Most Wanted Beauty Products: September

As August is coming to a close (it passed us by so quickly!) I thought I'd share some beauty products that I may be looking to invest in next month. Please let me know if you've tried any of them, how you got on with them, and if you'd recommend that I purchase them! If you enjoy these wish list style posts, let me know as I may do a fashion one as well.

Links to where you can purchase these products/where the pictures were taken from are in the captions of each photo!

POREfessional

1. Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm ($30)
So many people have reviewed this product well and as it is one of Benefit Cosmetics' best sellers, I would love to give it a go. The price has held me back for a while now and I've considered purchasing a Benefit beauty kit that includes a sample in order to try it out. I know on their website they have several kits in a range of colors called How to Look the Best at Everything that are 'coming soon' and they all contain a sample of the pro balm. Currently they also sell a Snow White & the Huntsman inspired kit that includes a full-sized one but the kit is still $45. The only reason I've considered this kit is because it also comes with a full-size BAD gal lash mascara which I also love (see my Hidden Beauty Treasures post) and that normally retails for $19 alone. Let me know what you think I should do and if you've tried any of these products or kits!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

2. Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18)
The only negative thing I've heard about this product seems to be the smell as some find it overwhelming for a face mist. However, I have sampled it several times in stores (as you should most products when possible) and the fragrance doesn't bother me, I actually quite like it. The elixir is meant to be misted on prior to applying your daily moisturizer and then throughout the day to refresh your look and bring radiance to your skin. It can also be used as an after-shave for men, but I highly doubt that I'd be able to convince my husband to give it a try. The price is a bit steep for a mist, but apparently it does last through many applications and continues to be a recommended product by a lot of people.

Woodwinked

3. MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow ($12-15)
Anyone subscribed to Tanya Burr's blog or YouTube channel will probably want this eye shadow by now. She uses it an awful lot and recently did a whole eye look with it in her Olympics makeup video. The way this shadow blends looks amazing and it seems like you wouldn't even need a different crease color because of the way it deepens as you work the product over your lid. If you've tried it, let me know your thoughts!

Starter Set (Purchase Here / Image Here)

4. Real Techniques Brush Set (~$18)
Most of the brushes that I currently have are from several different brands (Clinique, Sephora, or just Target) and I would like to invest in a nice set of professional brushes. I am far from a professional makeup artist, but the more eye shadows and eye creams I acquire, the more I long for nice brushes to apply them with. Real Techniques has several starter kits on their website that have three or four brushes in them for around $18, which is a great deal considering a lot of companys charge more than that for a single brush. Since I'm not looking to become a professional makeup artist anytime soon, I figure this is a reasonably priced way to get nicer brushes without being ridiculous.

In the Light

5. Stila In the Light Eye Shadow Palette ($39)
Several blogs have done reviews and swatched this palette and it just looks divine. I was considering investing in the Bobbi Brown Desert Twilight eye shadow palette when I was in Blue Mercury a few days ago, but its accompanying $60 price tag definitely scared me off. This Stila palette seems comparable and has more bang for the buck. I'll admit I have far too many eye shadows, but I do love a new palette so this is definitely on my most wanted list.

Spicebomb

6. Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Cologne ($75)
Yes, I am aware this is a men's cologne and no, I don't care. If you've smelled this fragrance you'll know that it has quite the androgenous appeal to it and is much better than the women's version Flowerbomb. This wouldn't be the first time I picked up a men's fragrance and I'm sure it won't be the last. I've never really been afraid to venture outside of my department and if you haven't tried it, you should! It's quite liberating actually, haha!

Sexy Pulp Mascara

7. Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara ($18)
So I have come to that magical time when all of my mascaras (I've been switching between three these past few months) are running very low or dry. I came across this recommendation from Zoe on one of my favorite blogs, Zoella. The large, oddly shaped brush on this mascara seems to be right up my alley and so I've wanted to buy it ever since she posted about it. I'd never heard of the Yves Rocher company before and it was a happy surprise to look through their website and explore all of the different products. I love discovering new brands!

There you have it! Hopefully I'll get to try some of these products in September and if I do, there are sure to be some reviews to follow. Again, let me know what you've tried or what you think I should try and I hope you all have a lovely day!

:: katie golightly x

images credited in captions. everything else is my own including opinions and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

High End Beauty Haul

Though I don't own very many high end makeup products, I do tend to splurge on ones that seem worth the price. Some of my favorite brands that are on the more expensive side of things include: MAC, Bobbi Brown, NARS, Dior, Chanel, and Burberry. I recently visited our local Blue Mercury and Nordstrom stores and came away with three lovely products that I know I will get a lot of use out of and enjoy.

The first item I bought was this NARS eyeshadow duo in Kuala Lumpur which retails for $34 (USD). One of the best parts of buying nicer brands is the wonderful effort they put into the packaging. All three of these products are proof of that and it is something that can truly be appreciated. In the picture above, the colors look a bit lighter than they truly are but you can get a better idea of what they look like on the NARS website where they describe the colors as a 'rose gold and boysendberry infused with gold.' On the left is a peachy nude color and on the right is a deep purple tone. They both have a nice shimmer to them and apply nicely. I have light green eyes so these colors will really help them to stand out in any makeup look.

After struggling to find the Chanel Illusion D'ombre long wear shadow in the shade Emerveille, I decided to try this similar shade by Bobbi Brown. This long wear cream shadow is in the color Beach Honey and is pretty close in color to Emerveille but retails for $24 (USD) when compared to the Chanel shadow which retails for $36 (USD). This cream shadow applies like a dream and is just the most lovely champagne color with a perfect amount of shimmer. It sits nicely on the lid and stays on all day. This will definitely become a staple in my makeup bag.

Speaking of makeup bag staple, this was a repurchase from Dior and is one of my all time favorite products. The Diorskin Amber Diamond pressed shimmer powder is a perfect highlight but can also be used as eye shadow with a smaller brush on the individual colors. Again, the compact packaging is lovely and has a mirror for precise application. I personally do not love products that have a heavy glitter look to them, but the amount of shimmer in this powder is absolutely amazing for subtle highlighting.

Are you a fan of any high end makeup products? Let me know what you've tried and what you think of them in the comments below. I'll let you know how I get on with the shadows long term and maybe they'll end up in future beauty favorites posts!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

Small Haul: Shoes for Fall

As you might guess, I am a little overly excited for fall weather to begin. This summer has been brutally hot and particularly muggy. I'm all for some sunshine but not so much for baking and sweating to death. Fall is the season of comfortable sweaters paired with comfortable leggings and of course, comfortable shoes! While I was doing my 'grocery shopping' a few days ago at (you guessed it) Target, I noticed some of their cute fall shoes and decided to try some of them on which resulted in a few purchases that my husband wasn't too thrilled with. I am really impressed with these shoes as they are very on-trend but at affordable Target prices and very comfortable. Here are two pair that I picked up.

First let me start by saying that I have been searching for leopard printed loafers ever since last fall. I was especially keen on the Steve Madden pair but wasn't too comfortable with their price ($70-90 USD). When I spotted these I was very surprised by both the quality and look of the shoes. They are comparable in style to the Steve Maddens but are far more comfortable in my opinion. The leopard print isn't as large and lovely as the Steve Madden shoes, but it is still a nice print and doesn't come off cheap. The best part of these shoes is that they can be paired with just about anything. I can see myself mostly using them with skinny jeans and leggings, but feel they can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. The leopard print and several other colors are available in store and at target.com for $19.99 (what a bargain)!

The second pair I picked up are these short-style booties that have a bit of a western feel to them but will be a lovely touch to any outfit this fall. I love that they have a bit of a heel on them, but it is a perfect height that doesn't make them a pain to walk in. As I have a 20-minute walk to work every day, this was an important part of my decision to purchase them. I think these will pair nicely with leggings or skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. They could also go nicely with a casual dress but it will depend on how pale my legs get this autumn! The short boots trend has definitely carried over from last year so these will definitely come in handy. This style is available at target.com and also comes in black at the reasonable price of $29.99. 

I know that wasn't the largest haul you've ever seen, but as I get better at this blogging thing, I will give you guys a peek into all the items I purchased this summer in preparation for the fall season. Let me know what you think of the shoes, what you'd wear them with, and if you enjoyed this post. Thanks so much for reading!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.