October Favorites | 2016

October is one of my favorite months of the entire year. Apple cider, pumpkins, heck - pumpkin everything, cozy blankets, pretty leaves... you can't tell me it gets any better than that. Along with the season, I've had some favorite beauty things I wanted to share with you, too.

Now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I've been itching to incorporate anti-aging products back in to my skincare routine. I promptly dug through my stash and found the StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner and I've been loving it ever since I started using it. This retinol cream actually works, and doesn't dry out your skin in the process. I can see a noticeable difference in the texture of my skin and how quickly my skin regenerates. You may recall I did a full review on this in the past where I go in to depth about all the goodness this stuff does for your skin. It's not cheap, but you totally get what you pay for, plus it lasts a long time because you don't need to use a huge amount each time. 

I switched up eye creams recently because I ran out of one that I used all summer long, and I've been using the Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm, which I've talked about before. This eye cream is fantastic. It's super hydrating, reduces puffiness and just plain feels nice. Definitely worth trying out if you're in the market for a new eye cream.

This third favorite is something I've loved for ages and have been lusting after, and it's finally in my posession! I used some Sephora points to get this deluxe-sized sample of Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb cologne. Yes, it's a men's cologne, but truly I feel it's more unisex than anything. It's sexy, and smoky and spicy and so so perfect for fall and winter. My husband won't wear it because he thinks it smells like funeral incense, but that makes me secretly happy because that means I can wear it and smell it all day long. Seriously, if you haven't ever smelled this and you like spicy scents, run to your nearest department store and give this a sniff. 

I don't have a CCO near me, but when I visit friends who have one nearby, I make them take me. My latest purchase from CCO was this MAC Next to Skin "blush" (sorry for the totally out of focus picture!). This was part of the fall 2014 "Artificially Wild" collection. I don't use this as a blush, but as a bronzer. This is the PERFECT gray-ish taupe for us pale girls who want to contour our face but don't want to look orange. I'm obsessed and wish I would've bought a couple backups because I'm not sure it's available anymore, but I'm so hoping they bring it back for a future collection. 

And lastly, I don't know if you've walked in to a Trader Joe's lately, but if you have, you know that you can't turn your head without finding something pumpkin flavored/scented/spiced/etc. I've heard so many good things about TJ's body butters - the typical year-round scent available being coconut which I'm not crazy about - so when I saw the fall Pumpkin Body Butter was out, I took a chance. Boy, am I glad I did. This isn't a gross bakery scented lotion, but more potpourri pumpkin-y. It's mega hydrating but doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. It smells nice on application and then the scent slowly fades so you can easily wear any perfume over top without smelling like a fragrance counter. This stuff is under $10 and you get a ton of product. Definitely check it out if you have dry skin or just love a good body butter.

What are you loving lately? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

March Favorites!

It's been too long since I've done a favorites post, but recently there have been a few stand out items that I couldn't wait any longer to tell you about. I keep grabbing for these fabulous products, and I'm thinking you might want to pick them up, too...

While on vacation in Hawaii, I reached for the Vita Liberata Self Tanning Gradual Lotion. Even on a tropical vacation, you'll find me underneath an umbrella because me and the sun just don't get along. I was able to fake a teensy bit of color by using this lotion. I applied it every other night for a week and had a nice subtle glow that wasn't orange or streaky. I am very fair skinned and this lotion gave me the perfect amount of color that was still natural. I absolutely love that this lotion is made with organic botanicals and has clean ingredients, AND it has the such a minimal self tanner smell. Loooove.

The rest of my favorites are all for the face. I've really enjoyed wearing L'Oreal's Infallible Pro-Matte foundation. I like this best when applied with a damp beauty blender. It lasts all day long and provides a matte full coverage. I especially like that the lightest color actually suits my skin tone. If you're pale like me, you know the struggle of finding a foundation that is light enough! 

On my cheeks, I've been coming back to an oldie but goodie over and over this month - Wet n Wild's Pearlescent Pink. These Wet n Wild blushes are under $5 and they pack a serious punch in the pigment department. This color in particular is a perfect pink with subtle golden shimmer. You only need to dab your blush brush once or twice in to it and you have more than enough to give your cheeks a healthy glow. 

Lastly, the Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara has been my go-to this month. At first, I didn't think it was love, but one day I looked in the mirror and realized how truly full and voluminous my lashes looked and it was all roses from there on out. This drugstore mascara isn't going to give you crazy length, but if you're in need of volume and fullness, I would highly recommend picking up a tube! 


What were your favorites this month? I'd love to know! 

October Favorites

How October has come and gone is beyond me, but it was a great month, and truthfully, I'm a little sad to see it go! The five products that made a favorites post this month are all so so great - I can hardly begin to put them in an order, so... I won't. I'd highly recommend all of them, and would love to know what you think of these products too! 

This month I loved:

• Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Plum Wine: I think this may have made a favorites post before? I rediscovered it again this month and fell back in love. This blush looks ridiculously natural when applied with a light hand, don't let the color fool you. It's the perfect "just in from the cold" flush to the cheeks, it has great lasting power... I love this stuff.

• Suave Refresh & Revive Dry Shampoo: This stuff is good... real good. Smells fruity, soaks up oil and makes my hair look fresh. I'll do a full review on this soon.

• BeautyBlender: The hype is real with this makeup tool. All you do is dampen it, and then apply your foundation. It makes my skin look flawless and provides even coverage that doesn't look cakey. They're expensive, but I will always have one of these in my beauty arsenal. 

• MAC Prep + Prime Spray: I like to set my makeup with a spritz of a setting spray to help everything look more natural, not powdery and dry. This is one of my go-to setting sprays. The smell is nostalgic for me, and reminds me of my wedding, and it does a good job of keeping my makeup in place. I'll always repurchase this. 

• Lush Let the Good Times Roll cleanser: Chances are you've heard many people rave about this. For good reason! It smells like cookies, has all natural ingredients, and is an awesome exfoliating cleanser, gentle enough to use every day. It smells so good, I want to eat it every time I use it! It looks like cookie dough, and all you have to do is break off a little hunk of it, massage it in your hands with some water to turn it in to a paste, and slather it all over your face. Amazing stuff.

What are your favorites this month? Let me know! 

March Favorites

So many goodies, so little time. But despite my constant urge to switch things up and try the next latest thing, I kept reaching for these amazing products over and over this month. They are....

Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion - My one and only gripe with this lotion is that I'm pretty sure Suave didn't even TRY to disguise the horrible self-tanner scent that I loathe (and I know I'm not alone on that hatred!). Aside from the awful fragrance, this stuff gives great color payoff and it builds easily and naturally. It actually looks like a real glow, not orange or streaky. My wrists are a little tell-tale, but that's because I wash my hands too soon after applying it. I use it at night so I don't have to smell it, and shower it off in the morning and voila! I don't look as ghostly as I normally do! Added bonus: this stuff is under $10!

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara in Blackest Black - I've used this mascara in the past, and found it on clearance at Target so I snagged it up yet again. I forgot how much I love this stuff. It packs a serious punch in the volume department and makes my lashes look darn near like falsies! I don't know why people splurge on high-end mascara... the drugstore is FULL of great options! Once I go through my slew of mascaras, I'm going to put this on my repurchase list forever and ever. 

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner - I rotate between primers, but lately this pore refiner has been my go-to. It smooths easily over the skin and is slightly tinted. Once it's applied my skin looks completely poreless, like glass. This is just a mini sample size, but it could be worth a full-size purchase in the future! 

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail polish in Babe Blue - Cream nail polishes are my favorite, and this nearly neon blue is a stunner. I got so many compliments on this polish and I couldn't pull my own eyes away from my hands! Rarely do I use the same nail polish twice in the same year (don't judge me on my humongous collection...) but you can bet I'll be grabbing for this again soon!

Physician's Formula Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Blush in Natural - I admit, when I saw the packaging and design of these blushes I judged them by their cover and had to have one. I really love Physician's Formula blushes though, so I wasn't let down in the least. This color is a really pretty pink and blends easily and naturally on my cheeks. If you've heard people go on and on about how heavily scented these are like I have, I can honestly say I hardly even notice the smell. I mean, it's lame they fragranced these blushes, but don't let that deter you from trying one out! 

L'Oreal Color Lift Blush in Rose Gold Lift - This is a beautiful cream blush that is a gorgeous shade of pink with gold shimmer. I used this so much this month because it looks natural and makes my face dewy so there's no highlighter required once you use this. But my favorite thing about this blush is that it LASTS. 8+ hours of wear ain't no thang for this cream blush! (Seriously, just look above at this beauty up close...ugh... gorgeous)


What have you been loving this month? Let me know!