July Favourites

By Behindtheseclosedeyes @theseclosedeyes
July has definitely been the month of trying new things and falling in love with so many new products! Plenty of sale shopping & testing out new samples this month has resulted in me loving plenty of new goodies, and after writing them all down in a list (look at me being organised for a change) I really had to whittle it down to the products I'm about to gush about. There are also a couple of rediscovered products this month as I've found myself going back to some of my old favourites! Now let's get to it before I ramble on any longer..

Nspa Melting Cleansing Gel* (£6): I've already raved about this gel cleanser in my recent Nspa Beauty & Bathing Rituals post (here) but had to include it in my July favourites as I've absolutely loved using it this month. The gel to cream formula makes removing makeup & excess dirt so quick and simple, and my skin is always left feeling so clean afterwards which is great. The Melting Cleansing Gel is such a bargain in my eyes as I'd very happily pay £6 for such a lovely cleanser, and the luxurious smell really does make me feel as though I've turned my bathroom into a spa.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Night Lotion (£9): I picked this lotion up in one of The Body Shop's sales on a whim, but after using it for the past few weeks I'm so glad that I did. This tea tree night lotion is formulated to help blemish-prone skin by treating the face overnight and I'm very happy to say that the lotion has kept my hormonal breakouts at bay this month, hooray! I love that the lotion feels so refreshing on the skin and also manages to help fade existing blemishes & marks on the skin which has been a godsend for my blemish-prone chin.
Dove Summer Glow Lotion (currently half price at £2.49): It takes quite a lot of sun to make my fair skin tan so I usually find myself reaching for some kind of self tanner by the time summer comes around. I'm the first to admit that I'm so bad when it comes to applying fake tan as I'm normally left with a patchy looking tan, but this gradual tanning lotion has been absolutely perfect for me this month. Simply apply it to the skin like you would with a normal body lotion, let it sink in and then you're left with a natural looking summer glow.
The Body Shop Born Lippy Stick Lip Balm in Pomegranate (£3): I managed to pick up this little lip balm from The Body Shop when there was a free voucher floating around the internet about a month ago. I'm already a big fan of the Born Lippy pots of lip balm so I was curious to see how the stick compared, and I'm happy to say that I've been loving using it this month. It's so easy to use and a great size for keeping in your bag for top-ups during the day. I have the Pomegranate flavor which smells so fruity and delicious, and what's nice is that it leaves a slight hint of red to the lips too.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (£10.99): I've been a big fan of the original Healthy Mix Foundation for so long but always managed to stay away form the lighter serum version for some reason. I'm now kicking myself as I've been missing out on this extremely natural looking foundation which I think is so perfect for the summer because of the lighter coverage. My skin still feels like it can breathe under this foundation which is great for the warmer months as you don't want to be feeling caked in makeup, and I've also been impressed with the staying power of the serum considering how warm the weather has been this past month. I've definitely been converted to the serum version now!
Benefit Bella Bamba (£23.50): This boxed powder has been in my stash for over a year now and in that time I've gone back to this gorgeous blusher so many times. I've already posted about Bella Bamba (here) and had to include it in this month's favourites as it has spent most of the month in my everyday makeup bag. If that doesn't tell you how much I'm loving a product then I don't know what else will! This summer I've really been enjoying using brighter blushers this summer and the gorgeous watermelon pink shade of Bella Bamba is no exception as it really does make your cheeks stand out with the help of the subtle gold shimmer running throughout the powder.
Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial (£5.99): The Rimmel Apocalips seem to have become a love it or hate it product in the blogging world and it's safe to say that I'm a lover of the lip lacquers (full review here). As I've already said, I've really been embracing brighter colours this summer and that's particularly true for the lips as I usually play it safe with nudes or light pink shades. I have the shade Celestial which is a pretty dusky pink color that really stands out against my fair skin. The most impressive thing about this lip product is just how pigmented the formula is, with my lips being left with an opaque and super glossy color after just one swipe.
Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Greenberry (£3.99): Last but not least is my favorite nail color of the month and it has to be the Gelly Hi-Shine polish in Greenberry (reviewed & photo here). Greenberry is a gorgeous green toned turquoise nail color that is perfect for the summer as brights are definitely still in, and it's great formula makes it even more impressive in my eyes. The thicker formula makes application so quick and easy & I've seen the polish lasting over a week with the smallest signs of wear which is fab.
Phew, that was quite a few favourites to get through. I'd love to hear what your favourites have been this month so please let me know in the comments!