March Favourites – ICXBEAUTY

Hello my friends!

I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of March already! What a month it has been, it felt like it went by so quickly but so slow at the same time haha.

Anyways today I wanted to share my March favourites with you all! A lot of new products in this mix actually! Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hyaluronic Acid Pure 100

This is essentially a pure hyaluronic acid. It has water, HA and a preservative, so it’s as pure as you can get. I bought this from Kiko and Beauty for $27 for 200ml which is pretty cost effective IMO.

The packaging is a bottle with a stopper in it which is great for preventing spills. The product itself is a bit thick and viscous but dries down. The formula is pretty fast absorbing too. I use this after my toner and lighter serums. I pour a few drops onto my fingers and gently apply all over my face and neck. It dries within a few seconds and then I continue with my skincare routine.

This has made my favourites this month for so many reasons but it’s really helped add hydration into my skin. Sometimes my makeup would look kind of dry and patchy but since incorporating this one into my skincare routine, I’ve noticed a big difference in my skin. Highly recommend this one if you’re in the market for a new HA. I’ve tried other HA products from different brands but so far this has been the best in my opinion.

DU’IT Tough Hands*

I received this as a PR sample but I have tried it previously.

I really like the formula of this one as it helps keep my hands moisturised and tough.

It’s really effective for those who are constantly working with their hands. It doesn’t feel greasy either which I love and there’s virtually no smell!

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum

I love a good retinol as much as the next person. I’ve found a few that I’ve liked but this retinol serum is definitely up the top there. I love almost everything I’ve tried from Paula’s Choice and this was another winner! I previously received a sample of this one and really enjoyed it so I bought the full size.

It comes in a pump packaging and I use about 2-3 pumps for my face and neck. It dispenses a little bit, maybe like half the size of a 5c coin piece? I smooth it over my skin and have been using it 2-3 times a week.

What I find interesting about this is that while it’s a serum, it applies and dries kind of matte? Well maybe not matte, but it doesn’t have that greasy feeling, nor does it have a strong scent. It’s really helped improve my skin overall. My skin is a lot clearer and brighter since using this one.

At first I thought 30ml would be so little considering how much you pay for it, I think it’s well worth it because you only use a bit each week.

Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Hydra Foundation

If you’ve been following me on Instagram or if you’ve tuned into my previous blog posts, you’ll know that I’ve been on the hunt for a new foundation for a long time. After much trial and error, I decided to settle for this Smashbox one and well it was a hit (obviously).

At first I got a sample of this one and the matte/full coverage one, but settled on this one for its hydrating properties and skin-like finish.

Given the average cost of a foundation is around $60+ (IMO, not fact haha), I found this to be quite affordable at $57, HOWEVER, it was priced at $55 a few days before I bought it haha. Inflation sucks. Still, it’s pretty affordable compared to something like Bobbi Brown.

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I find that I use a lot of foundation? I mean, I use like 4 pumps to cover my face and neck – perhaps each pump is too little, or I am using too much? How many pumps of foundation do you normally use?

Anyways, some more about this foundation:

Medium to full coverage – Personally, I would say this is medium coverage on my skin. It can be built a bit, but I would not consider that as full coverage (especially in comparison to their full coverage foundation).
Doesn’t settle into fine lines and pores – This is tried and tested. Like I said above, the finish is skin-like and quite natural looking. If you’re someone who enjoys this kind of finish, I’d recommend getting a sample!
Oil free, doesn’t cause shine nor break outs – Yep, no problems for my skin so far, however this could be a case by case basis.
Comfortable, natural matte finish – Yep, it feels soo comfortable on the skin. That’s another factor as to why I chose this over the full coverage foundation. The full coverage foundation felt a bit cakey on my skin unfortunately. This just feels so lightweight and nice haha.
Transfer proof – OK, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS! I wear a mask when I’m out and I also wear one when I go to the office. I wear a full face to the office, set it with the Fenty setting powder and finish with the Charlotte Tilbury spray (two great setting products btw) and there is NO TRANSFER on my mask at all. I am so impressed. I have my makeup on for 11 hours and it does not budge at all! When I previously used a Too Faced Foundation, I found it transferred onto my mask which isn’t ideal, but this Smashbox one, phew, so, so damn good!
Doesn’t oxidise – Yep, I look the same after 11 hours of wear.

Now you understand why this has made my March favourites haha. I should’ve dedicated a whole blog post for this foundation alone hahaha.

Mecca Max Precision Lip Brush

I was never one to use lip brushes really, until one day I changed my mind haha. Boy was I wrong, lip brushes are life changing (ok maybe not totally life changing, but definitely an essential in my collection now).

I wanted a cheap lip brush to help with blending out some of my products. It’s also great for when you’ve finished a lipstick and want to scoop the rest out. I came across this one from Mecca Max, and at $7 a pop, it was a steal!

Headed to Mecca, bought it, and it is one of the best purchases I made that day. It’s pretty soft and I like the shape of the brush, it just works so well. I use it when I layer lip products or just want a dab of colour and use the brush to spend. Sure, you could use your fingers or a cotton tip, but I enjoy using the brush, it just fits the contours of my lips perfectly.

It’s been a month of buying and trying new products and these have given me some stellar results. I would love to know what you have been trying (or buying) this month, or if you have tried any of these products before?

A new Meet me Mondays blog post will be posted up next week (finally). I know it’s been a while, I did have someone lined up for March, but they just never got back to me and I didn’t have enough time to organise an alternative. Nevertheless, we finally have one for April, so stay tuned for that as well!

Have a great week and an even better end of March!

With love,

*This product was received as a PR sample. I am not obligated or compensated for posting about this product.