Here are my beauty highlights for the past month.

SKIN

For January, I focused more on color than skincare since my skincare has been working for me plus I've not made any changes to what I use. I won't jinx it! I'm testing various products in my search for a more natural, glowing texture and using fewer of them. I think I found a few winners in January.

One skincare product I did add, and I consider it skincare, is Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 Instant Glow Mineral Sunscreen in Warm Glow. I'm so impressed with this sunscreen. I wear it alone, no need for foundation. The consistency is perfect. It provides a bit of a glowy tint. One could certainly wear it to the office, no foundation, and look polished. I've done some research on the company and the founder, Michele Gough Baril, knows her stuff. The line is clean without toxins and work without disrupting your skin. This is sunscreen with skincare. Made with Vitamin C (my favorite antioxidant that helps kick hyperpigmentation to the curb ) and niacinamide (brightens and strengthens skin), I know I'm protecting my skin as well as caring for it. I give this product an A++.

BEAUTY

January was all about foundations. I've never bought so many products, I think ever, in such a short period of time. I've been testing out Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint (8), Dior Face & Body (2W), Maybelline Dream Radiant Liquid (35 Nude Beige). My only issue, with some, seems to be shade matching. I'm finding most lines have become really tough the past few years, with their shades and undertones. I'm normally a good neutral but most lines are inconsistent with the neutral shades or they just don't have any neutrals. The shades I did select seem to work for me especially since I wear so little and blend a great deal.

For the Hourglass, my first impression was not positive. But, then I started applying a small amount using my fingers and that has changed my opinion of it. I really love it. It makes my skin look the way I want it to look.

Oh, and none of these foundations broke me out. That is a huge plus.

For the Dior Face & Body, this shade is my second attempt. The first was a blind buy online, using the description. It was way too dark. The 2W works quite well. I've always preferred a face and body foundation for long days out, traveling, or going to the office. My favorite F/B will always be Make Up For Ever's original but it was discontinued. That was absolutely perfect. I could never understand how such a watery foundation could make my skin look absolutely perfect. And, I definitely don't have perfect skin. But, the Dior is great. I give it an A.

And, finally, the Maybelline. I was sold on influencers repeatedly saying it was a dupe of the Armani Luminous Silk (which I always have on hand; shade 5.5). This foundation is pretty good. But, again, the shade issue. Even when one is in a store, you cannot check the shade; you can only look at it through the glass bottle. The finish is nice. I wouldn't say it's an exact dupe of the Armani, but it's good. Good for drugstore. I just need a better shade range to choose from. One thing: For such a popular foundation, it took forever to find.

As for everything else, I'm still using various Merit Flush Balm blush, mostly Fox and Stockholm. Of all the Merit products I've tested and worn, I think their cheek and lip products are fantastic, as well as their mascara.

Another blush I'm testing out, Refy cream blush in Rose. It's nice but not as pigmented as I thought it would be. It's creamy but not glowy. I'm much happier with my Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double Take Crème and Powder Blush Duo in She's Blushing. I got this a while ago but just started using it. It's fantastic. I love the idea of a cream and matching powder blush; perfect for longevity. Brilliant idea. And, the shade is just lovely. It gives a very natural flush.

Which leads to mascara. Makeup by Kelli Anne inspired me to start using a brown mascara instead of black. I started using Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High mascara in True Brown. It lengthens but looks natural, which I prefer. Plus, it still provides the depth and shading of a mascara; it's just not black. Black can look super-spidery and too much. For mascara, I usually go between a high-end and a drugstore at the same time. For the high-end, I broke open my Westman-Atelier I Want You Mascara in Le Brun Clean (which I've already written about). Just beautiful, and natural. I really love it.

For everything else, it's been a bit cold here in New England so I've been sticking with lip glosses, balms, and oils. Some lip products I just picked up:

• Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil in Pink Cloud. Summer Fridays has really got the lip products down. I love lip oils but not all are equal. This is just delicious and this shade is the prettiest sheer, cool baby pink. Exactly what I love.

• Another gloss I had to pick up, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Gummy Bear. Laneige can do no wrong with their balms and lip mask (always on my nightstand). I already have this balm in Berry. If I'm in a hurry, I just throw on a pencil (like NYX Nude Truffle or my #1 favorite, Edward Bess Natural) and I'm ready.

• I'm still loving my Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Oils in Tahiti and Petals. They have just right amount of color. It's not some goopy lip oil. I just prefer a much more sheer consistency; but not invisible. This particular oil has more of a substantial feel than others lip oils.

• Another new product, Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in 115 Mist. Along will millions of others, I love this balm. Sofia Richie-Grainge appears to wear Sense - and it's quite pretty - but that shade is a too warm for me. Mist is natural, and more of a cool pink ("cool" again). Yet another Hourglass product that just does not disappoint. It smooths a bit, feels a bit tingly but not crazy, and looks natural yet polished.

FRAGRANCE

Yes, I got sucked into the Nemat Vanilla Musk love. I don't have a TikTok account but I did see the various vignettes on this oil. What a great scent. Perfectly pretty alone, just as great as a base for my other scents. It wears beautifully with my Lake & Skye Santa Gray and Chloe. It's baby soft and yummy. I love to wear it to bed because it's so cozy on a cold winter night.

HAIR

Now, I rarely talk about hair; mostly because I'm always figuring out a way to make it look better. When my stylist dries it, she uses a single product before drying it - it comes out perfect. I use about five products before I even start drying. Needless to say, my expertise has been a lifelong learning process.

I picked up IGK Good Behavior Blowout Balm when visiting family in Las Vegas at New Year's. I'm not a scientist but "silicone" and "dimethicone" do not appear in the ingredients. That's a plus right there. From the description, it sounds like this product is good for persons with curly, unruly hair. Two ingredients that stand out: shea butter and bonding polymers. Very nice.

And, I don't have curly, oily hair!

Well, my hair needs TLC and an itty bit doesn't weigh it down. In fact, when I apply it before drying my hair (alone or mixed with another styling product), my hair looks the closest to perfect it's capable of getting. A friend even noticed and commented on how nice and shiny and smooth (!) my hair looked.

I'm also using more Kerastase products. I added in Blond Absolu Heat Protecting Leave-in Treatment. I apply it right out of the shower and even during the course of the day, if I think of it. Just on the ends. Sometimes I throw it on my roots before bed because it just makes my hair soft. I sometimes mix it with Blond Absolu Strengthening Oil. You can't beat Kerastase. Their products always seem to work for me. I just have to rotate.

For shampoo and conditioner, I use Maria Nila's shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair as well as rotating with Davine's OI shampoo and conditioner. Both lines are pretty nice. Each has a scent that is so pretty and not offensive. Some lines have such awful migraine-inducing fragrances. Kerastase always makes my hair smell fresh. As with Kerastase, these (former) two lines are a bit on the pricier side but I can pick up the Nila line at hair suppliers (since I'm licensed) and the Davine's line online in places like eBay (the line isn't carried anywhere near me, that I'm aware of). I've used other Davine's products in the past and have always worked for my hair. All three lines make my hair feel moisturized and clean, and none of them seem to show buildup in any way. But, everyone's hair is different. Plus, products can work this month and then next month they don't.

Punxsutawney Phil's says "Early Spring". Let's go!