It’s been a rather crazy October and, yes, I can’t believe it’s already over! Trick or Treating was yesterday (November 3rd) and may occur again tomorrow (November 5th) - don't ask because I'm confused too. That's the problem! And I feel like I would not be doing my civic duty if I did not remind those in the US to vote this Tuesday, November 6th!!!! Anyway, since it’s now November, that means it is time for October favorites. I feel like I do not really have a whole lot of new things this month, but since I tend to be rather long winded, that may be a blessing!
Josie Maran Argan Oil: This is basically just plain Argan oil that is used as a moisturizer – I’ve been using this at night and the Argan Daily Moisturizer in the morning for the sunscreen. I think my face would be too oily if I used the oil during the day. I have to admit that I am still learning the best way to use it so it may be a bit premature to add to my favorites. However, I have been battling a cold for a few weeks now and initially I was blowing my nose constantly. Usually when that happens, my nose ends up dry and flaky around the sides. I had recently started using this moisturizer and my nose did get mildly flaky, but nothing significant and nothing compared to the normal dryness that comes from tissues on my nose. And it seems to have kept my nose protected and hydrated without making me into a giant grease ball!
I have combination skin that’s prone to breakouts so using 100% oil as a moisturizer is a bit scary! I’ve had no problems with this, but I am finding that it is very easy to use too much which will make my skin get oilier faster during the day. I’ve decided that 2-3, maybe 4, drops is sufficient for my entire face and is the best at balancing my skin. It really does seem to balance my skin too. Just like the Argan Daily Moisturizer, my skin feels nicely hydrated without being greasy. I sometimes get a bit of shine throughout the day, but nothing out of the ordinary and it’s not consistent. I think the amount I use at night may be the key to preventing that because there are days where I find I have much less shine than I used to. Available exclusively at Sephora.
Urban Decay DeSlick Pressed Powder: I’ve used this powder for years and it really does seem to control oil. It doesn’t look cakey or powdery, though it can accentuate dryness if you have any flakey areas. It is translucent and will not add any coverage, but I find it’s great for setting makeup, or just preventing oil. Plus it’s really convenient for touch ups on the go!
Urban Decay 24-7 Eye
Pencil in “Demolition”: I always love this eye pencil and this month it was
always convenient and easy to grab and go so it was well used! The 24-7 Eye
Pencils glide on nicely and they do not
budge. If anything, they can be really hard to remove, but I prefer that to
a liner that doesn’t stay where I want it. “Demolition” is a nice, deep brown
without any glitter or shimmer so it’s perfect for defining eyes for virtually any
occasion. It even works well with little to no other makeup!
Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soap in “Creamy Pumpkin”: I have used BBW hand soaps for years and, at least this month, I have really loved the “Creamy Pumpkin”. It just smells kind of warm and cozy and is perfect for fall.
Be Fine Exfoliating
Cleanser with Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond & Oats: I bought this a few
months ago and use it maybe every other week in the shower. It starts out with
sugar granules that help to exfoliate dead skin and, as they dissolve, it
lathers up into a nice creamy cleanser. It makes my face really soft and it
just feels nice to use! I do follow
it with my normal facial cleanser which I do not believe is necessary, but I
feel like my skin is oilier if I only use the Exfoliator. I would use it more
often, but I have micro-dermabrasion treatments to help with acne every other
week (my insurance actually covers it!) and the aesthetician recommends I only
exfoliate my skin on weeks I do not see her. If it were not for that, I think I
would use this a lot more often!
Can be purchased through Amazon here: Befine Exfoliating Cleanser with Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond and Oats, 4 Ounce
Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush from the Essential Mrs. Bunny Kit: I have had this brush set for quite a while, but I have never really used the brushes much! They are so cute, I didn’t want to get them dirty. I’m weird, I know! This month I started using the E55 Eye Shading Brush and I absolutely love it! It picks up shadow really well and applies evenly and quickly. The brush head is a good size – it’s not so big that you cannot control where the shadow goes, but it’s big enough that it doesn’t take an hour to apply the shadow. It works well for precision application, as well as general wider washes of color. I also love the fact that the “Mrs. Bunny” Collections are all vegan brushes. Though I will use a real hair brush if I can’t find an alternative, I really do not like to. Unfortunately I think Sigma’s stand-alone version of this brush is not vegan so if you want a synthetic version you will have to purchase the full “Mrs. Bunny Essential Kit” or the “Mrs. Bunny Travel Kit”. I should add though that the Essential Kit is wonderful and has a brush for practically everything. I do not have the Travel Kit, but it looks quite nice for commonly used brushes and the quality of every Sigma brush I’ve used is excellent! Essential Mrs. Bunny Kit: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/bblu/Click=217742 Travel Mrs. Bunny Kit: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Mrs_Bunny_Travel_Kit_p/btblu.htm?Click=217742 E55 Eye Shading Brush (standard, single brush): http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/e55.htm?Click=21774
Bdellium Tools 778 Brush: I have also really loved my Bdellium Tools 778 Large Shadow Brush this month. It is from their Green Bambu line and is 100% Vegan and Eco-Friendly. I picked it up when I was at IMATS and I really love how soft these brushes are, and of course that they are vegan and eco-friendly! It’s a bit larger than the Sigma E55 and I find the Bdellium 778 is great for sweeping a color across the lid. It’s not the best for precise work, but I love it for quick and easy eye shadow application! You can purchase it through Amazon here: Bdellium Tools Green Bambu Series - Large Shadow Brush 778
Sorry the brush is so washed out! The bristles are actually
light green and fade to white
Comparison of the Sigma E55 to the Bdellium Tools 778 -
Again, sorry the Bdellium brush is washed out
NYX Wyw Shadow Trio in "Shagri-La"
NYX Eye Shadow Trio in “Shangri-La”: What is October, and November for that matter, without a lot of festive orange shades? Well, NYX came up with the perfect eye shadow trio – “Shangri-La”! This trio has a beautiful bright orange shadow that looks kid of frightening in the pan, but I’ve been using it as a light wash over the lid and then mixing in a bit of matte brown for the outer corner and crease. As a liner, I’ve used Urban Decay’s “Demolition” 24-7 Eye Pencil, of course! It just makes me think fall whenever I wear it! I feel like this will continue to be a favorite throughout November as well! Available at Ulta and at NYXCosmetics.com.
I’ve continued using last month’s favorites as well, but who wants to read about the same thing every month? J So there you have some new favorites for October. Leave a comment if you’ve tried any of these, or if you plan to because I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you have a list of favorites or have a similar post, feel free to post a link below because I’d love to check it out! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful October and that your November is even better!
