Every year when autumn arrives there’s a special feeling in the air. One of my favorite things about the season are the rainy nights, which are perfect for cozying up inside with a cup of tea and Netflix. I also look forward to the transition of switching out my summer essentials for products representative of the fall such as seasonal vegetables, warm weather clothing, and pumpkin spice everything. Here’s my list of 15 affordable autumn must-haves that I’ve purchased (and love) this season.
Looking forward to a spa night when the weather gets cool (bonus if it’s raining) feels so therapeutic. I’ll start by drawing a warm bath and I’ll add a Lush turmeric latte bath bomb. They’re scented with gardenia, tonka absolute and vanilla, which turns the water into Insta-worthy swirls of yellow and gold.
Right around October my lips start getting chapped because of the change in climate. Having a good quality lip balm in my purse at all times is essential in keeping them from drying out. Burt’s Bees came out with a limited edition fall assortment pack that comes with four flavors: chai tea, pumpkin spice, vanilla maple, and pomegranate. They all taste amazing and sooth my lips.
On top of my list is Trader Joe’s pumpkin and fall-related products. My favorite is their Pumpkin Spice Medium Roast Keurig coffee cups. The pumpkin spice flavor is delicious, especially after adding oat milk to make it a little sweeter.
I like to look for inexpensive decor that I can display post Halloween and before Christmas. I discovered this little pumpkin with faux florals and right now it’s sitting outside my door to give my place a fall boost.
For my birthday I got a light-up diffuser and I’m obsessed with it. Last week I purchased a pumpkin pie essential oil that’s infused with clove, cardamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The warm autumn scent fills my apartment with a comforting aroma of a freshly baked pie.
I always buy a few cinnamon whisks, and I place them in various spots around my apartment. The exquisite scent is powerful, but not too powerful, and is long lasting.
Another autumn fashion stable is wearing oversized sweaters. I just bought this knit one from Nasty Gal and I’m planning on wearing it over a maxi dress, tucked into a tennis skirt or wearing it as a dress by pairing it with a belt and boots. I love the turtleneck, which makes it feel even more cozy and the texture is super-soft.
This mix brings me back to my childhood. My mom would often make my family and I pumpkin pancakes throughout the month of November. It has the right amount of pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg which blend seamlessly and create the perfect fluffy pancakes or waffles!
When I think of fall I think of PSL everything, but squash is a standout autumn ingredient. The autumn squash soup from Panera Bread comes pre-made. All you need to do is warm it up on the stove or in the microwave. It’s creamy, decadent, and has a hint of spice. This paired with chai tea is my go-to meal on a chilly night.
Applying a thick body butter is a cold weather essential; especially if you’re like me and have to deal with dry skin. My go to is The Body Shops vanilla and pumpkin lotion that’s infused with caramel, maple syrup, and almond milk. This good-enough-to-eat warm and sweet autumn scent leaves my skin moisturized throughout the day and night.
A fall beauty must-have is a dark red or berry-colored lipstick. Fenty Beauty’s matte lipstick in the shade Griselda is the perfect burgundy color to go with all my autumn outfits. It also stays on all day eliminating the need to keep reapplying it. The formula is soft and conditions my lips, which is a huge plus for cold weather.
As soon as the weather errs on the chilly side, I display autumn scented candles throughout my apartment. My go-to is this Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candle which blends brown sugar, clove, vanilla, and cinnamon to create the quintessential fall candle.
I am a boot fiend and look for any excuse to purchase a new pair. These pleather thigh-high boots have a flattering fit and instantly transform any outfit. I can’t wait to pair them with tights, a knit dress, and a faux fur coat.
This year, I’m spending even more time at home and I’m trying to make the most of it. To get into the autumn spirit, I baked a batch of pumpkin spice cookies. As I let them cool, I made a cream cheese frosting with orange food coloring and you would have never guessed that these weren’t baked from scratch. PS: Here are the adorable cookie cutters I used.
All year I use Mrs. Meyer’s hand soaps and cleaning products, but I look forward to their seasonal favorites, like orange clove. The citrus and spice blend smells amazing and doesn’t dry out my hands.
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