October Favourites

October ending means another step closer to Christmas but I am still firmly in Autumn mode. Here are a few of the skincare and make-up favourites that are taking me through the season. 

Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque | Liberty £27

Just before writing this, I sat on my bed slathering my face in this stuff. I bought it a few weeks ago when I was feeling frivolous, tempted by the posts and pictures I'd seen raving about it. I have wanted a new mask product for a while to replace the Lush Mask of Magnaminty I had been using all year. As it is quite expensive, I preserve it by only using it in problem areas or places I want to target, rather than covering every inch of my face. It sets in to a light, clay-like layer and feels so smooth when it is dry. It makes my skin feel so much fresher after I've washed it off and the drying effect of the clay really drys out any blemishes. I'm addicted to this mask and use it two to three times a week. Aesop is definitely a high-end brand that I don't use a lot, but I don't mind investing in a product like this as much as it is so nice to use and makes a real difference to my skin.

Urban Decay NAKED Basics Palette | John Lewis 

I got this for my birthday this year and after lusting over the Naked Palettes ever since they became the 'it' thing in make-up it was a very welcome gift. I have never been one of those people that wears a lot of eye-shadow, particularly during the day as I felt it was too overpowering and didn't really suit me, but finally this has made it work. The shades are so subtle and blend so well together.

thisworks In Transit Camera Close Up | Boots £30 for 40ml

The justification of buying yet another moisturizer was a result of how much I have been enjoying using the In Transit No Traces pads to cleanse and brighten my face after removing my make-up. I am slightly addicted to the thisworks range at the moment, especially after becoming surgically-attached to the pillow spray - I am never disappointed with the results and I love the packaging. The Camera Close-Up works as a moisturiser, primer and mask depending on what you're wanting to get out if it. I mostly use it overnight as it hydrates my skin until the morning, but I also think it is a really effective base product pre-make up that plumps and evens out skin tone.

MIO Strong is the New Skinny Activist Body Oil | Marks and Spencer £29.50 for 120ml 

I saw the MIO Strong is the New Skinny kit in the Urban Outfitters sale recently -  I couldn't resist trying it out after seeing the MIO products floating around recently. This is my favourite one of the trio, a body oil that you apply when your skin is still damp from the shower. The formula aims to soften and nourish dry skin as well as reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone or stretch marks. It absorbs very quickly into your skin and leaves it feeling silky and hydrated. 

Kiehls Lip Balm #1 in Cranberry | Liberty £9.50

I am no way saying that buying any lip balm for just shy of a tenner is good value for money, as frankly you can't go wrong with a small tin of vaseline and there are many other things that your hard-earned money could go towards. However, I bought this in Liberty's the other week using a birthday voucher as I was stuck on what to buy and my lips were especially dry that day due to the drop in temperature recently - I couldn't not include this in my October round-up since it's been a firm fixture of my handbag. It has the liquidy consistency of vaseline that I prefer over balm sticks, but it is slightly less greasy and lasts for a long time. They do a range of flavours - I chose the Cranberry but I was also tempted by the Mango. 

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Polish in Chilli 525 | Superdrug £3.99

I couldn't resist this colour - a browny-tinged red which is deep enough for autumn but is still bright and interesting. I have always been a fan of the Barry M polishes and I love that they're is such a range of colours nowadays, from matte to all kinds of sparkly. They're really good value at under a fiver (which is hard to find of a nail polish) and the gel look that this range offers makes it look a lot more expensive than it is. 

Christmas Gift Set Lust List Under £50

Gift sets are an amazing way to try out a selection of products you wouldn't necessarily buy in full-size. This year, I have my eye on quite a few as even the highest of high-end brands have bought out special gift sets especially for Christmas. Here are a few of my favourites...

Laura Mercier Sweet Temptations Creme Brulee Set | John Lewis £35

Combining two of my favourite things, dessert and bathtime, Laura Mercier is offering an indulgent and luxurious set that would be the perfect way to spoil someone. The set contains a bath creme, body creme and a honey dipper inspired by the scents of French patisseries and created with some amazing ingredients (vanilla and caramel to name a few). This is definitely the height of luxury at bath-time, and almost good enough to eat. 

Philip Kingsley Geranium and Neroli Elasticizer Duo | BlowLTD £12

As a big fan of the Philip Kingsley hair products, it is quite shameful that I haven't yet tried the brands piece-de-resistance, the elasticizer. This set contains two limited edition Geranium and Neroli-scented travel-size elasicizers that are perfect stocking fillers. As most people know, it is a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment that adds shine, bounce and of course elasticity to the texture and condition of your hair. The packaging is gorgeous and they come in a floral box complete with looped ribbon, ideal to hang from the tree. 

Laura Mercier In The Glow Highlight 01 | BlowLTD £25

Once you've seen this set, I'm not sure how you could resist falling for its rose-golds and sheen pink shades within the classic, flawless Laura Mercier packaging. It is a trio containing a Matte Radiance Baked Powder to bronze, Bonne Mine Stick Face Colour in Peach Glow to add some life to your complexion and a Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold to shimmer-ize your eyelids. I have tried one of the Laura Mercier caviar sticks before and it sparked a love for shadow-sticks in all colours. 

NARS Steven Klein Nude Lip Set - A Woman's Face | ASOS £29

A trio of class from Nars' latest collaboration with Steven Klein has hit the shelves and it would be ideal gift for those make-up obsessed. A creamy lip liner, classic nude lipstick and a matte lip pencil combine to create a show-stopping natural, sultry pout, perfect to for day-to-night transitioning. Dolce Vita lipstick and Mini Velvet Matte lip pencil compliment the Mini Patong Beach Velvet Lip Line - what more could you want in your stocking. This set is definitely not just for Christmas..

Rodial Heroes Collection | ASOS £50

Rodial; a brand that I am constantly lusting over online but have never plucked up enough courage to invest in their renound skin treatments before. So what better time than Christmas, when Rodial have combined their Skincare Heroes into a gift-set collection. You get four minis: the StemCell Superfood Cleanser (50ml), Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel (9ml), Bee Venom Moisturiser (10ml) and Super Acids X-treme Acid Rush Peel (15ml). The set will also save you a third on the retail price.

NARS Steven Klein Dual-Intensity Eye Shadow Palette - Dead of Summer | ASOS £35

Another one of the Steven Klein/NARS collaboration, this eye-shadow palette screams Christmas and New Year parties, teamed along with the Via Veneto long-lasting eyeliner for the ultimate smoky-eye. Four sultry and seductive shades (Studly, Stag, Subra and Blackmail) in an amazing compact, ideal handbag-size, Team this with one of the Real Techniques Eyeshadow Brush sets and you have a winning present combination. 

Charlotte Tilbury The Gift of Goddess Skin Travel Set | John Lewis £39

Another brand I am desperate to try is the Charlotte Tilbury make-up and skincare that I am hearing so much about at the moment, especially with the numerous new lauches that have emerged ideally just before Christmas-time. The miracle-working Magic Cream in particular is being raved about, so what better way to try it than in travel-size, side-by-side with the Goddess Skin Clay Mask and the Wonder Glow Beauty Flash (all 15ml).  

Clinique Moisture Favourites Skincare Gift Set | John Lewis £40

Perhaps not the most Christmassy colour but the Clinique Moisture Favourites set is pink all over. Four travel size items: Moisture Surge Extended Thirst relief (50ml), Moisture Surge Overnight Mask (30ml), All About Eyes (5ml) and a Chubby Stick in Budding Blossom (1.2g), this is one to take you into Spring. You can't go wrong with Clinique!

Bumble and Bumble Full of Cheer Thickening Gift Set | Feel Unique £22

One of my favourite high-end hair care brands, Bumble and Bumble has released some gift sets for the festive season featuring some of their most reputable products. The Dry Spun Finish hairspray is something I hear about a lot as being a brilliant hairspray to add volume and texture into the finish of your hair. The value of the set is £36 so if you're thinking of buying one of the pieces anyway then this set is amazing value. 

All photos taken from named websites/sellers.