I’m not quite sure what happened to June, but since it’s suddenly over, it’s time to share my favorites for the month! J I haven’t ventured away from a lot of the products I’ve been using in prior months, and I also haven’t been wearing too much makeup in June. But fear not; I still have plenty to share! J
I think my absolute favorite thing this month has been the Coconut Body Butter from Trader Joe’s. I included it in my 5 Summer Must Haves and I must have it! J It leaves my skin so soft and smooth – and the feeling lasts long after it’s applied – and it smells soooo good! Absolutely adore the Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter.
Sticking with soft skin…well, more smooth skin…I picked up the Kiss My Face Pomegranate Grapefruit Moisture Shave and really like it! For years I used the Alba Botanica Moisturizing Cream Shave and, though it works ok, it doesn’t lather at all, and I often find myself wondering if it’s even still on my skin while I’m shaving. The Kiss My Face Moisture Shave, though not as thick and foamy as a standard shaving cream, provides a decent lather that doesn’t fly all over the shower and stick to the walls (is it just me that has that problem?). It seems quite gentle, it lathers up and it definitely protects my skin without drying it out! No, it’s not life-changing, but I’ve definitely found a new favorite shaving cream in the Kiss My Face Moisture Shave.
Keeping with skin protection, I often find myself feeling lazy when it comes to sunscreen. I know I not only need to do it, but want to apply it so that I know my skin is protected. I really love the Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian & Badger Balm sunscreens, but on days where I just can’t be bothered to take another minute or two to apply a lotion, I’ve been reaching for the Trader Joe’s Nourish Spray Sunscreen SPF 50. I don’t notice a scent to this sunscreen, it’s not sticky or greasy, and it sprays on quickly and evenly. It is a clear mist and, though I don’t think it’s required, I tend to rub it into my skin after spraying it just to ensure it’s distributed evenly. This is also great for throwing into your beach bag because you can turn the cap to “lock” it and it won’t accidentally spray or leak all over your bag! Love that feature! J Something I don’t love is that it contains alcohol, so it can sting a little bit when it hits broken skin – with five cats, it’s rare I don’t have at least one scratch somewhere! Though I do feel more protected using a lotion, on a lazy or busy day when I just want to run out the door, but don’t want to forget my sunblock…which has been most of June!...I love having the Trader Joe’s Nourish Spray Sunscreen SPF 50 on hand! J
To keep my lips soft and smooth, I’ve been using a combination of two different lip balms and I love them both!!! During the day, I’ve been using the Badger Balm Cocoa Butter Lip Balm. It comes in a nice fat tube filled with organic goodness that keeps my lips hydrated, soft, smooth and happy. It has just the right consistency – hydrating and protective, but not too greasy! I’ve been using the “Creamy Cocoa” flavor, which adds a subtle pleasant taste. It’s amazing stuff and I feel lost without it! J
More of a night treatment that I have been using for my lips is the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. It is a bit on the slippery side (it's in a squeeze tube, so it's more of a gel formula), which is why I only use it at night – it tends to make other lip colors wear off a bit quicker. However, it is precisely the slicker texture that makes it perfect for nighttime because it is very nourishing. I wake up with lips feeling nicely conditioned, soft, smooth and free from flaky bits. It has SPF 25 as well, so it would be a great balm to wear alone during the day as well.
Since I’m on the topic of lips, one of my favorite lip colors this month has been the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss Lip Tar in “Jealous,” which is a really pretty translucent flushed pinkish-red shade when applied. I really love the color and the consistency. It is kind of like a lip gloss, but with more of the staying power of a lipstick. The finish is not as glossy as I expected – I would say it has almost a high-satin or a low-shine finish, which I really like. It’s very comfortable on the lips and provides a pigmented, yet sheer tint of color. It only takes a little dot to cover your entire mouth, so one tube will last for ages! The brush it comes with is great as well, plus the little pouch is perfect for carrying everything you need for touch-ups throughout the day! The OCC Stained Gloss Lip Tars are great, especially for those of us who are either intimidated by, or just don’t like really opaque lip colors. They are just as great as the original Lip Tars, but much more practical for those days you want a more natural look.
I think that’s going to do it for my June Favorites! There are some favorites I haven’t mentioned because they were in my last few monthly favorites (like the BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector or the Josie Maran Cheek Gelee), or I’ve mentioned them in other recent posts (like the Stila Afterglow Lip Colors). I don’t want to repeat myself too much after all! J I hope you enjoyed this, and please leave a comment with some products you’ve been loving this month – we all need temptation, right?!?! J Until next month, I hope you have a happy and healthy July!!! J
Disclaimer: The Badger Balm Cocoa Butter Lip Balm was sent to me for consideration by the W.S. Badger Company. I receive no compensation for its mention. All other products were purchased by me. All thoughts expressed in this post are solely my opinion.