Saturday, 30 November 2013

Use Up December

I have set myself a task for December, use up any products that I have that are half empty. I've decided to do this for a couple of reasons:

a) Clear some space in my bathroom
b) Not to buy anymore skincare, haircare and so on until they are used up.

and

c) It's Christmas so I will probably get a shed load of smellies for Christmas, so will need the room for them.

A sample of the products that I have to use up are:-


  • Shampoo
  • A shed load of deodorants
  • Body Sprays
  • Dry Shampoo
  • Nail Polish Remover
  • Cotton Wool
  • Moisturisers
  • Bubble Bath
  • Shower Gel


You will be able to catch up with how I am doing the beginning of January (I may post halfway through December to show you how I am doing)

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Friday, 29 November 2013

Sardonyx - Models Own

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own, and the product has been bought with my own money.

Sardonyx - Models Own
This is a lovely red colour with glitter running through it, it is from the Models Own Velvet Goth collection which comes in a range of 5 colours.

The polish is very thick and gloopy (this is probably due to the amount of glitter that is in the bottle). The colour is really quite dark and the coverage is really good, the glitter fully covers the nail.

The polish has a quick drying time, and does look really good, a lovely colour for autumn/ winter, I didn't use a top coat as once the polish is on it leaves a nice texture to the nail. This is a colour I will be wearing again especially for the party season.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Reggae Splash - Rimmel

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own, and products were bought with my own money.



This is a nice orangey colour (it looked quite peachy in the bottle) but when it is on the nails it does go a lot more orange than first thought.

The polish goes on to the nail really well and the brush fits to the nail bed. The polish can be a tiny bit drippy but this could be because the brush is quite large and has a bigger amount of polish on the brush then a classic brush would.

On applying the 1st coat the polish is quite sheer so I ended up adding 3 coats in the end. Once on after the 3 coats it did turn opaque.

Overall a nice polish, and one I would probably wear in the summer rather than autumn/ winter (unless the colour matched what I was wearing)

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Monday, 25 November 2013

Batiste Dry Shampoo

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own and product was bought with my own money.



When I have straightened my hair and want to keep the style in for a couple more days before my hair goes back to its natural state of an explosion, I use Batiste's Dry Shampoo. The dry shampoo comes in a range of scents and some even come for specific hair types so there is a very wide range to choose from.

The ones that I have been using recently are the Cherry and Tropical scent (Tropical is going to be featured in my November Favourites, a heads up for you).

I love the scents coming off of these ones especially and they work brilliantly in the hair, they stop my hair from looking greasy and makes my hair smell lovely.

What is your favourite from the batiste range?

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Avon Mega Effects Mascara

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own and product has been bought with my own money.



I am always trying to find a good mascara, it is like the holy grail, I've been using this one for a while and I am not impressed. I was at first with the applicator being so different but after trying to apply this, I can't even count how many times I have ended up looking like a panda because this has smuged, or I've stabbed myself in the eye trying to apply to my lashes.

The shelf life of the mascara is only 3 months which is so short from the regular 6 months that other mascara's give you (I am really strict when it comes to mascara's as the formula is going near my eyes I don't want to tempt fate by using past their recommended date.

On the whole the mascara is good but for me I just couldn't get around the applicator and I thought for the price of the product and the shelf life it just was not worth repurchasing.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Sunday, 24 November 2013

Boots Points Haul

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own and these products were bought using my Boots Beauty Points. I'm also not trying to brag, this is to show what I'll be reviewing in the coming weeks, and what you can buy with your beauty points from Boots.

I was sat at home and my points card starting to burn a small hole in my purse, so I thought I would go down to the local boots and spend some of my points.

So here is what I grabbed:



  1. Ecotools Flat Foundation Brush - As I have started to wear foundation a lot more I only have 3 brushes and I can't deal with sponges, so I grabbed an ectools brush to add to my main collection.
  2. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails - My nails are quite brittle and keep peeling so I thought some hard as nails might help strengthen them up.
  3. Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer  - I saw this on Liana Beauty's youtube channel (she was doing a drugstore makeup routine)
  4. Boots Essentials manicure sticks - As I've bought the cuticle remover I'll need some manicure sticks to push the cuticles back
  5. 17 Eye Shadow Brush - I was looking for a concealer brush, but the one I did find was massive and while I was browsing the brush display I found this 17 eyeshadow brush and thought I would give it a go as a concealer brush until I properly went shopping next Friday.
  6. Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer - I found this on Beauty Junkie in London's blog, and thought I wouldn't mind trying that.
  7. No7 Make Up Brush Cleanser - I've been looking or a quick fix brush cleanser for ages, and I didn't want to pay over the odds for it, this was only £8 (it was also the main thing I wanted).
  8. Seventeen Stay Time Long Wear Primer - I have been using a Smashbox trial size primer and it is quite good, but I'm not going to pay the price for a full size tube so I am dipping my toes into different primers.
  9. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover - I've nearly finished my Sally Hansen stregthening nail polish remover so I thought I would give Cutex a try and see what they were like.
  10. Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover - This was featured in a blog post on a nail care kit by Vivianna Does Makeup, and I have been wanting to try this for a while to see what it was like.
I am looking forward to trying all this out, and will review all these products soon.

thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Friday, 15 November 2013

Red Red Wine - Models Own

DISCLAIMER:: All opinions are my own, and the product was bought with my own money.



This is a lovely dark red colour but I think you need a white undercoat for this as after two coats it's not fully opaque and it is quite a sheer colour.

Two coats does give you good coverage, but this is also quite a drippy formula, and when doing the dreaded right hand there were quite a couple of mistakes that needed cleaning up.

Overall I will use this again but I'll make sure I have the cotton buds on hand to clean up the mistakes.

thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Monday, 11 November 2013

Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Foundation

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own, Products have been bought with my own money.



I am not a big fan of foundation, I can never get it right, I find the wrong colour for me or I just look like I've been tango'd. I did previously have the L'Oreal Infallible foundation and I loved that and thought it was a good foundation.

While I was out shopping I thought I would give the foundation another try, and I found Maybelline's Super Stay 24HR Foundation in Light Beige. I have quite a light skin tone so the light beige was just the right colour on the back of my hand.

I have been wearing this for a week now, and I love it it matches my skin tone perfectly, and evens my skin out.

I will continue using this foundation, and maybe dip my toe further in the foundation seas and try other brands.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

My Work Face

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own and products have been purchased with my own money.

This is the first of many postings about what cosmetics I wear, whether it be a normal day at work, at the weekend, or a night out.

Here is my work face edition.

Hope you enjoy.

My Work Face - Products Used


1) Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Foundation - Light Beige
I'm not a big fan of foundation,but I am loving this one, I use this every day just to give me an even complexion.

2) Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer
I use this on the eyes to help my eyeshadow stay longer, and to prevent creasing.

3) Eyelash Curlers
Says it all in the title really, I can't remember where I got these curlers from but they are the best one's I've got.

4) MUA Colourblast Eyeshadow Tint - A Girl Like Me
This is a lovely nude colour for work, it allows me to create a natural look (I don't like dark colours when I am work, less is more I say)

5) 17 Doll'd Up Mascara - Black
This works really well doesn't make my eyelashes clump, and gives them a good curl.

6) 17 Hide Away Concealer - Fair
This I always use on the dark circles under my eyes, and any horrid spots that I have popping up.

7) MUA Pro Base Fixing Mist
This I have only just recently tried and it is really good, my make up has been staying in place really well.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

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Sunday, 10 November 2013

Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer


I'm always on the lookout for a good eyeshadow primer (Eyeshadow is my most worn cosmetic) so something that is going to keep it in place without creasing is always a good thing.


Rimmel Exaggerate Lid Primer
Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer

I found this shadow primer from Rimmel for £4.99, very affordable and different to other primers I had seen out there on the market (a lot of lid primers are brown tones, this was white).

I have been using this primer for the last couple of weeks and I will admit that it does have pros and cons.

It goes onto the eyelid quite easily, I just dab a bit onto each lid then smooth it over the eyelid, the con is that you have to let it dry otherwise it just mashes in to your eyeshadow.

Rimmel Exaggerate Lid Primer_Uncapped
Uncapped
Once dry you can then apply your eyeshadow (I've mostly been using MUA Colourblast Eyeshadow Tint in Stay), I have noticed that it does brighten the eyeshadow when it is applied to lid, but by the end of the day it has creased, the eyeshadow is still on the lid but it has creased on the crease of the lid (con).

Even though the shadow does crease by the end of the day, the shadow is still there in the end (which for me is still a good thing).

Overall, I will finish the pot but am unsure as to whether I would buy this again, but if I want just an shadow primer, this is the only low end product that I can find, the others are high end which I really don't want to pay if I don't have to so until I can find another alternative I will carry on.

thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Saturday, 9 November 2013

Haute Chocolate - Sally Hansen

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own and product has been bought with my own money.

This is the first time I have tried a Sally Hansen nail polish. The complete salon manicure boasts that it has a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, colour, and a top coat all in one bottle.

Haute Chocolate on the nails



Haute chocolate is a lovely chocolately colour with a shimmer running through it. This is a lovely colour for Autumn, it reminds me of cold autumn nights snuggled up with a hot chocolate.


The brush is a flat one and when you pull the brush from the bottle you do get a lot of polish on there. The polish is also quite pigmented so even with just one coat the polish goes pigmented. (I put a 2nd coat on anyway).

The polish has all these properties in the one bottle that it does add to the drying time, I would suggest a fast drying top coat.

Overall Thoughts

I loved this polish and I think this will become one of my Autumn staples.

thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

October Favourites - 2013

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own and the products have been bought with my own money.

Hi everybody and welcome to my first installment of my monthly favourites.



L'Oreal Micellar Water
I have been loving this in October, I won't badger on about this as I have already posted about it to read more click the title bar above, but I will be buying this again.

Garnier Moisture Match Moisturiser
This is a lovely facial moisturiser and it has been doing wonders for the dry areas on my face, you can read more about it by clicking the link above.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash
I love The Body Shop, their products are fantastic and smell amazing. This one doesn't have the greatest of smells (it smells quite clinical) but it does wonders for your face, I use the facial brush that can also be found in The Body Shop. I use this on an evening to really deep clean my face.

The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
I am loving this hand cream, it doesn't leave your hands to greasy when it is applied and it keeps them all nice and supple.

Lush Rub Rub Rub Body Scrub
I love this body scrub, it takes off all the dead skin that can accumulate on your body (I'm running out so thank god I'm off as I can go and grab some more). I love this and will be repurchasing this again.

MUA Colourblast Eyeshadow Tint - A Girl Like Me (Superdrug)
I love eyeshadow crayons, I'm not a morning person so something that is going to help me apply make up quicker is a godsend. I love this colour especially as when I go to work I like a nice natural look and this colour provides it.

Collection Work The Colour Shadow Pencil -  Gunmetal Glitz
This is a lovely colour, a great one for Autmun, I don't wear this all the time but I do wear it during the weekend or if I am going on a night out somewhere.

17 Doll'd Up Mascara - Blackest Black
This is a lovely mascara it gives me a full coverage and does make my lashes look somewhat fuller.

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm
I've refound my love for Carmex Lip Balm, I just found it in the bedroom, and thought I would like a change and have had this in my bag as my go to lip balm for most of this month, I love the packaging and when your in a rush it allows you to apply and go.

After School Boy Blazer - Essie
This is a beauty bloggers must have it seems, every beauty blogger under the sun is raving about this polish , and yes I am following suit.
This nail polish is a lovely dark navy colour, it looks black in some lights, and Navy in others.

Models Own - 5-in-1
I love this, it's a 5-in-1 top and base coat and it is fantastic, wil certainly buy again, it stops my nails from yellowing and it keeps them all nice and healthy.

Cloud 9 - Sinful Colors (Boots)
I was surprised with how much I really liked this colour, I bought it to use for Halloween, and I actually liked it on its own and think I will wear it again next summer.

Shade 9 - 2 True (Superdrug) (I missed this out of the picture accidentally, really sorry)
This is a lovely dark brown colour and a great one for Autumn. This stayed on my nails for days without chipping, one I will most definitely wear again.

Forever Yours EDT (Superdrug)
This I picked up while I was waiting in the queue to pay for my purchases and thought I need a small perfume to go in my bag and thought I would try this out for only £3.00

Rimmel Exaggerate Lid Primer
This is a good primer for your lids, it works really well and it keeps the eyeshadow on the lid for a long time.

Reviews on these products will be forthcoming in the near future.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx

Sunday, 3 November 2013

October Empties - 2013

Hi and welcome to my first installment of my monthly empties post.



1) The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash
This is only a sample size bottle that I got in a set to try out the range, and it is fantastic, this clears your skin up brilliantly.

2) Batiste Dry Shampoo - Cherry
I have been an avid fan of dry shampoo since I first found it, this one was lovely and had a nice cherry scent.

3) The Body Shop Ginger Shower Gel.
I got this in a gift set for Christmas off of my stepson and have just finished it, it was absolutely lovely such a christmassy scent

4) Britney Spears Curious
I got this for Christmas one year and have just finished using it, it has a lovely scent, and it is one I would buy again.

5) Nivea Stress Protect Deodorant
When it comes to deodorant I am quite fickle, I want a deodorant to do what it says on the tin, and this one did come quite close, I will probably repurchase this again.

thanks for tuning in

Gemma
xxxx