I love this time of year, the crispness in the air, scents of spice, drinking hot drinks and wearing sweaters and boots. I have some amazing favorites to share with you today! There are some old favorites that have made a return, but lots of awesome new ones! Away we go!!!!!!!
I live for Bath and Body Works....LIVE!!!! I especially live for their seasonal candles, specifically autumn and winter seasonal candles. I got hooked last year on a few from Vloggers like Vlogwithkendra and EleventhGorgeous. This year I hauled a bunch of autumn goodies from BBW!
The Pumpkin Hayride candle wasn't at the store in the mall, so I bought it blind and just going off the reviews. I can't even tell you how happy this candle makes me. It boasts a blend of caramel apple cider, pumpkin and golden oak.
Last year my family and I started the tradition of taking Kara to Lone Pine Farms. Lone Pine offers a tractor pulled hayride out to the pumpkin patch. Along the way, you get to see horses and other animals, the countryside and they drop you off at the perfect patch. After finding the best of the bunch, we load up and head back to the farm and indulge in hot cider and of course, the petting zoo. While the scent of goat dung isn't captured in this candle, happily, everything else it's name evokes, does. P.S. Lone Pine Farm's is definitely a Fall Favorite and cannot be beat!!!
My beauty blogger/vlogger pal, Emily, from Lisettesbeaute, recommended the Autumn candle last year and I was too late to get it. This year I made a point to snatch it up!
It smells like apples, crisp cool autumn air, and a bonfire, without a heavy smokey smell. This too, is a happy making candle. It reminds me of getting bundled up and making cider and mulled wine and hanging out with friends. Yum!
Sweater Weather was the one I stalked, the moment I beelined to BBW. This has what my sorority sisters would call, the "mandle" effect, aka smells like a man in candle form. I'm normally not a "mandle" girl, but that cologne scent is light and not overpowering. It is clean and crisp and reminds me of walking the footbridge to Autzen Stadium to watch Ducks football!
Leaves has been a classic Holy Grail candle for many beauty bloggers/vloggers and pretty much anyone with a working nose. It a spicy mix of apple and spiced berries. It smells a lot like the mulled wine I like to make in autumn and winter. The spice is very clovey and warm. It really captures the essence of autumn, but isn't a generic scent, rather each note is perfectly blended!.
My poor boss, Angela, has been ill with pneumonia 3 times this year! Yikes! That, plus school back in session and me resuming my advising position at U of Oregon, Kappa Alpha Theta, I'm scared of getting sick.
These pocket bac's from BBW provide quick protection against all the germs that kids share and the nastiness on cash money and credit cards I take from custies at the winery.
They all smell of baked goods to an extent, especially Pumpkin Cupcake and Creamy Pumpkin.
The Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin gives a more floral vibe. Interesting considering it's candle counterpart is very much an edible scent.
My fave? Pumpkin Caramel Latte! This is spicy and delicious. It's not one that you would mind tasting if you accidentally grab a piece of gum or a cough drop and tag your tongue. It's something I want year round!!!
This fall I have been sticking to my New Years Resolution, which was, to accessorize more. It's easy mishear and think I meant, "Exercise more", I get it ;)
Cate & Chloe made it easy when they made an offer on these studded, mesh knot, silver earrings.
After I got them in the mail, one earrings knot was coming undone. I contacted the company, just praying that they'd let me exchange, but dear Jason from customer service, contacted me immediately and sent out a brand new pair and told me to not even worry about sending the others back. Um, hello?? Who offers service like that anymore???? Cate & Chloe has some beautiful simple and statement pieces. I really think that there is something for everyone. These pieces are timeless, they will look good any time of year or any year for that matter. They often run specials on their site, so keep them in mind for Christmas!!
Gorjana & Griffin is another company that I fell for. They sent their circular "G Necklace" out in a PopSugar box. I don't subscribe to PopSugar, so I missed out and had to buy it on my own.
The "G Necklace" is so simple, yet elegant. It's a very delicate necklace and I was worried it would look like a dog collar when I wore it, but just the opposite. It dresses up any outfit and adds spectacular to an evening look, without being overboard. I really recommend this necklace. It's simplicity is what drew me to it, but it's ability to make a t-shirt and jeans look chic, made me fall in love!
Their beautiful braided and gold Bali beaded bracelet is another simple, yet elegant piece to any ones collection. 100% of its profits go to Breast Cancer Connections.
I got mine in 18k gold, but it's also available in rose gold. It fits perfectly around the wrist without being too loose or cutting off circulation. It's closure is Gorjana & Griffin's signature gold disc, fitted through a thread button hole.
I wear this everyday. Literally, everyday. This is something I will wear till the day it falls off. It complements my "G Necklace" perfectly, but also isn't distracting when I have my silver jewelry on.
When you register on the G & G site, you receive 15% off your purchase and the only problems you'll have will be making a decision! Not a bad problem to have!
Anyone who knows me knows I am a fragrance junky! Christian Dior's Hypnotic Poison has been a Holy Grail and signature scent for me since it's launch. Back in the day, they used to make a gold body lotion that made your skin sparkle and shine without turning out Goldfinger realness.
The fragrance itself is an Oriental Vanilla fragrance for women. Top notes are apricot, plum and coconut; middle notes are tuberose, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose, brazilian rosewood and caraway; base notes are sandalwood, almond, vanilla and musk. This is a fragrance that has no dupes. It isn't the cookie cutter floral that has been done to death. It's not so spicy that it's grandmotherly, although I have a leaning towards SOME of those kinds of scents ;) It is a very sexy scent without being tarty. This is not for everyone, so I suggest a spritz the next time you hit the fragrance counter. If you like what you smell, it will become an addiction and a part of your fragrance wardrobe for life!
Marchesa made its name through their bridal and red carpet dresses. Flaunted be aristocrats and celebs themselves, they have become the leader in chic sophistication, so when they launched their fragrance, I had to see if it measured up to their sought after name.
I first got this in a rollerball form from Sephora. I figured if I hated it, I was only out $10! Turns out, I loved it. I loved it so much, I spent a portion of tips and birthday money to get a bottle and keep the rollerball I'm my purse for touch up's!
Marchesa Parfum is a light floral, with combination of fresh flower petals of freesia, young violet leaves, night blooming jasmine, ambrox, and finishing with musk. It is fresh and floral without being overpowering. I see this as a year round fragrance for me, wearas some of my other fragrances are too spicy for summer day time.
I am so in love with this and it is an instant Holy Grail for me, which says a lot! I rarely go gaga for a new fragrance, but last fall when I fell in love with Guerlains Little Black Dress, it opened a door in my restrictive brain, to let new classics enter!
I have been a nail polish freak since last year. I really have kept up the commitment to have polish on at all times. There are some in my polish arsenal that are making a comeback.
If any of you read my polish post from last fall, these will be familiar to you.
Revlon started it all with their dupe of Chanel's Paradoxal, in the form of Perplex, recently renamed Naughty. It's an opalescent grey purple that looks great with everything. It isn't necessarily an autumn season only polish, but it's medium color really finishes any look.
L'oreal also got into the dupe swing of things! Their VIP Status is a perfect dupe for Chanel's Black Pearl. This is a dark grey navy metallic that is very chic on any skin tone. It's the same color that became an instant classic for Chanel, but at $5 a bottle, L'oreal wins all!
Another great Chanel dupe is Rimmel's Steel Grey. As opposed to the name that it suggests, it is more of a light brownish grey cream polish. As disgusting as that description sounds, the look is a gorgeous dupe for Chanel's Particuliere. I'd recommend this for light to medium skin tones as it may not compliment out ultra fair or mocha blessed skin toned sisters.
Sally Hansens Pat On the Black is another misnomer. It's not black, but rather a deep blackened red. It's a touch above Chanel's Vamp, which gained fame on Pulp Fiction's Mia Wallace's nails. This is great for year round, especially chic on toes. It looks perfect with a tan or on women with deeper skin tones, but, as with Mrs. Mia Wallace, it suits the lily white skin tones as well.
These polishes are all in my Holy Grail Hall of Fame. Available year round, I definitely would snatch at least a couple up for fall and winter!
All I have to say about Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser is : read my review!
Can a cleanser make you happy? Yes! This is officially in my Holy Grail skincare stock. I've been fighting a cold and this is such a treat at the end of a long day, but also a perfect pick for an early fall morning. It just makes my skin and spirit, happy. I love Birchbox for bringing me a new Holy Grail item!
I've always loved Vitamin C serums since the days of Lancôme's Cura-C. Ole Henriksen captures the natural essence of citrus oils without smelling like a chewable vitamin.
The natural ingredients used, really brighten the skin and even out the skin tone. It has humectants to bind moisture to it, making your moisturizer work better and really, if you are making an investment in skincare, that's what you want!
From Sephora's website:
"- Orange extract supports natural cell turnover and purifies.
- Grapefruit extract brightens with antiseptic and aromatic qualities.
- Rose hips seed extract heals, repairs damage, and soothes.
- Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is very stable, safe, and non-irritating—the key to production of collagen.
- Ester-c (Calcium Ascorbate) is a highly stable natural form of vitamin C found naturally in the body."
I'm really excited to finish my deluxe sample from Ipsy! This may be a new addition to my routine!!!-
This rich cream, from a favorite brand, Fresh, is rich without the greaseball factor. The Super 7 Complex of plant extracts, lotus flower extracts and blue-green algae hydrate and firm up the skin and prevent wrinkles. The addition of hibiscus fruit extract gives the skin feel moisture and releases it throughout the day, maintaining hydration without makeup melting off. It has Fig fruit extract, a natural moisture magnet, that helps skin keep moisture. Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants that will fight off any free radicals, from outside or inside environment. Instead of using my hated mineral oil, Fresh uses a vegetable glycerol to keep the moisture barrier in tact. I use this morning and evening and love the results. It just makes my skin look moisturized and plumps up any dehydrated areas. Thank you Glossybox for hooking me up!
I hope some of my favorites make their way into YOUR favorites! I really feel happy this time of year. There is something about seeing the seasons change, the sights and scences and bundling up, that warm my heart and body up!
What are your favorites? Subscribe and let me know!!!
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