BOOTS CHRISTMAS WISH LIST 2015

The Boots Christmas gift guide came out last week, I’m always excited as it’s the first thing of the year that makes me feel Christmassy. I’ve looked through the gift guide and online and collated my favourite offerings from this year! Boots have definitely upped their game with their guide this year, it definitely looks more of a glossy magazine. Most of these gift sets are in the mix and match 3 for 2 offer so you can pick up some great bargains for your friends, family or even treat yourself!

Champneys Relaxation Hamper, £60.00 – I’m hoping this one will be on star gift offer one week! Champneys have recently updated their range and packaging and I love the new look. Inside the hamper you get lots of pampering treats including; Heavenly Days Relaxing Bubble Heaven, Butter Souffle, Shower Cream and a candle. The Harmonious Hands Restoring Hand and Nail Cream SPF 15, Barefoot Beauty Restoring Foot Butter and a pair of cosy socks. The hamper is great to use after all the products have gone, I would definitely use it for my Lush bath bombs.

Soap & Glory Belle of the Ball, £12.00 – I normally wait for the Soap & Glory star gift to go on offer. But this year this gift set has caught my eye. I love the massive bauble packaging and the range inside is my favourite scent from Soap & Glory - Smoothie Star. The set includes; a body wash, the Breakfast Scrub body smoother, a body buttercream and Hand Food hand cream. I love the pistachio, almond and sweet vanilla scent.

Benefit You’re so Party Set, £39.50 – Benefit always do fun Christmas gift sets, this year they have quite a bright Pop Art theme packaging and there are three different designs of tins to choose from. My favourite is the pink tin which includes the they’re real mascara, the hoola bronzing powder, a mini size of the POREfessional primer and a mini ultra plush lip gloss mini in the shade hoola.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Xmas Edition, Sweet Orange & Mint, £9.75 – Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser has to be one of my favourite cleansers to use and I have tried a lot of the different limited edition scents. I was eager to try this limited edition version when it first came out last year but never got the chance. This bottle is a smaller size than the normal sized tube, so it’s great as a try me gift or to travel with. The cleanser also comes with one pure muslin cloth with a gold trim. The fragrance is a combination of zesty sweet orange oil with the refreshing aroma of mint which is energising and great to use in the mornings to wake you up.

So Snug Gingerbread PJ Set, £18.00 – Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with anything Gingerbread related when Christmas comes around. I managed to pick up a pair of pyjama’s from Sainsbury’s last Christmas, but these are just so cute! I also love the Gingerbread house packaging that they come in. This brand always do some great things at Christmas, I remember one year I received some socks in a bauble. The vest top and trousers are made from single jersey so they’re comfortable and snuggly to wear.

So Snug Gingerbread Socks, £5.00 – Also with the Gingerbread theme are these matching socks. This would be a really great present as a stocking filler or a secret Santa!

Bareminerals Precious Gen Lip Oil-Balm Trio, £25.00 – These balms are formulated with passion fruit seed oil with Vitamin E, they’re moisturising, shiny and leave a tint of colour on the lips. This set contains Blueberry Pop, Pink Passion and Nude Passion. I have been wanting to try these since they came out, so this is a great way of trying them.

Malibu Kilner Jar, £10.00 – Not beauty related, but something that caught my eye are these Kilner Jars. I have been after some Kilner Jars for a while and these ones have been teamed with your favourite alcoholic drinks. Another present which would be great as a stocking filler, they also do a Smirnoff Vodka version in a red shade instead of the green.
Boots Star Gift this week is the Smashbox #Shapematters 3 in 1 Contouring Palette, which is half price at £30.00. I will be popping one of those in my basket, looks like a great palette!

What's on your Christmas wish list from Boots?

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BOOTS CHRISTMAS WISH LIST 2014

For me, the Boots Christmas Catalogue is kind of a big thing, sad I know. When the 3 for 2 gift sets hit the shops, I feel it's the start of that christmassy feeling and getting my hands on the catalogue is the next best thing. This year the catalogue includes brands that we know and love and are featured every year and a couple of brand new ones to get excited about.

One gift that is on everyones wish list is the Soap & Glory £60.00 gift which is always reduced in the star gift promotion a few weeks before Christmas. This year it's called The Next Big Thing and contains 10 full-size products and some of my favourites including the Orangeasm body wash and the Whipped Clean shower butter. I'm very excited about this, it's such great value!

Next up is the Nails Inc Alexa Hearts Collection which features six of the new Alexa range nail polishes, a nail file and a make-up bag. I am most excited about the stars and hearts polishes. I recently brought one of the new polishes in the new bottles and was really impressed with the new brush shape and the bottles are so luxe, read more about my views here. This set is priced at £45.00.

All of the Benefit sets are so pretty and last year I received one of the cute tins with the Benefit girls on them. This year they've stepped up the game, they have these lovely gingerbread shop tins filled with make-up and skincare, I have my eye on the skincare set called Complexion Confections which is £39.50 and includes the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion, It's Potent Eye Cream, a mini The POREfessional and a mini Instant Comeback Facial Serum.

A bit of a pricey gift which is now available at Boots is the Foreo Luna Mini Skincare Device which is similar to the Clarisonic. The facial device directs T-Sonic pulsations through the silicone brush. It's compact, gently cleanses deep into the skin and there is no need for replacement brush heads, I've heard good things. These come in lots of different colours and are priced at £99.00 each.

Another cute nail polish set is the Ciate Candy Cane House, this contains four polishes which are glittery, scented and perfect for the holiday season. I love the packaging and these shades would look great on Christmas day. For £25.00, this is a little cheaper than the Nails Inc version.

A brand that I love to lust over when they release their Christmas sets is Smashbox. This year Smashbox Christmas sets are part of the On The Rocks Collection. Their biggest set is this gorgeous On The Rocks Eye Shadow Palette with 28 party perfect eye shadows which you could create so many looks with. Smashbox eyeshadows are super blendable, highly pigmented and long lasting, so this is ideal for any palette lovers. This is priced at £49.00.

A great stocking filler is the Soap & Glory Santa Gloss for £6.00. This would look great coming out of a stocking and the Sexy Mother Pucker lip shine lacquers are lovely! The shade is called Charm Offensive and there are so many other great Soap & Glory gift sets at different price points.

There are so many Gifts I could of chose for my wish list, but those are a few of my favourite picks. You can view the Christmas catalogue online or pick up one now from your local store. Boots are also doing a No7 Advent Calendar which is coming later this month. It's a shame that they aren't doing there own Advent Calendar like last year, as I loved opening that every day. I now have my eye on The Body Shop one.

If your looking for the lastest offers from Boots, vouchercloud have some great online discounts which can help you save money whilst Christmas shopping. What is on your Christmas wish list from Boots?

EVERYDAY MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS - SHOPPING MY STASH

This is the make-up that I'm currently wearing most week days, I like to mix it up a bit on weekends or evenings out but I do like to stick to the same products that I know work for me, so that they're quick and easy to reach for in the mornings. I store my everyday makeup in my Muji drawers and I shop my stash whenever I get bored of using a product. This is what my drawer currently contains;

Face

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer, 30ml £6.99 - The main reason I wear primer is to make my foundation stay around for longer. But this formula minimises pores, mattifies my oily skin and evens out skin before applying the rest of my make-up. I have nearly finished this tube, but you get a good amount of product for the price. I have already repurchased. YSL Fusion Ink Foundation, 30ml £30.50 - This is the newest foundation from YSL, I got a 7 day sample from a counter to try it before I buy the full-size. I'm really enjoying wearing it so far, it gives you a light to medium coverage, it drys matte which is great for my oily skin but is still glowing, really natural and leaves my skin super soft. Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, 6.8ml £7.99 - This is great for dark circles, I do find it does crease if I don't set it with powder. But the formulation really does erase tiredness. The sponge applicator isn't very hygienic but the twist tube allows you to get every last drop of product out. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19 - This is my go to concealer for hiding blemishes and redness. It lasts a while on the skin and doesn't look cakey at all. Soap & Glory Kick Ass Powder, 7g £12.00 - I then matte my skin, using this weightless and translucent powder. It's great for retouching and feels smooth on the skin. I have hit pan on this and would definitely repurchase. See my full post here.

Cheeks

Soap & Glory Love At First Blush, 7g £11.00 - I have been using this blush for ages and still haven't hit pan. It's still in the old cardboard packaging, but it gives a lovely rosy sheen on the cheeks. It has a small amount of shimmer, but it's great for everyday. 

Eyes

MAC Eyeshadows Omega & Soba, £10.00 each - I use these eyeshadows in my eyebrows to make them look as natural as possible. Benefit Gimme Brow, 3g £17.50 - I then set my eyebrows with this, it gives them a bit of definition, shapes and tints. It's long wearing, water resistant and build-able. I wouldn't be without this now. Urban Decay Primer Potion, 11ml £16.00 - I always use a base for my eyeshadows, as I have oily skin it's difficult to find shadows that don't slide down my face. This helps to make my make-up stay around the longer and prevents creasing. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette, £22.00 - This is a great neutral matte palette which is really wearable for everyday. It's the perfect size to just pop in your bag and the shadows are creamy and blendable. I have seen that Urban Decay are releasing a second Naked Basics palette, so I'm looking forward to that. Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, 11g £19.00 - I like a mascara with a big brush wand. This mascara is jet black, it lengthening and volumises lashes and holds a curl all day. I'm really enjoying using this at the moment.

Lips

Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick, £7.99 - This has to be my most wearable lip colour for everyday. It's a Loreal Caresse in the shade 101 Tempting Lilac, the formulation is so creamy and the colour is a subtle rose lilac. Sadly I'm nearly at the end of this.

Do you keep your everyday make-up separate? What are your recommendations?

BICESTER VILLAGE BEAUTY BUYS

Bicester Village is a Designer Outlet near Oxford. Its shops include; Prada, Alexander Mcqueen, Mulberry, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood and many more with up to 70% off. It is very limited when it comes to beauty, but what they do have is really good! I managed to find a few bits in The Cosmetics Company Outlet and L’Occitane. The CCO stocks many well-known brands; Clinique, Bumble & Bumble, Origins and Bobbi Brown to name a few. You will find products from past collections and all products are at discounted prices.

Firstly, I went into L’Occitane and spotted the Almond Shower Oil 500ml which was £25.00. I have tried this product before but in a smaller bottle and loved it. When I saw this 500ml bottle in a set at a bargain price, I jumped at the chance to take it home. The 500ml bottle comes with a handy pump which is much easier in the shower/bath and perfect for refilling afterwards. The scent of this range is divine, the formula comes out as an oil but once it’s mixed with water it foams up nicely. You can still smell this on your skin for ages after showering. L’Occitane is a lovely, luxurious brand to use for bath time pampering. It softens my body and I especially like to use it to shave my legs as it really nourishes my skin. I would definitely go and buy this large size bottle from Bicester at a discounted price than pay the usual £17.50 for 250ml.

The Shower Oil also came in a set with a couple of added extras to try; the Almond Foot Care and Delicious Almond Soap, obviously both with the same gorgeous scent. I’m looking forward to trying the foot cream, it seems to absorb really quickly and has a powdery finish so you can go about you’re daily life straight after using. The hand soap has a lovely floral fragrance of almond blossoms and contains crushed almond shells to gently exfoliate the skin.

Next I went into the CCO and picked up the Mac Pearlematte Face Powder in Pink Buttercream which was £15.25. This Mac face powder is so pretty I had to put it in my basket. I remember seeing this in a Mac collection last summer called the Baking Beauties Collection. As I’m quite pale, I think I will use this more of a blush highlight than all over my face.

I then spotted the Smashbox Heatwave Lip Glosses priced at £15.75. I bought the Smashbox Heatwave eye shadow palette last year and have used it many times. So when I saw the little lip glosses in a set, I thought they would be great to wear with the shadows in the summer. The lip glosses in the set are called Electic Orange, Fuchsia Flash, VIP Pink and Copper Remix and are all really wearable shades. This set is still available on the boots website for £22.50.

I have heard a lot of hype about this fragrance Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche, but have never got round to smelling it. I sprayed it on myself in the shop and had to go back for it at the end. The scent is lovely, it just smells like holiday and coconut. The size of the bottle is 100ml, so at £33.00 it was a real bargain. I probably didn’t need another perfume, but it was such a bargain that I couldn’t miss out on it.

I also picked up a Kate Spade bracelet and wash bag and also some Calvin Klein underwear. I would recommend a visit if you’re after a bargain or haven’t been before. After my Bicester shopping spree I now need a beauty spending ban, as I have a lot of products building up. But I’ve just seen that Origins have brought out a new Ginzing Face Mask – very exciting, somebody stop me!

CURRENT BEAUTY WANTS

As a new year has come round, I've held back (kinda) on the beauty spending but that doesn't stop me wanting more. There's always a product to lust over. Urban Decay Naked Skin Loose Finishing Powder £22.00 - I haven't heard too much about this product, but I'm looking for a new setting powder that will last all day. This product is great at creating the soft focus effect and helps your make-up stay looking flawless. I also want to try the Naked foundation from the brand. Smashbox Full Exposure Eyeshadow Palette £36.00 - I'm the first to say that I don't need anymore eyeshadow palettes, but this one is a beauty! Smashbox eyeshadows glide on like a dream, and this is the perfect combination of matte and shimmer. It comes with a double ended eyeshadow brush and a mini full exposure mascara. Ren Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser £16.00 - Ren has to be one of my favourite skincare brands, so when I heard they were bringing out a hot cloth cleanser I knew I had to try it. I have been enjoying the Rosa Centifolia range so far, great for all skin types and the scent is lush! Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blusher £30.00 - I recently watched a bunch of tutorials making me want everything from the brand! I'm in love with this blush and the bar of gold highlighter -  I've only heard good things. Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo £4.59 - I'm very faithful to my beloved V05 dry shampoo but I have heard great things and hope to pick it up the next time I'm in Boots as it's so affordable. I also want to try Bumble and Bumble's Pret-a-Powder, but for the price Dove is currently top of my list. Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Body Scrub £37.00 - I am currently using the And Other Stories Fig Fiction Scrub - which I love. When I run out of that I'm caving and buying this luxurious scrub for some serious pampering!

Let me know what your beauty wants are or if you've tried any of these products?