What's on my bedside table

I saw many of these posts floating around a few months back and now that I'm back blogging I thought today I would share my version. Here's what I keep on the table next to my bed.

 

It's rather over crowded but I like my little set up. First up we have two gorgeous Yankee Candles, both gifted to me by my lovely boyfriend. The medium sized one is Strawberry Buttercream that he bought me for my birthday, this is really sweet so definitely not for those of you out there that don't like sweet scents, it can get rather sickly after a while. In all honesty it smells like all the other cakey scents they do but with a hint of strawberry, I absolutely love it. The small jar, Black Cherry is one he decided to pick up as a little gift when he got paid this month. It literally smells like cherries and it’s gorgeous. The two of them burning at once smells devine, really fruity and sweet, absolutely perfect for a nice relaxing night.

 

Behind these I have my red Guess glasses, I have two pairs of these, red leopard print ones for when I'm in the house and a nice cream neutral leopard print for when I'm out and about, that I keep in my handbag. Then there's a load of beauty products. On the left hand side I have all my perfumes and other smelly's. I have my Dove roll on deodorant, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume, Elle by YSL perfume, Lady Gaga's perfume, along with a few other bottles, and a ton of testers from beauty boxes, gifts with purchases etc. I've also got a mini L'occitane shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion and soap that I took from a hotel I stayed in (probably shouldn't admit that online but never mind) Then there’s just a few body sprays from Soap and Glory and Lynx. And a room spray from Avon.

 

 

On the right hand side I have all of my skincare products, minus my cleansers and exfoliators that live in the bathroom. My everyday skincare items in here are, my Garnier miscellar water, Nivea eye makeup remover, Liz Earle toner, Clarins HydroQuench moisturiser, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +, YSL eye cream and a Clearasil spot cream. I also have a load of others I use from time to time including products from L'occitane, Simple, Nivea, Coola, Monu Spa, L'Oreal and loads more. I really do not know why I have so much. Lastly there is my full size Soap and Glory Hand Food and Heel Genius, and my boyfriend’s No7 moisturiser that I practically forced him to buy and he only ever uses once in a blue moon. Oh and that piece of card you can see with a baby’s head on it. Is my gorgeous invite to my goddaughter's christening, which asks me to be godmother, I intend on keeping it forever.

 

 

So that's what my bedside table looks like; organised chaos. Like the majority of things in my life. Thanks for reading, and if you haven't already done this, I tag you all :)

Much Love

Gemma xo.

April Favourites

Today I am back with my first favourites post since I took a break from blogging. I didn't really try out too many new products in the month of April therefore there are only a few favourites but here they are anyway.

Maybelline Big Eyes Volum'Express Waterproof Mascara

First up we have this mascara I received in my February GlossyBox. I really don't like the side that is meant for your 'upper lashes' because it just doesn't seem to do much for me. It gives hardly any volume or length to the lashes what so ever, nor does it hold a curl very well. The one for the bottom lashes however is really impressive! The brush is super tiny and thin so you can get right into every single lash, even the ones right in the corner! I have used this every single day since I got it, to leave my bottom lashes nice and defined, without any clumping or smudging.

Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot Powder

  

Definitely my favourite discovery so far this year. I had been eyeing up this 'super-translucent mattifying powder' for months, after seeing countless raving reviews of it online. Everyone claimed that it kept their make up in place and their skin shine free all day. And being a sufferer of an oily t-zone myself, I do not know why I held off buying this wonder product for so long! Since buying it at the begining of March I haven't used any of my other setting powders. Before using this, my make up used to disappear from my nose within 3-4 hours of applying, but now it stays put for much longer and I usually don't have to touch up until the late afternoon. If and when I do touch up, this doesn't leave a cakey look mess on my face like many other powders I've tried. Instead it just blots away any shine and my make up looks as good as new. It doesn't cover my open pores, but it doesn't accentuate them either, which I am really happy about. So I am now on the look out for a primer that will give me the smooth, flawless complexion I long for!

Sleek Face Form Palette in Light

 

I bought this palette along with the powder I mentioned above, in one of Boots' many '3 for 2 events'. And it is another product I have been after for a while. I love contouring, and this palette is perfect for achieveing really defined cheekbones. The contour powder is the perfect brown for me, its not too dark or muddy looking and it isn't at all orange. It's completly matte, leaving a nice shadow that gives me great cheekbones! The highlighter is a gorgeous champagne colour, with just enough shimmer to make the skin glow without looking like a disco ball. I like to apply this to the tops of my cheekbones and along my brow bone for a lovely subtle highlight. Lastly the blusher is a beautiful pink with a gold shimmer running through it (apparently very similar to Nars Orgasm blush) that gives cheeks a nice flush of colour. All three powders are extremely pigmented, meaning this palette is going to last me such a long time. Only one or two swirls with a brush is needed in each powder to create a stunning look. This palette is great for travelling also, because everything you need for chiseled cheekbones is althogether in one place big enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Perfect for any girls makeup bag.

 (my first ever swatch photo apologies for quality!!)

Crown Brush Make-Up Brush Cleaner

I have only used this brush cleaner a few times but I really do like it. I used to only ever deep cleanse my brushes every few weeks. But now I like to spot clean them after most uses. This has cleaned my foundation brush like nothing else I have used before. It's  perfect for cleaning eyeshadow brushes too. Once you've created a look just spray a tiny bit of this onto the bristles, wipe it off on a piece of kitchen roll or tissue and it's as good as new. Ready to use the next day for a complete different eye look, without messing it up with colours from previous days. If you are ever in a hurry to use a brush but its dirty, you literally can use it again with in seconds of cleaning with this. It's so quick and easy and dries almost instantly. No more waiting around for brushes to dry over night!!

So there we have it my 4 favourite products from April, hopefully there will be a few more this month.

Thank You so much once again for sticking with my blog while I have been absent. And hi to any new readers that may have stumled upon this. Regular posting will now resume :D

Much Love Gemma xo. 

March Favourites

Hi ladies, Every time I do a favourites post I always say to myself, next month I'll post this before the second week of the month but I just can't seem to do that so here I am on the 8th April eventually telling you the products I was loving in the month of March.

My first favourite product is an extremely popular one from Soap & Glory -

 

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub - I had been after this product for such a long time after hearing so much about it on blogs and falling in love with the scent on a trip to Boots. For months I pondered over weather to buy it or not, but never did! Eventually back in February I bought it, although I didn't use it til last month. I absolutely fell in love with it after the first use. The smell is even more amazing with use, its a gorgeous mix of brown sugar and lime, that for some reason reminds me of Coca Cola. It also does a fantastic job of exfoliating your skin leaving it super soft and smooth.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - When I bought the Sugar Crush Scrub I also purchased the infamous Effaclar Duo, that has been dubbed as the must have product for problematic skin. I won't go into too much detail, as I am planning on dedicating a full post to this product. But it really did start to work for me last month and has become a staple in my skincare routine.

And finally my favourite makeup items from March

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Lychee - I love the new Gelly Hi-Shine formula from Barry M. They are fully opaque in 1 or 2 coats and are super shiny without the use of a topcoat. Lychee was my first colour from the range and I love it. Whenever I wore nail polish in March (if your a regular reader of my blog you will know that this isn't actually very often) this is the one I chose, its a beautiful beige nude that works well even with my super pale skin tone. You can read my review of this here!

Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter - As you may or may not know I love anything Raspberry flavoured/scented and this is no exception! I bought this on a whim one day and have been using it most days ever since. The smell is gorgeous. And the formula is lovely and creamy that leaves my lips really soft. It isn't as good as my Carmex lip balm but when my lips are slightly dry I apply this to give them back a bit of moisture. It also slighty tints my lips a very light pink which looks really nice on days where I don't want to wear a lipstick.

YSL Volume Effect Faux Clis Mascara - I have been using this mascara constantly since I got it and it's my favourite out of all the mascaras I have tried so far. Although it's on the pricey side it is really good. It gives amazing length and volume to the lashes and looks fantastic on a night out without the need for false eyelashes. If you would like a more in depth review, feel free to ask!

Once again I actually found it really difficult to come up with a decent amount of products to feature in this post. Because I really haven't been finding any new products that really take my fancy. I hope you enjoyed reading about these 5 little gems though.

Sorry for the lateness again.

Much Love Gemma xo.



Wednesday Afternoon Pampering

Hi Lovelies, if you follow me on Instagram (gemmaferris91 if you would like to) then you may have saw a picture that I posted about an hour ago - 

(instagram picture)

As its my day off I decided I would give my skin a good clean and pamper, because I've been noticing some imperfections which I thought I may be able to clear up. Here's the products and what I did.

(l-r montagne jeunesse mud pac mask, soap and glory peaches and clean, no7 beautiful skin cleansing water, simple anti-blemish moisturiser, la roche-posay effaclar duo, soap and glory scrub your nose in it, liz earle instant boost skin tonic)

First of all I soaked a cotton pad in my No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water, to make sure there was no make up residue left on my face. Last night I was so tired all I did was use this cleansing water then went to sleep so there could well have been some make up left on my skin from yesterday (yuck!) Then I cleansed with Soap and Glory's, Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk, leaving it to soak into my skin for an extra few minutes to ensure a deep cleanse, then removing in circular movements with one of my Liz Earle muslin cloths soaked in warm water. I got this cleanser when I ran out of my beloved Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, and although its a lovely product and hasn't done anything bad to my skin I don't think I will repurchase it, I'm too set in my ways with my LE cleanser which I adore! Whilst I was in the shower and my pores had opened up with all of the steam and heat I applied the Scrub Your Nose In It Face Scrub from Soap and Glory, I applied this to my t - zone with my fingers, and then buffed it in a bit more with an exfoliating brush, that I have from when I did Beauty Therapy in college. Again I left this to soak into my skin for a few minutes then using the same technique as before I removed it with a muslin cloth. Once I'd had a shower and my face was dry, I applied the Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask with a face mask brush and left that on for 15 minutes, whilst I sat back and relaxed. Once that had set I removed it with warm water on a flannel and spritzed the Instant Boost Skin Tonic all over my face to refresh my skin (as you know I love this product!). Lastly I finished off with some of my Effaclar Duo and Simple moisturiser for a double helping of blemish fighting goodness.

After all of that my skin is now feeling super clean and soft. My pores are all unclogged but still haven't shrunk. And there is no sign of any oilyness on my t - zone. I really enjoyed this little pamper session and would do it again if I ever wanted a really deep facial cleanse and hour of relaxation! There's nothing better than taking some time out to relax and pamper yousrelf!

If you would like reviews of any of the products I have used, then please do let me know, as I would be happy to do that for you guys. And also any product recommendations for reducing pore size are VERY MUCH WELCOMED so please tell me of any wonder products you use, as large pores are something that really bug me and I want to get rid of!!

Hope you enjoyed this post. And if you haven't had a pamper for a long time, go and have one, it makes you look and feel so much better! And everyone loves that!

Much Love Gemma xo.

Boots and Debenhams Haul!

Hi Lovelies. I could actually kick myself right now because I've just realised I missed a product out of the main photo for this post! I honestly want to scream, I've just spent sooooo long taking pictures, put everything away and now as I gather the photos together, I notice pictures I took of my new cleansing water the other day that I totally forgot to include in today's photo taking marathon! 

So with that drama pushed to the back of my mind here's a few things I've bought in the last week.

soap and glory, herbal essences, original source, yves saint laurent, la roche-posay

and No7 cleansing water I forgot to put in the first photo

First of all I'll get the boring essential things out of the way with first. I've been using the Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends shampoo and conditioner for a few months now and I really like them so I picked up some replacements. They were buy one get one free in Boots. As for the Original Source shower gels I have never used these before but  I eventually ran out of my Body Shop Cranberry Joy from January and they were half price in Boots so I got 2. As you all know I adore Raspberries so the Raspberry and Cream one was a must have for me and the Chocolate and Mint one is really fresh and ideal for waking me up in the morning. 

As well as these, I decided to get something less boring and try out the No7 Cleansing Water. I've been wanting to try Bioderma for ages so when I got a voucher for £5 off No7 products I decided to pick this up for just £4. So far I really like it (I've used it about 4 or 5 times) But from reading reviews I've found that this doesn't have a patch on Bioderma so I will still be picking that up at some point to test out! But for now the No7 water will do.

I went into Debenhams intending to pick up the Benefit They're Real Mascara but as I dragged my boyfriend round the makeup stands he spotted the YSL Volume Effect Faux Clis Mascara and thought it looked nicer than the Benefit one, so told me to get that instead, and offered to pay for half of it. We asked at the counter how much it was and the lovely woman told us it was £23.50 for just the mascara but only £23 for this giftset. Which includes, the full sized mascara and a mini eye make up remover and mini eye cream. So I decided to get that. I absolutely love it! The mascara is amazing and so far I am enjoying the other 2 mini's as well. Of course I will get They're Real at one point but I'm really happy I picked this up! And thank you to the brilliant assistant who told me to get the giftset instead of just the mascara.

And finally I ordered these 3 beauties on Friday and they eventually turned up in store for me to pick up this afternoon. Like most other beauty bloggers I have read countless reviews on the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and have been dying to get my hands on it. But whenever I had money this was sold out and whenever it was in stock I was skint, sods law huh? Eventually I was able to get my hands on it in the latest 3 for 2 deal in Boots and I am so excited to try it out. I've heard loads about Soap and Glory's Scrub Your Nose In It and seeing as I'm trying to get my skin in good condition at the minute I thought it was a great opportunity to try it out. As the cheapest item of the 3 this was my free product. And lastly Soap and Glory's Sugar Crush Body Scrub, everyone talks about it, everyone loves. I fell in love with it and sniff the stuff every time I go into Boots so I decided enough was enough and I bought it. Happy Days!

I'm so pleased with my purchases. What do you think? Have you tried any of these? And what do you think of them?

Hope you enjoyed having a nosey at what I spend my money on :)

Much Love Gemma xo.

Instagram Post #2

My second installment of what I've been posting on Instagram recently

I had my first mince pie of the year nearly 2 weeks ago, shocking for me as I adore them and usually have a box as soon as they hit the shelves. On the 16th of December me and over 50 other dancers from my pole dancing school preformed in our annual Christmas Show, we all got a medal at the end of the night for all our hard work and dedication. I saw this glittery star decoration in Wilkinsons and had to buy it to go on my tree. Dad bought this beautiful pot wreath to take to the cemetery for my mam. Being a major fan of Lucky Charms I had to have this cereal bar when I found out the American Sweet Stall sold them. Christmas Eve and I finally finished my shopping and wrapped up a ton of presents. I eventually sat down and chilled out at about 10pm, I leave everything til the last minute! Christmas Eve treat for myself, I bought a mini hand food from Soap & Glory after wanting it for years! I was a bit spoilt on Christmas Day, my boyfriend got me a new pair of GHD's (the limited edition Cherry Blossom stylers) and my brother got me the Enrapture Totem Styler. My auntie got me these awesome presents, a rude calender and chocolate bar! And finally another present, my boyfriends Nanna and Grandad bought me a Jack Daniels giftset, I was so pleased with this, I wasnt expecting anything off them, Ive only met them a few times and they bought me the perfect gift :). Quiet night in for Boxing Day, I was at work the next day so me and my boyfriend sat in watching TV all cosy while nearly everyone we know were out drinking. Finally I had my first Terry's Chocolate Orange in years last night. Delicious!!

Dont forget to follow my Instagram to see these pictures as they are posted. gemmaferris91

Much Love Gemma xo.