I've tried a few lovely things of a late. Of course there are a few that weren't so good, but that's bound to happen. I have a nice mix to share with you, from crafty things through to a few beauty bits and pieces.
Xcut Scalloped Palm Punch: I do so love a good craft punch. My sister recently saw my mini-collection which was in a drawer aptly labelled 'punches' and she burst out laughing. Craft nerd ahoy! Funny as it was to her... I know there are many of you who enjoy these too. They are useful for paper crafting and adding small decor elements to snail mail (see a pretty example here). The punches work well with paper, but not anything thicker.
It was R110 at CNA and they sell a variety of other patterns and sizes too.
Craftseller Magazine: Creative inspiration, business insight and good ideas... could there be a more perfect combo? I bought the mag for the creative business element and it was an added bonus that it came with a book of labels and tags. The stories within are interesting, but I do feel it is slightly similar to Mollie Makes. Nonetheless, it's a good read and the freebies add extra value.
I found it a bigger CNA (Pavilion) and haven't seen it anywhere else. It was R159.90 and I would see it as a treat rather than a monthly purchase.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm: Time and time again I test different lip balms and each time I go back to buying this brand. I have very dry, flaky lips which can be very annoying when wanting to wear bright lipsticks, but this works by keeping the dryness at bay. None of my more expensive lip treatments from high end brands work as well. It's an affordable product, it smells delicious and has no taste. It also includes a SPF - perfect for our SA climate.
Biologie Range by Rain: I have noticed that more and more brands are realising that natural is best and slowly but surely we are all becoming more aware of what we allow onto our skin. The products in the Biologie range are 100% natural and I have tried the hand and body lotion, hand and body wash and the shampoo and conditioner. You can definitely feel the difference as the products are lighter, but still do a great job. The shampoo is less foamy than the more commercial brands, but still offers clean hair. The smell is quite strong with Marula being the dominant fragrance and it almost appears to have a medicinal element to it. I'm using these rather sparingly, as the prices are higher than supermarket options, but the natural element is worth it.
The prices range from R89 to R169. I would definitely recommend these, especially as gifts - they really are a lovely spoil and beautiful enough to display in your bathroom.
Tea Tree Blemish Gel from The Body Shop: I have recently rediscovered my love for The Body Shop and their products. On a recent visit I had a voucher to spend and wanted to get something that I really needed. I'm fortunate as I don't have acne or major skin issues, but I definitely get blemishes, or let's be honest, pimples around stressful times. This product helped some recent ones to heal quicker. At first I didn't want to use the wand on my face, as I thought it might be unhygienic on the long term, but I did find that applying the product with my fingers did not have the same effect. It has a slight tingly feeling when you first apply it, which didn't happen sans wand application. It's necessary to use it often and to reapply it regularly. It's suitable to use under make-up (sparingly) as it doesn't have a typical gel like texture.
It costs R65 which is a fair price and it also lasts quite well.
Nestlé Hazelnut Hot Chocolate: As a non-coffee drinker this is probably the closest I will get to an early morning boost. It reminds me strongly of Starbucks and one of their holiday flavours called Toffee Nut. It isn't overly sweet and is very soothing and satisfying. I only need one cup a day. I'll be honest, I haven't taken a closer look at the ingredients and I'm quite sure it isn't good for you, but for now I'm just going to enjoy it. You need about four heaped teaspoons to get the right flavour and despite my one cup a day it seems to be running out rather fast.
I've only seen it at Makro for R30.95 (250g) I'm in love!
Fresh Delights Sweetpea & Jasmine Hand & Nail Cream: Woolies usually don't disappoint and this affordable and cheerful buy is particularly nice. I received mine as a gift from a very sweet pen pal and definitely want to stock up on some more. It's moisturising and lovely to use before bed. It smells sweet, but not too overwhelming.
It's only R29.99 and the packaging offers a pretty pop of colour for your dressing table.
Get Big Lashes Volume Curl Mascara by Essence: I could rave about this mascara all day! Again it's a cheapy, but it works, which is the main thing! It offers a beautiful curl and when used with an eyelash curler the effect is even better. This is a great mascara to use and for only R44.50 it really is awesome!
I hope you've enjoyed my favourites! Have you tried anything new lately?