Monthly Favorites: December 2021 Edition!

[AlexBT]

‘Tis the season… to pay tribute to our December beauty favorites! Earlier this month, while shopping for gifts for others (thanks in part to all the great recs from our Community Ambassador Gift Guide for the 2021 Holiday Season), the inevitable happened: some extra items for me managed to sneak into my basket. I mean, I have to know if I like it before I can confidently gift something to someone else, right? We’ll call it research! In any case, I’ve acquired some new-to-me beauty staples that collectively carried me through my many December moods – whether I stayed home and couched it with some self-care, or actually went out in my glitzy holiday glam, complete with a highlight you can see from space. 🌌

Here are the products I’ve turned to the most this month:

• DIOR BACKSTAGE Glow Face Palette 
• Hourglass Vanish™ Seamless Finish Concealer Brush 
• Kiehl's Since 1851 Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion 2.5 oz/ 75 mL 
• OUAI Detox Shampoo 
• Tatcha Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm 0.21 oz/ 6 g 

Tell us your favorites! Which skincare, hair, makeup, fragrance, and/or wellness products have you been loving this month? Reply below and use the “#” sign to tag your faves!

[itsfi]

@pocketvenus, your fashion and fragrance post was first rate! ❤️ Such a fabulous read. I've bookmarked it so I can go back to it.

[pocketvenus]

@itsfi Thank you 💗 maybe I'll do fashion pairings with future reviews!

[SportyGirly125]

@itsfi Love your favorites and your picture.  I second the BIC reads you posted.

[itsfi]

Thank you @SportyGirly125! Those fragrance reviews were phenomenal! 💞 And what a generous gratis.

[lmaster]

@itsfi yep clearly I was right nominating you for enabler status 😆 never fails after seeing your swatches!!

[itsfi]

Awww, you're so sweet to say that @lmaster! You do more than a fair share of enabling yourself! 😘 Everyone on BIC does a first rate job of enabling. And, also of being supportive of low-buys, no-buys, and life! 💖

[lmaster]

@itsfi I love your sense of humor!! You're literally the best! ❤️❤️

[greeneyedgirl107]

@AlexBT Kiehl's Since 1851 Mini Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado was a quick favorite for me.  I bought it when it was on sale for $24.  I really needed something to brighten up my eye area.  I had my eye on this one (no pun intended!) and the sale sealed the deal.  Immediate results.

I do have a couple concerns, though.  I think this would be way better in an airtight container.  I'm already wondering if the brightness is diminishing - I mean, how fast do antioxidants degrade in a jar?  Also, it's easy to slather this on in the morning and have it be a little wet when I'm not wearing makeup.  IDK it I could do that once I start wearing makeup to work again, though.  But who knows when that will be - they're tightening what staff has to do but loosening everything for visitors.  

[AlexBT]

@greeneyedgirl107 Ooh good to know about the eye treatment! It sounds lovely. I hope it's not losing its brightening super-powers in the jar! 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@AlexBT I know!  I've been using it three times a day, b/c I figure I'd better use as much as I can before it degenerates.  Total idea for a beauty line: sell airtight containers in various shapes and size...and literally market them to each individual product!

[itsfi]

@greeneyedgirl107, that's wonderful that you've found an eye cream that gives you immediate results! Yaaay! 😁 I'd be on board with airtight containers for eye creams, or to have them in tube form.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@itsfi Inappropriate packaging is such a pet peeve of mine!

[alexasteph]

A couple December faves: L'Occitane Nourishing and Protective Shea Butter Hand Cream Shea Butter and Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum with Orange Blossom & Lavender 

Hand cream: Visiting family in a much drier climate means much drier hands so I’ve been lathering this stuff on like crazy haha. 

YSL EDP: I decided to treat myself to a couple new fragrances during the variety of pre-Christmas sales and this was one of the two I chose. I have really been enjoying the subtle warmth for taking me through the rest of winter into spring. 

[AlexBT]

@alexasteph YES hand cream all day. I like to keep it by my laptop at my desk so I'm always reminded to re-apply in between meetings (or during, haha).

[itsfi]

@alexasteph, I hear you - I have been reaching for hand cream practically all the time these days! L'Occitane does a nice job with their hand creams! 😀

[heavyhedon]

This month I used mostly products that are old & discontinued as i was finishing up my year-long panning, but one new item popped up recently and I've been thrilled: tarte SEA Surfer Curl™ Volumizing Mascara Black. Serious long fluffy lashes, with this one. I'm hooked!

[lmaster]

@heavyhedon this is one of my most faves!!

[AlexBT]

@heavyhedon Yes, love that mascara! 

[Kim888]

@heavyhedon @I love that mascara as well!

[Ispend2much6]

Some old, some new favorites.

KILIAN Paris Travel Spray Sampler Setwas a great way to try some other Kilian fragrances.  I really like Love Don't Be Shy; the two "heaven" fragrances smelled very similar to me, and I liked the other two as well.

This is a great cream for muscle spasms- it does have an herbal scent though.

I bought a couple of items from Boxy's pop-up sale (still waiting for those,) and decided to visit the site of the brand, Complex Culture.  They had a 40% off site sale, including off of sale items, so I bought a couple of blushes and a lip product.

Shades "So Chill and Glow Blusn," and "Blissed Out and Flustered." I only tried the far left shade, and it was nice- pepped up my complexion. The only thing I don't like is that this product is made in China.

Deal Closer Tinted Lip Cream in Mauve Nude, the blush compacts closed. The lip cream is a bit sheer, very smooth, comfortable. Lots of dimethicone in it. The blush compacts are nice and sturdy, made of heavy plastic.

Mauve Nude swatch.

[AlexBT]

@Ispend2much6 Great finds! 🙌