25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Sixteen

Welcome back in 25 Day’s Of Beauty.

In Day Sixteen I received a tube of the Skyn Iceland Limited Edition Minty Lip Fix. This a very thick lip balm with a minty scent that is supposed to help alleviate chapped lips during this cold and somewhat windy time of year.

This lip balm feels very nice, it has enough slip to not be overly thick and gunky on the lips but is still enough to moisturise lips. The only thing that lets this down for me is the smell, it’s too strong and I wouldn’t be able to wear this for long periods of time. I’m definitely going to give it a go to see how it works as all of my other lip balms aren’t doing much for me lately.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Fifteen

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty. 

In Day Fifteen I received a full supersized tube of the Percy And Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm. This balm can be used on wet or dry hair to help ease frizz, protect from humidity and give hair a sleek smooth look. It definitely is something I could enjoy because it sounds like it could help ease the terrible baby hairs that I get when I put my hair up. 

Percy and Reed is a brand that is featured every year in the Calender and they usually always get it right. This is one of the six full sized products that this Calender has to offer and I have to say I’m thoroughly impressed by it. It didn’t go back in the box and I’m sure I’ll be getting a lot of use out of it. 

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Fourteen

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty. I apologise that we’ve fallen behind but life is busy at the moment and I just didn’t have enough time to get these posts up.

In Day Fourteen I received a travel sized tube of the Emma Hardie Purifying Pink Clay Detox Mask. This was the product I was most looking forward to receiving in this Calender. This mask aims to purify, exfoliate, balance and reduce the appearance of redness. It sounds like it’s the kind of mask I love but haven’t had chance to try yet.

This is definitely my favourite day of the Calender so far but it’s purely because it’s a product I know I’ll use and love. Of course it didn’t go back in the box but the ratio of the size of the product to the box it came in is still one that bothers me. If they release this Calender again next year I think they need to rethink both their design and the size of the products/the boxes that hold them.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Days Twelve And Thirteen

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty. Today I’m combining days Twelve and Thirteen as I didn’t post yesterday.

In Day Twelve I received a travel sized tube of the Beautiful Butters Coconut Body Butter. This is a delightful body butter that isn’t too thick or greasy feeling but leaves skin feeling hydrated. It also smells divine. Unsurprisingly it stayed out of the box and whilst for some this is a filler product, I’m thoroughly enjoying this product.

And in Day Thirteen I received a travel sized bottle of the Shay and Blue White Peaches EDP Spray. We normally receive a Shay and Blue fragrance in the Calender and luckily it’s been a different scent each year. The White Peaches scent is nice but just a little bit too sweet for me. I’ll probably end up giving this to my mum or nan as they do prefer a sweeter scent.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Eleven

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty.

In today’s box I received a ridiculously small tube of the Filorga Supreme Multi-Correction Cream. I believe it’s an eye cream but there is nothing on the packaging to say it is and I had to have a good look through the website to find anything about it.

I’m not going to be using it. I don’t like Filorga’s products, they don’t work with my skin and aren’t targeted at what my skin actually needs. Also the packaging situation with this calendar is getting ridiculous. This is a 7ml tube of product and it’s in a box that could easily hold a 30ml tube of something. It’s a waste of packaging and to think this has been produced in the millions, it‘s a waste of resources, especially in an age where everyone is trying to be a little more conscious of their eco footprint. Honestly if this Calender doesn’t pick up between now and Christmas Day, I don’t think I’ll be buying another one next year.

When Christmas Loses It's Spark

Can I have a show of hands if you've lost that festive spark? Or if you haven't had an inkling at all? We're now into the second full week of December, Christmas is rapidly approaching and I am getting to the point where I just want it to be over already. Am alone in feeling like this? Or am I just letting the stress of trying to juggle everything get to me. As I write this, I haven't finished Christmas shopping, I don't have a clue if there's anything or one I've forgotten, I've had to buy a Secret Santa present for someone who's worked for the company for over a year but is still a mystery to many and half of my ideas for this month's content haven't come to fruition yet. And that's all before the stress of wrapping everyone's presents takes a hold.

Christmas is supposed to be a time spent with loved ones with some good food and a tv schedule that no one can agree on. And as I've gotten older, it's definitely become more about spending time with my family than it has about presents. In fact this year has been the hardest year of thinking of ideas of anything I'd like or need but haven't brought for myself. A lot of that comes from having my own disposable income that gives me the freedom to buy what I want, when I want but it also comes from my mindset changing over the last year. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing my pile of presents come Christmas morning and I love watching others open theirs but this year everything retailers have had to offer as part of their 'Gifting' range has seemed stale, recycled and overpriced. And as someone who works in retail and as a consumer, I can tell you it's definitely a case of 'same shit, different year'. However it does make it harder to think of things to ask for as time with family and good food isn't always the welcomed answer. This year I've just asked for books I don't want to wait for in paperback and a couple of TV boxsets to binge throughout the New Year. 

Which leads me to the problem with all of us when it comes to buying presents. We are all so wrapped up in finding the perfect gift or spoiling our loved ones whether they'll actually like and use the presents or they'll be left to gather dust on the shelf somewhere, that we lose the true meaning of Christmas. I'm not bashing any one for wanting to spoil their loved ones as I am one of the worst when it comes to this. Every year I try and go above and beyond, to almost beat last years presents. I know I'm doing it but I can't stop myself. It always starts at the end of August and carries on through until I've brought the last present, even if it wasn't on the inital list. I'm worst at doing this with my mum, she's the easiest person to buy for and whilst I also write a list of things I know she'd love, I always end up adding to it, the majority of the time without realising. I've done it this year and I'm currently deciding whether to buy her another present or if she's got enough as it is but I always find myself justifying with 'but she's done a lot for me this year' which is true every year but I feel like I should be able to thank her for by giving her my time and attention instead of a pile of materialistic items she may not even like. We all wrapped up in that consumerism way of thinking that we actually forget that our time and love is enough for most of our loved ones. Maybe next year I'll be able to rein it in but I think it's safe to say that it's too late for that this year.

And even when you've got the list of perfect presents for everyone, you've then got to find the time to go out to buy them and then sit and wrap them. Yes I know that you can order pretty much anything online nowadays but there's something that usually feels nice and festive about actually leaving the house and buying them in person. Yet now we don't have that kind of time, we have to work, to find time to keep ourselves balanced and this time of the year is also filled with a ton of social events that you have to work around. So sure I understand that ordering online is easier but it also takes away from the pastimes of going Christmas shopping and making a day of it. I haven't had half the chance this year to go out and shop so a lot of my shopping has been done online but it's just one of the things that's taken the spark out of Christmas. It also doesn't help that my work has been shoving Christmas down everyone's throat since the August Bank Holiday. No you didn't read that wrong, I did in fact say August. Which leads to my next point.

Take away the desire to find the perfect present, the lack of time and the ease of ordering online and one of my biggest bug bears and probably what takes the spark out of Christmas is how early the shops starting ramming it down everyone's throats. I speak as someone who works in retail, who has Christmas plans shoved under their nose as early as August now. Companies don't understand that people don't want Christmas rammed down their throats for the last quarter of the year. Sure it's a busy time of year and there's a lot to do but August, really? And as someone who works in retail, starting it this early means that by the time you hit mid November, you're pretty much done, ready for it to be all over with. It's bordering on ridiculous, especially when those big companies also expect their workers to give up any spare time during December to work, including late finishes on Christmas Eve and long shifts on Boxing Day. It never fails to start a few arguments where I work, especially when we talk about how the company don't care about it's workers, only about bringing in the money. I really miss those simpler times as a kid when you would finish school on a set day and then have a fortnight to eat, wear nothing but an elasticated waistband and watch every Christmas film being shown. Now you're lucky if you can get two days off over the festive period and a lot of the time you have to sacrifice your time elsewhere for it.

Now I know this post has been a bit of a Debbie Downer but I also know that a lot of people are feeling like this and that no matter what they do, how many Christmas films they watch, how many Mince Pies they eat, nothing gives them that festive feeling. I know that feeling very well at the moment but I'm hoping that taking a couple of days off to rest and recharge my batteries, as well as finishing that last bit of shopping will be enough to push me into a more festive mood, instead of being a moody old Scrooge. To anyone who's reading this and feeling exactly as I've described, I hope that you do manage to find that festive feeling and that you have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and more food than you could fathom eating.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Ten

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty!

In today’s box I received a travel sized tube of the Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Multi Correction Cream. There is always something from Nuxe in the Calender and normally I don’t care much for this but this cream is a really nice gel texture that sinks easily into skin and doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or weighed down. I’m not sure where this aimed at use wise as the packaging doesn’t give much away and the website has so many variations, it’s quite hard to work it where it’s for.

I normally don’t reach for the Nuxe products when I receive them but this one piqued my interest and it actually didn’t go straight back in the box. I think I need to research into this a little more before I actually use it and I’m sure if I like it, it’ll feature in a favourites at some point.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Nine

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty.

In today’s box I received a travel size tube of the Philip Kingsley Body Building Weightless Shampoo. I don’t know anything about this shampoo but having tried other products from Philip Kingsley over the years so I’m under the assumption that it’ll be a good product.

I highly doubt I’m going to reach for this product but I’m not disappointed in having received it in the box. It makes a change from receiving the Elasticizer which has featured in the Calender for the last couple of  years.

GRWM: Nightmare Before Christmas Live

On Thursday me and Jasmin finished our year of shows with a trip up to London to see Nightmare Before Christmas Live in Concert. Featuring the original voices of Danny Elfman (Jack Skellington), Catherine O'Hara (Sally) and Ken Page (Oogie Boogie) perform the songs of the film as it played. For a die hard Nightmare Before Christmas fan like myself, just being there was enough but me and Jasmin had the surprise of our lives when we arrived last night.

As we arrived at Wembley Arena last night and I was getting the tickets out for admission, we were approached by a very lovely lady and her son or grandson who offered us two spare VIP tickets that gave us better seats than what I'd paid for as well as a free goodie bag each and access to a VIP lounge before the show. I was shocked and didn't have a clue what to say, being offered VIP tickets for nothing by a kind stranger is something that only happens on the TV. But there we were being offered two tickets worth 500 pound for free thanks to the kindness of a stranger. Which meant we went from sitting in the furthest corner of the arena to sitting five rows from the front. FIVE ROWS FROM THE STAGE! I still can't believe what happened and wouldn't believe it was real if it wasn't for the photos I took. So to repay this strangers kindness we decided to hand our original tickets in to the box office so someone could receive the same kindness that we had. Sure our original seats weren't fantastic but the energy alone in the arena made it so it didn't matter where you were sat.

So today I'm sharing with you my look for the evening and I'm so glad I didn't have a last minute outfit change because I don't think we would have been bestowed such kindness otherwise. Shall we kick it off with my make up? For primer I went in with my holy grail trio of the Two Faced Hangover X Primer in both spray and cream form. I added a little bit of the Loreal Infallible Primer Drops as well so I had the perfect priming base to soothe and hydrate my somewhat under the weather skin.

For foundation I went with my IT Cosmetics CC Cream. This stuff does not budge. I mean I've worn it for twelve hour days, cried, danced and worn it throughout a heatwave and it hasn't budged. Which is why it was the perfect choice for last night. Plus it's lightweight and gives brilliant coverage which when applied with a damp beauty blender is flawless but still natural looking and totally changed me from the cold ridden Rudolph that I was before to looking somewhat half decent. What I wasn't impressed with was it falling onto my new Christmas pjs that I'd only just taken the tag off of.

My choice in concealer hasn't changed in the longest time. A combination of the Maybelline Eraser Eye and Revolution's Conceal and Define work to conceal even the darkest of bags. And if I have any blemishes or excess redness that my foundation hasn't covered then these work wonders. It all blends out seamlessly with a damp beauty blender, making me look I've had more sleep than I've actually had.

Now usually I'd go straight in with powder but I've recently learned that leaving a gap of ten minutes before applying powder gives skin a flawless look with less of a powdery finish. So I move onto my brows and I know they need a good tint and wax but I'm trying to grow them out so the bushy look is what's going on at the moment. However to fill in the sparse areas at the front of my brows, I go in with the Barry M Brow Wow pencil. It's soft enough to fill them in but not that soft they it smudges at the slightest contact. And surprisingly I managed to get both brows looking relatively even for a change.

Onto mascara and once I've rigorously curled my lashes I give them a healthy coat of the Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer. This helps to keep my curl and volume without weighing them down or relying on multiple coats of mascara. Then I go in with a coat of the Loreal Volume Million Lashes So Couture Mascara. It's barrel shaped micro bristle brush coats even the tiniest of lashes and gives them volume without leaving them clumpy.

Excuse my whilst I powder my nose. It's time to set everything into place and for that I use the Too Faced Born This Way Loose Powder. I much prefer a loose powder over a pressed powder as it gives a softer, more natural looking finish to the skin whilst still creating that flawless base. I prefer applying my powder with a beauty blender as it doesn't leave large clumps of it sitting on my skin and helps to set my make up in place for longer.

Now onto my favourite part of this look. The lip. I knew as soon as I booked tickets for this show that I'd be rocking a red lip. Not only is it my go to look for a night out but it also gave me that Christmas vibe which comes from the multi seasonal film. I started off by lining my lips with the Barry M Lip Liner in 03. I would have preferred to use my Primark Lip Liner but I've misplaced it so this one had to do. Once I was happy with the shape of my lips I went in with the Fenty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored. This has quickly become my all time favourite red lip but it's liquidy formula means I do tend to have to religiously check my teeth whilst wearing it. A quick spritz of the Too Faced Hangover X Setting Spray and my make up is done and dusted.

Outfit wise I wasn't going to wear this Nightmare Before Christmas sweatshirt, thinking it would be too much but I'm so glad I chose to wear it. There were so many people wearing amazing jumpers, t-shirts and sweatshirts, I felt right at home. I paired it with my faithful high waisted black skinny jeans and my much loved Dr Martens. Again I was wary about wearing these but they seemed to be the shoe of choice and I saw so many stunning pairs that I've now added to my wishlist. 

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Eight

Welcome back to Day Eight of 25 Day’s Of Beauty.

In today’s box I received a travel size tube of Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream. This is another one of those night creams that claims to work overnight as you sleep to rehydrate, plump and fight the signs of ageing.

We’re not starting the second week of this calendar well. Again this is a product that has been seen in previous years and whilst I understand they want to promote their own beauty brand, this could have easily been replaced by another product, especially since there has already been a Formula Absolute product in the Calender. A nice enough product but doesn’t work with my skin so this will just be sat in the box until my next donation/Declutter.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Seven

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty. Sorry this post is a little late, I took last night as a self care night as I’ve been suffering with a cold this last week. But better late than never right?

In Day Seven’s box I received a full size Nails Inc nail polish. The polish is called Weekend Millionaire and is red toned shimmer with tiny silver specks of glitter running through it. There is always a Nails Inc polish each year and most of them time they are themed around the festive period.

It’s not the worst item that I’ve received in this Calender this year but it’s probably one I won’t get a lot of wear out of. Not just because I have several other nail polishes that I can wear over the Christmas period but because I don’t like the brush or the formula of this polish. For a big brand like Nails Inc you’d assume they’d put more into their brushes but this one is one of those thin, spindly brushes that takes forever to actually paint your nail. And the formula itself feels very think and would require multiple coats to get any kind of opacity. Nice colour but not for me when I have cheaper nail polishes that have both a better brush and formula.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Six

Welcome back to 25 Day’s Of Beauty. We’re very near completing our first week of unboxings and it’s definitely be a mixed week.

In today’s box I received a Autograph Kohl Pencil in Black. There are no fancy bells or whistles on this product. It’s just a black kohl eyeliner that looks like it’s softer than the other pencils you can buy

I’m not going to use this product. I don’t wear eyeliner, it gives me too many flashbacks to my teens. It’s another product that’s just going to sit in the box until I give it away or donate it to charity. It seems to me like a filler item that’s just been included as something to just make up numbers. I have to say so far this year I am unimpressed by this calendar and will more than likely buy a different one next year.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Five

Welcome back to Day Five of 25 Day’s Of Beauty.

In today’s box I received a 30ml tube of the REn V-Cense Revitalising Night Cream. Containing a blend of Vitamin C, Frankincense and Wheatgerm, this cream claims to help rebalance skin overnight as you sleep as well keeping it hydrated and working against the first signs of ageing.

This is another product that I’ve happily kept out to try because again it meets my expectations as a consumer. It’s a decent sized tube and actually filled the majority of the box. I’ll definitely be giving this a go but I’m not sure how well it’s going to react with my skin as it is quite heavily fragranced.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Four

Welcome back to Day Four of 25 Day’s Of Beauty where I share what I receive in my Marks And Spencer Beauty Advent Calender.

In today’s box I received a 30ml tube of the Alpha H Balancing Cleanser. This is a limited edition cleanser that is packed full of ingredients such as vitamin e, rose and aloe Vera to deeply cleanse skin but strip or irritate it.

This is the first product in this calendar I’ve actually wanted to use. I love Alpha H as a brand so I have no qualms about the quality of this product. It’s also the first product that fits me as a consumer and definitely go to waste. Four days in and I’ve only opened one product I like, it’s not boding well for the rest of this calendar.

Secret Santa Gift Guide

 

Tis the season to be jolly! Happy December, the countdown to Christmas is on and if your work is anything like mine, we all in a mad dash to find that perfect Secret Santa gift without breaking the budget. So today I'm talking you through a ton of amazing and suitable Secret Santa gifts that don't go a penny over £15. Hopefully you'll be able to find the perfect gift for your chosen recipent in this selection of gifts.
 

For The Beauty Lovers 

L'Occitane Baubles £12- My first option are the L'Occitane Baubles. Coming under budget at £12, these baubles contain three miniature products from their bestselling ranges such as Almond and Shea Butter.

Nuxe Beauty Cracker £10.50- Next is the Nuxe Beauty Cracker which makes an annual appearence in my Gift Guides. Each year Nuxe release a new variation of this which contains four miniatures of their bestselling products, including the Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil.

Soap And Glory Original Pink/Sugar Crush Tin £10- You can never go wrong with a bit of Soap And Glory. Their Original Tin/Sugar Crush Tin Christmas gifts are amazing. Whether your recipent is already a lover of S&G or new to the brand, these tins packed with four miniature products and a full size face mask are perfect to introduce or spoil someone with.

Ted Baker Heavenly Tips And Lips £8.50- If you're looking for a gift that doesn't break the budget but looks opulent and expensive then this Ted Baker Duo is perfect. Containing a full sized nail polish and colour lip balm, this duo is perfect if you want to buy them a beauty gift but aren't sure on what they'd actually like or need.

No7 Nail Collection £14- If you've picked someone who loves doing their nails, this five piece set would be perfect. Featuring five full sized gel effect nail polishes with colours that'll suit everyone, this is the perfect gift for any nail obssessed recipent who never wears the same colour twice.

The Novelty Gift 

Make Your Own Neon Sign £12.50- There are a lot of Make Your Own Kits on the market at the moment and this one in particular caught my eye.Containing 3m of bendable neon wire, a battery pack and hanging hooks, this novelty set allows you to make your own neon sign without the hefty price tag.

Escape Room Game £8- Escape Rooms are a big craze right now which makes this travel friendly version the perfect Secret Santa gift. With 16 different puzzles included and 256 different combinations to the plastic padlock included, this set will have everyone's brain ticking over the next games night.

Secret Santa Selfie Light £5- This next one is for any selfie obssessive you know. Do you know someone who's always complaining about their selfie never having the right light? This clip on selfie light is the perfect gift for them, ensuring they have the best looking selfies this festive season.

Secret Santa Personalised LED String Lights £5- I always love getting people presents that can be specific to them. And these personalised LED string lights are perfect for that. With ten LED bulbs and forty eight letters, this set of cute string lights will allow the reciever to write their own message or even just their name in LED. And you still have money left over for chocolate if you wanna spoil them.

Chocolate Cookie Jar £4.99- If you know someone who loves to bake but isn't the world's greatest then this cookie mix is perfect for them. Containing the precise amount of ingredients and a cookie cutter, this is cute set is a foolproof gift for any wannabe bakers. Also they get a nicely sized storage jar afterwards.

For The Difficult Male Colleagues

Lynx Black Trio, Powerbank And Speaker Giftset £12- What man doesn't love a bit of Lynx. It's all companies seem to advertise for men during the festive season and this year they've stepped it up a notch. Coming with your standard body wash, anti-perspirant and body spray, this set also includes a power bank that can also be used as a speaker. All for twelve quid which is pretty much the price a standard power bank on it's own.

Star Wars Death Star Maze £8- Know a massive Star Wars fan? Then this 3D Maze shaped like a Death Star is perfect for them. A full size ball bearing maze, this addictive game will require them to use The Force to complete it and will keep them quiet for hours.

Jack Daniels Whiskey Glass And Stones £10-If you know someone who considers themselves a bit of a whiskey connoisseur then this Jack Daniels glass and stones set is perfect for them. Plus it's a bargain but has the feeling of being pricier than what it actually is.

No7 Men's Grooming Set £8.50- It's becoming more common for gent's to look after themselves now and this full grooming kit from No7 is just perfect for that. Containing all the essentials such as nail clippers and tweezers, this kit will come in handy for any man you know who likes to take that little bit of extra care with his appearence.

Bulldog Shaving Duo £12- It's a known fact that shaving can be a costly thing. But it doesn't have to be with this Bulldog Duo. Containing a full size shaving gel and a bamboo handled razor and blade, this duo takes some of the cost off shaving whilst also looking after a man's skin, something a lot still overlook.

For The Die Hard Fans

Harry Potter Hogwarts Bath Essences £10- For any die hard Harry Potter fan, these House themed bath essences will give them a magical addition to any bath. Each House has a different scent and even if you don't want to use them, they'll look amazing as collectables on any shelf.

Harry Potter Mauraders Map Colour Change Mug £8.50- Who doesn't love a colour changing mug. I for one do and this Harry Potter mug is perfect for any die hard fans. When cold, this mug displays the infamous 'I Solemnly Swear I'm Up To No Good' quote and when hot water is added it turns to the Mauraders Map, one of Hogwarts most cherished artefacts. A must have for any Harry Potter fan who also happens to have an extensive mug collection.

Nutella Mug £8.50- I recieved this mug for Christmas and I adore it. Smaller than my normal mugs but still a good size, this Nutella mug is perfect for any die hard fans of the glorious spread. It also comes with two adorable miniature jars of Nutella which are just too good to eat.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Mug £8.50- I love a good mug, especially ones themed around particular brands or sweets. And what better for any Reeses' lover than this well sized mug. Not only will you be able to make the perfect cuppa in it, you'll also be able to enjoy some Reeses' cups as well as this cup comes with four small cups to enjoy whenever you like.

50 Chick Flicks Scratch Off Poster £8.50- You can find a ton of these kinds of posters on ASOS and Urban Outfitters but this Chick Flick poster really caught my eye. There isn't one person in the world who hasn't watched a Chick Flick and this poster is a great way to watch some of the greatest the film world has to offer. It's also a great one for girls' nights in, especially if nobody can ever pick a film.


Make Your Own 

Disney Sheet Masks £4 or 3For2- Sheet masks are always a great pampering gift and these ones from Mad Beauty's Disney range are so cool. Each sheet mask is printed to make the wearer look like a princess or a villain. Some options include Ursula, Belle, Cinderella, Cruella De Vil and Maleficent. A great laugh for a pamper night in with the girls or the family.

Disney Villians Bath Bombs £4- As I've already mentioned, bath bombs are a great gift in a Pamper Kit and these Disney Villain themed bath bombs are perfect for that. Including one shaped like a cauldron, these a fun addition to any Secret Santa gift that you have to buy for.

Harry Potter Bath Bombs £6-Nothing beats a long soak in the bath and another great addition to any handpicked hamper or gift bag is a bath bomb. So many brands do single bath bombs that don't cost the earth but my favourites are the Harry Potter ones that Boots have to offer. Each one is a little pricier than some you can get but are themed perfectly and one even has a House Reveal inside.

Ted Baker Body Spritzes £4-  I once recieved a Ted Baker Body Spritz for Christmas and it was the perfect handbag spritz that lasted longer than a body spray but wasn't as potent as a perfume. And these gorgeously packaged are brilliant for popping into a handmade basket or goody bag. They come in at four pound a pop and are currently on a three for two deal at Boots which means you can easily treat yourself to one at the same time.

Masque Bar Pumpkin Spice/Hot Cocoa Cream Masks £3-Nothing beats a good face mask and Boots just happen to have two very seasonally appropriate ones that would go perfectly in a DIY goody bag. These cream masks work for any skin type and give a festive twist to your normal self care sessions. And at only three pound a pop, you'll even be able to treat yourself to one.

25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Three

Welcome back to my 25 Day’s Of Beauty Series where I unbox my Marks And Spencer Beauty Advent Calender for you.

For Day Three I received a travel sized tube of the Formula Absolute Total Eye And Lip. Trying to find some information on this product is difficult because the packaging gives you nothing. And even the M&S website gives a minimal description of what actual product other than moisturise the eye and lip area, choosing instead to focus on what the brand itself stands for and how long it’s been running.

I’m not going to lie, I’m not going to use this. I’m very particular about what I put around my eyes and after past experiences with this brand, I think it’s a wise decision. My biggest bug bear about today though is the size of the box that this came in. Think roughly the size of a £1 carton of roses and that’s the size of this box. Which compared to the size of the product is ridiculous. I get they have a design but if you going to use a box that size, at least make sure the product fills more than a quarter of the box.