Christina’s Favorites | January

Another month is in the books!

2016 is already off to a busy start.  I rang in the new year in Venice with friends, completed a half marathon followed by a cruise to the Bahamas mid-month, and then survived a blizzard to cap off January.  I am excited to see what February has in store!

Here are all of my January favorites (in no particular order).

Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Oxblood No. 97 – I love the look of vampy lips in the winter, but I get nervous wearing dark colors.  I swatched countless lipsticks at Sephora until I landed on this one.  The color is very buildable so you can do a quick swipe for a beautiful berry color or apply another coat or two to get dramatic lips.  There is a lovely sheen to the lipstick, and it has good staying power.

And can we talk for a minute about the packaging? Love!

Tip: it’s a hydrating formula, but make sure you start with a smooth pucker.  If you’re chapped, the color will only accentuate flaky lips (not cute!) Use the next product on my list to fix that problem…

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask – I recently rediscovered this lip mask in my beauty stash, and I’m so glad I did!  I suffer from dry lips year round, but it gets especially bad in the winter.  You’ll find a tube of lip balm in every purse I own.  Regular ol’ Aquaphor usually does a fine job, but this stuff really gets the job done.  It’s a bit thick and somewhat sticky, but it heals my chapped lips and makes them smooth and soft within about an hour.  It’s a bit pricy, but a little goes a long way. Bonus: it contains antioxidants.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter – As I mentioned in last month’s favorites, I’ve been looking for anything and everything that will bring life back to my skin during the cold months.  I fell in love with Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, and now I’m also enjoying Becca’s primer.  You can certainly find other primers that will give you a more intense glow, but this one just adds a lovely luminescence to the skin.  I like a heaver duty primer in the winter (this one is my ride or die favorite) so I use the Becca primer on the high points of my cheekbones…almost like a liquid highlighter.  I then top it with the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

Xhilaration Fleece Lined Tights (as seen here) – Oh. My. God. Where have these been all my New York life!? The only thing I can say is why didn’t I try these sooner!? And the best part? They are only $10! If you love to wear dresses in the winter like I do, these will be your best friend. Period. They are so cozy and warm and completely opaque.  Target carries both plain and patterned versions in a few different colors.

theSkimm – If you struggle to keep up with current events or are just looking for a way to keep up with the conversation at your next dinner party, this is the newsletter for you.  theSkimm was started by two twenty-something friends with a passion for news, and they quickly grew a devoted following. Every weekday, you’ll get a synopsis of all the headlines. The writing is approachable and if you grew up in the 80s, you’ll love all the quirky references to pop culture of yesteryear.

Although I’ve been a subscriber for years, it makes this months favorites because I made a New Years commitment to read it every day.  You know what they say…knowledge is power.

That wraps up my January faves.  I’d love to know yours! Drop me a note in the comment box below.

Happy February!

XOXO,

Christina