Budget Christmas Gift Idea

Christmas can be a tough time on the bank balance, so this nail polish set from Primark is the perfect gift idea if you're on a strict budget. At only £2 for four beautiful colours, it's a great present for any beauty-lover.

 

With a glossy red-pink, a metallic silver-gold, a deep grey and a purple glitter, there's something for everyone. If you're really strapped for cash, you could give the polishes individually to four different people, which works out at just 50p per polish. Bargain!

 

 

 

nspa Passion Fruit Shower & Bath Gel

I love a good shower gel, and this passion fruit one from nspa is one of the best ones I've come across recently. Not only does this smell absolutely divine (just like J20 drinks!), it forms a rich lather so a little goes a long way, and it also contains a selection of vitamins for keep skin feeling soft and smooth. Although I only have showers, I imagine it would make an indulgent bath soak too.

 

Asda currently have an offer on selected nspa products, and you can get two 500ml shower & bath gels for £4. The normal price is £3 each, so it's a good bargain.

 

Have you tried any other products from the nspa range? I will definitely be treating myself to some others.

 

The Body Shop Joy Card

Another little freebie inside December's issue of Glamour is this Joy Card, which will give you either £3, £15, or £100 off a purchase in-store. Simply take the card in to find out which amount your card is worth! It's a great way if saving some money on a Christmas present, or even treating yourself to a little something. Your card could also raise £1000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity too!

 

If you haven't got your copy of Glamour yet, make sure you pick one up quick as you also get a Kate Spade by nails inc. nail polish!

 

Have you spent your Joy Card yet? Which amount did you get?

 

 

Magazine Freebies

I know I'm a bit late off the mark with this one, but I don't buy that many magazines anymore as I struggle to find the time to sit down and enjoy them. However I made an exception when I saw the treats available on December's issues of Glamour and Cosmopolitan (UK editions).

 

Glamour is giving away a Kate Spade by nails inc. polish, and I chose the shade 'Soho Silver'. I love metallic shades and I can't wait to give this one a try.

 

Cosmopolitan on the other hand have a selection of four ORLY polishes to choose from - I opted for 'Star Spangled', which is a classic red shimmer that'll be perfect for the festive season.

 

 

Have you bought your copies of Glamour and Cosmopolitan? Which shades did you go for?

 

 

Birchbox November 2013

 

This month's Birchbox definitely made up for my slightly disappointing Glossybox. Here's what I got:

 

1. Lila'lli Line Define Fill in black: Although I'm not sure how this black liner would be suitable for lips, I can't wait tot try it out on my eyes.

 

2. Weleda Oat Replenishing Shampoo: This will be handy when I'm staying overnight somewhere and don't want to take a full sized shampoo with me. It'll be great for my bleached hair too.

 

3. Laura Mercia Ambre Vanille Body Butter: This smells so good and I'm sure it'll be a treat for parched, winter skin.

 

4. Christopher Wick English Laundry Perfume Sample: Boasting a sweet scent, the fragrance is really long-lasting without being too over-powering. But as with Glossybox, I'm getting a bit fed up of perfume samples in beauty boxes.

 

5. Birchbox Sharpener: A little extra, a sharpener is always handy to have in your bag to keep your pencils ready for use at all times.

 

6. Chella Highlighter Pencil: This'll be great for perking up dull skin and enhancing natural radiance. It'll also be a saviour for tired eyes during the upcoming party season!

 

7. Pukka Herbs Teas: I love earl grey but I don't usually go for flavoured teas. I'll give the cinnamon one a go but I think I'll be passing the elderberry and echinacea one to my dad to enjoy!

 

Were you happy with the contents of your Birchbox this month?

 

 

Glossybox November 2013

 

With the theme of this month's Glossybox being 'The Glossy Wishlist', I was expecting some luxury, indulgent products to enjoy in time for Christmas, but sadly I was left a little disappointed with the November offering.

 

Here is what I got:

 

1. Yves Rocher Collection Cacao Cocoa and Raspberry Hand Cream, 75ml (full size), worth £1.95: This smells delicious and doesn't make my hands feel too greasy. I would say that this is my favourite product from the box.

 

2. Connock London Kukui Perfume, 1.5ml sample, worth about 75p: I found this scent a bit overpowering - it's very floral, with notes of gardenia, white jasmine and lily that rest on a woody base. My sample was only half full too, so I guess it's a good job that I'm not that fussed on it! I'm starting to get a bit sick perfume samples now. Switch it up a bit Glossybox!

 

3. Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams, 1.48g (full size), worth £16.80: Although this is great for sensitive eyes like mine, it's not a colour I'd really wear, so I'll just use this as a base when I do a smokey eye. I could never justify paying that price for a single eyeshadow though, so it definitely bumps up the worth value of the box.

 

4. Elegant Touch Nail Polish Remover Pads, 20 pads (full size), worth £2: I'm a total nail polish junkie and I always remove it using pads, so these will come in super handy.

 

5. Vichy Idealia Life Serum 2 x 3ml, and Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream 1 x 3ml, worth around £2.90 in total: My skin can often look quite dull, so I'm looking forward to seeing if these can perk up my complexion. I wish they were a more generous size though.

 

This box is a bit hit and miss for me - I'd like to see less perfume samples and if it wasn't for the eyeshadow, this box would have been worth less than the £10 paid for it.

 

What did you get in your Glossybox this month? Were you happy with your selection of products?

 

 

Orly 'Preamp' Nail Lacquer

I was lucky enough to receive three Orly nail lacquers as freebies from work yesterday, and the first colour I tried out was 'Preamp'.

 

A gorgeous lilac-y pink with lots of shimmer, it's just the sort of shade I'd go for. I'm not the biggest fan of dark colours on my nails, even in the autumn, but the high-shine finish definitely puts me in the mood for the festive season.

 

It has quite a thick consistency, so one coat was enough to give my nails fantastic coverage. It applied so smoothly, and the brush is narrow which allows you to get right to the edges of your nail whilst still achieving a neat finish. The rubber cap also helps with grip.

 

Even though it looks quite pink in the bottle, it actually has quite a strong hint of lilac once on the nails (this photo was taken with the flash on). The shimmery finish makes it feel extra glam too!

 

You can buy Orly Preamp (18ml) for £10.25 from LookFantastic.

 

Are you a fan of Orly nail polishes?

 

 

 

Happiness Is....

 

Inspired by a pretty stressful start to the week, I thought I'd share with you five little things that put a big fat smile on my face.

 

1. Seeing these cute critters in my garden every night

 

 

I'm lucky enough to have a family of badgers that visit every evening. I love putting food out for them and watching them gobble it all up. They're so cute and seeing them really cheers me up.

 

2. Zumba

 

Without a doubt this is my favourite way to get those positive endorphins pumping. It's such a feel-good activity and there's no better feeling than dancing your stresses away. If you've never tried Zumba before, then I honestly can't recommend it enough.

 

3. Having something to look forward to

 

 

 

Whether it's a night out, a catch up with a friend or a weekend shopping spree, having a little thing to look forward to gives me something positive to focus on when times are getting stressful.

 

4. Taking time to appreciate what you DO have

 

Whenever you feel like life is dealing you a bad hand, just think of all the things that you have: A job? Great family and friends? A roof over your head? A good education? Your health? It's always good to appreciate the things that are often taken for granted in life.

 

5. Watching this footage of when Olly Murs Kissed me

 

 

Officially my dream man, watching this never fails to leave me grinning (and feeling pretty smug!). He was so lovely when I met him and this video is a nice little memory that I can watch whenever I need cheering up.

 

What little things make you happy?

 

 

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Foundation

Foundation is the one beauty product I couldn't live without. My skin has a really uneven tone naturally, and without it I feel really self-conscious. I've tried many different foundations over the years, but the one I keep coming back to is Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour.

 

I find this one works really well with my oily skin, and it doesn't 'gather' in my open pores like a lot of foundations do. It's an absolute dream to apply (I apply it with a foundation brush from H&M which cost about £1.50, so I'm not even using high quality tools), and it really does last the whole day. If I feel my skin getting extra oily, I just dab a little powder over the top and it looks as though it's just been applied.

 

As someone who is pale skinned, it's also nice to find a foundation with a shade that's pale enough to look natural, but not so pale that it borders on making me look like a ghost. 005 Light Beige is the perfect shade for me.

 

I would definitely recommend this to those of you with oily skin who are looking for a long-lasting and affordable foundation. At £8.99, it's a great drug store purchase.

Which is your go-to foundation?