Women's Gift Guide: Part One + Gift Card Giveaway

I can't believe that I haven't posted any halloween content on my blog or social media yet but Christmas has taken over already and it's only October! I'm not complaining through as I love the lead up to Christmas (arguably even more than the day itself) so writing my christmas gift guides each year is always exciting for me...although probably not for all of the couriers and the postman delivering wonderful gifts. 

Today's post is my first christmas gift guide post of the year, although I have already published a gift ideas post which features the amazing Beerwulf beer advent calendar that I'd love for you to check out. I also have other gift guides on my blog from Father's Day, Mother's Day and more which might be helpful if you are looking to get a head start on gift shopping this year. 

*Sara Miller Penguins Cake Plate (£51.50)

As this is my first gift guide of 2019, let's start with the most festive looking gift and that has to be this adorable penguin cake stand from Sara Miller. I instantly fell in love with this range when I was looking through their catalogue and it was very difficult to decide which item I'd like to feature in this gift guide because all of the christmas products are so beautiful but the penguin theme items were too cute to pass up. 

The cake stand not only looks beautiful as a gift itself but the box it comes in is almost as beautiful too. I love the packaging and the product design as it looks very festive and sparkly (you have to have sparkles over the festive season, it's the rule) but it isn't tacky, over the top or too much. I love the minimal but festive design, the colours used and the utterly adorable penguin family on the top of the cake stand. My mum's favourite animals are penguins and you can see why with this illustration so I know she will be incredibly happy with this cake stand. 

I've have had a couple of cake and cupcake stands over the years and they have either been too simple and a little boring or they haven't been very functional - either they are too small or massive! Thankfully this cake stand has a diameter of 27cm which is perfect for a range of cupcakes, brownies or a large festive cake to be displayed on. What also makes this cake stand extra special, along with the beautiful box, is the 22 carat gold embellishments...yes! I cannot recommend this gorgeous cake stand enough as an extra special gift this christmas and you should definitely check out the rest of this sleek and simple but adorably festive range from Sara Miller. 

*Morning Glamour Satin Pillow Case - single (£12.99)

Next up, I wanted to include a luxe and unique but reasonably priced beauty item that is perfect for makeup, skincare and beauty lovers that have everything. I personally love to give beauty, makeup and pampering gifts to friends and family as in my opinion they are very 'safe' gifts to give and I know that everyone will like and use those gifts but it can get a little repetitive and boring so this pillow case is a great alternative.

The satin pillow case is designed to help prevent wrinkles, reduce hair loss and breakages and to help your skin retain moisture, as it isn't absorbent like a traditional cotton pillow case. I do suffer from dry skin as well as hair loss so I was very intrigued by this product and it is something I've wanted to try for a while. I have the pink option but there are lots of others to choose from and so far I'm loving it! It is super soft and smooth on the skin and I just like using it as it feels much more gentle on my skin and hair. Overall, if you have a friend or family member that loves beauty products but seems to have it all, this pillow case is a unique and practical gift that would be ideal as a stocking filler or even part of a beauty filled hamper. 

*Paperscapes Book - Paris (£20)

Along with beauty products, I also like to gift books as I personally get so much joy and escapism from books and I think they can be perfect for those with anxiety - they've helped me so much over the past couple of years. However, buying books can be a little tricky as you might not know which books your gift recipient already has or their taste in books but I think non-fiction is a great option.

Paperscapes create gorgeously illustrated and designed non-fiction reads that features pop out illustrations/structures to display which I think is such a unique idea, especially for a non-fiction read for adults. The book contains information and stunning illustrations of various landmarks and buildings within Paris to look through and learn about. There are a range of books within this series featuring cities such as London and New York so if you know someone who loves or wants to visit one of the cities featured then these books might be a unique and interesting gift idea.

*Teatulia Loose Leaf Tea 

Moving onto a delicious gift and I'm only featuring a mini sample within this gift guide but you will see the lovely *Teatulia Class Tea Selection (£14.95) within my upcoming mens gift guide. I am separating my gift guides this year and while some are labelled as 'womens' or 'mens', they are obviously suitable for anyone! Along with the set, I was also sent a sample of the jasmine green loose leaf tea which comes beautifully packaged and designed, just like the tea selection. I love herbal, green and floral tea options so this one was perfect for me and it's so delicious. I usually drink tea in the evenings as a cosy alternative to coffee and this option is the ideal autumn evenings drink. 

*Bomb Cosmetics Microwaveable Hot Pack (£19.99)

I am very lucky to be a Bomb Cosmetics ambassador (aka. a bomb babe) so I receive some of their adorable products every so often which I am very grateful for! I am excited for every delivery from Bomb Cosmetics as I love surprises, their boxes are always filled with colourful packaging peanuts and all of their products are adorable...this hot pack is no exception. I was very kindly sent a couple of their products for this gift guide and I love both but this little hedgehog is too cute for words.

I love receiving their new products and this recently released range of 'hot packs' is right on time for the colder months as it's becoming very chilly in Manchester already. The heat packs come in a range of adorable animal designs from penguins and foxes to unicorns, mermaids, fairies and even a narwhal! They'd make lovely practical gifts as well as being a cute home decor item, especially for children and I cannot recommend them enough. 

*Bomb Cosmetics Into The Woods Sets (£14.99)

The second Bomb Cosmetics set I was kindly set, sadly isn't available on the website currently but hopefully it will be back in stock soon or you might be able to find it within store that stocks Bomb Cosmetics. It's such an adorably designed gift set but has the cutest woodland theme! I love Bomb Cosmetics products in general (I've bought many of their products, well before I started working with them) but their gift sets and bath blaster cards are my favourite products. There are so many beauty and pampering sets on the market but I think Bomb Cosmetics stands out as not only are they reasonably priced but they are beautifully designed, everything is handmade, many of their products are vegan friendly and all of their products are cruelty free. 

*Nailutral Natural Polishes (£6.99, available at Boots)

Sticking with the beauty theme but moving onto a couple of potential hamper fillers or stocking stuffers. I've already reviewed the fantastic at home gel kits from Sensationail but for today's gift guide, I'm going to be recommending their new vegan 'natural' polishes which contain 85% bio-sourced ingredients such as potatoes, corn and wheat! I was kindly sent a couple of their shades but my favourite has to be 'buff brilliance' which is my ideal everyday nail polish shade. The polish applies well, it lasts quite a while too and it dries pretty quickly. I think nail polishes would be great as stocking fillers, especially if they're a little more unique such as this new range. 

*Silk & Bubble Super Nourishing Hair Growth Mask (£30)

Along with the pillow case, I think that this hair growth mask is a great gift idea for those who seem to have every beauty product as it is a little different. I've tried so many hair masks over the years and they are mostly the same but what makes this one stand out is the gorgeous scent, naturally nourishing ingredients, the smoothing results and it is vegan! I'm so glad that more products are being made for the growing vegan demand and it's great that the beauty world is also trying to be cruelty free and vegan too.

The mask contains so many wonderful ingredients such as coconut oil, fig fruit extract, shea butter, castor seed oil and argan oil, all of which are great for the hair. It smells heavenly, like a tropical summer holiday and even though I've only used it a few times so far, it has left me impressed after every use. I use it on dry hair and wash it out after 30 to 60 minutes and it leaves my hair noticeably smoother, softer, less tangled and feeling nourished. I can't say anything about the hair growth claims but if you're looking for a very effective hair mask, give this one a go. 

*Eye Majic Instant Eyeshadow (£19.99) 

There seems to be a theme with today's gift guide of unique beauty products and this one is no different! You may have seem videos of this item online as it is quite an unusual product and it does have mixed results but I think that when you get the hang of it, it's easy. The set I was sent is contains 20 applicator pairs in a variety of shades but the set as a whole is the 'seduce' shade range. It claims to be hygienic, easy to use, long lasting, non-stretching and great for beauty on the go. My favourite shade combination is 'shade 2' which features a golden beige, bronze and dark brown shade selection; although all of the shades are so pretty and quite natural. I think this shade selection would be great for this just getting into makeup or again those who seem to have every beauty product in existence.

I have used them a couple of times now and while the first attempt was a little...messy to say the least, I think that with practice and a little blending it can look pretty good. To use you place the pad over your eyelid (making sure it's positioned correctly will help reduce the likelihood of mistakes) and gently swipe across the eyelid. I've found that you don't need to move the pad very far, if you do, you might end up with eyeshadow where you don't want it to be. After a little blending with fingers, the corner of the application pad itself or with a small brush, you do end up with a pretty eyeshadow look. I don't think it is as quick as it claims to be but the final result is great (with practice). If you're looking for a unique beauty stocking filler then check out Eye Majic.

*Sassy Shop Wax Scented Wax Melts (£4 each)

Taking a short break from the beauty gifts to a couple of heavenly scented wax melts from Sassy Shop Wax which is a Bristol based company specialising in wax melts as well as room sprays and bath products. Their products tend to sell out quite quickly so if there's a specific scent that you want then it would be best to order as soon as you can. I was very kindly sent two of their wax melt pots which are handmade wax melts that you can break up to use in your tea light wax melt burner (or an electric one). I'm more of a candle person, rather than wax melts, as I just find candles easier to use but breaking up the segments, using the melts and cleaning them out of the burner was very easy, thankfully.

I chose the scents 'snow pixie' and 'antique bookstore' and I'm so happy with my choices as not only do they look amazing with a sprinkling of glitter but they both smell incredible too. The 'snow pixie' scent smells almost exactly like Snow Fairy from Lush which is one of my favourite Lush scents, along with Olive Branch. Snow Pixie contains the following notes of bubblegum, banana, pear drops, musk, vanilla and sweet candyfloss. Also between the 1 - 31st October, 10% of the profits from the sale of the Snow Pixie melts go to The Pink Ribbon Foundation which is fantastic!

Antique Bookstore contains the following notes: rose, incense, black pepper, cedarwood, sandalwood, amber, leather, musk, patchouli, moss and vanilla which combines to make the most delicious musky, rich and leathery scent - it's the scent of an old bookstore with worn leather chairs. I love both scents and it's definitely difficult to choose a favourite so I'm going to recommend both of them. The scent strength for both scents is fantastic (even with just one segment) and I can't wait to use them again, especially Snow Pixie. I cannot recommend them enough and I wish they'd bring out candle version of these scents in the future! Again, another fantastic stocking filler and one that's a little more special compared to mass produced wax melts.

*True Skincare Facial Oil - Dry Skin (£13.50)

Reasonably priced facial oils that are also effective and contain lots of skin loving ingredients can be a little tricky but thankfully True Skincare have a fantastic range of affordable organic facial oils that would make for an ideal winter skincare stocking filler, either for those avid skincare lovers (such as myself) or those starting out with a skincare routine and need a product that's going to give their skincare a little TLC during the colder winter months. The facial oil contains lovely ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, avocado oil, lemon peel oil, evening primrose oil and many more. It is cruelty free, suitable for vegans, certified organic by the Soil Association and it is 100% natural.

Before 2019, I had incredibly dry skin due to eczema but since becoming vegan at the start of the year my eczema has been almost entirely non-existent which is incredible but I do still have smaller areas that are slightly drier than others which can be exacerbated during the colder months so hydrating serums, rich moisturisers and nourishing facial oils are still my go-to products at this time of the year or when my skin need a little extra hydration.

The oil I have is designed for dry skin although they do have an oil for dehydrated skin and for oily/combination skin too so there's a facial oil for everyone - even those with oily skin can benefit from a deeply nourishing facial oil. The oil itself is packaged beautifully, I love the pipette dispenser and it has a very subtle scent so if fragrance or strong scented products irritate your skin then hopefully these will be fine for your skin.

I've been using the oil every other day as part of my evening skincare routine and you only need a tiny amount as a little goes a long way so I think one bottle will last a while! The oil feels so nourishing on the skin so I think it is going to feel even better when the weather become colder and my skin needs an extra layer of hydration. It leaves my skin feeling soft, moisturised and smoother but it isn't tacky or overly greasy and it absorbs quickly. I don't think you can go wrong with this lovely, natural facial oil as a beautifully packaged skincare stocking filler. They also have a few utterly gorgeous gift sets too!

*Magnetic Eyes No Glue False Lashes (£12.99)

Before I move onto the last couple of products and the exciting gift card giveaway, I wanted to quickly mention a few stocking fillers and a fantastic value skincare set. First up, magnetic false eyelashes, yes! I have never been able to apply false eyelashes, even simple individual lashes are difficult for me so I tend to only wear them for Halloween looks (which you can check out, if you want) so magnetic lashes sound perfect for a beginner like me!

The lashes have tiny magnets on them and they stay on your lashes using smaller sets of lashes (similar to individuals) that also have magnets on them to sandwich your own lashes in-between them. It is such a great idea, especially as I am a beginner and I have sensitive eyes so glue is never a pleasant option. It can definitely be very tricky to get the magnets lined up on your lashes (it took me countless attempts but bear in mind that I'm a beginner) but they look so pretty and they make me want to wear false lashes more often.

*Ark Skincare SPF30 Primer (£36)

I'm not going to rave too much about this product as I already did on my August and September favourites post. I've been using this primer for the past few weeks and I love it, not only for it's skincare benefits and SPF but it helps my makeup last longer. It would be a wonderful gift on it's own or you can check out their great value gift sets.

*LookFantastic Discovery Bags (£12 - £36)

We all know how much I love the LookFantastic monthly beauty boxes (which would be a great gift idea) but I love their limited edition and seasonal boxes even more! They have just released a range of 'discovery bags' which range in price and brand but they are all amazing value for money. I was very kindly sent the First Aid Beauty bag (£20, worth £32) and the Clinique bag (£20, worth £34). I love the products I've tried already from First Aid Beauty so I was very happy when this box arrived! I think the discovery bags are a fantastic way of trying a few products from a brand before potentially buying the full sizes or to introduce a brand to someone else. 

*Vera Wang Princess EDT (£19.95, 100ml)

Lastly, two beauty gifts from TJ Hughes and my exciting gift card giveaway! I was very kindly sent a few products from TJ Hughes (you'll see more of them in my upcoming mens gift guide), including the gorgeous Vera Wang Princess EDT. I've tried a few samples of this fragrance and I loved wearing it each time so I'm very happy to have a full sized bottle of the fragrance, especially as the bottle is so cute! The fragrance is currently reduced on TJ Hughes from £60 to £19.95 which is a fantastic saving, particularly as fragrances can be very expensive so hunting around for bargains is a great way to save a little money on fragrance gifts.

The fragrance contains the following notes: waterlily, apple, mandarin, pink grapefruit, tuberose, dark chocolate, vanilla, woods and amber, which combine to make a lovely floral and fruity, feminine and fresh everyday fragrance. I've been wearing the fragrance as an everyday casual fragrance since I received and I love wearing it! The longevity is great considering it's an eau de toilette and it doesn't give me a headache which can happen with some stronger fragrances.

Fragrance gifts can be a little tricky but if you know someone who loves any fragrance or if you know their favourite then definitely check out TJ Hughes as they have a fantastic range of reduced womens and mens fragrances to choose from including a great selection of brands - from designer perfumes to celebrity fragrances. 

*Baylis and Harding Midnight Plum and Wild Blackberry Cracker (£5.99)

As well as a great range of fragrance gifts, they also have a variety of beauty, bath and body gift sets too such as this cute and very festive cracker set from Baylis and Harding. It contains a hand cream (which is always needed during the colder months) and a small perfume rollerball. I think it's a great set, especially as a stocking filler or a secret Santa gift. This particular set is currently out of stock on their website but it might be available in-store or you can check out the other sets available.

Now onto the section of the gift guide that you've all been waiting for, the gift card giveaway. The gift card is very generously being supplied by the lovely people over at TJ Hughes (thank you!) and while I would love to host an international giveaway, this one is only open to those based in the UK. The giveaway is for a £60 TJ Hughes gift card and the giveaway will run until midnight on the 17th November with the winner being announced on my social media (and via email) on the 18th November.

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below, filling in as many of the entries as you want but the more you fill in, the more chances you have of winning the gift card. Thanks so much to all of the brands in today's gift guide, especially TJ Hughes for the wonderful giveaway prize! Good luck and if you have any problems with the giveaway form below, let me know on Twitter (@ofbeautyand). 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

This winner has been contacted - thanks for entering!

Have you entered my giveaway? What do you think of my gift ideas? 

*gifted