Today I thought I'd do a post on the bits and pieces I like to keep on my dressing table. This was definitely influenced by the fact I have a new camera and wanted to play around with it, however I also recently had a bit of a clear-out and a tidy-up and my dressing table is much more ordered than it was before so it seemed the perfect opportunity. (Little disclaimer: this is not my actual dressing table! My room is seriously dingy and never seems to catch much daylight, so I picked everything up and photographed it in my usual spot)
I get a lot of questions about my desk lamp when it appears in photos and it's actually really affordable! It may look very Oliver Bonas-esque but it's actually the Copperfield Desk Lamp, which you can pick up for just £24.99 from Homebase (though it's currently out of stock).
Although I am a bit of a Kindle-user, I thought Sali Hughes' Pretty Honest (book review here) was too pretty not to own in hardback! Admittedly, my copy is a bit grubby after reading and re-reading it several times but I still keep it out on display. It's a great book crammed with useful beauty advice, whether you're a total newbie or a seasoned addict, and written with Sali's signature wit and honesty. I'd definitely recommend picking this up if you don't yet own it!
On the side next to my bed, I keep a little marble tray (I bought this for under £5 from H&M but sadly they no longer seem to do this or anything similar to it!) with some of the products I reach for before I go to sleep. For me, the best overnight skincare product is the Trilogy 100% Organic Rosehip Oil (£19.50 for 20ml). It just gives my skin an all-round boost, especially when it's feeling dry and sensitive (read my review here). For my lips I have the Lush The Kiss Lip Scrub (£5.50), which was actually Limited Edition for last Valentine's Day but there are plenty of other flavours you can still get. It isn't really one I'd use in bed but it's just a convenient place to put it! I find this really effective for getting rid of any dry skin on my lips, which is essential when you're a liquid lipstick lover like me! I also have the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm (£9.50), which is just incredible. It has quite a thick texture, which is why I use it overnight, and leaves my lips so soft and nourished. It also smells really lovely. To use on my hands overnight, I have the Soap & Glory Endless Glove 2-in-1 Moisture Mask and Hand Cream (£2.50 for a mini). It's so lightweight and non-greasy but is guaranteed to leave my hands feeling moisturised by morning.
On my little tray, I also have a couple of aromatherapy products to help me get a restful night's sleep. The This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (£16) is a cult classic with good reason! I'm sure there's a little bit of a placebo effect going on too, but I really do sleep better when I give my pillow case a spritz with this lavender-fragranced mist. I also have the Neom Tranquility Skin Treatment Candle* (£36), which has an amazing lavender scent that fills my entire room. It burns very cleanly, which I find with all Neom candles and once you blow it out, it's the perfect temperature for your skin. It turns into an oil consistency and I like to apply a little to my wrists. It's very nourishing but I don't use it as a skincare product that often because I don't want to waste it! However I love lighting the candle for half an hour or so before bed whilst I read so I can really wind down.
I picked up this little hexagonal Copper Glass Trinket Tray in the Urban Outfitters sale in-store a couple of weeks ago (I can't find this exact one but you can get it in a triangle shape here). On top of it I keep a few products I've been reaching for lately. There's the Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse Or Dry Shimmer Oil (£19 for 50ml), which is an amazing nourishing body oil with a fine gold shimmer running through it (it can also be used for hair if you're into the shimmer there!) It's definitely more of a 'holiday' product but it's great if you're going bare-legged and just want to add a little extra something. I also have the Bumble & Bumble Pret-a-Powder* (£22), which is a fine, lightweight dry shampoo and texturising powder all-in-one. When my hair is looking a little flat and in need of a bit of 'something' then this is what I reach for. My face mist of the moment is the Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Face Mist (£25), which I picked up for quite a bit less than the UK price when I was in New York. It contains both rosewater and coconut water, which makes it so hydrating and smell amazing!
My favourite makeup brushes by far are my Zoeva Rose Gold sets. I do have quite a lot from Real Techniques, Sigma, Crownbrush and a few other brands over by my everyday makeup setup, however I didn't want to get too into beauty storage! I have the Zoeva Rose Golden Set (£65), Zoeva Rose Golden Volume 2 Set (£65) and Zoeva Rose Gold Volume 3 Set* (£75) in this pot (read my reviews here). Again, this marble pot is from H&M, but they seem to have discontinued all their marble home accessories!
This copper glass jewellery box also seems to have been discontinued by H&M but you can find something similar here. I keep miscellaneous jewellery that I use on an everyday basis in here, most of which is just high street stuff from River Island and Topshop however I have a few bits from Links and Pandora in the mix too.
It was a heartbreaking moment when I finished my beautiful Diptyque Noisetier Candle (£40), however I cleaned out any scraps of wax and used it to store a few beauty bits. I have a set of gold and silver H&M Eyelash Curlers (£2.99), which I keep on-hand just in case I can ever be bothered to curl my lashes! I have a little Jo Malone Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne (£43 for 30ml) on here too, which I'm really enjoying right now. It's a lovely, unusual fresh scent that's perfect for this time of year. There are a couple of lip products I also keep in here for convenience. Firstly there's the Clarins Comfort Light Lip Oil in Red Berry* (£18, post), which is just the most gorgeous, nourishing lip oil. It gives a non-sticky but glossy finish and has a slight rosy colour to it. I also have a mini Tom Ford Lips & Boys Lipstick in Cary* (£27, post), which is a gorgeous rosy shade. I find the quality to be beautiful and it has a creamy texture with a slight sheen to the finish.
I also have a couple of rolls of Washi Tape (£2 each) which look nice and pretty on my dressing table. I quite often use them in blog photos and when I'm sending cards.
Finally I have an empty Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon Candle (£42) (another beautiful one, RIP!) which I use to store some of my favourite liquid lipsticks, so they're always close to hand. If I want an easy-to-wear, completely non-drying formula I opt for the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams (£5.50 each, post) which I have in Cannes (a deep, dusky pink nude) and Zurich (a peachy-pink nude). Another similar option, but with a little more longevity and pigmentation is the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 13 Marvellous Mauve ($14, post). The Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina (£16, post) is actually a very similar more-than-a-nude-less-than-a-colour mauve but the formula is a little bit more like a traditional liquid lipstick as opposed to a cream. I also have the NYX Lip Lingerie in 04 Ruffle Trim (£6.50, post) which has a bit of a mousse-like feel. It is definitely one of the more drying products in my pot, however I love the warm-toned brown shade.
In terms of 'proper' liquid lipsticks that have a fluid texture and more pigmentation, I also have an array of everyday colours. I love the ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Echo Park ($6, post) because it doesn't dry out my lips at all and has this gorgeous browny-peachy-nude colour. The ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Frick N Frack ($6, post) has that same soft formula but is a deeper rosy tone. There's the Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Committed (£13.50, post), which is a pinky-nude and one of my all-time favourites. Next there's the Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Everything Nice (£9.50, post), which is another 'love'! It's so non-drying but still has insane pigmentation and is this super-warm caramel brown nude. I actually find my Dose of Colors Matte Lipstick in Truffle (£14.50, post) and Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Gemini (£14, post) to be so similar in formulation! They're both very fluid and pigmented but have a tackiness that stops them being drying. Truffle is a slightly cool-toned medium brown (think MAC Velvet Teddy) and Gemini is a really intriguing warm reddish terracotta nude colour. Finally, of course I have a Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare ($20, post). This is an old favourite, though I feel like I've since discovered formulas I find less drying and easier to wear, I still love the strawberry-nude tone.
Which bits do you like to keep on your dressing table?
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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS OR PURCHASED WITH GIFTED VOUCHERS.
ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.