October Favourites

Bonjour my lovelies, and thank goodness it's Friday! Personally, I get Fridays off work, so that makes them doubly nice, and means that I get to have a good old lie in and then catch up on some blogging over a cuppa. So, with it being November already, that means it's time for me to share my favourite products of the past month! Apologies for one or two of them being foreign versions, but worry not, as you can still pick those up in the UK, and probably the US too.

Suti Peppermint Water Organic Facial Toner

I absolutely adore this facial spritz. It's so refreshing, and the calming peppermint fragrance makes it perfect for use before bed as well as to make me up in the morning. I also like to take this with me in my bag when I go to work, as it's great as a pick-me-up during the afternoon slump! It's fine to spray this on top of your makeup and actually kind of 'wakes it up' a bit, which is an added bonus. And to top it off, this is an organic product, which means you don't have to worry about what nasties are coming into contact with your face! Love. For my full review on this little treat, head over here.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

Absolutely my new favourite mask. It contains charcoal as the active ingredient, which penetrates the pores and draws out any bits of grime. I must say, my skin has been amazing since starting to use this. I did actually buy it with the hope that it would clear the perpetually blocked pores on my nose, and while I was originally a little bit disappointed that they didn't completely disappear, they definitely did make a difference. And since then, my skin in general has been really clear and glowing - not one spot! I am now using this once a week and wouldn't be without it! There is a full review coming up on the blog next week.

L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary

I was really reluctant to try another oil on my hair, as my first experience, with Argan oil, was far from a success. I always found that applying it onto dry hair (as instructed) left it looking greasy after a few hours, so I was intrigued when I read some great reviews of this one, saying that it didn't weigh the hair down. I like to apply this onto wet hair before drying, and I find that it leaves my hair really nice and smooth, and not at all oily. Another winner.

Palmolive Naturals Intense Pomegranate Shower Gel

I love Palmolive shower gels - in fact, they are my favourite. They're affordable and they smell amazing - what's not to love? This is the first time I've tried this particular one, and I am hooked.

Clinique All About Eyes Serum

It's no secret that I've been on the hunt to banish dark circles and puffy eyes, and this is one of the products I have been trying out. I actually haven't used it all that much yet, but I really like the concept of the cooling rollerball applicator, so while I 'll reserve judgement on whether or not it works for now, I will say that I really enjoy using it in the mornings and feel that it really wakes up my eyes. It does seem to reduce puffiness somewhat, but as yet,  it's not a miracle worker. I've been trying out a couple of other eye products as well, so I don't think I've given this one much of a chance until now - I want to try using it on a more consistent basis and see what it can do.

Benefit Gin Zing

Another eye product I've been giving a trial run, this time on a more consistent basis, and while I was a bit disappointed the first time I used it (having heard rave reviews),  a few weeks on I can really see a difference! My eyes are much less puffy, and they actually don't look quite as dark either, although I'm not sure if that's just my imagination/wishful thinking! I'm planning to give this a thorough review once I've been using it a bit longer, so keep your eyes open for that if you are a fellow sufferer!

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer

I'd never heard of this brand before, but having seen it on a list of the top under-eye concealers along with some before and after shots, I was impressed. I actually got this from a trusted seller on Ebay and am really liking it so far. It's really thick, but it doesn't settle into any fine lines. Again, not a miracle product, but as far as concealers go, it's really quite good.

Origins Modern Friction

Touted as 'nature's gentle dermabrasion', this gently exfoliates the face and leaves it smooth and glowing. I've been using it before the Clear improvement mask and find that they work really well together.

Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

This is a really rejuvenating mask and makes my skin look really radiant the day after I've used it. Full review coming soon.

And that's the lot! I did get a lot of these products towards the second half of the month, and things like face masks, which you can't use daily, do usually take a while to show their true colours, so do feel free to pop back and  read the reviews as and when they go up if you are interested in any of these.

What's were your favourite products in October?

xx

August Empties

Caudalie Eau Demaquillant Cleansing Water

(I know that this is clearly full in this picture, but I had to use an old photo of it thanks to my hubby throwing away the empty bottle before I could snap it! All the other pics were taken today, though.)

Probably my favourite product of the month, this micellar solution is great for those lazy evenings when you just don't have the energy to cleanse at the sink. Just pop some onto some cotton pads and wipe over the skin to remove makeup. I usually then do this again to make sure that my skin is lovely and clean if I am not doing my usual thorough routine (which would involve a hot cloth cleanser - Liz Earle or Pai).

I love that this is gentle enough to use on the eyes, and that it removes every last scrap of mascara without stinging or irritating. For my full review on this product, head over here.

 Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo

This is my all-time favourite shampoo, so it's nothing new, but I was fairly sure it was worth sharing with you given that I go back to it again and again. I LOVE Aussie shampoos - they smell amazing and always leave my hair feeling lovely and soft. I'm not sure that this one does make a huge difference volume-wise on it's own, so don't expect miracles, but it smells divine and does leave my hair feeling somewhat thicker. I tend to alternate it with Aussie's Mega and Miracle Moist shampoos, depending on what I feel my hair is most in need of at the time. Find my review of both Aussome Volume and Mega Shampoo here

Clinique All About Eyes 

I got this little pot of eye cream free in a little goodie bag I was given a while ago when I popped in and bought a few bits from my local Clinique counter. To be honest, I've only recently felt the need to use it, as (and I have mentioned this more than once on here of late) I have suddenly started waking up with really puffy eyes, with dark circles which last throughout the days. All About Eyes is designed to help with both of these issues, so I have been applying it every morning along with my moisturiser. It does seem to help the puffiness go down a bit, but unfortunately I can't say it does anything for the dark circles.

 Eucerin Dermo-Purifier Exfoliator

I picked this up abroad after forgetting to take some of my skincare products with me, and I've been quite enjoying using it a couple of times a week. However, I don't really find exfoliators necessary when I am using a hot cloth cleanser on a regular basis, as the muslin cloth does a pretty good job of sloughing away any dead skin cells to reveal soft, smooth skin.

 Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

And another bottle of this lovely stuff bites the dust. I am a huge fan of Liz Earle skincare, and of all the products I have tried, I adore the fresh, gentle scent and refreshing feel of this on the skin the most.

Recently though, through the summer months, I have found myself favouring a nice facial spritz such as Pai Peppermint Spray Toner or Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I just find them really refreshing, and they seem to be really beneficial for my skin. However, I am in no doubt that I will repurchase this product as I just love it so much.

 The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

I was recently rummaging in my stash of body moisturisers and came across this deliciously fragrant mango Body Butter. I've actually had this for a good couple of years, but had forgotten all about it, so the summer months seemed like the perfect time to dig it out. I love the texture and the feel of Body Shop Body Butters on the skin, and for me, they moisturise better than anything else I've tried. Plus, who doesn't like smelling like tropical fruit?

Palmolive Naturals Shower Cream in Yoghurt and Fruit

This is another product that I picked up whilst abroad. I always enjoy using Palmolive Shower Creams, and I would say that they are my go-to brand for these sorts of products. They feel really luxurious and moisturising, and - as many of this month's empties do - smell fantastic.

I'm also a huge fan of their Aromatherapy shower gels, which are great for a pick-me-up first thing in the morning. I will definitely be stocking up on a few more of both of these soon.

So, that's it for this month's empties, hope you enjoyed having a little nose.

Which products have you finished off this month, and which was your favourite?

xx