Top 5 Secret Santa Gifts

Now last month I shared with you my Christmas Gift Guides and thought that would be helpful to those looking for gift ideas. Until last week at work we drew our Secret Santa and had to start thinking of a capped £10 budget present. And with that in mind I thought I'd put together five Secret Santa gifts that will stay within the price range, be great value for money and look like you've put more effort in that you possibly have.

Soap And Glory Special Edition Soaper Heroes Gift Set £10
If you're buying for some beauty obessed this Soap and Glory would be right up their street. Containing five miniatures inlcuding a tube of Hand Food and a tub of their ever famous The Righteous Butter, this set is perfect for those who are either big fans of Soap and Glory or who have never tried it before. I know I know a lot of my colleagues would like this if I got it for them. Plus it's right on price range.

Bayliss and Harding Beauticology Carnival 5 Mini Piece Set £8.50
I know of several people who'd love to recieve this Bayliss and Harding Set as a Secret Santa gift. There are so many variations of Bayliss and Harding to choose from but this mini five piece set was the one that caught my eye. Including scents like Toffee Popcorn and Candy Apple, this set includes a shower gel, body lotion and hand cream, giving the reciever of this set a little bit of everything. Plus it's adorably packaged and who can turn down adorable packaging this time of the year. And coming in at £8.50, this gives you enough change to treat them to a mini selection pack as well.

  

Anthropologie Gold Monogram Mug £8
I recieved a travel mug last year for my Secret Santa but would happily accept one of these gorgeous inital mugs as a gift. Well built with a gorgeous gold handle and foiled inital, there is one for every letter of the alphabet, meaning you're sure to find your recipents inital. And at £8, you'll again have money left over for chocolate or some sweet treats to go with it.

Yankee Candle Spiced White Cocoa Small Jar Candle £8.99
 Who doesn't love a candle and Yankee Candle does some absolutely divine scents. And their small jar candles are just enough for a Secret Santa gift. There are so many to chose from including divine smells such as Baby Powder, Candy Cane Lane, Vanilla Buttercream and Spiced White Cocoa. These candles burn between 25-40 hours which means someone is going to get good use of this and it's not going to take you over you price range.

Hawaiian Tropic Golden Paradise Body Mist £10
And my last Secret Santa gift option is a body mist. Not as strong as a perfume but not as weak as a body spray, these mists are perfect gifts for fragrance lovers. Hawaiian Tropic do an amazing range of scents inlcuding my personal favourite Golden Paradise. It smells exactly like holidays, with notes of coconut. And for a mist it lasts quite a while on the skin however it doesn't last as long as an EDP would but what do you expect for half the price. What I like about this as a gift is that they are generous sized bottles for a brilliant price. You get 200ml of product for £10 and it'll not only last on your skin but will last in general for a long time. Definitely give these a smell if you're thinking of going down the fragrance route.

Review: Simple Sheet Masks

When I saw that Simple had released sheet masks, all three may have just slipped into my basket in Boots. I really wanted to love these masks but they didn't quite meet my expectations.

The first of the three I tried was the Rich Moisture Sheet Mask. Enriched with a complex of botanicals and moisturising ingredients, this mask claimed to boost even the driest of skin's moisture levels. However this mask fell flat from the first hurdle. When I took it out of the packaging, I was impressed to see it was saturated in product but said product then proceeded to drip onto my floor in a steady stream which luckily didn't ruin my carpet. And it didn't get better once it was applied. Most sheet masks fit well to my face but this one did not. It was massive and by massive I mean, the holes cut for the eyes were so wide apart that they actually didn't go anywhere near my eyes. It took a lot of repostioning to get it to sit on my face and even after that it flapped and slid around my face. And where it was so saturated in product it dripped all down my chin and neck which wasn't pleasant to say the least. And the most disappointing bit of it all was after all of the trouble I had applying it and wearing it, it didn't do a lot for my skin. It didn't feel as moisturised/hydrated as I expected it to and I found I needed more night cream than I'd usually go for.

The second mask I tried was the De-Stress Sheet Mask. Enriched with Agave and skin loving vitamins, this mask claims to brighten and soothe stressed/irritated skin. I didn't have high hopes for this when I opened considering the state of the first mask I tried. However I was pleasently surprised. Whilst this one was still saturated in product it didn't drip or stream everywhere and I was able to apply it without product flicking all over my mirror. And this one actually fit my face, the eyes were where they were supposed to be, it wasn't overly large and there wasn't a large amount of excess material that I had to cut to fit my face. What I liked about this mask is that it actually felt and looked like it was doing something. Once I took it off, my skin looked quite soothed, my redness diminshed and it felt quite moisturised and soft to the touch. If I had to repurchase another of these masks it would probably be this one as it's the one I enjoyed the most.

And the last mask in the range is the Pollution Protect Mask. Soaked in Vitamin E, Vitamin B3 and Agave, this mask claims to help reduce the appearence and feel of pollution on the skin. This was another good mask, not results wise but the product in general. It had enough product to coat the mask generously but it didn't drip or flick everywhere. It fit the face well and needed minimal adjustments. Once it was on the face it didn't drip or flap about and I found I could move about freely without worrying about it coming off. The results didn't really impress. My skin felt soft, hydrated and somewhat soothed but I wasn't wowed as I was with the De-Stress mask. I think this mask is best suited for those who live in very busy cities such as London but as someone who lives in a smaller city, I don't think this necessarily works wonders on my skin.

Overall I would say that these masks aren't ones I'd rush out to repurchase. And I'm not making that judgement based on the one mask that was just terrible. The ones that worked were nice but didn't make an impression on me the same way the Garnier and Soap and Glory Sheet Masks did. The ones that did fit the face felt nice but didn't work extreme wonders and the results were pretty much gone the next morning. And at £2.99 a pop I think that as a brand Simple could have put a little more work into them. Sure they've created three masks but one of them seemed a little bit of a waste. Sure people need to be protected from pollution but a sheet mask isn't the product to do that. So instead of that I think Simple could have done with creating a mask aimed at more combination/oily skin types to not only moisturise and mattify but do so without stripping or overloading it with chemicals.

They were nice but definitely not a product I would rush out to buy or would recommend you go rush out and buy. If you can only use Simple Skincare products then sure these would be right up your street but if you can use a good range of brands then I'd suggest giving these a miss and trying something along the lines of the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks or the range of sheet masks from Soap and Glory.

Monthly Favourites: November

I say this every month but literally where has the month gone. It's nearly December and I haven't even got half of my Christmas shopping done. The panic is starting to set in a little if I'm honest. This month there isn't a lot of new favourites or a lot of favourites in general. For some reason I just haven't been using or discovering a lot of new products this month.

A lot of my favourites this month are old favourites that I've fallen in love with again. The first of these is Pixi's Glow Tonic. This has been my go to toner for the month and it's really changed both how my skin looks and feels. A lot of it's down to the 5% Glycolic Acid in it's formula that has helped my skin, making my skin look brighter and feel softer to the touch. And I've been using it everyday instead of every now and again and I think that's why it's been working so well with my skin. In fact I'm nearly out and need to pick up another one up soon.

Another oldie but a goodie is the Emma Hardie Morninga Cleansing Balm. I go through phases of using it and then stopping because I only had travel sized pots beforehand. Now though I have three 50ml pots waiting for me when I have finished this one. I love this product, it just works wonders on my skin, especially now it's Winter. Rich, thick and nourishing, this is my favourite second cleanse at the moment as it just does so much for my skin. If you've never tried it before I highly suggest you do, you won't regret it.

From one end of the price spectrum to another. To go alongside with my Emma Hardie, my favourite inital cleanse/make up remover has been from Loreal. Their Extraordinary Facial Cleansing Oil has been my go to intial cleanse. Lightweight, non greasy and non pore blocking, this cleansing oil breaks down make up, including mascara without stinging or leaving a film behind. This paired with my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm is like a match made in heaven. Together my skin feels squeaky clean but not stripped and the combination of the ingredients have left my skin glowing, clean and soft.

The only make up favourite I have this month is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. I picked this up at the beginning of the month after a few weeks of debating if I really needed it. And I'm so glad I picked it up. Amazing coverage, gorgeous glowy finish and brilliant staying power, this foundation I've been wearing this month. Usually Bourjois base products have a tendency to oxidise on my skin but this doesn't do that and looks flawless a good eight hours after I've applied it. Because it's more of a glowy finish I do need to powder a little more but that's not really a big issue for me.

This month I turned 25! And as my birthday present my bestest friend/soul sister Jasmin brought tickets for us to go and see Mamma Mia. I didn't have any idea where we'd be sitting, I just went by what Jasmin said. On the night we went for dinner and headed to Oxford and that's when I for once in my life was a little speechless. We were seven rows from the front. SEVEN ROWS! It made me a little emotional and left me a little speechless at the same time. Mamma Mia was amazing, I found myself laughing, singing and even at the end dancing. If you've ever thought of going, do it. It's an amazing night out and I can't quite believe that Jasmin did something like this for my birthday.

The other non beauty favourite I've been loving this month is the reboot of Strike Back. Retribution is a brand new cast for a ten part series which kicked off with a bang. Now I didn't think this was going to amount to much as I didn't think they could top the original series with Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton. But they're on a good start to do so. Four episodes have aired so far and each one has been bigger and better than the last. It's also set up the rest of the series nicely and I can't wait to see how it plays out. Warren Brown and Dan MacPherson are brilliant as Mac and Wyatt and have the same style banter as seen before with Winchester and Stapleton but it's the women of the team that I'm loving the most. Roxanne Mckee and Alin Sumarwata are absolutely amazing as Reynolds and Novin. Strong, badass yet still human and hilarious, the pair are my favourites of the show. And it's one of the reasons why Strike Back is one of my favourite shows even if it's not the typical kind of show you'd expect me to watch.

Get Unready With Me: Cosy Night In

Now I love getting ready everyday, I find it somewhat soothing. However I love nothing more than taking it all off at the end of the day or in my case as soon as I get home from work. There is nothing more satisfying than taking my make up off, taking my hair down, putting on some comfy pjs and getting cosy with a book or film for the evening.

 My work uniform is the first thing to come off as soon as I get home. Nothing feels better than taking my bra off (sorry TMI) and getting snuggly in my pjs. Now I know Christmas is really upon us but I'm feeling cosy pjs and these Grinch ones have been begging me to wear them since I brought them. And how can I resist them. Covered in the Grinch, my favourite Christmas film of all time, these all over fleccy pjs are the ultimate comfort after a day at work. Once I'm in my pjs. I take the numerous amount of pins out of my hair, give it a brush and then put it on top of my head in a not allowed in public pineapple.

Now I'm in my pjs it's time to take my make up off. Now I love putting my make up on everyday but I love nothing more than taking it all off as well. Sometimes I wait until I go to bed but there are other days when I can't wait and it's off as soon as I'm home from work. I like to double cleanse, the initial cleanse to remove my make up and the second cleanse to make sure I didn't miss any make up and to make sure my skin is clean. For inital cleanse I go in with an oil or a lightweight yet effective cream cleanser such as the Loreal Extraordinary Cleansing Oil or the Soap and Peaches Cleansing Milk. These really break down make up, including mascara without stinging eyes or leaving skin feeling greasy. Then for my second cleanse I tend to go in with a richer balm cleanser to really nourish my skin whilst simultaneously cleansing only my skin. I love Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm, it's rich and nourishing but doesn't weight down my skin or leave feeling overloaded by product. Once I've washed it off, my skin feels clean, soft and nourished.

On nights like these I go in with a sheet mask but before I apply my mask I like to tone and spritz my skin. For toner I can't help but go in with Alpha H's Liquid Gold. It's one of my favourite Glycolic Acid based skin treatments/toners. It really helps with skins texture and leaves my skin feeling smooth but not irritated. You could leave it there and let the Glycolic Acid just work it's magic but I like to lock it in with a little bit of Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer. This hydrates and soothes skin, diminshing the appearence of my redness and locking in skin's moisture.

Then finally I put on a sheet mask. I was only going to feature one but when it came to choosing one I just couldn't decide, so all three it is. The first and most used that I always have a stash of is the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks. I always have two or three of each kind stashed in my collection as their the ones I reach for the most. The same stands for the Soap and Glory Speed Plump Hydro-Gel Mask.This mask moulds itself to my face and doesn't flap or fall off. The same can be said for the Origins Sheet Masks. I only have one of these at a time as they do veer towards the pricier side of sheet masks.

I went for the Garnier Moisture Bomb De-Tiring Mask in the end. Not only does it give my skin a brilliant boost of hydration but it also is infused with Lavender Essential Oil that not only helps reduce the appearence of fatigue but also relaxes the senses, perfect after a day at work. I love how saturated in product these masks are, they do their job but don't drip or splash everywhere when I take it out the packet. They fit nicely to the face and don't fall off or start to flap about when you move. Fifteen to twenty minutes is long enough for my skin to feel hydrated. It's the perfect time for catching up on Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter.

Once I've taken off my sheet mask I usually go in with my moisturiser and nothing more. However my eyes are looking little puffy and dark so I'm going in with some eye patches. My all time favourites are from Rodial. On the slightly more pricey side, these Dragon's Blood Eye Masks work wonders on the under eye area and the results hang around for a good few days afterwards as well. Once I've popped these on I head into the kitchen to make myself a hot chocolate. I meant to take a picture of my favourite Mrs Claus mug but she was in the wash and then I completely forgot. However she is chubby looking, adorable and perfect for hot chocolate.

Pjs on, sheet mask done and hot chocolate in hand, it's time to get myself settled for the night. I have two choices of entertainment, the first is the book I've been reading called The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop. So far I'm really enjoying it and feel I may read more in the series after this. The second is the film The Holiday. I have never seen this film but heard lots of people rave about it, especially around the festive period. So I think tonight I'm going to cosy up with the cat and watch The Holiday for the first time. And if there's time or I'm not asleep already I can read a bit more of my book.

And the last thing I do not just when I'm having a cosy night in but every night is apply a good night cream. My go to is the Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream. Packed full of Lavender Oil and Hyaluronic Acid, this rich cream is the perfect product for faking a good nights sleep. No matter what time I go to bed I always make sure I apply this to give my skin a good repair/renewal as I sleep. And that's it, once everything is done, I'm more than happy to snuggle down under my duvet, watch another Christmas movie or at least attempt before sleep comes a calling.

New In: November

Okay so this post isn't what I had scheduled but I wasn't feeling that post and was a little stuck on ideas. And then an idea for a series which I will start properly next year. Now I know New In posts and videos aren't a new or groundbreaking idea but I think it'll be a good way to share what's new in stores alongside letting you know if I'll be purchasing them or not. Today's post is a trial, I'd love some feedback whether you liked this or not and if you'd like to see more next year.

Simple Water Boost Skin Quench Sleeping Cream £6.99
 If you remember a little while back I reviewed the Simple Water Boost Hydrating Booster. And I absolutely loved it. And now they've released a Skin Quench Sleeping Cream to the range. Packed full of the same ingredients as the rest of the Water Boost range, this new sleeping cream is designed to hydrate skin and remove signs of fatigue and dehydration as you sleep. I have a pot of this ready to try once I've finished up my Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream, I'm intrigued to see the difference between the two. The full review/comparison won't be up until the new year probably but if you like the concept of this product I highly recommend checking it out.

No7 Instant Results Revitalising Hydrogel Eye Masks £15
 No7 have released Eye Masks and they look amazing. These hydrogel eye masks claim to fit seamlessly to the under area. Soaked in Vitamin E and Vitamin C, these eye masks are designed to reduce the appearence of dark circles whilst promoting healthy looking skin under the eyes. These are a little pricey at £15 but you do recieve five in a box which will keep you going for a while and will save you a little money at the same time. I'm defintely going to be picking up a pack of these when I'm in Boots next as I'm a big fan of an under eye patch and think these could actually work on my under eye area.

CYO Lifeproof Long Lasting Foundation £7.50
This next product was one I didn't even know exsisted until I saw it on the Boots website. I'm assuming CYO is a new brand that's been launched in Boots recently. From what I've seen it's a budget friendly make up brand that has something for everyone, including this Lifeproof Long Lasting Foundation. It's advertised as a long wear medium coverage foundation that can last up to twenty four hours without looking cakey and still feeling lightweight on the skin. There are fifteen shades available but they only really cater towards very fair skintones up to a medium/deep skintone. There are no deeper shades, the darkest shade they offer is 115 which looks like it would cater for the very end scale of medium tones but no deeper than that. A little disappointing considering the amount of fairer tones they. Would I try it? I'm not sure, I have several foundations I'm very happy with at the moment so I think this would be a miss but maybe in the future when I'm looking to try something new.

Bourjois Metallic Lip Cream £8.99
A newly released lip offering that caught my eye comes from Bourjois. They've joined the other brands in releasing their own Metallic Lip Cream.There are eight shades in the range including a red, a silver and a deeper grey shade. I've swatched them in store and whilst they are pigmented and swatch beautifully, there is something about them that I'm not that keen on. I think it's because they don't dry down at all which to mean spells trouble. I much prefer the Barry M Metallic Matte Me Up Lip Kits or the new Loreal Merry Metallic Lip Paints.

No7 Matte Liquid Lips £10
The last new release that's caught my eye is the No7 Matte Liquid Lips. These look ultra pigmented and easy to apply with their standard doe foot applicator. Advertised as a long wearing yet comfortable and pigmented colour, these liquid lipsticks sound like they could be right up my street. The only downfall is that there is only six shades and whilst a couple of them appeal to me, I have a feeling that the colour won't be a true match to that shown on the Boots website. I will be giving them a swatch though when I'm in Boots next so watch this space to see if any come home with me. 

Winter Lip Edit

The temperature has dropped, Christmas songs are starting to appear and people have started getting into the festive spirit. And in my eyes that makes it Winter, so of course it's time for me to post my Winter Lip Edit. Normally I curate this to five lip products but I really struggled to do that this year as there were so many I loved or like the look of and ended up just putting them all in to save me the hassle of having to choose.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso: This isn't a stranger to my Lip Edits, I can't get enough of this shade. Beso is a bright cherry red that has just the right amount of blue tones running through it to stop it looking too orange. It's doe foot applicator makes application a dream and it doesn't dry down streaky or patchy. Applied onto to dry/chapped lips and it can feel uncomfortable and drying on the lips but if you pop a bit of lip balm underneath this will feel comfortable for a lot longer. It doesn't transfer unless you eat something extremely greasy but can be easily reapplied without it cracking or balling on the lips. The perfect Christmas Red, I expect I'll be getting a lot of wear out of it in the next month.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Ricco: Another Stila shade that I can't get enough of, especially since the weathers turned colder is Ricco. This is a beautiful deep plum shade that has just the right amount of purple running through it. Again it can be drying but it's a lot more comfortable if you apply thin layers as to not overload the lips with products. It doesn't dry streaky which is rare for a shade like this. If you have fair skin this shade will compliment that beautifully but it is a gorgeous shade no matter what your skintone is.

Sleek Matte Me Up Liquid Lipstick in Old Hollywood: I received the a miniatures kit of the Sleek Matte Me Up Liquid Lipsticks last year but haven't gotten round to trying them recently. It's a stunning burgundy shade that makes a great alternative to red, especially this time of the year. It's formula is different to other liquid lipsticks and can dry patchy if you don't work quick enough. However that can easily be rectified by using a lip liner all over the lips beforehand. It not only gives the colour a little more depth but stops it looking patchy when it dries. This doesn't dry down completely but it does mean it's a little more comfortable to wear. A little more work than the others so I tend to only wear this when I have more time to get ready.

MUA Luxe Liquid Lipstick in Hustle: This is the only shade that resembles a neutral in this lip edit. However it does have stunning plum tones that really shine through once it's dried on the lips. A slightly more dry formula than the other liquid lipsticks featured in this edit, Hustle does require more prep before wear as it can highlight any and all imperfections lips may have. A little lip balm or even a lip scrub beforehand is all that's needed to make this apply like a dream and wear more comfortably on the lips. Beautiful on a multitude of skintones, Hustle is the perfect shade that isn't too much but still gives lip that pop that can be missing with other shades this time of year.

 Barry M Matte Me Up Lip Kit In Prestige: This year metallic lips are a big thing and I've decided to dip my top into the trend. So instead of going for your standard Christmas Red this year I've decided to try out a metallic red shade instead. I love the Barry M Lip Kits, they're lightweight, comfortable to wear and don't leave lips feeling dry or cracked. Prestige is a deeper red shade than I'd normally wear for the festive season but it's still beautiful. And the metallic element isn't even that in your face, in fact it only shows when the light catches your lips just so. I've worn this briefly around my house but haven't worn it out and about. I am a little nervous but with the right make up and outfit I think it's going to look gorgeous.

Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Sour Grapes: It wouldn't be a lip edit without a Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in there somewhere. As it's turned colder I've found myself reaching for the darker purple and burgundy shades and Sour Grapes from RFA is perfect. It's a deep purple based shade that works wonders on a multitude of skintones. It's creamy formula and sheen finish usually makes this a no go for me but there is something about Rosie's range of lipsticks that breaks all the rules. It doesn't transfer easily, doesn't bleed or slip about and it's comfortable to wear all day long. I love pairing this with tons of mascara and a perfected base for a simple yet eye catching look.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Liptick in Rich Ruby: Now I know I said I would be dipping my toe into a metallic red lip this festive season but it doesn't mean that I'm not going to wear as many different reds as possible. And one of my favourites comes from Maybelline. Rich Ruby is a drugstore dupe for MAC's Russian Red. It's your classic blue toned red shade that compliments every skintone and makes teeth look whiter. It's creamy, comfortable to wear and doesn't budge unless you're chowing down on a greasy ass burger. One of my favourite reds to go for, this doesn't bleed or smudge easily even though it's creamy formula would make you believe it would.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Burgundy Blush: And the last lipstick in this edit is also from Maybelline. From the same range as Rich Ruby, Burgundy Blush is a deep purple toned shade that I've been favouring a lot since the weather took a colder turn. Every time I wear this I can never get over how smoothly this applies or wears. It doesn't transfer easily but doesn't bleed or smudge either. It does require a lip liner to perfect the edges and give a defined finish but apart from that this nothing wrong with this lipstick. I believe this is going to be the only non red shade that I'll be wearing between now and Christmas as it wears so well and suits the gloomy weather that's be recurring of late.

Christmas Gift Guide: Christmas Crackers

I think I'm a little bit insane. When I finished writing my fifth and final gift guide of the year, I found a few more products that I wished I'd featured. And as they were all of the same style product I thought why not just add enough gift guide to the list this year. I think I may be a little insane but I think it's going to be worth it. Today for the final gift guide I'm talking through Ten Christmas Beauty Crackers that I'd be kicking myself if I didn't feature some way in my Gift Guides this year.

Sanctuary Pamper Cracker £12.50: Sanctuary always do a fantastic array of gifts at brilliant prices. And this cracker is no different. Containing seven different miniature products including a 30ml Hand Cream 15g Detox Sachet, this cracker if you're looking to treat someone without breaking the bank. It would also make a great Secret Santa gift even if it does go a little outside the regular £10 price limit.

Molton Brown Exquisite Treats Cracker £20: Now this cracker is a little more on the pricey side but from a brand like Molton Brown it is to be expected. That being said, you do get a marvellous amount of product for the price. In this cracker you recieve four 50ml shower gels in scents such as Rhubarb and Rose, Gingerlily, Pink Pepperpod and Rosa Absolute. If you know a fan of Molton Brown and you're stuck on a gift for them this year, then this would be perfect.

Clinique Party Pops Bauble £15: If I'd have seen these Clinique baubles when I was doing my main gift guides I'd have definitely featured them. There are four I'm going to share with you because I just couldn't choose one that I liked the look of the most. The Party Pops Bauble has two of their Lip Colour and Primer Lipsticks in the shades Cherry Pop and Plum Pop. They look quite large on the website but I can't say if their full size or not/ However they're both gorgeous shades and you'll be getting great value for money as you get two ableit miniatures for the same price as one full price would cost you.

Clinique Beauty Bauble £15: The second Clinique Bauble I liked was their Beauty Bauble. Containing a mini Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara and a mini Take The Day Off Make Up Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips, this is a great gift for anyone who loves a good eye look. Sure the products are miniature but they're a great way for someone to dip their toe into Clinique as a brand or as a gift for someone who travels a lot and relies on miniature sized products.

Clinique Merry Moisture Bauble £15: The third Clinique Bauble is their Merry Moisture Bauble. It contains a small version of their Moisture Surge Thirst Extender and a mini Chubby Stick in the shade Super Strawberry. I wish I'd asked for this for Christmas as I'm desperate to try the Moisture Surge Range. If you know someone who's the same as me and wanting to try it or even if you know someone who will love the chubby stick, this bauble will give a little bit of luxury to someone whilst keeping it budget friendly.

Clinique Pop Eye Bauble £15: The last Clinique Bauble that caught my eye was their Pop Eye Bauble. I think it was the mini Take The Day Off Balm Cleansing Balm that did it. Look how cute it is. You also get a mini High Impact mascara which looks generously sized in this picture. This is perfect for someone looking to try either of the products as they get another miniature as a bonus. At £15, you can't go wrong picking this up for a loved one. The standard of the products is brilliant and you'll still have change left over to buy them some chocolate if you're working to a budget.

L'Occitane Refreshing Verbena Bauble £12: How luxurious does this bauble from L'Occitane look. And at such a good price as well. In this gorgeous bauble you recieve three miniature products all in their signature Verbena scent. This is perfect for all ages but is definitely something I'd pick up for my mum as a little last minute gift. Not only is this gorgeously packaged but the three products you recieve are decent sizes for miniatures. And at £12 you can't go wrong. In fact I might just pick this up for my mum when I'm Christmas shopping next.

Cowshed Hand and Lip Cracker £12: Cowshed always do brilliant value Christmas Crackers and this year is no different. The Cowshed Hand and Lip Cracker contains a 50ml Cow Slip Soothing Hand Cream and a Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm. It's the time of year where hands and lips suffer the most so this is a perfect gift for anyone's who looking for a little relief. And at £12 this a brilliant priced add on gift that you can pick up, even if you've finished shopping for that particular person.

Crabtree and Evelyn Winter Hand Trilogy Cracker £12: The penultimate cracker I want to talk to comes from Crabtree and Evelyn. Their Winter Hand Trilogy contains three 10ml tubes of hand cream, including the scents Frosted Spicewood, White Cardamom and Red Berry and Fir. I personally have my eye on this for my nan. To me Crabtree and Evelyn is more of a mature ladies brand so I think this would be perfect for all the mums and nans out there. And it has a luxury feel to it that will make everyone that sees believe you've spent more than just £12 on it.

Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm Cracker £19: I've never seen a cracker from Elemis before so when I saw this on the John Lewis website I knew I had to feature it. Yes it's a little pricier than other crackers featured but you not only get a 20g pot of their Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm and a Cleansing Cloth but you also get a voucher for a free 15 minute Pro Collagen Treatment. I mean if that alone isn't worth the £19 price tag then I don't know what is. If you know someone who loves or who'd love to try the Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm and deserves a treat then this is for them. Exclusively available at John Lewis, I'd say snap one up quickly as this could be gone before you know it.