October Favourites

I thought I'd start doing a monthly favourites, and what better month to begin with than October. It may not be especially spooky, but if you can imagine I'm writing this post sans make up I'm sure that's enough to terrify you into not even bothering with Halloween this year!

I think the transition between Summer and Autumn is the most harshest. All of a sudden you go from being able to walk around in shorts -  to suddenly needing 10 layers and the central heating on full blast, not to mention the cold dark nights that soon draw in! 

However, this is also a great time to switch things up with your make up and go much darker and heavier, and be bolder with your choices. 

These are some of the products I've been loving this month....
 

1. The Body Shop -Satsuma Shower Gel - £4/250ml
 
I have always loved this particular shower gel for Autumn, because it tricks the mind into feeling like it's still warm outside. It is also extremely powerful in filling the whole top floor of my house with the smell of Satsuma. The scent isn't synthetic or overbearing though, and is great at waking me up in the morning.

Recently, I've been pairing it with body scrub from the same range and both are to die for and don't irritate my sensitive skin. Give it a smell in the shop if you are not sure, just try not to fall over with delight....


2. MUA - Lipstick Shade 16 Nectar - £1/3.8g

Ok so I have been wearing this pretty much all through the end of summer, however it's been my shade of choice this month too! I would have never of gone for orangey/coral lipstick shades in the past, however I find for pale skin they are genuinely workable even into everyday looks. This lipstick is quite matte, yet doesn't dry the lips out and is surprisingly pigmented. For £1, it's at least worth a try!  


3. Dior - Diorshow Powder Blusher 005 - DC

This blusher is an old favourite of mine and unfortunately it seems it has now been discontinued, although some sellers are still selling this on ebay.

I like this blusher because although it seems quite deep, it actually goes on quite subtly, and is one of the only powder blushers I have ever truelly loved. I apply by using my Dior blusher brush with the powder in the bottom compartment that detaches from the main lid/applicator. 

It has never looked too dark/muddy on my skin even in winter when I am at my fairest. I do hope they bring it back because it's such a beautiful colour when applied.

(lid not photographed due to it being very reflective!) 


4. Marks & Spencer - Frankincense & Myrrh Candle - £3.50 

It's no secret in my house that I have a bit of a problem with all things Yankee candle related, and well all candles really! When I was younger, we had an M&S Christmas air freshener, and I've always longed for that smell since. This item was a bit of research before the Christmas sections get manic, and well it was quite a pleasant surprise.

We had this on in the living room last night for a couple of hours, and the smell genuinely lulled me into going to bed way before my normal bedtime. I slept for nearly 10 hours straight which is very unlike me! 

I don't think it's quite the same as the scent we had years ago, although it's definitely something I would re-purchase. The smell isn't overbearing or "headachey" as some heavier, musky scents can sometimes be. 

I'd actually rather have this candle than the turkey....


5. Mac - Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC15 - £25/40ml

Over the years I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this foundation. It transfers onto clothing like a mofo, is far too heavy for summer and is too dark for my skin so needs a white foundation adding everytime I want to use it. 

That being said, when lightened and used sparingly really blending it out, it's actually quite a good full coverage foundation. I almost always get told "my skin looks nice" even by my Brother who wouldn't notice if my hair was suddenly bright pink, so that's got to count for something. 

I've been wearing this foundation alot for important events/meetings/interviews, as I know it will even out my skin and work brilliantly as a base for other products to go on top. It is a bit heavy if you have a long day ahead, however if you are looking for full coverage, this will certainly give you it (also smells like Rum & Raisin ice cream!)


6. Thierry Mugler - Alien Eau De Parfum - £43/50ml

Again this one is a bit of an old favourite, however it's an October favourite as it's now cold enough for it to come out of hibernation.
I have previously done a review on this perfume as it is my signature scent and has been for a couple of years now.   

I have started wearing it again recently, and the other day a receptionist stopped me in my tracks and asked me what it was as she really liked it. This not the first time this has happened to me, as it's one of those scents you smell and then have to smell again.

It's also incredibly long lasting and powerful, so a little really does go along way. 


7. L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil - £9.99/100ml

Superdrug recently had this product on offer and I had to take advantage of it! As I've mentioned before, my hair is incredibly thick and therefore alot more difficult to manage than it may look. 

I like to have products through my hair whilst blow drying to help lock in the style, not to mention keep things smooth. I've been using a couple of pumps of this distributed through the mid lengths/ends, and so far I'm quite impressed. 

I'm not sure exactly what it does, although the smell radiates through my hair as the heat from the hairdryer comes into contact with it. My hair also feels pretty nice afterwards too. Doutzen Kroes, watch this space...


8. Barry M Nail Paint - 365 Berry Cosmo - £2.99/10ml 

A girl can never have too many dark, vampy nail polishes and October is the perfect month to get the ball rolling. Barry M seem to have moved from just doing very colourful products, to really moving with the trends and you can never go wrong with purple as the nights get colder. This shade is smart enough for the office, yet great for parties and would compliment a dark smokey eye perfectly.

If only I could find a new hand bag in this shade....


What products are you loving this autumn? Let me know below or tweet me @paleskinmakeup!