October Favourites

October saw a resurgence in my interest in fragrance, both perfume and scented candles. Well, the scented candles were a new thing altogether, but I was obsessed. I'm pretty sure I smelled every single candle at David Jones one Sunday while entertaining the idea of buying one, but ultimately walked home empty-handed (Glasshouse Oahu and Night Before Christmas were awfully tempting though). I also picked out the best of the skin care and nail polish I hauled in Europe, and a couple of cream eyeshadows on heavy rotation.

diptyque Roses candle
I thoroughly enjoyed burning this candle this month. It's become something of a bedside lamp substitute. The scent isn't that overpowering but it does fill the room for a few hours after it's blown out. I don't think the roses fragrance is anything amazing, it's a little bit generic in a pleasant but inoffensive way. It's not all that sweet, boozy or reminiscent of potpourri, it's gentler, cleaner and a bit more modern. I look forward to burning and finishing it only because I can't wait to be a sheep and use the empty jar as a brush holder.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
I'd wanted to try this cleanser for the longest time and finally managed to get hold of one from John Lewis when I was in London. This has cocoa butter, rosemary, chamomile and hops extract, panthenol, and eucalyptus oil. My skin was in a gross state around in the middle of my European holiday and using this, along with Clarins moisturisers and NUXE Huile Prodigieuse was a godsend. I'd take a good 15 minutes to do the whole routine with the included muslin cloth, but back home I ditch the cloth and use one pump all over my face before washing it all off in the shower. I much prefer this to Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm. For one, you can use it around the eyes to remove mascara and eyeliner and it won't feel like oil is clouding your vision. The texture is closer to a moisturising, thick cream cleanser that just dissolves into the skin, rather than an oily balm that can't be completely washed off. I love the refreshing cool from the eucalyptus, the minty, soothing herbal scent, and how it leaves the skin feeling clean, soft and supple.

Caudalie Grape Water
I was surprised at how much I liked this, since I'm loyal to my Avene Thermal Spring Water (though my 300ml bottle inexplicably decided to stop spraying with about a third left). This is the first aerosol face mist I've encountered that isn't just water (Avene, La Roche-Posay Serozinc). This Caudalie one consists of grape water and grape juice, so it smells very sweet (a little bit like overripe fruit) and leaves a slight residue on the skin. It's more moisturising than plain water in a can, especially when it dries on the skin. I find it an effective, inexpensive hydrating toner that you can spray over the face before or after your moisturiser. I would definitely be stocking up if it were available here, but unfortunately it's not and I can't buy it online either because of shipping restrictions with the aerosol can. Guess I'll just have to savour it while it lasts.

Nails Inc. Porchester Square
I have Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup to thank for this one. I immediately jotted down Porchester Square on my London shopping list after seeing it featured in her August Favourites. I absolutely love the colour, especially as my focus has increasingly shifted to office-friendly cremes. I'll always be partial to my glitters, brights, pastels and blues/greens/purples, but sometimes you just need an excellent safe bet with a more conservative environment in mind. Even if I didn't have to worry about whether my nail polish is adhering to a corporate dress code, I'd still enjoy wearing Porchester Square. It's a pitch perfect, elegant and feminine light mushroom with slight purple tones. I love that it's one of those chameleonic shades that leans more sandy beige or cloudy grey or hazy lilac depending on the light. The formulation is also stunning — ultra smooth, buttery, a true one coater with impressive wear time.

Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne
Already raved about here, so I'll keep it short. I think this is my favourite of my recent perfume acquisitions. I'm kind of wondering whether I should have heeded to the sales assistant's advice and purchased the bigger bottle. A friend complimented me on this fragrance while we were having dinner out, which only provided more positive reinforcement. What can I say ... it's a crowd-pleaser.

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06
Another product I've already written about before, this truly has set in motion a second wave of enthusiasm for cream eyeshadows (ideally in pencil form). What I love most about the KIKO is that not only is it an effortless all-over lid colour, but I've found that it works just as well on the lower lashline. If anything, I've been preferring to use it that way. It stays on longer than regular pencil eyeliners, it's richly metallic but still daytime-friendly and not too dark, and it's just so quick and easy to swipe on while in a rush.

l-r: Face of Australia Budge Proof Eyeshadow in Bronze Sphinx, KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06

l-r: Becca Gilt, Essence Pas des Copper, Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, Face of Australia Bronze Sphinx, Benefit Busy Signal

Face of Australia Budge Proof Eyeshadow in Bronze Sphinx
Undoubtedly one of my favourite recent discoveries, Bronze Sphinx is one of those unanticipated, lucky finds. I was casually browsing Big W and came across the Face of Australia stand, where they had a blanket $3 off the entire range. I'd heard about the new Budge Proof Eyeshadows (evidently inspired by Maybelline Color Tattoos) from local bloggers, but I hadn't seen them in person at Priceline or anywhere else. I was interested in Tip Top Taupe as well (which reminded me so much of a toned down Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Illusoire), but ultimately settled for just Bronze Sphinx, as I rationalised I'd get infinitely more wear out of it. Tip Top Taupe looked a bit too cool and grey, which I've found isn't the best with my skin tone. Bronze Sphinx, on the other hand, is just what I'm after in a cream eyeshadow.

Compared to similar shades, Becca Eye Tint in Gilt is closer to a warmer version of Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner in Busy Signal, with more gold shimmer but a difficult texture to work with (slides around, very patchy, a struggle to get even coverage). Essence Eye Soufflé in Pas des Copper (tragically limited edition) is lighter than Bronze Sphinx, with a touch more of a silvery overlay. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze is cooler, more of an intensely metallic, medium frosty brown. Benefit Busy Signal is the darkest, a rich chocolate brown with fine gold shimmer. It's very pigmented and the tiniest amount goes a long way. Face of Australia Bronze Sphinx has more of a copper (red/orange) tone, and isn't as silvery as Pas des Copper or Bad to the Bronze, or with as much gold shimmer as Gilt or Busy Signal. Equally easy to apply with fingers or a brush, it's smooth, emollient, and not gritty or patchy in any way. Building up pigmentation in thin layers is a breeze. A bargain at $8.95, this is well on its way to being a much-loved staple.

Back to Reality

I'm home and invariably suffering from some kind of post-holiday depression (not to be confused with my regular neuroticism and negative affect). Europe went by mostly without incident, except for some relatively minor inconveniences like the metal handle of my luggage deciding to snap on the second day of my trip. I trekked to the top of many a cathedral, soaked up the finest Renaissance artwork on the planet, experienced memorable food highs and plunging lows (O'Conway's at Gare du Nord — just don't do it), and visited just about every Boots and Superdrug I encountered. It goes without saying French pharmacies were also super exciting, though I realised I could order most of what I wanted online for the same price with free delivery.

(There's also meant to be the Caudalie Vinosource Hydration Set in there, but I forgot to include it.)

Surprisingly, I felt I was fairly tame in the purchases department. For one, I bought only three pieces of clothing. I didn't buy that much makeup, though I was tempted by the new Charlotte Tilbury counter at Selfridges. I also saw and felt the SUQQU Cheek Brush on my wishlist in person, but was quite underwhelmed at how small and floppy it seemed. A part of me laments not picking up a few more things at Changi Airport en route to Milan, as the prices were by far the most affordable I would encounter. I had a good look at the Sephora on Champs-Élysées but everything was hideously expensive and barely cheaper than Australia.

I made a point to visit the Diptyque store on Boulevard Saint-Germain like it was a worthy tourist experience in and of itself. I forced myself to pick a perfume because I knew I'd be there for the next 3 hours if I didn't. In the end, I settled for Ofresia but I don't know if I'm in love with it. I also picked up the Roses candle though it's somewhat ludicrous I bothered to lug it around and carry it all the way back home when it's not that much cheaper in Paris compared to Mecca Cosmetica (which, by the way, is nearly identical to Space.NK).

Compared to my New York haul, I think I was generally more selective this time around and stuck to a list I'd jotted down beforehand. There also was a much greater emphasis on skin care. In fact, the thing I was most ecstatic about was unintentionally stumbling upon the Pixi store off Carnaby Street in London's Soho and being able to buy a bottle of their elusive Glow Tonic. Win.

And now, a picture dump...