Holy smokes, y’all! We are officially in October! Which means it’s time for another stash shake up. And this might be my favourite array of products to date. I have a really solid mix of new launches and returning favourites. The returning favourites being particularly noteworthy with the end of the year fast approaching. Let’s get into the stash!
We’ll kick this off with the primer picks. And with Summer rolling in soon, I knew I wanted something that was not only going to keep the makeup on my face, but also protect the skin. Which is why I went with the BARRY M IN A FIX GRIP PRIMER (sent in PR) and the QUICK SCREEN CLEAR SMOOTHING PRIMER & GEL SERUM SPF 50+ (sent in PR)
For the foundations, I actually left the decision up to you all as to which ones would make the stash. By far, the winner was the new MAKEUP BY MARIO SURREALSKIN NATURAL FINISH FOUNDATION. And I can see why. I famously hated the original and was keen to try this one. The second place finisher was the ABOUT FACE THE PERFORMER FOUNDATION. Space NK now ships About Face worldwide so I was very keen to try some of their bestsellers.
Getting to concealers, they are all returning favourites. The TOWER 28 SWIPE CONCEALER, the HUDA BEAUTY FAUXFILTER CONCEALER, and the MECCA MAX OFF DUTY SERUM CONCEALER. These are all concealers that I know and trust to get the job done. For powder, I wanted some heavy duty ones in the stash. The MECCA MAX LIFE PROOF LOOSE SETTING POWDER is fantastic for under the eyes. The AUSTRALIS FRESH & FLAWLESS PRESSED POWDER is just plain iconic. And I also pulled out the new and supposedly improved MAC STUDIO FIX POWDER. If only to see if it’s as bad as everyone is saying it is.
We’ll wrap up the base with the setting sprays. The MAYBELLINE SUPERSTAY DOUBLE FIX SUPER SPRAY is one I enjoyed earlier in the year. And I’m curious to see how well it holds my makeup up during the hot season. And I’m giving one last chance to the L’OREAL INFALLIBLE MAKEUP SETTING MIST. I might be in the minority with this one, but I hate how this feels on the skin. Which is a shame because it’s damn effective.
Getting to the brows, I have two newbies. The RIMMEL BROW THIS WAY EYEBROW DEFINER is one that I haven’t seen much about. But the MECCA MAX BROW GURU POWER BROW STRONG HOLD GEL is wildly popular in the Aussie beauty space. It’s constantly sold out online and I’m so hyped to try it. Especially because your girl is getting a brow wax this week!
I do have an eyeshadow that I want to test out for this stash. I have one of the viral ABOUT FACE MATTE EYE PAINT in SMELL BEFORE RAIN. I remember when Elizabeth Cee would use these constantly. I can’t believe that I finally own one of these.
Time for the lashes. This stash, I have the three big gun mascara launches of 2025. The MAKEUP BY MARIO MASTER MASCARA, the PRADA BEAUTY PRADASCOPE LASH EXTENDING MASCARA, and the HAUS LABS VOLUMISING + LENGTHENING MASCARA. Best of all, I’m pretty sure none of these are tubing! I think… I hope…
My bronzer picks, for the most part, are returning favourites. I have the AUSTRALIS FRESH & FLAWLESS BRONZER in GLOW UP, the MAC COSMETICS SKINFINISH SUNSTRUCK MATTE BRONZER, and the RARE BEAUTY SOFT PINCH LIQUID CONTOUR in MELLOW all making a comeback. But I did want to include one newbie. And for that, I chose the BARRY M CHISEL CHEEK CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT DUO (sent in PR)
Finally, we have the blush wardrobe! And these are mostly new picks for the stash. I have two of the MORPHE CHEEK THRILLS BLUSH TRIO in AFTER PARTY (nude rose) and BLIND DATE (hot pink), the ABOUT FACE CHEEK FREAK BLUSH BALM in CONTROL, the MAKEUP BY MARIO SOFT POP PLUMPING BLUSH VEIL in BARELY BLUSHING, the DIOR BACKSTAGE ROSY GLOW BLUSH in ROSEWOOD, the TOWER 28 GET SET POWDER BLUSH in MALIBU COOLER, and lastly, THE KIND COLLECTIVE CLOUD SKIN BLUSH POWDERS in SUMMER NIGHTS as a returning fave.
And that is the stash locked and loaded! As always, let me know which reviews you want to see in the comments.
Cheers and love
Emily xo