June Favourites 2014 ft: Benefit, Cards Against Humanity, Image Skincare, Hourglass, Face D, Roger & Gallet and Spotify

Oh ma ma ma,oh, ma ma ma,oh, ma ma ma 

My July!

Oh June you were a good one where beauty and shenanigans were concerned. You even managed to kick ass on the weather front too, nicely played. Your time is done though as we're now in July but let's reflect on the favourites you brought into my life, shall we?

1. Cards Against Humanity £20 Here

You know those strange people that have an eight pack instead of a six? Well I'm one o' those following a night playing Cards Against Humanity with la Familia. The most offensive game known to man, played in the most offensive way known to ANYONE, CAH had all five of us Muttley laughing for a solid 2 hours as we tried to outdo each other in shock value. This was just one hand Aaron played to me. Get this game. Get it and go to Hell with us. Laughing. 

2. Garnier Ultimate Blends Colour Illuminator 

1 Minute Treatment €3.53 Here

The quality of this budget hair treatment well belies it's weenchy pricetag. Part of the larger Garnier Ultimate Blends collection, that I've used every single one of, this Argan oil and cranberry extract 1 minute treatment smells INcredible and works like a pro to boot. 

For use just twice a week for a minute each time, I've replaced this twice now as, although it's designed to give coloured hair shine - the Gorgebags are using it by the fist full for the delicioso smell alone. It's a keeper. 

3. Image Skincare Iluma Intense Lightening Serum €35 Here

A newbie to Image and their many skincare ways, I was delighted to learn more about the brand last month. To say my socks were blown off with 'the science bit' is an understatement. Happy in the knowledge that Image knew what was what I began using Iluma Intense Lightening Serum that very night. 

While the smell is slightly overpowering (like an intense suncream scent), the product is Holy Cow this is Holy Grail level gorgeous. My skin was instantly softer, felt plumped and nourished but within 3-5 days I noticed changes. Glowy changes. My pigmentation is no longer as pronounced and skintone just seems more even. I've had several compliments about my skin glowing and this little buidéal is entirely to blame. I swear. 

4. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette £56 Here

If you're a beauty lover/obsessive, you need no introduction to the Hourglass palette. Cruelly teased with a limited edition release last year, the world promptly lost its shizz once it was discontinued so Hourglass did the daycent thing and made it permanent this May. 

Made up of 3 infused skin finishing powders, witchcraft and wizardry, this photoshop in a palette is easily one of my most loved beauty products to date. I KNOW. I hadn't believed the hype but this is 'Double take at yourself in every reflective surface' sensational. 

The gorgeous Sinéad of Viva Adonis fame advised that I swirl all three colours together for each use instead of just choosing one. I'm currently petitioning the government to have a holiday named after her as thanks. Happy Sinéad's Day, Bishes, we all look FABULOUS. 

5. Face D 3-Luronics Instant Effect Cream Serum €29.99 Here

Psst check out your chance below to win one of three of these babies!!

It warms my instant gratification cockles to see 'Instant Effect' written on any beauty product though the Grinch like skeptic in me is always wary. When Face D's cream serum landed on my desk I was cautious to say the least but one look at the ingredients meant we might just be on to a winner. 

3 hyaluronic acids with 3 different molecular weights are combined in this gel like, non greasy cream. The higher weight packing the instant brightening and plumping punch with the lighter ones working at a deeper level to bring sustained change to the skin. The instant softness I get from this serum is incomparable. I keep it on my work desk for a quick pick me up in the afternoon and it works a treat. In yo' face, 3pm slump! (I'll have to report back on long term changes).

6. Sally Hansen Tahitian Sunset Polish €6.95 Here

My love for this soft peach corally creme was reignited at a recent Sally Hansen event. This mani lasted 5 whole days, unheard of for me, even WITH passport searches and garnered not only compliments but glances too. 

I have a bit of a grá for muted shades in the summer months and Tahitian Sunset has rocketed back into my top polish picks as of last month. 

score 1 of 3 Sally Hansen summer packs, incl Tahitian Sunset & 

worth €100 each here

7. Spotify

Yes, I'm very late to the Spotify game but I can't tell you how good it is to have music back in my life again. One of the things I miss most about driving is heading out with the radio blaring - it's also one of the reasons I've decided I need a car again sharpish - it's called LOGIC. 

I've managed to follow some pretty cracking playlists but not yet managed to make daycent ones myself. Imma recommend the San Lorenzo Lunch list first off in terms of eclectic awesomness and also my dear old Bro Rob Jordan, mainly because he has his Spotify shizz together. Do please lemme know who else I should be following! #addicted

8. Benefit Big Easy Complexion Perfector €37 Here

Ever the lover of faff free products, Benefit's Big Easy is a stand out of the year, so far, for me. The liquid to powder formulation claims to self adjust to your skin tone, balance and perfect oily skin and protect from UVA and UVB (Factor 35 no less!). I'll agree, wholeheartedly on the oil balancing and warn ye dry skinned ladies away with a vengeance - oily to normal skinned lasses though? You gotta try this. 

With only slightly more coverage than a BB, this base lasts me the whole day through with only slight touch ups as needed. I do use a primer underneath as the powder consistency threatens to cake but the velvety smooth result is 100% worth it. You'll find Big Easy in 6 shades but they're Irish lass friendly, so porcelain skinned beauts will love it. €37 might seem spendy but grab yourself a sample when next chatting to a Benebabe and tell me you don't love it. I dare you.  

9. Roger & Gallet Fleur De Figuier 

Ultra Nourishing Oil 

€26.95 Pharmacies Nationwide

You know when you love a product so instantly and so intensely that you know it's going to be a standout of the year for you, even though we're only half way through? That's what Fleur De Figuier Ultra- Nourishing Oil is to me. And then some. 

Read my full review here but know that I've since bought two spares and with the slightest whisper of discontinuation, I'll be buying crates. I like it a LOH. 

Tell us, what were you lovin' in June? 

If you can get the gickball that is Google+ comments to work do please leave links to your June Faves posts and vids too - I love to have a nosey. 

We've teamed up w @lloydspharmacy to bring you 1 of our June Faves. FaceD 3-Luronics! Follow & RT to win #bbloggers pic.twitter.com/lWGXU73O4X
— CherrySue (@ItsCherrySue) July 3, 2014

Roger & Gallet Fleur De Figuier Ultra Nourishing Oil

I've been an avid, AVID fan of Roger & Gallet's Fleur De Figuier scent since its launch last year. The musky floral is everything I look for in a fragrance and then some. So bereft was I that Dublin Airport threw my stash in the bin 2 weeks after I received it (long Smurfy story) that I've had a back up bottle on hand ever since. I honestly thought the fragrant water couldn't be topped. Until the Ultra Nourishing Oil landed on my desk. 

10 plant oils enriched with almond oil, passion-flower oil and apricot oil and blended with 6 rich fruit oils and 4 skin friendly vitamins means you need this oil in your life. In your life and on your boddeh. 

The spray application makes this nourishing oil a stand out for me. I had it ensconced in my shower stash as it's best applied to wet skin but, truth be told, it's now in my mála and travelling everywhere with me, much to the delight of colleagues in the office (who have taken to proffering their forearms, saying 'Spot me, Bren!' when they're in need of a top up). For me, it's used to add a deliciously scented sheen to my arms and decolletage but I also rub it through my hair to tame flyaways and disguise stray split ends as I spot 'em. 

If pomegranate, blackcurrant, grapefruit, sweet almond, mandarin & fig milk rounded out with cedar and musk sounds like your kind of scent then this range and this oil in particular is for you. If not, then you need to smell it again. 

Fleur de Figuier Ultra Nourishing Oil is a extremely reasonable, for the scent, €26.95. You'll find stockists here but you can also buy online here . In their wisdom, the brand have also released the fragrant water in a travel friendly 30ml bottle for just €17.50 - If only that'd been a year ago my airport grief could have been spared!

Have you tried this incredible scent? Are you a fan of body oils in general? 

April Favourites ft Kiehl's, Roger & Gallet, Rimmel London, Neal's Yard Remedies & Clarins

Can you believe it's May? Nope, me either. Because my March Faves post seemed to float a few boats I thought I'd follow up with the altogether unsurprising, April Faves - you didn't see that one coming, did'ya? 

There's been a couple of stand out products this past month, more than five if I'm honest but I'm just including the ones that have literally wowed me - that is, I've used it and literally been wowed (with accompanying impressed sound effects). 

I know I've only included the fragrant water in the top picture but I implore you to get to your nearest pharmacy and smell ANYTHING from the new Fleur de Figuier range. (starting at €6.95) It was love at first whiff for me with this seriously zesty scent with a musky feel and I've used one or not all of the range on a daily basis since.

Think orange, figs, grapefruit and musk. Think sunshine holiday in a bottle. Think the most unique and addictive scent you're likely to sniff this side of 2013. I've already converted 3 colleagues. I don't gush often but seriously GUSH. 

Clarins Summer 2013 Spendours Eye Shadow & Liner palette: €39

The entire Clarins Summer range is a sight to behold but before I even opened this eye shadow and liner palette there was a gasp. The heavy weight palette is an absolute stunner as far as packaging goes but the buttery soft, extremely wearable shades contained have set me up for the Summer. Even it did take me 3 weeks to work up the gumption to use it. 

Kiehl's Actively Correcting BB Cream: €29

I know the market is awash with BB creams of late, some even having moved onto the CC cream but when my HG skincare brand sent word of their BB offering I knew it'd be a pace apart. 

With SPF 50(!), vitamin C and the ability to actively correct your skin as you wear it, this velvety soft foundation fooler is a beaut. Available in 3 colours but all leaning toward the lighter side of the colour spectrum, presumably because of the high SPF, Kiehl's BB is just what us pasty Irish gals have been waiting for when it comes to BBs. 

Rimmel Salon Pro with Lycra Range: €6.45

I haven't been as enamoured with a polish range as I have with Rimmel Salon Pro with Lycra  for a very long time. Check out my full goo at the range here and behold that ridiculous shine. 

There's 22 new shades, 9 of which are formulated with Kate Moss' help and I haven't seen one yet that I haven't wanted. If you follow me on instagram you'll see that a good lot of my manicures are done favouring these beauties. The formulation is spot on and the shine incredible. All for €6.45? What's not to love? 

Neals Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm - source

It's not often that I'll include a product that I've only had for a week in a favourites list but, Sweet Baby J, this stuff is show stopping. Made with wild rosehip oil, geranium, starflower, hemp and rosemary seed oil I've never smelt or used anything like this before.

At the press event last week I was suffering with a cold. When we got to play with the product I gravitated to this immediately and used a little on my poor red schnozz. Instantly my skin felt more comforted and the smell is just phenomenal. 

I've used the product 4 times since as an exfoliator, a face mask and a balm for sore skin. This, just like the Roger & Gallet MUST be smelled to be believed. Neals are launching in Ireland this month and you can find more info on pricing etc over here. 

And that's them - it was torture to limit my picks to five but as I say these are the ones that have literally wowed me this month. 

Tell me - what were/are you loving from April?