What I've loved in February....

 

Anything that was kindly gifted to me, with obligation, is marked with a *

This month has really flown by and I am so here for Spring! Hearing the birds in the morning and seeing the Spring flowers bloom, makes me so happy. I just feel that it brings hope and I look forward to the longer days to come. We're still in lockdown and will be for a good number of weeks, but I personally am happy with that because I fee safer. My mother got the first dose of the vaccine, which is brilliant, as we hadn't expected it so early, but she got a call and a few hours later, had her jab and without any side effects. It just feels like progress, which is great. Hopefully my Dad will be called soon. I have no idea if or when I'll be getting it (due to my illnesses), but I am hopeful. I need to have a good chat with my GP, but for the moment, I'm just so grateful to be on medication to control the pain, reduce the inflammation in my body, and to help my breathing. I would urge you all to take the vaccination, because I can tell you that my personal story of Covid has been hell - a year later, I am still suffering. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Spring brings hope, as does the vaccination! Anyway, back to what I've loved this month.

Beauty:

Honest Beauty Cream Cheek Blush*: If you've been a regular reader of my blog for a while, you'll know that I love cream cheek products, as I have dry skin, so they work well on it to create a fresh look. This blush, from Jessica Alba's line, has a beautiful texture - emollient enough to be able to apply and blend with your fingers or a beauty sponge, without disturbing your base underneath. I also find it to be long-lasting on the cheeks, which not all cream products are. Today is the last day to receive free worldwide shipping on Honest Beauty on Cult Beauty.

Becca Light Shifting Dewing Tinted Moisturiser: I wrote about this in my recent 3 products for 3 budgets post here, and since then have learned that the brand will be closing down in September, which I am really sad about because I love so many of their products! This tinted moisturiser is so easy to apply with my fingers and it gives the skin a luminous look, whilst blurring the appearance of pores and fine lines. It's the perfect base product to use when you don't want to go completely bare-faced but also don't want to look too done up!

Living Proof Triple Detox Shampoo: I use a lot of dry shampoo (my temperature is consistently high, so I'm sweating more than I ordinarily would), and wash my hair only once weekly. Regular use of dry shampoo can lead to product buildup, so I have been loving this shampoo as it really cleans my hair, without stripping either my hair of moisture, but also of its colour. I got this in my Cult Beauty Advent Calendar and will purchase a full size when I finish this tube.

Hair Burst Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum*: I tweezed my brows to within an inch of their lives in the late nineties and noughties and they never really recovered. I had great brows prior to that, but the thin brow look was all the rage back then, I just wish I had left them alone! I've been using this serum on my brows since November and I can definitely see an improvement in terms of growth, they look fuller and because we're in lockdown, I am leaving them to grow and will get them shaped professionally when restrictions are lifted. I have to say that I am very impressed and I'll repurchase when I finally finish this tube.

Dermalogica Neck Fit Contour Serum*: I always remember our science teacher telling us that the neck was the first area to show signs of ageing. I was 13 and it always stuck in my mind, so I used my moisturiser on both my neck and face - not every day, admittedly, until I was in my twenties. That being said, I didn't always wear SPF daily until my thirties, so whilst it wasn't an entirely futile exercise, it would have been better had the SPF been added in! Thankfully, there are some fantastic products, specifically for use on the neck, which I have been using for a few years now. A serum is better value than a moisturiser, as it means you can use your face moisturiser over it. I always say to invest your money in serums, if you can only invest it in one area. I've been really enjoying this serum, which has a rollerball applicator, which makes it super easy to use, and I would advise not squeezing the tube too much as you really don't need a lot of product. It contains a blend of oils and a tripeptide, which firm and tighten the skin. It needs to be used consistently to see results, but they are definitely noticeable, not just in terms of lines, but also skin is less slack. I think it would make a great Mother's Day gift!

Netflix: We've watched a lot of tv this month (as we do during the colder months), and  found some great shows/films. I'm always open to recommendations, so if you have any, please leave them in the comments!

Cheat: This was a brilliant 4 part drama, featuring Katherine Kelly as a lecturer, whose life is turned on its head when she accuses one of her students of plagiarism in her dissertation. She has no idea how unhinged the student is, but her life quickly unravels over the space of a few weeks, with a few unexpected twists along the way. I don't want to say too much, but if you like watching tense dramas, I'd recommend giving it a go.

Behind Her Eyes: I devoured this book in around two days on holiday a few years ago, and I passed it on to so many people to read too, because I loved it so much. I didn't know if it would translate well into a tv show, due to the massive twist, however the cast and crew did an impeccable job. Even though my husband and I had read the book and knew the story, we were so tense and jumpy in the last two episodes, which is a testament to the storytelling. It centres around a psychiatrist and his wife, who seems so bland and Stepford Wife-like, yet there is something very mysterious about her and you know that she has a story to tell. The psychiatrist then becomes involved with his secretary, who also happens to befriend his wife - she really is caught in a triangle (of her own doing), but she can't stay away from either of them. Again, I don't want to say too much more, as it really is a brilliant series, so well written and gripping. There are only 6 episodes, so it's worth watching over a lockdown weekend.

Arrested Development: We are so ridiculously late to the party on this show, but we decided to watch as we both love Jason Bateman as an actor (you must watch Ozark), and I like to watch something that will make me laugh daily. It centres around a completely wacky family, whose father has been arrested for fraud and they suddenly find themselves actually having to work/earn money, and the siblings have to live together in a model home on the site that they. were supposed to develop. It's a crazy show, but very light-hearted and easy to watch, with episodes only being 20 minutes each, so it's good for a quick fix of laughter!

The Dig: Based on a true story, this film stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes and Lily James, among others. Carey Mulligan's character hires Fiennes' character, who is a self-taught archaeologist-excavator, to excavate some mounds on her estate, that both she and her late husband had been interested in for years. Although not academically qualified, Fiennes' character has studied this type of work all of his life. When he uncovers a ship, which is declared of national importance, the Office Of Works try to take over the site, however Mulligan's character insists that the job be completed by Fiennes and his team (her staff). Before her death, she donated the findings to the British Museum, with instructions that Fiennes' work be recognised, which didn't actually happen until recent years. Again, the cast portrayed the story so well, and the only thing that disappointed me was that there were no photos, from the events, at the end of the film, which often happens with true stories.

Other favourites: I am really enjoying seeing snowdrops, narcissi, primroses and crocuses appear! I've also loved the snow, and then the crisp sunny days - it's a real sign that better days are coming! I've also enjoyed watching my friend's channel grow on YouTube - she's Doctor Anne, and if you have any interest in skincare, you need to check her out here. She simplifies complex skincare ingredients, and how she finds the time to write a blog and create videos, as well as being a doctor and having a family, I'll never know, but she is well worth watching!

I'd love to hear what you've loved this month?

Thanks for reading!

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