Today I am sharing my May First Impressions, better late than never, right? I have quite a few exciting products that I tried in May, the most exciting being the MAC x Prabal Gurung Cream Colour Base, which unfortunately was not available in SA. I also tried some interesting Nair Hair Removal products and some amazing Dermalogica Age Smart products.

Let’s start, shall we? Skincare, Bodycare, Haircare, Nailcare and then Makeup!

I received this lovely gift from *Dermalogica, and I am really loving all of the products. The Multivitamin hand and nail treatment has been a long time favourite of mine, but the other products were completely new to me. The Power Serum has a blurring primer type texture and helps hydrate my skin while making it look so much better, it is infused with vitamins for dramatic skin repair. The Thermafoliant is a very fine but gritty exfoliater that does a great job making my skin silky soft. The little sachet of Power Firm is a silicone type cream enriched with retinol to firm up the eye area, while making it look immediately smoother. Keep your eye on the site in the next few days, because I have a little Dermalogica surprise worth R800 coming up!

Next up I have this ultra-nourishing *Caviar Fluid from Juliette Armand. I won’t go into much detail since I have already written a full review. P.S. you can win yourself a Caviar Fluid too, but hurry, the giveaway ends soon!

Another fluid I have been trying is the Olay Beauty Fluid. It is moisturising and pleasant, and a great budget friendly moisturiser suitable for all skin types.

I bought this Freedom Glycolic Glow Tonic a while ago and I am two minds about it. It is clearly a Pixi Glow Tonic dupe, and I had heard such good reviews about the Pixi Tonic, so I thought this would be worth a try. I expected it to compare to my Nip Fab Glycolic Fix Pads, but I don’t think it does as good a job. I will keep using it and see if there are any long term skincare benefits. Unfortunately both Pixi and Freedom products aren’t available in South Africa, however the international Freedom Online store does deliver to SA.

I tried out quite a few new *L’Oreal launches in May, but I have already posted my full review on these products, so let me just say, the Extraordinary Oil Mask and Oil, Sculpt Mascara and Brow Sculpt are winners for me.

I tried a bunch of different skincare products as you can see in the above picture.

I love the O’slee Peeling Gel but unfortunately it is not available in SA, for a local alternative check out the Afriderm Peeling Gel. They both work the same way, where dead skin cells clump together as you massage your face. Whether that is true or not, my skin looks more refined and feels smoother after using it.

I have been loving the *NAFHA Argan Oil for my cuticles, it is perfect for winter to keep by your bedside, or even on your coffee table, and apply it as often as you can.

The Yves Rocher Hydrating Serum is quite hydrating, it smells pleasant and is a good quick hydrating boost.

The Ordinary Moisurising Balm is great for dry patches of skin or for heels, elbows and cuticles. I like to use it before bed for soft heels by morning.

Lastly, Uriage SPF 30 Creme is a good face sun protection. It isn’t extremely greasy, and holds relatively well under makeup. I definitely prefer the Avene and Juliette Armand ones though.

Remember the Nimue Starter Pack I received a while ago? Well, it included a facial treatment and an *Active Lotion. I am loving this Active Lotion, it is an enzyme complex for cell renewal and rejuvenation and contains a high concentration of AHA’s, I can feel a tingle on my skin when I apply it. I haven’t been using it for long enough to see results, but I like the tingle, it seems promising!

Next up, this Sans Soucis Deep Moisture Depot is amazing, it is a bi-phase concentrate, and it is super hydrating. You can find Sans Soucis on Shades of Mink.

Lastly, this Givenchy Lipstick in Rose Dressing is a very pretty pink shade, and this little sample size is perfect for throwing in your bag. It is comfortable on the lips and has good colour payoff.

The Makeup Eraser claims to remove makeup without needing to use cleansers. Although it does do a good job of removing makeup after using a balm or oil cleanser, I can’t say  it works without a cleanser.

This foot cream from Oh So Heavenly is nice and moisturising, although I am not a fan of this scent, I prefer the green foot range.

I received this *Nair Argan Oil package, and was pretty excited to try out the roll-on as well as the shower power cream. I have lasered most of myself a long time ago, so I don’t wax, the wax will be passed on to someone who will actually use it. As most of you might know, after and during laser you shouldn’t wax, but shaving is allowed, and hair removal creams can be used too. I luckily don’t have that much growth anymore even though I stopped laser more than 5 years ago, but I do have a few stragglers, so I put these two products to the test.

The *Nair Argan Oil Bikini and Underam Glide-On is so so easy to use. I applied it like roll-on under my arms, waited the necessary time and then jumped in the shower to wash it off. I did this about 2 weeks ago, and I still have no regrowth. Granted, this is because of laser, but I do feel that regrowth is slightly slower than when shaving. My underarms were a bit red and itchy for a very short while, but the redness was mainly because of me rinsing it off in a hot shower. On a side note, my underarms are nearly always itchy for some odd reason so that is not a reflection of the product, TMI? Okay, moving on.

The *Nair Argan Oil Shower Power Cream is applied before you jump into the shower and the best part is you don’t need to wait for it to work while freezing your butt off. As soon as you apply it you can jump into the shower, just try not to get the area directly under the tap. I tried this on the stragglers on my arms and legs, and although both areas did get wet in the shower, obviously… The cream didn’t wash off, and it still worked. I did need a bit more time compared to the directions, but I am talking an extra minute or two. On my legs regrowth was ever so slightly slower than shaving.

These two innovations by Nair are pretty awesome, and I will definitely continue to use them. The best part, they don’t have that gross hair removal cream smell.

MATRIX Total Results really does offer Affordable Salon Quality Haircare! I am still using this shampoo and conditioner every time I wash my hair, and I am still loving the Mega Varnish. I have already reviewed the MATRIX Mega Sleek Range, so I won’t blabber on here.

These two Sorbet Salon Pump Nail Polish Removers are pretty average, except for the salon pump. They are both acetone free and don’t dry out my nails, and they remove nail polish pretty well. The convenience of the Salon Pump is what sets this apart, and makes it really convenient and mess-free.

Oh Bourjois Nail Polish Remover tub, why did I ever stop using you? I remember this was my favourite remover after the first time I used it, and I strayed a bit once it was finished. But I have not repurchased and I am loving it. It removes polish so quickly and easily without drying my nails or finger tips, it has a nourishing oil feel that is really nice.

The *Morgan Taylor Winter Collection 2016 is stunning, and includes a cute mini-pack too. There is a full review over here if you want the details.

I have been after an oval brush for about 2 years now, ever since seeing the original Cailyn one at Pro Beauty. I bought this from Swiitch Beauty and was super excited to try it, but unfortunately I just don’t get it. I much prefer using a buffing brush to apply my makeup.

I also bought this Beauty Buffer, and I quite like it to apply foundation, it gives a finish similiar to a beauty blender, and is very flexible so can be used in those hard to reach places. It is soft and bounces on the skin really well.

I finally found these CALA sponges at Dischem, and I obviously needed to get them and try them out. They work really well, puff up and blend well, the only downside is that I feel the point is not pointy enough to be used under the eyes or around the nose.

essence 2 in 1 shadow and liner These are in my May Beauty Favourites… Enough said!

This LA Girl Pro Setting Spray is super tiny for the price, I actually thought it was a sample size and googled it while standing in Dischem. It does help prolong makeup, but I don’t think it is worth it at all.

I really really didn’t want to use this blush from MAC x Prabal Gurung, it is just so pretty. My boyfriend bought this for me when we were in Malaysia, and I have been hoarding it ever since. Well I finally took the plunge and used it. It is a bright coral and I am loving it to brighten up my tired winter face. I am a big fan of MAC Cream Colour Bases, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Next up I have the essence Shading Powders in light and medium, they are quick and easy products to highlight and contour. The medium compact has a perfect cool toned shade for contouring, but I prefer the highlighter from the light compact. Both of these products are really worth it and if you are looking to start contouring and highlighting, these would make great options.

I also tried out the essence Sun Club 2 in 1 bronzing powders, and I highly recommend the one infused with pink called Sunset, it is one of my May Favourites, and you can check out some swatches here. I like to use the bronze/highlighter one as an all over finishing powder to give my skin a lovely bronze glow. With these products you can use the shades individually, or swirl your brush around for a unique shade.

I bought all four of the LA Girl Beauty Brick Face Palettes a while ago, and if you find the right palette for you these are amazing! This is a do it all palette, and is all you really need when it comes to face makeup. This is an excellent product for the price, they are so pigmented and long lasting and I highly recommend swatching these in store. I made a rule with myself that if I don’t love all shades of a palette I have to put it on my blog sale, so I do have Glow and Pinky up on my blog sale.

MAC Alluring Aquatic Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Black Swan is a dark black liner with silver shimmer, I really like it! It is pigmented and opaque in just one swipe, and it is so creamy that it doesn’t tug. It is long lasting, even in the waterline.

I also tried two essence products. The Hello Autumn eyeliner which is a bronze eyeliner that didn’t suit me much. The Be Loud Eyeshadow Duo which has two stunning neutral shades and really impressed me.

I also tried two products from Catrice, the Cat Eyes Eyeliner Pen which is really pigmented and easy to use and a bronze Eyeshadow Pen that is quick and easy to add some colour to eyes.

I tried some NYX products too, and some of them were hits and some misses. I like the Butter Gloss, but they weren’t pigmented enough for me. I liked the pigment of the Soft Matte Lip Cream but found them a bit drying, I much prefer the Revlon Matte Lip Products. I think my favourite products are the Xtreme Shine Lip Creams. The Lip Plumper and Lip Glosses are okay, but not really my type of product. A couple of these are on my blog sale.

I love Legit, I always find the best shoes and coats there! While standing in the queue I saw these two eye-catching products. How pretty! I bought the blush and bronzer, and both aren’t that bad. I expected the blush to be way chalkier and drier, but it was pretty similiar to a matte blush formula. The bronzer is not much of a bronzer, it has a lot of shimmer, I like to use it as a highlighting blush though and I think it works wonderfully.

I tried a couple of Sephora Goodies too. The highlighter, blush and lip pencil are amazing! The blush is even in my May Favourites. The Ultra Vinyl Lip Pencil gives the colour payoff of a lipstick with the finish of a glossy balm, with the staying powder of a lip pencil. The highlighter is just perfection, not chunky, just glowy! The bronzer unfortunately doesn’t suit me, so it is on my blog sale. You can also find out how to order from Sephora Online here.

Lastly, the Catrice Treasure Trove Collection. I did a full review with swatches already, so let me just say, get the highlighter and blush!

Thanks for reading ladies and don’t forget to enter the Juliette Armand Giveaway.

*Press Sample