These chillier nights are calling for cozy, candle lit, Netflix binging while snuggled up in a bunch of blankets. With that being said, my favorite time of the year to use and buy candles is here. I have collected a couple new candles to last this season and I literally want to eat them all (calm down Natalie). If you know me, then you know that I have an obsession with candles. It's getting better every year but, more and more stores are creating beautiful and deliciously smelling candles. Who doesn't love 'em as much as I do?
To start, a recent purchase from Bath and Body Works, is this Mahogany Teakwood candle. As my mom would describe it, "It smells like man," she says...as I cringe and slowly walk away. Honestly, it does give off a musky, Lumberjack type scent...and I'm not complaining! I would recommend this candle if you like the more fresh and woodsy smells. Also, Bath and Body has come out with these gorgeous marbled candles so, why wouldn't I buy it?!
I had to make an errand to Target about a week ago and I was strolling past all of the clearance sections, as you do, and spotted all of their candles for 50% off. I tried not to get carried away so, after smelling every single fall candle they have, I decided on the Autumn Harvest candle that smells pretty much...of all things autumn. It's crisp and really fresh smelling; it's pretty subtle in terms of how "sicky" or strong the smell is because sometimes fall candles do have a very potent smell.
Received as a gift from my aunt was this Yankee Candle Autumn Pumpkin candle. It is very sweet and really gives off that desired pumpkin scent. One of my yummier candles, in my opinion. It smells like my mom just made homemade pumpkin pie.
Lastly, my friend Ellie bought this small Scentsational Pumpkin Spice, one wick candle for my birthday this year. It smells very sweet and spicy. Probably one of the best fall candles that I have ever owned. It's small, but mighty.
What fall scent have you been obsessing over this month?
Xoxo, Nat
Normally, I do a back to school shop but, this year I didn't have time to do any of it so over the past couple months I have been collecting some new pieces for this season. Fall is my favorite time of year to really express my style; it's super easy to think of outfits because you don't have to deal with oppressing heat and sun all the time. Layering pieces and not wearing flip flops everyday is something that I always get excited about for this time of year.
I haven't worn colored pants since the sixth grade but, boy do these blushed AEO Denim X Jeggings look so cute! I know that pink is not normally a color you would wear in the fall but, I think this shade really works. Especially paired with a black and white flannel, it can add a nice touch of color without making you look like an Easter extravaganza. They're so comfortable and were only $20 at American Eagle!
I have always loved the look of booties and chelsea boots, specifically, look great paired with skinny jeans. I wanted a pair that would have a slight heel and were also a different color other than chestnut or black. The AEO D-Ring Western Bootie is quite the bootie! At first, they were a bit snug, probably due to the pointed toe, but I broke them in and they can really dress up any fall look, which I love. They're classic and timeless--a great fall shoe.
I have been obsessed by the look of a cute, woven pom pom hat lately. This one I actually got a while back at H&M is no longer on the website, but I linked one similar anyway. You can feel warm and snug while looking very cute and ready for winter!
Another thing that I found was this huge blanket scarf from the Target dollar section (of course). Whenever I go to Target they always seem to be out and this one happened to be there one day and I was like, "Uhhh why haven't I ever seen this before?!". It was only $7 and it's honestly one of the best scarves I have ever owned. I love the dark greens and blues in it instead of your usual reds and beige colors you seen in fall scarves; perfect for fall and winter, as well.
I have been loving the fall fashion trends lately and am always up for a change! Let me know what types of pieces or trends you guys have been loving this fall down below.
Xoxo, Nat
Only two more weeks until Halloween and I am so excited for all things spooky and creepy! If you are having some type of get together, Halloween party, or just want to send a friend a nice treat and don't want to spend a ton on little party favors like these, the Target Dollar Section has everything you need.
The Target Dollar section has been one of my favorite places to buy all things home and their constant variations and restocks of amazing "crap" is changed every season and I always end up spending like $30 on a ton of cute stuff. I recently had to go buy a Halloween themed raffle prize and knew exactly where to get it! Stuff like this shouldn't be something you have to drop your whole wallet on. Sadly, Target does not have any of these things specifically online due to their constant circulation of product but, every Target will most likely carry these things for under $10.
A couple of the first things I saw and thought were really fun were these Grow Capsules that you can put in water and they turn into really cute pumpkins and monsters. I always used to get these at parties when I was younger and at night we would put every one of them in a glass jar and by morning they would all be huge and fully grown creatures!
I also found this cute Jack'o'lantern bucket and these really adorable socks to go with it. I wanted to include some candy (obviously because it's Halloween) and Caramel Apple Pops are the best Halloween sweets in my opinion!
I really loved this huge, fox eraser and thought it went perfectly with the Halloween theme. Also, I used to have memories of my mom buying us these window clings every holiday season and I was obsessed with how squishy and fun they were to decorate with.
Another fun thing to get are little crafts that your guests or friends can do at your party or at home after the party! I thought that this really creative Character Jar Kit was a fun thing to make and decorate a drab dresser or coffee table. Who doesn't want a kitten jar?
The Target Dollar Section has one of the best selections of party favors and gifts and are always under $10! Most of my background in flat flays consist of products from the dollar section; it's incredible how awesome it is to not spend a fortune on things like that.
Have you guys visited the Target dollar section?
Xoxo, Nat
Autumn is my favorite time of year for all things makeup; especially with my olive skin tone, I am obsessed with the jewel and nude tones that come with the season. This specific "look" has been already repeated countless times and I have craved a long wearing look that will stay all day and won't leave my face on these windy fall days. It's simple but, hints of color make this look emulate all things I love about fall!
I just did a review of this incredible Milani foundation about two days ago, here, and I can't seem to stop using it! You can read a more detailed description of it using the link but, I gotta say, it's one hell of a product. For someone with extremely combo skin, it smooths over any dry areas and doesn't leave my face looking drained or dehydrated and when my skin is a bit more oilier on some days, it holds it's dewy look without creating a shiny mess after a couple hours. It's a no-brainer for when you need a great full coverage foundation because you can skip the concealer and be out the door in no time. It'll definitely be in my collection all year round.
I have also been really loving the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade. I did another review of this product and also raved about it. The dramatic brows are so in this season and I love the way they can really frame a look.
My obsession for metallic and jewel toned eyes can sometimes get out of hand. I'll use so many combinations of them! Especially this Laura Geller Baked Color Intense Shadow Duo in Dolce/Raisin. The pigmentation of these two shadows are astonishing and are very easy to blend to create the mastered fall eye look. Sometimes, I'll also go into the crease with the Marsk Mineral Eye Shadow in You're Toast; it has been a recent grab in many of my makeup routines lately. One of those very pretty copper shades and (knowing me) I had to use it now that it's finally fall.
Okay, so, I am a little bit guilty here. I didn't give Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara a fair chance. I reviewed this mascara a lonnng time ago, you can read about it here, and totally dissed the waterproof version of this mascara. Which was very stupid of me because normally waterproof versions of mascaras have slightly different formulations.
It was true, what I said but, I never gave the normal one a fair shot. It is a really great, curling and lengthening mascara. I'm sorry for any of you I offended when I totally didn't compare it to the original formula. Now they have like a new one that I think might even be better than this one! Maybelline ceases to come out with impressive mascaras and I guess I was wrong about this one for the most part.
Mac's Velvet Teddy Lipstick is a cult classic and one of my absolute favorite nude lipsticks that I have ever tried. It's fairly matte and moisturizing at the same time; great for an everyday, fall look.
A recent purchase of a Smashbox set included this mini Hydrating Under Eye Primer that has really helped prevent my concealer from settling into my fine lines under my eyes and really makes a difference when I put on foundation. It's great for those dark fall mornings when you're completely disoriented because you forgot it was daylight savings time and can't wake yourself up for the life of it.
I think I might do more of these posts to share what I have been reaching for every morning according to the seasons and whatnot--I love reading these types of posts and hope you all do too! What other types of products have you been obsessing over this fall?
Xoxo, Nat
It was time for me to finally find a new, full coverage foundation; one that would forever disappear my troubled skin and leave it looking healthy and oil-free. The Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 has redefined full coverage foundation. I heard raves about Milani's foundation and I know that all of their other products are just as amazing as this foundation. With minimal flaws and at a reasonable price of $10, this product does wonders for the skin.
It's always been a struggle for me to find the right full coverage foundation. With 14 shades in thecollection, there's a shade for everyone and it also has a pump. Two of the reasons I fell in love with this product at first glance.
Some other things I loved about this product, after I have been using it for the past two weeks, is that it truly is a long wearing foundation. Especially for special occasions, performances, or night outs, this foundation fails to move off the face and does not appear over-dewy, like many full coverage foundations seem to do. With that being said, it is water resistant which is a plus and very common with many full coverage foundations so that it stays in place all day long.
I also fell in love with how flawless my skin looked; having very sensitive, acne prone skin, uneven pigmentation, and the occasional dark circles after long nights of writing (or watching Netflix hehe). This product really does cover it all up. You don't even need to use a large amount of product to fully conceal everything. The trick to using this product and not feeling like you've caked on all your makeup is to use a pea sized amount and apply it with a damp beauty sponge, like the favored Beauty Blender, and even everything out for the ever-so-flawless finish. I can honestly say that this foundation looks so good in pictures...who doesn't want that?
Obviously not every single foundation is going to work for everybody and there's always something about a product that some people notice and some don't. One of the main things I noticed with this product was that it is a little hard to blend. Noting that it is a thicker formulation, it isn't something that takes away from the result of the product. As long as you use a damp sponge or really make sure you blend out the product evenly, you should be good to go and look more flawless than ever.
Another small flaw I noticed was that the shades tend to range a bit darker on the spectrum. So, I actually ended up purchasing the lightest shade they had. Sorry my paler friends!
Despite those two small things I noticed, this product has been at a daily reach when I do my makeup. If you are looking for a fuller coverage foundation I would totally recommend this one. It really does make your skin look magically healthier and does a great job staying in place all day. Have you tried this yet?
Xoxo, Nat
Over this past weekend, my family and I made a trip out to Larson's Family Farm, which is small, quaint, and everything you would look for in an all American pumpkin patch. The pumpkins were not picked over and they were very big and juicy! My family has paid for store bought pumpkins in the past and it just isn't the same. The day we went was one of the best days we've gone pumpkin picking; it was so crisp and felt like a beautiful, first autumn day!
This farm was not your average, commercialized "Big 'Ol Pumpkin Fair Extravaganza" patch. It just felt...real. The owners were so welcoming and seemed to have been running their family business for a very long time. They had a lot of acreage and owned a couple horses that I couldn't stop petting!
This farm had a pretty big patch of pumpkins which also included gourds (mini squash-like vegetables) every where we stepped! They also seemed to have been growing Christmas trees for the winter already. As we made our way around the rather abundant patch, we also managed to buy a pile of Indian Corn (some pretty rainbow corn that you can hang and use to decorate just about anywhere in or outside of your house) and some small gourds...that we totally forgot to bring home after we bought them. So, that just gave us another excuse to go back to the pumpkin patch again. Ha!
Once we were finished picking pumpkins, we paid for them all in their massive barn which consisted of a ton of Halloween treats! They had popcorn, apple cider, hot chocolate, candy, and of course caramel apples (which were amazing because they had home-made caramel).
I have always enjoyed picking pumpkins and it's a great time to spend with friends and family. I feel like fall isn't fall without a pumpkin picking excursion! I would totally recommend going to a pumpkin patch, preferably family owned and non-commercialized to get the best experience you can get! Plus, there will be warm, home-made goods that you can't get at those places anyway. If all else fails, supermarket pumpkins work, too! What's a fall tradition you enjoy doing?
Jacket-Charlotte Russe Flannel-Old Navy Denim-American Eagle Outfitters Hat-H&M Satchel-Urban Outfitters Chelsea Boots (look alike)-H&M
It's rare for me to find a face mask as great as any fresh Lush face mask but, boy do I have news for you all! I've done it. One of the best and easy sheet masks I have tried in a long time. I have always been a follower and user of Yes To products and when I was at the store the other day, I strolled upon a kiosk full of these Yes To face masks. They had many different types of sheet masks to choose from; I choose the Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin mask for my oily and acne prone skin.
Infused with tomato extracts and salicylic acid, this mask does wonders for my sensitive skin. I'm a sucker for anything beauty related that's great for making my skin glow and feel amazingly soft.
Like all sheet masks, this one is very easy to use. After I cleanse my face, I pull the mask apart and place it on my face! So simple. It only takes about 10 minutes to fully react to the skin and all you have to do is wipe off some of the excess product when you're done (which I don't mind all that much).
I used this right before I got my period and I think it really did prevent bigger breakouts from appearing. Especially on those nights when you want to pamper but, you're a lazy oaf like me, this is really convenient to use. It can also be great to do at a party or a sleepover with your best buds!
If you love the other Yes To products like the facial wipes, you'll love their new masks. I might have to go pick up all of the other ones that they just released. Have you tried these out yet?
Like all sheet masks, this one is very easy to use. After I cleanse my face, I pull the mask apart and place it on my face! So simple. It only takes about 10 minutes to fully react to the skin and all you have to do is wipe off some of the excess product when you're done (which I don't mind all that much).
I used this right before I got my period and I think it really did prevent bigger breakouts from appearing. Especially on those nights when you want to pamper but, you're a lazy oaf like me, this is really convenient to use. It can also be great to do at a party or a sleepover with your best buds!
If you love the other Yes To products like the facial wipes, you'll love their new masks. I might have to go pick up all of the other ones that they just released. Have you tried these out yet?
Xoxo, Nat
Autumn, unlike all of the other seasons, is when I feel most compelled to use a lot of pampering products; it's cold and rainy. Frankly, it's the best time to do so. I think every girl needs time to herself to do nails or use a nice face mask. We deserve it at the end of a long week, anyway! Especially during fall, the only thing you could want more is to just lay in a warm tub, throw in a couple Lush bath bombs, light some pumpkin candles, and play some music if you ask me!
Across the blogger world, I feel like fall is one of the highest written about seasons and many people, including myself, are very excited about it.
You can never go wrong with a berry or a metallic nail polish during fall and I love Essie's, In The Lobby, and their mesmerizing silver shade, No Place Like Chrome. I found that I really like using metallic colors on an accent nail paired with this berry shade. It adds a little edge to any look and acts as a piece of jewelry. Essie's selection of colors is never-ending; there's a shade for everyone and everything.
Usually after I do my nails, I'll start a warm bath (very rarely do I take baths but, boy do I love it when I have a Lush bath bomb and only a Lush bath bomb). I gotta say, there's nothing like a tub full of color and delicious smells that could be more appealing. Even though this is a springy and fresh bath bomb, the Sakura bath bomb has been a constant favorite. I don't love strong scents anyway when it comes to what I use all over my body, so this is great for those of you who don't love overpowering fragrances. It's floral and citrusy; great for any time of the year in my opinion.
Speaking of Lush, their Catastrophe Cosmetic face mask is great for sensitive skin and does a magical job at cleansing my skin and ridding excess oils without making it even oilier. It's made of fresh blueberries (awesome) and natural essential oils (even more awesome).
Smelling of fresh Bergamot and Peppermint, Origin's Modern Friction Gentle Dermabrasion Cream, has been one of my holy grail skincare products. I do have the mini size, which I use very sparingly but, love as a light exfoliator for my skin every couple of days. It really helps clear out my pores and soften out my face.
Another mini pamper product, and a strong one at that, that I normally use following the exfoliator is the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. I have been using this since I received it in my Sephora Birthday Gift set and sadly, I am almost out! I haven't found a better cleanser that is as strong and as light as this one. It doesn't dry out my skin and gives my skin this weird but, goddess-like glow in the morning after I have used it (maybe that's just my imagination but, who cares! I think it even makes my makeup look better).
I will have to do more shopping and looking around for more pamper products. Especially from Lush, I am oh-so-excited to try out some new fall things! If you guys have any products you love using this time of year, please share! I'd love to try something new.
Xoxo, Nat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons