Wednesday 30 November 2016

On My Travels | Zoella Lifestyle Christmas 2016

When the Zoella Lifestyle range launched earlier this year, I was pretty damn excited. If there is one thing that Zoella’s team get right – it’s creating good quality products which appeal to a whole range of ages, for a tiny price. There is whole range of products available in the Zoella Lifestyle range, from plant pots, to candles she really has it all! Today I wanted to talk about the On My Travels Back Pack* (£50 here), which I think you're going to love!  



The On My Travels Back Pack is a fantastic gift option this Christmas, because not only do you get a lovely bag, it’s filled with other goodies. The ruck sack itself is grey faux leather, which is just a really lovely colour! The bag is fairly big and it’s a very soft and slouchy design. It has a big flap to cover the inside of the bag and you keep everything secure with a long drawstring. I love that the inside of the bag is a stunning neon orange shade, which is the perfect accompaniment to the grey of the outside, plus it just adds a little something extra to the design. 



When you open the bag, you’re greeted with three different Zoella Lifestyle goodies. The first thing in the bag is The Key to Inspiration Keyring* (also £6 here). This is a rose gold metal keyring with the word ‘inspire’ embossed into the metal, which is then coated in a pretty pastel pink shade. The keyring is attached to a circle keyring fob (in the same rose gold hue) and there’s a little round disc on the fob finished with a ‘Z’. The keyring arrives attached to a piece of grey cardboard, finished with black typography. Zoella says that this keyring is designed to be a daily reminder, to keep you feeling inspired and to inspire others.



The next thing in the bag is the Write On Point Pencil Set* (also £5 here). This is a set of five neon orange pencils, which are finished with cute quotes in a gold font. The pencils arrive in a white cardboard box, which is decorated with polka dots and rose gold edges. A round circle finishes the packaging, stamped with the Zoella logo and some white typography. I think these would be a fantastic gift for anyone who loves stationery. 



The last thing in the bag (but certainly not the least) is the Topped with Cream and Sprinkles Travel Mug* (also available in this set for £14) - this couldn’t be made for Instagram anymore if it tried!  This is a plastic travel cup which is decorated with a marble print. It’s finished with stunning typography which reads “Topped With Cream & Spinkles” in (of course) rose gold foil lettering. The travel mug is topped with a silicon lid which screws onto the base and it is the same orange as the inside of the ruck sack and the pencils. 



The On My Travels Back Pack* (£50 here) is available right now, exclusively to Boots. You can pick it up online and in stores, keep your eyes peeled because this has been on offer a few times, so if you’re quick you can grab this at a bargain price!
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Tuesday 29 November 2016

Wrapped In Glamour | Morgan Taylor Christmas 2016

Today I have another beautiful collection from Morgan Taylor to share with you. I’m still amazed that a lot of my fellow beauty fans haven’t heard about this lovely brand. They first launched in 2013 and they are going from strength to strength. The Morgan Taylor creators (Danny Haile and David Daniel) have a 25-year history in the nail industry and it really shows. I couldn’t be happier to have discovered this brand in 2016, their colours and formulations are beautiful. Not to mention that their various nail collections make me weak at the knees. The core collection is HUGE and it consists of over 145 colours, plus six nail treatments (Make It Last, Matte’s A Wrap, Need for Speed, Stick With It, Go Ahead and Grow, plus the REACT base and top coat). 




The Wrapped In Glamour Collection* is designed to give you everything you need to get into the festive spirit. The collection includes six beautiful new luxe lacquer shades, which have everything from pretty glitters, to vibrant reds and a lovely navy. Which means you can have every possible shade you could need, no matter what look you’re rocking this Christmas.

The six new shades include: Just Naughty Enough* (which is a pretty Rosy Bronze Glitter), Let’s Get Frosty* (a classic Silver Glitter), Girl Meets Joy* (a Navy shade in Morgan Taylor’s Pearl formula), You’re So Elf-Centered!* (a stunning Maroon hue in the Pearl formula), Rocking My Stocking* (that classic Cranberry Christmas shade, also in the Pearl formula) and finally Who Nose Rudolph?* ( a hot Crimson shade in Morgan Taylors Crème formulation). I’d love to know who names these polishes as the names are just genius! 

I think my two favourite shades in this collection are Just Naughty Enough (I can never ever resist a pink glitter) and You’re So Elf-Centered (I wear purples all year round)! 
As you can see, these shades are perfect throughout Autumn/Winter, for Christmas day right up to New Years Eve. The polishes retail for £10.99 each, which you can pick up from Sally Express. 




If you’re not a fan of buying full sized polishes, you’ll be pleased to see that there is also a collection of duo and mini packs, which make perfect Christmas stocking fillers. The duo sets include an extra free gift of either a cute bracelet, crystal nail file or Glitter. The Favourite Eight Collection (£27.95 here) is a mini set including eight of Morgan Taylor’s favourite shades. Plus, there are two other mini sets which include four shades from either the Morgan Taylor’s Glitter Glitz collection (£15.50 here) or The Wrapped in Glamour mini collection (£15.50 here)
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Monday 28 November 2016

The Best Gifts For Her | Over 30 Gifts Over £15 | Huge Christmas Gift Guide

Last year I put together three Christmas Gift Guides, it was something I was a bit nervous about doing, but my readers loved them – in fact they were some of my most popular posts of the year! So I’m back again this year, with three Christmas Gift Guides and they are better than ever! Brace yourself for three HUGE gift guides, which will be perfect if you’re still looking for present ideas. 




There will be a guide which focussed on gifts for her, one for gifts for him and one that looks at stocking fillers (it’s full of gifts which cost less than £15)! To kick us off I’m starting with the gifts for the ladies in your life. This gift guide is literally HUGE, so we really need to get started…




The makeup gifts she needs

I can’t pretend that there isn’t a huge range of makeup gifts this year, it can pretty hard to work out which way is up! If you’re looking for a brand who well outperform their price tag, you should check out the gift sets by Sleek Makeup. The Face The Day Gift Set* (£20 here) gives you everything you need to make you feel like a star! Inside this substantial box you get the Au Naturel i-Divine eyeshadow palette, Barekissed Illuminator in Monaco, Full Fat Lash Mascara and Lip VIP lipstick in Nightspot.

I really think my heart skips a beat every time I look at the Pixi Ultimate Beauty Kit* (£28 here) – it’s one of the gifts I got most excited for in the whole gift guide! You open the pretty green box to reveal a folded palette FILLED with pretty Pixi products. There are eyeshadows, blushers, contour shades and even highlighters – it’s a really deluxe palette. What’s even better is that it’s been designed to suit all skin tones, featuring a range of cool and warm shades in a variety of textures. This really is a must buy in my opinion!




If you have a friend or family member who loves lip products, she needs to try the ESPA Nourishing Lip Tint Trio* (£29 here). These oil tints provide a hint of pretty colour, with an oil formulation, which creates the perfect festive look and an ultimate treatment in one tube! There are three shades in the kit, one is clear, one is pink and one is red! Why not gift the lady in your life beautiful lips!

I had to end this section with a gorgeous gift bad from Emma Lomax! Specifically, the Emma Lomax Lipstick Pink Pouch* (£15 here). This is actually of my favourite makeup bags and I’m pretty sure that any beauty fan would love it too. It’s created from a canvas material and finished with an embroidered lipstick design.

Makeup gifts you can grab in the airport
A lot of us will be be travelling before Christmas, so if you're in the airport why not grab a bargain?  I always find that World Duty Free have a really good selection of products (all available at the fabulous tax-free prices) but also some gorgeous travel exclusives, which you can't get anywhere else. World Duty Free stock a huge range of Urban Decay products (prices start at £5.80 here) including the Urban Decay Electric Palette*. This is a great palette for colour junkies - packaged with ten of the brightest, most vibrant shades. 

They also stock GIVENCHY (available here) and the GIVENCHY Rouge Interdit Vinyl Lipsticks are incredibly luxurious, the packaging alone has me weak at the knees! There are tons of shades, so there's a colour for everyone! If you know someone who is a bareMinerals fan, World Duty Free stock a whole load of travel exclusives, plus their Christmas gifts at a bargain price. The bareMinerals Mineral Veil* (£17.45 here) is a finishing powder designed to minimise lines and absorb oil leaving a flawless finish. I absolutely love checking out the MAC store in Heathrow T3. I don't think MAC's Pro Longwear Fluidline Eyeliner* needs much introduction, they beautiful pots of liquid liner which are available in eight shades. There are purples, blacks, golds and navy hues.  



Finally we have my favourite product, which is The Clinique Kissed By The Sun Bronzing Palette* (£35 here) is absolutely gorgeous, it arrives in the most stunning scalloped palette. When you open the palette you find two eyeshadows, two lip colours, a pretty bronzer. If you're planning a trip, you can actually shop before you travel! You simply select your favourite products on the World Duty Free website and pick them up at the airport

Stunning brushes for the makeup addict

This year I've fallen head over heals for Sigma and I'm overjoyed to include two of their gifts in my Christmas Gift Guide this year! The Sigma Beauty Copper Belle collection should be high up every girls list this Christmas! The collection is full of ginger-toned, copper-plated brushes, party-ready makeup and glam gadgets to warm the heart of the beauty lover on your list! 

The Blushing Babe Brush Set* ($58 here) features three copper plated brushes (F05 Small Contour Brush Copper, the F25 Tapered Face Brush Copper and the F40 Large Angled Contour Brush Copper) all in a copper cardboard box, finished with pretty black writing. The Classic Express Duo Kit* ($39 here) would be a dream kit for anyone who loves makeup brushes, but hates washing them. Inside the copper box you get the Sigma Spa Express Glove and a F80 Flat Kabuki Brush in Copper. This set combines Sigma’s all-time, best-selling brush and their deep cleaning tool, which has seven patented textures in one convenient device.





Real Techniques have REALLY upped their Christmas game this year! It’s clear they saw a gap in the marker that needed to be filled, I could include several gifts here! However, the gift I want to talk about is the Real Techniques 6 Miracle Complexion Sponges (£20.99 here). In this handy set you get 6 miracle sponges, which many agree are the key to well-blended, airbrushed looks. There is the original miracle complexion sponge, plus the brand new miracle mini eraser sponges and the miracle sculpting sponge. A must have addition to any beauty fans kit! 

If you’re looking for a really luxurious Real Techniques Gift, I highly recommend buying the Bold Metals Complete Eye Essentials Set (£40 here). Inside the set you get four uniquely cut eye brushes, which give you every brush you need whether you’re creating an everyday natural look or an extreme smokey eye. Inside the box you get; 200 Oval Shadow (designed to cover the whole lid in shadow, also good for blending), 201 Pointed Crease (densely packed brush, applies eyeshadow with a smokey effect), 202 Angled Liner (designed to fit close to the lash line), the 203 Tapered Shadow (precision cut for blending shadow) and a pretty brush roll.





Gifts for the nail polish obsessed

I really feel that deborah lippmann doesn’t get enough exposure in the blogger community, her nail sets are just gorgeous! Two sets that I wanted to highlight in this gift guide are the Ice Queen 2-Piece Nail Lacquer Set* (£17 here) and the Ice Princess 2-Piece Nail Lacquer Set* (£17 here). Both sets come in pretty square boxes and they are surrounded by GLITTER! The Ice Queen set includes Lady Is A Tramp (a deep red) and The Golden Rule (a warm golden shimmer). The Ice Princess set includes La Vie En Rose (a sheer pastel pink shimmer) and Heart of Glass (an ethereal iridescent shimmer). Both sets are perfect for Christmas and all year round!




The other nail polish set that I wanted to give a mention is the Temple Spa After Dark Gift Set* (£20 here). This set was inspired by the colours of Mediterranean interiors, with three pretty nail shades to choose from. There is Opera (a lavish chocolate hue), Toccata (a rich pomegranate) and Nocturne (dark green). These polishes are quick-drying and boast a breathable formula, which provides a glossy and durable finish! 

The skincare gifts she can’t be without

Is a Christmas gift guide even a gift guide if you don’t include a REN Skincare Set* (£25 here)? This set is exclusive to M&S beauty hall and it’s a select line-up of REN’s best-selling skincare products. Each of the products is designed to leave the skin looking and feeling brighter, smoother, hydrated and healthier. Inside the pretty pastel blue box, you get: the Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel (50ml), the Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream (50ml), the Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial (2ml) and the V-Cense Revitalising Night Cream (15ml).

La Roche-Posay get a lot of airtime on Hope, Freedom, Love and it’s with good reason! They are one of my favourite skincare brands and I’m never disappointed by one of their products. What’s fabulous about them, is that their products basically work for everyone, which is why the La Roche Posay 3-step System Toleriane Gift Set (£22.50 here) makes such a good gift. This is a new set designed to offer immediate and long-lasting relief for all types of sensitive skin! 




If you’re looking to spend a bit more money, I highly recommend the six limited edition sets from Dermalogica. My two favourites are the Skin Health Heroes Set* (£33.10) and the Power Rescue Masque Trio* (£43.25 here). Inside the Skin Health Heroes Set you get a trio of Dermalogica’s most popular products: the Special Cleansing Gel, the Multi-Active Toner and the Hydrablur Primer for the healthiest skin ever. Saving the best to last we have the Power Rescue Masque Trio, which is the ultimate set for hungover skin! Inside the box you get a contains trio of problem-solving masques to treat multiple skin concerns: the Charcoal Rescue Masque, the MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque and the Skin Hydrating Masque. Why not gift the lady in your life this trio so she can give multi-masking a whirl! 

Scents so you smell gorgeous all year round

Christmas is a huge season for buying scents, in fact I’m pretty sure it’s the only time of year when I actually gift fragrance. This year the team at Escentual picked out the Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum Spray Gift Set* (£52 here) for my guide. It’s Jimmy Choo’s signature fruity-floral fragrance, it’s alluring and it’s a lovely scent for the fashion-focused -  it’s definitely a crowd pleaser! Inside the gorgeous box you get a stunning Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum Spray (60ml) and the Jimmy Choo Perfumed Body Lotion (100ml).


The Joan Collins Timeless Beauty I Am Woman Set* (£21.52 here) is amazing if you're purchasing for someone a little older. I AM WOMAN is created by Joan Collins herself, designed to be a reflection of her personality. The top notes include: lemon, bergamot, orange, mandarin, peach nectar, whilst the heart notes are a mixture of: rose, orange blossom, jasmine, herbs, moss. The base notes are more woody with a mixture of: musk, vanilla, amber, sandalwood, cedar wood, patchouli. Inside this matte black and gold box you get two dinky bottles of Joan Collins products; the I AM WOMAN Eau de Parfum and I AM WOMAN Fragrant Essence.

Ultimate bath and body treats

If you have a lady in your life who really likes to relax and treat herself to some indulgence, these sets are for you! Let’s kick things off with the Burt’s Bees Burt’s Bag of Treats Gift Set* (£19.99 here). You get a really pretty wash bag and inside you get four great products: the gentle exfoliating Peach & Willow Bark Deep Pore Scrub, nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion and the classic 100% natural Beeswax Lip Balm. This is a fantastic set and it’s under £20, which I think is a great bargain! 

For an ultimate indulgence, I always turn to my friends at ESPA. Moments of Peace* (£20 here) provides exactly that – everything you need for a moment to yourself. The beautiful package includes a Soothing Candle (70g) and the stunning Soothing Body Oil (28ml). Both products are infused with nature’s ultimate unwinders – serene Frankincense and Myrrh blended with sensuous Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood. 




As always Rituals have a huge collection of bath and body gifts, they have gifts ranging from £19.50, right up to £65, so there really Is something for every budget this year! All of the gifts feel luxurious and they each look beautiful! The set I have in my gift guide this year is from The Ritual of Sakura range, which aims to restore your inner peace with a wonderful fragrance of Cherry Blossom and Rice Milk. The Ritual of Sakura Gift Set* (£19.50 here) includes such a good selection of products! Each set contains: the Foaming Shower Gel (50ml), the Body Cream (70ml), the Shampoo (70ml) and the Shower Scrub (70ml). 

Vita Liberata are one of the most talked about tanning brands in the bloggersphere, which is why I just had to feature the Vita Liberata Fabulous Glow Luxury Tan Kit* (£29.95 here). This 3-piece luxury tan arrives in the most gorgeous rose gold bag and the kit has been designed to give you everything you need for healthy, natural colour. Inside the bag you get the Fabulous Self Tanning Tinted Lotion, Body Blur and a super soft mitt for a flawless finish. 




The Wella Professionals Elements Gift Set* (£24.99 here) is a fantastic gift if you are buying for someone with a sensitive scalp. It’s a fantastic gift for girls on-the-go as you get the full sized products, plus you get minis that you can take away when you travel! Inside the cream and green box you get the Elements Shampoo (250ml + 30ml), the Elements Conditioner (200ml + 30ml) and Elements Mask (30ml), which saves you £9 on the normal RRP. All the products are designed to protect from keratin degeneration, plus they are free of sulphates, parabens and artificial colourants. 

The KORRES Almond Cherry Collection Gift Set* (£18 here) combines a shower gel and a body milk (both 200ml) in a pretty gifting both. The Almond Cherry Collection Gift Set is actually my second favourite KORRES scent and it smells just like a Bakewell tart (unsurprisingly mixing the scents of sweet Almond and fresh Cherries together). The sets retail for £18 which offer you a £3 saving on the products RRP.

I can't believe how gorgeous the Scholl Velvet Smooth Party Pedi Collection
Pack* (£69.99 here) is! They arrive in the most gorgeous box, which is covered in pink glitter! Inside the box you get everything you need for party ready feet this season! There is the iconic Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot File, the GelActiv Extreme Heels Insoles, a bottle of Nail Care Oil, plus a festive-friendly Nail Polish by NAILBERRY! 

For the last beauty gift of this whole gift guide, I wanted to talk about the Temple Spa Truffle Luxe Quartette* (£50 here), which feels like a really extravagant gift. Temple Spa say that this set can breathe new life into your skin, taking your anti-ageing routine to a whole new level. There are four products in this set: Truffle Noir (15ml), Body Truffle (50ml), Eye Truffle (5ml) and Skin Truffle (15ml). Each of the products work in harmony with each other, recharging and replenishing, targeting and treating the skin. 

A few lifestyle gift ideas

I love to end all my gift guides with a few additional lifestyle gift ideas and in my mind there is nothing better than the Scrumptious Stay – Smartbox by Buyagift* (£120 here). This arrives in a pretty square box and it grants the owner to a night of luxury. Choose from 200 decadent gourmet breaks, where you can enjoy a night in a hotel, plus enjoy a meal with your loved one.  Whether you are looking for somewhere near you or you want to travel further afield, you’ll be sure to find a break in a suitable location. 




As somebody who travels a lot, I’m always looking for ways to make it that little bit more simple, which is why I love the Cath Kidston travel accessories! I recently picked up the Cath Kidston Travel Wallet (£20 here) which pretty much has everything you could wish for in a travel accessory! It has passport and document holders, three card slots, a mini zip purse and a pen holder, all secured with a popper fastening. The other item I picked up was the Mini Dot Envelope Card Holder (£9 here), which is perfectly proportioned to house 12 cards. I thought this would be ideal for when I don’t need to carry case, but I do need all my various debit/credit cards and loyalty cards. 

The last accessory I've featured here is the River Island Mini Glitter Bag (£18 here), which I think would make a perfect NYE accessory. It's a square shoulder bag, which is covered in glitter detail, it has a zip across the top and a silver chain strap. 




The very last gift of this years gift guide is the Zoella On My Travels Gift Set* (£50 here), but it's certainly not leaving the worst to last, in fact this is one of my favourites! The gift comes in a gorgeous grey slouchy rucksack and inside there are three lovely surprises. Each of the goodies inside are from the new Zoella Lifestyle range. There is the Key to Inspiration Keyring, the Write On Point Pencil Set, plus the Topped with Cream and Sprinkles Travel Mug. I think it's such a lovely alternative gift which loads of women of all ages will love!

And breathe - I can't believe that after months of planning, that's the end of my packed gifts for her guide! I'd love to know what you think of the gifts in this guide and if you can pick a favourite, let me know what it is in the comments below! 
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Friday 25 November 2016

Marché de Noël Advent Calendar by Paul & Joe

Last week I featured an affordable (but beautiful) advent calendar, this week I’m here with something a little more extravagant, but still hasn’t entered the realms of hideously expensive – the Marché de Noël Advent Calendar* by Paul & Joe



As soon as this arrived at my down I fell in love, it really is just beautiful! The Marché de Noël Advent Calendar arrives in a huge blue and white box, decorated with a stunning winter village illustration. There is snow, pretty buildings, fancy wooden shops and of course, as it’s Paul & Joe there are some cats thrown in for good measure. It will look so festive on your mantelpiece with all your other decorations! 



There are 24 doors on this calendar, behind 12 of the doors you will find a Marché de Noël themed illustration but behind the other 12 you will be greeted by a Paul & Joe beauty essential. I actually think this a great way to create an Advent Calendar which is affordable, but stretches the full 24 days to Christmas. The Marché de Noël Advent Calendar is designed to be a perfect gift to self, or for a loved one – giving you everything you need to create a flawless and elegant makeup look for Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Let’s take a look at what beauty gifts you’ll find inside the box… 


          
First of all we have the Moisturizing Foundation Primer in the shade 01 this is a pink tinted primer, which gives the skin brightness and moisture. Next we have the Lip Essence Limited in shade 001, which is a formulation of jojoba oil and shea butter to lock in moisture for the colder months. Next we have one of the beautiful Paul & Joe Pouches, which will be perfect for transporting your makeup in over Christmas. There’s a pretty Powder Blush in the shade 001 (a mix of cherry red and sweet pink), plus a pretty compact to keep it in. 



There’s a limited edition red Lipstick Limited (shade 001) plus a pretty red case to store the lipstick in – it’s a formula of White Lily Extract, Orange Flower Water and Jojoba Seed Oil. Last but not least we have the Eye Color Case Limited (in style 001) which houses four ‘cats’ which are actually pretty eyeshadows. Naturally of course you need four cats to store inside, so the last four products are Limited Edition Eye Colours in 001 (glamorous golden brown endowed with pearlescent shimmer),002 (a combination of gold pearl and silver), 003 (beige with a touch of shimmer) and 004 (spicy red hue that adds sparkle and shine).



This calendar will be a must have for Paul & Joe fans who want to add to their growing makeup collections. However, I also think this is a lovely gift for somebody who hasn’t use Paul & Joe makeup before, as they can try a huge range of their fabulous products. The Marché de Noël Advent Calendar retails for £56 here – be quick December is rapidly approaching! 
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Thursday 24 November 2016

TONI&GUY x Roksanda

TONI&GUY certainly love a good collaboration, I think it’s fantastic that they partner with designers to add a twist on their well-loved products. Today I wanted to tell you about TONI&GUY’s collaboration with one of London’s best-loved designers. Roksanda Ilincic has partnered with the haircare brand to bring her bold and bright designs to TONI&GUY’s products, in a special limited edition collection. 



Roksanda Ilincic is well known at London Fashion Week and is globally recognised for her distinctive style. She adds a contemporary twist and stunning craftsmanship to her designs, often mixing in a bold use of colour. She effortlessly brings a modern look to the fashion world and I think most people would agree that she really breathes a modern look to these TONI&GUY products.

This bold product collaboration was created for SS16 – mixing Roksanda’s geometric prints and signature brights, into the otherwise monochrome bottles.  The Limited Edition product collection features a range of products which were all used at London Fashion Week SS16. Let’s take a closer look at the products included… 



First up we have the TONI&GUY Supreme Softness Shampoo* (£6.49 here) which is designed to restore natural softness and healthy shine to the hair – exactly what models need at LFW! This is paired with the TONI&GUY Supreme Softness Conditioner* (£6.49 here), which nourishes and fortifies the hair to make hair more manageable and shiny. 



The TONI&GUY Sea Salt Texturising Spray* (£7.81 here) gives the hair texture and body, offering hair that looks a little bit messy and beachy. You can spritz this into wet, damp or dry hair – just work it through your locks to create those tousled waves we all dream of!



The TONI&GUY Wave Memorising Balm* (£7.49 here) helps to define your natural waves, leaving your hair smooth and shiny. You simply work a small walnut-sized piece of this into your towel-dried or dry hair! 



The TONI&GUY 3D Volumiser* (£7.49 here) is designed to give you sky-high volume (perfect for those glamorous Christmas party looks). Simply spray this root to tip on your wet hair, follow the spray with a good blow dry. You'll find that your hair has voluptuous volume, shine, body and fullness from root to tip.

There is also a few more products in this range including: the TONI&GUY Heat Protection Mist (perfect for those who do a lot of heat styling) and the TONI&GUY High Definition Spray Wax (offers flexible and reworkable control). All the products are available now, don’t miss your chance to add a little bit of designer to your bathroom!  
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Wednesday 23 November 2016

The Wonder Of ESPA | Christmas 2016

Whenever I’m looking for a gift that oozes luxury, I always turn to ESPA! Their products are just exquisite and everyone I introduce to the brand, instantly falls in love. This year ESPA have introduced ‘The Wonder Of ESPA’ – a Christmas collection oozing with exquisite, pretty gifts for the most magical time of the year. This year ESPA have done something a little different, ditching their famous purple boxes for a grey and white colour scheme, which is just gorgeous! The collection of gifts is designed to deliver remarkable results, whilst matching the products to heavenly natural fragrances.





The Wonder of ESPA Christmas Collection is an edit of sixteen limited edition gifts. Which each include some of ESPA’s fan favourites and bestselling beauty icons. There is everything from lovely stocking fillers all the way up to gifts that are very extravagant. They’ve also introduced their Restorative Ceramic Diffuser, with a gorgeous home fragrance range which includes the Winter Pine Candle (a scent of Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Pine). Today I wanted to share some of my favourite gifts, from ESPA’s Christmas collection, keep reading!



ESPA’s new Skin Rescue Wonderbalm* (£28 here) isn’t actually a Christmas Gift Set, but it’s a fantastic thing to buy if you just want a one-product gift. It’s their new on-the-spot transforming treatment, which uses calming and antioxidant-rich ingredients to soothe, replenish and strengthen dry or sensitive skin. What’s great about it is that you can use it everywhere, as it’s ideal for face, lips, cuticles, knees and feet. It melts quickly into skin, without any greasiness, restoring comfort and hydration levels in the skin.



If you have a friend or family member who loves lip products, she needs to try the ESPA Nourishing Lip Tint Trio* (£29 here). These oil tints provide a hint of pretty colour, with an oil formulation, which creates the perfect festive look and an ultimate treatment in one tube! There are three shades in the kit, one is clear, one is pink and one is red! Why not gift the lady in your life beautiful lips!



For an ultimate indulgence which is still at a low price, you need to check out Moments of Peace* (£20 here) provides exactly that – everything you need for a moment to yourself. The beautiful package includes a Soothing Candle (70g) and the stunning Soothing Body Oil (28ml). Both products are infused with nature’s ultimate unwinders – serene Frankincense and Myrrh blended with sensuous Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood. 



Lastly I wanted to share the Men’s Skincare Survival Kit* (£40 here), I love when brands take the time to make fantastic gifts for men, as shopping for my other half can be such a pain! The gift comes in a lovely silver tin and inside EPSA have given men everything they need to look their best every morning. Inside the tin you get the Invigorating Facewash (50ml), the Energising Shower Gel (70ml), the The Hydrator (35ml) and the Dual-Action Shavemud (30ml). 

The 2016 ESPA Christmas Gift Collection is available right now from espaskincare.com, Liberty of London, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis and Fenwicks stores. 
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Tuesday 22 November 2016

The Smokey Eye Sculpt Eyeshadow Palette | The Must Have Palette From Rodial

As soon as I saw the Rodial Smokey Eye Sculpt Eyeshadow Palette* it was instant love! For an eyeshadow palette obsessive, this ticks all the boxes for the perfect nude palette. In today’s post I’m going to be telling you all about it and why you need it in your life. 



This is designed to be the ultimate collection of nude eyeshadows, a mini palette of Rodial makeup joy. It arrives in matte black box, which is decorated with a silver Rodial logo, plus some simple white lettering. When you get inside, you find more classic Rodial packaging, a jet-black, soft touch palette. The palette is a very similar shape and size to the Urban Decay Naked Basic palettes, it’s a good size for chucking into your handbag or your travel makeup collection. When you flick open the palette you find the six eyeshadows and a mirror that spans the inside of the whole palette. 

The shades feature everything you could need for that everyday eye, from that simple basic finish, to a full smokey eye with a winged liner. The shades are a range of textures (there are mattes, pearl and shimmer formulations) and the colours are just as good too. At the far left of the palette there is a light cream, followed by a whole range of brown hues (which include a gorgeous shimmer shade) and a black eyeshadow right at the end. My exposure to Rodial makeup has been quite limited, but bits I have tried have been really impressive. The Rodial Smokey Eye Sculpt Eyeshadow Palette really doesn’t let the side down, featuring a wardrobe of highly pigmented, creamy, blendable eyeshadows (you can check out the swatches in the picture below). 



This palette would make a lovely gift for anyone makeup fan this Christmas. It’s definitely going to be the palette that I pop in my handbag, as it’s fantastic for touchups and for last minute desk-to-dancefloor transformations. The palette isn’t hideously expensive either, it retails for £35 and it really looks (and performs) like a premium product. Don’t miss your chance to add this beauty to your collection, you can pick it up here from the Rodial website

**Exciting Rodial offer** Right now if you spend £100 or more on the Rodial site, you will also receive the Youth Radiance Collection gift worth £89! Just pop your goodies in the basket and enter FESTIVEGIFT at the checkout. Start shopping here
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Monday 21 November 2016

The Best Stocking Fillers | Over 35 Great Gifts Under £15

Last year I put together three Christmas Gift Guides, it was something I was a bit nervous about doing, but my readers loved them – in fact they were some of my most popular posts of the year! So I’m back again this year, with three Christmas Gift Guides and they are better than ever! Brace yourself for three HUGE gift guides, which will be perfect if you’re still looking for present ideas. 




There will be a guide which focussed on gifts for her, one for gifts for him and one that looks at stocking fillers (it’s full of gifts which cost less than £15)! Today I’m talking about that latter guide, looking at some of the best gifts for if you’re on a budget or if you’re looking to fill a stocking! There is a lot to talk about so I’m not going to hang around….

Beauty Gifts

Let’s start with beauty gifts, as the stocking filler/cracker market has gone a little mad this year! I’m kicking things off with none other than Liz Earle, who always have lots of lovely gifts. However, what caught my eye is the Winter Nourishment Gift Set* (£8.00 here), inside this festive green and cream box, you get the Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask (15ml) plus a Pure Cotton Cloth (something I can never have too many of)! The Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask is a creamy formula which aims to combat all our winter woes, perfect for when your hungover skin needs a bit of TLC. 

Beauty fans will not be surprised that Burt’s Bees have a huge collection this Christmas. Burt’s Classic Pomegranate Hanging Tree Decoration* (£6.99 here) is an absolute bargain and inside you get two popular Burt’s Bees products (a Moisturising Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil and Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream). Plus, it comes in a festive red tin, which will look fabulous on the tree or on your desk! The A Bit Of Burt’s Pomegranate Gift Set* (£5.99 here) has the exact same products inside, but it is possibly a bit easier to wrap.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Burt’s Bees bauble, you might like the look of the Bronnley Christmas Apple & Cinnamon Soap Bauble* (£6.50 here). As the name suggests, inside this bauble you get an apple and cinnamon, which is super festive and a little bit of luxury for when you’re washing your hands! I love this Winter Village Soap* (£2.99 here) package from the English Soap Company. It looks so festive in its box and inside you get three guest soaps which smell like cinnamon and mulled wine.

For a bauble that feels high end and luxurious, I always treat people on my gift list to Molton Brown. The Vintage Elderflower Limited Edition Bauble Gift (£11 here) is filled with Elderflower scented shower gel. It’s housed inside a pretty bauble and it comes in a silver box, so it just feels incredibly fancy! The last bauble stocking filler is the Green People Filler Indulge Gift Set* (£8.50 here), inside the box you'll find an organic night cream with a velvety texture, fragranced with a delicious Raspberry & Apple. 

Want a cute beauty gift for under a fiver? You should check out the Dirty Works Beauty Stack* (£4 here). This gift aims to give you a dreamy bath time experience -  each of the boxes have a different product. Start by running the caviar into warm running bath water or add the Bath Fizzer into a warm bath. After you’re finished apply the Body Butter from head to toe for silky smooth skin. If this gift doesn’t take your fancy, Dirty Works actually have 17 fabulous sets this Christmas, so you will not be stuck for choice!




KORRES are quickly becoming one of my favourite brands and they have a HUGE selection of products available this year. If you’re looking for a little gift to give, you could try one of the KORRES Lip Butters (£8.00 here), as they come in a ton of different flavours, so there really is something out there for everyone. If you’re looking for something a little more significant, you should check out The Greatest Mini Shower Gel Collection* (£12 here). Inside the gorgeous box you get six mini 40ml shower gels, each focusing on a different KORRES scent. The shower gels arrive in a gorgeous box and they just feel so premium and fancy. 

For a bath that really allows your loved one to unwind, you could gift the Mandara Spa Honeymilk Dream Float Away Candles* (£6 here) and the Comfort Zone Tranquility Blend* (£12 here). Tranquility Blend can be added to pulse points or put into a bath, it smells beautiful and it leaves your skin feeling soft. The Mandara Spa Honeymilk Dream collection is inspired by Hawaii, pop in these floating candles on to the water and just soak your troubles away. 

Crackers for crackers 

Moving on to the more “traditional” cracker, we have a brand that I just couldn’t exclude! I always look to This Works for friends and secret santa gifts, as I feel that most people can appreciate their products. The This Works Sleep Spell Cracker* (£13.00 here) features a 15ml deep sleep pillow spray, which is one of my favourite products. 

The Caudalie Body Essentials Christmas Cracker* (£10 here) is a huge cracker, finished in craft brown cardboard. It’s beautifully decorated with leafs and pretty swirls and two purple bows. When you pull open the cracker you find three products – which also match the purple colour scheme. There’s the Nourishing Body Lotion (30ml) to leave your skin soft, Thé des Vignes Shower Gel (30ml) which is a combination of ginger liqueur, orange blossom and jasmine infusion and the Lip Conditioner (4.5g) which is made with 99.5% naturally-derived ingredients.




The Roger & Gallet crackers are available in two scents – Fleur de Figuier* (£6 here) and Bois d’Orange (£6 here). Just like last year these make a delightful mini treat, perfect for stockings, secret santa and table settings. When you get inside the cracker you’ll find a handbag sized hand cream plus a little vial of fragrance. 

Beauty fans young and old will love the Nuxe Prodigieuse Cracker* (£10 here) – it’s a vision in pink and gives you everything you need for a little pamper. It’s a fantastic gift whether you’re a newbie to Nuxe or a lifelong fan (who doesn’t love little minis for when they are travelling?!) When you untie the brown ribbon you are greeted by four products, which feels really generous at the £10 mark! There is: the Nuxe Mini Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals (35ml), the Mini Crème Prodigieuse Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Cream - Normal to Combination Skin (15ml), the famous Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose oil and finally the Nuxe Mini Reve de Miel Hand Cream (15ml).

Gifts for nail polish fans

There’s a lot of choice out there for nail polish fans! If you’ve been reading my blog recently, you will have heard me talking a lot about Morgan Taylor. Their Glamour Holiday 2016 Collection* (£10.99 each here), is utterly beautiful and it’s perfect for this time of year. There are six new luxe lacquer shades which have everything from pretty glitter shades, to lush purple hues and classic red finishes. If you like the sound of these Morgan Taylor polishes, you can see a detailed next week. 

If you missed my review on the Boutique Range from Sainsburys, you need to catch up here. It’s a fabulous line up of makeup and this year they have a cute selection of mini gifts. The Boutique Nude Mini Nail Polish Trio* (£6.50 here) features free cruelty-free polishes in a matte black box. 




KIKO have an incredible Christmas Collection this year, it really is one that you can’t miss out on! So much so, that I just had to include the Colour Glitter Nail Lacquer* (£6 here) in this gift guide! They are available in three different shades, here I have a gold hue and a silver hue. These are perfect for this time of year, because you can just top any nail polish colour with these beauties and you’re good for any party! 

The last gift in this section is from Essie and it’s so damn cute! The Essie Let It Snow Christmas Gift Set (£13 here) arrives in the most pretty little house. Inside the box you will find two of essie's most-loved winter shades, which actually happen to be two of my all-time favourites – hence me restocking on my favourites! There is bahama mama (a rich plum) and chinchilly (which is a granite grey).

Gifts for makeup fans 

I think every makeup obsessive has heard of Too Faced and this Christmas they literally have everything from festive little ornaments to full makeup houses. I’m really excited to include the Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick Ornament* (£10 here) in this edit. Inside the ornament you get one of their bestselling shades ‘Melted Berry’ – it has the staying power of a stain, but the pigmentation of a liquid lipstick! If you want an alternative lip product as a gift, you have to check out the Dr.PawPaw Christmas Limited Edition Red Sparkle Balm* (£6.95 here). Inside the pretty tube you’ll find the same formula as the Ultimate Red Balm but with a touch of twinkle.




I really wanted to include some makeup brushes in this blog post and I thought The Look Good Feel Better brushes were a fantastic brand to include. Every brush or set that is sold results in a 12% donation to the Look Good Feel Better charity. Which is used to help boost the confidence of women and teenagers undergoing cancer treatment. Every brush is cut with precision and is hand-made using super soft taklon bristles. Pictured here is the Look Good Feel Better Multi Tasking Brush* (£11.99 here) which does so many things, you can use it to apply powder, bronzer or blusher. If you’re looking for a set at a smaller price point, you should check out the Eco Tools Starter Set (£12.99 here). It arrives in a pretty green and cream bag, with everything you need if you’re just starting your brush collection. It’s a fantastic set for beginners as inside you get a brush for concealer, brows, eyeshadow, eyeliner and blusher.

As usual Paul & Joe Beauty have an amazing Christmas collection out for the festive season - here I have two pieces which I think will make beautiful gifts! The Limited Edition Marché de Noël Lip Gloss in 004* (£15 here), is a happy orange shade.  It’s designed to give strong pigmentation and a pretty lustre, formulated with Orange Flower Water and White Lily Extract to moisturise and prevent irritation. Marché de Noël Holiday 2016 Nail Polish in 017* (£12 here) is a warm navy, inspired by winter in Paris. It’s actually scented and it’s created with Jojoba Seed Oil, Olive Oil and Safflower Seed Oil, to nourish and strengthen nails.  Both these pretty Paul & Joe products are housed in gorgeous custom illustrated boxes, which look so gorgeous you don’t need wrapping paper! 




I can’t get over how appropriate the COLLECTION Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liners* (£2.99 each here) are for this time of year! They have a high impact formula and an intense staying power! Better still, there are a whopping 14 on-trend shades to choose from! Why not pop a couple of these into someone’s stocking this year? That way they can rock glitter for New Year’s Eve and beyond!



The last gift in this beautiful makeup section is the Tanya Burr 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar* (£15 here). I actually think the makeup collection from Tanya Burr is great quality. I think it’s fantastic that the teen market can get inspired by makeup, without using the cheap and tacky makeup that I had to endure in the 90’s! The 12 Days of Christmas Beauty Calendar offers a limited edition treat behind every door, so the recipient can shimmer and sparkle on every occasion.

Pretty haircare gifts 

The TONI&GUY Ashley Williams Limited Edition Washbag Gift Set* (£12 here) is a vision in it’s pretty hot pink bag! TONI&GUY proudly sponsor fashion designer Ashley Williams and she designed this beauty bag to live beyond the bathroom. Ashley is one of London’s hottest up-and-coming designers, so don’t miss your chance to buy someone a limited edition washbag! Inside the bag you get a travel size Volume Addiction Shampoo & Conditioner and full size 3D Volumiser. 




The INDULGE range from Umberto Giannini is brand new and it’s fancy packaging makes it ideal for stocking fillers this year. The Indulge Wash Nourishing Shampoo* (£7 here) and Indulge Care Nourishing Conditioner* (£7 here) are made to work together, mixing luxury with salon quality formulations. They are packaged in white bottles, decorated with gold lines and gorgeous scent with moisturising properties that leave your hair silky smooth.

Lifestyle gifts which don't break the bank

My favourite gift here is the Prosecco Scented Candle* (£14.99 here), I’m not sure what I expected this candle to smell of but it’s gorgeous! The candle comes in a very pretty gold tin and the scent is light and fruity – enjoy Prosecco with none of the calories! Quick disclaimer: sadly this gift is just inspired by food, it's not safe to eat, even if you’re tempted!




I’ve seen a lot of chocolate pizzas in my time, but I love this Belgian Chocolate Digger the Dog Pizza* (£14.99 here). The Belgian Chocolate base isn’t topped with ham and pineapple, instead it’s topped with lashings of vanilla fudge, chocolate brownie cookie chunks and hundreds of thousands of white chocolate curls, finished with an exclusive Digger the Dog chocolate disc. It’s such a clever idea for both pizza fans and chocolate lovers, every time I look at it I have to have a little chuckle!



Zoella recently released a new brand, aptly named 'Zoella Lifestyle'. The range includes everything a new home owner could dream of - from pretty candles, to chic plant pots. Although the Zoella range is pitched at an audience much younger than me, I actually think the whole range is gorgeous and I would love to find some of her items in my stocking! My two favourite items are the Write On Point Pencils* (£5 here) and The Key To Inspiration Keyring* (£6 here). I think they are both are unbelievably cute and would make fantastic gifts. 

Fragrance options which don’t break the bank

The Bronnley England Eclectic Elements collection is now available in stunning travel-size roller balls. Not only are they a convenient size for traveling and for popping in your handbag. They are also perfect for popping into a stocking at Christmas time. They are the perfect gift for someone who is always on the go, as these can be in their bag and ready to apply at a moments notice. The COSMIC BLOOM Rollerball* (£10 here) is scented with Bergamot, Cloudberry, Rhubarb, Black Violet, Freesia, Rose, Musk, Sandalwood and Vanilla. 




I just had to include The Library of Fragrance Gin & Tonic Cologne* (£15 here) as the last gift in this section. Fans of this brand will know that they have TONS of food themed scents and this one is perfect for fans of a good old G&T. It’s a light fragrance with a crisp detail, as with all Library Of Fragrance scents, it’s done to perfection and it’s also unisex!

Let me know which of these beauties is your favourite in the comments below! 
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