Oral-B Pink 600 Electric Toothbrush Gift Set

I think we can all agree that brushing our teeth is not the most exciting part of our beauty routine, but it is nevertheless one of the most important. Your smile is one of your best assets, so to make sure it is clean and healthy it's worth investing in an electric toothbrush. Since I purchased my Oral-B brush many years ago I have never gone back as it definitely makes a difference, especilly as an electric toothbrush can remover 100% more plaque than a manual!

The only disadvantage is that the fiance has also noticed the superiority of this brush and is constantly stealing it. Just to clarify before I get any outcries we are not sharing a toothbrush (Yuck! We are not Marshall and Lily from How I Met Your Mother). He has his own toothbrush head, but is constantly stealing the base and 'forgetting' to recharge it. Finally, I am feeling rather smug to have found the solution to this problem...

The new limited edition Oral-B Precision Clean brush has just been launched in pink! The girliest pink will not only brighten up my otherwise unisex bathroom, but I am hopeful will also ensure that it remains firmly on my side of the sink. I am tempted to wrap up my old one and give it to him for Christmas, just to make my point ;).

The new Oral-B Precision Clean 600 Electric Toothbrush Gift Set is exclusive to Boots and is available here for just £25.

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

Organic Surge Nature's Winter Wonders Bundle

I am quite knew to the British brand Organic Surge so I was excited to try out their latest bundle of products designed especially for pampering your skin this season. The Organic Surge Nature’s Winter Wonders Bundle is the perfect gift for top-to-toe natural nourishment, wrapping your skin and hair in nurturing moisture to protect from the effects of cold weather and central heating.

This Gift Set contains:

• Organic Surge Moisture Boost Shampoo to boost moisture retention in hair
• Organic Surge Moisture Boost Conditioner to protect the hair’s natural oils
• Organic Surge Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser to nourish, condition and rehydrate skin
• Organic Surge Spiced Lily Bath Foam to de-stress and revive the body and mind
• Organic Surge Sugared Almond Shower Gel to moisturise and nourish the body (my favourite)
• Organic Surge Gentle Meadow Body Lotion to leave skin soft, smooth and moisturised

…All packaged in an Organic Surge gift bag

At £29.95 for 6 products this bundle makes a lovely gift, as well as a great introduction to a natural brand free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate and artificial fragrances and colourants.

REN

As you may have heard me complain at length recently my skin has really been misbehaving. Although I haven't been plagued with more than my usual share of breakouts it has become very sensitised, which has led me to reconsider my skincare routine, ensuring all products are suitable for super sensitive skin in the hope that with gentle care I can nurse it back to health.

REN’s philosophy of Clean Skincare can be summed up in three words: Performance, Purity and Pleasure. REN is designed to give you effective product formulation, the latest hi-tech actives, rigorous product testing and clinically proven results. REN also uses only 100% plant and mineral derived actives and is free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients such as synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, synthetic colours, parabens and a whole host of other potential irritants.

My favourite product from the range so far has been their ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser (£18). This cleanser is so gentle on the skin and yet it really cleans deep down and works hard to prevent blemishes. It helps to regulate sebum production and I have definitely noticed an improvement in my complexion since I started using it. This cleanser contains actives such as French clay to absorb excess oil and purify, zinc to reduce production of sebum, salicilin to provide mild exfoliation, mayblossom to tone enlarged pores and manuka extract to soothe and nourish. The hermetic packaging also helps to keep everything sterile and bacteria free.

Another product that I have really enjoyed using is REN's much acclaimed Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (£30). This potent bioactive peel mask is designed to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improve skin tone.

I am really excited about this brand and can't wait to try more of their products. If you are also interested in trying out some REN skincare to see what all the fuss is about I would recommend starting with one of their Starter Kits (£12-£15), which are arranged by skin type. With specially designed gift sets for sensitive, normal, combination and blemish prone skin there is something for everyone.

If you are stuck on a present for a picky friend, or would like to pamper yourself (after all you deserve it!) I would very much recommend the REN Rose Experience Gift (£32), which includes the beautifully scented Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash, Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream, Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil and the Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil, which is my personal favourite.

Have you tried any products from REN? Do you have any recommendations? xxx

Neom Scent With Love: Home Scenting Gift Set

Have you ever bought a present for someone, but couldn't quite make yourself part with it? Well greedy guts over here has, and from discussions around my office it seems to be a common trait. Though the gift set below has been compiled as such, I think it would also make a lovely treat for you. After all you deserve it!

The Neom Scent With Love Home Scentig Gift Set comes in a beautiful, weighty box that bursts with fragrance even before you lift the lid. It contains a perfect mini reed diffuser in the scent Happiness (White Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon), a Complete Bliss (Moroccan Blush Rose) scented travel candle and a Pillow Mist in send-you-to-sleep Tranquillity (English Lavender, Sweet Basil and Jasmine).

With a beautiful mix of the most popular Neom scents this gift is a great introduction to the brand, letting you try out three of their most popular fragrances.

The Neom Scent With Love gift set can be purchased for £50 here.

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

*Christmas Giveaway!*

With just two weeks left before Christmas I thought I would do a little festive geveaway featuring some gorgeous beauty products from Boots! If you haven't seen the Boots Christmas advert yet, then you can check it out below. I really do see you guys as an extension of my friends and family so wanted to spread a little love and joy to my beautiful readers!

I will be giving away three gorgeous prizes:

• No7 The Nail Collection with four nail polishes in Devils Delight, Totally Teal, Hot to Trot and Damson Dream.

•  Ted Baker The Name on Everyone's Lips. A set of four glossy lip crayons presented in a beautiful ballet print tin from Ted Baker.

• Botanics Facial Oil plus two mini Nails Inc. polishes.

All you have to do to enter is follow this blog and leave a comment below with your choice of gift set and your e-mail address. The competition will be open for a week!


If you want to check out the selection of gifts on the Boots website you can see their recommendations here.

Good luck my lovelies and I hope you are all having a wonderful festive season! xxx

Win NARS Andy Warhol Collection!

As a special Christmas treat NARS is hosting a giveaway every day up till December the 18th. For 15 minutes each day starting at 12pm EST NARS will post an Andy Warhol-inspired question on their Facebook wall here. The most sprited answer posted within 15 minutes will win all three of their gorgeous limited edition gift sets!

This is definitely a competition worth setting a daily reminder for! xxx

Lacoste Girls Night In Gift Set

The Lacoste Girls Night In Gift Set is a great present for the girlie girl. It contains all the tools you need for an evening of pampering, as well as the Lacoste Touch of Pink fragrance.

The Gift Set Contains: Eau de Toilette 50ml, body lotion, shower gel, toe dividers, cosmetic pouch, slippers, cotton headband and two nail files.

The Lacoste Touch of Pink perfume is a fruity-floral which captures the essence of a woman full of youthful sensuality. This is a really fun and wearable fragrance that is a modern take on a classically feminine, floral palette of jasmin, violet, musk, vanilla and orange.

This set usually retails at £60, but is currently on sale in Superdrug for just £29.50 here.

*Sponsored Post*

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).

Ciate Jubilee Caviar Manicure

I have been absolutely dying to try Ciate's amazing caviar manicure and it seems that I was not alone as these sets have been sold out ever since their launch! I was so excited when their gorgeous Jubilee duo landed on my office desk. I was half tempted to start sprinkling away in my lunch hour ;).

The caviar sets come with two paint pots - a base colour and a pot of multi coloured beads. The Jubilee set is wonderfully patriotic with red, blue and transparent pearls and a shimmery white base called angel wings.

The manicure itself is really easy to do and unexpectedly mess free! I applied two coats of the shimmery white polish and while the second coat was still wet poured the beads over and pressed them into the base to secure them. The set comes with a tray to trap all the surplus beads and a funnel to make sure that no beads go to waste.

The final effect is really fun and unique! The only shame is that it doesn't last longer than a few days. You can give the beads a little extra longevity by applying a little top coat along the edge of your nails and take a little extra care in your daily 'nail usage'. Personally I think they look gorgeous and it's really worth the extra effort ;). 

The Jubilee Ciate Caviar set is exclusive to Selfridges and can be found for £18 here.

Have you tried any of Ciate's Caviar sets? Which are your favourites? 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