September Beauty Favourites

It’s that time again – a roundup of the very best beauty products I’ve been using this summer. Below, this month’s favourite things that have been making my skin a whole lot happier after a summer of sun, sunscreen and pore-clogging humidity. I don’t know about you, but I’m always more low-maintenance with my makeup in the warmer months, so this month’s list definitely leans towards skincare and body products to make the most of post-summer skin.

And as always, please do let me know if there’s anything specific you want to see or know about – your requests are my favourites!

Sunday Riley Face Oil // Elizabeth Arden Retinol // ThisWorks Treatment Pads c/- // Origins Moisturiser c/-

1. Sunday Riley CEO Glow // My love of Sunday Riley’s skincare is by now well documented, but I always have at least one of her face oils in my evening rotation. I’ve been using the entire CEO Vitamin C range lately, but I especially love this face oil for overnight. I wear it at night alone or under the Origins moisturiser and it’s deeply hydrating without feeling greasy or heavy, calms my sensitive skin, and brightens and repairs thanks to the Vitamin C and turmeric.

2. Elizabeth Arden Retinol + Ceramide Capsules // I’ve finally committed to introducing retinol into my routine this year, and have been making it my mission to try as many different versions as possible to find my favourites. I still love and use this one I mentioned previously, but these Elizabeth Arden capsules are perfect for when my skin is feeling extra-sensitive. The encapsulated format keeps the retinol as stable and potent as possible, and are the perfect dose for your face and neck – perfect if you’re a retinol beginner – and the ceramides help prevent dryness and flaking (a common side effect when you start introducing retinol until your skin adjusts). I’ve just started my second pot, and my skin is definitely much smoother as a result of using these all year.

3. ThisWorks Treatment Pads // My skin started breaking out like crazy last month (probably a side effect of travelling and humidity), so I’ve been upping the exfoliation. These biodegradable pads are soaked in AHA exfoliants and azelaic acid, which is an amazing active ingredient if you have sensitive skin but are also  breakout-prone. I actually prefer to use them at night a few times a week (never at the same time as a glycolic or other exfoliating treatment) after cleansing and before my serum, and have really noticed a reduction in blackheads and blocked pores around my forehead and chin since using these!

4. Origins GinZing Moisturiser // I’ve been using Origins for maybe 20 years (since Oprah listed it as one of her favourite things way back in the day), and this new lightweight moisturiser is like a dupe for my beloved Aesop mandarin face cream (but a lot cheaper). It’s very hydrating but feels very light, gives skin a good glow, and smells like a fresh orange. I’ve been using the oil-free gel cream for the warmer months when I don’t want something as rich, and will switch to the cream version for winter once I run out (but if you have oilier skin then the gel would work year-round, or the latter if you’re more dry).

Charlotte Tilbury Bronzer // Glossier Mascara// Chantecaille Eye Shadow c/-

5. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow // I know I talk about Charlotte Tilbury constantly, but they are truly some of my most-used products. I’ve been using this palette almost daily for maybe three years, and only just needed to buy my second one. The ‘fair’ shade is the perfect bronzer if you’re fair to medium like me (I find so many bronzers too dark, which just leaves my face looking dirty rather than sunkissed), and the highlighter adds a subtle (but believable) glow to your brow and cheekbones.

6. Glossier Lash Slick Mascara // I have lost count of how many mascaras I’ve tried over the years, and to be honest they’re mostly all the same. And although I’ll always test new version I’m sent to test, there are just two that I always come back to: this Nars version I mentioned in this post, and this one. I mostly use the Nars for events or in the winter months when I lean towards a more glamorous makeup look, but for everyday wear when I want a more effortless look, this is the best. It never seems to smudge or flake, and you can’t tell you’re wearing mascara because it looks like real lashes but better. (P.S. get 10% off your first order here)

7. Chantecaille Eye Shadow // I love everything Chantecaille does (and if money were no object, I’d have a beauty routine full of their products), but if you only buy one thing from them, it should be the blush or eyeshadows because they are such beautiful quality and so pigmented they last years (literally; I have two of these eyeshadows from two years ago that I use nearly every day and they are only half-used, and I’ve been using this blush since I mentioned it in this post nearly ever day for a year and it has barely dented). These eyeshadows are the latest addition to their permanent charitable collection which supports the work of conservation nonprofits around the world, and the proceeds from each shade goes directly towards the work of six African wildlife nonprofits working to protect endangered animals in their natural habitats. Every shade is a beautiful gel-powder metallic, but the golden Lion hue – which supports the work of Lion Guardians in Kenya – is my favourite. It’s expensive for an eyeshadow, but I know it will last me for years, and I love knowing that the proceeds go towards in an incredible cause. Look good, feel good.

Diptyque body wash // Ouai Scalp scrub c/- // Jo Malone perfume c/-

8. Diptyque Fig Tree Body Wash // I’m not sure if this makes me sound preposterous or not, but I like to rotate my body wash and lotion with the seasons the same way I do my scented candles and perfume. I’ve just finished up the Glossier Body Hero duo (SO good if you are an orange blossom obsessive like me) and bought a new bottle of this Diptyque body wash for autumn; I had it last year and it was gorgeous. If you’re familiar with the Figue Candle or Philosykos Perfume perfume, then this smells identical to those; like juicy fresh figs, fig leaves, and a hint of woodiness. I’m all about the high-end bath products; they turn showering into a daily treat!

9. Ouai Scalp Scrub // Every hair brand seems to be coming out with a salt scrub right now, but I’ll admit I was very hesitant to try one because I assumed it would damage my hair or feel too abrasive on my sensitive scalp. But Ouai are one of the brands I trust, so I gave this one a go and was hooked from the first try. The label says it’s for hair and body so I tried both, but I personally think it’s more effective as a scalp scrub because of how gentle it is. I now use this in place of my second shampoo (so: shampoo, scrub, condition) every couple of weeks, or whenever my hair and scalp feel in need of a really deep clean after an extra sweaty workout or one too many days of dry shampoo + product buildup. It has a really good lather so you feel squeaky clean (but the nourishing oils stop your scalp from feeling ‘stripped’), the combination of sugar, coconut oil and probiotics means it isn’t harsh or irritating, and it smells heavenly. 

10. Jo Malone Poppy & Barley perfume // This is Jo Malone’s latest release, and it’s ever so beautiful. It has notes of poppy, rose and green fig, and the slightly earthy smell of cereal grains during the end-of-summer harvest. It’s a little sweet and a little woody, but still very clean and so perfect for this time of year. I’ve been wearing this with my beloved Basil & Neroli and it is such a beautiful pairing. If you like Blackberry & Bay, then I think you’ll love this one.

Which products are you loving at the moment? Let me know your recommendations in the comments below and I’ll try them!

Love, Briony xx