Tisserand has been one of my favourite brands this year and last year too when I was first introduced to them; I'm always using the bath oils as they are so indulgent and even though they aren't as interesting as bath bombs, they are much more moisturising! Tisserand have just released a new bath and body collection, all of which looks heavenly and perfect for Christmas.
Lavender is one of my favourite scents, for anything, as it's so incredibly relaxing and calming to me! So anything that contains lavender and I'm all over it; this lovely hand wash also contains white mint, aloe vera, comfrey and chamomile. The hand wash smells heavenly, it's a gorgeous lavender scent but I don't really get any mint but that's fine with me as the more lavender the better. It lathers well, doesn't strip the skin and it doesn't irritate my eczema which some hand washes can do.
Geranium is another favourite of mine, well I'm a fan of anything floral really and again this is another Tisserand product that smells divine - all of them do! The soap contains almond oil and pure essential oils to cleanse and also moisturise. It has Tisserand embossed on the front and it smells subtle but gorgeous. I think any of these products would make perfect additions to a present hamper or as a stocking filler.
I love any products that contain lavender and also products that are supposed to help you sleep (even though most don't really work but these definitely help) as I'll try anything and they usually smell comforting and calming. This set contains the Sweet Dreams Bath Oil, Sweet Dreams Rollerball and the Sweet Dreams Body Oil, all of which are mini sizes so they'd be great as trial sizes for people who haven't tried the brand before and for those who travel.
I have the full size of the Sweet Dreams Bath Oil (30ml) which is just heavenly and the Sweet Dreams Bath Oil (30ml) that contains jojoba seed oil, lavender, jasmine flower oil, bergamot peel oil and so many more lovely, natural ingredients. Unlike most body oils I've tried, this one absorbs really quickly and it leaves the skin smooth, moisturised and subtly scented - my only negative is that I wish the scent lasted longer on the skin although that's where the Sweet Dreams Rollerball comes in. The Sweet Dreams Rollerball has the same gorgeous scent but in a quick and portable format that's perfect to use on the pulse points before bed and on the go but again I wish the scent was a little stronger/longer lasting.
You can't go wrong with anything from Tisserand as not only are the products natural and effective but they all smell heavenly and this is no exception. When I look for certain scents in perfumes or products, lavender, neroli and sandalwood are all options I look out for. It also contains chamomile, ginseng and vitamin E. The scent is floral and musky, it's a perfect autumn/winter scent and it makes me feel relaxed every time I use it! As with the hand wash, it leathers well but it doesn't dry out the skin or irritate.
There are quite a few products in this Rose & Geranium scent range including this gorgeous hand cream. I use hand cream multiple times per day as I have dry skin anyway but I also have eczema on my hands *cries* and hand creams definitely help to keep my hands feeling comfortable. The hand cream contains shea butter, jojoba and aloe vera to moisturise, smooth and soothe the skin.
Overall, I'm so happy with all of the products I've been able to try from Tisserand and I couldn't recommend them enough either for yourself or as a Christmas gift. None of the products irritate my sensitive, eczema prone skin and they all smell wonderful - they're presented beautifully too. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!
Have you tried anything from Tisserand? What do you think of these gift ideas?
Tisserand is a brand that I've seen on social media recently and their products always look great so when this package arrived I was excited to give these products a go! Tisserand use 100% pure and natural essential oils extracted from flowers, trees and fruit in their products. They have a wide range of aromatherapy products as well as a collection inspired by the National Trust.
First up, one of my favourite product categories - candles! The *Tisserand Rose Garden Candle (£15, 140g) which is one of the products from the range inspired by the National Trust. The outer packaging is so pretty and it would make a lovely gift for candle lovers, like me! The scent is a sweet and slightly powdery rose fragrance but it isn't cloying, overpowering or headache inducing - it is a subtle floral scent that really refreshes a room. The candle burns fairly evenly, the scent throw is pretty good considering the scent is quite subtle (although still very noticeable) and I think this candle will last for a long time. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.
The product I was most excited to try was the *Tisserand Sweet Dreams Bath Oil (£10.95, 100ml), not only because the packaging is gorgeous and I love bath oils but because the product contains lavender, sandalwood and jasmine which are my favourite relaxing and calming scents. The bath oil smells heavenly, it is such as relaxing and calming scent. I've used it a few times now and it definitely helps me relax and get to sleep quicker, it even produces a few bubbles which is rare for a bath oil. It leaves my skin soft and very lightly scented. I know I will be getting SO much use of it especially with autumn and winter on the horizon. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. Lastly, the *Tisserand Muscle Ease Body Oil (£9.95, 100ml) which contains ginger, lemongrass and rosemary as well as nourishing vitamins and jojoba. Now, I have to be honest and say that lemongrass isn't my favourite scent however this oil does smell lovely. The oil comes with a pump dispenser, it is quick and easy to use and it leaves the skin so smooth and soft; it also seems to help tight and tired muscles. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. Overall, I'm really impressed with not only the packaging and gorgeous scents but the effectiveness of the products I've tried. The sweet dreams bath oil is heavenly and I know I will get so much use out of it as well as the candle. There are so many gorgeous products and gift sets from Tisserand that would be perfect for christmas!
Valentines Day is almost here so today's post is all about gifts for her, whether that's your girlfriend, friends or if you are lovely enough to treat your mum on this Hallmark holiday; also I just wanted to mention that self love and self care is SO important as well so why not treat yourself this Valentines Day...or Galentines Day?
I would love to receive any of these gifts and I know all of my friends would too! I was very kindly sent these incredibly wonderful gifts from a range of super generous brands, so thank you! The gifts featured in today's post range from lifestyle options, homeware, vegan chocolate and indulgent, natural pampering products from two of my favourite brands, Tisserand and Dr Botanicals.
Kate Spade is one of those brands that I adore and have arm length wish lists for but I think of it as a treat brand, it's a brand that's not something you buy from everyday *although I wish it was*. I love Kate Spade designs, they are fun and colourful but still minimal and chic; this super practical thermal mug is no different. It's a 454ml or 16oz capacity mug which can be used for hot and cold drinks so it would make a perfect gift during the chilly weather we are still having in England. I also love the cute message of 'cold hands, warm heart' on the front! Although if you don't like this design then check out the others that are available on Amara.
I recently became a Dr Botanicals ambassador so that means that I can provide a new Dr Botanicals review every month as well as including a discount code to use on the product I mention each month! The star product for the month of February is the Moroccan Rose and Shea Butter Body Cream which has been reduced from £99 to only £24.99 (100ml), it's an amazing saving and you can get an extra 20% off the reduced price so it's only £19.99 with the code: OFBEAUTYBLOG which ends at the end of February.
The body cream comes in a luxe glass jar and it contains so many fantastic, natural ingredients (it's also vegan) such as Moroccan rose oil which is high in Omega 3 and 6, apricot kernel oil, cranberry fruit extract, patchouli leaf oil and many more. It smells heavenly but not overly floral and it feels so luxurious, indulgent and rich to use. Winter is awful on my skin but this cream has given my skin, especially my arms, post shaved legs and hands a blanket of comfort, moisture and smoothness which it really craves during the chilly winter months so with that in mind, I couldn't think of a better gift for yourself or someone else this winter...well, apart from a holiday!
I personally love to receive fragrances for my birthday/christmas and I also love giving fragrances as gifts as they are not only practical presents but they are substantial and beautiful gifts. I've tried a few samples of Miller Harris fragrances but this is the first full size EDP I have...and I adore it. I know we still have a just over a month of winter left but in my mind, it's pretty much spring already so I am sorting out my beauty, makeup and fragrance collection for spring appropriate products and I realised that I don't really have many spring fragrances, they are all very woody, musky, deep or too intense for the upcoming spring months but this one is perfect!
It contains notes of grapefruit, lemon, geranium, orange, cedar, moss and sweet musk which is apparently appealing to both sexes but I personally think that it's a very fruity, floral and feminine fragrance but that's just my opinion. From the first spray, I was addicted and I have been using it so often even when I don't really need to, just because it is such an incredibly uplifting, happy fragrance that takes me back to spring days with blue skies, subtle sunshine, fruity lunches and fragrant flowers. Also the packaging and bottle are stunning!
Tisserand is one of my favourite pampering and bodycare brands and I cannot recommend their products enough! I am currently using and loving the Tisserand Lavender & White Mint Hand Cream which is heavenly but I also adore the Rose & Geranium Leaf range. Some of my favourite products from Tisserand are their hand creams and the Rose & Geranium Leaf hand cream is no exception. The scent is floral, earthy and very spring like so it will be perfect for the *hopefully* upcoming warmer months.
The shower gels lather so well, you only need a small amount and the hand washes are equally as effective but all three products are natural, gentle and they don't irritate my sensitive skin which is fantastic as eczema can be horrendous! I cannot recommend Tisserand products enough especially the hand creams, shower gels, hand washes and the indulgent bath oils. For more vegan beauty product recommendations, check out my recent Veganuary post.
Candles are staple gifts for me; my sister and friends all adore candles so they are safe gifts and they'd be perfect for Valentine's Day. The candle is made of soy wax and essential oils and it claims to have an impressive 35+ hour burn time. Vanilla is one of my favourite scents, along with lavender, so I have tried my fair share of vanilla candles although most tend to be disappointing - they are either too sweet, too subtle or too strong and headache inducing but this is candle is just perfect.
The vanilla scent isn't artificial or too sweet, it just has a musky and comforting vanilla scent that will surely appeal to so many gift recipients, myself included. It burns well and smells lovely! I love the cute jam jar style container and the simple packaging which might be a negative but it also means that it won't clash with your decor. If you don't like vanilla, there are a range of other scents to chose from including: bubblegum, lavender, gingerbread, apple pie and freshly baked bread - I need to try the latter!
I love giving and receiving practical gifts, as it means that you don't have to buy them yourself! I do love to change up my iPad and iPhone cases but I not only want a cute case but I also want my devices to be very protected and padded, in comes Filofax. Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't know that Filofax had a wide range of tablet cases and they are all fantastic!
My iPad case is pretty much worn away and a new one was definitely needed so it was great timing that this gorgeously gold case arrived! The case is suitable for an iPad 2/3 or 4 (you can google your iPad model number to find out which one you have) and it's extremely well padded so any device will be protected. It not only has a hard shell that the device fits into but it has two large pockets inside for cables, notes or stationery. My iPad looks so much better in it's new case, I know it will be protected on the go and it would be perfect for travelling with your iPad. This case would be a fantastic practical but pretty gift for the tech lover in your life.
Personalised gifts, as I always say, are fantastic and special gifts to give! I love personalised gifts, especially photograph gifts. Mr Nutcase has a wide range of personalised gifts to choose from including phone cases, towels, cushions, macbook covers, books and engraved gifts as well as mugs. I have the latte mug which is personalised with photographs from my trip last year to the amazingly magical Harry Potter studios - I think photographs of trips are perfect for personalised gifts as they are usually the best photographs particularly when compared to blurry selfies! Mr Nutcase have a 20% off code for their Valentine's Day sale, code: CUPID20.
Last month was Veganuary and I did take part - you can check out my Veganuary experiences and recipes! One of the things I struggled with is the lack of chocolate that is suitable for vegans but there are some options available. Chocolate and Love have a fantastic range of delicious chocolate bars, some of which are suitable for vegans! The Panama (80%), the Rich Dark (71%) and the Orange are all suitable of vegans and so delicious. My favourite is the Dark Chocolate, Caramel and Sea Salt (55%) which is so moreish! The bars individually would be great little gifts (they can be bought from Sainsburys) but you can purchase a gift box set as well which contains four 40g bars in a really well made, beautifully designed gift box.
Now for a little video of some of the Valentine's Day gifts I've featured in this post! I cannot recommend all of these gifts enough and I'm sure that the lucky recipient, whoever it may be, will be so happy with them!
What do you think of the Valentine's Day gifts I've featured? Have you tried any of these products?
It's christmas week and for those who have been following my blog this month, you will have noticed my womens, mens, stocking filler and Etsy gift guides and today I have my final gift guide for the year which is crazy as it is almost the end of decemeber *this month has just flown by!*. This gift guide is for those last minute gift buyers or if you want to treat yourself because it is a stressful...and magical time of the year.
*Appleyard Gingerbread Bouquet (£44.99): Have you seen a more beautiful and festive bouquet of flowers, I know I haven't! It contains red roses, pinecones, berries and rose gold/copper sprayed foliage too which as a blogger, you know I'm all about! It looks so striking and I think it will make a lovely and welcome gift for mums, grandmas, aunties and friends. The last date for christmas delivery is the 22nd at 9pm for delivery on the 23rd so if you want to order a bouquet, go go go! The lovely people at Appleyard London have provided a code which will give you 33% off luxury flowers (excl. flowers by post range): BLOG33. The code never expires so you can use it at anytime!
*Tisserand Christmas Range: I have reviewed a few amazing Tisserand products on my blog this year and when I received this lovely surprise christmas package I was very excited! The 'winter warming' scent is a mixture of eucalyptus, clove and rosemary and to me it smells so festive and woody; I can't wait to use the bath oil! The 'seasonal joy' scent is a combination of clove, orange, nutmeg and cinnamon and the packaging for both is so pretty. I think both ranges would make lovely gifts! You can buy Tisserand products online as well as John Lewis and Holland and Barrett.
*Roger and Gallet Fleur d'Osmanthus Cracker (£6): This year I've tried a few products from Roger and Gallet and I have loved all of them so when this adorable cracker arrived, I couldn't wait to open it. It contains the Fleur d'Osmanthus hand and nail balm (their hand and nail balms are amazing) and a sample of the Fleur d'Osmanthus eau fraiche fragrance; it's such a cute gift or even a stocking filler and the price is fantastic.
*LYDC Sequin Clutch (£30): I don't usually like clutch bags but as soon as I saw this one I knew I had to have it! I love the almost irridescent blue and green sequins, it looks so festive and pretty! I'm giving away a brand new version of this clutch bag but it ends very soon so check it out!
*Caudalie, Jurlique & My Trusty Skincare: Natural and high quality skincare can be a fantastic christmas gift and I cannot recommend these brands enough. The Caudalie detox mask is amazing as is the Jurlique balancing mist that is not only lovely as a refreshing facial mist and toner but it is perfect for refreshing my makeup throughout the day although I mainly use it to prep and hydrate my skin before I apply foundation. Finally, this year and last I have raved about the My Trusty skincare products and I'd highly recommend the oil and body butter.
There's my last minute gift guide! I think all of the products would be perfect for friends or cousins and I know my mum would love the flowers, Tisserand and Roger and Gallet products. I've included a short video below so you can see the products closer and hopefully you will be able to see just how gorgeous the festive bouquet is.
Do you have any of these products? Are you a last minute gift buyer?
If you didn't know, this September has been 'organic september' and earlier in the month it was organic beauty week so I know I'm a little late with this post but here are my organic beauty wish list picks from Tisserand, Antipodes, Korres, Jason, Jurlique, Dr Bronner and Vapour. I've only tried a few organic brands such as Tisserand, Korres, Dr Organic, Jurlique, Green People and Antipodes (I think Caudalie might be organic too) and I have loved pretty much everything so I'm always on the hunt for new organic bath, beauty and cosmetic products to try!
This post is quite late today as I wasn't happy with the photographs that I took so I had to re-take them today with some gorgeous pink roses! I'm really happy with these photos and this is one of my favourite topics to talk about - natural and amazing skincare and bodycare. Veganuary is almost at an end so I'll have a few round-up posts coming soon including this one.
Skincare
Let's start with my favourite vegan skincare products so that obviously means talking about Antipodes! Do I even write a skincare post without talking about Antipodes? I am currently using their amazing *Divine Facial Oil which is perfect as part of my winter skincare routine as it's very moisturising, smoothing and nourishing but it isn't very greasy, heavy or irritating. I'm also using the *Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream which is 100% natural and a fantastic day cream and it will be even better during the spring months. If you have dry and sensitive skin then you NEED to check out Antipodes, I cannot recommend them enough! Both of these products are vegan as is the lovely *Joyful Hand & Body Cream.
Bodycare
A long term favourite of mine is the Mama Mio Liquid Yoga Bath Soak which is the most effective bat soak I've ever tried - it's an essential if you have sore muscles or suffer with anxiety or stress. The scent is so relaxing, calming and heavenly so the newer Mama Mio Space Spray is on my wish list!
Another lovely, vegan and natural product is the newest release from Amphora Aromatics (I've tried a few of their products before and loved them). The new *Amphora Aromatics Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary Shower and Bath Gel has such a unique, deep and earthy scent that is so different to any other product I have in my stupidly vast beauty product collection.
Tisserand was one of my favourite brands of last year as I love the Tisserand Sweet Dreams Bath Oil which contains lots of lavender so I'm happy! I also have the *Tisserand Sweet Dreams Aromatherapy Roller Ball and since receiving it I've been using it before bed most nights as it's a lovely product that helps me unwind.
Lush is also an amazing, natural and ethical brand, obvs. I have so many favourites from Lush including the Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser (I need to buy it again ASAP), the glittery *Intergalactic Bath Bomb and the multi-use Silky Underwear Dusting Powder that's perfect as a talcum powder alternative and as a linen powder. I've used it pretty much constantly for months and months and there is still so much left even though the bottle only contains 60g of product!
Winter drys out my skin so much therefore body creams and butters are an essential for me and the two I've been loving the most recently have been the *Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose & Shea Butter Body Repairing Cream which is so incredibly rich, moisturising and nourishing so much so that it feels like a comforting, rose scented blanket over my skin. The second body cream is The Body Shop Instant Glow British Rose Body Butter; it's also fantastic but not as deeply moisturising or as luxe as the Dr Botanicals cream. However, both are lovely and suitable for vegans!
There are my top picks of my vegan beauty and pampering products and my current winter favourites! I cannot recommend these products enough and they are all of my winter essentials. Some of the products are from vegan brands but others are from brands with a few vegan products and other non-vegan items too.
Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite natural or vegan beauty brands? What are your favourite Lush products?
Every year Christmas prepping seems to be earlier and earlier which I'm definitely not opposed to as I love the lead up to christmas and as a blogger, I'm even more aware of it with new christmas gifts being released, christmas themed press releases and lovely Christmas blogger mail which I'm extremely grateful for. This time of the year also leads to one of the least glamourous and unknown but important sides of blogging, recycling.
I am very lucky to work with the amazing brands and PRs that I do but it does mean that I'm constantly filled up the two recycling bins we have and the car with boxes of recycling - no more so of the past couple of weeks; however that means that I have lots of hopefully useful and inspiring gift guides coming your way with a couple already on my blog, including today big beauty gift guide. Thanks so much to all of the brands included in my gift guide, now let's grab a cup of tea, coffee or if you're feeling festive, hot cocoa and look through some of my christmas beauty gift picks!
Let's start with one of my favourite christmas traditions, advent calendars. I loved opening my chocolate advent calendar each day on the lead up to christmas growing up but now there's something even better, beauty advent calendars. I've bought a few over the past couple of years and loved them all but I've never seen a bath bomb advent calendar before so I was very excited (ok, I squealed a little), when this one arrived in a lovely mystery parcel from the incredibly lovely people over at Bomb Cosmetics.
The advent calendar contains, can you guess, twelve full six bath bombs from Bomb Cosmetics, all of which are adorably christmas themed such as the 'snow good' bath blaster, 'all that glitters' bath blaster and the 'under the mistletoe' bath blaster. All of the bath bombs are a very good size at around 160g each so you are getting quite a lot for your money as well as a cutely packaged gift that can be enjoyed for days!
I have tried a couple of the bath bombs in this set before such as the 'fairy lights' bath blaster which has a lovely fruity but spicy scent that is perfect for this time of the year. A lot of the bath bombs within the advent calendar have gorgeous christmas and wintry scents, some of which I am extremely excited to try out. As always, Bomb Cosmetics products are gorgeously designed and the Christmas range is no different!
This advent calendar would make an ideal gift for friends and family this christmas as it can be one of the most stressful and busiest times of the time so it is important to take time out for yourself and have a well deserved pamper. I think this advent calendar would make a great christmas dinner gift as everyone could open there's at the table - I know that my friends would love that. You'll be seeing more of Bomb Cosmetics on my blog soon and check out my instagram (@ofbeautyand) for blogger mail unboxings and bath bomb demos.
Now onto a few stocking fillers that would be great for family and friends who like pampering and beauty products, or even if they don't and you think they need a little push to look after themselves or indulge. Freshly is increasingly becoming one of my favourite body care brands as I've been lucky enough to try quite a few of their products straight from the factory. I'm currently using their detox nourishing shower gel and it feels very luxe but with a more reasonable price tag!
The hair mask is no different as all of their products are packed full of fantastic and nourishing ingredients such as avocado oil, almond oil, chia seed oil, rosehip and more. I think that a nourishing and effective hair mask would make a lovely stocking filler this christmas or as part of a bigger Christmas pamper hamper!
A cheap but cheerful bath product next and it's from a brand new range from Bubble T. I've tried a couple of Bubble T bath bombs already as they've been included in a couple of subscription boxes and I've been impressed by how energetic, colourful and enjoyable they have been so I'm glad I have another product to try out.
The set contains six 20g bath bomb minis which is great is you only want a quick soak and don't want to use a huge bath bomb which might be a little wasteful. The collection is in collaboration with the brand Mentos (yes, the mints) which is a little unusual but I love the fresh and minty scent so I think they'd make vibrant and refreshing morning bath bombs!
Stocking fillers are some of my favourite gifts to open, well who doesn't love opening gifts, as they seem extra special! These next stocking filler gift ideas are perfect for friends and family who like to experiment with their hair, although not permanently, as they are the fantastic new Crazy Colour pastel temporary hair colour sprays which have just been released. If I had my bleached ends then I'd definitely give these a go but sadly I don't (however these sprays are now making me want to bleach my hair again...). I love the design of all of the Crazy Colour products, they make me wish that I'd known about them during my teens as I would have tried all of the shades!
The new pastel sprays last up the three washes and they are specifically designed for lighter or blonde hair. I have all of the shades in the range which including lavender, bubblegum, peach coral, pink marshmallow and lastly the one I'm intrigued by the most, graphite which is an unusual grey shade. The sprays are very quick and easy to use and I think they'd make great fun stocking fillers this year and the timing would be perfect for planning your New Years eve look (we sometimes have fancy dress New Years eve parties so these wash out sprays would be ideal).
Another great stocking filler idea from Freshly are these very nicely packaged and presented lip balms. Lip balms are useful for everyone so I think they are a safe beauty gift to give and unlike most of them, these offerings are packaged very nicely so aesthetically they'd be great stocking fillers. There are three to choose from including the deep nourishing, natural volume and pink protection variations.
I think all there are fantastic, great sizes and ideal to carry in your handbag, car, gym bag or keep at your desk but my favourite of the three has to be the pink protection lip balm and not just because it's pink...although that's one of the reasons. I love the warm pink tint it adds to the lips as well as the instant smoothness and comfort - I will get so much use out of it during the upcoming colder months. The lip balms and other products on the site are currently on sale so go, go, go.
Next up is a product which is on the more unusual side so if you know a beauty lover who has everything then this might be the stocking filler for them! Seatox is a vegan and cruelty free as well as an all natural brand based on the rural west coast of Ireland where the seaweed is sustainably sourced. I've featuring two of their products within todays gift guide, both of which sound fantastic and quite unusual (however, I've completely forgotten to photograph the Selkie Smooth bath soak, oops, although you'll see it on my Instagram very soon).
The kelp face mask powder is exactly what it says on the packet. It's an organic wild kelp powder that when mixed with coconut oil (or other oils) can be made into a natural and effective face mask. Although this product isn't suitable for those with iodine allergies or thyroid conditions. You'll see both of these lovely products on my instagram and instagram stories very soon so stay tuned.
Beauty tools and brushes would make great, practical and safer beauty gifts compared to makeup and you cannot go wrong with Real Techniques. Since the Real Techniques brushes were first released years ago, I have been using them and loving them. I cannot think of another brush brand that is so recognisable and as effective for the price. I prefer all of my Real Techniques brushes to the more expensive offerings from MAC etc!
Real Techniques have a variety of collections to check out but one of my favourites is their newer range of cosmic and space inspired products, including this cute sponge duo. This range is limited edition so if you are thinking of picking something up for yourself or someone else then I'd do so sooner rather than later. I have gone through a few of the miracle sponges and I cannot recommend them enough if you have dry skin as I do but these are even cuter.
*Real Techniques Sculpting Makeup Brush Set (£19.99)
A little higher in price is a fantastic sculpting brush set from Real Techniques which includes a three of my all time favourite RT brushes. The sculpting brush is one I actually use for foundation as it's a great shape to get into the corners and contours of the face, the fan brush is perfect for highlighting and the setting brush is great for, well, setting your makeup. It's a great addition to a beauty lovers brush collection or it would be an ideal starter brush set for teens too. This particular set comes with it's own brush cup to keep all of your brushes organised!
For basic eyeshadow and concealer brushes, it doesn't get any better or simpler than this no-fuss duo from Real Techniques. The 'crease prep' brush is what I use to apply and blend my concealer and to apply a base colour to the lid. The 'defining crease' brush is the perfect shape for adding a little definition to the crease of the eye and for blended seamlessly. If you're looking to gift a brush set this christmas then look no further than Real Techniques.
Pampering products are, to me, some of the most useful and thoughtful gifts you can give and these next gift sets from Tisserand step it up again. The new wellbeing collection features a range of gorgeously designed gift sets that contain an easy to follow three step routine that yourself or your gift recipient can follow to help energise, de-stress, motivate, relax or help you drift of to the land of nod a little easier.
I've worked with Tisserand on my previous gift guides over the years and I'm always so impressed by the quality of their products, how well designed they are and also how simply effective they can be, particularly the sleep range. The sleep set I'm featuring includes the body oil, pillow mist and pulse point rollerball, all of which I love and smell just as wonderful as you think they will. The pillow mist is especially fantastic and it genuinely helps me relax and fall asleep, which can be a struggle at the best of times so if you know someone who has the same issues then this set might be the thoughtful gift they need.
Along with the sleep set, they have a variety of others to suit you or your gift recipient but the two I was most interesting in were the sleep and de-stress sets, both of which look gorgeous. The de-stress set comes with minis of the massage and body oil, moodfix mist and the pulse point rollerball.
While the sleep range consists of sleepy notes of lavender, jasmine and sandalwood, the de-stress range contains the soothing scents of geranium, orange and nutmeg, which is a great combination for this time of the year. My favourite product of the three has to be the lovely moodfix mist and the pillow mist from the sleep set, although both of them would make beautifully boxed gifts for loved ones in need of some TLC this christmas.
For some gifts, knowing your gift recipients preferences doesn't matter so much but with some gift sets, they need to be a fan of the scent or products; however, there's one set that defies the rules. The Lavera rose gift set contains the pampering body wash and the pampering body lotion, both of which contain organic wild rose so they smell absolutely heavenly. I love floral scents generally but rose scented products seem to be a little hit or miss with me as some can be fresh but others can be old-fashioned. Thankfully I love these products! Lavera is a great brand to choose as it's an award winning, natural and certified organic brand which doesn't test it's products on animals, which is always great to hear.
Let's move onto a more luxe and personable gift from the indulgent and high end fragrance brand, Ormonde Jayne. Ormonde Jayne is a London based fragrance brand combining English quality with the French artistry of perfume to create a decadent fragrance range with equally as beautiful packaging, so naturally everything would make for an amazing and very special gift.
However, there are a few items that are more affordable such as the 'petits fours' which means little oven in French (as far as I'm aware) but instead of delicate French patisserie, inside the box are four samples of their fragrances. I described this gift as personable and that's not just because to me all of the fragrances feels rich and tangible but also because you can choose all of the samples that make up your 'petits fours' to tailor it to your recipients preferences. The Osmanthus fragrance is my favourite of the four but all of them sound wonderfully divine. Ormonde Jayne products can be bought online or at Selfridges Trafford Centre.
I wanted to include a wide variety of gifts within the gift guide so there's something interesting and intriguing for everyone but I think this will will appeal to almost every beauty lover out there because it helps out with a very tedious task, brush cleaning. I'm going to admit something I shouldn't...sometimes it takes me months to get round to cleaning my brushes and on one occasion, I just threw away a couple of brushes that were caked in halloween makeup rather than cleaning them. Oops.
Brush cleaning is the bane of the beauty lovers life as it's so tedious, it actually takes quite a lot longer than you'd think and it can be very messy but thankfully help is at hand thanks to StylPro. It is a brush cleaning tool which comes with various sizes of brush holders, the bowl, brush cleaner and the rotating handle - it seems a little gimmicky if I'm honest but it's surprisingly effective.
I have a few clips of this tool in action in the rather long video below but here are the basics. First you ashamedly dig out all of your dirty and old brushes (mine are usually stuffed into a tote bag) after neglecting them for months; then you just find the right sized silicone brush holder for your brush which is the only slightly annoying or tedious part of the process and then you are ready. The holder slots into the rotating handle and away you go! It's quite fun, if I'm honest but I'm sure the novelty will wear of a little after the 67th brush.
I did have some reservations about this product but I'm very happy with it as it makes brush cleaning a little more fun, less tedious and it throughly cleans my brushes in record time although as I've said, the only thing I don't find very fun is searching for a holder that will fit my brushes. I think this would make a great, practical gift for the makeup lovers in your life and it's something they probably won't have already!
As well as the amazing Bomb Cosmetics advent calendar, I also have a few others to share with you which are a little cheaper and they're currently on offer so you should check them out while they are in stock. I was very kindly sent three advent calendars from Chemist 4 U which is a site I've been lucky enough to work with previously. Unlike other beauty advent calendars, these three are all more much affordable!
The first is the mens fragrance advent calendar which consists of 24 fragrance samples to try. They are own brand fragrances but there are so many to try, I'm sure there will be something yourself or your gift recipient will love. The idea of a fragrance sample advent calendar is just fantastic and I wish there were more of them. I love the design of this advent calendar, it looks more luxe than it actually is and it means that there will be a gift to open every day on the lead up to Christmas.
There is also a womens version of the mens fragrance advent calendar and it contains the same number of fragrances to try. Don't be put off by the non-designer fragrances as the ones I've tried so far have been really nice and great everyday, casual fragrances that are perfect sizes to add to your handbag. They'd make great affordable gifts that can be enjoyed almost every day in December!
Last but not least for today's mammoth beauty gift guide is the cutest advent calendar and one that I think will be ideal for the little ones in your life or anyone who loves a nice long bath. The Bubble Boutique advent calendar contains 24 days of bath products including bath salts, bath bombs, fizzers, confetti and my favourite growing up, bath pearls.
The packaging for this set is so cute and colourful so it really stands out and means that every day until Christmas Eve you can enjoy a fun bath with one of the products in the calendar. I know that some of my friends and their little ones would love this adorable advent calendar. You can see the advent calendars, along with all of the other products in more detail within the video below. Chemist 4 U has a selection of other advent calendars to choose from including a cute childrens advent calendar, nail polish focused calendars and pampering product filled advent calendars, all at amazing prices. Use the code: HEATHER20 to get 20% off!
Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of my first big beauty gift guide of the year?
Christmas was always exciting growing up and one of the best things about Christmas morning was to see if Santa had left any presents in my stocking *spoiler, he always did, thanks Santa* and even at the grand old age of 25, I still love the tradition of stocking fillers! Instead of the chocolates and toys I received growing up, now I receive coffee, toiletries and cute little candles which are so much better!
It's too late this year but next year I think I'm going to create stockings filled with little goodies for everyone instead of one or two larger presents in a gift bag as it's so much more festive and exciting. Today's post features a range of gifts that would be ideal stocking fillers for anyone from grandmas, mums, teens and friends.
Let's start with one of my favourites from todays selection and one of the most unique! I know that fragrance atomisers have been around for a while but I don't actually know anyone who has one but they are so practical! I was kindly sent the 'hot pink glitter' option but there are so many to choose from including colour options that your dad, husband or male friends would like use for their aftershave or cologne.
To use, you just pull out the top of the atomiser, take off the top section of your perfume or cologne then connect the two and press down to spray the perfume or cologne into the atomiser so you can take it with you on the go or while travelling. It's such an incredibly light weight and useful gift especially if you know someone who commutes or travels often. I love mine and I'll be keeping it in my handbag so I can use my favourite perfumes on the go instead of lugging around a huge glass bottle! They are currently on offer - two for £20.
Another practical beauty stocking filler is dry shampoo! I love giving practical gifts as it means that the recipient doesn't have to buy it for themselves. Dry shampoo is a great option as so many people use it everyday or every other day, myself included and this invisible dry shampoo would be ideal for all hair colours without the dreaded grey cast that some dry shampoos can leave in darker hair. It leaves my hair super smooth, soft and much more presentable!
Another great stocking filler option (or as a gift if you combine these gorgeous haircare products) as it's an item not everyone will have. This blow dry lotion is perfect for adding shine and volume to the hair as well as light hold. It also contains UV filters and heat protection!
Lastly for haircare products, a mini hairspray would make a great stocking filler especially as the festive season and new year means that there will be lots of parties, catch ups with friends and meals out - this time of the year is really the only time that I use hairspray! It's a great trial size and great for travelling. I've tried quite a few products from Andrew Collinge and I cannot recommend them enough!
When it comes to bath and aromatherapy products, Tisserand is one of my favourite brands! My favourite range is definitely the Sweet Dreams range but I'm now kind of in love with their new Christmas collection. I was very kindly sent three of their room sprays in the new Christmas scents including: Silver Birch & Cardamon, Wild Cassis & Jasmine and Sweet Orange & Cardamon.
I love the packaging for these three room sprays, the boxes and the bottles are so pretty and festive; the gold foil on both makes it look so gorgeous and perfect for the festive season. I know so many family and friends who'd love these room sprays as gifts or stocking fillers.
It's so difficult to choose my favourite scent of the three as they are all so festive and gorgeous; also each one is so different as well. The Silver Birch & Cardamon is slightly spicy and musky but also sweet and very unique. Wild Cassis & Jasmine is beautifully floral and sweet - it reminds me of a fragrance I had a long time ago! Lastly is Sweet Orange & Cinnamon which might actually be my favourite as it's the most festive with citrusy sweetness and the festive cinnamon scents.
*Embryolisse Smoothing Eye Contour Care (£15.30, 15ml)
The penultimate stocking filler is a great all around skincare item that is perfect for this time of the year! I have dry and sensitive skin and the winter months can be so harsh on my skin therefore it definitely needs a little more TLC - eye creams are such a quick and easy way to look after your skin in the winter months and to make your concealer look so much better (mine always looks so dry and awful at this time of the year).
I've only tried a couple of products from Emrbyolisse and both are wonderful especially with my dry and sensitive skin (I'd love to try more!) so I think this is a pretty safe gift to give even for those with sensitive skin. The eye cream has a lovely texture, it is moisturising and great for underneath makeup.
Last but not least is the cutest item in todays post as it's an adorable tweed novelty keyring from Joules (one of my favourite brands!). I think it would make a lovely little stocking filler as it's practical and super cute. It's perfect for me as I always end up spending so long searching through my bag to find my keys but with this little guy on my keys, it will be so much easier! CHO Fashion & Lifestyle have a code to get 10% off but it ends very soon.
What do you think of my stocking filler ideas? Have you tried any of these brands?
Today is International Womens Day and I thought it would be a great day to post my Mother's Day gift guide as well. The date for Mother's Day is different depending on the country you live in but for the UK Mother's Day is the 26th March so it is almost here! There are a range of items in today's gift guide, mainly pampering products but also makeup and a couple of special personalised gifts too.
Tisserand is one of my favourite brands, not only as the products smell divine or that the products contain lovely natural ingredients but they are so effective, gentle and calming to use. I adore their shower gels and their hand creams are a daily essential for me - I have a hand cream on my desk everyday, one in my bag and one in the car. I cannot recommend their products enough and I was kindly sent two of their lovely body products recently including the Lavender & White Mint Bath Soak and the gorgeous Neroli & Sandalwood Body Wash. Spend over £25 on their site and receive a free Sweet Dreams Rollerball with the code: NATBED.
Spring is a great time, or the start of any season, to switch up your skincare products to suit the season. My mum, as with most people outside of the blogging or beauty world, may not know where to start with a skincare routine so this kit is great as it contains the basics you need to start your skincare routine including a cleansing gel, toner and moisturising face cream and then you could start to add in extras such as masks, serums and oils. I love the packaging of this kit, it would make a lovely gift and the products smell floral and fresh. I love the toner and moisturising face cream especially!
Burt's Bees have just launched a new range of lipsticks which I will have a full review with swatches of coming very soon! I love the packaging, natural ingredients, shade range and the formula is so creamy, pigmented and comfortable. I cannot recommend the lipsticks enough and they'd make a lovely natural makeup gift, maybe as part of a beauty hamper for Mother's Day?
I think personalised gifts are some of the nicest to give and also receive, I know my mum and aunties adore the personalised and photo gifts I've given them over the years. When the lovely people at Imagise got in touch, I was very excited to make a couple of wonderful gifts for my mum this Mother's Day. I chose their Slate Heart Decoration (large) and the Rectangular Slate Decoration, both of which are even better than I had imagined! They use a UV flatbed printer to print your image directly onto the slate decoration so you don't loose the textured look of the slate and it blends seamlessly into the slate. I used a photograph of my parents wedding as it is their 25th wedding anniversary this year and I know they will love it; I also used photos of mine and my sisters university graduation for the rectangular slate decoration as my mum has wanted something similar since my sisters graduation last year.
I'm extremely happy with both of the slate decorations, I think they look amazing and they'd make wonderful, special gifts for your mum, guardian or grandma...well they would make an extra special gifts for anyone! One of my best friends is getting married next year and I'm a bridesmaid so I will definitely be buying the heart decoration for her!
Pampering products are such wonderful gifts as mums need pampering and Mother's Day is a great excuse for some me time. One of the products that I always use on a pampering night is a face mask as they're so easy and fuss free to use if your pamper time isn't as long as you'd like it to be. This mask contains lovely natural ingredients including papaya, jojoba oil and sweet almond oil. Unlike most over makes, this one is unique in that it can be applied in the evening and left on the skin overnight. DISCOUNT CODE COMING SOON!
What do you think of my Mother's Day gift guide? Have you tried any of these products?
I'm a university graduate, coffee drinker and beauty, book, lifestyle and fashion blogger from little old England - posts marked with an (*) contain products sent for review or sponsored posts Read More >>
