Christmas Gift Guide: Under £10

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Of course I'm talking about Christmas. Too say I'm excited is an understatment. Even as I get older, I never lose my love for the magic of Christmas. The food, the time spent with family, the Christmas telly and the presents. What I don't love so much though is that agonizing hunt for the perfect present for each and every one of my loved ones. And with each brand and company bringing more selection out each year, it's getting harder and harder to narrow it down. So this week, yes a whole week, I'll be bringing you my annual Christmas Gift Guides. Today we'll be starting with everything £10 and under then moving higher up the budget later in the week. Shall we get started?

 Nutella Mug Stocking Filler Set £8.50- There aren't many people who don't love Nutella so this Nutella mug filled with miniature pots of Nutella is perfect for that big Nutella fan in your life.
Paperchase Girls Support Girls Mug £9- This mug is perfect for anyone who feels strongly about female empowerment, a great one to bulk by for your entire friendship circle.
Monki Boob Necklace £6- A little bit cheeky but perfect for anyone who likes to make a statement with their jewellery or just like to make people do a double take. It's also perfect for layering, it's on my wish list but is unfortunately out of stock at the moment.

Urban Decay Mini All Nighter Setting Spray £10- Urban Decay have jumped on the bandwagon of doing miniatures of their products in a cracker packaging. They're only 'cracker' this year is a miniature of their bestselling All Nighter Setting Spray. Perfect for anyone who hasn't tried it before or someone who is in need of one for travelling.
Murad Limited Edition Dew A Little Moisturiser £10- Murad is another brand that released a variation of products in miniature to give to people as a stocking filler. The first is their Dew A Little Hydro Dynamic Moisturiser.

Murad Limited Edition Glow A Little Multi Vitamin Infusion Oil £10- The second offering from Murad is a small 'cracker' is a trial/travel size of their Multi Vitamin Infusion Oil. These are perfect for anyone who hasn't tried the brand before or for someone who you don't have massive budget for but still want to give them something that feels luxuorious.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Bauble £10- Too Faced again have jumped on the bandwagon and have released a 'cracker' of their bestselling Better Than Sex Mascara.Great for Secret Santa's or again someone you want to treat for less.
Emma Hardie Merrily Moringa Bauble £10-  Emma Hardie have again released their miniature Moringa Cleansing Balm. I always pick a few of these up for friends as a way to introduce them to Emma Hardie without paying out for a large size when they could not like it.

This Works Dream Team Duo £10- I recieved this as a gift last year and it's amazing. A great way to try This Works out but as these last a long time, a great way to save money and buy that special someone a little something extra.

Soap And Glory Let's Fizz Ball Set £10- Soap and Glory have done a cute boxed set of their trio of fizz balls. Cheaper than Lush, these would be a good idea for someone who loves their time to pamper themselves and indulge in a bath with a good old bath bomb.
Sanctuary Spa In A Jar £10- Sanctuary again have their annual Spa In A Jar set, this year's contains 75mls of Body Wash, Body Lotion and Foaming Bath Soak alongside a 30ml Hand Cream and a body puff.

Royal Jelly Bath And Body Jar Set £10- Royal Jelly also have a jar/coffret style product this year contaning 50mls of Foam Bath, Overnight Rejuvenating Hand Cream, Body Wash, Hand and Body Lotion as well as a body puff.

Sanctuary Spa Melt Away Candle £6- A candle is always a great present idea and again this year Sanctuary have released their Melt Away Candle. Coming in at only £6, this is even cheaper than a small Yankee Candle.
Sanctuary Spa Panettone Trio £8.50- A new release this year from Sanctuary is their trio of Wet Skin Moisture Miracles. This set contains three deluxe miniatures in three different scents including the original Sanctuary Scent, White Lily and Damask Rose and Green Lemon and Orange Blossom.
Yankee Candle 3 Votive Candle Cracker £4.99-Talking of Yankee Candle, this year they've released a cracker containing three of their bestselling Christmas candles in Christmas Eve, Snow In Love and Snowflake Cookie. Perfect for Secret Santa's on a budget or a small stocking filler for that candle lover in your life.


Soap And Glory Naughty But Spice Duo Set £5- Soap and Glory have their usual sets available this year but one that caught my eye was a Spice Duo. Containing a Spiced Body Wash and a Hydrating Body Lotion, this duo makes a nice change from their usually sweeter scents.

Royal Jelly Jar Stacker £8- 
Nuxe Christmas Cracker £10- Nuxe have released their annual cracker and as like every other year, it contains four miniatures including their Reve De Miel Hand Cream and Reve De Miel Face and Make Up Cleansing Gel.


Ted Baker Delicate Lips And Tips Bauble £8.50- Ted Baker have released their nail and lip duo again this year. There are two to choose from, the first this stunning greyish lilac shade whilst the other is a deep crimson shade, perfect for this time of the year.

Soap And Glory The Righteous Butter Bauble £6- Soap and Glory always have a nice array of sets and singles with this miniature bauble style The Righteous Butter being one of them. Perfect as a stocking filler or Secret Santa gift, this classic scented Body Butter will be loved by many.
Burts Bees Honey Jar Set £10- Burt's Bees is another brand that does a stunning variety of gift sets each but the one that caught my eye was this cute jar housing a trio of lip balms. With scents such as Hibiscus, Peppermint and Pomergranite, this cute gift set will leave you with a nice little keep sake when you're finished with it.

Thomas Kinkade Disney Mini 2019 Calender £5.99- This year I've fallen in love with Thomas Kinkade and Disney pieces. So when I saw this adorable calender, I knew I just had to add it to the list. Small, almost desk size, this twelve month calender has a beautifully replicated Disney scene represented each month, including some of your most loved characters such as Dumbo, Snow White and Cinderella.

Nightmare Before Christmas 2019 Diary £9.99- I'm a massive Nightmare Before Christmas fan so when I saw this diary, I had to include it here as well as add it to my own Christmas list. A6 in size, this can easily fit into your hand bag and be taken with you day to day with a gorgeous illustration of Jack and Sally on the front.

Thomas Kinkade Disney Dreams Slimline Calender £4.99- I couldn't resist showing another Thomas Kinkade and Disney calender in this gift guide. This one is smaller, slimline, the perfect kitchen wall calender as my mum would call it. It let's you see you month as a whole and again features some of your most loved characters such as Alice In Wonderland.

How To Transition Your Skincare For Spring/Summer

                          

Winter has finally bid us adieu which means that all those rich balms, moisturisers and oils can be put away until next Winter. Which then leads to the confusion or search for products to replace those you've used and loved in throughout the Winter. And that's where this post should helpfully come in handy as today I'm talking you through the ways I'll be replacing my Winter skincare products with ones that'll be more suited as the weather warms up. 

                           

Shall we start with cleansing? During the colder months I personally find myself reaching for thick balm cleansers and cleansing oils. As do a lot of people as they're more nourishing and help fight skin stressors such as temperature change, central heating and harsh wind and rain. However when Spring rolls around these cleansers aren't needed as much because people's skin has changed and a lot of people find their skin doesn't feel as tight or dry as it does during the Winter. And that's where lighter consistency cleansers come in. They're just as effective but aren't as thick or rich in feel. Gel like textures such as the Murad Essential-C Cleanser or the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser are perfect examples of lightweight yet effective cleansers that are still going to look after the skin and not leave it feeling stripped or irritated. If gel textures aren't your thing, then a light cream texture or a light texture balm would be perfect. But at the end of the day as long as it cleanses your skin effectively and removes your make up, it's all up to you and your choice as well as what works best for your skin. 

                           

During the colder months a lot of people reach for acid toners to help keep their skin from looking lacklustre and dull. And it's something that you should definitely keep up even as the warmer months roll in. Acid exfoliators that contain ingredients such as Lactic or Glycolic Acid work to loosen and remove any dead skin cells, revealing the healthy, glowing skin underneath. They also help to improve skins texture and aid the minimisation of problems such as discolouration and pigmentation. And it's important to continue this during Spring/Summer as it helps maintain your cell renewal, giving you clearer and healthier looking skin which is perfect if you like to wear less make up during Spring/Summer. Most acid toners comes in two forms, liquid or pre soaked pad. 

Both forms work in the same manner and produce the same results but again it just comes down to personal choice. A liquid toner I'd highly recommend comes from Pixi in the form of their Glow Tonic. Containing 5% Glycolic Acid, this is a gentle yet effective acid toner that leaves skin feeling refreshed and glowy. And for pre soaked pads, I've recently really been enjoying these Optimum Glycolic Acid Pads. They don't contain as higher a percentage of Glycolic Acid but are still effective but more suited towards those with more sensitive/reactive skins. Plus the pre soaked pads are easier to travel, perfect if you take a nice Spring weekend away or have a tropical holiday planned. 

                             

If acid toning isn't for you then another way to get the healthy glowy skin is physical exfoliators or face scrubs. When it comes to scrubs, there is no right or wrong for texture. You can use any texture of scrub as they don't usually vary in texture and are needed to rid skin of dead cells. I for one really like the texture of this Loreal Sugar Scrub. It's very gel like in texture and contains Kiwi Seeds that leave skin looking and feeling fresh and revived. However as I said you can use any facial scrub, they all work in the same manner so if you have a favourite then just continue using that. 

                                

Facial sprays can be used during the colder months to alleviate any irritation or tightness that skin sometimes feels but it's during the warmer months that they really come in handy. Many brands have a facial spray in their range and most of them are multipurpose in their use. Whilst hydrating and soothing mists are perfect for the colder months, revitalising and invigorating mists are a better fit for the warmer months. The mist I'll be reaching for Spring/Summer comes from B and is packed full of vitamins and caffeine that'll work in conjunction with each other to wake skin up and give it a refreshed and glowy look. Plus it can be layered under and over make up, making it the perfect on the go mist as well. 

                             

Just like with cleansers, in the Winter we all reach for thicker, richer moisturisers to keep out skin hydrated, supple and soft to the touch as it grows used to the cold, central heating and Winter's brutal weather conditions. However as Spring rolls in, we no longer need such thick moisturisers which can easily be replaced by lighter, water or gel based moisturisers. And on the market now there are a ton of these moisturisers that claim to lock in hydration for longer, giving skin a longer more concentrated dose of hydration. Three of my favourites are the Loreal Hydra Genius, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Warer Gel Moisturiser and the Garnier Moisture Bomb Glow Enhancer Moisturiser. All three are lightweight, ultra Hydrating and can easily be layered under make up. 

                             

If you don't want to use a moisturiser that's light in texture but you want to give your skin a hydration boost, then adding an essence or a booster into your routine is perfect. Essences especially are perfect for those who don't want to/can't use a hydrating moisturiser as they are so lightweight that they disappear into the skin almost immediately. They're also brilliant at soothing irritated or sensitive skin, creating a perfect base for the rest of your skincare/ make up. The same stands for the booster drops. They're lightweight but effective and can deliver hours of hydration without leaving skin looking and feeling greasy. Plus because they're such a simple step and don't take up too much time, they're so easy to fit into your existing routine. And during the warmee months, they're perfect for refreshing skin without weighing it down or clogging pores. 

                     

And the last part of my routine I'm changing is my eye cream. During the cold months I reach for thicker, almost balm like eye creams but now the weather has taken a turn for the better, I've finally been able to put them away. Now and until Autumn, I'll be reaching for lighter texture eye creams or gels to give my under eyes that boost they need. My current go to product is this Optimum Refreshing Eye Gel. It's not the be all or end all of eye products but it's perfect for waking the skin around the eye up, aswell as reducing any puffiness and minimising the appearance of dark circles. Rollerballs like this are perfect to get you up and going, so you can make the most of the beautiful days to come. This combined with a slightly thicker cream in the evening is the perfect eye cream routine and will have your eyes looking refreshed, revitalised and dark circle free for that no make up look that most of us are aiming for this Spring/Summer. 

Review: Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad is a brand I'd heard a lot about but never had the chance to try out. And in a way I didn't want to try out any of their products because of their high price tag. That was until I saw the Mark's and Spencers did travel miniatures of certain higher end brands including Murad's Essential-C Cleanser. And I just couldn't resist picking one up.

The Murad Essential-C Cleanser is a lightweight gel cleanser that is perfect for everyday use. Enfused with citrus extracts this works to cleanse skin whilst renewing it's radiance and awakening skin's senses. This cleanser also has an enviromental shield which claims to neutralise the damage that pollution and other daily aggressors that can leave skin feeling irritated. The enviromental shield is something I don't pay much attention to as I don't quite believe a product can do that.

However I do absolutely love this product and would happily pay the price for a full size bottle. It's not the best cleanser for breaking down and removing make up but used on bare skin as a second cleanse or an inital morning cleanse, it's fantastic. It really works to rejuvenate and awaken the skin whilst cleansing away dirt or grime. It doesn't leave skin feeling dry, irritated or tight after use, skin in fact feels softer and smoother to the touch but clean and ready for any skincare or make up you place over top. It's suitable for all skin types, even oily and sensitive and it's somewhat gentle yet effective formula really works wonders on the skin without stripping it of any essentials oils or moisture. If you're in the market for a new day to day cleanser then I highly recommend you check this one out. Yes it's slightly higher on the price scale but it works and I'm a firm believer of paying a bit more when necessary.

Monthly Favourites: July

It's Monthly Favourites time! Last month's favourites was rather small for various reasons so I'm making up for it this month. The first favourite this month is saying goodbye to the most hideous toothache I've ever had. I had to have a tooth removed at the end of June but couldn't put the pure relief it brought along with it in June's Favourites as I'd already posted it by the time I had my tooth out.

This month I've been enjoying my skincare a lot more. When I had my toothache my skin went downhill because I was more focused on the pain than looking after the rest of me. However since it came out, I've been back on the skincare bandwagon and to say my skin looks better for it is an understatement. And there has been a couple of cleansers that I really think have helped get my skin back to it's best. The first is this Botanics Hydration Dual Action Cleanser. I've been really enjoying this for taking my make up off. It's thick gel formula really works to break down my make up and removes it without clogging or weighing down my skin. This last month it's been my go to intial cleanse, it's gel to milk formula not only removing all of my make up but giving skin a hydration boost at the same time.

The next cleanser I've been loving comes from Murad. Their Essential-C Cleanser has seen more love for both inital cleanses and second cleanses than any other cleanser this month. It's orange scented and Vitamin C enriched formula really has left my skin feeling refreshed and revigorated every time I've used it. It's very thin in consistency, feels very lightweight on the skin and doesn't foam or soap up which makes it feel like it's actually cleanses my skin instead of stripping it of all it's goodness.

Another Botanics product I've been loving this month is their All Bright Serum Concentrate. Their All Bright Serum Concentrate has really helped improve both the texture and the look of my skin this month. Containing a natural exfoliant that helps to retexturise the skin with every us, I've been loving layering this and the Simple Hydrating Booster under my night moisturiser so that in the morning my skin looks brighter but also feels hydrated at the same time.

A product I wasn't sure I was going to love as much as I do comes from Simple. Their New Water Boost Hydrating Booster is a lightweight, water based serum product that you can add to your exsisting serum or moisturiser to give it a boost. I usually use hydrating products anyway but have really enjoyed adding this in to give skin that little extra boost. A little goes a long way and really helps skin feel hydrated, soft and plump to the touch. In the evenings I've been really enjoying adding a drop or two of this in with the Botanics All Bright Serum so my skin gets that glow boost but also a good dose of hydration as well.

Facial oil is something I've always been a bit intimidated by but recently I've been dipping my toe into them, to discover they're not actually as intimidating as they sound. And one I've been loving in particular comes from Naturally Radiant. Their Moisturising Facial Oil contains a mixture of Mulberry and Kiwi extracts as well as Rosehip, Jojoba and Apricot Kernel Oil that work to soften and moisturise skin without leaving it feeling overly greasy or oily looking. And that's exactly why I've loved it. It's lightweight enough to feel like it's not clogging my pores or causing my skin to produce more oil but heavy duty enough to actually moisturise my skin, leaving it feeling plump, soft and hydrated.

There have been a few masks I've been loving this month. The first is one of the latest offerings from Loreal's Pure Clay Mask range. Their Blemish Rescue Mask contains Marine Algae and works to help decongest pores, draw out impurities as well as soothe any exsisiting blemishes. Whether it was due to stress, being run down or hormones but at the beginning of the month I had a massive break out along my chin and mouth. They weren't pretty and left me feeling very self concious until I tried this mask. Unlike the others this doesn't dry down completely so if you happen to leave it on for an extra few minutes it's not going to dry skin out. In fact it seems to help and after one use my blemishes whilst not gone did look a lot better and slowly disappeared a few days later and luckily didn't leave behind any marks.

And the other masks I've been loving this month are Garnier's New Moisture Bomb masks. The De-Tiring and Glow-Revitalising Masks have been exactly what my skin has been asking for this month. The De-Tiring mask contains Essential Lavender Oil which helps reduce the signs of fatigue within skin whilst the Glow-Revealing Mask contains Sakura Extract which helps bring out skin's radiant glow. And these sheet masks as a range are some of my favourites in general. They don't flap about or peel off as your wearing them, they fit nicely to the contours of my face and the serum in which the mask is soaked in actually works and leaves results that last longer than fifteen minutes after it's been removed.

The only base product I've been loving this month is one that I've featured in a favourites post beforehand but I couldn't resist including it again. You may remember when the Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer first came out as I talked non stop about it and then I moved onto other bases I had in my collection. Well my love for it has come round full circles again, especially during the more humid days we've experience this month. It's BB Cream/Tinted Moisturiser hybrid formula gives skin coverage but doesn't create a mask over skin and still allows skin to breathe underneath. And the coverage is fantastic, I suffer from redness and this conceals that in a completely looking natural way that doesn't look cakey or too much. This paired with some concealer, powder, mascara and a bold lip has been my go to look for the last month and I can see that it will continue to be my go to product for the forseeable future.

The only red lip I've been reaching for this month comes from Rimmel. Their new Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick in Firestarter has been the only red I've wanted to wear since I purchased this. It's not a true blue toned red but it's not an tomato red either, it just sits comfortable in between and looks stunning on so many skin tones. This has a mousse like texture when applied to the lips which you would assume would leave lips feeling thick and gloopy but in fact the texture when it dries down is very lightweight and you can almost forget you're wearing it. And it doesn't budge. Like seriously, I've eaten a greasy burger and fries followed by fudge cake and ice cream with this on and it doesn't budge. It does fade from the very inner part of the lips but every lipstick does that whether it is liquid or not but the main body of colour stays in place. If you want to see my full thoughts on this, check back on Wednesday when a full review of these will be live.

And my last favourite for the month is this Barry M Lip Kit. Now a permanent line in the brand, these lip kits are to die for. Containing a lip liner and a matching liquid lipstick, these kits are highly pigmented, long wearing and easy to work with. I have several now but the one I've been reaching for a lot this month is the shade Go To. Now normally the packaging is a good match to the product inside but with this one it's a bit more decieving. What looks like a pale nude that wouldn't suit my dark hair and pale complexion is actually more a of a chocolate brown with a hint of greige running through it. And it wears so well. The lip liner is opaque in the barest of touches and the liquid lipstick is lightweight and highly pigmented, drying down to a comfortable matte finish.