Besides being ill for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the month, October has been really good, so I'm kind of sad to say goodbye to it. I have a few things planned for November though, and hopefully the temperature will continue to drop (I can't believe how mild it still is in Wales) so it should be a great month too. Make-up wise has been pretty boring this month, I've tried few new products, so my favourites is very lip product heavy, as that's what I've been focusing on for most of the month.
Autograph Matte Velvet Lipstick in Raspberry
I told you in my review of this lipstick how much I love it, and that hasn't changed at all. I've worn this a lot this month, and went back to Marks and Spencer to buy another shade because I love it so much. The formula, wear time, packaging, in fact everything about it, is very near perfection. If you can, I'd strongly recommend picking up at least 1 of these whilst they're on special offer, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Autograph Ultimate Wear Lip Lacquer in Oxblood
Along with the above lipstick, these are pretty much the only lippies I've worn all month long. I first reviewed these lip lacquers back in April, and Oxblood is my latest purchase. It's the perfect shade for autumn being that slightly off burgundy colour, and the wear time on this is better than any other lip product that I own. It feels very comfortable on the lips and doesn't dry them out at all, which I've found a lot of long lasting lipsticks do. I really hope Marks and Spencer don't stop selling these any time soon because I really want to add more to my collection.
Lush Lipstick in Drive
I only reviewed this lipstick on Wednesday, so I won't bore you with too much about it again. This is the only lipstick that's had a look in besides the Marks and Spencer ones. It's taken me months to start to like it, but now I do I can't wait to get more wear from it. It feels very thin on the lips and works almost like a stain, meaning that you can apply it in the morning and virtually forget about it all day, it's very low maintenance.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a bit of a lip balm addict, I always have something on my lips, whether it's lipstick, gloss or balm. When my lips are in need of some serious hydration nothing is better for them that this balm from Heavenly Organics. Made from just 4 ingredients; cocoa butter, shea butter, lemon essential oil and lime essential oil, it's perfect for those with sensitive skin and those wishing to use only natural, organic products. It's very hydrating so is perfect for either before or after long lasting lipsticks. Everything that the company sells is organic and vegan, and is made right here in Wales, UK.
I've been on the hunt for the perfect mascara for months now, and I think my hunt might be over. It took me a while to get used to the brush (it's huge) but now that I have I just love the effect it gives my lashes. There are about a million reviews of this online, so I don't think I'll write one, but if you want to know more about the mascara I'd recommend checking out this review. I only have the sample size, but fully intend on buying the full size when this runs out. With an RRP of £19 you'd better believe that I've put it through its paces, and wouldn't recommend it to you, or buy it myself, unless I thought it really is worth the money. It doesn't flake, smudge or run and the curl lasts all day. As you've probably noticed by now, I rarely spend a lot of money on 1 product, but I won't hesitate to buy the full size, even if it is over 3x as much as I'd usually spend on mascara.
Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush
I can't believe that I've had this brush for months and have only just got around to using it. I had this as part of the Starter Set but only used it a few weeks ago because the blending brush I usually use was due to be washed. Now I've found out how wonderful it is I doubt I'll be picking up the other brush for a while. With this one brush I can apply eye shadow, blend it out and apply highlight to the inner corners, and it does all of those jobs brilliantly. I'm just kicking myself for not using this sooner, if I was to go away I know that I'd only have to pack this one brush and I'd be set.
This is the polish that I wore in this week's Manicure Monday, and it's my favourite mani I've done all month, so much so that I've re-applied it and I never wear the same polish consecutively. It's the ideal shade for this time of year, is glossy even without top coat, applies smoothly and evenly and wears really well.
Lush Hot Toddy Shower Gel
I usually prefer sweet scents in the shower, so the fact that I am so in love with Hot Toddy is surprising to me. With ginger and cinnamon, this isn't a girly scent at all, but it's so perfect for autumn/winter that I find myself craving this in the evenings. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and lathers up really well, meaning that I don't have to use too much of it at a time. I'll definitely be stocking up on this before it goes off sale after Christmas.
As I mentioned in my lush haul, I have a skin condition on my hands which is exacerbated by a lot of soaps, so I usually use Fun as a hand soap. It's so gentle that it doesn't cause any irritation, it smells amazing (the yellow Fun smells of creamy vanilla) and the scent lingers on the skin for hours, in fact I often find myself sniffing my hands because they smell so good. At £5 it seems like a very expensive hand soap, but you only need a tiny amount each use, so it doesn't work out much more than the usual bars of soap that I use. You can also use Fun as shampoo, bubble bar and even as play-doh! If you have young children I'm sure they'd love this stuff.
Soap and Glory Hand Maid
If you know me in real life, you'll be well aware of my need for clean hands, to the point that it can get a bit obsessive. So, the thought of leaving the house without some kind of hand sanitiser fills me with dread. Thankfully Soap and Glory have come to the rescue with this gorgeous little bottle of germ free goodness. At the end of the day, it's just a hand sanitiser, but it smells and feels so much better than any other hand sanitiser I've ever used. It's a fresh, citrus scent that once soaked into the skin, feels silky and hydrating. In my experience that's very uncommon, I usually feel as if I have to apply hand cream after most sanitisers, but not with this one. At £2.50 it certainly doesn't break the bank, but the bottle is small so it's more pricey than I'd usually pay, especially with the amount I get through. However, I love the smell and feel of it so much that I don't mind paying the extra, even if it is just for my bag, I'll use the cheap one at home where I have an abundance of hand cream to apply afterwards.
I've got a real thing for scented candles at the moment, and this is by far my favourite. Made of paraffin wax, it burns clean which I appreciate as I have a pet hate for candles that look messy after a few hours of burn time. The scent is amazing and it has a great throw too, from my experience of Yankee Candles this one is far superior, it leaves my bedroom smelling incredible for hours after I've extinguished it. My favourite evening routine at the moment is to have a shower using Hot Toddy, light this candle (which, thanks to the cinnamon, smells very similar to the shower gel), put my pyjamas on and lie on my bed watching Netflix with a hot chocolate, it's just autumnal heaven!
Links to products mentioned:
What have you been loving this month? If you have any suggestions for me I'd love to hear them. Have a great Halloween, and be safe.
