I don't know where the time went, one minute it was summer and now it is time for the magic and sparkle, Christmas carols, parties and late night shopping.
I will be totally spinning the Christmas tunes from tomorrow, and watching the films.I have already had a sneaky watch of Home alone 1 & 2, This Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street, much to my brothers annoyance.
I have had a look in the shops and these are the things which I would not mind finding under my tree, on Christmas day.
Now I must warn you this is a quite a lip heavy post. lol
Chanel Chance Perfume
Nars Digital World Lip Pencil Set
Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glace Collection
Nars Tech Fusion Lip Gloss Set
Lord & Berry Library Lip Gloss Set
I've been dipping and dabbling here and there with the new releases on the high street.
I also picked up a few things clothes/makeup/books) in the after summer sales. Unlike list year when my Christmas list was quite extensive. This year my list is short and sweet.
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” - Virginia Woolf
The foods that get you going and your brain going are all about protein, healthy fats Omega-3s and the kind of key nutrients you can only get from healthy grains, vegetables and “foods for thought.”
Remember to put yourself first this Christmas season. The shopping, cooking and everything else can wait. If you do not take care of yourself then you cannot take care of anyone else. Plan a little pampering such as a facial or a massage as a treat to ready you for the season.
The sun might be hiding, but that does not mean you should drop the ball of exfoliating your pins. Keep up your exfoliating routine through the Winter, the same as you did during the Spring and Summer. This way your legs will stay smooth, toned and flake free.
For some added oopmh apply shimmer lotion to legs before a night out.
Decorating your home for the Christmas season can get tricky and sometimes expensive. Grab a clear glass vase from your nearest Ikea or ASDA home, craft glue and glitter. Apply the glue around the rim of the vase, sprinkle your choice of glitter onto the glue and leave to dry. There you go sparkly festive Christmas decor. David Tutera
Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into shampoo to help remove build up from hair. - Ted Gibons, Hairstylist Use a paint roller to apply tan in tricky areas like your back. - James Read, Tan Expert Use half an eyelash curler to shape unruly brows. - Cher Webb MAC Cosmetics, Senior Makeup Artist No nail polish remover? Apply a top coat and quickly swipe off. - Benjamin Puckey, Makeup Artist Mix a pea sized amount of a darker foundation with your usual shade for a sunkissed glow. - Sarah Jossel, Glamour Junior Beauty Editor To slim your nose sweep non shimmer highlighter down the middle. - Wendy Rowe Make-up Artist Dab Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on the top of cheekbones to look super glowy in photos. Phillipa Pearne, glamour Deputy Beauty Editor. Glamour Magazine October 2013
This is my luxury Christmas wishlist of all the things I lust over.
These are the things I would buy, if I had £247 of spare cash lying around after all my bills and day to day needs were met. quite a few of them are gift sets and mini collections, which I love. For some reason with the mini gift sets I get more value for money by being able to try different liners, glosses, products, all in all I to sample without the commitment that comes with purchasing a full priced item. Plus minis are GREAT for travelling and tucking into a clutch bag or jacket pocket.
NUXE - Cocooning Must Haves
Laura Mercier - Line & Define Mini Longwear Creme Eyeliner Collection
Stila - Colour Me Glossy Lip Glaze Set
Laura Mercier - Bold Brights Mini Lip Glace Collection
Caudalie - Hancream Trio Set
Laura Mercier - Shimmer Effects Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour collection
Laura Mercier - Bare Nudes Mini Lip Glace Collection
A little bit of self indulgence is on offer this week available from Boots. The Sanctuary Ultimate Glow Pamper Tin (sounds like the perfect prep before a night out) is on offer at the cost of £19 per tin. The Ultimate Pamper Tin Contains: -Body Wash (250ml) -Body Lotion (250ml) -Radiance Exfoliator (100ml) -Fresh Faced Purifying Wash (140ml -Pumice Foot Scrub (50ml) -Moisture Rich Foot Butter (50ml) -Spa Pedicure Foot File -Spa Skin Body Polisher -Spa Facial Headband Not only does the set include everything you need to get yourself ready for a glittery night out. It also comes with instructions. lol
How to Use
Body Wash: Massage on to damp skin then rinse away. Therapist’s Tip: Finish your shower with a blast of cold water – as cold as you dare - to tone your skin, close pores and awaken your senses.
Body Lotion: Massage generously into clean skin after bathing to help awaken your senses, stimulate circulation and soften skin. Therapist’s Tip: Massage the lotion into slightly damp skin to lock in moisture and leave your skin satin smooth.
Radiance Exfoliator: 1. After cleansing, while face is still damp, apply a pea-sized quantity of the scrub & massage into skin. 2. Use upward circular movements paying particular attention to nose, forehead & chin. 3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 4. Pat dry & apply Illuminating Moisture Lotion. Therapists Tip: This exfoliator can also be used on the back of hands to help even skin tone.
Fresh Faced Purifying Wash: 1. Add a splash of water to the product and rub between hands to activate the foam. 2. Work over face and neck in an upwards circular motion using your fingertips. 3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 4. Pat dry and sweep Pore Refining Toner over face and neck. 5. Finish with a Sanctuary moisturiser.
Pumice Foot Scrub:Massage into damp skin from the base of the heel towards the toes. Rinse away the scrub and pat dry.
Moisture Rich Foot Butter: Massage the Sanctuary Moisture Rich Foot Butter generously all over both feet. For a more luxurious spa treatment, use with the Sanctuary Moisture Locking Socks.
Keeping it short and sweet this year on the gifting front. Top of the list are two books which I am dying to get my hands on. Next on the list up are makeup brushes and the ever essential headphones for listening to music on my nano.
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
Gentlewoman by Enitan Bereola Never Wrestle with a Pig - Mark McCormack Don't Waste Your Pretty - Demetria Lucas
Models Own Angle Blush Brush
Eco Tools Retractable Kabuki Brush
Apple Headphones - White
Eco Tools Powder Brush
Soap and Glory Good, Butter, Best Gift set Soap and Glory Once Upon a Lime Gift set.
Glamour (UK) magazine for December has a great freebie a mini Kate Spade collection, comprising of 4 colours. I purchased my favourite two polishes out of the collection, Soho Silver and Uptown Glamour. The names are so New York.
I also have my eye on the Benefit lipglosses which are free with the (UK) ELLE Mag, but I will watch the sheckles and keep you updated.
Since purchasing my Joules Wellies last year. I have made it a habit to stop by the Joules website here and there to have a look at their products. Though I have been familiar with the brand since my college days, I have never purchased anything before my wellies. If you follow me on twitter you would have seen a few tweets from me inquiring about the fit of the Joules coats/clothing. I ordered the Joules Hampton Womens Quilted Jacket in Marine Navy from the Joules website. Then trooped to John Lewis in Leicester Highcross Shopping Centre to Joules on Monday evening, with the intention of trying on some jackets to get a feel of the fit. From the website it appeared that the Hampton Quilted jacket was shorter in length than the Oakwood Quilted jacket.
Lightweight quilted blazer - Front
Lightweight quilted blazer - Back
It was just my luck that there was a Joules Hampton Womens Quilted Jacket in size 8 on the rack and the fit when I tried it on was not too bad. It was long enough to come down a few inches on my hips which for me is adequate coverage. The only thing I am not 100% sold on is the blazer like lapels. This means that since it is a 2 button jacket, there is not as much coverage as I would ideally like in the upper chest area. Joules describes this jacket as being full of small town charm and big city style. The funky floral lining, and blazer like details are distinctive town elements, whereas the quilting and corduroy bring the country.
Printed contrast lining
Decorative assorted buttons
Corduroy pocket detail
Single back vent
Button fastening
Assorted buttons on sleeve and branding embroidery
This jacket would be a great gift for the autumn/winter weather, as a birthday or Christmas present. Plus let us not forget the super bargain price £39.95 vs the RRP of £79.95.
This weeks star gift comprises an industry classic, the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant loved by many a beauty blogger and skincare enthusiast. I succumbed a few years ago and purchased a tub of this stuff, and I must say it definitely comes in handy.
"Eight Hour Cream was created more than seventy years ago, in 1930, by Miss Arden herself and was the first ever cosmetic product to bear the Elizabeth Arden name. The product name, 'Eight Hour Cream', takes its inspiration from a loyal customer who claimed that the cream helped to heal her son's scraped knee in just eight hours. Since its debut, Eight Hour Cream has escalated to near cult status. Testimonials from customers attest to the product's miraculous healing capabilities. Its wonderful versatility also makes this product a favourite of models and makeup artists alike.
This skincare classic restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked skin. It works efficiently to sooth roughness, redness and minor skin irritations."
Set includes
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment 30ml
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant 30ml
Elizabeth Arden Eight hour Cream Lip Protectant stick
Moisturizing Eight Hour gloves and socks, perfect for an overnight intensive treatment
the gift also includes voucher for 500 Advantage Card points redeemable instore with the purchase of any Eight Hour Skin Protectant original or fragrance free 50ml
This is the 3rd week' of the Boots star gifts and this week's gift is definitely aimed at the glamorous girls in all of our lives. A complete go to kit for eyes lips and cheeks (as described by the boots website). If my sisters play their cards right they might all find one of these under the Christmas tree from santa. lol The Seventeen Complete Collection comprises of the following: -12 x SEVENTEEN Eyeshadows -5 x SEVENTEEN Lip Glosses in Peachy, Pink Ice, Fuzzy Yellow Petal, Nude and Very Berry -SEVENTEEN Blusher in Bramble Frost -Limited Edition SEVENTEEN Bronzer -Limited Edition SEVENTEEN Metallic Eye Cream -Limited Edition SEVENTEEN Gel Eyeliner -Limited Edition SEVENTEEN Black Mascara -SEVENTEEN Black and Coffee Eye Pencils -SEVENTEEN Photo Flawless Primer -5 x Make-up Brushes -Pencil Sharpener -Eyelash Curler
This is definitely a great gift for a uni student it covers all the basics and a few glam looks can also be created from this treasure trove of goodies. From lectures, lunches to Lacrosse socials this kit has everything a girl will need. It is also a great gift for someone who is just getting into makeup and they are at that stage where they just want to try things. You can grab all of this at the super bargain price of £17 bucks reduced from £35, plus Boots points. I like the fact that this kit includes brushes as well as so many products. Remember this kit is not just limited to Christmas this would be a great gift for a birthday or anniversary.
I saw a lady in the Leicester Boots purchasing 4 of the Juicy Couture gift sets on Tuesday, now that lady knows a good deal.
Laura Ashley might be more well known for their clothing and home wares than beauty products. However the clothing I own from this company/ lifestyle brand has been extremely well made. No hanging thread or mismatched seams at Laura Ashley no no no, therefore I am endorsing their foray into beauty products. If they have put as much effort into their cosmetics as their clothing, then I say you are in for a treat with this weeks star gift.
Enter the Laura Ashley Ultimate indulgence Gift set, my lovelies. "Take some time out to experience the luxury of Laura Ashley Beauty. Laura Ashley is a quintessentially English lifestyle brand founded on a rich design heritage and traditional values of quality, service and originality.
This Ultimate Indulgence Gift Set is filled with Laura Ashley’s best indulgent bathing products. Revive your senses with the Wild Blossom products, or relax and unwind with Imperial Bloom. This great selection contains everything you need to ensure you’re body and hands are pampered and cared for. Everything is packaged together in a luxuriously printed drawstring bag to take a touch of elegance with you wherever you go.
The indulgent collection is presented in a stunning gift box, printed with flowers and birds to match the drawstring bag. The sturdy and elegant box could be used to store your favourite toiletries or beauty accessories."
The Ultimate Gift Set Includes:
Wild Blossom Moisture-Rich Body Lotion (200ml)
Wild Blossom Rejuvenating Body Polisher (70g)
Wild Blossom Uplifting Body Wash (200ml)
Imperial Bloom Relax & Renew Bath Soak (250ml)
Imperial Bloom Enriching Body Butter (50ml)
Imperial Bloom Indulgent Fragrance Mist (150ml)
Imperial Bloom Nourishing Hand & Nail Cream (50ml)
Emery Board
Bath Lily
All of this for the bargain price of £17, say what? If my bank balance was not looking so meager I would def be purchasing one of these Ultimate gift Sets for several reasons. 1. I am familiar with the Laura Ashley brand and the quality of their products. 2. This is a great gift for those of us who have spending limits on our Christmas lists. If you are on of those persons with a £20 or less budget, you should be picking these up in multiples. 3. I have had a sniff and both scents are quite lovely. 4. If i had a daughter in uni this would be her Christmas gift, I would not even wrap it. Let that pretty box do all the work.
Think outside of the box ladies and gents not just Christmas think birthdays, anniversaries, get well soon, graduation, there are many occasions where this set would be a great gift. I suppose if you have not started your Christmas shopping yet this would be a great place to begin.
