My front door is truly like a Post Office sorting room. Seriously, my FedEx man knows everything about me – and vice versa.
Every time I go downstairs, a pile of parcels seems to have culminated, which means it’s truly like Christmas every day.
Speaking of, I’ve already started rounding up the best beauty Advent calendars to get your hands on, so get moving and grooving on those.
The rest of the month, I’ve been busy testing everything from the best coffee machines, to noise-cancelling headphones, and nearly 100 other bits along the way.
If you’re looking for something to splash out on this payday, or simply an excuse to spruce up your September skincare routine, I’ve already done all the heavy lifting for you.
From a new electric toothbrush, to a spray on plaster, and even a great pair of running shoes, I’ve found everything worth your money in September – all tried and tested in August by yours truly.
UK Lash Lift Serum
If you’re thinking about bringing back no makeup makeup for autumn/winter, look no further than this lash serum from UK Lash.
It’s slightly tinted, and acts as both a mascara primer and nourishment for your lashes, thanks to being loaded with Hexapeptide-1, vitamin E, and caramel.
I immediately noticed my eyelashes looking longer, and love that it’s that perfect in between for days when you don’t want to wear mascara but still want to look alive.
It’ll even gradually tint your lashes and make them look fuller over time, which couldn’t be more of a win, if you ask me.
Crafts for days
With autumn fast approaching (we hope) I’ve been thinking about the crafts I want to do to keep me busy this cosy season. Because, let’s be honest, there’s nothing better than a creative project to keep you busy while you rewatch Gilmore Girls for the thousandth time.
This Cricut machine has unlocked in a me a whole new world – you can design literally anything you can think of in its design space (cards, stickers, wall and table decorations, and so much more) and it’ll print and cut them to your liking.
I’m of course going to be making my Christmas cards with it, but I’ve also been dreaming up a Christmas table scape and Halloween decorations. Watch this space…
Breathable underwear
I’m sick of getting smelly and sweaty down there in the summer, so I took one for the team and tested the best breathable underwear to keep you chafe-free and cool.
Top of my list was Step One’s bamboo underwear. It feels sturdy without being too constricting, is super stretchy, and I love that they come in a range of colours and shapes.
Its period pants have been my favourite for a long time, too, and I don’t speak well of thongs often!
Seriously great trail running and hiking shoes
While I’ve always been a casual treadmill runner (needs must, I’ve gotta get my cardio in somehow) I’ve always hated the act of running.
When I put these new Altra Olympus 7s on my feet, though, I realised I may have simply been wearing the wrong shoes all along.
They’re more lightweight than any of its previous models (so they really feel like air) and come with a grippy Vibram sole.
That means they’d be great on rocky and slippy outdoor terrain – whether you’re running or hiking – and they also come with plenty of cushion to avoid your feet getting wet.
Noise-cancelling headphones
Wearing headphones is a sport I’m very serious about. Whether I’m at home or in the office, or walking around my local park, I’ve always got a pair glued to my head.
Earlier this year I highly rated the Nothing (a) headphones, but my pursuit of the best noise-cancelling headphones led me to my new faves – the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones.
They’re quite spenny, but they’re comfortable enough to wear for hours, come with a great battery life, and there are tons of noise-cancelling modes to choose from and customise via the Bose app, whether you’re sat at home or walking around.
I also love that you can adjust the volume and mode on the ear cup, and they come in their own storage case.
SURI’s (more) affordable electric toothbrush
I have to admit, Instagram ads get me every single time, and the absolute tsunami of marketing I got for SURI’s pastel electric toothbrushes had me in a chokehold.
While I’m a big fan of the SURI Pro, the brand has just released a much more affordable model of its classic toothbrush that comes in at a sweet £65.
It has basically the same features as its more expensive counterpart – with nearly a month of charge – but doesn’t come with a UV cleaning travel case.
However, it is slightly less powerful, if you care about that kind of thing, and the replaceable, recyclable head is white rather than matching with the body.
New spritzes just dropped
Historically, I’ve been an Aperol purist, but this summer I’ve been in pursuit of a new spritz to suckle on whenever I find myself in a sun-soaked pub garden (or just my balcony).
I love pomelo, so I thought I’d be all over this Pomelle Aperitif, which is considerably less sweet than an Aperol and can be drunk as a spritz or straight up with some soda water.
However, it was the lemony Allora Aperitif that really stole my heart. It’s bitter and sweet all at the same time, and can be mixed with prosecco to make the most refreshing of drinks.
I’ve also just spotted a recipe for an Allora Margarita, so that’s my weekend sorted…
Magnesium… for your feet?
I don’t know what it is, but my inner monologue really wakes up at night, so my sleep schedule is…disturbing to say the least.
I’ve tried everything, from reading before bed to having a wank, and even asking my friends to bring back copious amounts of NyQuil with them from the States (I don’t want to hear your opinions on this x) but magnesium has never really done it for me.
When this magnesium butter crossed my desk, though, I was intrigued. You rub it on the soles of your feet and calves before bed, and it knocks me out like nobody’s business.
I love the sweet and calming lavender smell, and more importantly that I don’t have to remember to mix any powder with water before my head hits my pillow.
A pescatarian’s delight
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I get bored of cooking! I’m honestly like a kid with their toys when it comes to making dinner – I’ll covet one recipe for weeks, cooking it on repeat until I get bored of it.
And I need a change. Two things have been helping to spice up my weeknight dinners: Cauldron’s Express tofu, which is delish cooked in the air fryer and popped into a salad or veggie bowl, and Grubby’s ready meals (read my full review here).
If there’s one routine I can readily stick to when I’m going to the office, it’s doing my skincare at the very least, and usually my makeup.
I’m always testing the latest and cultiest launches. These are the bits I’ve been loving this month:
My skin hates to see the sun coming: it’s a recipe for breakouts and grease central. This serum from Eucerin helps to keep all of that at bay while also protecting my skin from the sun, it’s lightweight and loaded with SPF 50+, and my skin absolutely guzzles it up.
Everyone in my life is on at me for the fact I seem to constantly have a blister. Look, I don’t know how, either, but this spray on plaster came in extremely handy this summer because I can never seem to keep enough plasters in the house. It creates a protective seal around your heels or other problem areas, and makes you feel like you’re spraying on those shoes from Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs.
This sunscreen spray was a lifesaver on holiday – it takes literal seconds to apply, makes doing your own back effortless, and it smells like holiday! Border control took it from my hand luggage on my way back home and I am still grieving it.
I love a good lip tint, but I often find that they can be too sticky and glossy to have a lasting finish. This one from Korean brand Tirtir isn’t, though, it is perfectly moisturising and leaves a dose of colour that lasts for several hours.
