Kiko Cosmic Starlets Collection

Kiko has been one of my favourite inexpensive makeup brands for years and they are one of the few 'highstreet' makeup brands that have regular collections which I love! The christmas collection this year is the Cosmic Starlets collection which is divided into four looks, all of which would be perfect for the festive season and new year, including: The Temptress, The Romantic, The Free Spirit and The Innocent. As well as the looks, of which The Innocent and The Romantic are my favourites, there are also lovely festive gift sets and fragrances.

I was very kindly sent a few products from the christmas collection and I am so impressed with all of the products, as I often am with Kiko makeup and I especially love the festive packaging! For swatches of all the products I have featured in this post, check out the video at the end (sorry the quality isn't great, damn winter weather and dark afternoons #BloggerProblems).

*Kiko Night Sky Eyeshadow Palette (£19.90, Nude to Elegant): I have always been impressed with the Kiko quads I have purchased over the years, so much so that I made up my own custom palette earlier this year and it has appeared in a few favourites posts. Kiko shadows are so buttery smooth, pigmented on the whole and so easy to blend with minimal fall down and these are no exception. The shades in this palette are all cool toned which I don't usually choose as I think warmer toned shadows suit my complexion the most so the Nude to Smokey palette is on my wish list; although sadly both palettes are currently sold out online so I'll have to visit my local store in the Trafford Centre to see if they have it. The palette contains a good range of shades from a light shimmery highlight and matte crease colours to deep smokey and shimmer shades that would be perfect for a smokey eye.

*Kiko Dazzling Highlighter (£6.90, 04 Bright Rose): This was one of the products in the store that I instantly wanted! The shade looks very pink toned in the packaging as the name would suggest but it looks gorgeous and iridescent on the skin. It isn't a subtle highlight as the shimmer is noticeable which isn't for everyone but it catches the light beautifully!

*Kiko Glam Kajal Eyeliner Duo (£7.90, Black): Kiko always seems to be one of the very few brands that always bring out new, innovative and interesting products that usually take other brands of a similar price range much longer to introduce. The eyeliner duo features a soft and creamy kajal eyeliner that is perfect for creating a smokey eye or smokey liner look; the longevity and pigmentation is fantastic! The product also contains a liquid eyeliner too which is very black and pigmented; it would be perfect for travelling.



Overall, I have been so impressed with the majority of the Kiko products I've tried and these are no exception. I would definitely recommend the christmas collection and I think they would make fantastic gifts - I know that I would be happy to receive some Kiko products under the tree!

What do you think of the new Cosmic Starlets collection? Do you have any favourite products from Kiko?

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Christmas: Treat Republic Jewellery Box

In my opinion, giving and receiving personalised gifts is just so much more special than other gifts. I've always remembered the personalised book I received as a child about myself and Santa having a Christmassy adventure (and it had my name in the book which is always a plus when you have a slightly unusual or old fashioned name as I do).

When the opportunity arose to work with Treat republic and review one of their gorgeous gifts, I couldn't say no! I received the *Treat Republic Bronze Monogrammed Jewellery Box (£30) which I actually wanted for my mum as I know she will LOVE it because she loves shabby chic and distressed style homeware so this will be perfect for her. 

The wooden jewellery box has two pull out drawers and a top section which contains ring holders and cute fabric detailing. The two drawers are fairly spacious even though they aren't massive and the top section is also quite roomy. The lid of the jewellery box can be personalised with the recipients initials so I added my mums initials of SJN which looks so fancy on the lid and the personalisation makes it so much more special and meaningful. 

Overall, I love the design and finish of the box and I know my mum will too! Personalised gifts are always nicer to receive and to give especially if the recipient isn't expecting it as you don't actually see that many personalised gifts in stores any more - personalisation was everywhere in the good ol' 90's, did anyone else have a personalised glitter Alice band?! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Have you bought anything from Treat Republic? What do you think of this gift? 

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Christmas: Women's Gift Guide

It's finally December! I can't wait for christmas so to carry on the festive cheer, I have my third christmas gift guide and this one is all about gifts for her - whether that is your mum, wife, sister, aunties or friends. I was very kindly sent the products featured by brands that I know and love as well as a few new products. So grab a cup of tea, this post is a long one!

*Crabtree and Evelyn Country Florals Hand Therapy Trio Tin (£12.50, worth £15): Crabtree and Evelyn have such amazing christmas sets, I included some of their products in my mens gift guide. Their hand creams are one of their more famous and poplar products and these scent sound gorgeous. I think this set would be great for mums, aunties and grandmas, although I'd love it too as you can never have too much hand cream!

*Bluffers Chocolate Guide Book (£6.99): I have also already featured the Bluffers guides in my mens gift guide and my stocking fillers posts as I think they are fantastic gifts that are so reasonably priced and there is a topic for everyone.

*Wild Olive Luxury Spa Tuberose & Jasmine Set (£16.95): I have tried Wild Olive products previously and I love their candles! This set contains bath salts, soap and a candle so it would be perfect for anyone who needs a pamper. All of their product are handmade in England and they use natural ingredients. The Tuberose and Jasmine set smells amazing and it is packaged to beautifully.

*Botanicals Beautiful Hands Anti-Ageing Serum (£13.95): Again, another brand that I have tried and that I love. I have tried so many hand creams but this is the first hand serum; it is such a hydrating oil and the I love the pipette dispenser. It would make a lovely stocking filler or part of a pamper hamper and as with the Wild Olive brand, everything is natural and cruelty free. You can get the hand serum in the lovely Hand & Feet Christmas Pamper Box which would be a perfect gift.

*Gemporia Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace (£27, worth £67.99): I don't wear that much jewellery but I do love necklaces and this one is gorgeous. It is simple and understated as well as being very reasonably priced but it is sparkle, elegant and it is perfect with formal and causal outfits. It sits well, it feels comfortable to wear and I think mums, sisters and friends would love it!

*Yves Rocher Sumptuous Colour Eyeshadow Quad (£13.50, sale): If you have been following my blog for a while then you will know how much I love Yves Rocher products, from the fragrance and haircare to bodycare and makeup. I chose the quad in 06 Brun Incandescent which is a lovely everyday quad - you can see swatches and a close up in the video below.

*Yves Rocher Apple Delight EDT (£5, 20ml): One thing that I always notice with Yves Rocher products is how cheap they are and there are always offers on! This fragrance is part of their new  range and it smells heavenly; to me it smells like a toffee apple scent with musky perfume notes. It would make a fantastic stocking filler, as would their shower gels.

*Bloom and Wild Flowers: As well as candles, there is nothing more welcoming and homely than flowers; they make such a difference to a room and let's be honest, who doesn't love to receive flowers. The flowers came so beautifully packaged and the box can fit through a letterbox so you don't have to worry about being in. I think the three months of flower set (£50) would be perfect for mums or grandmas as they will receive three gorgeous bouquets so it's the gift that keeps on giving!

*BKR Glass Water Bottle (£25, 500ml): I think this unique and adorable glass and silicone water bottle would make a great gift for gym goers! It comes in a range of colours and I have the adorably named 'cupcake' shade. The bottle is is BPA free which is fantastic, it will fit in most cup holders and in my case it will be perfect on my desk or on the go as it is 500ml so I know exactly how much I'm drinking and it will make me drink more as it's so cute!

*Let It Snow Tee (£10): I love christmas jumpers, but they aren't for everyone so this cute christmas tee would be a great festive gift. I would personally wear it as a longline pyjama top and it is so adorable and it is also well priced in my opinion.

Kiko Cosmetics: This gorgeous palette from their new christmas range is in place of all the Kiko products I've tried as I think they are fantastic, from the nail polish and eyeshadows to lipsticks and gift sets - they would make fantastic and great value gifts for any makeup lover.

Spectrum Brushes: I am a makeup brush hoarder, I have so many and I think these from Spectrum are the most adorable brushes I own and they are amazing quality as well as being cruelty free! I luckily won a couple of sets this year and I was kindly sent a brush too and I have been using them non-stop!

Now onto the video, as with the others, it isn't the best quality because of the damn english weather and lack of natural light but I hope it isn't too bad! I've included some extra gift ideas in the video from Arran Aromatics, Molton Brown, Rifle Paper Co, Roger and Gallet, Breo and Boots.

Lastly, if you are still doing your christmas shopping then check out My Derma Center as if you spend over £45 then you will receive a fantastic deluxe gift with purchase including fantastic sample sizes of products from Roger and Gallet, La Roche Posay, SkinCeuticals and Vichy. So you can buy lovely presents for everyone and receive a gift for yourself!

What do you think of the products I've included? Do you have any of these products? 

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Christmas: Arran Aromatics Candles

Christmas is almost here so I have been burning all of my christmas candles (the best kind of candles) and stuffing my face with advent calendar chocolate! I love christmas candles, they are so cosy and inviting however it is nice to have a change sometimes; I was very kindly sent this lovely set from Arran Aromatics and I've been loving it!

I have actually been to the Isle of Arran when I was 17 as part of a college geology trip (I chose all the fun subjects, I know) and I loved it! I received the *Arran Aromatics Light Up The Season Home Set (£28, worth £30) which contains one large 30cl candle and two smaller 5cl candles. The tin the candles come in is just gorgeous, it looks like a traditional festive cookie tin and I will definitely be re-using it!

The larger candle in the set is the Arran Aromatics Perfumer Bergamot and Geranium Candle which smells heavenly. The scent is very floral and sweet but it isn't overpowering or sickly sweet. I think it will be a scent that most will like. The wax melts slowly so I think this candle will last me quite a while; the approximate burn time is up to 35 hours. The scent throw isn't amazing although it is a lovely candle and I've been burning it so often since I received it.

The two smaller candles are travel size but they still come in the same packaging as the larger candles and unlike most gift sets, you can actually buy all three of the candles individually, in the larger size (£20) or the travel candle size (£5) which is fantastic! The Arran Aromatic Perfumer Ultimate Fig Travel Candle has to be my favourite from the set as it is rich, warming and musky but it is still quite sweet and fresh - I will definitely be buying this one in the future. Lastly the Arran Aromatics Perfumer Just Grapefruit Travel Candle which I knew wouldn't be my favourite as I'm not a grapefruit fan but it is sweet, fruity and uplifting. It is pleasant but it isn't something I would've picked however I think a lot of people would like it.

Overall, I adore the tin I think it is so pretty and festive; I also love both the Bergamot & Geranium and Ultimate Fig candles and I know I will get so much use out of them. I think it is nice for a christmas set to have scents that aren't particularly christmasy as some christmas scents can be very heavy and overpowering and these make a lovely and refreshing change. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

I now have my eye on quite a few Arran Aromatics products, they have some lovely products and christmas gift sets as well as soap, diffusers, perfume and mens products, all at fantastic prices. Also they have so many travel size products! Here's my mini wish list and gift picks:

Have you tried anything from Arran Aromatics? What do you think of this gift set?

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Body Confidence Survey With Jacamo

Image from Jacamo

Jacamo have conducted the first ever report on male body confidence in the UK which I think is fantastic as the lack of body confidence isn't solely a female issue but men have body issues too. I'm sure everyone has felt annoyed, upset or down about their body at some point and it's something that affects so many people, male and female. The report found that 40% of the men involved suffer with 'Manxiety' which is a term created to describe the male population's dissatisfaction with their body image; although in my opinion, I think creating 'buzzwords' for such things can actually lessen the importance of the topic!

Anyway, the report also found that as with women, there are many factors that negatively affect your body image and for men and women one of the main factors is advertising and the media in which unrealistic and unattainable body images are shown to us as the norm when they aren't.

Almost half of the men involved  said that they desperately wanted to lose weight and again factors such as the media and advertising, in my opinion, can have such an impact on your own views of body image - especially younger generations were the media is a constant presence. The report also found that the 25 - 39 age group was the least confident with regards to their body shape and body confidence; however 35% of the men involved stated that they would feel better and more confident about their body image if they received a compliment.

Giving anyone a compliment would make them feel better, whether it is your brother, husband, friends, colleagues or your dad. I would choose to give my dad a compliment as even though he has a stressful job, he plays sport (you can tell I know what I'm taking about when it comes to the sports don't you...) and he is always put together and well dressed - unless he's painting or building walls for people. From the report, they found that 61% of men said that wearing the right clothes makes them feel more confident so in light of the findings maybe a winter wardrobe refresh would be a great and thoughtful christmas gift this year (although maybe they would want video games and whisky more!).

For more information on the campaign, check out the Jacamo #Ladmiration blog post or the campaign video with Freddie Flintoff and Jack Whitehall.

What do you think of the Jacamo report? Do you think body confidence for men or women is worsening and what do you think could help? 

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Twig + Dot Christmas Candles

As we all know, I love candles! They make a room so incredibly cosy, homely and inviting, particularly at this time of the year when it is getting chilly and it starts to become dark very early. I've tried quite a few candle brands so I was excited to try a couple of candles from a brand I have wanted to try for a while - Twig + Dot. Twig and Dot have launched their christmas range and all of the candle scents sound so gorgeous. I was very kindly sent two, including one of their larger 230g candles and the small 45g voltive candle as I am lucky enough to be part of their 12 bloggers of christmas countdown! 

*Twig + Dot Merry Kissmas Votive Jar Candle (£3):

Cranberry, Pomegranate & Mistletoe. Welcome the season with a merry blend of sweet cranberry, pomegranate & mistletoe. Tart & Inviting. Perfect for those looking for a fruity seasonal scent. 

In my experience, small or votive candles usually come in plastic wrapping as Yankee Candle samplers do or cheap plastic containers but this jar is glass and it just feels so much more expensive even though it isn't. The packaging is gorgeous, although as a blogger it is a nightmare to photograph - I had to re-take the photos more than I have for any other items so it doesn't photograph well or at least in my case it doesn't (#BloggerProblems). The candle burns evenly and to the sides as it is a small candle so there is no waste. To me it smells very fruity and woody but in a crisp, winter walk kind of way, if that makes sense! However, the scent is quite subtle which is a shame as the scent is so festive and lovely. Overall rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5.


*Twig + Dot Santa Baby Large Candle (£16):

Black Cherry, Frankincense & Patchouli. Black cherry combines with frankincense, myrrh, cedar & patchouli to create our sexiest seasonal scent yet. Warm & Woody. 

Patchouli and woody notes are some of my favourites so I was excited to receive this candle, although there are so many others that I would love such as the Pumpkin Pie, Sugar and Spice and Cinder and Smoke. The large candles burn for approximately 30 to 40 hours, while the votive candles burn time for approximately 5 to 8 hours. The scent in the jar reminds me of cherry menthol sweets with crisp, snowy woody notes; it's a gorgeous and refreshing combination and one that I wouldn't have chosen for myself as I do prefer more baking and warm scents. The candle scent is very pleasant and festive, it's fruity and musky but fresh and minty too. It burns well and evenly which is fantastic and I think it will last for ages! Overall rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5.

Overall, I am definitely impressed with the candles, I love both scent even though they aren't really want I would have chosen but it is a nice change. The packaging is cute and I love the glass jar for the votive candle although they were a bit frustrating to photograph but this isn't really a problem unless your a blogger! I'm definitely interested in trying more from the brand!

Have you tried any candles from Twig + Dot? What are your favourite festive candle scents?

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