Empties | July Edition.

Hi! 

Long time no blog huh? I have been laptop free for about 3 weeks now but I am back and ready to roll starting with my july empties! 

This month has been a little slow. I've not been loyal to one product, so things haven't been running out as I have been a bit of a dabbler! I have however managed to finish 6 products. 

Time to unwind body soak: Part of a Christmas gift set, these bath salts are so-so. In my eyes, bath salt are bath salts, there are no right and wrongs, and as far as these went, meh, they were ok. They smelled ok, perhaps a little too perfumey for my liking. 

Would I Purchase Again?: No. 

Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo: Ahh Aussie, you beautiful creation, you. This shampoo is gorgeous. If you haven't yet dabbled into the Aussie range I urge you to jump in and fill your baskets! It smells like bubblegum, and makes my hair so soft and manageable. 

Would I Purchase Again?: Yes, maybe not the volume range as I didn't notice too much added volume, but for the smell alone, yes! 

Planet Spa Mediterranean Olive Oil Hair Mask: Whenever we get an Avon book through the letterbox, you can guarantee that I'll be scouring the pages for the Planet Spa range. This hair mask is one of a kind. It's so affordable, and yet you get a sizeable 200ml tub which smells divine and just 5-10 minutes on your hair leaves it feeling so silky and smooth. 

Would I Purchase Again?: One hundred times yes! 

Boots Essentials Cucumber Toner: This toner, although not expensive in the slightest, is my absolute go to toner for before bed. It's so light and fresh, and does the job of preparing my skin for my moisturiser. 

Would I Purchase Again?: Already have done. 

Paul Smith 'Floral' EDT: I am a huge fan of light, fresh and fruity fragrances, with a hint of floral-ness. This little beauty by Paul Smith is exactly my kind of thing, and i'm a little sad that it's life in my perfume collections have come to an end. 

Would I Purchase Again?: Yes. 

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter 50ml: I love coconut scented things, but I found this butter to smell a little chemically scented. I don't know if it's just me, but the butter, and also the body mist I have just don't really do it for me. They don't smell bad by any means, just not quite authentic enough if that makes sense? 

Would I Purchase Again?: Probably not, there are other fragrances from TBS that I love more! 

So there we have it, my July empties. Sorry it's late, we have my laptop charger breaking and a string of problems with ordering a new one to thank for that! 

Self ConGRADUATION Present | Free Gift With Purchase.

Hello! 

So Tuesday was a pretty special day for me. I graduated from University with a 2:1 BA Hons Degree! A full post series of the day will be coming shortly including face, hair and outfit posts! 

Anyway, yesterday I had the chance to relive the day again by seeing all of my gorgeous friends graduate and join in with the photographs and celebrations, and afterwards, had a chance to nip into town and pick myself up a little post-graduation treat in the form of Bourjois goodies!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation: I have wanted this for so long, but I have this weird thing with foundation. I always finish a bottle before buying a replacement. Until now. Yesterday I basically Told myself 'screw it!' and bought it.

Bourjois Colour Boost Lipstick in 'Orange Punch': The newest addition to the Bourjois family is the latest in the chubby stick range, but the first one I've picked up. I have to say I am not disappointed! 'Orange Punch' is the most perfect peachy orange tone and although i've only worn it once, I'm loving it so far. I'll give a full review once i've had a chance to get some wear out of it.

Bourjois So Laque Glossy Nail Polish in 'Adora Bleu': Boots had not only a free gift with purchase offer, but also were on a 3 for 2 offer. This nail polish was my free item. I have lusted over this shade for a while, however £6.99 for a nail polish is a tad steep, so I've held off. Whilst picking out my free item, I came across this shade again and realised it was the perfect opportunity to get it. The most perfect cornflower blue, it's different to anything else I own, and I just love the colour!

I also got a free gift, which was a pair of Bourjois sunglasses. I was pleasantly surprised with the style of these glasses; I didn't expect them to be so nice. They've definitely gotten a place in my sunglasses collection!

If you're in Boots any time soon, I'd definitely have a look at the Bourjois stand. There are some really great products from them at the moment, and with a 3 for 2 offer and a free pair of sunglasses, I'd definitely take advantage!

My Top 3 Summer Outfits | Introducing Tizer!

Hey! 

I absolutely love Summer clothes. Shorts are one of my loves in life, so any excuse to parade around in a pair excites me! As the title suggests, today's post shows three of my favourite Summer looks, and I'd like to take today's post to introduce to you my boy, Tizer! He refused to let me have my picture taken alone, so rather than fight it, I decided to include him in today's post! He's a 7 year old Lurcher (Whippet/Greyhound cross), And other than being loopy, he's the most loyal and loving dog a girl could wish for. So without further ado, here are 3 of my top Summer looks, and Tizer! 

The Cute Little Dress, Denim Gillet and Gladiator Sandals: I must warn you, I didn't realise until compiling my images that I have denim in every piece. This wasn't on purpose, however I do have a serious love affair going on with denim, so it doesn't surprise me that denim has ended up in each outfit! A denim gillet is the perfect way to dress down any outfit, whilst also adding some style and creates a casual look. Paired with a cute little dress, in this case I've gone for a nautical, striped bodycon it creates the perfect daytime look. I've paired this look with tan, studded gladiator sandals to further the casual style. 

Dungarees and Low Tops: If you've looked around ANY high street store in the past few months, you'll have noticed a sudden explosion of 90's fashion. Dungarees, crop tops and pinafores are hanging on practically every shelf. Being super duper fashion forward, I already had some dungarees from a few years ago when I thought I was being really 'edgy'. A few years on and my edgy purchase has exploded into the mainstream! I like to think I had something to do with it.....maybe. Paired with a simple white top and low top Converse trainers, this creates one of my favourite casual outfits, allowing me to relish in 90's memories. 

Denim Shorts, Coral Shirt, Coral Sandals: Anyone would think we staged these photo's...(it turns out Tizer is a wannabe model and struck his pose in this place every time...maybe with a little more help in this final picture though!) I've chosen an outfit slightly more dressed up for my final look. This style tends to be one of my go-to looks for going out shopping or to meet friends etc. It's so simple to throw together, however still has the perfect balance between casual and smart, and the chiffon shirt gives a classy element. Paired with a simple and classic denim short, and sandals to match the colour of the shirt, this look is effortlessly cool and summery, and can easily be switched from day to night. 

So, there we have it, three of my favourite summer looks. I could have easily included 20 more, however 1. That would take about a week to photograph and write about, and 2. Nobody in their right mind would read a post that long! These are simply three summer looks that I've been loving the past couple of weeks. 

I hope you liked this post, and enjoyed Tizer's photo bombing as much as I did. Here's another of my beautiful boy, just because he looks so gorgeous! 

Beauty Wishlist | Summer Edition

Hi guys and gals! 

So, I'm not exactly on the ball with this little blog lately. I apologise for that, and have even made a list of blogpost ideas to stop it from happening again! My latest excuse for not blogging was these glorious few days of sunshine. Whenever the sun comes out to say hello, I usually head for whichever sunny spot I find first, and remain there until I am crispy and tanned. That's what happened this weekend and this week so far. Unfortunately for my blog, it resulted in slight neglect. I'm back now with a whole list of coveted items i'm pining after this summer! 

1. Essie Nail Polish 'Mint Candy Apple': Can a girl ever have too many minty nail polishes? Certainly not!! I have my fair share of aqua/minty shades, but that does not stop me pining over this beaut! It will look beautiful paired with a tan and some denim shorts, don't you think? 

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation/Serum: I'm a little late on the bandwagon with this one, having been trying to get through my Rimmel Match Perfection. I'm not one for piling on the slap, so it takes me ages to get through foundation, however the dewy, healthy glow that this foundation claims to give is definitely on my radar. 

3. John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Range: I have blonde hair, some of it natural, some of it not so natural. Either way, sometimes the colour slips into the brassy end of the blonde chart, which can make it look somewhat dull. To inject some life back into my blonde, I've been eyeing up these goodies from John Frieda; purple toned, colour correction haircare. Sounds right up my street!

4. Revlon Lip Butter 'Juicy Papaya': I don't know how I can express in words how much I need this in my life. Practically every time I'm in Boots, this little baby gets swatched on the back on my hand, and I'm literally counting down the days until make-up is in the 3-for-2 offer again. I just don't see the point in buying make up unless I can get a freebie anymore. Boots, what have you done to me?

5. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo: I may well be the last person on earth to try this. Believe me, I've wanted to, but there's always been a reason not to buy it. My skin is by no means bad, but sometimes I do feel a little...clogged up. From the tens of thousands of amazing reviews of this product, I do feel it's something worth trying, and maybe I can add to the reviews, giving my two cents on this legendary product. 

6. Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: This is one that Alix over at I Covet Thee raves about all the time, and I have drooled over the thought of an overnight mask to leave me waking up the next morning with radiant, glowy skin thats full of moisture. I already have so many face masks on the go at the minute it's crazy, but one more can't hurt...right? 

7. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser: Another cult product worming it's way into my virtual basket is this cleanser from Liz Earle. I'm currently working my way through an array of hot cloth cleansers, hoping to find my holy grail, however i'm yet to try Liz Earle's offering. Everything about it screams that I should love it though; not tested on animals, natural ingredients... the list goes on...

So that's my summer beauty wish list! What are you pining after this summer?

June Favourites.

Hello lovelies! 

OK, so I've not blogged in the longest time. In my defence I've had a lot going on. I broke my finger, had my University Degree Show, had an interview for a PGCE course, moved out of my flat and back home for the summer, got a conditional offer for the PGCE course (yay!), passed my QTS maths skills test (A mandatory maths test for trainee teachers), got a weeks placement at a primary school, and got the results of my degree; a 2:1 Ba Hons Fine Art. Phew! That's all happened in the space of 3 weeks, so as you can imagine i've been pretty busy and swept off my feet, but in a really good way! In September I will officially begin my teacher training, and hopefully by this time next year will be a qualified Foundation/Key Stage 1 Primary Teacher!! 

Anyway, enough of that, this is a beauty blog, and I've FINALLY gotten around to picking out my favourite products from the month of June. 

Garnier Body Bodytonic Firming Lotion: I've swapped my usual heavy body butter for lighter body lotions, and this Garnier one has been continually brought out to play due to its light, zesty fragrance and firming and toning properties. It claims to create smoother skin in 7 days. I've not noticed complete smoothness, however it does go some way to making the skin appear more toned, whilst also leaving my skin nicely moisturised. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo 'Tropical': This stuff is honestly one of the best products I've used in a long time. I've reached for it so often, I've almost ran out, and once I do, I shall definitely be repurchasing. I've always been a big fan of Batiste, however usually go for the original fragrance. This coconut one is absolutely perfect for the summer, with such an exotic fragrance, and does a great job of adding volume and texture whilst freshening hair between washes. 

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Split Ends Protection Cream: I absolutely adore this leave in cream. I'm a massive fan of oils and creams to use on the hair as extra moisture, and this is no exception. it smells gorgeous, and sinks into the hair without leaving any residue. After drying, my hair is so soft and manageable, and the ends seems a lot softer. 

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser: This stuff is amazing for summer skin. I get oily when the weather gets warmer, which has been happening more frequently this past month. I've been turning to any product that claims to reduce sebum production and take away shine. As well as mattifying my skin, this moisturiser acts as a great base for applying my make up.

MAC Lipstick 'Coral Bliss': Out comes the sun, out comes the coral and peach tones. The two go hand in hand. I have been in love with this cremesheen lipstick ever since I finally got my hands on it. It's sheer, however can easily be built up for a brighter coral colour, and I think it's the perfect shade for a summers day. 

Illamasqua Powder Blush 'Lover': I've blogged about this before, and it's become a real staple blush in my routine this month. A gorgeous matte peach, it adds a glow of colour, without being too overpowering, just what I need for that perfect summer face. 

What have you been loving lately? 

Times are a'changin'.

Hey there lovelies! 

So, rumour has it that Google Friend Connect will be no more come Monday 1st July. You can still follow me on Bloglovin by clicking on the icon to the left of the screen to keep up to date with my rambles. 

I'm in the process of moving out of my student digs and back home so blog posts are few and far between at the moment, however from the beginning of July they should pop up more regularly again as I will have oodles more free time to play with!! July....wow this year is moving way too fast for my liking!! Anyhoo this is a just a courtesy update to let you know to follow me on bloglovin or via twitter (@thegemmine) if you want to keep up to date with blogposts and twitterings! 

Toodles for now!! 

And because no post should be without an image, this made me chuckle... 

What's On My Face | The Everyday Edit.

Since breaking my finger, it's been made clear to me just how much I rely on my left hand for simple things like putting on my make up. Because of this, I haven't been switching my make-up around as much as usual, and have been using the same look, as it's easier. 

Bases

- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 'Soft Beige': This is my go-to foundation for this time of year, as it gives a nice medium finish, with an SPF factor; always important!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer: This concealer has a peachy tint, which is great for counteracting the dark circles, although I wish it had a little more coverage. 

Soap & Glory Trick and Treatment Concealer: I'm suffering from some pretty impressive dark circles at the minute, hence the two concealers. I like to use this one on top of my Rimmel one for extra coverage. This one has a slight shimmer which illuminates the area, making dark circles appear reduced. 

Contour & Blush

Bourjois Chocolate Bronzing Powder: At the minute, i'm favouring a more matte finish, which means a bronzer with shimmer is a no-go. This one from Bourjois only has a very slight shimmer, which isn't really noticeable, and can be used as a sheer layer of warmth, or built up to create a more contoured look. 

Revlon Matte Blush in 'Rose Rapture': I bought this about 3/4 months ago, and have made a serious dent in it already. I absolutely love this blush - it's perfect for everyday wear, and as it has a matte finish, it's not too showy for the daytime, which is what I prefer. 

Eyes

It's About Prime Eye Primer: I bought this on a whim from Soap & Glory when they had an offer on. I think it retails at around £9, and I bought it as a cheaper alternative to the Urban Decay Primer Potion. It does create a base which helps the shadows to stay a few hours longer, however once this has run out, I think i'll be going back to the Urban Decay counter. 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette: I'm not going to bore you with yet another rave about how amazing these shadows are, I think it speaks for itself as to why these are a staple in my routine. 

Benefit They're Real Mascara: Again, there's no point telling you how amazing this mascara is, all I'll say is you need this in your life. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara: The only reason I've included this mascara is because I'm trying to use it up. It's one of the worst mascaras I've used in a long time. Not only is the formula dry and flakey, it just does nothing for my eye lashes other than make them clump together. 

Lips

ELF Studio Lip Exfoliator: This lip scrub is so convenient. It comes in lipstick form, which is so easy to use, and doesn't involve scooping product out of a tub, making priming my lips for lipstick so easy. It also leaves behind a balm-like finish, which moisturises. 

Calvin Klein Delicious Truth Lipstick in 'Illusion': I've been doing the minimal make up look thing lately, and this lipstick is the perfect colour for that effortless look. It's sheer, yet has a gorgeous light pink tone which just brightens up the face. The formula is very moisturising and doesn't feel too heavy on the lips. 

So there we have it, my everyday face of the moment. 

What have you been wearing lately?