Fall Beauty Favourites

It’s that time again! I’m sharing some of my beauty favourites that I’ve been enjoying recently and there are quite a few makeup and skin care options this month. From The Ordinary skin care, Olay, Garnier, Technic and more, find out what’s been making my face happy lately.

*some links may be affiliate*

 

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, 240mL

It took me forever to get my hands on this popular toner since it was out of stock at The Ordinary a few months ago. 

Was it worth the wait? I think so.

The Ordinary Glycolic toner is made with Tasmanian Pepperberry to reduce skin irritation, as well as aloe vera, ginseng and amino acids.

It has a faint berry-like scent and doesn’t sting on the skin, despite the 7% alpha hydroxy acid content and was gentle enough to use when my skin was going through a serious dry patch.

The formula is also alcohol free, oil free, cruelty free, silicone free, vegan, nut free, gluten free and soy free.

While this acid toner won’t give you new skin overnight, it’s a great gentle exfoliant that I’ve enjoyed having in my night time skin care routine.

This toner comes with a metal cap, or a twist top dropper; I prefer the twist top, since I can pour a couple drops of it into my hands and rub it into my skin directly, without having to use a cotton pad.

Buy It: Sephora | The Ordinary

  Related Reading: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

 

The Ordinary Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%, 30mL

This potent antioxidant from The Ordinary has been a nice pick me up for my skin, especially since I can’t use retinol just yet (breastfeeding). Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is supposed to improve skin texture and tone when applied topically.

The 5% ALA concentration is considered high and is recommended for use at night only (sunlight affects ALA efficacy) and only 2-3 times per week to avoid skin sensitivity. The ALA is water free, silicone free, oil free, nut free, vegan, gluten free and cruelty free.

The ALA comes in The Ordinary’s standard dark, glass bottle with pipette. It has a consistency similar to water and a slight yellow colour to it. I like to use it twice per week and apply 2-3 drops to my face.

It gives me an instant warm, tingly sensation when patted into the skin and has an oily texture (since its water free). It doesn’t fully absorb into the skin, so it remains a bit greasy.

I do feel like my skin has been a bit smoother and tighter after using the ALA, which is no small feat for me without my beloved retinol. Only complaint? It smells faintly like…skunk.

Not enough to turn me off using it, but I get tiny whiffs of this odour after applying it.

  Buy It: Sephora | The Ordinary | Asos

 

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, 30mL

Again, as I’m banned from using retinol, I decided to grab The Ordinary’s Rose Hip Seed Oil for some natural vitamin A. This yellow tinged oil is water free, alcohol free, oil free, silicone free, nut free, vegan and cruelty free.

I use this oil a several times a week at the end of my nightly skin care routine to keep my skin hydrated and get my dose of linoleic and linolenic acid.

Rose hip seed oil’s vitamin A and antioxidant ingredients help to reduce the signs of photo-aging while improving skin tone and texture.

This oil isn’t a miracle worker like my Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol (which I sorely miss, we’ll be together again in a few months my love),  but it does help keep my skin smooth and even.

This oil doesn’t fully absorb into the skin and leaves a greasy texture behind, so don’t use it on your good pillows ladies!

  Buy It: The Ordinary | Sephora

 

Garnier Moisture Bomb Super Hydrating Sheet Mask

I’ve wanted to try Garnier Moisture Bomb FOREVER and finally found it at my local Walmart. I used it the morning of my daughter’s Baptism to give my dull skin a hit of moisture, and it damn well delivered!

I also loved the look on my husband and older daughter’s face when I came down with it on – they said they needed to call the Ghostbusters!

After removing the sheet and massaging the leftover gel into my face, my skin felt hydrated and slightly tacky. The clear gel isn’t scented (thank you Garnier) and feels super cool on the skin – very refreshing for this tired mom.

There was also a chunk of the gel leftover in the package, which I used over the next several days each morning –  a nice bonus.

I will definitely be grabbing a couple more of these on my next outing to Walmart.

Buy It: Walmart

 

Maison Jacynthe Highlighter 02 – Lune Rose

I reviewed three makeup items from the Maison Jacynthe cruelty free, natural makeup line a few months ago and this highlighter was a quick beauty favourite.

It has a soft scent and the powder itself is soft and buttery to the touch. I love the soft sheen this champagne-pink highlight leaves on my skin, as well as the instant radiance it provides.

Since my skin isn’t oily anymore, I’m really relying on my highlighters to give me some glow and this one is a favourite of mine when I’m wearing warmer tones in my makeup.

 

Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Shimmer Compact Powder

I grabbed this budget beauty gem from Amazon for about $7CAD and it’s worth every penny! This highlighter gives my skin a soft, pearlescent glow and I’ve been reaching for it constantly since it arrived.

The packaging is nothing to write home about, but given the price of this highlighter, I can’t complain.

The powder is super fine, buttery soft and just the right amount of shimmer for my pale complexion to give me a nice glow without turning me into a disco ball.

Buy It: Amazon

 

Feel Renewed Pumpkin Walnut Facial Cleanser (sample size)

This beauty favourite arrived in my September Ipsy bag and I loved it right away. Described as a “pumpkin spice latte” for your face, this cleanser is packed with all-natural ingredients like walnut powder and pumpkin seed oil.

It’s also sulfate-free, so it won’t strip the skin of essential oils.

Full of alpha hydroxy acids as well as vitamins A and C, this cleanser leaves my skin with a healthy, flake-free glow.

I love the smell of this cleanser (it’s like exfoliating in a spicy pumpkin patch) and my skin feels super soft and smooth after using it without being dry or irritated.

Buy It: Feel Renewed

  Related Reading: Nip+Fab Glycolic Cleansing Fix and Overnight Purifying Gel

 

Olay Age Defying Eye Gel

I was looking for a simple eye cream that would keep my eye area hydrated – no frills, nothing fancy – and Olay’s Age Defying Eye gel was just what I was looking for.

This clear, lightweight gel has no fragrance, feels cool on the skin and absorbs without leaving any residue. It’s made for all skin types and formulated with vitamin B5, cucumber extract and witch hazel to reduce fine lines around the eye area.

I plan on adding a retinol-based eye cream to my routine once I’m done breastfeeding, but this one is working out nicely in the mean time and is super affordable.

The coolness of it is also great for de-puffing tired eyes.

Buy It: Walgreen’s

RELATED READING: How I Fake Awake

 

What beauty products are you loving right now?