Flavour of the month | October

Hiiiii you guysssss!

I’m starting a new series on my blog – things I’m loving at the moment! I may post about this every month, or I may not 🙂 you guys know my rules for my blog — there are no rules!! 😉 

But there are a few things that I love at the moment and they help me either feel a bit better about myself, inwardly or outwardly, OR they just make me happy! And so I thought I would share them with you.

Let me know what you think ✨

I make it my life’s mission to find mascaras that give me the perfect amount of lift, volume and length. There is nothing that upsets me more than when I spend a small fortune on a high-end brand, only to find that it does little more than add a black tint to my lashes! I picked this lil guy up in a mad-dash through Dischem, and am LOVING the Maybelline Lash Sensational.  This little gem showcases Maybelline’s “first ever patented fanning brush with 10 LAYERS OF BRISTLES to reveal a full flourish of lashes. Liquid Ink Formula coats from all sides. For a SENSATIONAL full fan effect.” I am loving the full effect, and it doesn’t take that much re-coating, either! Great time-saver!

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For Best Results

Learn the turn!
Step 1: Use inner bristles to capture even the tiniest lashes
Step 2: Turn the brush around. Use outer bristles to volumise the look of longer lashes

Okay, so as we edge closer to SUMMER I am getting very excited about the prospect of darker skin and lighter hair… okay who am I kidding, my hair cannot get any lighter… 😉
At the same time though, I am nervous to think about getting myself into a itsy bitsy teeny weeny… thankfully I have found a beaut of a self tan mousse which is super easy for self-application: DR ORGANIC Moroccan Glow, available at Dischem stores.
I have used the “medium” for the past few months, mainly on my face – it helps soooo much when I am feeling particularly tired and washed out. I put it on my face, décollaté and arms at night, and wake up looking like I have a little glow. It’s my favorite magic trick.  Best of all, this self tan is organic. This is important for me because I am careful with what I put on my skin, and this is something I like to use on my face quite regularly.
It contains 70% “bioactive”, organic and natural ingredients, and is free from parabens, synthetic colors and other potentially harmful ingredients. The natural ingredients include Argan kernel oil, Argan kernel extract, Aloe Vera leaf juice, Clove leaf oil, Orange oil, (and many other gorgeous oils), and Baobab fruit extract, to name but a few!
I have just moved across to the “Dark” variant, and I am LOVING the color it gives me, although the smell is substantially more potent on this compared to the medium. The color is worth it though!

Hint: I like to apply it at night when my skin is looking a little more spotty, it hides a multitude of sin 😉 

I have spoken about this little beauty before, back in September when Clarins sent me their 2017 Summer collection to try, (see post here). You guys, I have used this bronzer EVERY SINGLE DAY since I got her, and I am obsessed. There are 4 different shades in the palette, which make it a brilliant one-stop-shop on days I am racing against the clock to get ready (you know, everyday!).  I give my face a light dusting all over, (an extra dose on those days I haven’t applied self tan on the night before 😉  )and then I use it for contouring, shading and blush. It is perfection. Love.

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Okay, I have had this little beauty in my arsenal since it was sent to me a few weeks back, and the timing could not have been more perfect. If you have been following me a while you will know that all three of my babies have had Chickenpox. My oldest had it mildly, but it got progressively worse with each child. Both Jordy and Brooklyn have some rather nasty scars on their beautiful baby-soft skin 🙁
I have been applying this tissue oil since the little spots scarred over and I am so very impressed with its healing effects! I have visibly noticed both of my babies’ skin regenerating and healing! It’s amazing. Also, I got this oil as we were just coming out of winter and my body was very dry and unkept to be very honest. I love the way it leaves my skin feeling restored from the moment it is applied, bringing it back to life under those layers which seemed to harden in the cool winter, particularly my elbows and heels. I cannot get enough of the beautiful scent… it relaxes me! I love putting it on before bed!
*My favorite trick is to apply it just after I have shaved my legs, leaving them silky smooth and radiant.
The Avroy Shlain Nourishing Tissue Oil is R229 and available here.

I am pretty much a brand-slut when it comes to hair care – as skanky as they come !! 😉
I really just find that as a whole my hair responds best when I mix it up, even wash-to-wash! I actually just counted 5 different brands of shampoo and conditioner currently open in my shower. haha!
Knowing this about me know might help you realize how very impressed I am with the System Professional Luxe Oil, which I started using this last month, and have used every single time I have washed my hair… NOTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN!! Unheard of for me! My conditioner may possibly have 1, mayyyyybe 2 washes left in it (I am hopeful!) 🙂
It is a beautiful product! Even though it is called “LuxeOil” it is not heavy or oily, but a perfect conditioner, and the shampoo is also a lovely cleanse. I always shampoo twice, condition once, and my hair feels very light and well-cleansed, and the conditioner is actually a perfect balance of moisture and lightness. They were out of stock of the mask, but it is definitely on my list!

I cannot rave about this fitness program enough, mums! I literally have not worked out since before I fell pregnant with B. I had a hard pregnancy and when I finally felt better I still couldn’t get myself active because the meds I had to take daily made me feel super sleepy. My little angel is now 8 months old, and it is way past that time for me to focus on myself again. I couldn’t get to a place where I could imagine myself walking into a gym again… not knowing where or how to start! Queue the utter relief when I heard about their +4 months Flourishing Fit Moms Post Partum Fitness Program! The goal is strong core & abs, toned arms & legs and excess weight-loss in time for summer..and all done from the comfort of my home (with accountability)! Both Kit and Robs are so encouraging and helpful through this journey. All active moms are a part of a Facebook group whereby we can share how we are managing and where we are aching 😉 and I personally feel a sense of achievement and togetherness, seeing us all doing it together! We are currently in week 3 and I am very excited to be feeling happier in my own skin already, simply by knowing that I am looking after it!
If you are keen on getting your body into Summer-ready form then consider the Flourishing Fit Moms, a great self-start program.

You guys, I am normally Gelish-obsessed and hate not having the gorgeous glossy hard-wearing layer over my nails… but I needed a break as my nails were taking a bit of a beating. I picked these three up at Dischem beauty sale – where I paid for two and got one free #bonus . I have literally lived in the light pink color “spool me over”. It lasts incredibly for a nail polish! I am soooo impressed. Believe me, I am quite hard on my nails, and this polish seems to last me well over a week, in tact! It is very impressive!
*I do complete with the top coat which is the white bottle

Let me know what you think of this series – do you like hearing about my flavors of the month??

Lots of love

Shanny x