life update + current wishlist // october

Hey pretty people! So, I know its been awhile since I've updated or posted anything, and a lot has happened in the meantime... I've up and moved to London, UK for grad school! London has been my favorite city ever since I first visited back in 2013. I've lived here before for an internship I had at an art gallery in summer 2014, and I finally made the decision to get a masters in Arts Management & Curating - so I'll be here until at least next September getting my degree! I'll be sure to start blogging more about my life in London, tips and tricks for moving to a new country, and anything else that I can think up. While I work on some content for upcoming posts, I thought I'd post my current wishlist for the coming fall months since it has been awhile (oooh, cooler weather.. my fave). Check out my top five wishlist picks for Fall below.

october // wishlist by iwearblack featuring Josie Maran

jeffree star highlighter in shade 'king tut'
public desire crushed velvet 'lia' boots in grey
rebecca minkoff mini mab in black
zara bomber jacket
and of course, i can't forget that i need to restock my fave josie maran whipped body butter

beauty // my current obsessions

I like to try a lot of different makeup products and brands.. and when I say a lot, I really mean a lot! I'm always testing out new products that I've heard about. Lately, I've tried a few great ones and become pretty obsessed with some of them! Here are my current top 5 products that I've recently added to my collection and exactly why I love each of them so much.

1) josie maran whipped argan oil in creamy vanilla // this stuff is like liquid gold.. for your skin (and I'm not kidding)! The first time I tried this, I absolutely fell in love. Not only does it smell divine, but it's free of harsh chemicals that can harm your skin. A lot of people don't know that many skin-care products, including body lotion, can contain ingredients such as parabens or butylene glycol that are actually very harmful to put on your body. Luckily, Josie Maran is committed to keeping her ingredients all-natural, which is a great plus! This whipped argan oil is a must-have for your skin, especially in the dry winter months. the benefits of Argan Oil also prevent wrinkles and keep skin moisturized and firm, which I especially love for areas like my neck and collarbone area/chest. I'm so in love with it that I use it nearly every day!

2) juice beauty concealer // I never used to care about the ingredients in makeup products, or rather, I never used to notice them. but as I mentioned above, the fact is that there are a lot of ingredients in drug-store makeup brands and even more "sophisticated" brands that are very bad for your skin. however, you can be guilt-free with this Juice Beauty concealer, because it's also composed of entirely natural ingredients! the entire Juice Beauty brand is committed to all-natural products. I love to use this concealer on the dark circles beneath my eyes, because the skin there is very delicate and I don't like putting makeup there that contains harsh chemicals that could cause pre-mature aging.

3) jouer anti-blemish matte primer // wow, this primer is the bomb! This was the first product I'd ever tried from Jouer, and I have to say that I'll be purchasing more. With skin-loving ingredients like aloe, Vitamin E, Ginseng and Gingko Biloba extract (apparently this ingredient protects your skin from free radicals, and I've definitely noticed it giving my skin a pretty glow), this matte primer doesn't only prevent blemishes -- it's also a great treat for your skin and keeps your foundation on all day.

4) arrow beauty ph adjusting chapstick // I got this as a sample in last month's Birchbox, and I immediately fell in love! Who knew that a chapstick exists that changes color on your lips according to your personal pH balance?! it's pretty amazing, I must say. according to the makeup brand, this stuff changes to the most flattering color for you -- mine turns out to be a pretty pink shade. It moisturizes and gives you a pretty color at the same time, and I can't get enough of it.

5) smashbox contour palette // for the longest time I wanted to try contouring but never knew where to begin -- luckily, this contour palette from Smashbox makes it super easy! the palette comes with a guide for your personal face shape and where exactly you need to contour to look your best, and it even includes a handy contour brush. I usually sweep the first shade down the sides of my nose, sides of my forehead, and in the hallows of my cheek; then I sweep on some bronzer on my cheeks and down to my neck a bit. finally, I highlight with the final light shade on my chin, down the center of my nose, beneath my eyes, and on the middle of my forehead. Voilà, contour made easy!