February Favourites | 2021

Well hello there March and hello birthday month! 😀 Although, where did February go? Am I right? February all of a sudden feels like a blur that never happened. Although it was a linearly beautifully set out month it sure went by quickly and, to be frank, I feel like we should only just be coming to the end of January. But here we are in March... and half way through!! 

Things have been a little bit busy this month gone by for me and I haven't rounded up as many favourites as I had back in my January Favourites but there were a few, small but mighty, stand outs that I have been loving this February. From makeup to hair products and another something once again TV-wise!

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Minimal Makeup

I can't recall wearing a whole lot of makeup this February but one thing that I really did love was a minimal makeup look. I was loving everyone's minimal makeup inspo on Instagram and really wanted to embrace some myself. Although I may have only wore this look once that month, I adored it! I took most of my inspo for the minimal makeup look from what I think was Fluer De Force's Bare Minerals Instagram reel. The products I used and loved were my,

• Gosh Defining Brow Gel
• Kiko Eye Lash Curlers
• Zao Aloe Vera Mascara
• Elf 16HR Camo Concealer - Fair Rose
• Benefit Dandelion Blush (using up)
• Benefit Watts Up Highlighter (using up)

The only thing I'd wished was that my concealer was a little more hydrating as I applied it under my eyes to brighten up my face and the Elf Camo Concealer, although excellent in coverage, can be a little drying. It's all about the dew in minimal makeup! So, I kept it to just a delicate fresh eye and light brows, with a hint of blush, brightening under the eyes and concealer to any spots.

I'm running low on my Elf concealer (after mentioning in my Makeup Collection Declutter video that "I think it really will last forever" - ironic!) so I'm excited to venture out and try and find some more hydrating concealers that still pack all the coverage.

OWAY Smoothing Cream

Next up hair! If you saw over on my Instagram, @elliebowsandsparkles - cheeky plug I know - I recently conducted the Susie review! A very important test, conducted for my lovely friend Susie of whom we had a very passionate discussion about our unruly hair! 

My hair is 100% unruly. Susie's is really not! Nevertheless, we both had mutual feelings about our 'bird's nest hair'!

Susie wanted to know if I knew of any products good for smoothing hair and of course I took full advantage of the opportunity to compare and contrast the products I have! One of which I tried in February was the last dregs of my OWAY Smoothing Cream. My hair dresser Cat actually gave me this tube with a little product left to test out and I'd been saving it for a special occasion (as you do). About a year (or maybe more) on we've all learnt more than ever that life is short so I thought I'd just crack it out and enjoy it. I honestly thought I'd have my usual disaster of post-wash hair products leaving my head in a greasy mess (que flashbacks to a certain disaster in France using that Poundland argan oil) and did not except the expert results that my hair dresser could muster up with these kind of products. To my amazement I was shocked! No self-induced grease ball head and my hair ended up being silky soft and pesky flyaways minimised greatly! I didn't feel it worked 100% and gave my that after-hair-dressers-blow-dry feel and look to my locks on day one but I was impressed at some noticeable improvement, especially to the texture. I then did not anticipate waking up the next day, day two post-wash my hair felt and looked like I'd walked straight out of the hair dressers!

I'd 100% recommend the OWAY Smoothing Cream for unruly, dry and flyaway hair like mine. It really does work in my experience, and especially well for novices partial to product-induced greasy hair disasters like me! Although a little on the pricier side you really don't need much at all to lustre up the ends of your locks. Did I mention OWAY's products are all based around natural organic ingredients and use low waste packaging and sustainable production too!? Almost all of their products are vegan suitable as well.

Angus, Thongs and perfect Snogging

And last but not least, a classic. Casually flicking through Netflix for something to pop on, after years of longing for it to be put on Netflix, I saw staring me in the eyes, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging! 

I have to say it, it's one of my all-time favourite films.

I was absolutely thrilled and watched it a grand total of three times over the month of February! I loved the film back in the day as a younger teen and I remember desperately wanting to go and see it in the cinema when it came out. At the time my mum wouldn't let me but I sure make up for it now. It was certainly worth the wait.

I just love all the throwbacks to that late 2000's era and it takes me right back to my school days and pre-teen years. Watching it with sheer delight all three times in a month I also found myself pretty hooked on the soundrtack and all it's throwbacks. I've been listening to it on repeat on Spotify while doing the dishes or other things around the house.

Good throwbacks to 2008 to 2010. <3

And that's everything I've been loving the February. As I said, a small but mighty monthly favourites this February but some real stand out products. Well, I better get cracking on that list of March favourites now! Spring is springing! Is there anything you've been loving this February? I'd love to know so please do comment below. I feel as though monthly favourites are really good for finding out about new products you don't necessarily hear a lot about and find hints to newer and more current products (she says with a February favourites full of throwbacks).

Until my next post and enjoy all the lovely new Spring sunshine,

Ellie Xx

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