted and looked better!

Ive changed slightly my makeup routine, opting for light coverages and bright corals. La vie est belle!

♥ Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (shade 03) – Loved the lightness and how it provides good coverage with a matte finish. Ive skipped all together the moisturizer underneath when i had this on, as it was way to heavy. Looks lovely in photos, good coverage and great for oily combo skins.

♥ Real Techniques Brushes – in particular the Stippling Brush and the Buffing Brush. My first encounter with these kind of brushes, I’ve only been using the classical flat foundation brush. Oh my, such a change! They deliver fast, flawless results im in love with them. The Stippling brush was heavily used for cream blusher too.

♥ Benefit Cha Cha Tint – such a pretty coral tint, used it mainly on my lips as a base for my Lancome lipstick (see next) or as a base for my blush (love how it looks with UD Score on top).

♥ Lancome French Touch in Sweet Marmalade – this is from the spring collection Le Rosarie des Delices. Looks almost neon, but when applied on the lips gives a sheer, soft shade of the perfect coral. Haven’t been so much in love with a lipstick in ages.

♥ No 7 Vital Brights Cream Blush in Blossoming Pink – this is one of the cream blushers from the Lisa Eldridge collection for No7. Gorgeous, bright coral (you can see a pattern here…) that just melts on the skin and instantly makes you look and feel summery. Used my boots voucher to pay for it, so it was a real bargain too.

♥ Givenchy Cat Eye sunnies – never in my life was interested in sunglasses until this year. Is it an age thing?! Anyway, was looking for a cat eye shape that would suit my face and these ones proved to be perfect. Also helped that they were on sale. Asos and Mango have a great selection of cat eye sunglasses, think ill get some red ones and maybe a leopard pair for fun .

Happy Spring! x

♥ Pureology Restorative Hair Mask – the best smelling hair mask ever! With a buttery thick texture, a small bit is needed for luscious hydrated hair. I use it once a week and generally leave it on for about an hour to get the maximum benefits. The scent will linger until the next wash.

♥ Liz Earle Eyebright – picked it up on whim when i stocked up on my Cleanse and Polish. Really didn’t expect this lotion to rock my world like it did, the brightening effect its outstanding. I don’t cleanse with the lotion, i prefer to use it as a compress before doing my makeup (usually for a night out, when i re-do the whole shebang). When im saying brightening, i don’t mean the dark circles but the actual white of your eyes, after 5 min with the compress on all the little blood vessels or irritations are vanished.

♥ The Body Shop Banana Shampoo – such a good everyday shampoo, leaves my hair soft, bouncy and shiny. Lathers really well and the smell is delicious (that is if you like bananas like i do). It reminds me of the Lush Banana Moon soap, it has the same scent to bad its discontinued.

♥ The Body Shop Chocomania Body Lotion – my long awaited chocolate body lotion didn’t disappoint. Got the lotion and the shower gel, love the gourmand cocoa scent and love that it gets absorbed instantly without stickiness. Every chocoholic needs this range in their life and if you give up chocolate for lent like me, you can at least bathe in it.

Other favorite this month was the weather in Dublin, finally we got some SUN!!!! A good excuse to wear my new sunglasses got in the January sales (55% and 45% off, where would you go?!)

♥ Givenchy, Ray Ban Aviator and Ray Ban Wayfareres ♥

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Happy Spring!

My daily face for the last two months (Dec and Jan):

Estee Lauder Idealist serum. Use it every morning, under my day moisturiser to minimize my awful looking pores. Two drops its all you need, spread it in the essentials areas (my case cheeks and nose). I’m pleased to say it really works, seen a reduction after just a week and my pores are looking airbrushed.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (shade 53). This is my ‘day off’ foundation, it provides a medium coverage with a dewy radiant glow. I only use it when im off just because i get loads of shine through the day and this foundation doesn’t have any mattifying properties, so its nice when i slap it on just for a few hours.

Lancome Teint Idole 24H (No. 03). Was lucky to try it before it was launched (which is 1st of Feb, tomorrow!) so had about 3 whole months of daily testing. This is my ‘work’ foundation – it doesn’t budge, needs minimal retouching for shine and has an excellent color range. I was a fan of the original Teint Idole Ultra, but sometimes i found it too drying and the coverage was too heavy. While the new is style full coverage, the texture its a lot smoother and velvety.

Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer (no. 52). An excellent concealer! Very moisturising, full coverage and with a brightening effect. I apply it first, then my foundation and then highlight with YSL Touche Eclat.

YSL Touche Eclat (no. 1). I use it on top of the Bourjois concealer, just in the inner corners of my eye and on my nose bridge.

Bourjois Smokey Eyes in 04 Nude Ingenu. I have been obsessed with these eye shadows, reach for them every morning and for the first time, hit pan on a color.

Lancome Artliner in Black. My signature look for 2011 and im sure for 2012 as well, the windged black eyeliner.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara in Black. Love the brush, it gives me length and separation. Think that this is the type that gets better with age, when it dries up a bit after a week from opening it provides the most flawless application.

Sleek Nude Blush. Because of the cold weather i was a bit over the pink blusher, it looked like a had rosaceea cheeks! Instead i reached for the nude brown/tan blush to sculpt some cheekbones.

Mac Mineralized Powder in Medium Plus. Dewy, natural, flawless coverage what is not to love?!

Eyebrows: penciled first with Lancome eyebrow pencil (02) and then sealed the color with my all time favorite Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe.

Other Loves

F for Salvatore Ferragamo Perfume, probably a more summer appropriate scent as it is light and floral but it makes my happy so im gonna use it up.

Kerastase Nutri Sculpt Leave-in Conditioner. The first leave in conditioner that doesnt leave my hair flat and greasy. My hair drinks it up and re becomes shiny and soft.

Vichy Lipidiose Body Exfoliant. This is the old packaging version, they have re-vamped the range since i got it (a year ago). Use it once a week and it delivers the softest skin ever. Its definetly not a gently scrub, but sometimes rough is better .

Vichy Liftactiv Serum. This serum has been an absolute savior during winter months, have been using it religiously every night under my moisturiser to plump and boost my skin. I can really see a difference in my complexion in the morning, it looks brighter and more relaxed.

Promise the next Favorites installment will be a lot shorter than this, haven’t done one in a long time so had lots of loves.

If in the last few months I’ve done mostly makeup favorites (here and here), this time I’m doing body and hair favorites. My makeup hasn’t changed at all since last month, i have been so comfortable with my routine that i didn’t bother using other products. Maybe this month I’ll spice things up a bit.

Dr. Organic Royal Jelly Leg & Vein Cream

My job involves standing a lot and running around the place, so I’m concerned about getting varicose veins. I have this routine every night of massaging my calves to stimulate the blood flow and then i stand with my legs elevated for a couple of minutes to avoid swelling. Hey i girl gotta to do, what a girl gotta do!

This cream is full of organic active ingredients with a reputation to prevent varicose veins like Royal Jelly, Horse Chestnut, Propolis, Palmaria palmata (marine extract) and much more. The texture is a silky cream that facilitates the massage, soaking in without being greasy. Leaves a lovely finish, the skin feeling very soft and toned.

                    L’oreal Sculpt Up Body Gel

Like everyone else this time of year, I’ve started to take better care of my body and prepare for summer. Which usually means, time to shed a few winter pounds and tackle the dreaded cellulite.

Loreal Sculpt Up body gel is a tightening and re-sculpting product, with an immediate effect. It really has the result of a corset, just gives the impression of a more refined silhouette and keeps everything tucked in. Also makes the most incredible silky skin, I love it!

I tend to use it before a night out or whenever i wear something more fitted, i can really see a difference. Unfortunately the effect its only temporary it lasts as long as you use it daily, so im still looking for a good cellulite cream to melt the cushions away. I would definitely bring this gel with me on beach holiday!

 Avene Cold Hand Cream

I use loads of sanitizing gel on my hands during the day and the result is a very dry, irritated skin. So far, Avene Cold Cream was the only thing that restored my hands to normality after just one use, i applied it before going to bed and in the morning i had moisturised and normal looking skin. Also i like that is not greasy and comes in a small tube, handbag friendly.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Miraculous Recovery Hair Mask

Yes, its full of silicone, but do i care? No! Just finished a pot of it and really liked it: didn’t weight my hair down, wasn’t heavy once applied- had more of a conditioner texture. But oh boy, when i blow dried my hair was left with lovely shiny tresses and most important for me, my long hair was very easy to detangle. A very good budget buy for me.

Montagne Jeunnesse Sensuous Spice Self Warming Face Mask

Im a fan of Montagne Jeunnesse face masks, everytime i go to Dunnes to do my grocery shopping i pick up a couple of satchets. I was very pleased to discover that they came up with 100g tubes for up to 10 applications.

I have the Sensuous Spice mask since Christmas, it last me a very long time – tend to use it once a week after shower and exfoliation. The mask has a clay texture, smelling lovely of cinnamon and ginger and has deep cleansing properties. Once massaged on the wet skin, it starts warming up when touched. Having this effect, i wouldn’t use it on rosacea prone skin, as it can brake even more the fragile capillaries.

The result is luminous, fresh and clear skin. My face doesn’t feel tight and all the pores are noticeably cleaner. Also, the cinnamon in the composition has anti-acne properties, believe the original home made recipe is to mix honey with cinnamon to clear out blemishes (beware it can burn the skin if left too long!)

Lancome Renergie Multiple Lift Yeux

Very excited about thisnew eye cream from Lancome, been using it for the last two weeks and so far so good! It deserves a proper review, so watch this space.

H&M Aviator Style Sunglasses

Until i manage to save some pennies for a Ray Ban pair, this aviator sunnies from H&M feel the void. At 4,99 euro a pop, had to get two pairs: one in silver and one in gold. Would be rude, not too!

Last but not least, I’m loving in March my most repurchased perfume – Marc Jacobs Daisy (almost gone) and The Body Shop  Brazil Nut Body Butter (talked about it here).

What did you love in March? x