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Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

November Favorites

It's officially December! I love November - it's so festive and gets me ready for the holidays and colder weather. I tried out quite a few new products in November and I wanted to share my favorites with you...

Beauty Favorites:


Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in "light porcelain." I mentioned this in my October Favorites but I'm still loving it! Don't let the name scare you off - this can be really nice when applied correctly (even on dry skin). 


Benefit High Beam liquid highlighter. I picked up the cutest "Cheek Me Out" set of high beam and posietint samples at Ulta. This highlighter is SO beautiful! It's a "satiny pink" liquid/gel formula, similar to their lip and cheek stains. I use this on my cheek bones and the outer edges of my brow bones as a natural dewy highlight. I have ditched all other highlighters during November because I can't get enough of this. It's super easy to apply with fingers, a foundation brush, or even a stippling brush and it lasts all day. I'll definitely be purchasing the full size when this runs out!


Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow - Shimmer in No. 48 Faux Fur. This is a taupe/bronze color and it has just the right amount of shimmer. I've been wearing this all over the lid and blending up into the crease for a one-shadow eye makeup look. By blending it into and above the crease, I'm able to create the look of 2 shadows with just this one. It's shimmery but not too glittery, definitely subtle enough for a daytime look. These shadows are smooth and velvety and blend really well. I will definitely be looking at other shades in this formulation.

Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in Faux Fur


Nyx Butter Lip Balm in Panna Cotta. I included a few of these in my giveaway because I love them. Most of the time I can't be bothered with lip glosses and lipsticks and pencils - it's too much. Also, my lips get very dry so lipsticks aren't always the best option. I typically stick to simple chapsticks or lip balms, so this product is perfect. It adds color but it's super creamy and moisturizing like a balm. I went back to Ulta and picked up every shade I could get because I love these so much. I would recommend these to anyone!


Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss. Speaking of dry lips... this has saved mine! As you can see by the packaging, I carry this around in my handbag at all times. It's a soft and creamy butter inside the tin, and it smells amazing. The best part is that it actually works. It sinks into my lips and deeply hydrates them. I wear this all day and often swipe the Nyx butter lip balm over top for extra moisture & color. It's simple, affordable, and perfect to throw in a handbag, nightstand, desk, etc.


Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream - another handbag essential! I've almost used this tube up during November because my hands get incredibly dry. This is a quick fix - my skin absorbs this lotion immediately and it's super hydrating. It has a subtle, fresh scent but it's not overpowering or obnoxious. I keep this with me to keep my hands from drying out and cracking from cold wind, or exposure to direct heat from a fireplace or heater. It gets rid of rough patches right away and doesn't sting or burn. I love Bliss products and this does not disappoint. 

Non-Beauty Favorites:

I've been loving a new TV show this month. I don't typically tune in to CNN on a regular basis, but I've been recording this show and I'm addicted. It's called This is Life with Lisa Ling. I love Lisa Ling and the way she reports and tells stories and this show is so interesting. Unfortunately, I couldn't find this on Netflix, yet, but you can watch full episodes on CNNgo. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you're into other cultures, different ways of life, and learning about some ways other people live.


I've also been loving my Rue Violet Sleep Mask. I've always been a fan of sleep masks but this one is by far my favorite. It's super soft and lightweight, but thick enough to keep out all the light. The underside of this mask is made from terrycloth so it's comfy and soft. I have very watery eyes, especially at night, and the terrycloth absorbs the moisture so it doesn't irritate my skin. The elastic band is soft and stretchy and the patterns are really cute. The best part about these sleep masks are the price. I got mine off Easy for under $8. These are also machine washable, which is nice. A nice stocking stuffer for someone who loves their sleep or travels frequently - definitely a flying staple. 


I've been obsessed with this Starbucks Acrylic Tumbler. I drink a lot of hot tea, and in cold weather it's nice to be able to take it to-go. This tumbler is really cute, with silver beads and a pink lid. It keeps my beverages hot for hours and it's large enough to hold 16 oz. For just under $12, it's a steal, too. Great stocking stuffer or gift!

My last non-beauty favorite is actually a set - the Chronicles of Narnia Book Series and movies have kept me entertained all month. During November I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and The Silver Chair. Unfortunately, only the first 3 have been made into movies, but I love the movies just as much as the books (for once)! The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the perfect winter/holiday movie. Young and old alike can enjoy this series. 

What were your November favorites? What made November memorable for you this year?











Monday, December 1, 2014

Thanksgiving Pamper Night


It's no secret that what we eat affects our skin. Around the holidays, we tend to put our healthier eating habits aside to enjoy all of our favorite holiday treats. Thanksgiving usually means consuming a more-than-normal amount of comfort food! I can typically tell a difference in my skin after eating certain things (especially foods high in oil or sugar) and Thanksgiving is, unfortunately, no exception. This is one of my ways to pamper skin and help repair it after a day of feasting on holiday favorites.

To remove makeup and cleanse, I stick to my normal routine. I like to keep my skincare simple and consistent, so even when I'm having a pamper night and using new products or special items, I like to stick to at least part of my routine. I think this helps combat spots and it also makes it easier to tell if something new irritated your skin or caused a breakout.  I use The Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil to remove makeup and then cleanse with Philosophy's Purity. You can check out my nighttime skincare routine here.


If my skin is extra dry, I use this cleanser in place of the Purity or the GinZing Scrub. This is super milky and creamy and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight and stripped. It keeps spots at bay but it's gentle and very good for sensitive skin. This doesn't remove makeup very well, so be sure to use a makeup remover of some sort before cleansing with this Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in extra-mild. This is formulated for dry to very dry skin, so it's perfect for my skin during the colder months. Also, if I'm doing a mask that targets breakouts, I usually use this for a few days as those masks tend to be more drying than others. This thoroughly cleans my skin without stripping it and leaving me with dry patches. 


This was the focus of my pamper night: the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. Peter Thomas Roth skincare is pretty pricey, but I picked this up in a set from Sephora. It was part of the mini mask magic kit for $20. I love mini masks or sample sets, especially for more expensive products, so I can try them out and decide what I like and don't like, and if it's worth the money. Also, with creams and masks, a little pot of product lasts quite a while. I would definitely say this mini magic kit is worth it - I've loved all the masks so far. This pumpkin enzyme mask claims to resurface skin and act as an at-home chemical peel. It's meant to smooth and revitalize skin while clarifying. I love that you can really tell this is made from pumpkin. It smells like a pumpkin dessert and has pumpkin enzymes that act as the "scrub" agent in this mask. PTR claims that this mask targets "congested" skin, which is exactly how my skin feels after a holiday. Between the makeup, the food, the long days, etc. my skin always feels congested and can use a clarifying and rejuvenating mask. This is a resurfacer and has the word "intensive" in the description, so I would recommend testing it out on a patch of skin before applying. This can definitely be intense - it's a scrub that tingles while it sits on the skin. I didn't experience any discomfort or burning, but the sensation is definitely more intense than a typical scrub or mask. I also think this makes a nice festive and fun gift during the fall, or a good star for a girls' fall-themed pamper night.

After a good exfoliation and a few layers of skin have been sloughed off, I like to moisturize heavily to ensure that my fresh skin stays hydrated. I use my standard Boots No . 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask (featured in many posts). I feel like I have new skin the morning after this pamper routine. I love to try new masks and I thought using this pumpkin mask would be festive and fun, but also clarifying and beneficial for my tired skin. Don't let your skin suffer during the holidays! If anything, treat yourself to even more pamper nights with luxurious products.

What are your favorite products during the holidays? Let me know so I can try them out, too!


Friday, November 14, 2014

The Body Shop: Vanilla Brûlée Body Butter - Review

I recently made an online order at The Body Shop. I have several of their products that I love but I don't have a store very close to me. I can find some of their products at Ulta but I had quite a few things that I wanted to try so I decided to go ahead and place an order online. If you read my blog, you may know that I love The Body Shop face masks. I typically buy them in single-use sachets, but I wanted to order the full sizes and the Chamomile cleansing oil based on an Amelia Liana recommendation (review coming soon). Just before check out, I added the Vanilla Brûlée Body Butter. Unfortunately, I had to add this to my list of disappointing products.

I don't hate this product, but it wasn't as impressive as I had hoped it would be. The smell is amazing - I definitely wasn't disappointed by the that. It smells so rich and creamy and the tub is a good size. I got this on offer for $10 (half price) and I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the tub - I think that's a fair amount of product, especially if it's half-off. It's been cold here lately and my skin is definitely suffering, I've been exceptionally dry and have been trying out various products to see what works best. I was hoping this new body butter would be my new best friend. When I first dabbed into the lotion, I liked the consistency - it's thick and creamy, just as you'd expect a body butter to be. As soon as I began to rub it in, however, I noticed that it doesn't seem to spread very well. It's so thick that it doesn't work into a larger area of skin. I end up needing a huge amount of product for a small area of skin just because the lotion doesn't spread out. It does leave you feeling a bit greasy, but I expected that since it's considered a "butter." I felt like at least that sticky feeling would mean that I would be nicely moisturized by the morning.

The problem was that I didn't feel all that moisturized the next morning. It seems as if all the lotion disappeared and my skin wasn't able to drink up any of the moisture. Especially since it's called a "body butter" I expected this to be an intense hydrator and something to use when I'm feeling exceptionally dry - to perk up my skin overnight even though it may be thick and a little greasy. Those are all things I can deal with if the moisture payoff is worth it. I just didn't feel like my skin had made seen any major improvements overnight, and for the amount that I had to apply, I don't see the tub lasting very long. I may just use this for hands and feet before bed and forget trying to use it as a body lotion. 

In the future, I may opt for a smaller size to throw into my handbag as a hand lotion, but I probably won't purchase this particular product again. I love the smell and the formulation is nice, but I just wasn't that impressed, overall. That being said, I LOVE all the other products that I have tried from The Body Shop and this definitely won't deter me from continuing to try out their products. Everyone's skin is different and just because it didn't moisture my skin as I had hoped, doesn't mean it couldn't work for a different skin type. 

Have you tried a body butter? If so, what did you think? What are your favorite The Body Shop products?

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Fall Lips!

When fall finally arrives in Texas I not only switch up my foundation routine, but I also begin to choose more autumnal lip & cheek shades. Of course, certain trends come into play, but traditionally, fall colors are deeper, darker, and more plum or berry. And of course, a red lip is always on trend. These are my current favorite fall lip products...


Stila Lip Glaze in Majesty - I believe this was a limited edition holiday shade. It was part of a holiday set, however, it looks like the shades Berry & Black Cherry would be very similar. These are definitely sticky glosses, but the pigment lasts a really long time. Even after the gloss has worn off, the pigment remains. If you're bothered by sticky glosses, these glazes are definitely not for you, but they are very long-wearing especially for a gloss. They are also super shiny. 


Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Rose Blush - This is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks. It's moisturizing and the color is a nude rose - like a your-lips-but-better nude shade. It's a deep rose color so it's perfect for the colder weather without being too dramatic. I like to dab this on if I'm sporting a more dramatic eye look or a neutral makeup look for a subtle lip color. 


Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Brazen Berry - I love this range of lipsticks. They're bright and highly pigmented, but moisturizing and long-lasting. This is a bright berry shade; it's perfect for a day-time autumn look. This is the most purple shade I have chosen, it's a cool tone with less red in it. 


Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Blissful Berry - this is a true berry shade. It reminds me of a cranberry shade; it's reddish with just the right amount of purple. To me, this is the epitome of dramatic autumn and winter lipsticks. I love the color and the formulation is creamy, moisturizing, and highly pigmented. This is perfect for a bold lip look.


Make Up For Ever lipstick - this is in my GIVEAWAY! Check out that blog post to learn more.


NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Soft Fuchsia - these are a cross between a lip liner and a lip crayon or chubby stick. It's part liner pencil, part lip balm, and part lipstick. These don't last for hours, but they're super easy to apply and I love this shade. This is a perfect everyday fall nude. It's a deep, dusty rose color, and you can dab these on a for a more natural/sheer look, or build it up to look like an opaque lipstick. They're slightly glossy but not at all sticky. They're very creamy and don't dry my lips out. I keep this in my purse during autumn & winter for a go-to lip color that I can swipe on quickly when I need it.



From left to right: Majesty, Rose Blush, Brazen Berry, Blissful Berry, Copper Pink, & Soft Fuchsia.


Don't forget to enter my giveaway going on now! Check me out on Instagram & Twitter.


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Get Ready With Me: Autumn Foundation Routine

The days are getting shorter and the weather is finally starting to get colder. At the first inkling of cool weather, I switch up my foundation routine to make sure my skin stays moisturized and glowing all day long. I tend to stay away from matte foundations, and while I don't typically use a dewy or luminous foundation during autumn and winter, I still like my skin to look healthy and hydrated.

I start off with a moisturizer. I use the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ some nights and every morning. I love this moisturizer and while I do like to try others, I always keep this as a staple in my vanity.


I've been reaching for this primer since the start of fall to add a highlight and brightness to dull, dry skin. I apply this after letting my moisturizer sink in and I concentrate it mostly on my cheekbones, but blend it into my entire face. This adds the perfect amount of highlight for fall - it adds a little something to your foundation without looking shimmery or dewy. I don't use a powder highlight when I use this primer in the fall.


This has been my go-to everyday foundation lately. I wear it in the shade "ivory." It's a lightweight foundation that really looks like skin and provides just the right amount of coverage. You can add a second layer to add coverage, but I usually find that a light layer of this conceals and blurs imperfections perfectly for an everyday look. I apply this with a damp beauty blender being sure to blend it out to get that natural finish.


I apply my NARS concealer under my eyes and anywhere I else I need a little extra coverage. I use the shade "Chantilly" and also blend this out with my damp beauty blender. This is my all-time favorite concealer. It brightens the under eye area and blends seamlessly without settling into fine lines. 

On special occasions or days I need my foundation to look flawless for a long day, I use the Revlon ColorStay foundation in "ivory." This foundation lasts forever! When I tested it, I swatched it on the back of my hand, and found the pigment remained on my hand until the next day. It really doesn't budge and keeps your skin looking perfect all day and night. I have the formula for dry skin, and I was surprised that it didn't cling to dry patches even after hours of wear. This isn't as natural of a look as the Naked foundation, but it's perfect for an event or a long day when you need your foundation to last, and it provides more coverage than the alternative.

That's it! I don't usually powder my skin, I just finish up with a blush and use a clean powder brush to blend it in and make sure I don't have any harsh lines and my makeup looks blended and flawless. I've been loving this combination, especially for a more autumnal/wintery look. I will definitely continue using this into the winter months as well.

What is your favorite autumn/winter foundation? What are your tricks to keep your dry skin looking hydrated when it's cold outside? Let me know in the comments!




PS - Be sure to follow me on social media for updates! I'll be doing a giveaway soon, so make sure you're subscribed to stay in the loop so you can enter!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

October Favorites!

It's my favorite time of year! I love fall and the clothes, food & drink, decor, weather and everything else that comes with it. Unfortunately, we only had a few days of autumn weather in Texas, but towards the end of the month it finally started to cool down. I have several beauty and non-beauty favorites that I have been loving all through the month of October!




LUSH lip scrub - LUSH makes several different flavors of lip scrubs. This is their winter version - it's cola flavored and bright red. You apply this and gently scrub it into dry lips. It's made from castor sugar & coconut oil so you can lick it off and you're ready to apply your lip product. It has cherry & date extract, so it's a bright red and tastes like cherry cola. It will run you about $9 and I have had mine since last December, so it lasts quite a while.




Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - This is a waterproof eye makeup remover from Sephora's own collection. I have the 4.2 oz bottle and a little bit goes a long way so this will last me a lifetime. I typically use this in the morning if I have any mascara or liners smudges around my lashes or under my eyes before I apply my moisturizer and makeup for the day. I also use this to clean the gel liner off of my angled liner brushes. You shake it to mix it up, and the bottle dispenses it drop-by-drop. The packaging hasn't ever leaked on me, so it would be a good travel makeup remover as well. I picked this up for $10.50 near the registers at Sephora. 



Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation - I have been loving this lately as a tinted moisturizer. I typically stay away from matte foundations because I have dry skin, but I wanted to give this a try since it was a mousse. The finish of this foundation depends on how I choose to apply it. I sometimes dab it on with my fingers quickly as a sheer "tinted moisturizer" just to smooth and slightly blur my skin. When I want a little more coverage, I use a damp beauty blender. I make sure to moisturize well before applying this and use a damp applicator so that it doesn't look cakey or dry on my skin. It matches my skin tone perfectly and it's lightweight and easy to throw on for a quick cover-up. I don't use this on a daily basis, but its a good product to swipe on if you're in a hurry but want to look put-together. I picked this up at Walgreens for around $6.



Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Luminizer  - I have this in the shade "Stardust." It's a highlight powder with a gold shimmer to it. It doesn't have glitter or any chunky sparkle to it - it's so smooth and flawless and adds a beautiful highlight to cheek bones. I use this on my cheek bones, brow bones, and even as an eye shadow sometimes. It's versatile and compact and never looks chalky on the skin. This is a good highlight for fair skin but I think it will work for so many other complexions as well. It costs $14 at Sephora. 
Stardust


If you've been reading my posts, you already know how much I love Benefit Hervana blush. If you haven't, you can read about it here. It has been my go-to blush during the month of October.



MAC pigment in naked - I've rediscovered this! I bought this years ago and forgot about it until recently. It's slightly shimmery and it's the perfect nude. I sweep it all over the lid & crease and pop on some mascara and go. Love it. MAC pigments run around $21, which is only slightly more than the basic shadows, and you get a ton of product.

Naked




Vince Camuto Perfume - I have actually been wearing this all year round, but it's especially perfect for fall and winter. This is a slightly floral, vanilla scent but it has more musky notes like leather, patchouli, and amber. The floral notes are rose and jasmine. I always get compliments when I wear this and I can't get enough of this scent. Besides the lovely fragrance, the bottle is so pretty and looks really nice on display on a vanity or dressing table.




Glade room sprays in Pumpkin Pie & Red Apple - These smell SO good and make me really feel like it's fall. The scents linger for days and when I use these, guests always say the house smells amazing and so much like fall. The pumpkin scent smells like pumpkin spice, and the red apple is a crisp and fresh apple scent. I also bought the Glade plug-ins in the Red Apple scent as well. Glade always comes out with really amazing fall and winter scents and I always go crazy buying them up. They have recently released their holiday/winter scents and they sound amazing. Can't wait to check them out!


Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte & Oprah Chai Tea Latte - I always anxiously await the arrival of the PSL, and this year it was released early. We had a few cold & rainy days early in October and I quickly made a Starbucks run to have my first PSL of the season. I'm not a huge coffee drinker, I typically prefer tea, but I'm not a big fan of to-go hot teas at Starbucks. My standard Starbucks order is usually a soy chai tea latte and I switch to the frappuccino in the summer. I waited quite a while before I gave the Oprah Chai a shot and I'm sorry I did because I love it! It isn't drastically different than the original chai, but it is a bit bolder and the flavors seem more pronounced. Also, a portion of proceeds go to Oprah's education foundation. I'm currently sipping a chai tea latte and loving that they've brought out the festive red cups!

What were your favorites this past month? What are your favorite fall staples? Happy fall everyone!





Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Autumn Polish Colors

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Fall Shades

I love this line of polishes so much that I refuse to buy any other kind. Maybe if I spotted a color I couldn't live without, I might pick it up, but for now, I'm sticking to Sally Hansen. There are a couple reasons I'm hooked on these polishes...
  1. The Brush. The brush is flat and much wider than most nail polish brushes. It makes it so much easier to place the brush in the right place and get perfectly smooth strokes. It makes painting with your left hand so much easier. You get a silky smooth and wide stroke of paint, but it's not too wide for more narrow nails. It makes it a lot quicker because it covers more nail area. 
  2. The Formula. This polish lasts forever!! I can be pretty rough on my nails and this polish lasts at least 7 days. Usually, I can wear this polish up to 10 days before it starts getting chipped. If it's a more natural nail color, you can get away with wearing it even longer because little chips can go undetected. I recommend this polish to everyone mostly for its lasting power.
The colors, from left to right, are 
  1. Rhododendron - this is a deep red with plum tones, similar to a wine color. 
  2. Dark Knight - a very dark navy.
  3. Gilty Party - a shimmery, reflective silver polish with flecks of pink and multicolored sparkles.
  4. Moulin Rose - a dusty rose color (it's showing up deeper and brighter in the picture) with shimmer
  5. Commander in Chic - a true grey (I love to make this color matte with a matte top coat)
  6. Onyx - super shiny black.
All of these shades are perfect for fall and will look great on a wide variety of skin tones. I pick up all the new Sally Hansen shades at Target, but you can find these at drug stores, beauty stores, grocery stores, etc. You can, of course, also order them online.

What are your go-to nail colors for Fall? Let me know in the comments!


Sunday, October 26, 2014

HUGE Fall Candle Haul & Review

I'm a candle addict. I have been on several shopping trips since the beginning of September to stock up on fall (and winter) candles. I love burning candles and making the house smell and feel like Autumn. It can really make you feel more festive. Here are the candles I have recently picked up...




Pumpkin Caramel Latte - I found this at Bath & Body Works. It's part of their limited edition Pumpkin Cafe line. It's sweet and caramel-y with notes of espresso. I'm (not so patiently) waiting for cooler weather to light this one. This scent has gotten rave reviews online - it's a favorite of many! 





Heirloom Pumpkin - This pumpkin scent is more fresh, but still very autumnal - with hints of nutmeg. It's spicy and perfect for fall. I love these mason jar candles; I'm going to clean them out and reuse them when they're gone. Bath & Body Works candles strongly scent the entire room and I've been burning this candle a lot lately and it seems to burning slowly but giving off tons of spicy pumpkin scent.




Artisan Market Mason Jar Candles



Vanilla Chai

This is one of my favorites so far. It smells just like my routine Starbucks order: Vanilla Chai Latte. Notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and those unmistakable chai spices. I can't wait to start burning this one.






Banana Nutmeg Bread Pudding

This smells like bananas. If you're not a banana fan, this one isn't for you. The banana smell is a tad artificial but when combined with the nutmeg and brown sugar scents, it really does smell like banana bread pudding. I'm interested to see how this smells when it's burning. 


Vanilla Snow Flake - This is one of my all-time favorite scents. I LOVE the vanilla variations that B&BW releases. One year, I stocked up on Vanilla Bean Noel so that I could burn it throughout the entire year. This is a very similar scent. It's the perfect vanilla with subtle hints of peppermint that really brighten up the smell. I'm saving these for serious winter coldness (can't wait!). I also really love the packaging and labels on these. The 3-wick candle has the cutest label and snowflake detailing on the lid. 



Espresso Bar - This smells like a freshly brewed cup of espresso. I bought this intending to burn it in the kitchen so it always smells like fresh coffee. It has light hints of vanilla as well. This is a "small candle" that claims to burn 20-30 hours. These are frequently bundled for a good discount. 






Apple & Pumpkin Picking - I love Yankee Candles. They are also very strongly scented and really fill an entire room. I would say they burn at a similar rate as B&BW candles. At 7oz, these are slightly larger than the mason jar candles, and claim to burn 35-45 hours. I've had this burning in my bedroom and I love it. It's sweet with strong notes of crisp apple and pumpkin, without any spice or added notes. It's purely pumpkin and apple - perfect for early fall. 



Pumpkin Patch - This is a swirled mix of Yankee Candle's Harvest and Spiced Pumpkin candles. I've had this burning in our guest bathroom - it smells just like an autumn wreath. It smells of cinnamon, pumpkin, and fall spices. I actually picked this up at Home Goods for a discounted price. I thought the Halloween label was cute for October. 



Hot Cider - This smells exactly like hot apple cider - apples & cinnamon. Again, I picked this up at Home Goods for about $6 and I've been burning it in my entryway. It's from the Yankee Candle Simply Home range. The only thing I don't like about Yankee Candles are the shape of some of them - the tapered opening gets blackened from the smoke and towards the end of the candle, it can get really messy if you touch the opening. You have to be really careful about trimming the wick. However, I love this scent, it makes me crave some cider. 


Baked Apple
Crispy, Warm, & Canny Baked Apple. This was $7 at Home Goods and it's one of my favorites. I LOVE the packaging. The jar is so cute and it's actually made from yellow glass (the candle inside is white). I will definitely have to clean this out and repurpose the jar when the candle has finished. It smells just like baked apples - warm apple with a light touch of cinnamon. I enjoy the smell but the jar is really what sold me. This is a DW Home candle. 


Juicy Cranberry - This is another DW Home candle from Home Goods. I should have known because the packaging is almost as cute as the previous jar. This smells like sweet, tart, and fruity cranberries. No spices or anything else - just cranberries. It's in a red glass cup with a cork lid. Definitely another container I want to repurpose. I've been burning this in our master bathroom and I love the way it smells. 


Pumpkin Spice - Another DW Home candle. I didn't pay attention to the brands when I saw these at Home Goods, and they all have very different packaging and labels, but they're all in really cute jars that you could totally use for other things once the candle is gone. More red glass! This candle is very spicy and autumnal. It smells like pumpkin pie spice - cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. 





Maple Butter
This makes the whole house smell like pancakes. It's warm, buttery, and maple-y. I've been burning this like crazy since I discovered it at Home Goods. I can't get enough. I could burn this any time of year but it makes you want to get warm and cozy in the fall. I can even smell it from outside the front door sometimes. One of my favorites of this haul. 

Everyday Luxe Candles
I think these are the prettiest candles I've ever seen. They're simple with just a touch of sparkle. I have the butter cookie scent sitting on a stack of magazines on my coffee table and it looks so beautiful. The butter cookie scent is very sweet and smells like you're baking sugar cookies; An ultra-sweet vanilla scent. I almost don't want to burn it because it's so pretty. The sparkling plum smells very similar to grape juice but it's very deep and rich. It reminds me of sugar plums and the Nutcracker ballet, so I'm saving this for December. It would definitely be a lovely coffee table candle - it needs to be displayed!

These last couple candles I picked up for their looks more so than their scents.


Wild Honey Nectar - I initially picked this up because of the jar - it's a cracked mirrored silver jar with a simple white candle inside. I expected the candle to be unscented, but it's actually a really nice scent. Surprise, surprise, it's another DW Home candle from Home Goods. This seems more of a spring or summer scent to me, so I haven't burned it yet, but it looks really pretty on display. 



Pumpkin Tart - I picked this up because the jar is really nice. For just under $10, I would have purchased it if it was just the jar. Having a candle inside is an added bonus. Also, it's HUGE (15.5oz) with a burn time of up to 80 hours. It smells like simple, fresh pumpkin. This is a Laura Ashley candle. 




What are your favorite fall and winter scents? Please share your favorites and where you go to stock up on candles!