Beauty Favorites September 2012 Edition!

I cannot believe I have never done a favorites post before, but I haven’t! So, from now on, I am going to try and be a good blogger and keep with the tradition!

I did not wear too much makeup in September. Not really sure why, just didn’t. Therefore, this post will be low on makeup products. Since this is my first go round, I suppose that makes it a good time to include some of my daily staple-type items!
Without further ado, I bring you my September 2012 Favorites!
First up would be the Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 15 in Lime Twist which is my go-to lip balm. I use this ALL the time. Under lipstick, on top of lipstick, by itself; you name it, I use it! It tingles a bit, tastes like a lime popsicle and keeps my lips in great condition. I am also known to use the Vanilla flavor, but I just happen to have a Lime one around right now.
Keeping with lips, I have also been using Tarte’s Maracuja Lip Exfoliant (see my review here) about 2 to 3 times each week. This is by far my absolute favorite lip scrub! It uses granulated sugar suspended in a Maracuja oil based formula that has a minty fresh taste. It is gentle, yet effective and I absolutely love it!
On to face care: I just started using Josie Maran’s Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40. I saw this on QVC one day and it sounded amazing so when my prior moisturizer ran out, I decided to give it a whirl. I’ve been using it maybe 3 out of 4 weeks this month and I really like it. I has a slight fruity scent that isn’t too sweet or overpowering, nor does it linger on your face. It soaks in very nicely and has a natural SPF 40 sunscreen that does not make you look like a ghost! My normally combination skin seems much more even and I never have a grease slick on my forehead at the end of the day. A problem most moisturizers occasionally cause with my skin. So far, I give this moisturizer a huge thumbs up!
Sticking to skin, next is something unusual for me. It is the Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in Honey Autumn Apple. It’s unusual not so much because I don’t typically like their moisturizers which are nice, but because I am not a huge fan of most of their scents. If I like them in the bottle, I usually do not like them on my skin. The Honey Autumn Apple scent is soooo delicious! It smells like a sweetened apple with a hint of something more. It is not at all a straight apple scent, nor is it a bakery apple or a candy apple. B&BW describes it as, “a fresh blend of crisp red apple, sparkling nectarine and a touch of honey.” It is just a wonderful scent and I love it! As far as a moisturizer goes, it is just right for this time of year. Not too heavy, but heavy enough for the cooling temperatures. It may not be the best for the dead of winter, but far fall it is perfect.
On to my hands! I found this in the grocery store around the beginning of the month and it is seriously the best hand cream I have ever used! It is the Nubian Heritage Mango Butter Hand Cream. It has completely reformed my hands and is not even a touch greasy! I did not think this was possible in a hand cream, but Nubian Heritage has discovered the secret! My hands are soft, look smoother and healthier and have never felt better! It has an orange citrus scent that is not quite true to an orange, but not like a cleaner scent either. I do not notice the smell on my hands for more than a few minutes after I apply it. The best thing of all is the complete lack of grease. I HATE greasy hand creams and every one I have tried leaves at least a little bit of residue behind. The Mango Butter Hand Cream literally absorbs completely into my hands as I rub it in and I don’t feel like I’m going to leave hand prints wherever I go. I HIGHLY recommend try this!
The makeup I typically wore throughout September consisted mainly of concealer, blush and mascara.
Since I think everyone has something they would like to disguise on their face, I have been throwing on a concealer when I’m just racing out the door. I have been using Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sensual Skin Enhancer (see my review here). It literally takes a dot or two under my eyes and on any blemishes and the discoloration blends away without any trouble. This stuff is very pigmented and blends really nicely. I just use my fingers to blend it and I’m ready to go!
My blush of choice has been Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused. It is just a nice natural flush on the cheeks and it last all day. I dust it on very lightly with a Real Techniques Blush Brush and I look a bit less ghostly. A wonderful blush in a universally flattering shade that can be built up or toned down.
I think the one product I could not live without would be mascara, so of course I have to include one! September has been the month of Tarte’s Gifted Amazonian Clay Mascara (see my review here). It is not too wet or too dry. It looks natural enough for any time of day while still giving my lashes a bit more oomph. The brush isn’t so big that I cover my whole eye in globs of mascara and not so tiny that it takes half an hour to apply. Overall, it is just right! It lengthens and volumizes and is a nice deep black. I love the bamboo tube too! This has to be one of my favorite mascaras so I’ve stuck with it every time I reach for mascara.
Finally I have two favorite nail polishes. The first is Shag from Butter London (see my post here) and it is sooo perfect for fall! It reminds me of turning leaves, warm comfy clothing and comforting hot drinks. It is the most beautiful shade of metallic chestnut brown and I LOVE it!
My other favorite polish is FeiFei from Zoya (see my post here). I found this to be a great transitional color because it is neither too bright or too dark. It is actually perfect any time of year I think and it has the most unusual finish that is truly stunning! It literally sparkles like crushed up diamonds were mixed into the polish. The color itself is kind of bluish-grey duo-chrome that can look like a slate blue or almost a gunmetal gray depending on the light. It doesn’t quite shimmer. It is definitely not glitter. It really does have a fascinating sparkling glow that has to be seen to be truly appreciated. It is sooo beautiful!
And I guess that’s it for my very first favorites post (you think it’s long enough?)! Let me know if you like this format and I welcome any suggestions on how I might improve it. Let me know what your monthly favorites are because it is so much fun to see what other people are loving each month!

Barclay gives it the sniff of approval!!!