Beauty Bits I’m Loving in September

Hi friends!

Woah, it’s already September, can you believe it?? It’s been a hot, humid summer in NY but I bet cooler temps are just around the corner. I LOVE the fall, but summertime means easy living in flip-flops and lighter clothing; so I always have mixed feelings about the season change. I don’t necessarily believe in seasonal makeup, but I do believe in changing up your skincare (if you need it), which I’ll touch on very briefly in this post but delve more into in my next post.

For now, I just wanna talk about the five beauty bits I’m loving lately! I have a great mix here with some makeup, skincare and even a bit of body care. I did a similar post like this back in June, but since I switch up my beauty products so often, it’s already outdated.

Let’s dive in!

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS GIFTED ITEMS, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN.

 

L’OREAL LASH PARADISE MASCARA

I dedicated a whole post to this major rediscovery just last month…and I’m still loving it! The short story: I was totally underwhelmed when I first tried Lash Paradise back in 2017, but I decided to give it another try. There’s something I’m surely missing if everyone else loves it, I thought. Turns out I was missing something…dramatic length, volume and va-va-voom! The trick for me is applying two full coats, not just one. Then I get the full effect of this formula, which builds very nicely on itself without getting overly clumpy. Check out my full post for more info and photos.

 

MAYBELLINE BROW FAST SCULPT

I talked about this amazing brow gel in a post back in July where I tested some new launches from Maybelline. This is, hands-down, my most favorite brow gel of the moment; I’ve recommended it to countless people at this point. It’s a mere few dollars, but it gives the most beautifully full and textured look to the brows. I’m not sure if it’s the brush, the formula or a combination of both, but I absolutely love it! In addition to catching every single little brow hair, it also holds the hairs in place all day long. I have it in Soft Brown and Clear, but I definitely prefer the colored version. Check out my full post for more info and photos, but I’ve also included a short IG video by MUA Nikki DeRoest showing how she applies the Brow Fast Sculpt. I do it a little differently for what it’s worth; I use the shorter dense side first to really build up the pigment, and then comb through with the longer bristles to groom.

 

AETHER BEAUTY ROSE QUARTZ CRYSTAL GEMSTONE SINGLE EYESHADOW

I’ve been curious to try out Aether Beauty for a while now, so when I found this eyeshadow in a very generous gift bag from a virtual beauty event, I was so pleased! (If you’re interested in sustainable beauty brands, you may want to check out Aether. They created the industry’s first zero-waste eyeshadow palettes with 100% recyclable packaging.) Now, I received this as a single eyeshadow but I don’t think you can normally buy their shadows that way; I only see palettes on their website. I believe this shade is the namesake shade (Rose Quartz) in their 12-pan Rose Quartz Crystal Gemstone Palette, which looks absolutely gorgeous and so wearable. Rose Quartz is a beautiful pinky-rose with a soft metallic finish that applies like absolute butter across the lids, no skipping or patchiness in the slightest; it almost feels creamy to the touch. I love applying it as a wash all over the lids, and even up under the brows. It’s gently illuminating and very flattering. Totally makes me want to try more from them!

 

AHAVA SMOOTHING HAND CREAM

I just dedicated a whole post to the new Superfood body care range from Israeli skincare brand AHAVA. I was very kindly gifted a few bits from the collection, including this gem. As I mentioned in that post, the Smoothing Hand Cream has replaced my beloved CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion on my bedside table; I love applying hand cream right before going to bed so it can soak in overnight. This cream has just the right amount of thickness where it feels nourishing, but it’s not overly heavy or tacky. It also has a beautiful light scent that makes the experience feel more luxurious.

 

SERUMKIND BLACK BLOSSOM DROP SERUM

I will be posting a full review and breakdown of this product later on this month, but I’ve been LOVING this serum! Serumkind is a Korean brand that just came to the U.S. this year with six single-care serums. I was kindly gifted two: the Deep Antarctic Drop Serum which I reviewed in this post, and the Black Blossom Drop Serum. So far I definitely prefer the Black Blossom over the Deep Antarctic. It has a creamier, yet more liquid texture if that makes sense (the Deep Antarctic was definitely more of a gel), and it feels even more hydrating. And the glow, wow! It’s insane. This will be perfect going into the fall/winter when the temperatures start to cool, and I have to up my game in the moisture department.

What products are you loving this month? I’d love to know!

xo, and be well, Erica

 

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