October 2017 Favourites

My favourite items are all about the colours of the changing season. Most of my choices are old favourites revisited with a couple of new products that I've really enjoyed last month.

 

 

As the nights grow darker, my nail varnish colour choices too (will be bringing out the even darker shades closer to Christmas!). The Essie, Opi and Barry M are oldies but firm favourites and are particularly autumnal in their colouring. I did buy the L'Oreal - shade 446 - Opera Bonaparte in a gorgeous pumpkin-red tone. I'm loving the colour and have worn this constantly for a couple of weeks, but...I'm having problems with this chipping and flaking off quite quickly and I've been having to retouch almost every day.

 

 

 

I've also branched out a bit with my lipstick colour choices this month. These three are all new buys from October. I bought the Etude House Dear Darling Tint early in the month as I already have another in a colour-changing unicorn-tastic lilac/silver shimmer, which I love. I noticed that they had released some darker tones - lots of raspberry and dark berry shades.

The Buxom Full-on Lip Polish in the shade 'Dolly' was sent to me as a review item and I'm really glad that I got the chance to try it out. I wouldn't usually choose a lip gloss as I really don't like the sticky feeling on my lips - but again, that's a small price to play with a product like this. The shade is a rosey-nude, quite sheer with a illuminating glossy finish. It also has a lip-plumping effect - as soon as you apply you feel a cool, slightly tingly sensation, which isn't actually too unpleasant and I don't know how it works but I really did see some lip plumping action! If you don't like a menthol-cooling sensation, this might not be for you as the sensation lasts as long as the wear lasts, which is surprisingly long for a gloss.

 

 

The L'Oreal Balmain in the shade 'Fever' was so hard to get my hands on! I looked in different shops in different cities and this shade was consistently sold out everywhere. I finally bought it online from Superdrug and it's taken top place as my favourite lipstick. Another orangey-pumpkin shade, this is quite a big and bold step away from my usual nude choices, but I'm loving it. The gorgeous packaging is a bonus too. Like my other L'Oreal Colour riche lipsticks, the longevity isn't excellent, I definitely need to check and re-apply every couple of hours or after eating or drinking. But that's a small price to pay for such a stunning colour.

 

 

 

I Heart Makeup - Rose Gold chocolate bar palette (Superdrug £8.99)

 

I could quite happily buy every single one of the I Heart Makeup chocolate bar palettes - and you know what? I think I bloody will! They are all such good value for money and always have such great colour choices.

 

 

What do you think? A reasonable dupe for the Huda Beauty palette?

 

Top row (from left to right): Hold Up - a pearly sand colour which could be used as a highlighter. Touch me - a shimmering metallic dark brown with gold tones. Dirty Rich - a shimmering metallic rose gold. Hard Work - a shimmering metallic pure yellow gold. Luxe - a chunky metallic pink - my least favourite as it's quite chalky.

Middle row (from left to right): Cheque - shimmering metallic copper. Barbie - shimmering metallic pink with gold overtones. Gold Digga - another shimmering metallic rose gold - less pinky than Dirty Rich. Girl Boss - soft matte brown tan leather. Uh-oh - a pretty soft matte in a rosey-nude tone. Not Yours - soft matte blush pink.

Bottom row (from left to right): Shy - soft matte beige brown. Back-up - soft matte chocolate brown. Side-chick - soft matte terracotta brown. My Own - soft matte chestnut brown. Independent - soft matte nude.

 

 

Iconic London - Strobing Stick

 

I always thought strobing type highlighters were a lot more stark and obvious as a highlighter and so have generally avoided them as I prefer a natural glow to a dazzling glare. However, I was happily proved wrong with this creamy stick from Iconic London as it's a beautiful natural shimmery highlighter which can be built up for a more striking look. I was sent this as a review product and had to give a review within seven days. I initially gave it a four stars, marking it down as I didn't feel like it blended too well. However, with more time that passes, I'm finding that the blending isn't as much as an issue as I first thought - so if I could go back, I'd definitely give it five stars! I must have been having a bad make up week because this actually does blend really well, certainly so much better than other cream highlighters I own, which I had said that I'd stay away from because of blending issues.

 

 

L'Oreal True Match Highlight Powder Glow Illuminator

 

If I really had to choose one type of makeup as my favourite - it would have to be a good highlighter. And I buy far too many - but I love each and every one of them! This purchase was inspired by a recent trip to Bobbi Brown in Brighton where my mum bought some foundation and also tried out the Bobbi Brown brightening brick. She looked fantastic! It really lifted and brightened her whole face and had I £35 on me at the time, I would definitely have bought one too.

This was pretty much an impulse buy - I received an offer email from Superdrug for this product one morning and by the afternoon I had it in my hand. It's obviously not in the same league as the Bobbi Brown or even the same idea - however, I do use it as an all-over highlighter. A quick swipe with a fluffy powder brush and this does just give me a very light all-over brightening effect. This compact also has a hidden compartment underneath with a mirror and a semi-circular, rather stiff slim brush. After going all over my face with a powder brush, if needed, I'll use the brush that comes in the compact to give some extra highlight to the tops of my cheeks. The product actually bills itself as a blush & highlight - but to be honest, I can't see how this would actually work as a blush - it's far too light.

 

 

Innisfree Hydrangea Hand Cream

 

I received this in last month's rather disappointing Ichiko Bento box. However, I'm really loving this hand cream and have taken to keeping it on my desk where I frequently reach for it. It's a gorgeous scent and is also the perfect consistency for a hand cream - creamy but light and not at all greasy and sinks in really beautifully, leaving my hands soft and nourished and smelling so good!

 

 

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

 

And finally, just one small item of skincare for October. I got this deluxe sample size i the most recent Tili Box. I have several of these types of enzyme exfoliators (I much prefer them to physical exfoliators) but this one is absolutely fantastic! It's so very gentle, smells delicious, easy to use with fabulous instantaneous results. Just apply a small amount to a cleansed face, leave for ten minutes and wash off - leaving you with clean, clear, bright and radiant skin.