Caitie's October Favourites!

Hello Beauties!

First off, let me apologise for my absence. I have had a tough few weeks, and have really struggled to find the time and energy to dedicate to a post. I know that sounds awful, and I truly don't mean it to. I have just always been the type of person who hates to do a job halfway... And, so, when it comes to blogging, I hate the idea of publishing a half-hearted post.

Secondly, let me ask you all how you are?! What have you been doing? Today is my first day off in six days (welcome to the working world, Caitlin) and I must admit, I have been EXHAUSTED! I have a post in the pipeline about what's been going on with me, and life in general, so, if you're interested, look out for that!

Today I thought I'd talk to you all about my October favourites. I haven't done a favourites post before, so I'm pretty excited about it!

*Skin Care

Soap & Glory 'The Righteous Butter'
My sister and I are both huge fans of the Soap & Glory products, and this gorgeous body butter is definitely an October (and general all-time) favourite! My sister has just instructed me to disclose that she in fact (apparently, although I find this questionable) introduced me to the ENTIRE Soap & Glory range (she's not one for boasting). Oh, Christie, I love your modesty. I love the way this product smells and feels when I apply it to my bodddyyy (saucy!) I hadn't used this butter for a while, but when I went into Boots and saw 3for2 offers on all skincare I decided to pick up three mini body butters. Each one was £2.50, so I spent £5.00 all together, and felt like I had gotten a bit of a bargain! I am definitely going to ask for the full-sized one for Christmas! (N.B. If you like your body cremes to match your perfumes, this is a good one to go for, because it's affordable and smells just like Miss Dior! So, really, if you like your body creme to match your perfume and happen to also have Miss Dior, this is definitely a good one to go for!)

Avene 'Skin Recovery Creme'
If you've followed us for a while, you will have probably seen that I have mentioned this BEAUTIFUL creme before (in a post about my daily skincare routine). I really can't rave about this creme enough and, to be MODEST, have converted both my sister (who is apparently the fountain of all-knowledge) and mother to be Avene fanatics as well. You can pick this bad boy up in Boots for £12.50. Although it seems quite pricy (okay, it doesn't just seem pricy, it is!) it does last well, and, to be honest, is just TOTALLY worth the money.

*Makeup

Laura Mercier 'Mineral Powder'
I've used Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder for around a year now, since I first saw Barbara (also known as thepersianbabe on Youtube) talk / rave about it. This product is rather pricy at the £32.00 marker, but, again, is definitely worth it. I don't tend to refer to everyday products as investments, because they do get used up quickly, so, although this is money you won't really see again, it is worth it for the way your skin looks and feels when you use it. I apply this powder everyday, over my liquid foundation. Although it can be used as a mineral foundation on its own, I prefer to use it as an add-on to my routine, as it gives me just the right amount of extra coverage and glowiness. I think that's what makes this product so special really; the 'glow factor'. It gives your skin a lovely dewy and satiny finish, whilst making it feel as soft as a babies bottom. In three words, I LOVE IT, and in four, can't recommend it enough!

Benefit 'Erase Paste'
I know, I know, I'm not the first person to rave about this product. I've read many a glowing review about this Benefit concealer. When I saw Zoe from Zoella review this product, I knew I had to have it! This bad boy set me back £18.50, which is rather pricy, but definitely, definitely worth all of the pennies! The sales associate in Benefit advised me that this concealer is primarily an under-eye concealer, but, I must admit, that I have used it on any and all of my dark spots and imperfections and am IN LOVE with it. Why is it so amazing you may ask?! I have one word for you: texture. This product is a thick yet creamy consistency, and blends right into your skin. It doesn't 'highlight' blemishes as I have found other concealers do, but simply gently masks them. I absolutely LOVE this product. It has pride of place on my dresser, and also comes out with me wherever I go.

Mac 'Stay Pretty' Pro Longwear Blush
I am a self-confessed Mac blush ADDICT. I love every part of the experience of going into Mac and choosing a blusher, knowing I don't really need it but want want want it. I picked this Pro Longwear blush up in House of Fraser as a treat for myself (yes, that was my justification!) and have reached for it almost everyday since. Stay Pretty is one of the blushes in Mac's Office Hours collection and costs £19.00. Although this is again rather pricy, Mac blushes last FOREVER (I have yet to hit pan on any of the ones I own) and so, in that respect are little investments for your makeup collection. I love this blush because it is simply the girliest pink in the world. It gives your cheeks a gentle flush, which I think is perfect for the wintery months that are now upon us. Since purchasing this little beauty I've seen a number of mixed reviews about the Office Hours collection. Most concerns about the blushes revolve around their longevity, but, I must say, I have not noticed any problem with this at all. I apply it in the morning and it lasts ALL DAY, literally.

*Miscellaneous

Yankee Candle in 'Fresh Cut Roses'
So, this was one of those treats I picked up for myself and have been in love with ever since. There is something so magical about coming home and putting on your fairy lights and lighting your favourite candle. I have wanted a Yankee candle for absolutely AGES, but have never picked one up because of the price marker (around £15-£19 yikesss!) But, October saw me finally bite the bullet and treat myself to this gorgeous girly candle. After burning it throughout October I can finally justify the price of the Yankee products. Unlike many alleged 'scented' candles which actually don't smell AT ALL when they burn, this candle fills whatever room it is in (whether burning or not) with it's gorgeous scent. Roses have always been my favourite flower (alongside peonies and giant daisies) and so I love that my room smells just like them! I'm definitely planning to pick up a more festive scent when I get paid!

So beauties, that's it for my October favourites. I hope my thoughts about these products have been of some use to at least some of you. What were your October favourites?

Lots and lots of love,

Caitie <3

Ps. I'm sorry if the picture is a little bit blurry! I really wanted to get this post up for you guys, so I took it quickly on my iPhone!

Trauma and Saturday Shopping

Hello beauties,

It's Caitieloo here! Since Christie published (a rather hilarious) post this morning, I thought I'd take the night shift and tell you all about my weekend.

I started work on Saturday; and am now a proud sales assistant at Gap. I'll be working at Gap in conjunction with some other 'work experience' opportunities, so that I can work out what I might like to eventually do. Apparently being paid to shop is not a feasible option, so I'm still at the drawing board in terms of my life's ambitions! I'm looking forward to making some extra money and getting back into a routine, although tomorrow marks my first 9-hour shift, which, to be perfectly honest, terrifies me! I was so exhausted on Saturday, but, like the trooper I am (note my sarcasm) I will power through.

A rather unfortunate event occurred on Saturday morning. Being in a rush to get to work on time, I shoved a few of my 'go to' makeup products into my cute (new!!!) Cath Kindston makeup bag... When I got to work, I quickly nipped to the loo (don't you just love the word 'nipped'? It makes me feel like such a lady!) to check my makeup and do the mandatory number one. I decided to reapply some lipstick and upon opening my (now DEAD) makeup bag, realised that at some point in the morning I must have dropped it, and my brown eyeshadow, which I use for my eyebrows, had EXPLODED all over my makeup bag and other products inside it. Needless to say, I was horrified, HORRIFIED, I tell you. I re-zipped the offending bag and shoved it hastily back into my handbag, my hands now COVERED with brown muck.

The offending explosion. RIP Cath Kidston.

Although I managed to salvage most of the products that were in the bag, the bag is now a rather unfortunate shade of brown. Oh Cath Kidston, you served me well for the two weeks I had you.

After this shocking discovery I was only too happy to accept my sister's offer to go to Nando's after I finished my shift. I thought the horrors of the day were over, but alas, upon walking to Nando's, I tripped rather spectacularly over a stray can. But, I am happy to report, the day picked up after this.

After our date at Nando's, Christie and I decided to have a little womble around the shops and, in our usual style, managed to spend more money than was sensible. Christie will be posting about her haulage soon (including her Urban Outfitters haul), but, in the meantime, I thought I'd show you all a few of the things I picked up.

After hearing lots of bloggers praising the new Kate Moss for Rimmel collection, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon pick up a lipstick to try. After admiring all of the colours, I settled on shade 101, which is a gorgeous nude pink. In honesty I didn't have high expectations as I haven't really gotten on with Rimmel lipsticks before, but, I tell you what, WOW! The formula is so creamy and lovely, and feels moisturising on the lips, not at all like the formula of the other Rimmel lipsticks I have tried. Although I haven't used it for long enough to give a full review, this lipstick definitely gets a thumbs up from me so far. I think I'm definitely going to pick up a few more from the collection...! I haven't swatched the colour for you as there are so many reviews of the Kate Moss for Rimmel collection, but if you would like to see some pictures of how this colour looks on the lips, let me know!

Next, I popped into Mac (always a fatal error, in financial terms of course!) and picked up this Pro Longwear blush from the Mac Office Hours collection in the shade Stay Pretty. I would describe the colour as a very girly soft pink. I find it gives my cheeks a soft flush, which I think is rather nice in the colder A/W months. I've heard mixed reviews of the blushes in this collection, so I'll definitely report back to you with how I get on. Let me know if you'd like to see any pictures of Stay Pretty in action.

Lastly I picked up this Essie nail polish (my FIRST Essie polish, shocking, I know) in the shade Recessionista. I thought this product was best saved till last as it describes the state of my financial situation quite well !!! I have been looking for a polish that looks like the love child of burgundy and cranberry for quite a while, and, this is it! I think it is definitely going to be an A/W essential.

Well girlies, Christie just emerged from the shower, and so it's time for me to retire with her for a cup of tea and some blog / youtube catching up. As always, feel free to comment and let me know what you think. I've loved meeting and chatting to you over the last two months.

Lots and lots of love, and here's to a good week!

Caitlin <3