Hey friends! I know I say this every month, but how are these months flying by so fast?! Sooo, happy holiday season! I’ll be posting gift guides for everyone and their mother soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to share my favorite products for the month of October. This month is unexpectedly beauty product heavy, but I had some really great finds and I use each of them every day (if you’re looking for other makeup picks – see my roundup here).
Let me know in the comments if you have any of these products, or decide to try one!
1. For Your Daily Skincare Routine
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
I received a sample of this face oil/concentrate with an order from Nordstrom. I tried a different face oil earlier this month and it made me break out within a few days. I lowered the number of drops I was using, but still didn’t really notice a huge difference in my skin. This Kiehl’s one though? Loving it. Number one — it smells delicious. I breathe in deeply every night when I put this on. Two — it makes my skin feel super soft and has caused zero breakouts. Curious to see longer term effects, but so far, so good.
Pro tip: Mix in one or two drops with your moisturizer. A little goes a long way!
2. Smart, Easy Makeup
The Lip Bar “Minute Finish” Palette
I discovered The Lip Bar one day through an Instagram post, and I was very excited to give it a try. The company has shades for almost any skin tone, but has a ton of products/shades specifically for darker skin, which is something that has been sorely missing for me! I tried out two lipsticks (Cocoa Cooler and Mochajito), and their “Minute Finish Palette,” which has a highlighter, contour, blush, and face powder. The lipsticks both look great with my skin, and the palette? I love it. It’s so easy to apply, very flattering on, and creates a natural look. The palette has been my go-to everyday since purchasing (my shade is called “Stuntin'”), and it definitely speeds up my makeup application.
3. Flattering and Affordable Formal Wear
Lulus Madalyn Lace Maxi Dress
Holiday party dress alert! I LOVE this dress so much. I am larger chested, so I tend to shy away from deep v-necks on dresses – or anything for that matter – but this one fits so beautifully, and it is a complete steal at $84 (you can also sign up for Lulus’ emails and get an extra 15% off). The colors are also gorgeous in person. I purchased the navy originally, and am waiting for the burgundy color to arrive before making a final decision.
Note: If you are petite (I’m 5’2″) you will need to get this dress hemmed.
4. No Lash Extensions Necessary
Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara
Ok, I have a little secret: I’ve been using a sample mascara for the last few months. *facepalm* I know, I know — but it was so good! The problem though, was that the reviews for the full size version were terrible. Everyone said the same thing – the sample brush was great, but for some reason the full-size brush was terrible and turned it into a completely different product.
Sooo, I’ve been on the hunt for a new mascara, and I finally tried out the highly recommended Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara, and I absolutely love it. It goes on smoothly, very rarely clumps, and it doesn’t smear or run at all. I actually received a mascara sample from a different brand when I purchased this one, and within 20 seconds of trying that sample and blinking, it had smeared everywhere and there were black marks underneath my eyes. That just further cemented how much I like the quality of this mascara. Also, it’s very affordable at $25 (and currently on sale for 15% off!).
5. A Concealer Worth All the Hype
Tarte Shape Tape Undereye Concealer
You may have seen every fashion blogger under the sun talking about this Tarte Shape Tape concealer, because there was a two for one deal on QVC for a few weeks. I took a leap and purchased it even though QVC only had select shades available.
I thought the “tan” shade would be too light, but you guys – this stuff is really good. It blends seamlessly, and you get a ton of product, but only need to use a little at a time. I am prone to pretty dark circles under my eyes that are difficult to cover up, but this concealer does a great job. If you’re looking to try a new one, this is definitely a concealer to consider.
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