It's astounding, time is fleeting-can you tell I'm in a bit of a spooky mood today? I'm not usually a huge celebrator of Halloween but my office has been decked out to look like a creepy haunted space/asylum so I'm feeling the mood. That and all going to plan I will have a major red eye+bloody lip situation going on today. Anyway, spookiness aside, today I have my October Favourites to share. It's a little sparse on the beauty front as in all honesty I haven't been changing things up much at all here. There are a couple of newbies in that department though, as well as what I've been watching, reading and listening to this month... 

YSL All Hours Foundation*-Let's get this out of the way first, yes the price tag is weepingly expensive. I recommend trying it first and then waiting for things like reward vouchers, discount days or just a plain old excuse to treat yo'face. I don't know if this foundation lasts all hours, I'm not one to wear my makeup for a hideously long time but I can vouch for its almost minimal need to powder and touch up. As someone with combination-oily skin, this is seriously impressive. The finish leans more on the matte side of things so if you've got drier skin, this mightn't be for you. I really freakin' love it and think this'll be a godsend come Summer when makeup all but evaporates from my face.

Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow(s)-These eyeshadows are the business. Liquid shadows drenched in so much sparkle. I love 'em. Then again I do love glittery eyelids so it's not like I'd hate these really but I digress. They're unlike any other eyeshadow out there. My favourite of the two I own is probably Bronzed Bell but Kitten Karma is a close second. The only qualm I have is when you remove these, the glitter tends to go everywhere. Otherwise, I can't fault these liquid delights. 

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo-I've already touched on these once this month so I will keep it brief. Pigment that packs a punch and longevity to boot. I have the shade Leader, a vibrant fuschia which looks stunning. There's some gorgeous nudes in the range too and I seriously recommend a swatchathon when it comes to these.

Will and Grace-I'm not sure why it took me, bedridden to finally watch this show properly. Props to 2 for having an all-day Will and Grace marathon at the end of last month. I am now hooked, alternating between older episodes and the new revival currently on TV. Hilarious, hilarious comedy and brilliant character writing. It's so good. Karen Walker is my favourite character-god love her but really the four main leads are all amazing. Well worth the watch if you're like me and somehow missed it. 

Paperboy Magazine-If you're in Auckland you'll probably be familiar with Paperboy. It's a magazine, published weekly and free to get your mitts on from many locations around the city. It contains a mix of everything; food, culture, fashion, to name a few and also contains extra content from the New York Times. Long story short, it's worth a peruse on your train trips/coffee outings each week. I love unwinding with it on my Thursday/Friday journeys home. So good.

Younger Now x Miley Cyrus-Miley is certainly no stranger to reinvention but with Younger Now she's going back to her country-pop roots. The album opens with the titular track and then we're taken on a journey of wondrousness for the next forty minutes. It's a great driving soundtrack and is really upbeat+mood raising. Even if you're a Miley cynic, it is worth a listen. 

Feeling Sorry for Celia x Jaclyn Moriarty-A bit of a reading throwback if ever there was one, as I first read this book back in high school. After I posted about it on my bookstagram, it seemed a lot of you were familiar with it as well. For some reason I thought this book was niche? Anyway, told through letters received and sent, this book is the story of teenaged Elizabeth Clarry. Also known as Liz or Lizzie, depending on who is writing. She deals with the usual teenage struggles but also has to deal with a mix of eclectic characters. From her eccentric Mum to her scatty best friend Celia. It also looks at mental illness in a way that doesn't romanticise the issue or try to make it seem glamorous. In fact, I feel like this is one of the first young adult books in this part of the world at least that probably did address the issue. Well worth a read, or a re-read if you're feeling nostalgic. 

-What have you liked during October?

*PR Sample

I used to do beauty reviews of sorts over on my Instagram fairly frequently but admittedly I've been a bit slack with that lately. So today I decided to round up five of the products I've been loving and probably need to talk about more. You will have seen some of these products before so apologies for any incoming deja vu. For those of you who aren't familiar with the above enjoy. If you're feeling like some new beauty, might I suggest one of these make their way into your basket?

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer: I feel like it's hard to find a concealer that can actually be used for everything. This one though covers all bases, literally. Its velvety finish means it is seamless to blend and despite being higher coverage, it never looks cakey or heavy. I have the shade Creme Brulee and I love it. Honestly this is one of the best products I've purchased this year and I might even favour it over the Radiant Creamy Concealer when it comes to heavy-duty concealing. 

Colourpop Get Paid Creme Gel Eyeliner: Honestly this is without a doubt one of my favourite liner pencils. Creamy, twist-up (no sharpening yass) and gorgeous colour. Get Paid is a metallic, rose gold that looks stunning along the lashline for something a bit different. I love how inexpensive it is too. Next time I do a Colourpop order, I'll definitely be grabbing another of these.

Tartelette In Bloom Palette x Tarte Cosmetics: So this palette has sat unloved for a while, as my preference for the Modern Renaissance palette really set in. Fiona loves this palette and uses it so often on herself+clients so I was reminded to revisit it. Thanks Fi! My favourite shades are the shimmers for sure but I love how complementary all the colours are to one another. The darks aren't too pigmented as well which I like. Side note: I have maybe had a fun morning blending like crazy with the Anastasia palette when I underestimated the intensity of one of the shades. Anyway, stunning palette. Their new Toasted palette looks rather dreamy as well. 

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo: When beauty brands empower women, I do tend to take it with a bit of a grain of salt. That being said, I love the message and names behind these Hourglass lipsticks. I have the shade Leader, a vivid fuschia. These are so easy to apply and stay put for hours. You barely need to touch up with them, so if you're like me and have a bit of a blase attitude to makeup touchups, you will like these. They're extremely comfortable to wear as well. Four for you Hourglass, you go Hourglass. 

Byredo Mojave Ghost: If Daisy x Marc Jacobs had a grown-up, older sister, this would be it. It's floral, fruity and a bit woodsy too. I've done a more in-depth review here but I love this. I seem to oscillate between more intense fragrances and those that are a bit lighter and fresher, like this one. I'm not going to lie, its design is aesthetically pleasing too. 

-What beauty things have you been loving lately?

The concept of self-care is probably 2017's equivalent of hygge. We're wary of the ways of the world, as Solange pointed out and now more than ever it feels more important to be kind to ourselves first and foremost. Personally I find taking time out for myself, regardless of what is happening around me, makes such a difference to my overall mental health. Today I thought I'd share six ways in which I practice self-care or ways I try to be kind to myself. I certainly need to practice what I preach sometimes but hey, nobody is perfect...

1) Keep a diary. As someone who thinks a lot it only makes sense that I'd find this soothing. I have a couple of different journals, more on that later in the month but for me this helps me to make sense of things. I also keep one where I write about positive moments from each day but yeah. I'm spoiling the basis of one of my blog posts so I'll move on to numero dos. 

2) Go for walks. I do not run, unless limited edition makeup is involved. In seriousness, I love walking. If I find I need a breather, I take myself for a walk. It needn't be far afield, although a tranquil setting does help. I have a few breaks during my workday and I try to spend at least one, if not all of them going for a wander. Some of my favourite places to wander are around gardens but I also enjoy just meandering around cities, laneways and things too. 

3) Watch a TV show/catch up on YouTube. Preferably without phones nearby although this isn't always possible. I do like to zone out when I'm watching something I enjoy though. At the moment I'm watching Big Little Lies and also the new episodes of Will and Grace. 

4. Read. As Matilda Wormwood would say "Oh yes, I love to read." Magazines, novels, poetry. I love it. I try to always take some form of reading material with me on my commute to and from work and am notorious for overpacking books when I travel. They're my paper security blanket I guess.

5. Throw on glitter eyeshadow or bright lipstick. Heck if you want to go bold, why not rock both at the same time? You do you. I know the idea of makeup and self confidence can be dismissed as frivolous or silly but it's hard not to feel good when you're wearing one or the other. My go-to's are the Stila Liquid Metal shadows or something like MAC Impassioned or Lancome Idole lipsticks.

6. Talk. Whether that be to a friend, counsellor, someone you think is rad on Twitter. Whether it be heavy or light. Talking is the freaking best. You never know what you will learn.

-How do you practice self care?

It's been a long time since I've done one of these posts so inspired by Cass, I decided to do one this month. That and I've had this mini vase of these products on my bookshelf staring at me for months. Whoops. Anyway, here's some makeup items I've used up...

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla: This has been my go-to, ride or die concealer for years. I want to say four years but it might even be longer than that. So surely I've been through a fair few of these now. I've recently switched shades to Custard but will probably be closer to this colour again next Autumn and Winter. Repurchase? Until the day it is discontinued.

Lancome Grandiose Liner*: I'm notoriously terrible when it comes to eyeliner of the liquid variety. We just don't mesh well. That being said, this liner is the first I've used where I can actually apply it properly and have things looking half decent. That probably comes down to the incredibly fine nib but also the way you can angle the actual eyeliner pen to suit you. Genius move, Ms. Eldridge. Repurchase? One day, when my wallet is in "treat yo'self" mode.

Glossier Boy Brow: One of Glossier's cult products is this brow gel. I had the shade brown, but they have since expanded the shade range to include a clear variety and also a black. Compared to other brow gels I've tried, I find the fact it isn't so thick makes it easier to work with and it looks more natural. Especially for someone like me with dark eyebrows anyhow, I don't want something that'll make my brows look cartoony or starkly different coloured. This delivers and keeps them in place. Repurchase? I did get a backup in an order with a friend which I'm currently using. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Another cult product, with a somewhat questionable name. Seriously this one perplexes me. Anyway, this mascara really makes your lashes look a lot thicker and fuller. It's been quite a while since I finished this so apologies if my review skills are a bit rusty. I remember liking this but not loving it. Repurchase? No because I like other mascaras more than this. Like anything beauty, this is just personal preference and I know a lot of people do love this mascara.

NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base: Another NARS staple for me and one I have Ingrid to thank for bringing to my attention a good while ago. As someone with oily eyelids, bane of my existence, if I am not wearing primer, eyeshadow will just disappear into my crease. As much as I love my glitter eyeshadow, finding a thin line of it where my eyelid starts is not a good look. This prevents that and then some. I've tried a couple of other primers; Too Faced's Shadow Insurance and Primer Potion+others I'm probably forgetting and liked none of them or found them ineffective. Highly, highly recommend this. Repurchase? Until the day this is discontinued and I've sent NARS an extremely emotional letter.

Lancome Grandiose Extreme Mascara*: Lancome's iconic, swan neck mascara had a makeover last year with a more matte, more dramatic formula. This was one of the first Lancome mascaras I tried and along with Monsieur Big, it's another of my favourites. They do mascaras so much justice and I find they're at their best after they've dried out a little bit. Repurchase? Perhaps one day. I tend to flit between mascaras I like quite a bit and I like trying new ones so it may be a while but it'll be an inevitable occurrence.

-Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

*PR Sample

It seems you all are just as curious as I am about other people's mail. In a non-stalkerish way of course. I asked over on Instagram stories, love that new poll feature, which beauty post you wanted to see first this week and here we have it. Admittedly, these are all products I have been generously sent but just a quick disclaimer. I do not feature everything I am sent. That goes for books and the likes too. I only feature what I genuinely like and/or think y'all will like and want to hear about too. Anyway, on with the beauty mail...

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream*, limited edition in collaboration with Autism Speaks-I love when brands get behind great causes like the above. Props to you Kiehl's. Ultra Facial Cream is one of their bestsellers and I believe it was initially designed for climbers in arctic conditions. It's incredibly rich and hydrating, perfect for dry skin or skin that's just a bit starved of moisture. 

YSL After Hours Foundation*-Admittedly I wish this foundation wasn't quite so expensive but that qualm aside, this is a good'un. I can't usually get away with wearing bases without primers but this one I can. The coverage is on the fuller side of things, you can easily skip concealer if you want to. It doesn't feel thick though which I like. Oily skinned gals, this lasts a good 4/5 hours without powder which in my books is pretty impressive. It may be luxe but it's worth it in my opinion.

Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara*-Firstly, love the name which aptly ties in with the bigger mascara wand. This mascara means business and delivers volume and length without too much effort. By that I mean you don't have to spend ages building it up, a good one or two coats will do the trick. I can't vouch for its smudge proof properties. Most mascaras tend to not smudge around my eyes anyway but on me it definitely stays put. This might just be my new favourite Lancome mascara, and they do mascaras well so that is saying something. 

The Body Shop Virgin Mojito*-Two of my cocktail inspired favourites are back at The Body Shop. Pinita Colada fans, get excited too. Can I get an amen. This Virgin Mojito range is my favourite though. Just as appealing as one of my favourite drinks, albeit the alcoholic offering. The mint gives it a freshness which is super uplifting in the mornings. That and anything that smells good enough to drink usually gets a tick of approval from me. In seriousness, the scrub gelee is all kinds of luxe and I recommend grabbing it to take up residence in your shower.

Goldea* x Bvlgari-Side note: I always want to add a u in here, yet Bvlgari is far from vulgar. Anyway, this new fragrance gives me nostalgic, seventies vibes. I don't know, I just have this vision of Susan Sarandon or Stevie Nicks spritzing this and then stepping out in some aviator shades, looking effortlessly undone. Goldea is a delightful blend of floral with a hint of musk. It's not one for the fragrance-shy but that's what I like about it. I feel like this is the fragrance you'd wear to cocktail night or a glamorous occasion. I invent stories to go with fragrances now apparently. Seriously though, go give it a spritz and enjoy.

-What beauty bits have you been trying recently?

*PR Sample

It feels like ages since I've devoted time exclusively to books, although that being said I managed to finish one of these books which was close to five hundred pages in about a week. We're certainly going to be spoilt for choice very soon with new releases, as booksellers rush to load their shelves with fresh ideas and pages for the holiday season. Today, as with all the other bookdate posts I'm waxing lyrical on books I've read recently, some extra literary things and what's currently atop my wishlist. Enjoy...

Recently Read: / What Happened x Hillary Rodham Clinton. First things first, I've seen a lot of people reading this book, ladies and gents which pleases me no end. That aside, I was really keen to get into what was dubbed Hillary's most candid memoir yet. She's published two previously, one of which I have and need to get to asap. As the title would suggest, this book chronicles the leadup and aftermath of that election. It is at times bleak reading, as is to be expected but it is also full of hope and positivity. Hillary is one amazing woman and I highly recommend giving this a read.  / Paris x Megan Hess. I've long been a fan of Megan's illustrations, ever since spying them in the pages of Fashion Quarterly magazine way back when. Despite that, I actually owned none of her books and only gifted them to friends, until now. Her book on Paris is just exquisite; broken down into places to see, shop and eat. This is a book you'll want to display proudly on your coffee table or in a guest room. It's far too beautiful to be hiding away on a shelf.  / How To Be A  Grown Up x Daisy Buchanan. It's taken me a while to read this for the key reason that I am a serial reader. I wish I'd not left it so long though. Buchanan's book is an essential for every twenty-something. It's full of wisdom, humour and is like reading something from a non-condescending best friend or older sister. I'm about to lend my copy to Britney but I am also considering it for people's Christmas gifts this year too.  / The Secret History x Donna Tartt. Now this is a re-read for me, although really it may as well be a first-time read because it turns out I'm remembering little of it. To be fair, I did read it three years ago. The Secret History is Tartt's debut novel and it is intoxicating and breathtaking all in one go. Her writing is decadent for lack of a better word. Just read it. It's hard to do Tartt justice if you've not experienced it yourself. 

Pages of Note: Childhood and teenaged Sophie would be horrified at the fact I now take to regularly underlining and post-it noting passages in my books. I mean, I did that in school but it served a different purpose then. Anyway, lately I have taken to doing this more frequently and then when I've finished a book going back to the sections I loved. One thing I've noticed is particularly vivid descriptions get an underline from me. For instance, the way in which Donna Tartt writes about clothing in The Secret History is particularly powerful so I've underlined a lot of that. I also end up writing some of these out in my diaries too. I dunno, this is just a random thing I do and enjoy. 

The Wishlist: *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban-illustrated edition x JK Rowling. As my favourite book in the Harry Potter series, I was always going to be lusting after this one. I had a chance to flick through this yesterday with a friend and we were both gazing heart-eyed at it. Pssst, Santa if you are reading. This 9 25 year old would not say no to this.  *#girlgaze x Amanda De Cadenet. The #girlgaze tag and project are one of my favourites on Instagram. Established to celebrate female artists and photographers. It's supported by the likes of Amanda De Cadenet, Sam Taylor Johnson and other inspiring women. This new book is a showcase of some of that talent so therefore it'll be a visual love fest. Another for the Christmas wishlist. *The Catcher In The Rye x JD Salinger. I've read an incredibly slim list of classic literature. A fact I'm not proud of. This book and Franny & Zooey have captured my attention for the longest time but I am yet to read either of them. I figure starting with the most renowned is the best way to go.  *Untitled poetry collection x Indy Yellich O'Connor. I don't have a link for this one as it's yet to be released or up for preorder. If you follow Indy on Instagram  or any of her platforms, you will know she is quite the wordsmith. I'm really excited to see her first published work. Once I know more about it I'll share links etc on Instagram. 

Totes Y'All: The Nook and Burrow ladies sell some freakin' awesome wares but this tote at the moment might just take the cake. The sentiments; coffee, cats, books and feminism are all extremely relatable and any books, magazines, or an abundance of notebooks (if you are me) would be well housed in this canvas fabric home. 

-What have you been reading lately?

October is out to party and as I seem to say on a near daily basis, channeling Lauren Graham's Old Lady Jackson persona, if you've not read this then do it, where has 2017 gone!? Maybe it's just because a lot has changed in my life this year so it feels all the more fast paced. I don't know. Anyway, the start of the month, albeit four days in means it's time to share five random but brilliant things with you including an Instagram challenge, a show, a podcast and two other things you'll need to keep reading to discover. I'm a rival for Kris Jenner's level of hype-building obviously.

Au Revoir Treat Yo'Self Mindset: I need to come up with a much better hashtag than #notreatyoselftober because that's too much of a mouthful. Anyway, in case you missed my Instagram, inspired by Daisy Buchanan I am having a month of thoughtful spending. By that I mean sticking to the essentials like food+drink, appointments, petrol and other admittedly dull expenses. It means for me foregoing things like makeup launches (boo, hiss), magazines (extra long boo, hiss), books, clothes and just things I might want but perhaps don't exactly need. My reward if I am successful is some Zoe and Morgan earrings which I can't link because their site is down but will asap. The lovely Liv is doing this too, albeit avoiding clothes shopping and Britney is using what she saves towards paying off expenses. I am also keeping a diary too so I'll share excerpts next month, all going to plan.

Gaga: Five Foot Two-Netflix has gifted us another gem in the form of this documentary following Lady Gaga in 2016 and the lead up to the release of her latest album, Joanne. It is extremely candid and at times difficult to watch. Maybe because I have been such a fan of hers pretty much consistently for ages I found it really hard seeing her guilt over chronic pain and struggles with loneliness. Even if you aren't a fan, I recommend you watch this. It's beautifully filmed and put together. PS-If you are as much of a Florence Welch fangirl as I am, she features and it is adorable.

Leader of the Lip Stylos: Hourglass often wins over my makeup loving heart with their dreamy powders. Lately though their lipsticks have been singing out to me and I recently grabbed one of their lip stylos in the shade Leader and I am smitten with it. Described as a vivid fuschia, it's punchy, it's vibrant and it's just beauteous. I wore it yesterday at work and didn't touch it up deliberately so I could see how it lasted. It wore away well, fading eventually to a more natural stain without looking patchy. It was also incredibly comfortable to wear and easy to apply. If you want to keep things extra neat I'd suggest using a lipliner first but it's not essential. 

Matilda, The Musical-I always will have a soft spot for Matilda x Roald Dahl in all its forms; book, film and more recently musical. Well in August it arrived in Auckland and I finally got to see it again last month in my home city. Just as mesmerising, brilliant and wonderful as ever. It's only here for another three weeks and I seriously suggest you make it a priority if you've not been. It does not disappoint. 

Desert Island Discs: I have Liv to once again thank for bringing this archival podcast to my attention. My goodness it's good. Even though the full songs selected by the figures profiled can't be played back, the interviews more than make up for it. I've lost track of all the episodes I've listened to now, I find them great to throw on at work. Standout ones include; Joanna Lumley, Emma Thompson, Stella McCartney, Caitlin Moran. The archives are extensive so I'll be sure to share more of my recommendations as I come to them.

-What's on your radar this October?