A Month In Instagram #6

These months are going waaaay too fast for my liking, we'll be getting ready for crimbo soon! Any way this is just a selection of my snaps from Instagram, which is my fave social network by the way. If you fancy checking out my account head over to gemmaford.

I'm always looking for new accounts to follow so leave any links to your Instagram below.

Whats In My Handbag?

I love reading posts like this, they're a proper nosy look into what people use and carry around with them on a day to day basis. I recently bought a new bag so I thought this would be the perfect time to show you exactly what I carry around with me in my bag.

 

Tesco Handbag

 I recently bought this new bag after months of searching for one. I had in my mind what I wanted-spacious, comfortable to hold and a neutral shade. This beauty was in Tesco for just £16! The strap is long enough to carry on your shoulder comfortably and the bag itself is big enough to carry anything you want pretty much. This would also be perfect for a hand luggage bag. Inside there is the main section of the bag and then a zipped pocket on one side (this is where my phone lives) and another loose pocket on the other side.

 

 

Diary

I bought this diary in Tesco also, I fell in love with the print. It has a day-per-page view so is big enough to scribble down all my plans. I couldn't fit this in my bag before so I'm really glad I can finally carry it around with me.

 

 

Twinings Jasmine Green Tea Tea Bags

I don't drink hot drinks (I will always make an exception for hot chocolate!) however I love a cup of jasmine tea every day but, obviously, hardly anywhere I visit has a store of jasmine tea so I find it much easier just to carry these around with me for those occasions.

 

 

Pink Leather Purse

My parents picked this purse up for me from Tunisia a month or so ago. My old purse was in an awful state (full of receipts surprise surprise!) so I was very welcoming to a new purse. Plus I love the colour!

 

 

Soap & Glory Mist You Body Spray

I love this spray and I find it much lighter than perfume so I spray it on me throughout the day. This also means I don't go through hoards and hoards of perfume.

 

 

Katy Perry Killer Queen Perfume

Although I carry around a body spray that I mainly use, I do like to have the option for a perfume with me, especially if I'm going somewhere straight from work and I need a spritz of something a bit heavier. The perfume I use changes on a weekly basis (I'm planning on doing a perfume post soon) but this one by Katy Perry is one of my favourites. I won't embarrass myself or bore you by trying to explain the scent, but just know its lovely and suitable for both daytime and evening wear.

 

 

Allergy Relief Tablets

HAYFEVER *cue angry face with one sniffling nose*. Hayfever hits me every single year but this year it has been an absolute pain. I am also now taking a nasal spray but I keep putting off going to my doctor. Do you have any quick fixes for hayfever? Let me know.

 

 

Make Up Bag

This is the bag I carry around with products I need to either cover up a sudden spot, to moisturise my lips or just to spruce up my look a bit. I have a concealer, a mascara, an eye liner, a lipstick, a lip gloss, two lip balms and a mirror. Again, the contents of this bag changes on a weekly basis to make sure I make the most of all the products I have and just to keep things interesting.

 

 

Sunglasses

Summer has finally arrived so out comes the sunglasses. I picked these up from Primark for a bargain price and they are perfect for wearing on those blinding days.

 

So there we have it. Do you have any posts like these? Please leave links to them below.



Empties #5

Not too many empties in this post but, considering my last Empties post was only last month its a bit worrying I'm getting through so many products. Oops. So lets get started...

Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub

I love Sanctuary Spa as the scent is so luxurious and different to anything else I use. This scrub has lasted me ages so I can't complain that I'm out of it already, however I do have a second bottle waiting in my stores to be used. This is a lovely exfoliator which also lathers up well in the shower. The scent is the signature Sanctuary Spa scent and, for some, this could be a bit overpowering but I love it. A product I will always repurchase.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution

I really like using Micellar Waters to remove my makeup and although I like this one, the packaging has put me right off. The bottle is quite big which is good as you get a lot for your money however the way the lid has been designed means that it is hard to control the amount of solution you pour onto the cotton wool pad, often meaning that you end up with too much of the product. I do have another of these waiting to be used as they were on Buy One Get One Free (would be rude not too hey?!) however I think in future I will stick to a different brand.

Nivea Happy Time Deodorant

Ok so a bit random to include a deodorant as, obviously, these can be used up quite quickly, especially in the warmer months, but the scent of this one is amazing. I don't know why but I don't like most of the female deodorants smells however this one is very summery and fruity and the scent really hangs about. As a deodorant it does as good a job as any but I thought I would include it in this because I have really enjoyed using it.

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

I'm so sad this product has been used up, it has to be one of my favourite foundations. I actually included it in my last monthly favourites. The foundation is light to medium coverage but the consistency is thin and light on the skin and super easy to blend and work with. I will definitely be repurchasing this one.

Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Toner

This is a staple product in my skin care routine. I love Simple products and they seem to work really well with my skin (*touches wood*) so I always end up repurchasing the products as I know how well they work for my skin.

Simple Kind To Skin Eye Makeup Remover

This is another lovely Simple product to use. It is very gentle on the eyes and, unlike many eye make up removers, isn't oily. I use this more on a daily basis and save the oily removers for heavier make up as this is much more gentle on the eyes. I also don't need to rub the cotton wool on my eyes with this which is obviously a bonus.

The Body Shop Moroccan Rose Body Butter

I think my heart broke a little when I used the last of this. Ok, so slightly over dramatic but you get the effect I'm going for. This body butter smells amazing, has the creamiest consistency ever and absorbs pretty quickly. For a fairly cheap product this very much has a high end feel to it which I love. I wish I had bought a few of these as I don't think they stock them anymore but on my next trip into town I will definitely be looking for a replacement!

Have you liked/disliked any of these products? I would love to know!

The Lip Product Addict Tag

So this tag has been floating around the YouTube/Blogging world for a few weeks now ever since Essiebutton and Amelialiana first created it (see their video here). I have seen a few different takes on it and have taken some of the different questions to create this post. So I hope you enjoy!

Best Balm/Treatment...

So I have picked both a lip treatment and a balm for this. The Popcorn Lip Scrub from Lush was my savior through the colder months when my lips became dry and chapped. I just take a small amount of the product to my finger and gently rub onto my lips and then just lick away any remaining product from my lips, and when I'm finished I have baby soft lips.
My favourite balm was quite a tricky choice as I have quite a few that I enjoy using but I love the Baby Lips range as they are ultra soothing and leave my lips in lovely condition. I have 5 Baby Lips now but the Intense Care (yellow) and Cherry Me (orange) are my two favourites from the range. Intense Care is a colourless balm which is great for prepping the lips for lipstick or just to give them an ultra boost of hydration. Cherry Me is a red-tinted balm which is great to spruce up a simple daytime look.

Best eye catching red...

So I know both of these are liquid form but their finishes are very different. Spicy by Nyx is part of their Xtreme Lip Cream collection and, as you can tell by the swatch, is a bright bold red and has a matte finish to it. What I love about this is that it lasts an absolute age on the lips and doesn't budge, even when food and drink are involved.
Big Bang by Rimmel is part of their Apocalips range which is one of my favourite lip product range anyway (see my post here). It has a very glossy finish and is a gorgeous post-box red that glams up any look.

Best Pink...

This was quite tricky as pink seems to be my go-to lip shade but I managed to narrow it down to these two. Out Of This World is an Apocalips, again I know(!), and is a very shimmery, dusky pink which has a glossy finish to it.
16 is part of the Rimmel Kate Moss range and is a much more 'Barbie' pink and, although it has a matte finish, it has a lovely creamy consistency and is an absolute dream to apply. See my full review here.

Best Nude...

A nude lip product is probably the most staple part of one's makeup collection. I don't actually have that many but these are two of my favourite lip products anyway so they fit this category perfectly. Beehive is a glossy nude (very glossy!!) and is one of my favourite lipsticks. I bought this after reading a review on LLYMLRS ETC, you can see my post on this lipstick here as part of my The Blogger Made Me Buy It series.
Rose Petal was a bit of a random purchase as I was in quick need of a lipstick and due to the cheap price tag I thought I couldn't go wrong. I really like this lipstick, although it can be a bit chalky and drying, the shade and finish is great. It is much more matte than Beehive and the shade is a bit brighter but I love it.

Fave gloss...

Ths was such a hard one! I love lip gloss and wear it almost all of the time, and I have quite a few in my stash. I decided on these three even though they are very similar. The Nyx Butter Gloss is my newest addition to my gloss collection and I love it. Its a candy-pink shade and the formula isn't too stiky which is good.
Picnic In The Park is part of the Tanya Burr Cosmetics range and is a gloss I have been after ever since its release. I could have picked up all of the other shades in this collection as they are all lovely but this is probably the most wearable out of the whole collection. Its, again, a pretty pink shade which is great on its own due to its high pigmentation, or over the top of a lipstick. Plus it smells of strawberries which is gorgeous!
This Maybelline Coloursensational gloss is the one I reach for the most and I keep it in my handbag for everyday use as the shade is just beautiful. I would say it is more of a peachy shade but it is quite subtle which is why I like it for every day use. The formula isn't too stick either which is another plus.

Liner-yes or no?

Definitely no. I do have lip liners and I have been known to wear them on the odd occasion but, in general, they aren't for me and just add another stage to the application process.

Best Autumn/Winter...

This was a very easy decision as they are two of my favoure lip products anyway. I think every beauty blogger and their dog has the Kate Moss 107 lipstick (see my post on it here) and it really is a gorgeous shade. I think you can wear this shade all year round but especially in the colder, darker months. It has a matte finish and is a deep plum-red shade.
Plum Russian is part of the Bourjois Colour Boost range and is a beautiful plum shade which has a lovely glossy finish.The pigmentation isn't great but the fnish and formula make up for that. It is also super moisturising which is perfect for the colder months when lips have a tendency to be much drier.

Something Else...

I knew I wanted to include the Revlon Lip Butters in this post but I wasn't really sure where. They are super, super moisturising and the pigmentation and colour pay off is incredible! I honestly don't know what there is to not like about them. I have the shades Tutti Frutti and Candy Apple which, as you can see, are quite bright shades but there are more subtle shades in the collection so I might add another couple to my stash.

Have you done this tag? I would love to have a look so leave any links.

Top 5 YouTube Channels

As a beauty blogger I have my favourite blogs that I love to follow and keep up to date on their posts, however more and more beauty bloggers are turning to YouTube to create even more content for their readers. I am subscribed to quite a few beauty vloggers on YouTube and I love nothing more than settling down with a drink and my IPad to catch up on my favourite channels. So I thought I would show you my top 5 YouTube channels...

1) Vivianna Does Makeup
I love Anna's blog and her YouTube channel is just as brilliant. With a good selection of hauls, reviews, tutorials, and, of course, her weekly vlogs, Anna makes for some great viewing. Also, she uploads 3 times a week which is great for an avid YouTube fan like myself. Anna has a great on-screen charisma and isn't afraid to make fun of herself and gets others in her life involved such as her boyfriend and family in Brighton (I'm not a stalker I promise, I've just been a regular viewer of the weekly blog).

2) DizzyBrunette3
Corrie was actually the first YouTube channel I discovered and, therefore, I have always enjoyed her videos. She does a great range of hauls, tags and monthly favourites with the odd vlog thrown in to the mix. I think Corrie has a lovely bubbly personality which really comes across on camera, and also a lot of the products she mentions are drugstore-great for girls like me on a budget!

3) Zoella
How can I write a YouTube post without mentioning the Queen of YouTube herself?! If you haven't heard of Zoella (aka Zoe Sugg) then where the ruddy hell have you been hiding?! Zoe has over 4 million subscribers and a pretty huge fan base who all go along to support her at different YouTube and social media events around the world. Zoe has such a likeable character on camera and is really easy and enjoyable to watch. She has a much wider range of videos, including lots of collaborations with other YouTubers.

4) Fleur DeForce
Fleur is another beauty YouTuber that I really enjoy watching, I think she has great charisma and talks quite eloquently on camera, however is still able to poke some fun at herself. She always has a great range of products mentioned in her videos (even if most of them are high end) and she gives a great review of most products mentioned.

5) Velvet Ghost
Velvet Ghost is a channel I have only recently discovered but I think Gabby is great and her videos are brilliant. She's so funny and every time I sit down to watch her videos I know I'm going to be laughing throughout. Gabby also has a second channel where she posts vlogs and lifestyle videos. Gabby does some great tutorials on her main channel, I have been loving watching her Maleficent-inspired tutorials especially.

So those are my top 5 YouTube channels however I have others that I wish I could have included:
InTheFrow
LLYMLRS
Tanya Burr
Sprinkle of Glitter
Lily Pebbles
Tess Christine
Sugarfixx

What are your favourite YouTube channels? I would love to discover some new channels!

Seventeen Shimmer Brick in Pink Bronze

Ah I have so much love for Seventeen at the moment, every product I try impresses me. I love a brand that is consistent with all the quality of their products, especially when the price is so reasonable. I have always liked Seventeen's bronzing range, even before their rebranding last year. This Shimmer Brick is a new addition to the range and I picked it up as soon as I saw it on the shelves in my local Boots. The 'brick' has 4 shades ranging from a light pink highlight shade to a bronze shade. The idea is to sweep the product over the cheekbones to create a bronze glow-perfect for the summer hey!

I have been using my buffing brush, my powder brush and my blush brush with this product as I cant decide which brush I prefer to use with the product. The first thing I will say about this product is it is very 'glowy' and pigmented, and can quickly turn into an uber shine fest on your face, not sure that's the look I want to go for?! However after a bit of practice I've found a couple of techniques that help my make the most of the product and create different glowy looks. With the buffing brush, I have been using the lighter shades just to lightly highlight the cheekbones, keeping things quite subtle so that it is a wearable daytime look. I have used my powder and blush brush to create a more bronzed, less defined look over the cheeks, by using the whole brick and just very lightly dusting the product over the cheek bones and up towards the hair line. I wouldn't advise to use this product as a bronzer due to it being very shimmery and could give you the whole 'disco ball' look that I don't think anyone wants.

Overall though a great product and unlike any I have seen from other brands. I would advise to go very gently at first and decide what level of bronze/shimmer/glow you are going for but once you get it right I'm sure you will love it. A perfect summer product!

Has anyone else tried this product? I would love to know your thoughts!

Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick in Sundown

 

I received this lipstick in a Glossy Box ages ago and, to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of the brand Gosh. On first look, I really like the packaging and the colour of the bullet is very striking. The packaging is black with orange swirls on the lid (I don't know if this is shade specific or a generic colour scheme but I like). The lipstick itself is a muted orange shade with hints of shimmer. I decided that I probably wouldn't use this lipstick until the summer months due to the bright shade so hence why I have put off reviewing it until now.

I swatched the lipstick for the image above and, to be frank, I was expecting a much bolder swatch rather than the washed out product that appeared on my hand. However, I ploughed on and decided to wear the lipstick on a night out. Unfortunately, on the lips this lipstick is even more muted and is more like a lick of colour rather than a striking colour like the bullet seems to suggest. I do like this lipstick as the consistency is lovely and creamy and the product doesn't dry the lips out at all, I'm just disappointed with the colour pay off. Another thing I do like about this product is the shimmer effect it leaves, I think this looks lovely with simple, dewy makeup as it adds to the golden glow that so many of us stride to achieve in these warmer months.

So, lovely packaging and consistency, just not enough colour pay off as I would have hoped for. I'm not sure what these lipsticks retail at as I have yet to see them in a store anywhere and online shopping isn't really my thing (cue gasps of horror), however I would like to try another lipstick from their range, maybe something a bit bolder like a red or berry shade, to see if the pigmentation is any better.

Have you tried anything from Gosh? Or do you know where they stock the brand? I would love to know!