October 2013 Favorites

 

How in the world is it November already? It feels like only last week we were ringing in a brand new 2013! But that's okay because it's time for Christmas music and decorations and... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves! 

October has been a rather busy month for me – mostly busy working to be honest with you. But I've had my fun and a lot of that fun did indeed involve spending a lot of money on things I maybe didn't need, but wow, I've fallen in love a few times.

My first favorite this month is Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes Statement Mascara. I'm a huge mascara junkie and sometimes my collection of 11 full size tubes gets a little overwhelming (yeah, I know I don't know who needs 11 mascaras either). I've had this one for awhile and for some reason decided to get it a try again and I've rediscovered my love for it ten times over. It makes my lashes full without being clumpy and they still feel soft, not crispy. The formulation holds the curl of my lashes all day and it's super black too which always adds a touch of glam. Seriously just a little concealer and this mascara and I feel put together.

I do have two lipstick favorites this month (surprise, surprise) and the first is Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in the shade 09. It's a beautiful pinky berry red that I am obsessed with for fall. The color payoff is stunning and the formula is shockingly hydrating. The wear doesn't last outrageously long as the name might suggest, but considering it's a drugstore lippy it doesn't really bother me to have to reapply it every few hours (actually, I kind of always feel a little bit fancy pulling out my lipstick and compact in public). 

My second favorite lipstick this month is Mac's lipstick in Just a Bite – a limited edition shade that was a part of their Indulge Fall 2013 collection. First off, I'm obsessed with the name and maybe that's half the reason I picked it up in the first place. It makes me think of sexy vampires or something, which is appropriate since the shade is a beautiful vampy brick red. I love that it's not too dark so it's work friendly (for me, at least) but it still makes me feel like I could sprout fangs or turn into a bat or something.

As I mentioned earlier, this month has been crazy for me, mostly work-wise. I'll have a late night and then have to be at work at the crack of dawn. Needless to say, my under-eye circles have been monstrous and Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream has been a life saver. The formula really brightens up my eyes, reduces puffiness, and makes me feel awake even when I could probably sleep for another four hours.

Now that fall is definitely here, my skin has been feeling it. Luckily, Clinique was having a gift this month so I moseyed on over to the counter at Macy's (actually moseyed is definitely not the word to describe my experience at the counter but that's another story) and picked myself up a new foundation (also another story) and discovered the Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator. It's been so hydrating for my combination skin. The only thing is that it doesn't contain any SPF so I've been using it just at night before bed with a different moisturizer in the morning.

This next one started out as a bit of a joke. I was in the market for a small travel sized hand lotion to keep in my purse because autumn dries out my hands something fierce. I went into Pink and fell in love with the Warm & Cozy scent but of course they didn't have it in a travel size but I still wound up buying a few full size things anyway. One of them was the Pink Warm & Cozy Luminous Body Butter. First off, this scent is to die for and the whole range is really part of my October favorites because of course I now own everything in the line. The toasted vanilla and peony is light and absolutely makes me want to curl up with my blanket like the name implies. Now, the body butter itself is rich and creamy and melts right into my thirsty skin and it leaves a little bit of a shimmer as well which maybe isn't for everyone but it makes me feel like my skin is bright and healthy. And yes, I eventually did pick up my travel sized hand lotion.

Did you know that I love Taylor Swift? If you didn't I'm definitely curious to know how you stumbled here because she is one of my absolutely favorites and her scents are so spot on; I'm obsessed with all of them. Her latest scent, Taylor by Taylor Swift, released a few months back and I finally picked it up (well, my mom gifted it to me). Taylor is fresh and more mature than the Wonderstruck scents but still has lovely fruity and floral notes. It's delicious and it feels like it suits me.

Lastly, I've been burning the crap out of my Bath and Body Works Pumpkin Pecan Waffles candle. It smells deliciously like brown sugar and maple syrup with a hint of nuttiness and spice and it makes me so hungry. Now everyone knows that the Bath and Body Works candles are spot on but seriously, even when this isn't burning the scent lingers and sometimes I'm half expecting there to be fresh waffles cooking in the kitchen. The mason jar is also a nice touch and adds a little rusticity that's perfect for fall.

One last favorite, of mine that's not pictured at all is Taylor Swift's new song (I told you I'm in love, okay) "Sweeter than Fiction". It's so upbeat and I envision it playing over a montage of my life while I struggle to make it in the big bad city or something and it makes me feel like I can do anything! Check it out if you haven't yet.

I hope y'all have lovely Octobers and that November looks to be shaping up well. It finally is feeling like a good chilly autumn out there which I love because I have so many great cozy hats and scarves and other fun cold weather things to break out. Let me know what your favorite things have been this past month and what you're looking forward to in the rest of 2013!

Caitlin xx