As well as taking care of my skin even more so than usual - the joys of autumn cause me issues - I've also been looking for some great makeup for the season. This has resulted in four items that I feel are really worth mentioning and that you should definitely try out. Here are my beauty favourites for September:
Spa To You Deep Pore Cleansing Facial Brush
I've never used a facial cleansing brush before as previous ones I've looked at have all seemed like they'd be fairly harsh, which can cause me to breakout. This one has really soft bristles, as well as some soft silicone bits that help to massage your skin and give the brush a bit more structure so you don't feel like you need to be really hard with it.
To use it, I just wet my face - I've been using lukwarm water and it has made a real difference over hot water - and then massage my face wash over my skin quickly. I then use the brush in small circular motions, which makes the face wash foam up a bit. The only downside is that if you aren't careful when scrubbing your nose, it can flick face wash in your eyes.
The overall effect is clean and toned skin that looks really bright. I only use it at night as it can cause a bit of redness, as with any good exfoliator.
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Moscow
I saw this shade on the NYX US Instagram page and was obsessed straight away. I love a good blue lipstick and had been on the look out for a long-lasting royal blue shade that doesn't dry my lips out. I kept checking the Boots website and popping into my local store to see if they had it - as well as bugging the awesome people who work for NYX in-store - but to no avail. Finally, I saw it when I was after something completely different so had to snap it up.
When I first opened the tube, I wasn't impressed as it came out quite oily, but after a fair bit of pumping and shaking, I got the consistency that I'm used to. The colour is really vibrant and pigmented while the applicator is soft and easy to use. You do need to build the colour up a bit, but I think it will be a lot easier when I find a liner to wear underneath it - this always makes the shade Copenhagen really rich and ensures it lasts longer.
As it doesn't dry completely - which is great actually as it doesn't leave your lips feeling thirsty - you do need to reapply throughout the day but it looks okay when it fades a bit too. Blue lips are in right now, so you should definitely give it a go.
Exfoliator gloves
If you've followed my blog, you'll know I love a good body scrub and often moan about how ineffective body exfoliants are. These gloves are actually amazing and I can't believe I forgot this fact. I used to use them a lot but they've gone out of Vogue a bit, but it's definitely time to bring them back.
They are quick, easy and effective. When I can't be bothered in the morning, they are my saviour and I've actually found myself using them more and more. The result is smoother, softer skin that is a lot more even and doesn't get dry patches. My skin also looks brighter - exfoliating boosts blood flow - and I've had less breakouts.
My mother-in-law even uses these gloves to clean the bathroom, so I may give that a go too - with another pair, of course.
Coastal Scents Fall Festival Palette
I looked at a lot of different palettes from loads of brands, but nothing seemed quite right. I came across Coastal Scents totally by accident and had never heard of them before but they had several palettes that looked great. After a lot of comparing of swatches - I could only buy the palette online - I decided on the Fall Festival selection and was glad I did as soon as it arrived.
The shadows are beautifully soft and ultra blendable while also being highly pigmented resulting in stunning statement colour. The selection of shades is great and the fact that they are shimmery doesn't bother me too much as they aren't over-the-top sparkly. As well as the colours being great, the palette is magnetic so you can swap out different pans to keep all your favourites in one place - something I'm happy about as they have a huge range of colours.
I've been complimented every time I've done my makeup with these eyeshadows and every one of my looks has lasted all day - with a bit of help from an eye primer. I think this may be one of my new favourite brands.