Happy Halloween everyone! As the month is drawing to a close and I will be too busy panic buying costume accessories on the 31st (shout out to anybody else who will be running from shop to shop trying to find a pitchfork/cat tail/feather duster), I am now going to round up my most loved products from the month of October.

To kick us off, I have fallen head over heels for a new cleanser this month - the MERUMAYA Melting Cleansing Balm. I actually came across this brand by way of a wad of packet samples included in a Latest In Beauty box. I have extremely sensitive skin and am covered in scars to prove it (generally from trying something new without reading the ingredients list in great detail) so I was wary of using anything new on my face, just in case it negated my requirement for a Halloween mask... However, I gave this a go and I can't remember the last time I have been so impressed by a skincare product. I am evangelical about this stuff! You massage this thick, silky balm on to dry skin (make up and all) and then add water to turn the balm in to a rich cleansing milk. It removes every remnant of foundation and leaves your skin feeling super soft and totally clear. If there's one product from this month that I will be purchasing a full size product of, it's this!



Another sample I had the privilege of trying this month was Benefit's Roller Lash mascara. I'd heard so many good things about Benefit mascaras but had never got around to trying one out - although believe me, I've loitered around the Benefit shop in Harvey Nichols enough times. What can I say? It really is a great product. I love a defining mascara for everyday and this wand does just that - a silicone bristle curved wand separates out lashes easily and as far as I can tell, has magical anti-clumping properties. Now, there are more affordable mascaras out there which I have also loved so I can absolutely understand someone having reservations over the price tag BUT, for me, if I were going to pay a little bit more on any of my make up staples, it would be on a fantastic mascara which I know I will use day in, day out. For that reason, I can definitely see this becoming a permanent fixture in my make up bag.



Now, the next two products are both lip products and both very recent purchases but I am so impressed I just had to include them. First up, the MUA Anti-Bleed Lip Liner in Clear - I've never tried a universal lip liner before and I feel like I've struck gold already. I have never used a lip liner with such ability to cling on to your lip colour - last night I ate a three course meal and drank a large glass of wine (okay, it was a bottle but who's judging?) and when I went to check my make up, my lipstick had not moved AT ALL -  unheard of for me as I am a notoriously messy eater and can often be seen wiping Chardonnay drips from my chin. When I came to take my make up off later, it still wouldn't budge; this might sound like a negative but I personally am nothing short of astounded when a product is so long-wearing that you need a scouring pad to remove it.



The second lip product I have to mention is the True Colour Lipstick from Sleek MakeUP in the shade Mystic. This is the most beautiful and vivid purplish pink colour and is completely matte (my favourite). The formula is typical of a matte finish I would say, I never expected it to be as creamy or moisturising as a satin finish product. That isn't to say it's uncomfortable though, you can get fantastic colour pay off from only a thin layer, so much so that you are likely forget that your lips have the vibrancy of a fireworks display. Also, paired with the MUA lip liner (which I'm still convinced employs some kind of witchcraft), it has great longevity and after hours of wear, only faded ever so slightly to a less neon fuchsia shade.



Finally, something to help you cling on to summer whilst soothing your dry winter skin - COWSHED's Gorgeous Cow (I know, thanks) Blissful Body Lotion. This moisturiser definitely has my favourite scent of all the COWSHED products I have tried - I don't know what most of the components are but that's half the fun. The combination of ylang ylang, rose, palmarosa (side note - palma violets were great weren't they?) and lavender creates a fabulously sweet fragrance - I'm often told I smell like a sweet shop, I can see why now. I find this is almost like a body butter it's so hydrating and yet it soaks in to your skin fast which means no waiting around before you can throw on a make-shift costume and scare the trick or treaters!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my favourites this month and remember - you're never too old to cut two holes in your bed sheet and scare the neighbours!

NSB x