Small Wonders

If you are struggling for a last minute gift or have forgotten that office Secret Santa present why not try your luck in Boots? They always have fun gift sets around Christmas and this Soap & Glory Small Wonders mini hat box is no exception.

With 5 mini products for just £10 it makes a great stocking filler too. Plus it contains some of my all time favourites from the Soap & Glory range:-

• Clean On Me
• Hand Food (great size for your bag)
• The Righteous Butter
• Scrub of Your Life
• Shower Puff

Or if, like me, you are far too greedy to give it away the minis are super useful for travel too. I have safely hidden mine away for my holiday in January! Yay! xxx

L'Occitane Loves

While browsing the internet in search of amazing Christmas gifts to share with you all one particular brand has really stood out to me this year, which is L'Occitane. It is already a given that I love their products, but their gift sets offer such great value that I thought they deserved a post of their very own!

My pick of L'Occitane Gifts:

Delightful Almond Collection (£48)

I am a huge fan of the Almond Shower Oil and its many uses in the shower, bath and even as a shaving oil. It works like magic - cleansing while moisturising and leaving behind a delicate almond scent. This is a product that is adored by all (my mother and the fiance are even united in their love for this oil). This set comes with a very generous 500ml shower oil (usually £16.50 for 250ml), as well as Almond Milk Concentrate, Almond Delicious Paste (exfoliator), two almond soaps and a tube of Smooth Hands hand cream.

Best of L'Occitane Collection (£60)

This set really has it all and is the perfect gift for a mother, or even to impress a tricky mother in-law (to be). With a fabulous selection of seven body and skin care items it's certain to impress and cover all bases. This set includes the amazing Almond Shower Oil, the fragrant Cherry Blossom Shower Gel, Almond Milk Concentrate, Lavender Foaming Bath, Shea Butter Hand Cream, Shea Butter Foot Cream and (my mother's personal favourite) Verbena Eau de Toilette.

Precious Immortelle Collection (£60)

Having had the chance to sample a few products from the Immortelle range, as well as having discussed it with my fellow beauty bloggers who were equally impressed, I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone. This award winning anti-ageing line works wonderfully on sensitive skin and really infuses soothing moisture into stressed skin. The set includes Immortelle Brightening Cleansing Foam, Immortelle Essential Face Water, Immortelle Precious Cream (my personal favourite), Immortelle Precious Night Cream and Immortelle Precious Eye Balm (which is on my purchase list).

Hand Cream Trio (£20)

 

For the budget conscious this cute hand cream trio would make a lovely gift or stocking filler. L’Occitane's international best-selling Shea Butter Hand Cream is accompanied by two exclusive seasonal fragrances (Marvellous Flowers and Magic Leaves) in a gorgeous limited edition box.

Plus when you spend £35 you can purchase the Enchanting Winter Collection (originally priced £25) for just £14 in store, or by entering XPWP at the checkout on the website!

This set contains the Bonne Mere Honey Soap, Lavender Foaming Bath, Pivoine Flora Shower Gel, Verbena Shower Gel, Immortelle Essential Water for the Face and Shea Butter Hand Cream all in a handy Travel Bag. 

Will you be purchasing any L'Occitane gift sets for your loved ones this Christmas? xxx

Gift Edit: The Body Shop

The Body Shop have brought out a fantastic selection of Christmas gifts this year! From stocking fillers to luxurious sets all encased in adorable packaging there really is something for everyone! Plus with 40% OFF their entire website with the code SANTA for 10 days it's definitely worth a look!

Born Lippy Fruity Lip Balms (£10)

Apart from the amazing packaging this set is also great value as it contains five juicy, moisturising lip balms in a selection of flavours including strawberry, raspberry, satsuma, watermelon and passionberry.

 Body Butter Collection (£20)

This selection of scrumptious body butters features the nutty scents of shea and cocoa butter as well as delicious chocolate and coconut. Beautifully packaged in a reusable aluminium tin this makes a great present that doesn't even need wrapping.
 

Cranberry Joy Moisture Collection (£15)

This festive cranberry selection is not only great value, but smells absolutely delicious. The set contains Cranberry Joy Shower Gel, Body Butter, Soap and Scrub.

 Dazzling Rocks (£16) and Slanted Kabuki Brush (£16)

This limited edition tub of shimmering copper and gold beads gives an irresistible dazzle to cheeks, temples and décolletage. It's great to use as a bronzer to lift the skin and add some subtle glow.

The Slanted Kabuki is made with soft, fluffy synthetic hairs designed to sweep a fine, even dusting of powder onto face and body. Its unique slanted design makes sculpting, layering and contouring a cinch.
 
This Reindeer Washball is so completely adorable I am very tempted to order one for myself! At just £3 it makes the perfect, fun stocking filler.

Smoky Eye Palette in Smoky Moonstone (£14)

This gorgeous palette features four on-trend eyeshadows in cool shades of moonstone and espresso, a mini eyeshadow brush and mini eyeliner brush so you can touch up on the go. I love the colours in this palette as they would suit any skin tone and can be layered for a gorgeous smokey eye, or worn alone for a sweep of shimmering colour.

Coconut Butter Up Duo (£7)

This cute coconut body butter and lip butter duo comes packaged in an ornamental bauble, perfect for any tree or stocking.

I have also heard that The Body Shop will be the official headline sponsors of the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2013! The line up includes fantastic acts such as Kasabian, Russell Brand, Noell Gallagher, Rizzle Kicks and Labrinth. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Have you purchased any gifts from The Body Shop this Christmas? Do let me know your favourite! xxx

Gorgeous Ted Baker Gift!

I just spotted this beautiful Ted Baker gift set on the Boots website and had to share it with you as I think it makes such a lovely gift. Plus at a fantastic price of £22 (down from £45) it really is a savvy purchase!

The Ted Baker set includes:

• Body Wash
• Bath Foam
• Body Scrub
• Body Souffle
• Body Lotion
• Hand Cream
• Purple Vanity Case lined with ballet shoe pattern, built-in mirror and jewel fastening.

I absolutely adore this Ted Baker gift set, and am pretty tempted to pick one up for myself, if only for the gorgeous travel case! xxx

Christmas with Origins

When the press release for these little Christmas gifts from Origins at Selfridges dropped into my inbox I couldn't help but squeal a little. They are just adorable! Whether you are looking for a stocking filler or a gift to hide under the tree Origins has it all wrapped up, and in cute packaging too!

My absolute favourite is the Origins Christmas baubles (£6 each or £10 for 2). Each one contains 5 best selling Origins products:

• Plantscription Anti-aging Serum 7ml
• Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask 7ml
• Modern Friction Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion 5ml
• Ginzing ™ Refreshing Eye Cream 5 ml
• Plantscription ™ Eye treatment 5 ml

Plus with every purchase you will be entered into a prize draw to win £1000 worth of Origins products and for every bauble purchased Origins will also plant a tree!

If you get a chance to check these out in Selfridges let me know! I will definitely be picking up a few for Secret Santa presents. Shhh... 

Murad Christmas Kits - Perfect Balance

Yes, I know it's too early to talk about Christmas, but you can't deny it is already everywhere! The shops are being stocked with stocking fillers, carols are on the radio and lights are being lit on every high street. So to begin our little Christmas round up I thought I would share with you a selection of skincare kits from Murad, which would make a perfect present for the complexion conscious!

The Perfect Balance Kit is designed to create a healthy, balanced environment on your skin by controlling oil production, maintaining clear pores and establishing an ideal level of hydration.

The kit contains the following four products:
Zone Pore Refining Gel, 60ml 
Blemish Treatment Concealer – Medium, 2.5g
Oil-Control Mattifier, 10ml
Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for eyes, 3.5ml 

My favourite products in this kit are the mattifying moisturiser, which hydrates the skin, while controlling oil throughout the day. It also works great as a primer if your skin tends to get oily. The concealer has a really soft texture and comes in a handy stick form perfect for touch ups on the go. I love the fact that it both clears and camouflages blemishes!

The perfect balance kit can be found for £42.50 here. Other kits from Murad include Complete Renewal (£52), Shake Up Your Makeup (£36), Hydration Sensation (£73.50) and Radiance Rescue (£58.50).

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Stuck on what to get your dad for father's day? Here are some last minute ideas... with free delivery to boot ;).

Kent: The Wet Set Shaving Kit £17 here.

 Crabtree & Evelyn Nomad Traveller £22 here.

Elemis Travellers Gift Set £45 here.

Arthur Price Hammered Style Hip Flask £39 here.

 Ted Baker Wallet £33.60 here.

Personalised Holdall £55.50 here. 

And if all else fails there's always Mooooonpig.com ;). xxx

Neom Organics Happiness Candle Review

Neom is an organic company that offers a modern, luxurious take on beauty and home treatments. The brand aims to introduce its customers to the benefits of beautiful, organic products that also work as holistic treatments because their essential oil content is so high. Neom strongly oppose synthetic scents and harsh ingredients, but also believe beauty should be about spoiling yourself, fabulous scents and utter indulgence!

I was therefore really excited when I was offered the chance to try one of their new candles - Happiness with White Neroli, Mimosa & Lemon combined with natural fresh grass notes to create the awakening of spring (£37.50). The fragrance of this candle is delicate, yet it effortlessly fills the room, without being overpowering.

NEOM Luxury Organics candles are made using only vegetable wax and pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances so they burn without releasing harmful pollutants, toxins or soot. As I have a myriad allergies I was keen to see whether this candle would burn as cleanly as promised and I put it to the test by holding a white piece of paper (at a safe distance) above the flame for a few minutes. Indeed there was no trace of soot or any kind of residue visible!

Neom candles are designed tp work as powerful holistic treatments as you breathe in the scented air so it is recommended to burn them for between 2-4 hours at a time. Each candle has 3 wicks and burns for up to 55 hours. I have used this candle almost every night since it was sent to me and have noticed that it burns really evenly, without any dips in the wax. There is nothing more frustrating than when you purchase a large candle to find that it quickly burns straight through the middle, leaving the wax around the edges untouched. The vegetable wax in the Neom candle melts quickly once the candle is lit, so it is always even when it re-solidifies.

Neom are so passionate about the purity and quality of their products that they have even created their own promise!

I am really impressed with what I have seen from Neom so far and look forward to trying more of their products in the future!

Have you tried any Neom products? Do you prefer using organic products? What are your favourite candle brands? xxx

Valentine's Gifts for Him

Boys can be tricky, so I have spent the last few weeks searching for the perfect Valentine's day gifts to please hopeless romantics and those who can't quite bring themselves to admit it yet...

Personalised 'I love you more than...' Print (£27) - It may not be true (I really do love my cat Maxie), but it's nice to let them think it anyway ;).

Kyoku for Men (from £11.50) - As far as grooming goes boys don't always make their efforts obvious, so perhaps it's time to push him in the right direction with a set of products he can't help but love. I have been testing out the Kyoku range for the last few weeks and am really impressed. The packaging sits firmly within the male domain - monochromatic, fuss free and to the point, it has a novel range of ingredients and the products work well without being too specific. Boys get confused easily (I often catch the bf washing his face in shampoo and vice versa as he thinks it's all the same), so a product with multi-tasking properties is always a bonus! My favourites are the Sake Infused Shave Cream (£25), Razor Repair Balm (£29) and Exfoliating Facial Scrub (£19).

David Beckham for H&M Boxer Shorts (£9.99) - A little inspiration?

Vintage Map Heart (£48) - Men and maps! I have never met a man who would ever admit he was lost, so why not play on stereotypes and get him a personalised map. Whether it depicts where you first met, where he was born, your first kiss, your wedding or your honeymoon destination it will make a lovely, thoughtful and stylish gift.

Leather ipad case (£24.95) - I'm not too tech savvy, but I'm pretty sure everyone would be thrilled to receive an ipad. However, if your other half is already lucky enough to have one, why not accessorize it with a smart case. The Proporta leather style case is affordable and functional as it not only protects the ipad, but also has a built in stand to support the ipad for easier reading.

Fossil Watch (from £75) - There are so many watches to choose from, but for men's watches that are stylish, practical, good quality and not too expensive I am always drawn to Fossil. They have a huge range of designs that are updated frequently with dress, sports, classic, mechanical and many more styles. Most watches also come with a 2 year limited free warranty, which often comes in handy.

Neal's Yard Gift Set (£23.30) - This set is perfect for sporty types to relieve tired bodies, muscles and minds. The duo includes Seaweed and Arnica Foaming Bath and Arnica Salve. 

Messless Charge Station (£79.99) - If he has a million gadgets and can never find the right stands, chargers or cables this compact charging station will definitely be very useful. This innovative device is capable of charging hundreds of portable devices such as MP3 players, handheld game consoles, mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras and more.

LUSH Do Knot Disturb (£16.95) - Whatever your plans LUSH can guarantee your Valentine's evening will go even better with one of these ;). Do Knot Disturb has everything you need for a romantic getaway, all wrapped up in a cute red and white Knot-Wrap. There’s a box of Dirty Toothy Tabs to give you fresh breath for kissing, a Sex Bomb Ballistic to perfume your bath with aphrodisiac oils, a Lust soap to get each other in a lather and a gorgeous honey-chocolate Soft Coeur massage bar for later on the evening.

Scratch Off Word Map (£18) - To document all the places you aim to explore together...

Personalised Silver Plectrum (£49) - For all those songs he is going to write about you... this is cheesy, but it really made me giggle.

Almost as much as this!

I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's day! What will you be purchasing your loved one this Valentine's day? xxx

Valentine's Gifts for Her

Although I am under no illusion that many men frequent this blog (if you are one then please identify yourself!) nevertheless I thought it would be fun to create a little Valentine's gift guide for girls. Most boys need a little nudge in the right direction... ;)

Dior Garden Clutch Palette (£55) - What could be more romantic than this beautiful Dior palette with three sumptuous eyeshadows and two pretty lip glosses? The packaging is absolutely adorable and luxurious - absolutely perfect for Valentine's day!

Spineless Classics Full Text Novel Posters (from £14.99) - Her favourite book can come to life in these amazing prints. Whether you go for romance with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or Mary Shelley's Frankinstein, I am sure she would appreciate such a thoughtful and original gift.

Folli Follie Bonding Ring box set (£110) - You can never go wrong with something sparkly! Every girl loves a little variety, so now is the perfect time to invest in a beautiful rose gold or silver set of four stacking rings. Each one can be worn alone, or combined to create some serious bling.

 

Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn (from £4) -  Instead of queuing up in Thornton's or Godiva to purchase the usual box of chocolates, why not treat her to a delicious bag of handmade popcorn from Joe & Seph's. They have an amazing selection of flavours from salty caramel (my favourite) to a special Valentine's day concoction that combines rich Belgian white chocolate infused with caramel with a fruit cocktail of pure strawberry. Yumm!!!

Ted Baker ROCKSY purse (£55) - This cute patent leather purse with a heart detail clasp would fit into any girl's bag and with space for six cards and two note sections it's also small enough for a night out, or romantic meal out... whether or not she is paying ;p.

Beauty Box Subscription - The gift that keeps on giving with a beautifully presented box of cosmetic treats arriving on her doorstep every month. There are so many to choose from, but my favourites are:

• GlossyBox (Valentine's 50% off code: AFF50GLOSSYBOX) - £10 per month here.
•  Jolie Box/ Boudoir Prive - £10 per month here.
• Amarya Beauty Box (natural & organic products) - £10 per month here.

Nail Wraps from Myleene Klass (from £5.99) - I love these cute little nail wraps with the perfect heart shaped design. Each pack comes with 24 stickers, enough to cover both hands and feet, plus a handy (see what I did there?) nail file.

More Than Words... (from £75). Personalised gifts are always extra special, but can be a little tricky to source or make. This website creates beautiful artwork to your precise specifications. Tell your special someone one what you love about them, or create art featuring memories you share.

ClaireaBella Canvas Bags (from £14.99) - These have been popping up in the hands of celebrities everywhere. Although the canvas bag itself is perhaps not the most exciting accessory the cute designs and individual details, such as the name and bespoke cartoon, make it absolutely adorable!

Mulberry Alexa (from £650) - If you are looking to really spoil her you would struggle to do better than a classic Mulberry Alexa bag. I am absolutely in love with the new Silky Snake Print in playful pebbled beige, or the smart nightshade blue. 

What are you hoping to receive this Valentine's Day? Will you be treating yourself or a loved one to something special? xxx