Women's Christmas Gift Guide

Todays gift guide features gorgeous gift sets for us girls from some of my favourite brands. I've chosen purse friendly prices and some a little more extravagant. From each of the brands, there is lots of choice but I have chosen my top picks. Any one of them would be a lovely surprise under the tree.

Benefit

Sweet Tintations (contains Benebalm, Lollibalm, Mini Benetint and Mini Lollitint. €29.50), Cheeky Sweet Spot (contains Hoola, Dandelion, CORALista, Bella Bamba, Rockateur and Sugarbomb Blushes €43) and Sugarplum Fairies (contains Full Size They're Real Mascara, The POREfessional, Hoola Bronzer and Benetint Mini €63) There are lots more gift sets available at your nearest Benefit counter. I am really loving their selection this year. 

Clarins

Lip Collection (Rouge Eclat #133,Instant Lip Perfector #6, Instant Lip Perfector #1, Gloss Prodige #4 €26, retail value €32.33) Beauty Flash Balm Collection (Beauty Flash Balm 50ml, Instant Lip Perfector #1 and Instant Perfecting Touch €36, retail value €50.97) and Hydraquench Collection (Hydraquench Cream, Hydraquench Serum and Hydraquench Mask €45, retail value €79.90) There are lots more sets available from Clarins so be sure to check out your nearest counter.

Lancome 

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes (contains Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara, 30ml Bi-Facil and Mini Kohl Eyeliner,€27.50), Advanced Genefique Youth Activating Concentrate 30ml Giftset (contains  The Lancôme Genifique youth activating concentrate gift set comes with a genifique eye light pearl 5ml, advanced genifique concentrate 30ml, and genifique day 15ml. €73) and Dream Tone Serum 02 Giftset (contains 40ml Dreamtone Pigmentation Serum Profile 2, 7ml Advanced Genefique serum, Advanced Genefique Eye Light Pearl and 7ml Dream Tone 02, €87)  These and lots more Lancome gifts are available at your nearest counter along with Debenhams, Brown Thomas and Arnotts)

The Body Shop

Argan Gift Cube (contains Argan Shower Gel,Argan Body Milk Lotion and White Mini Crinkle Lily €9.95) Strawberry Luxury Gift Set (contains Strawberry Shower Gel, Strawberry Soap, Strawberry Body Polish, Strawberry Body Butter and Red Mini Crinkle Lily €29.95) and Satusma Gift Bag (contains Satsuma Body Butter, Satsuma Shower Gel, Satsuma Hand Cream and Orange Mini Crinkle Lilly €39.95) These are just a handful of pretty gifts from The Body shop, the full range can be found in your local store.

Yonka

Cleansing Essentials for dry skin( Lait Nettoyant and Lotion PS) or combination skin (Gel Nettoyant and Lotion PNG) €48, Aromatic Body Oils (contains Replenishing Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil with a smooth Jasmine oil, Energising Sweet Orange and Mandarin Essential Oils and Relaxing soothing scents of Verbena and Petitgrain Essential Oils) €49.60 and Home Spa (Phyto Bain and a large Quintessence Candle) €65 There are lots more Yonka Gifts available at your nearest stockist

YSL

Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils ( includes 30ml Eye Makeup remover €31.00) Radiance Set (Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils, Touche Eclat #1 and 15ml Youth Liberator Serum €66) and Forever Light Creator Giftset (contains 30ml Forever Light Creator Serum, 5ml Forever Light Creator Jelly Cream, 5ml Forever Light Creator CC Cream #2 and 5ml Top Secret Gommage €80)

What do you think of my picks and do you think the offerings this year are much good? I have an Irish Beauty Gift Guide too.

Beauty Advent Calenders

I tried holding off on posting anything relating to Christmas but chatting to some other bloggers last week got me far too excited so I decided to ease into the Christmas Series with my Beauty Advent Calendar picks

Beauty Advent Calendars are becoming more and more popular. Personally I love the idea of opening each day and finding a beauty treat.I've chosen calendars that have a decent gift for each of the 24 days. I'm aware of a few other brands doing calendars but for the price and what you get in them I don't feel they would be great value for money.

W7 Countdown To Christmas (€22.50) contains 10 x 5ml Nail Polishes, 3 x 1g Glitters, 3 x 3.5ml lip glosses, 1 x 5.2ml Foundation, 3 x 1g Lipsticks and 3 x 1.2g Eyeshadows. Available from Cara Pharmacy *Psst I have also seen it on a new Facebook shop called Beauty deals 2 U for €21

Yankee Candle Christmas Past (€39) includes Candy Cane Lane,Christmas Garland,
Snowflake Cookie,Sugared Apple,Christmas Cookie,Christmas Memories and Spiced Orange
Available from Littlewood's
*Ok this isn't a beauty calendar but who doesn't love Yankee Candles?*

Ciate Mini Mani Manor  (€55) contains 15 Mini Paint Pots:
Headliner, Sharp Tailoring, Members Only, Sloaney, Sweetie, Velvet Tuxedo, Big Yellow Taxi, Mineral Clarity, Strawberry Milkshake, Silhouette, Unrestricted Glam, Cupcake Queen, Amazing Gracie, Candy Cane, Sand Dune, Sherbet Fizz 
1 Full Size Paint Pot:
Celestial 
8 effects:
Girl With A Pearl, Runway Ribbon, Prima Ballerina, Let It Snow, Slumber Party, Tinsel Trail, Frozen Daydream, Fairisle Style
Available from BeautyFeatures.ie

Lancome Beauty Christmas Crackers (contain six premium products including Hypnose Volume Mascara (black), Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner (black), Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, Lip Lover, L'absolue lipstick and Bi-Facil Eye Make Up Remover €60) Not a beauty calendar but I just can't ignore the prettiness!!

The Body Shop 24 Days Of Joy (€85) contains Almond Hand and Nail Cream 30ml with Almond Nail File,Frosted Cranberry Heart Soap 25g with Frosted Cranberry Shower Gel 60ml,Frosted Cranberry Shimmer Lotion 60ml with Eye Definer Black 1g,Strawberry Heart Soap 25g with Strawberry Lip Butter 10ml,Strawberry Hand Cream 30ml,Colour Crush™ Nail Colour 6.8ml (Relish the Moment),Glazed Apple Heart Soap 25g with Glazed Apple Body Lotion 60ml,Vitamin E Moisture Cream 15ml with Vitamin E Moisture Mask 6ml,Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream 15ml, Moringa Shower Gel 60ml with Moringa Body Milk 60ml,Mini Crinkle Lily : Honeymania™ Lip Balm 10 ml, Wild Argan Oil Body Lotion 60ml, Eyeshadow Brush,Shea Shower Cream 60ml, Shea Body Butter 50ml,White Musk® Eau de Toilette 10ml

They're my picks for advent calendar this year. What do you think? Are there any others you would recommend checking out? I definitely would be very happy with all four but my heart is pulling towards The Body Shop

Holiday Beauties

This year, I need to be a little less frugal with what beauties I bring away. Last year's was fine but I found myself stuck for one or two bits. I was too strict on myself. Finding the perfect balance is tricky.I always think oh! maybe I'l take another little bit "just in case"

 During the day I'll give up makeup completely but for the evening time I'll be avoiding foundations and sticking with a BB Cream.I have a love/hate relationship with BB Creams but Clarins offering is one of the best I have tried plus it has SPF25.

My much loved Isadora giant bronzer is coming with me along with my Collection eyeliner, Essence Mascara, Essence Eyebrow Pencil and The Body Shop Colour Crush . I'm not bringing an eyeshadow palette with me this time as I found I stuck to the same colour all the time. I opted for a gorgeous gold/bronze eyeshadow from Essence called Skeye and Sand.

I think these beauties are everything I will need. Hopefully I won't be running to the supermarket to pick up any additions but then again it's always fun to try newbies.

When you head away do you end up with the right amount of beauties or do you bring some "just in case" lovelies aswell?

The Buzz About Honeymania

A couple of weeks ago, I popped along to The Body Shop to check out the new Honeymania collection.

 I love honey so I was excited to see the collection. All the products in the range are made with Community Fair Trade Honey from Ethiopia.

I was lucky enough to receive the body butter, lip balm and  shower gel, so over the next while I go more in depth with those.

The range is definitely worth taking a look at next time you are in The Body Shop.

It's Back! Vineyard Peach Returns To The Body Shop

I just had to share the news that Vineyard Peach has returned to The Body Shop,just in time for summer.

The range features shower gel (€8.95),body lotion(€13.50),body scrub(€18.95) and body butter(€18.95)

Each product is bursting with luxurious peach kernal oil along with nine different community fair trage ingredients.

This summer essential will hit your local The Body Shop 22nd June.I loved this special edition when it first launched and wished it had hung around for a bit longer. Needless to say I'm going to be hot footing it to my nearest shop a.s.a.p

Will you be picking up something from this gorgeous range?

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion

Today, I wanted to share with you a beauty that I recently fell in love with. Already a fan of The Body Shop, I wanted to try some of their Vitamin C range. My first horrah into the range is the Microdermabrasion scrub.

I haven't used a microdermabrasion in years with my last one being the ROC kit. I loved the ROC one so I was eager to see how I would get on with The Body Shops offering.

This lovely is a weekly home spa exfoliation treatment that promises to improve skin tone by removing dead skin cells and dirt. The Body Shop recommend a maximum use of twice a week but I only use it once a week.

As you can see from the above pics, this scrub features ultra fine particles ideal for exfoliating. Also features is a heavenly citrus scent, Vitamin C rich camu camu and Shea butter.

I really like the scrub, you only need a tiny amount of product for your face and after using, my skin definitely feels smoother and I'm left with a lovely glow. My skin isn't overly sensitive but as The Body Shop says, it's not one for those with sensitive skin.

Have you tried The Vitamin C range?

Oxfam Unwrapped

This Christmas why not treat one of your loved ones to an Oxfam Unwrapped Gift in association with The Body Shop. These limited edition gift sets which include a luxurious beauty offering from The Body Shop range and a life changing Oxfam Unwrapped Gift offering so much to so many living in extreme poverty.

 

How does it work? First, choose and order a gift at www.oxfamireland.org/unwrappedwww.oxfamireland.org/unwrapped. You’ll be sent a lovely gift card for each initiative purchased and a free calendar with every order. Finally, and most importantly, your gift is then given to the people most in need and that’s when the real impact of generosity begins. Oxfam Unwrapped offers more than 20 different gift set combinations.

 

Here are just some of the different gift set combinations

 

Care for mums &Shea body butter €43 This gift set combines Oxfam’s Care for mums gift – helping thousands of mothers and their babies by training midwives and birth attendants and promoting the importance of a skilled delivery – and The Body Shop’s luxurious Shea body butter. It comes with a voucher from The Body Shop for a complimentary makeover or mini-facial and a 20% discount on all purchases there. The present mums everywhere will love.

 

 

School books & Earth Lovers Shower Gel €35 - This gift set pairs school books for children in Tanzania with Earth Lovers watermelon and eucalyptus shower gel from The Body Shop for your special someone. You will also receive a voucher from The Body Shop for a complimentary make over or mini facial and be entitled to 20% off Body Shop purchases.

Girl power & Wild Rose Hand Cream €28 - This gift set includes girl power from the Oxfam Unwrapped range which funds programmes that empower women to stand up for their rights, tackle domestic violence and enhance their skills. Also included is a beautifully scented Wild Rose hand cream and voucher from The Body Shop to spend in-store.

 

 



Christmas With The Body shop

Christmas is less than 3 months away! Can you believe it? I feel like this year is going way too fast. One thing I love about it getting close to Christmas is all the lovelies that will be hitting the shops. To kick off my “Christmas With” series it’s the gorgeous goodies The Body Shop will have for 2012.

Special Edition Bath and Body goodies for Christmas features fruity cranberry joy, indulgent vanilla bliss and zingy ginger sparkle. Out of the three, I loved the scent of ginger sparkle. The range features lip domes (€8.50), soap (€3.95/€6.50, home fragrance oil (€6.95), hand wash (€9.95), shimmer lotion (€13.50), body polish (€14.95), hand lotion (€13.50) and bath crystals (€22)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without gorgeous giftsets.

Rock some sparkle with your Christmas makeup. My favourites from the range isThe Sparkler (€23.95) which is the ultimate in boudoir chic with an atomiser to release a fine irridescent sparkle. I can’t put into words, how excited I got when I tried it.

At the event I was able to get my eyebrows threaded aswell as having a go and spinning a prize wheel. Not expecting to win much I spun the wheel and wouldn’t you know, it landed on a €25 voucher for The Body Shop. I dragged Donna from Not Just On The Inside into the store and made some purchases. Stay tuned for reviews on them

xxx Anything your liking from The Body Shop Christmas Collection? xxx