November Favorites

Where has the time went?! November is over and I feel like Christmas will be here and gone before I know it! I think autumn has to be my favorite season of the year and I love wearing seasonal makeup looks in celebration of warm hats, cozy sweaters and endless mugs of Tetley tea. I've added some new makeup bits to my collection in the past month (The blog made me do it... I swear), so keep an eye out for some reviews on what I've been slapping on my face.

Now, on to the makeup. I've been enjoying a mattified, natural-looking base in the past month, as a pristine backdrop for bold lips and smokey eyes. I generally love a radiant glow to the skin, but I'm surprised with how much I love the look of a velvety, perfected finish. For this, I have chosen Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 1W1 Bone, the lightest neutral shade available in the range. Before purchasing this foundation a few months ago, I was pretty turned off from the many reviews stating that is was a drying, mask-like foundation. I am so happy I went ahead and purchased this anyways! The foundation has amazing coverage, and when applied lightly on the face, it blends beautifully into the skin to create a second-skin look.

For cheeks, I have been loving The Body Shop Honey Bronzer  in 03 Medium Matte. This matte bronzer has an adorable honey comb pattern on the product itself (though mine is looking less like a honeycomb everyday- see image above) and is an affordable bronzer coming in at $19 (Check in store for holiday sales!). I've heard this bronzer is comparable to the likes of the infamous Nars Laguna, probably the world's most loved bronzer. I love using the bronzer just under the cheekbones, perfect for those of us not blessed with the facial structure of a Victoria's Secret Model.

For eyes, I've been enjoying a sheer rose-gold wash of color over the lids. My pick is L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush patted on with a flat eyeshadow brush for an even, shimmery finish. I've been getting tons of use out of Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Smokey Eyes Pencil in 03 Espresso for creating a smokey blended out line along the lashline (Note: This is not the type of pencil to be used for sharp lines, the pencil is made of powder so it is soft and blendable). Finally, my favorite mascara of all time, Clinique Hight Impact Extreme Volume Mascara in Extreme Black has been applied faithfully for months. It is the best mascara I have found for my long, but stick-straight lashes. It's volumizing, curling, and is simple to remove with cleanser or makeup remover. I give it A+!

In terms of lip products, I have worn down my Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Moisturizing Stick to a sad little nub. This is my favorite lip balm ever and I will be promptly purchasing another when this one bites the dust. I apply this periodically throughout the day, underneath lipstick and heavily at bedtime. My most-worn lipstick of the month has been my new Lancome Rouge in Love Lipstick in 163M, a warm reddy fuschia with a hint of shine. This has been my go-to alternative to a red lip in the month of November. 

For skincare, I have been using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Treatment for my angry skin. For whatever reason, I have been dealing with one stubborn blemish that does not want to go away. I apply the spot treatment in the the morning (under my makeup) and at night and it helps to clear up breakouts faster and reduce inflammation and redness. I have been using this product every day since June, and I highly recommend it to anybody experiencing blemish-prone skin, as it is the best of any other acne product I have tried. It's about $24 dollars for the tube, which may seem steep, but I have used mine daily for 5 months and have only used up about a quarter of the tube. 

For nails, I have been sporting Revlon Nailpolish in 490 Urban. Though I have been restricted from wearing polish while nursing in the hospital, the few times I have painted my nails has been with this. It's a lovely deep bluey purple that almost looks black. This color is unique in my collection and is a nice alternative to black nails, while keeping with the autumnal theme. A further bonus... it's budget friendly (I got mine on sale for $3 a little while back). 

So that's what I have been loving for the month of November. I look forward to more glitz and festive glamour in the coming month of December. What products have you most-used this month? I love to hear what other people are loving so please leave your comments below.

Thanks for reading :)