Autumn Came Around Fast

So it's Autumn now. You may have noticed.

For a lot of people this means pumpkin spice (honestly never tasted it), artisanal coffee and knitwear. For me, and the rest of the university universe, this means the period where course introductions are all over and the deadlines begin creeping up. Days get darker; the library gets colder, and my TV intake ups by 20 hours a week, since there's no sun in the park any more.

That being said, there's really something beautiful about Autumn. A go-between to start layering clothes without loosing extremities to the cold. To darken up your makeup, whilst still clinging to the summer bronzer. To turn your abode into a candle-cave and hole up with movies, whilst that is still an optional choice. And its the last bastion of peace before the dreaded C word swaggers into view next month.

So here's a brain-dump of all the things I've been loving and will continue to love over the season, anything to stop thinking of the genetics essay I still have to write.

Leisure

GBBO

Because obviously.

Gogglebox

Yes I know its 'meta' or whatever the critics like to write, but it completes my life.

Black Mirror

I love Charlie Brooker, I used to hang on to his weekly Screenburn columns in the Guardian, although sadly these are long retired. He rarely writes for them any more actually, but I can forgive him since the last column he wrote he called David Cameron a 'toe in a suit', and I am a child. But Black Mirror is serious gold. His columns were always filled with the craziest ideas, pushing reality TV and technology to its most morbid; 'DONT FORGET THE LYRICS' always stands out for me. Its always so incredibly well-cast too.

Knitting
I took up knitting again, and I'm making myself a cable-knit scarf! I can't lie, I'm a shocking knitter. Tension all over the place, dropping stitches, forgetting what the pattern is supposed to look like. But nevertheless it's relaxing. I'm hoping if I manage to mash this scarf together I might be competent enough to make a couples of gifts. 

Makeup

The autumn makeup stereotype is obviously to go for dark burgundy tones, berry lips, rusted red eyeshadow, deep reds and browns all over the place. Normally I would be first on the bandwagon, and yet at the moment I'm just not feeling it. The look I'm loving the most at the moment is pure dewy, nude skin, as natural as possible; the 'no-makeup makeup' look. 

Base

My three favourites that I can't get enough of at the moment are Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua, Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick and Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation. None of which are really on the light side of coverage, but I have so much love for them because they wear so well throughout the day. Especially the Magic Foundation, which looks better and better as the day goes on. Also, the BB Foundation stick is absolutely perfect to take out with you, so it travels in my bag every single day.

Base Additions

The Naked Skin Concealer, as most people will probably know is really, really great. If you're in the market for a new concealer its one of the best I've ever used, second probably only to my Double Wear Concealer by Estee Lauder. The Benefit Dew The Hoola bronzer I actually got free in a magazine a while ago, but in the last two weeks ago I truly discovered it, and I'm in love! I will definitely go out and buy the full size, it's a truly beautiful bronzer that gives you such a natural dewy glow. 

The Charlotte Tilbury Face Powder is without a doubt the best powder I've ever used, and I recently discovered (late to the party as per) the Wayne Goss technique to powder your face before applying foundation: he's absolutely right. I can't explain the difference it makes to longevity, as well as the way that foundation sits on the complexion. It just makes it inexplicably better. Try it.

Also the CT Colour of Youth blusher is beautiful, and so, so dewy and healthy looking. I'm very glad I splurged on this, I was worried it would be a regretful submission to hype. But this is yet another product I love to carry with me. 

Everything Else

For my brows I've been using the CT Brow Pencil in Cara, and the Maybelline Brow Gel (I've gone through three already). I do very much like the brow pencil formulation, however it does contain a brow highlight that I'm not all that keen on. I'm also not sure I prefer it to the Smashbox Fine Brow Pencil, although it definitely lasts a lot longer. Swings and roundabouts I guess. I also just discovered the merits of brushing upwards. 

My favourite highlight right now is just Vaseline. It takes five seconds and there's no way to over-apply it! Makes your skin look extra dewy and healthy without a fake-looking sparkle on the cheeks. Its about as natural as highlight can get. 

When I'm not putting Vaseline on my lips too I've really enjoyed the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Athens and the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick in 43. Both very similar nudes, but with different textures. I love the look of the NYX lipstick, but honestly, several times I've bitten my lip, in what is a very bad habit and; yep, I've eaten it. And I'm not crazy about how it dries either. 

Clothing

Jumpers, suede, cashmere, merino, wool, and a muted, warm-toned colour palette. My trench coat came back out and I'm starting to layer up with scarves, long sleeve t's and boots. I also just got my thick oversized wool trousers back out which is very exciting, and I'm wearing my knitted wool socks, lovingly handmade my auntie, snuggled inside my Ugg slippers!

Yes to this time of year after all.

Xxxx

A Charlotte Tilbury Face

So it's been a while... Over a year actually. But hey, ho. 

I have a new (very expensive) brand obsession, probably like most beauty lovers do at the moment. It is of course; Charlotte Tilbury. The woman can do nothing wrong! I have found myself continuously drawn to her website at least weekly for the last few months, adding things to my basket, and then balking at the price and losing my nerve. But then John Lewis did the 10% off thing for Black Friday... And I went a bit mental. 

I picked up several things to add to my collection (it is my unashamed goal to one day own everything), and now I have the makings of one of her 10 iconic looks: The Golden Goddess. 

Now, I am no Golden Goddess, that's for sure. But a girl can dream, and the look she created in her video was just so lovely, how could I resist? Maybe I really will look like that?! Alas, I have not become Adriana Lima, but the products are so beautiful anyway that I can forgive that. 

Wonderglow Primer

This is such a great primer! CT herself says that you could even wear it alone on bare skin. Pah, well we can dream, can't we? Its finish is golden but not glittery... It's hard to describe the effect really... It's just... Glowy. I really like it, I might even stretch to buying the full-size when my free travel version has run out.

Light Wonder Foundation - Shade 2

I've never bought a 'dewy' foundation before, and this is definitely dewy. When I first applied it I was practically luminous, but after a couple of minutes it settles down and starts to look more realistic. I really like the way it makes my skin look - mainly healthy. It doesn't give very much coverage but it blends well with my Estee Lauder DW concealer so I can get rid of my undesirables. I apply it with a damp makeup sponge, because it's easier to layer it this way. Most of my brushes eat the product and leave none left for my face. 

The Golden Goddess Palette

This is some kind of beautiful; the colours just blend together seamlessly, making an almost ombre effect without even trying. I found the Pop shade to be best applied with the fingers as it has some heavy duty glitter to it, but the rest are silky smooth and just glide onto the eyelid. 

What I especially loved about this palette is that the darker colours aren't so dark that it is easy to overdo it. They build beautifully to get a deeper colour payoff, but you don't immediately give yourself the panda eye trying to do your lower lid. 

The prime and enhance shades are especially beautiful to use during the day and are not so shimmery to look overdone. The prime shade it a bit yellow to wear on it's own, so I wouldn't without combining it with one of the other shades. But I found it to be very understatedly beautiful when applied with a light hand. 

I'm sorry, but can we just take a second to look at it! It's so pretty...

It should be noted that actual colour payoff looks far less yellow/orange than they do here, but getting that damn natural light in winter, ey? 

Lip Cheat Lipliner in Pillow Talk

I've had many compliments on this; applied gently it can really make your lips look extra special. Slightly fuller without looking fake. It makes a great combination with the Stoned Rose lipstick too. 

K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Stoned Rose

My God. I have barely taken this off, I literally carry it everywhere! I take it to the library for God's sake! I had some reservations about this shade, but once I put it on I was sold. It's not totally natural looking but it's not too much either, it's a lovely middle-ground, casual shade that I can wear with both heavy eye makeup and no eye makeup and it still looks great. 

Cheek to Chic Blusher in Ecstasy

You really need a light hand with this. When I first got it I applied it with the same liberal manner that I do my Benefit blushes, and I looked ridiculous. However with a lighter touch, this is a very flattering colour, with a subtle shimmer to give you a pretty glow. I think I still slightly prefer my Benefit Sugarbomb blush, but that's safely trapped within the Christmas palette, ergo, I think this is the blush I'll take travelling with me. 

So here is my whole face... I'm just about to head to the library.

 

I feel like CT products are investments, and they certainly feel like luxuries. But if you feel good taking them out of your makeup bag, and enjoy the end result, then I'd rather have that than 1000 cheaper products I'm not sure about. I know what I would buy again and what I wouldn't (Cheek to chic blusher) but that's all part of the makeup experience. ...But anyway, now I have to go and explain to my boyfriend why I can't afford to eat this month... 

Rimmel London Wonder'Full Mascara | Review

I'm not really a mascara person. That sounds like an odd thing to say being a girl that talks incessantly about make-up, but I'm just not. I own one mascara. I think it's the removal process that irks me, I hate the crusty little black lumps that get left behind. Nevertheless, when I saw this mascara on the Rimmel counter I had to pick one up (the introductory offer probably had something to do with it).

It's interesting, the formula is infused with argan oil, and since eyelashes are hairs too it should leave them conditioned and stronger after use. I like this concept. Eyelashes are hard things to give any TLC to since they're so small and fiddly, but adding an oil treatment into a makeup product is just the best of both worlds!

 The packaging is a bronzey kind of colour and nice and sleek. I usually prefer the thinner tubes of mascara, but here the chubbiness really suits it!

The brush is nice and fat too, and the bristles are nicely sparse allowing it to separate lashes really well. The formula does tend to clump and gather on the tip of the brush which is a bit annoying, and I'd prefer it if the end of the brush also had some bristles to allow you to reach the very corners of your eyes, but never mind.

Now I was expecting the formula to feel different to anything else I've tried but honestly, it doesn't. It feels like your typical thick mascara, not at all oily or even lightweight. I'd say just like the Benefit They're Real. But then that doesn't really bother me that much. I also haven't noticed any difference in the condition of my lashes since I've been using it (every day for 5 days to give it a thorough testing) although it doesn't actually claim to do that, I just thought it might.

Before

After

The pictures I think are worth a thousand words here! It's so lengthening and really makes your eyelashes look thick and healthy. The effect is so extreme that I fell like it's a bit too much! This was just after one coat, so I found it works better on me to wipe some of the product off the brush first to give a more natural look. It does look a bit silly when your lashes are brushing your eyebrows. I'm so very happy with this, I got it for £5.99 and it will very happily replace my drying-up Seventeen Dolled Up mascara.

Ahh, I love it when an impulse buy pays off.

Xxxx

Galaxies

My boyfriend bought me this gorgeous pair of Toms that I've been eyeing up for ages! They're such a unique pattern, but still monochrome so they'll go with all!

I've never owned a pair of Toms before but I can seriously see where the hype comes from. They're most comfortable shoe I've ever had! They're like slippers! And they're so, so light that it's like walking on air (only a slight exaggeration). They're a great shoe for travelling, since they scrunch up to nearly nothing, and are great for walking around all day in.

I just can't stop gushing about them; it's becoming embarrassing.

Xxxx

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eyeliner | Nude

These are such great, affordable eyeliners! I can't believe how well they stay put! I've been looking for the colour Taupe for what seems like forever, but it's always sold-out. Still, this nude shade has fast become a firm favourite of mine!

It's a great waterliner for opening up the eyes, and it always looks less harsh than white, which I always find to be a bit too noticeable on me. It's also not bad to dot in the corner of your eyes too. It has no shimmer and is a very plain nude colour, but it adds a bit of brightening effect if you're in a rush.

Xxxx

Delicates

My mum was buying white opals from a little jewelers in Corfu when I was ten years old, and it took her about an hour and a half to pick what she wanted. In the meantime I sat bored stiff. One of the shop assistants was speaking to me and when my mum finally came to pay, she slipped a plain sliver ring on my finger and said it was free! I've barely taken the ring off in ten years, I feel naked without it and it's still the only piece of jewelry I wear on a regular basis.

Two weeks ago my mum went back to Corfu and bought me a matching necklace for my 20th birthday:

  The pattern is called The Greek Keys.

Xxxx

A Perfect Pair

Sometimes two products are just made for each other; this is one of those times! As soon as I wore the Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow and the Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti, I knew they were the most perfect of combinations. They're both orangey toned products and just bring out the best in one another, it's fast becoming my favourite summer look!

Xxxx