Christmas Lush Goodies

It seems a running theme over the festive period on my blog that I feature a lot of Lush products. There is just something about a lovely scented bath over the Autumn and Winter Months.
I'm super grateful to have received two lovely Lush gift sets as Christmas presents. The first one is Rudy. Silly old me did the unthinkable and didn't photograph the gift set when it was all wrapped up nicely (naughty blogger, tut tut) but I love the wrap gifts at Lush and I'm sure I will find a use for the cute Reindeer wrap. Inside Rudy includes two bath bombs: Butterball and Shoot For The Stars. Butterball is a good all-rounder bath bomb, it doesn't give an amazing display in the tub, but is very kind to the skin; leaving it smelling and feeling very soft. Shoot for the stars on the other hand; as you can see, turns your bath water a bright glittery blue and smells of orange and honey.

I also received the Jingle Bells gift set, that includes another two products; Father Christmas Bath Bomb and Peeping Santa Bubble Bar. I was so grateful to receive Peeping Santa as I have been wanting to try this for ages and my local store never seemed to have it in stock. The scent is very similar to fresh strawberries and gives a lot of bubbles, as well as a cute pink/red tint to your bath water. 

I've used Father Christmas before and it is one of the best Lush Christmas bath bombs ever in my opinion. This one turns your bath water into festive green and red swirls, and finally displays only a vibrant green tint to the bath. It is a very sweet scent and smells a little similar to Snow Fairy shower gel.

Last Minute Beauty Gift Ideas

The Balm Nude'tude Palette
If you have a huge beauty fan in your life that doesn't already own this, I think it would make such a lovely gift. Its a little more on the pricey side costing around £30 , but if you have someone in mind that loves a nude smokey eye I think this really would make a special gift.

Superdrug Fruity Trio Strawberry & Raspberry Set
A fail safe Christmas gift is a bundle of bath and body products, especially when they are already boxed up it makes a great little gift. This fab little set* comes complete with a bath puff, shower gel and body cream, and costs just £2.50 from Superdrug and comes in a variety of different scents.

Shadow Switch
Being a beauty blogger, I am always eager to see new products on the market, especially when it comes to make-up removal and makeup brush cleansing - two tasks which I do not enjoy! I was contacted recently by a brand called Beauty Essentials who specialize in lots of different beauty products. They sent me Shadow Switch*, which is a product designed to quickly clean your eyeshadow brushes so you can use them multiple times when applying your makeup. I haven't really seen anything else on the market like this and think its a pretty nifty idea, and think it would make a pretty cool gift for a beauty fan, especially if they love a smokey eye as we all know how annoying it is when you use the same eyeshadow brush while creating a smokey eye - it can get messy!
This product is currently available to buy online from Amazon here, but will soon be available on their UK website too.

Seventeen Sparkle and Shine Lip Gloss Collection
One of my go-to budget beauty brands has always been Seventeen at Boots. In fact, I remember writing about their Dazzle Dusts in one of my first blog posts back in 2012. They always do gorgeous and really inexpensive gifts at Christmas time that could be perfect for your sister, bestie, cousin, secret santa, or anyone that loves their make-up really! This Sparkle and Shine Lip Gloss Collection* includes six pretty lip lustres; there is a selection bright pinks, nudes and corals so something to suit all and a great way for someone that perhaps wants to get into make-up can try out different colours. The lip glosses are really good quality considering the teeny tiny price ticket too.

*Includes some PR samples*

Boxing Day Sales Haul

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! Today I wanted to share the few items I picked up in the Boxing Day sales. We don't have plans for Boxing Day in our family so me and my Sister decided we would wake up early and pop to the shops to see if we could pick up some bargains.

I am a huge Soap and Glory fan (if you hadn't already noticed!) so my first stop was Boots with the main aim to pick up a few of the half price gift sets. I managed to get three out of the four sets that I wanted, which were the Once Upon A Lime gift set, the Zest A Girl Can Get gift set, and finally the Soaprise cracker gift set. I know this is a lot of Soap and Glory, but they are my favourite brand and I have saved so much buying them at half price!

From Superdrug I picked up this Baylis & Harding set for only 99p - what a bargain! I love a pamper so I tend to stock up on bath and body products during the Christmas sales. I also purchased the Cheryl Cole perfume set online for just £10, so impressed with the price.

Finally, I bought a few DVDs and a CD I have been wanting for a while, they weren't in sale but I thought I would include them anyway. I love This Is England!

I also made an order online with Lush... I will share what I bought in their sale in another post soon!
What did you manage to buy in the sales this Year?

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Hi everyone, so it now less than two Weeks until Christmas, hasn't that crept up on us?

Every Year since I started writing my blog, I have written festive blog posts and gift guides but this Year I haven't had the time to share many Christmas blog posts apart from my previous gift guide which you can view here. I really wanted to write down some recipes and lifestyle posts, but for now I have my second and final gift guide sharing just three last minute gift ideas which I think would make great stand alone presents or stocking fillers. 

For the tea lover in your life, why not gift them a lovely My Tea Time* box. It includes everything they may need for that special cup of tea; four of their latest tea blends, self-fill teabags and a little brewing guide which explains everything they need to know. I was actually lucky enough to receive this from a blogger event, and I loved the concept so much I wanted to share it in a post because I think this makes a really special gift. 

For a skin care fanatic, the Docteur Renaud My Glowing Complexion Kit* may be just up their street. It includes their raspberry cleansing water, apple anti-tiredness eye care, and carrot anti-pollution radiance cream. Little gift sets like this are a great way to introduce someone to a new brand. I have used products from the brand before and can say only great things! 

The last little gift idea comes in the form of this adorable gingerbread man bath bomb, which I picked up from the pound shop of all places - you really can find some hidden gems in there! I think this would be great paired with another gift as a secret santa present or stocking filler. 

*includes PR samples*

Fathers Day Gift Ideas

With Fathers Day so very close now, I thought I would compile together a little gift ideas post as they always seem well received and to be honest, I love doing them! I love reading these types of posts myself to get ideas for gifts, so I hope this gives you a little inspiration. I've been looking online a lot myself for some Fathers Day inspiration, and I've found House of Frasers gift guide hub pretty useful!

Bulldog Man`S Best Friend Duo Tin | Stripe Socks | Personalised Hammer | Mens Grooming Gift Set | Paul Smith London Extreme EDT

A great gift idea is a fragrance - aftershave is always a good gift to give to a male, I've picked the Paul Smith Extreme EDT Spray as it a scent which is woody and spicy and I know my Dad would like. Personalised gifts are usually a good idea too, I really like this Personalized hammer as it a really useful gift and I know the thought put into the gift will be appreciated. The Bulldog gift set is ideal as it contains a few essentials in a nice tin which can be used again. Socks - an obvious choice but Dad's can never have too many can they?! The Men's Grooming Gift Set Box* from House of Fraser is jam packed with luxury grooming products which i'm sure will be well appreciated by dad, and it is such a good deal. 

The set includes: Elemis Spa Home Sharp Shower Body Wash, 2x Fuzzy Logic Strengthening Shampoo, Recipe for Men Ultra-Sensitive Shaving Foam,  Hanz de Fuko Hybridized Wax, Scaramouche & Fandango Hydrator, and a  Molton Brown Black Peppercorn Body Wash. 

If you spend over £10 on any beauty purchase online at House Of Fraser, you can purchase the Men's Grooming Box for just £20! So that means you could treat yourself, or even buy Dad something from the Beauty section online (maybe that aftershave he loves) and purchase the grooming box which is worth over £95 for just £20!

Docteur Renaud Raspberry Cleansing Water and Discovery Travel Bag

Are you still taking part in some last minute Christmas shopping? Or have you completed it all and fancy treating yourself? Docteur Renauld have now released their new Discovery Travel Bag; which includes everything you need for a mini pampering session at home or even if you are staying elsewhere.

The Discovery Travel Bag includes a selection of their very best face care products, including; Raspberry Cleansing Water, Raspberry Soft Cream, Raspberry Soft Mask, Carrot Scrub Detox and Apple Eye Cream. I have been using their Raspberry Cleansing Water which I am seriously impressed with it so far.

I have never used their products before so I didn't know what to expect. I really like using cleansers and cleansing waters to remove make up in my skin routine so I was eager to see how Docteur Renaud's matched up to the other cleansing waters on the market. I have only been using this for less than a week and have already noticed how well it removes my make up. It is very gentle on the skin and helps to cleanse and tone too. I have found that the cleansing water leaves my skin feeling really refreshed, and I am impressed with the product so far. It is also lightly scented which is really subtle but a nice touch.

I do usually trial products for a longer period of time before I feature them on my blog, but I have been so impressed with how well this works for me in a short space of time I thought I would include a short summary, and I also wanted to share with you the new Discovery Travel Bag just before Christmas.

 The gift set is brand new and is not currently available on the Docteur Renaud UK website. You can only purchase this from Skin Evolution by telephoning 01452 864574. 

*I was sent the Cleansing Water  for consideration to feature on my blog. No further compensation was given. All views are honest and my own. You can read my disclosure policy on the Contact Tab*

Acorelle White Orchid Set | Christmas Gift Guide

Are you looking for a gift for someone that loves their natural beauty products? Perhaps the person you are buying for has sensitive skin or just enjoys using products which only contain 100% natural ingredients? Maybe they deserve a good pamper and to relax? The Acorelle White Orchid Set would make the perfect present for any beauty lover.

Included in the set contains the white orchid anti-stress eau fraiche and body lotion. Acorelle state that the essential oils of sandalwood and orange used in both of the products help to increase 'the feelings of emotional well-being through-out the day' and will also help to reduce stress and anxiety.
I feel that this gift is really lovely for anyone who needs a destress.

The white orchid body lotion is quite light. After use, the skin feels moisturised and soft. The scent is beautiful, with notes of pear leaf, cardamum, irisflorentin, hawthorn, patchouli, vanilla and raspberry. The scent lasts well throughout the day, and works great combined with the use of the eau fraiche. 

The eau fraiche is a nice alternative to a perfume or an EDT. It is slightly lighter than a perfume, but the scent still lasts a long time on the skin. The scent is beautiful, with the same notes as the body lotion. With regards to the claims to reduce stress and anxiety, I do feel that the eau fraiche has a lasting, yet calming scent. Having used it daily for around two weeks, I do feel that the scent does 'perk up my mood' if you like as it is really relaxing. I like to apply this throughout the day, and also on an evening when I like to relax. I love the size of the product, as it is easy to tuck into your handbag and is great for travelling.

Both products are made with completely 100% natural ingredients.
The White Orchid set is currently available at MyPure here for just £10*. You can also find more Acorelle products which are great for natural beauty lovers, on their website here.

*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review. All opinions are 100 %  honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

Living Nature Purifying Cleanser and Skin Steps Gift Set | Christmas Gift Guide

Living Nature Purifying Cleanser

I am a big fan of Living Nature as a brand, and I love their Skin Care products. Today's blog post will be featuring their Purifying Cleanser...and a gift set I think will make a perfect present for Christmas!

 I have  actually used this cleanser before as it was included in the Living Natures Skin Care Minis which I reviewed here. I really enjoyed using this cleanser so thought it deserved a more detailed review.

I love how light and gentle the cleanser feels on the skin. It foams and lathers quite well and helps to remove the daily build up of make up. I have quite sensitive skin and I suffer from a lot of redness on my face. After using the Purifying Cleanser* it tends to calm down a lot. I am often cautious when using new cleansers as I have very oily skin, and find it difficult to find a cleanser that suits my skin type. The purifying Cleanser is great for oily and combination skin.
Of-course a huge plus is that Living Nature products are all 100% natural, which is fantastic if you have sensitive skin like me. I really like this product and would repurchase in the future.

Living Nature Skin Steps Gift Sets

All ready for Christmas; Living Nature have brought out their Skin Steps Gift Sets. With 3 different sets to suit different skin types, there really is something for everyone.
Each kit comes with a 50 ml cleanser, a 50 ml toning get and a 50 ml daily moisturiser, as well as a few free samples suited for your skin type.
The 3 kits available are: Skin Steps to Purify Oily Skin, Skin Steps to Nourish Normal Skin, and Skin Steps to Enrich Dry and Mature Skin. All three kits are available to buy from Botanical Brands. -link

Included in the Purify Oily Skin kit is the Purifying Cleanser, which as I have mentioned above, is a fantastic product and I would highly recommend it.

I think these kits are perfect if you are buying for someone who is really into their skin care, loves natural products or maybe just to want to try out the some Living Nature products.

*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review.  I was sent the Purifying Cleanser to review . All opinions are 100 % honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

6 in 1 Care Set from Itsawot | Christmas Gift Guide

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love unique and quirky products, and anything compact and tidy pleases me greatly. This 6 in 1 Care Set; available from Itsawot, includes LED tweezers, scissors, a doubled-headed brow brush, mirror, cuticle tool and nail file. I love how compact the kit* is, which is the perfect size for your handbag. It is perfect for travelling and keeping all of your beauty tools together. The sleek and sturdy packaging of the product ensures everything is kept tidy. I love that you can take out the purple container from the kit if you want to.

The LED Tweezers are a great concept. This makes for easy plucking or touch ups on your eyebrows when you are travelling, camping, just about anywhere! The cuticle tool and the nail file are really great quality and so handy to have to hand when you are on the go. The eyebrow brush, mirror and scissors are great additions to this little kit, meaning you will never have a nail or brow drama again!

I think this would make a lovely gift for any girly-girl in your life - it includes pretty much everything any beauty lover will need in a beauty related emergency - broken nail? crazy 'brows? No problem!

You can purchase this kit for only £9.99 at www.ItsAWot.com. Itsawot stock a wide variety of original and unique products, be sure to check out their other products for more gift inspiration or to even treat yourself.


*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review. All opinions are 100 %  honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

My Top Picks from Boots 3 for 2 Christmas Gifts 2014

If you are a huge Christmas - crazy person like me, you may have noticed Boots have started to stock their Christmas gifts online and in most stores. I love the 3 for 2 deal at Boots every Christmas; meaning you can buy three people a gift and you get the cheapest gift free. I am always interested to see whats new from their Christmas range every year. I have compiled my Top Picks of their Christmas Gifts in my blog post today of my favourites.

I am always eager to see the No 7 gift sets each year, and the Cosmetics Case is definitely my favourite. It contains all of the beauty essentials you may need. This is a brilliant gift for any beauty lover.

Another well-loved brand which Boots stock every year is Starbucks. I love the Coffee Duo Set as it contains two large coffee mugs - and they are their ordinary design, not just a Christmas theme. 

A new perfume this Christmas is Cheryl's Storm Flower. I am a big fan of Cheryl and I have had a sniff of the perfume in the shops, and I must say, it smells lovely. I was surprised Boots are selling the gift set in their 3 for 2 range.

A newbie at Boots this year is Crabtree & Evelyn. I think gift sets like this make a perfect gift and are a little touch of luxury at Christmas time. I love the brand and it is nice to see their gift sets stocked at reasonable prices. The packaging is gorgeous, too.

Finally, the last of my top picks is a beautiful storage box from Vintage Collection. I love how shabby chic it is and would be perfect to add to any dressing table. I think this would be a great gift to a person of any age.