October Favorites

Autumn is an amazing time of year. Especially in North Carolina. The leaves are changing, heat and humidity start becoming intermittent rather than constant, and pumpkin spice everything is everywhere. What’s not to love?

These are the makeup items that are (mostly) new to me this month and are things I've been reaching for almost daily.
October Favorites: What’s better than sipping cocoa? Wearing it in your shadows and contour of course!

Of course, transitioning to fall makeup is one of the best parts! For October 2016, I have been using a variety of products, some of which are pictured above. Everything in this post is something I began using in October or newly discovered in October. Below I included a bit about why I’ve been enjoying each product.

  • Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
    • Smooth finish, reduces the appearance of pores, and makes sure that my makeup lasts all day. This has a wonderful matte finish that I focus on my T-zone (middle forehead, nose, cheeks, and front of chin). With combination skin, my often oily T-zone appreciates a matte product.
    • Available at Sephora for $36. (This link is to a kit that also includes a travel size primer spray!)
  • Maybelline New York Master Prime Primer + SPF 30 in Blur + Illuminate 200
    • Note: Although this product contains SPF, always apply a trusted SPF product prior to makeup application. 
    • I enjoy applying this luminous primer that has a slightly pinky-pearlescent finish to my cheekbones and other areas where I like to add a healthy, subtle highlight. Bonus points for the fact that it helps my makeup stay all day!
    • Available at Ulta for $9.99
  • Inglot YSM Cream Foundation in 49 (1 fl oz.)
    • I discovered this cosmetic line this month at Ricky’s NYC. Coverage is similar to a tinted moisturizer or beauty balm. (I tend to avoid anything that is too thick or full coverage.) This product is buildable if you wish to have a fuller coverage finish. I like that it makes my skin look like me, but better. It’s not greasy or runny and is a breeze to apply with a beauty blender or buffing brush. (My favorite is the Original Beauty Blender).
    • Available at Inglot for $18.
  • Too Faced Cocoa Contour Kit in light to medium
    • I decided to try this palette after Kathleen Lights mentioned that it was one of her favorites. I have been using it daily and am most drawn to the cool to neutral toned medium cocoa shade that does a beautiful job of creating a natural looking shadow to accentuate my cheekbones. Dark cocoa is a warmer option that could also be used as a bronzer. Light cocoa is wonderful for setting foundation/concealer. Pop of Light, the highlighting shade which has subtle shimmer, is a wonderful way to add a very subtle, erring on the side of natural, highlight to cheekbones. This palette smells amazing and has great shades for daily use. I would not recommend it for people who are looking for a Kardashian-esque level contour experience. This products is wonderful for someone who wants to do subtle contour for daily looks.
    • Available at Sephora for $40
  • Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection
    • As per usual with Too Faced, this shadow palette smells delicious. I can’t detect any peanut or jelly scent, it just smells like their chocolate bar palettes (in my opinion). This palette is super portable and has beautiful shades for all seasons. This is a warm-toned palette (which is my favorite tone for my eyes) and has multiple options for looks. It’s small size is amazing for travel. It also has a small mirror inside. And the packaging is classic Too Faced, i/e completely adorable.
    • Available at Ulta for $36 (An Ulta and TooFaced.com exclusive)
  • StudioMakeup On-The-Go Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Up
    • You may not have heard of this brand (I know that I hadn’t) until I received my Boxycharm for the month of September. I didn’t begin using this palette until October, when I travelled to NYC. It has a perfect range of browns, golds, and warm based neutrals to make a variety of basic to smokey looks. Pigmentation is creamy/buttery and it lasts all day underneath by favorite Urban Decay Primer Potion. One of my all-time favorite products discovered in Boxycharm.
    • Available at Studio-Makeup online for $49.95
  • Becca Back Light Targeted Color Corrector in Peach
    • As a nurse working both day and night shifts, dark under eye circles are a fact of life. Using this color corrector underneath my concealer helps eliminate any purple or blue undertones from ever showing through.
    • Available at Sephora for $30
  • Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer in Fair Neutral
    • This should come as no surprise as practically every blogger obsesses over this product. But for good reason, its absolutely amazing. It’s full coverage without being cakey. Blends easily and doesn’t even require setting powder. A true ride-or-die.
    • Check availability at Ulta for $24 (currently out of stock). Exclusive to Ulta and Tarte.com.
  • Bite Beauty Lush Lip Tint in Lychee
    • This lip tint is rich, creamy, feels amazing on my lips and leaves my natural color looking like me, but even better. It’s a dusty rosie pink that can complement any type of makeup (even no makeup!). I’m almost out of this product, need to get more ASAP.
    • Available at Sephora for $24
  • Serenity + Scott Beauty Lip Gloss in Pink Fizz
    • Serenity + Scott is a beauty line I discovered in my home state of North Carolina. It’s an all natural, cruelty free line based out of the beautiful mountain town of Asheville. This lipgloss is absolutely gorgeous. Moisturizing, not sticky, and infused with spearmint essential oil, it leaves your lips hydrated and tasting minty. I’ve been using this product non-stop since purchasing. I purchased other Serenity + Scott products in addition to the lipgloss that I am eager to write about after I have used them for a few more weeks, so stay tuned!
    • Available at Serenity + Scott for $16

What do you think of my October favorites? Leave any suggestions, ideas, or questions in the comments!

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