October: The Love List

It's the end of October already (somehow?!) and so, once again it's time to talk through all of my beauty faves of the month! I've got quite a big selection of things I've been loving, so I think we better get straight into it...

BEAUTY BAY AGE OF OPULENCE PALETTE - Beauty Bay released a brand new 20 pan palette this month and of course, I just had to pick it up! This is almost like a deeper, richer sister of the Book of Magic palette they launched around this time last year (and made limited edition!) and so I had a feeling I'd be a big fan - and I really am! This is just the same, amazing formula as all of the other palettes they've released in this format (super pigmented, blendable mattes and creamy, almost putty-like shimmers that apply so foiled and intense) and the colour scheme is just gorgeous.  

PLOUISE STACK EM UP PALETTES IN 'SMONEY TONES', 'CEO 000 000' AND 'TALK IS CHEAP' - I've been interested in trying one of the palettes from PLouise for a while, but none of the colour schemes ever really appealed to me (plus they were nearly always big palettes in big, OTT packaging). However, these smaller palettes in more monochromatic colour stories did kinda catch my eye when they were released earlier this year I think. And then, I saw MakeMeUpMissa using them in a video not too long ago and that was the final nudge I needed. I picked the three up as a bundle which worked out a pretty good deal and ever since trying them all, I have been obsessed! Basically, when I haven't been trying and using the Age of Opulence, I've been creating looks with these three beauties. And if these palettes as anything to go by in terms of the brand's formula, I'm really impressed! The mattes are pigmented, easy to blend and the shimmers are super reflective and sparkly. I also love the colour stories in each palette, especially for monochrome palettes too. The matte shades go from super deep to super light and there's a good variety of undertones - plus a good ratio of mattes and shimmers!

MUA INTENSE COLOUR MASCARAS - I've seen lots of people using coloured mascaras on their lower lashes on Instagram looks lately and so when these new ones from MUA popped up on Beauty Bay's new in section not too long ago, I added them to my basket! They were super cheap and so I saw them as a great option for trying this 'trend' without spending a lot. And so far, I'm really pleased with them! They're pigmented and full of colour on the lashes with just one coat, dry quickly and last throughout the day without any flaking or smudging! I'm really happy to have these in my collection now for if I want to add a little extra something to my looks!

BARRY M BOLD WATERPROOF LINERS - These kohl liners from Barry M have always been raved about and I decided to try a couple this month! And they really are so, so good! I've been loving using these in my waterline and they're fully pigmented, creamy, glide on easily and last pretty well throughout the day too!

MUA INTENSE COLOUR LIP LINER IN 'FANTASY' - I'd heard this lip liner was a good option for a nude (for my paler skin-tone) eyeliner and so far, I definitely agree. Yes, yes, it's meant to be used on your lips but these lip liners have basically identical ingredients to the kohl liners from MUA and I have personally had no issues with using this on my eyes. It's a nice, light beige but without being too pale and so does the job of brightening up the waterline, without being too stark, if I don't fancy popping a coloured liner or something dark like a brown or black in there. And it lasts really well throughout the day too!

BENEFIT HOOLA LITE BRONZER - I had a tester of the original Benefit Hoola from a gift set ages ago and really enjoyed it a bronzer/contour type hybrid. Even though it's a bronzer, it's definitely more of a cooler-toned shade and so acts more in the way of sculpting out the face as opposed to adding a warm, sunkissed glow. And though I enjoyed it, because it wasn't a typical bronzer tone for me, I never really fell in love with it. However, I have had my eye on Hoola Lite ever since it was launched a few years back (along with some deeper shades, finally!). MakeMeUpMissa have been raving about it for a while and finally, after seeing a very good discount on it - I picked it up! And I've really been enjoying it. This is a really light bronzer and on my skin-tone, I've been really loving this for giving an overall light touch of warmth to the skin before going in with one of my typical bronzers to add more depth where I need it OR for buffing out my standard, deeper bronzers where I perhaps have gone a little heavy-handed or need to make things more seamless. It blends like a dream!

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH LIP LINERS - I used to love the lip liners from Rimmel way back in the day. They were my go-to - especially the shade 'Tiramisu'. It was the perfect nude lip liner for me. However, after my last one got all used up a good couple of years ago now, I moved onto new things and found other favourites - until now, that is. Recently, their lip liners had a re-brand (but kept a lot of the same colours) and I fancied picking up some of my old favourite colours to add back into my collection and let's just say, they are just the same, great formula and shades as always...

DUO QUICK SET BRUSH ON LASH GLUE - After so long, I finally had an opportunity to wear false lashes this month! And whilst doing so, I decided to try this new glue (perhaps a risky move) but it all turned out well as I fell in love with it! Duo has always been my go-to for lash glue, but I usually use their classic clear one in a tube. This version is the same clear formula, but in a brush set-up and it also apparently sets quicker - making lash application faster - and all in all, I really like it! The brush does indeed make it super easy to get the glue onto the lashes and I would definitely say the formula seems to go tacky in less time than the original too. My lashes are on in no time and they also stay stuck perfectly in place too!

BARRY M GELLY HI SHINE NAIL PAINTS IN 'PARMA VIOLET', 'PLUM JAM', 'BERRY PIE' AND 'HUCKLEBERRY' - Barry M can do no wrong in terms of nail polishes and their new Autumn/Winter 2021 collection is no different! I picked up these four new colours to try and all of them are just gorgeous. Same amazing formula as I've come to expect from the Gelly range - and the shades are spot-on. Perfect for the colder months...

So there we have it - all of my beauty favourites from October! Don't forget to let me know in the comments what you've been enjoying this month...