In the last few months I’ve been way more into beauty products and makeup then I ever have, hence I’m happy to say that going forward on The Minted Mama, you will now find a featured monthly Beauty Picks post dedicated to my favorite skincare and cosmetics. I even have a new category at the top of the page dedicated to all things Beauty!

With so many products on the market, skincare results will vary, and certain shades of makeup aren’t for everyone, but sometimes a good recommendation is all we need to spark our curiosity to try something new (I know I always rely on a good reco)! I will say right from the beginning that I am NOT a beauty expert or professional, and all opinions expressed in any of my posts are from my personal experience only. I’m hoping you’ll like what I have to say though :)

This month has been all about neutrals and glow for me! Deep into the heart of winter (according to the calendar at least), my pale skin has been craving moisture and radiance. So body oils, deeply hydrating moisturizers, glowing makeup and bronzer all topped my March must-haves! Here are some products I’ve been using and a mini-review of each item.

ONE LOVE ORGANICS Coconut + Salt Mineral Body Lotion:
On it’s own, this is a light body lotion that has very little fragrance and locks in moisture nicely. BUT paired with the next product below it’s an UNREAL moisture surge that your skin will thank you for. (Currently unavailable)

ONE LOVE ORGANICS Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum:
The light but fragrant scent of Gardenia flowers makes this body serum probably one of the most amazing smelling products I’ve ever used!  Seriously, you need to smell this. It also gives a great glow to the skin that really lasts. As mentioned above, I have been pairing these two OLO products together for the ultimate moisture lock-down that you absolutely need during the dry winter season. Immediately after getting out of the shower, spritz your body with the Serum and rub in. Then apply a thin layer of the Lotion on top of the Serum. Your skin will be so smooth and silky that you’ll never want to stop using these two products together! (Available at Eco Diva Beauty)

STILA Aqua Glow Serum Foundation:
In the winter I tend to find foundation feels cakey and dry on my skin, but since I do wear it everyday I needed one that would feel light but still give the coverage I wanted. I’m loving how dewy and fresh my face feels after applying this Serum Foundation. While moisturizer and then foundation was always my morning routine, since using this product I now skip the moisturizer since I found my makeup would start to melt as the day went on. It’s hydrating enough that you don’t need the moisturizer.  (Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and Murale)

STILA Aqua Glow Serum Concealer:
The perfect compliment to the aqua glow foundation, this concealer goes on smooth and moist and doesn’t dry up during the day. (Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and Murale)

CAUDALIE Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil:
While I’ve removed eye makeup with oil before, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about removing all my face makeup with oil. Although I’m still not sure if this it’s removing all traces of makeup, my face does feel clean, soft and moisturized after washing. The light almond scent is soothing and gentle for all skin types.  And with no parabens, mineral  oils or other toxic chemicals, this is a no-brainer in my beauty regime.

JUICE BEAUTY Antioxidant Moisturizer:
If you’re looking for the ultimate moisturizer that’s also organic and works at fighting fine lines and wrinkles, this is your go-to. I love how I even wake up with such a dewy feeling to my skin eight hours after application. And anything to fight those imminent wrinkles! (Available at Murale)

BENEFIT Dew The Hoola:
This is the time of the year I start to crave a summer glow, but with summer still three months away, we’re going to have to fake it for now. What I love about this face bronzer is that it gives the glow of a self-tanner but without the commitment. Not sure if this is a no-no, but I’ve been layering this bronzer on top of my foundation to give a noticeable glow that really shines through and lasts until I wash it off at night.

FORMULA X (Dollface):
I’ve been wearing this nude with a hint of pink polish for three weeks now. It’s the perfect colour to match pretty much anything and is just such a lovely shade for Spring. It’s ladylike and exudes classy sophistication. (Available at Sephora.ca)

MARC JACOBS Le Marc Lip Creme (Sonic Truth):
I’ve been on the hunt for a great nude lip colour and am so happy to have finally found THE ONE! This lip creme goes on creamy and smooth and is the perfect shade for my fair-skin. I’ve found that others nudes had the wrong undertones for my light skin, but this one is just right. It looks great with a bronzed face and compliments a glowing complexion perfectly. (Available at Sephora.ca)

SEPHORA COLLECTION Ultra Shine Lip Gel (Color 02 Cappuccino-Shimmer):
I’ve been layering this shimmery nude lip gel on top of the Marc Jacobs lip creme for definition and just a hint of shine. I love dotting the gel in the center of the bottom lip and just above the arches of the top lip. I’m not going for the wet-lip look, so just a few strategically placed swipes of the brush add just the right emphasis. (Available at Sephora.ca)

I would love to hear what you thought about my first Beauty Picks post! Let me know what you liked/disliked and would love to see in the future so I can continue to create quality posts that you actually WANT to read :)

* All opinions are my own