January 2014 Favourites

Yesterday I uploaded my January favourites that I filmed a couple weeks ago and hadn't got around to uploading yet.

For me January was a foundation free month, so you'll have to excuse how poor my skin looks in this video, as a result there aren't that many 'makeup' favourites for Jan.  What I am excited about though is when I was in France last week, trying to find some nice moments out of a horrible week, I did manage to seek out and visit a Sephora, I picked up a Makeup Forever foundation.  I tested it on the day of the funeral and on my god, did it stand up to the hammering of tears I put it through.  For the last week or so, it's the only foundation I've worn, I'm in love with it!  So if you've worked out the dates of all that, you'll know that I broke my foundation-free January early... I also broke dry January early once I had the news about my brother, it was only a week early though.  Anyway, I digress!  Enjoy my January favourites, my next video is going to be a haul of everything I've picked up recently :)

This months Biggest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Luchessa from Beauty Expression

 

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Where I've been..

If you don't follow me on Twitter, you may be wondering where I disappeared to this last week.  I'll start from the beginning.

Last Friday (24th Jan), just after I got into work, I had a message from my brothers fiancee asking me to call her urgently.  I picked up the phone to the news that my brother had died the night before from a massive heart attack.  He had just turned 47, and leaves behind two young children (6 and 4).

On the Monday we took on the 18 hour drive to southern France to be with his significant other and children, and ready for his funeral.  

Julian (my brother), lived in southern France, so I didn't get to see him very often, but we'd chat on skype and the phone regularly.  Julian was someone so full of life, he was loud and kind, he'd go out of his way to help people and get to know them.  He was one of a kind.

His funeral was held in the village he lived in and the entire town turned up to say goodbye.  Before the funeral started, a local blasted some David Bowie out from their room - Julian loved music, and David Bowie was one of his favourites.  The church was packed full, every seat taken, and rows of people standing at the back- he was much loved by everyone who met him.  After that, we had a small service for him at the crematorium where some of his friends said some beautiful things about him. 

It was a really tough week, filled with ups and downs, but I am glad to be back home now.

I'm sorry to my advertisers for the lack of posts this last week, and the lack of an advertisers post - I'll try my best to make up for it :) 

Julian working away in his ice cream & coffee van that he loved so much

His little Citroen H1 ice cream & coffee van

So, that's been my week.  I hope you've all had a better week than me, I could do with some positive stories, so why not leave a comment below telling me the lovely things you've done last week :)

This months Biggest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Luchessa from Beauty Expression

 

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A date with Origins

The products used on my facial :)

The lovely Origins consultant, Lavina :)

Scroll back a week, I was an Origins virgin.  Don't get me wrong, I knew who they were, I just hadn't ever tried any of their products.  I was suffering from really dry skin which is totally weird for me, as I have really oily skin normally.  I've seen their 'Drink Up' overnight mask raved about in the blogging world, so on my lunch time I went on a mission to buy one.

I rocked up to the counter and was greeted by the lovely Lavina (in Boots, Cardiff).  What I loved is that she didn't push me to buy other products, she gave me a couple of suggestions and left it at that. As I was paying, she asked me if I'd like a complimentary facial - normally I automatically say no to these kind of things, but I've never had a facial before so I signed myself up for Thursday at 5 before an event I was heading to.

So today I went down for my facial.  It might be the most relaxing half hour I've ever had!  Lavina used 6 different products on me, now forgive me, I can't remember the order she used them in, but have a look in the pic to see what was used.  My skin feels like silk or velvet, and definitely doesn't feel dry! I've used the Drink Up mask twice this week and it's really helped my skin, I haven't had any dry skin in a few days so I think it's really helping.

I didn't really know much about the brand before my facial, so while I was there I asked Lavina if there are any parabens or nasty chemicals in Origins - she confirmed that they don't use anything like that, they're all natural :)  This may sound like a strange thing to say, but they felt and smelt very natural - so many of them smelt really fruity and zesty.  This certainly won't be the last Origins purchase I make, I really want to try an exfoliator, the Gin Zing eye cream and some kind of moisturiser :)

Thanks Lavina for such a lovely facial :)  And for all of you reading this - if you head to your local Origins counter, you can book in for a complimentary facial too - it lasts for 30 mins, they talk you through everything they use, and don't pressure you to purchase anything.  You can go more than once too, how amazing is that :D

Have you tried Origins before?

This months Biggest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Luchessa from Beauty Expression

 

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