Orange is a huge trend right now and has been for some time and I'm loving every second of it. Orange lips are such a fun way to brighten up your look for the summer or put a twist on a classic look. Here's just a few of my favorites.
Lancôme Color Design in Tango Fusion: This is my all-time favorite orange lipstick. It's a true orange with amazing opaque coverage that's more or less glides on.
Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm in Oh! Orange: I know, a lip balm isn't really a lipstick but this one has amazing pigmentation for a balm and it's a great way to start off if too bold of an orange lip frightens you.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren: The Revlon formula is one of my favorites for drugstore lipsticks. This shade is bright and opaque while being just a tad lighter than the Lancôme shade.
Maybelline Color Elixir in Orange Aglow: I'm in love with the Color Elixir formula and this is no exception. Orange Aglow is wonderful to wear on its own for a sheer wash of orange or over any orange lipstick for a glossy finish. Unfortunately this muted neon shade was limited edition (although you could probably find it on ebay/amazon if you wanted to) but they still have a classic orange as part of their permanent collection.
L-R: Lancôme Color Design in Tango Fusion; Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm in Oh! Orange; Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren; Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipcolor in Vibrant Mandarin; Maybelline Color Elixir in Orange Aglow
Are you embracing the orange trend as much as I am? If so, what's your favorite?
I know, I did it again but excuse me... I don't really have much of an excuse. Either way, February has been a whirlwind month for me. I moved to Massachusetts and settled into a (kind of) new job and started the beginning of my new life with my lady love. And ya know, so far so good.
I've found a holy grail product in the Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser. I have a lot of redness in my skin on any average day (thanks, dad). Some of it can be due to sensitivity and irritation but mostly it's just the way it is. This cleanser just soothes the crap out of my face. It's made with "probiotic technology" which pretty much means it's doing something with yeast on your face. It sounds super weird but it works! It's a more active solution versus just using another cleanser that just won't irritate your already irritated skin. It's extremely gentle and it also takes off ever ounce of my makeup. I don't know how but it does. It's a miracle worker.
My hair has been so full of life and volume and it's because of this little dream team:Lush Big Shampoo and Veganese Conditioner. I've mentioned these two briefly in my what's in my shower post. That was right around when I first picked them up and since I've fallen desperately in love. My hair feels clean and soft without feeling stripped or weighed down. The shampoo is made with sea salt which de-greases and also adds mega volume. The conditioner is vegan so it's made without lanolin hence why it's so light. It's also made with lemon oil so it smells great and leaves hair super shiny.
I talked about my Chubby Stick love in my last favorites post and this month the only thing that's changed there is color I've been loving. The Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Grandest Grape. It's a gorgeous deep berry-red that flirts with fuchsia without being too pink or purple. The color is more opaque than the one I mentioned last month because this is the intense version but it's just as lovely and moisturizing.
Ah, yet another Clinique product has found its way into my makeup bag and I couldn't be more excited about this little darling. It's the Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Peach Pop. First of all, how freaking cute is this packaging. It's so different for Clinique and so modern and girly and fun and springy and pretty. Okay, I promise I don't just love it for its looks, this blush is like no other. It's got this lovely creamy consistency but goes on like a powder. The pigmentation is wonderful and it blends like a dream. They've also made them a permanent part of their collection so I can go and scoop the rest of them up. And so can you!
I really hate including little sample sizes in my monthly favorites but Kristin gave me this tiny Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara and it's been incredible. My lashes are longer and fuller and it holds a curl so well. I haven't noticed any flaking either. I'm desperate to get a full size of it. And I will. Soon. (Update! In the very long time between my starting of this post and today I have indeed procured a full size version of this little boo.)
I don't know about you but I've been desperate for spring and winter just won't quit. Well, I'm going to force it to be spring one way or another and the easiest way to get myself in a spring mood is with a switch of fragrance. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh is by far my favorite spring scent. It's quite floral, obviously, but also kind of fresh and a little bit fruity as well. It's amazing and it really blends with my skin chemistry well.
I know I've been kind of complaining about having weighed down hair and I know that a leave in conditioner isn't really the way to go with that but I think from switching over to a lighter conditioner my hair does have a tendency to get a bit more tangled. I like the Not Your Mother's Knotty to Nice Conditioning Detangler so much because it really isn't that heavy at all. In fact it pretty much just detangles and the leaves my hair feeling smooth as a baby's bottom. I just spray a little bit on the ends and my comb goes through like butter.
This month I've been crazy about the girl group Neon Jungle. There sound is so different that other girl groups out there and they're also so dang cute as well. I'm in love with their second single, Braveheart, and I can't wait for their first album to be released.
We've also been watching Nashville like crazy. Hulu Plus has all the episodes up and we're hooked. It's such a fun show. There's so much drama and the characters are all so wonderful and the music!!!! I can't wait to be caught up.
That's all for my February favorites. I'll be sure to start on my March ones ASAP so you don't have to wait until June for them.
Please excuse the tardiness of this post – the first month of the year was quite hectic and I can't even tell you what happened to February. My only excuse is that I've moved across four states and started a new job.
This post might also be quite a bit strange as these were the products I was crazy about four weeks ago. Naturally, as it is late February I've become obsessed with so many new things but I will try to drum up the same amount of enthusiasm that I had for these in January.
Through the month I truly suffered from a pretty gruesome case of combination skin as winter and stress really reared their ugly heads. Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash to the rescue. Seriously, using this stuff makes my face feel ridiculously clean and balances out the gross oily patches as well as the dry bits. Amazing.
I was gifted this little baby for Christmas by my darling Kristin of alittlefille. She knows me so well as I got a ridiculous ton of wear of Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Super Strawberry. Now these aren't really anything new, and we're all pretty familiar with the lip crayon thing but I have to say, I really do think the Clinique ones are my favorites. They're incredibly moisturizing and since they have no scent they're not irritating on the lips at all. Super Strawberry is an amazing sheer pinky berry that straddled perfectly between my lust for berry lips while also kind of craving a more natural lip color for the new year.
In that same vein of natural lips, I found my perfect "your lips but better" color in Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Color in Spiced Rose. It's a rosey beige so clearly a perfect color but also the formula is kind of amazing. It wears for awhile and doesn't dry out my lips at all. It's an indulgent lipstick but well worth it, I think, if you find your perfect shade.
I am always always always on the lookout for good top and basecoat duos. I'm a little bit weird as I really prefer them to come from the same brand. I don't know if I think it works better that way, but I just like it for some reason. Anyway, I've tried many combos from pretty much every brand you could name and I have to say I am really digging the Butter London Top & Tails Set (Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat and Hardwear P.D. Quick Topcoat) more than I have anything else I've used in awhile. The base coat creates a gorgeous nude canvas for your lacquer and the top coat really seals it all together. My manicures have lasted anywhere from five to seven days without a chip in sight. The only downside is that the topcoat does take a bit longer to dry than some of the other ones out there, but I think the little bit of extra dry time is worth it in the end if you can stand it.
The Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes are unlike anything I've tried before. I've tried more than my fair share of nail polish removers and wipes and everything in between but these are a different ballgame. They remove the polish and also nourish the nails and cuticles in a way that so many of the just for nails and cuticle products don't. Nails feel clean and hydrated and absolutely ready for the next manicure. (These ones I had were special edition for the holidays and smelled of peppermint, but they're available year round in a refreshing grapefruit scent.)
That's all for my ridiculously late January faves. Let me know what you've loved for these first few months of 2014 and I'll see you in just a few days (fingers crossed) for my February favorites!
Shockingly enough, inspiration for this post struck me while I was, get this, in the shower. Now, I really enjoy noseying into what people keep in their medicine cabinets and shower and the like. It's just bizarrely interesting to see what people use on a daily basis so I figured I'd go and show you all what I keep in my shower.
Pink Warm & Cozy 2-in-1 Wash & Scrub: I've mentioned before in my October favorites that I am crazy for this scent so naturally I have it in my shower. This is mostly my every day body wash and it's wonderful. I like that it doubles as a scrub but usually I just pour a bit onto a loofah and lather up.
Skintimate Skin Therapy Lotionized Dry Skin Moisturizing Shave Gel: I'll be honest, I don't use shaving cream very often because I'm pretty lazy when it comes to shaving my legs. Still this shave gel is really nice and moisturizing so it's great for using in the winter, especially.
Yes To Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser: I bought this cleanser because it was on a dupe list for Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser. Now, I don't think I buy this as a dupe, per se, but it's a pretty decent product and is definitely very gentle. My only complaint is that it doesn't lather up much which may be nitpicky of me but it bugs me for some reason.
Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Crème Body Wash: This came GWP and I absolutely love it. It smells amazing – like lemon icing but not overly sweet. I've been using it every shower but I should really limit myself because it was unfortunately limited edition for the holidays (in fact, I think you can only get it in the gift set).
Lush Ocean Salt: I've mentioned Ocean Salt more than once on here so I'm just going to tell you it's wonderful and move on.
Gillette Venus & Olay Razor in Sugarberry: Another reason I don't go through much shaving gel, is because these razors have the little built-in moisture bars so shaving is usually pretty quick and hassle-free.
Suave Professionals Rosemary + Mint Shampoo: I like to use this as a bit of a clarifying shampoo about once every week or two. It works pretty good and smells nice as well.
Bath and Body Works Sweet on Paris Shower Gel: We're now reaching the section of my shower that I don't use too often, but there it is. I stocked up like crazy on this shower gel in the sale after Christmas last year (like in 2012, I mean). It's very sugary – it's supposedly inspired by Parisian patisseries with notes of blackberry, lemon meringue, and vanilla. It lovely but I've just kind of moved on so it doesn't get much use anymore. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleaner: Again, another product that hasn't seen much use lately – although I do think I used it last week. I tend to not really take many showers in the morning so that's the reason I don't get much use out of this. It's a nice product though – quite brightening and refreshing. Lush Snowcake Soap: I love soap from Lush a lot. They've got so many amazing scents and Snowcake really just takes, well, the cake. It's got a smooth almond marzipan and vanilla scent and it's not overpowering at all. It lathers nicely as well. It's a nice little treat. Lush Sandstone Soap: I got this little buddy as a sample with one of my many Lush purchases over the past few months. I was hesitant about this product in the beginning but for some reason I decided to give it a shot. Turns out, I actually really enjoy this soap and am considering purchasing a full size for the summer. The thing about Sandstone is it actually has bits of sand in it so it's extremely exfoliating and too rough for my body. However, I love to use this on my feet which can get quite nasty. The soap also has a really nice lemony scent, which if you haven't figured out by now it's totally my jam. Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Golden Sugar Scrub: Another product I've kind of moved on from. The sugar scrub is nice and exfoliating but also leaving skin soft and moisturized. However, I've kind of just moved on to my Ocean Salt.
Lush Ponche Shower Gel: These are my latest shower additions, and I haven't actually used Ponche yet. But just from smelling it, I think I'm going to be a big fan. It's like a spicy orange scent and it's quite invigorating. I can't wait to give it a go. Unfortunately it's limited edition for Christmas, so if I fall in love I'm going to have to wait until next year to scoop more up.
Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo: I've been wanting to try out this shampoo for the longest time and I recently decided to take the plunge. Now, granted, I've only used this once so far but it's amazing. My hair is fuller and has tons more volume and it's not weighed down at all. I'm so impressed.
Lush Veganese Hair Conditioner: Lastly, my new Veganese conditioner. I had a sample of this a while back and I was so impressed with that use that I decided to go big instead of going home. It's made with seaweed and lemon oil and gives crazy volume which, as you might have noticed, has become a bit of a thing for me. It's great and I'm really happy with it.
Whew, that was quite a lot of chatter so thanks bunches if you've read through it all. Let me know what you've been using and loving lately in your shower. Toodles.
Holy cannoli it's really 2014 already! Hopefully it'll be a good year for all of us with exciting new adventures and good changes. It's already looking that way for me. Anyway, let's wrap up the past year with the few things I was loving in December.
As you can see it's a small bit of things because, to be honest, I just didn't really get into anything new over the past month. Most of my money went to buying presents and the like. I toyed with doing my overall 2013 favorites but since I'm just a baby blogger I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. So even though this is a small list, I really truly loved these products.
First up is the Urban Decay Naked3 Palette. I know this is going to be an obvious choice and it's been on every single favorites list but there's a good reason for it. First of all, the colors are gorgeous. The rosy tones are very flattering on everyone and really make eyes pop. Also the range of shades made this palette ideal for pretty much every event throughout my December. A bit of the lighter and matte shades were wonderful for work and even for attending church on Christmas, then throw in some of shimmery shades and darker tones and I had a wonderful look for New Year's Eve. I'm positive this palette is going to get it's fair share of use throughout 2014 as well.
I rediscovered this Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation (whew, what a mouthful) this month because it happens to be the lightest shade foundation I own and my winter skin is in full effect. Other than the tone of this foundation, the coverage is incredible. My skin has been suffering due to weather and holiday stress and this has been a serious lifesaver. It's full coverage and seriously mattifying as well.
I am OBSESSED with this Bath & Body Works Snowday Candle. I've already burned through an entire three wick and am savoring my repurchase. It truly smells like winter in a candle in all the best ways. It's got a bit of pine and peppermint with a bit of creamy vanilla that is so enticing I could burn this right through to April.
You'll notice that this little guy isn't pictured above with the rest of them and that's because I loved him so much I've used him all up. This is the Lush Melting Snowman Bath Melt and unfortunately it's seasonal for Christmas and they've sold out. He seriously smells amazing – like cinnamon and clove. It's such a warm scent and not overpowering. It's soothing and perfect for a winter night. The melt itself is hydrating and leaves my skin feeling amazing. But seriously the scent nails it for me. All my clothes smell like him for a few days after using this lil buddy. I can't wait for him to come back next year.
I've also seriously been obsessed with Lea Michele's brand new single, Cannonball. If you weren't aware, Lea Michele is pretty much my favorite person on the planet. I've loved her since Spring Awakening and I, of course, adore Rachel Berry on Glee and her voice is out of this world. The single is so empowering and uplifting and makes my soul feel good. She's actually just made the video for it too and she looks gorgeous.
That's a wrap on my December 2013 favorites. I hope you've all had a wonderful holiday season and that 2014 is looking exciting and new for you. Thanks for reading!
Winter is definitely here and while the snow is pretty and I'm loving snuggling up with a hot cocoa and watching a Christmas movie, it's that time of year where chapped lips really wreak havoc. Sometimes it's not that bad and a little swipe of lip balm does the trick but a few weeks ago I got chapped lips and I got them bad. It was seriously awful; they were cracked and peeling and just not cute or comfortable at all.
Since then I've started a little routine and it's worked wonders for me. My lips are smooth and soft and perfectly ready for any and all matte lipsticks you want to throw at me.
All you need for this is your regular everyday toothbrush, a good lip balm (I've using my Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue in Too Cool, but any deep hydrating lip balms will do – I would recommend a medicated one), and a lip scrub (I've got Lush Santa's Lip Scrub but, again, any brand you like is fine). The steps are pretty simple and it's quickly become a regular part of my nighttime and morning routine.
The first thing is to use the toothbrush to buff away any dead skin. I do it right after brushing my teeth before bed. Just brush over your lips in little circles. You can change the pressure depending on how rough of a shape your lips are in. In the beginning I was really getting in there because there was so much dry skin that I really needed the extra elbow grease to get rid of it all. Now I just do a light little swipe around and I'm good to go. You just want to make sure you really are getting rid of all the dry dead skin so the lip balm can really penetrate.
Next I apply a very generous layer of lip balm – like really slather it on. The idea is that you're about to go to sleep so it's okay if you kind of get it all over. Sometimes the skin above and below your lips can get a bit red and sore so go ahead and get it all over. Don't be afraid.
Then you just get in bed and go to sleep and then when you wake up your lips should be pretty noticeably smoother. That's not to say that this is an overnight treatment, but I always find the morning after sleeping with a good lip balm on really does leave my lips feeling much softer.
After the other bits of my morning routine (face washing, tooth brushing, hair combing, etc.) but before starting my makeup, I'll pop on a decent amount of lip scrub just to polish. You can then lick off the scrub (I think most are edible) but I usually only get a little taste and then rinse the rest off with water because it is sugar and I don't want to have a sticky mouth (plus the Lush one I'm using at the moment does live a little bit of a red stain behind).
Lastly I put on a thin layer of lip balm again. I try to do this right before starting my makeup so that after I get done with foundation and eyeshadow and blush and all the other fun stuff it's absorbed mostly because having too much lip balm on my lips when I go to apply lipstick makes the color just slip right off. You can then reapply lip balm throughout the day as needed, of course.
A few other chapped lip tips are to really try and keep yourself hydrated. I know it's hard in the cold months to really want to chug a cold bottle of water but it's so important. You can even try some teas or something (but try to stay away from caffeine).
The other thing is to try and avoid very drying lip product when you're really suffering. If you really want some color try a tinted lip balm or anything that is moisturizing. Even with a layer of balm underneath, so many lipsticks can really affect your chapped lips, making them go from bad to worse. You can go back to your favorite matte lipsticks in a week or so but hold off while you're trying to bring your lips back to life.
That's it for my chapped lips routine! After about a week and a half of this I really did have soft and smooth lips. I've still kept up with this though, just now as more of a preventive measure than as a fixer.
Let me know if you've got any tips or good products for beating those winter dry lips. Thanks so much for reading!
Can you believe it's December already!! This month has flown by and I guess I can't really complain because December means Christmas and shopping and food!!
Anyway, let's get into the products I've been in love with this past month of November.
First up is MAC Powder Blush in Desert Rose. Oh my god, this color is amazing. I was seriously in the market for a good matte natural flush shade and this one is so so perfect. It's so great for the these months and just brightens your cheeks like you've just come in from cold. The texture is also nice and soft and blends super well and the formula is, of course, gorgeously pigmented. I'm in love. I don't know if I'll ever use another blush again (I will, probably but shh).
I know I mentioned this in my Lush haul but I'm so obsessed I had to mention Ocean Salt again. Seriously, whenever my skin is feeling gross and dull I just use this in the shower instead of my regular cleanser and I feel like I come out glowing.
How much can I gush about MAC Paint Pot in Let's Skate without sounding like a nut? I'm a huge fan of all of the Paint Pots and I use them pretty much daily as an eye shadow base or sometimes just as an allover color on lazy days. Let's Skate is a pale pink with a little gold shimmer that is so so sparkly and festive. I've been using it under pretty much all of my eye looks lately just for a little more festive fun and sometimes on it's own because it's gorgeous. And the name is so freaking cute. When they first introduced Let's Skate it was part of the limited edition Glitter & Ice collection but I'm so glad they decided to keep it around permanently because it's incredible.
A couple weeks ago I picked up the Urban Decay Black Market Pencil set and I have to say it was one of the best purchases I've ever made. I've been a big fan of the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils for a while now and I figured a little set of six colors would be perfect. I was right! I don't really think I'll use another eyeliner because these are amazing. They're so soft and go on smoothly but they don't budge once they're on. After a super long day where the rest of my makeup is long gone my eyeliner is still perfect and on point. My favorite colors have been West (a dark brown pearl, that is exclusive to this set, unfortunately) and Desperation (a taupe-gray matte that you can pick up in full size too).
Okay, there's been a whole lot of buzz over the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms and with good reason. They're a really unique formula and combine the trends of matte and chubby lip crayons. I also really love them because they're still a balm so they're decently moisturizing (with shea, mango and coconut butter) while still giving a matte finish which is pretty nifty. They're incredibly pigmented too. The only thing is that if your lips are already chapped and/or cracked the matte finish is really going to show it, so try to keep your lips in good shape or wear a lip balm underneath. I'm crazy in love with the color Standout but I have three others that have been getting a lot of wear. Still, Standout is my staple right now because it's a pretty neutral matte red which is kind of perfect for the season.
I would be lost without this product, if I'm being honest. Maybe it's the most boring in this post but it's kind of changed my life. Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue in Too Cool has been my go to this past month because I've had unreasonably dry and cracked lips. This weather has been doing me no favors. But this medicated formula has been keeping my lips beautiful. I love that the eucalyptus soothes right on contact to give some immediate relief in dire situations. After a week of using this baby, my lips look so healthy.
Who doesn't love a sparkly nail polish for the holidays!Butter London West End Wonderland is the perfect gold glitter polish and I've been putting it over pretty much every color to sparkle things up. The glitter is pretty dense too which I love, but you can also apply it lightly for sparser glitter. I've been loving it especially over Butter London Bramble, a really gorgeous bright eggplant purple. Bramble is also really gorgeous on its own.
I cannot tell you how much I love this candle. The Bath and Body Works Vanilla Snowflake Candle is just, in a word, delicious. Obviously, it smells like vanilla but it also has hints of cool mint and creamy coconut that make it so refreshing and unique. I've already picked up another 3-Wick and, since they've expanded this line into hand soaps and other home fragrances, I might need to pick up more.
As for music, One Direction's third album Midnight Memories released this month and it's so good. The sound is a lot more mature and rock-inspired and it's just really really fun. My favorite songs include Happily, Little Black Dress, and Better than Words.
I have also been obsessed with Peppermint Mochas. Honestly, I've probably had one at least five times a week since the first of November when they finally brought them back out. I realize I've jumped the Christmas gun a little bit but I can't be bothered to resist it. They're so delicious and make me feel so cozy and warm on the inside, like I should be curled up by the tree and fireplace watching old Christmas movies and wrapping presents. I could go for one right now!
That's all for my November favorites! Tell me what you've been loving this month!
Today my nails have a little bit more pizazz than I usually go for. I love sparkles, I do, but glitter nail polish is difficult in many ways – mainly it's a huge pain to remove even with all the tips and tricks I've uncovered over the past few years.
However, I've been feeling extremely festive lately (I've had two peppermint mochas in as many days) and the quickest way to showcase that is to add a little bit of sparkle on my fingertips. I didn't want to go too seasonal, as it is still a bit early, so I skipped the reds and greens and opted for my go to color this fall – Butter London Royal Navy. It's a gorgeous deep creamy navy and an overlay of Butter London West End Wonderland really makes it pop. I feel like I'm looking into a midnight sky on a clear night after the first snow of the season. It's such a beautiful combination and I've received a few compliments on it already!
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!
