September's favourites

I have been wanting to get around to a post like this for ages. One of the most wonderful perks of being a blogger is that I quite often get asked to try out new products and I have so much to tell you about. This does mean that my bathroom cabinet and vanity area look a bit like a disheveled beauty salon at times - but I'm certainly not complaining. Adding to this, and much to my poor husband's dismay, I am a total beauty junkie. So I also buy a fair amount myself too. This has got to the point where Dave takes me by the hand in Clicks and leads me to the aisles we need to get to, completely circumventing the beauty section. Mean isn't it?

Here are the products that I loved in September.

Naked 3 Palette: I bought this while travelling, and I haven't looked back. I am a big fan of Naked 1, and when 2 was launched I wasn't too excited about the shades. But when I saw the pretty, pink nudes that lined the tray in the Naked 3 palette, I was sold. I think having palettes 1 and 3 makes for a pretty solid eyeshadow collection. As always, they are the perfect travel companion too. In SA, you can trust good 'ol Rubybox to hook you up.

Sorbet BB Cream: This stuff is only R100 at Sorbet salons or Clicks. I know it launches ages ago, and I obviously wasn't paying enough attention because it was recommended to me by a friend whose skin always looks so flawless. So thanks for sharing your secret Liv, because this is a really great product. The coverage is medium and leaves a subtle glow on the skin. It has become a daily favourite and is in serious contention with my Bourjois 123 Perfect CC cream as the best budget buy for your makeup bag.

Shwarzkopf Color Freeze Shampoo and Hair Mask: I attended a relaunch of the Schwarzkopf range a while ago at GHD Style Bar. I've been using their products for years on my heavily bleached hair and it works like a bomb. Their fantastic stylists recommended trying these two products to better preserve my blonde and to keep it from becoming dried out and natty. These will become repeat purchases without a doubt. It isn't easy keeping fake-blonde hair soft and shiny and this does exactly that. I also love how long salon products last. You really only need to use so little. Especially the hair mask. I just dip my pinky finger in the tub and that is enough for me. You'll find these either at GHD Style Bar, or have them delivered to your door with RetailBox.

Soap & Glory Heel Genius: I went a little batshit crazy in Boots while we were in Thailand back in August. They kept luring me in with 3-for-2 specials, and gift sets and various other specials which i dutifully took advantage of. So I now have almost every product in their range. But with my recent increase in running training leading up to the Gun Run this past weekend, their foot mask/cream was a lifesaver. If you're travelling, pop one of these into your shopping cart. The cream is light, and smells nice and fresh. You apply before bed, slip on some socks and wake up with very pretty tootsies. Love.

Ciaté Nail Laquer in Candy Floss: This is the perfect pink. I love it. I live in it and I can't wait for summer to arrive so I can start wearing it on my toesies. Bet you didn't know you could get this brand in SA - so everyone say a big fat thank you to the kids at Clicks. They're bring them in and I couldn't be more excited.

Life via iPhone

I've been pretty quiet on Instagram lately, and on social media in general. Sometimes its nice to step back and just be in the present, without needing to document it or share it with anyone other than who you're with.
Its been one of those weeks. A week about the people I love - catching up with friends, celebrating babies born, sending love and prayers to those having a rough time and mourning life lost. The older I get, the more I realise how little matters more than your loved ones. People, health and travel are my priorities, more than stuff, and the superficial bits I get caught up with. Life is short. So damn short.

On a lighter note, I've been working damn hard at getting fit again. I missed feeling healthy. We leave for Thailand next week so the pressure is on. My surgery meant 6 weeks away from the gym, so it has been tough getting back into the swing of things. I've entered a 10km and 21km run to keep me motivated to train and get out on the road for a trot.

But... seeing as life really is all about balance, I may or may not have rewarded myself with my favourite biscuits in the world. In case you don't know how to properly eat TimTams, allow me to explain:

Step 1: make a cup of tea (not coffee, only tea).
Step 2: Take a Tim Tam and bit off a corner on one end.
Step 3: Bite a corner off the other end, but on the opposite side.
Step 4: Suck some tea diagonally through your biscuit for a few seconds.
Step 5: Shovel this melt-in-your-mouth gooey mess into your face.
Step 6: Repeat until the packet is empty and all your feelings have been eaten.

Let me know what you think. (please note that if you don't love these, we can't be friends. Ever.)

On a different note, I've been to some fabulous launches lately. Sadly some I can't tell you much about yet, but one I can brag about is the Shwarzkopf Bonacure re-launch event at StyleBar. It was sinfully decadent with all of the sweets and treats lurking everywhere, and a good amount of bubbly too. We learnt all about the ranges' fabulous new packaging and all of the amazing new properties to make them even better for your hair. I've been a Bonacure girl for about 4 years now, because no other brand takes care of my butchered-by-peroxide hair better. The leave in conditioners are your future BFF, trust me on this one.

I was given a luxurious treatment and blow-out while my own personal hair guru, Claudia, gave me some solid advice on the products I should be using. Then to top off an afternoon of luxury, I was gifted all the products that she recommended! I'll share these very soon. But for now I can confirm that my hair is so incredibly soft and shiny, and considering I've just had highlights, there is not a dry, unhappy hair on my head.

Thanks for being such generous hosts StyleBar. Your salon is impossibly chic and your team of stylists are incredible. You'll be seeing me again very soon!
They have branches just about everywhere so if you're looking for a new home for your locks, check them out.

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