October is the start of Summer in my experience in Wellington, where we can finally start to see evidence of warm long evenings...

This month, I’ve found four cool new treats I want to talk to you about, a skin serum, some “feminine hygiene products” (*wink, wink*), a limited edition drink and a magical evening.

1. Sun, Wind & Sea serum - Wellington Apothecary

Many of you may know The Wellington Apothecary for their sweet-ass natural skincare, teas and mud masks. Personally, I love the powder clay mask - always makes me feel rejuvenated.

Wellington Apothecary has launched a skin serum, called Sun, Wind & Sea. Sun, Wind & Sea has a canny name, evocative of Wellington’s bright windy days at Lyall Bay. Its is designed to hydrate under or in place of your moisturiser. Even better, is it is made locally at their HQ on Cuba Street. It’s also not going to break the band - the Serum is $49 and Balm is $32.

The product design is a stunner: the bottle and labelling is simple and easy on the eye and the serum itself is a hot-turmeric-mango-salsa-egg-yolk yellow. The tone makes me think of a bright bottle of Verve Cliquot, ready to be poured. Champagne for your skin, mais non?

This canary-hued bottle contains seabuckthorn, aloe vera gel, kawakawa, kiwi seed oil, ylang ylang and juniper. Seabuckthorn is an amber oil extracted from the fleshy pulp of the sea buckthorn berry and is naturally high in Vitamin A, C and E with essential fatty aides to nourish skin.

Sun, Wind & Perfect is fine for all skin types so is a perfect refresher for your Summer skincare routine. I love how this product feels on my skin - gentle, easily absorbed and super yummy (I want to eat it!). I’ll be using it on days I feel I need a bit of extra moisture, under my face oil, in my skin regime, leaving me ready to face the sun, wind and sea.

2. Bon Tampons

Many of us, including me until recently, rarely think about absorbing chemicals via our body except through our digestive tract. Turns out there is something obvious that we should be using organic. ’Of course’ I can tell you are thinking as you slap your hand to your forehead: ‘Tampons!! Duh?’

Maybe not? While organic tampons may sound ornamental, there is a serious side to this eco-friendly product. Think about it: Like our skin, the largest organ in our body, what we put inside our body absorbs into our bloodstream. Normal tampons are bleached and filled with chemicals. Toxic shock syndrome can result when tampons haven't been refreshed (let’s leave it there). These suckers also take a looong time to break down in nature.

Enter Bon Tampons: Director Rhys decided he wanted to look into an organic option for women in New Zealand. He whipped up a product had no bad things in and is eco-friendly which means a happier organic lady garden and a happier you. The packaging by Ellen Miles from Weekdays Design is off the hook. I really love that they have different sizes for different flows and also a mini travel pack.

Bon Tampons is a female-centric business to champion. This awesome company (run by a dude nonetheless) is a wonderful example of Kiwi ingenuity and thinking holistically about our body. Bon chance, Bon!

3. Chilli Karma Cola (with The Lucky Taco)

I couldn’t do a monthly favourites without championing the collaboration between The Lucky Taco truck and Karma Cola. Together, these amigos have created Chilli Cola. I loved this delicious drink so much, I had to make up a recipe using it and whipped up some sticky chilli cola wings. You can read the recipe here.

I’ve made no secret my love of Karma Cola and their fair trading ways. Everything about this brand is on pointe, from their clever marketing to their company values. While this limited edition is now finishing, I hope to see more from Karma Cola and other cool brands in the future. Cheers, Amigos.

4. A 2nd Night of Magic at The Library Bar

While I didn’t go in for Halloween in October (I’m not gonna lie, I hate Halloween) I did enjoy a very neat event in celebration of the new Harry Potter film ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” at The Library Bar this month. Library has thrown a Harry Potter themed evening before so it was fitting that this event should be titled ‘A 2nd Night of Magic’.

Participants were encouraged to come dressed up as their favourite character from Harry Potter. There were many interesting and clever attempts, from a Golden Snitch to dead-ringers of Harry himself.

While there were activities and games held by the MC and Harry Potter music blaring, the real star of the show was the cocktail list. Like everyone else, I had always dreamed of trying Harry’s favourite ‘Butterbeer’ drink (you’ll need a spell or two to slim your muggle hips if you’re making these a regular).

From Unicorn Blood to Gillyweed, the menu played with very accurate elements from the Harry Potter books, resulting in some truly magical beverages. I’ll be keeping my wand at the ready for the conjuring of more events at either Library or Motel bars in the future.