Hello October! I am SO happy to see you! You are my absolute favorite month and contain my FAVORITE holiday! HALLOWEEN!
I had the BEST October last year (even got to visit Salem, MA.. home of all things Halloween!) and I think this October will be even better! I am going to visit my sister in NYC in just a few short weeks, and I can't wait to see her and experience fall in the city. Anyways, I can't believe I have waited until the 6th day of the month to write about my September favorites, but I have been busy all week and worked all weekend and just now had time to write a blog!
Some photos from my Salem, MA trip last October.. if you ever get a chance to visit, go! It is the cutest town!
I have really gotten into using natural products for cleansing my skin, lately, and so all of these natural things listed have been my absolute favorite beauty products for the month. I have been reading about using all of these products for quite some time, and finally decided to buy them all and try them all out. I love that they are chemical free and I think that they have really been helping my face clear up. Along with these beauty favorites, I have some non-beauty favorites for the month of September. Alright onto my A-list for the month of September.
Ally's A-List:
Beauty Favorites:
I have been using these four items for the past month to clean and moisturize my face, and I LOVE all of them! I got all of these products at Trader Joes, but if you don't have a Trader Joes in your area, you can pick up these items at a local health food store or possibly a regular grocery store. These products are very inexpensive and will last you forever! They are all chemical free and contain natural ingredients, so they are a safe and healthy way to cleanse your face. How I use these products..
1. Jojoba Oil (Trader Joe's)
I first use 100% pure jojoba oil to remove all of the makeup on my face. I use a cotton pad, and pour some of the jojoba oil and wipe it across my face. Not only does this oil remove my makeup, but it also moisturizes my skin in the process. This oil is a natural plant extract and you can use it for a variety of things. It can be used to remove makeup, cleanse clogged pores, and prevent dry, flaky skin. You can also use it as a leave-in hair treatment or as an aftershave moisturizer. This oil feels SO good on my skin and leaves it super soft.
2. Raw Organic Honey (Trader Joe's)
After removing my makeup with Jojoba oil, I splash my face with water and then wash it with honey. Yes, HONEY! At first when I read about this, I was thinking, "What in the world... who would wash their face with that sticky mess?!" BUT, the raw organic honey is much thicker and not sticky. Honey has fantastic antibacterial properties and also great healing properties. It will effectively cleanse your skin without stripping your skin of its natural oils. I take a scope of the honey and apply it all over my face (just like a regular face wash), and then wash it out.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar, Unfiltered (Trader Joe's)
After I wash my face with the honey, I apply some Apple Cider Vinegar to a wet (you want to dilute the vinegar) cotton pad and apply it to my face. This Apple Cider Vinegar acts as a toner and also has great antibacterial properties to really kill any of the bacteria still left on your face. Yes, your face will smell like vinegar for a few minutes, but quickly wears off... especially after using the Coconut Oil.
4. Coconut Oil (Trader Joe's):
I am so so so obsessed with this stuff! I was just telling my sister the other day that she needs to go out and buy this because it can be used for SO many things. This product can also be used as a make-up remover, and sometimes if I have some stubborn mascara that will not come off I will rub some of this on my eyelashes to remove the product. But, I use this for moisturizer. This stuff makes my skin SO soft and it feels baby smooth in the morning when I wake up. I rub this all over my face, neck, and lips and leave it on overnight. Warning: it will make your face very greasy, because it is oil. But it is worth it! You can also use this product in your hair, to shave your legs, and as an all over moisturizer. This oil is going to last me forever! I have been using it every night for an entire month, and it looks like I have barely used anything. You just need a tiny bit to fully moisturize your face.
Non-Beauty Favorites:
Favorite Songs:
These songs have been on repeat on my iPod and I have been blasting them in my car all month long..
1. Boyce Avenue ---
ANYTHING by this band. This band does covers and they are SO good. My favorite covers by them so far have been Fast Car, Mirrors, and Teenage Dream.
2. Piano-- by Ariana Grande
Such a fun upbeat song that can put anyone in a good mood!
3. Wasting All These Tears -- by Cassadee Pope
4. Pretty Brown Eyes -- by Cody Simpson
5. Wings --by Little Mix
I discovered this song when Derek Hough and Amber Riley performed their first dance to it on Dancing With the Stars. It is so upbeat and an awesome song to run/walk to! Speaking of Dancing with the Stars..
Favorite TV Shows:
1. Dancing With the Stars
I have watched almost every season of this show, and LOVE it. I am really glad that they condensed the show down to one day, because the two day show thing was a little much. My favorite dance of the season so far has been Amber Riley and Derek Hough's first dance, the Cha Cha Cha. They received 9's on the first dance which is unheard of, but it was THAT good!
How fun is this dance?!
2. Ellen
I am a die hard Ellen fan, and she can put anyone in a good mood! I am often sharing Youtube clips of Ellen on my Facebook page because they are too good not to be shared. If you ever feel down or in a bad mood, just youtube The Ellen Show, and you will turn that frown upside down in no time!
Favorite Book/ Movie:
1. Sarah's Key
GRAB THE TISSUES. This book is so sad, but oh so good! My mom first read this book and told me I had to read it and once you start, you don't want to put it down! I won't ruin it for anyone... so I won't divulge the plot, but it centers around a girl, Sarah, during the Holocaust. After I read the book, I watched the movie on Netflix and was not disappointed. If you don't have time to read the book, then watch the movie... you won't regret it!
Misc:
1. PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES and all things pumpkin!
I am one of those freaks that cannot wait for pumpkin spice lattes to come back to Starbucks. I love everything pumpkin and pumpkin spice lattes are no exception! I average one a day (nonfat and no whip, of course) and don't get tired on them until Starbucks releases the Peppermint Latte :).
Favorite Blogger:
This blog helps me know about all of the new products that are about to hit shelves, or have just hit the shelves. Not only does she post things about new products, but she gives reviews and swatches on most of the products. Check her out!
I hope everyone had a great September, and an even better October!
Always Remember to Sparkle,
Ally
I LOVE Boyce Avenue!
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