Well, y’all. Spring is on it’s way out, the festive bells are beginning to ring, and the end of 2024 is finally in my sight. Which means it’s time for my final faves for the year. The last few months have lead to me discovering some incredible new beauty favourites. Many of which will probably be mentioned again come January. So, I will be keeping this post on the shorter side as not to repeat myself. Let’s get into the faves!
THE ORDINARY NATURAL MOISTURIZING FACTORS + INULIN BODY LOTION – $24.00*
I like a good smelling body lotion as much as the next girl. But there are some occasions where I just need to slather my skin in something deeply nourishing. And the new body lotion from The Ordinary is just that for me. The formula is thinner than you would expect from a body lotion. But it soaks into the skin nearly instantly. And it leaves my skin feeling so bouncy smooth and supple. This has quickly become a night time staple.
HUDA BEAUTY EASY BLUR FOUNDATION – $60.00 (review here)
This one got the review treatment from me back in October. But long story short, this is still my foundation of the year. Excellent coverage, a true blurred finish, and it stands up even on the hottest days. I feel like this foundation was made for me.
TOWER 28 GET SET PRESSED POWDER – $47.72
*Em’s Note* At the time of writing, these aren’t yet available at Mecca. I will update the information as soon as I’m able to.
OK, folks, I know that I have something of a bias when it comes to Tower 28. As a brand, they are yet to put a foot wrong in my eyes. So you’re just going to have to believe me when I say their new Get Set Pressed Powders are legitimately amazing. Super finely milled and they give a soft blurred effect to the skin. And because I know you’re going to ask, yes, I don’t feel the need to use a setting spray when I use this powder. Because this powder does help with the longevity of my makeup on it’s own. Now, I am saying all this with the knowledge that this Spring has been unseasonably warm. And my skin has been oilier as a result. So I am curious to see how this powders fair with me come winter. But for right now, these are fantastic. Another win for Tower 28.
FENTY BEAUTY GLOSS BOMS STIX – $39.00
It seems almost fitting that the first bullet lipstick that I’ve liked in years is basically a gloss in bullet form. But these are glossy heaven. So silky smooth to apply and they pack a surprising punch when it comes to their pigment. The two shades I have here are Blaz’d Donut (nice) and Fenty Glow. Of the two, I will say that I like Fenty Glow more as a stand alone lippie. But Blaz’d Donut looks gorgeous paired with a cool toned brown liner.
KAYALI MAUI IN A BOTTLE SWEET BANANA 37 – $55.00 for 10ml
NOTES – Top: Banana, Pear. Middle: Coconut, Jasmine. Base: Vanilla. Sandalwood
So, this might be the most surprising favourite of the year for me. When the Vacation In A Bottle set leaked online back in March, this was the one I was side eyeing the most. The combo of Banana and Coconut couldn’t appeal less to me. And I really thought I was going to hate it. But here I am in November, loudly declaring that this was the runaway success from the whole collection. It smells unlike any perfume I’ve ever smelled before. The banana and pear is such an inspired note combo. They give the fragrance such a bright fruity and creamy quality. With the Jasmine and Sandalwood adding a touch of sophistication to the finish. I don’t even hate the coconut because it pairs beautifully with the banana. It’s a good thing I like the smell too. Because the projection of this is fantastic. The collection is now available separately. So you can sniff this for yourself.
So, that wraps up the beauty side of the faves. But I still have a few other things that I want to chat about. So, let’s get into the bonus faves!
WICKED (in cinemas now)
Wicked is a musical that is fundamentally a part of my DNA. I listened to the OCR countless times. I had a bootleg copy of the stage show that I used to watch on repeat. Heck I’ve even read the Gregory McGuire novel that the musical is based on (not a recommendation). So, I went into this movie with the highest of expectations. And they more than exceeded them. This might be my favourite musical adaptation that I’ve seen this decade (not of all time, Chicago and Hairspray still loom large in my household). Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are perfectly cast as Elphaba and Galinda. The world of Oz feels so vibrant and magical. And all of the musical numbers were a feast for the eyes and ears. I cannot recommend this more. Please see it on the biggest screen imaginable.
WHAT WENT WRONG (Spotify)
Long before I entered the beauty world, I’ve been a movie gal. I love watching movies. But more importantly, I love learning about movies. How movies are made, the casting process, the behind the scenes. The whole shebang! And if you’re anything like me, the What Went Wrong podcast will be right up your alley. Hosted by film lovers Chris Winterbauer and Lizzie Bassett, they talk in depth about movie productions of past and present. And they get into the good, the bad, and the downright disastrous. It’s a fascinating listen. Some of the films mentioned went on to become mega hits (Deadpool, Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars), and others went on to be notorious flops (Cleopatra, Battlefield Earth). But all of them had messy and complicated productions. You end the episode with a deeper appreciation for films. And why it’s sometimes a miracle that they make it to the screen at all.
WORD SALAD (App Store)
This one was actually influenced via TikTok of all places. The concept is pretty simple. You’re given a prompt and a jumble of letters. And you’re meant to find the words that go with the prompt. It’s a fun little brain teaser that I enjoy doing when I have some free time.
And that is a wrap on the favourites! I hope you all have an awesome week. And I will be back on Friday!
Cheers and love
Emily xo