FOTD: Playing With My New Make Up

First off I'd like to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas! I'm taking it a little bit easier on the blogging front over the next week or so because all of my University deadlines are on January 13th. I have to be honest, over the last couple of weeks I really haven't been wearing much make-up. I've spent most of my time in libraries or travelling between Leeds and London and I just haven't been bothered. However, for Christmas I received the Balm's Nude'tude Eyeshadow Palette and it has revived something in me and now all I want to do is play with make-up. I did a big make-up haul at the beginning of December so all in all I've got quite a few new products to try out. Today's make-up look (my 'face-of-the-day') features a couple of these new goodies, most notably; Seventeen's Tattoo Me Semi-Permanent Liquid Eyeliner, MaxFactor's False Lash Effect Mascara, MaxFactor's Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink and Revlon's PhotoReady Face Illuminator in Bare Light. I told you I had a lot of new products!

Face

 The first thing I did was prime my face with L'Oreal's Lumi Magique Primer, a product that I would highly recommend for all skin types. I don't find that it makes my skin any more oily and it adds a lot of radiance. I then used Dior's BB Cream in Shade 001 for my base, and I applied it with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I followed up by concealing all my blemishes and my dark circles with concealer, I used a mix of Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair and Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer in Fair (together they give me a good colour match and medium-heavy coverage). I dot the concealer wherever I need it and then blend it with my Real Techniques Contour Brush. I dotted Revlon's PhotoReady Face Illuminator in Bare Light onto the tops of my cheekbones and I blended thoroughly. I then lightly applied some of MaxFactor's Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink just below on the apples of my cheeks. Together I find that they give my face a lot more structure and warmth but in a very natural looking way.

Eyes

I first applied an eye shadow base, Essence's I Love Stage, over my eyelids. While it is drying I lightly shaped and then filled out my eyebrows with Catrice's Eye Brow Pencil. Once I Love Stage has dried I applied the shade 'Selfish' from the Balm's Nude'tude Palette all over my lid. I then applied the shade 'Sleek' in my crease and the shade 'Sassy' in the inner corners of my eye. I lined my upper lash line with Seventeen's Tattoo Me Semi Permanent Liquid Eyeliner. As you can see, I have hooded eyelids so most eyeliners can smudge very badly on me. Seventeen's eyeliner is amazing because it is very gel-like and then it dries once applied and does not budge, even if you wear it all day. I would highly recommend it! I finished off my eyes by applying MaxFactor's False Lash Effect Mascara in Brown/Black, which is surprisingly quite black. This used to be my favourite mascara but I do now actually prefer Maybelline's the Falsies Mascara (I think that the brush is nicer). 

Finishing Touches

I didn't add powder (which I do normally do) simply because I forgot to bring one home to London with me. And on my lips I wanted something that would add some colour but that would be very hydrating so I applied Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour in the shade Apple* (which I featured in my Red Lip Wardrobe Post). As you can see it gives quite sheer colour, but for a glossy lip product it is very long lasting.

So that is how I'm wearing my make-up today! It's a very simple look but I like the products and if you like these sorts of posts I'm happy to do some more FOTDs in which I can always experiment a little bit more.

My Favourite Facial Oils

Since first stumbling across facial oils in July they have very quickly become an essential element of my skincare routine. There is a facial oil for any and all skincare needs and I for one have become pretty reliant on them for quite a few reasons. I suffer from combination skin that still acts as though I'm in my late teens - I get oily patches, dry areas and frequent blemishes that leave behind dark spots that need help to fade quickly. I find that facial oils help balance out my skin (reducing the oil and re-hydrating dry patches) and they help fade the marks left by my blemishes too. I also know that they're good for dehydrated and mature skin because they're great at getting moisture back into the skin leaving it looking plumper, and often my general complexion looks brighter the morning after as well. I hope that I'm slowly convincing anyone who is still dubious that you should at least consider using a facial oil, but now I'm going to go on to talk about the three oils I've been really enjoying over the last couple of months.

Decleor Aromessence Iris Reujuvenating Serum* is the most luxurious product that I'm going to be talking about today. It contains 100% natural Jasmine Absolute, Iris Conrete and Manuka, Lemongrass, Geranium and Rose essential oils and it is designed to be used in the morning or evening. It is especially aimed at mature skin because of its intense hydrating and toning properties but used sparingly I find that it can work wonders on all skin types. When I use it on my skin it brings back the glow that all the late nights I've been spending in the library, and all my days spend away from daylight, have otherwise robbed me of. I use this in the evening when I want to wake up with glowing skin. Although this small bottle is only 15ml, because it is made up of pure essential oils it is important to only apply a little at a time. I apply two drops to my finger tips and then apply it in light stokes across my face until it is completely absorbed. I really enjoy using this product and I'm keen to try more from Decleor in the future.

Decleor Aromessence Iris Reujuvenating Serum is available from HQHair.com for £55*

Rosehip oil is famous for it's ability to tackle redness and fade marks in the skin. Trilogy's Rosehip Oil is really lovely as it does so much for my skin without any real effort being needed! All I do is apply a couple of drops of this facial oil onto my fingertips and then gently massage it into my skin and I find that with regular, continued application the pigmentation of my skin is evened out and my skin is left a lot smoother. I think this is a great product to pick up if you're new to facial oils, especially because it is very reasonably priced. Don't be fooled by facial oils small sizes, 15ml/20ml lasts a really long time because you only need a couple of drops of oil a night.

Trilogy's Rosehip Oil is available from HQHair.com for £16.50

Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate* was sent to me as part of the MyLittleSkinCareProject which I've been part of for the last few months now. I found that it took a while for me to get used to the scent of this facial oil as its quite strong but it really does a fantastic job at balancing out combination skin. When I use this facial oil my t-zone is less problematic and I don't suffer from dry patches of skin on my cheek. My face is very evenly but intensely hydrated. Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate contains Rosehip Oil as well as Argan Oil and a Neroli, Lavender and Chamomile essential oils as well as Vitamin E - it's ingredients list is really top notch. If you can handle the scent (which is all natural, not an added fragrance) then I would highly recommend it to anyone suffering from similar skin complaints to me. This is definitely a fix-all product that I now really enjoy using.

Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate is available from LizEarle.com for £40.50*

Facial oils can be a bit of an investment in terms of cost but I find that a 20ml bottle will last me up to six months when used daily. I think they're definitely worth buying into and now that I've tried them I wouldn't ever stop using them as part of my skincare routine. Did you like the sound of any of the facial oils I mentioned? Do you use a facial oil that I haven't mentioned? As always I'd love to hear your recommendations! 

My Red Lip Wardrobe

For me, putting on a red lipstick is like putting on a new dress or a pair of high heels. It is an instant, fool-proof way to make myself feel dressed up. However, it dawned on me recently that although I have a passion for trying out new lipsticks I don't actually have many options when it comes to a red lip. I'm not one to really experiment with red lips, I definitely know what I like (blue based shades that aren't too much on the bright side) and my collection of red lip colours really testifies to that! I am starting to wear red lips a lot more frequently - nothing like bringing a little bit of glam into my student life - so I felt as though a post dedicated to the subject would be quite fitting. Today's post is just going to involve me showing you the six red lip colours that I have in my collection and walking you through which are my favourites and why. 

LEFT TO RIGHT: Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 107, Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 101, MaxFactor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Tuesday, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Revlon Red, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic and Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour in Apple.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 107

This is probably my most worn dark red lipstick. It is a red that is definitely on the berry end of the spectrum and I find it incredibly flattering year round. I do tend to reach for this lipstick more in the autumn and winter months and lately I've been really loving it. This lipstick has a satin formula - so it is on the matte end of the spectrum but it isn't too drying on the lips. I find that it lasts really well (a must have if I'm going to wear a bold lip) and it is a shade that I often get compliments on.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 101

After the success of the shade '107' I couldn't help myself but go back this year and pick up another colour to try. Rimmel's Kate Moss Lipstick in 101 is a gorgeous true-red and I must admit that I find it quite bold to wear. When I brave this one out of the house it does make me feel quite wonderful. It has the same formula as '107' so it lasts really well even when I sip on drinks or nibble on food and I feel comfortable that it won't smudge or bleed. I love Rimmel's Kate Moss lipsticks, especially these 'matte' ones in the red packaging.

MaxFactor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Tuesday

The formula of MaxFactor's Colour Elixir Lipsticks is absolutely gorgeous and I definitely think that they're highly underrated. Ruby Tuesday is a gorgeous blue based red that really brightens up my face when I wear it. The formula is very creamy, opaque in one swipe and lasts through meals. I'm incredibly impressed with it whenever I wear it and it is normally the lipstick I reach for when I want a bright red lip instead of a darker berry-red.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 107, Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 101, MaxFactor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Tuesday, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Revlon Red, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic and Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour in Apple

 Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Revlon Red

The colour of Revlon Red is intense and its brightness often puts me off wearing it. I find Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipsticks very light and moisturising but that does mean that the lasting power isn't as good as the lipsticks that I've previously mentioned. Additionally, I always use a lip liner with Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipsticks because I find that they have more of a propensity to bleed and smudge than my other red lip colours. That being said, the effect of this lipstick really is quite something and if you're after a vivid colour to wear to a party or event then I'd definitely recommend this one.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic 

This is probably the easiest 'daytime red' lip colour that I've come across. The shade is slightly more orange toned than I would like but sheerness of it means that it's easy to layer up to an intensity that I'm happy with and then the lasting power (because it is a stain) makes it effortless to wear. I'd highly recommend Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains and I've been raving about them all year long!

Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour in Apple*

Lanolips' Lip Ointment with Colour in Apple is the best option for anyone with dry or sore lips. It is a thick, very effective lip treatment that just happens to have a gorgeous touch of colour to it. I tend to wear this when my lips are having an off day (central heating and wind are doing them no favours) but when I still feel I need a little colour added to my face. The colour only lasts about an hour before you'd need to reapply but it fades evenly and it isn't sticky like a lipgloss. In my books it scores very highly! I'm quite the Lanolips convert.

So there you have it, those six red lip colours make up my red lip wardrobe. I'm definitely on the hunt for new shades to try in the new year as compared to say pinks and neutrals I really haven't tried many red lipsticks! Which lip colour did you like the most? And do you have a favourite red lipstick?

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On My Nails This Week: Essie's Lots of Lux

Lots of Lux* is part of Essie's 2013 Encrusted Treasures Collection and whenever I reach for it I feel as though I need take a moment just to appreciate how truly beautiful it is. On a shelf away from sunlight it could look pretty normal and unassuming, but in the light it is hard to ignore the shimmer that runs through it and gives it a gorgeous silvery-pink iridescence. Once I saw it in he sunlight I knew it was a polish that I couldn't ignore. Passing between different lights I find that my nails have the most beautiful radiance to them and with winter well and truly upon us (and Christmas looming not all that far away) it is the perfect way to embrace a little bit of glamour. For me, Essie's Lots of Lux is a wonderful festive polish that adds some much welcome glitz to my day-to-day life.

Other than it's beautiful colour, another element that makes this nail polish special is its texture. Textured nail polishes are among my favourite. I'm not usually a fan of a completely matte nail but a textured polish like Lots of Lux offers an alternative finish that lies somewhere between the two conventional finishes. The shimmer that Lots of Lux is laced with gives its finish a particularly attractive multi-dimensional look that stops it from looking flat. I found that without much in the way of maintenance (and without a topcoat) Lots of Lux lasted three days on my nails without any wear or chips but after that its wear-time degraded a bit and I had to re-paint my nails on day five. All in all I would very highly recommend it, especially if you want a nail polish to wear to any Christmas or New Year's parties - Lots of Lux is a showstopper!

Essie's Lots of Lux is available from Beauty Expert for £10.95*

What do you think of Lots of Lux? What nail polish are you wearing this Christmas?

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November and December Beauty Empties

TAG: The Christmas Tag

Christmas is almost upon us (and winter is well and truly in full swing) and this year I'm really getting into the Christmas spirit. I'm playing Christmas songs while I write my essays, I've got tinsel adorning the walls of my bedroom and I've already had a few mince pies too many! So when I saw The Christmas Tag over on Jennie's blog I knew it was a TAG post that I couldn't pass up.

What is your favourite Christmas film?

I don't have a favourite festive film, but the films that I always watch around Christmas time are Home Alone and Titanic. They're on television every year and it has sort of become a tradition of mine to watch them over Christmas and Boxing day.

What is your favourite festive colour?

Oh, gold for sure. Gold baubles, gold glitter, golden nails - everything gold makes me feel thoroughly in the Christmas mood. 

Do you open your gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

I usually have to wait until Christmas morning but sometimes I actually have to wait for longer, until after Christmas dinner. It requires so much patience, too much.

What is your favourite winter fragrance?

I love the smell of Christmas trees. That woody pine scent is such a nostalgic scent for me, it reminds me of all the wonderful Christmases that I've spent with my family.

What is your favourite Christmas scent?

At Christmas time I like warm, rich scents. I'm not usually a fan of vanilla scents but I'm really liking them at the moment, especially when they're mellowed out with a dash of spice. The Body Shop do a gorgeous Madagascan Vanilla perfume.

What is your favourite festive drink?

I don't really have a winter drink of choice. My family don't really drink alcohol so over Christmas our drink of choice is sparkling elderflower cordial and it's actually one of my favourite drinks year round.

Candy canes or gingerbread men?

Gingerbread men every single time. I love ginger, I love biscuits, what could be better.

What is your favourite Christmas song?

Have you ever made a snowman?

Whenever it snows you'll find me outside trying to make one! Luckily where I live it tends to snow every year (although often not over Christmas).

What is most important to you about Christmas?

I spend nearly nine months a year away from home, about 200 miles away from home. The only time of year that I know for sure that I'll get to see my family and friends from home is over Christmas. For me, the Christmas season is all about being with the people I love and getting to feel at home again. For me, this is the most important aspect - it's one day of the year that totally re-centres me and sets me up for my year ahead.




That concludes today's little slice of Christmas! I tag anyone in the Christmas spirit to complete this Tag and if you do it (or have already done it) please do send me links to your posts so I can give them a read.

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Don't forget to enter my Christmas Giveaway - you could win two Origins face masks!

Buche De Noel: Lush's Christmas Limited Edition Facial Cleanser

Buche de Noel is a Christmas Limited Edition Facial Cleanser from Lush and it is the first Lush cleanser that I've ever tried. It looks like a hot mess when you first see it. Don't worry, everyone feels the same way about it - it looks messy and confusing. One of Lush's charming shop assistants very kindly took the time to walk me through how to use it and this was the only reason I bought it. She very clearly and simply showed me how to use the cleanser and walked me through it's benefits.

Unscrewing the lid, you then need to take a pound coin size blob of Buche de Noel onto your fingers. I usually just pinch an amount that I think looks about right and then I move this into the palm of one of my hands. You then slowly add a bit of warm water to the cleanser and you rub it around your palm until it has a past-like consistency. At this point it starts to look more normal, much more like a cleanser - it has a milky consistency but it isn't completely smooth. At this point you can start rubbing the milky paste on to your skin in slow circular motions. Not only does the cleanser effectively clean your skin, it also offers a gentle exfoliation. I find that after using Buche de Noel my skin not only feels clean but it also feels very smooth and soft.

I found that Buche de Noel worked very well for me. It is really gentle and I don't think it would aggravate sensitive skin at all. It is definitely unlike any of the 'conventional' cleansers that I've used before and it is a bit messier to use but I've really enjoyed using something that is handmade with fresh ingredients. I'd definitely recommend getting your hands on it while it is still available! You can find Buche de Noel in Lush stores or online here for £5.95. (And remember to save your black Lush pots - if you return 5 of them to any Lush store in exchange they give you a free face mask of your choice.)

Have you tried any of Lush's facial cleansers before? Do you like the sound of Buche de Noel?

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A Mixed Review: Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream For Oily Skin in Light

I bought this based on reviews I'd read (and watched on YouTube) which basically sold it to me as perfect for those with pale, oily skin. This really wasn't an impulse purchase either which is why I'm sad that I don't really like it. 

Maybelline's Dream Pure BB Cream in Light has the sheerest coverage of any BB cream that I've tried before, it doesn't cover up the majority of the redness in my cheeks or even any of my smaller blemishes. It really is just a light wash of product which is all that good for me but I suppose it might be good for if you're at school and want undetectable make-up or if you like incredibly sheer coverage. The colour is also a touch too dark for me which means I have to blend this all the way down my neck if I want to wear it. I'd definitely not recommend this for anyone super pale, and maybe even not for those of you who have a similar skin tone to me as I think it just looks a little bit "off" on me. 

It does have some good points to it which saves it from being a total waste of money. I find that it is good as a sheer coverage product, so if you wanted a drugstore tinted moisturiser then this is the sort of product I'd steer you towards. It also does work very well on oily skin and I do find that it doesn't disappear on me throughout the day, so the sheer coverage it offers does at least last well. The packaging is also pretty sturdy which makes it great for just throwing in a make-up bag or straight into your hand bag and feeling reassured that it will survive the day! 

All in all, it's not an awful product but it wasn't what I was hoping it would be. I love the Garnier BB Cream for Oily Skin (I'm going to have to review it soon) and I was hoping this would be just as good. Don't get me wrong, it isn't all bad and maybe when my skin is in a better state I'll reach for it more but for now this isn't something I'm loving. This is definitely a case of 'what are you looking for' because if you want sheer coverage then this could be for you - I'd just recommend swatching this before purchasing it. You can find Maybelline's Dream Pure BB Cream for Oily Skin in Light for £6.99 in Superdrug.

Do you like sheer coverage bases? Are there any BB creams that you like? 

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Don't forget to enter my Christmas Giveaway - you could win two Origins face masks!

A Budget-Buy Winter Must Have: Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm

I'm not usually a fan of 'drugstore' lip balms, I tend to find that they don't do as much for my lips as I want and need them to. However, Nivea's Essential Care Lip Balm is the only super affordable lip balm that I've ever repurchased more than once - and my oh my, I've repurchased this over and over again! I think the tube I'm using now is probably my eighth or ninth tube.

Nivea recently revamped the packaging of their Essential Care Lip Balm and I was keen to see if they had made any changes to the formula. I'm happy to say that it seems to be the same as it's always been - which is great for me because I've always really liked the formula. It's softer in consistency than the other Nivea lip balms that I've tried and it's really quite hydrating. I also love the packaging, I've never had problems with the lid coming off in my handbag and it has a satisfying 'click' to it when you open and close it. It might be boring to some of you but it's honestly a staple of mine so it definitely deserves a mention, especially now because I'm reaching for it more than I normally do. If you're looking for a lip balm to carry around now that it's cold and windy here in the UK then I'd highly recommend it, especially as it has an RRP of just £1.60 (but often you can find it for even less in Superdrug, I bought mine for just £1.10). 

Have you tried any of Nivea's lip balms? What lip balm are you using at the moment?

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A Winter Treat: Lanolips Herbal Treatment Body Oil

It's no secret that I'm a fan of body oils! The last body oil I reviewed was Garnier's Ultimate Beauty Oil and today I'm going to be talking about a body oil that's impressed me even more, Lanolips' Herbal Treatment Body Oil*. I won a whole selection of Lanolips' products in the summer and, like many people, before I received these products I didn't know that Lanolips made anything but lip products. Were I not to have won their Instagram competition I would probably never have tried any of their body care range! After using this body oil for a while now (I've actually just finished it) I've come to the conclusion that Lanolips' Herbal Treatment Body Oil is one of the most effective body oils I've ever used. 

Lanolips' Herbal Treatment Body Oil isn't the most glamorous looking product in the world, and it doesn't have the mouth watering scent that I usually go for. What it does have is incredible mositurising capabilities. You don't need much of this product at all; a couple of drops will do both your arms, a couple of drops will cover your torso etc. However, on contact with damp skin (I use this when I get out of the shower and have towel dried my body) it remains an oil but is has a creamy quality to it that makes small amounts go really far and also seems to help it speedily absorb into the skin. Once applied it doesn't take long to absorb, a couple of minutes but nothing near as long as my current body butter of choice - Soap and Glory's The Righteous Butter, that takes bloomin' ages! The effects of the body oil are quite considerable, it leaves skin incredibly soft and smooth and this softness lasts more than one day which is great if you can't be bothered to moisturise daily. All things considered it is just a fantastic product, I'm really super impressed with it. 

You can find Lanolips' Herbal Treatment Oil* in Boots for £9.99, which might seem expensive but I think that it does a far better job than all the other body oils I've tried this year. 

Do you use body oils? Have you tried any of Lanolips' products?

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Don't forget to enter my Christmas Giveaway - you could win two Origins face masks!

Make-Up Madness: December Beauty Haul

So..... Shopping happened. Typical preamble, I went into Boots to buy some toothpaste and not only did I come out with a bag of goodies but then I thought "may as well hit up Superdrug" and made a repeat performance in there. There have been some fantastic offers on this month (many of which are still running) and I'll walk you through any that I took advantage of.

Boots was offering a free Brow's That Brow Kit with any £6 spend. Given that I had my eye on their Tattoo Me Semi Permanent Liquid Eyeliner I used the free gift with purchase offer as an excuse to pick up one of their Eyeshdows in the shade Statuesque. I was really impressed with the look of the eye shadows and the shade I picked up looked really gorgeous. I'll definitely be doing a make-up look featuring all three of these products soon!

MaxFactor also had a free gift with purchase offer when you spent £15 or more. I bought the Masterpiece Max Mascara and Color Expert Liquid Eyeliner and, as part of the free gift, I got a LipFinity Lip Colour, a False Lash Effect Mascara and a Glossfinity Nail Polish. For £15 I thought this was a pretty good offer, especially as MaxFactor are one of my favourite drugstore brands!

When I popped into Superdrug I was a little bit more restrained. I picked up two items off my longstanding beauty wishlist - both have been on my radar for months now! One is a BeautyUK Baked Blush in Shade 3 (which is gorgeous used as a powder highlighter) and I also picked up a Sleek Lipstick in the shade Liqueur, a gorgeous mauve-y neutral. I made this big shop last week and since then I've been wearing these two products almost everyday, I'm really liking both of them.

So there are a lot of new make-up goodies in my routine at the moment and there are some fabulous offers (especially at Boots) for you to take advantage of if you're feeling like doing some Christmas shopping! What make-up is on your wishlist this month?



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A Christmas Gift Guide: FeelUnique.com

Now that we're in December it is really starting to feel like winter and Christmas feels as if it's going to announce its arrival any minute now... But do not fret, we still have time to do all the little things that need doing! And in the mean time I'm getting in the Christmas spirit with another Gift Guide. Today's post is about  FeelUnique.com (a great website to shop on as it has free UK Delivery and is home to loads of brands) and the products they sell that I would recommend or that I want myself! I personally think it is a great website to shop on for gifts because they have so many different brands all in one place, and often there are discount codes of which you can take advantage - usually giving a very helpful 5% or 10% discount.

Moroccanoil Treatment - £13.45

I actually received this as a present last year and it has done nothing short of transforming my hair. This is definitely an amazing product and I was very lucky to be given it as a gift as I don't think I would have tried it otherwise. It's a wonderful stocking present to give anyone with hair, it is small but it is mighty!

 (For more information, read my full review of Moroccanoil Treatment here.)

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave in Conditioner - £12.70

This has been the only leave in conditioner I've used these last six months and I would highly recommend it! It's a gorgeous product and it smells absolutely divine. It's expensive so you might easily overlook it when shopping for yourself but it makes a tremendous gift as it lasts a really long time and every time I use it I am reminded of the person who gave it to me.

(For more information, read my full review of Healthy Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave in Conditioner here.)

Kerastase Cristaliste Conditioner - £14.95

Kerastase is a brand that always, always impress me. I've been using this conditioner all year long and it never fails to leave me with gorgeous, shining hair - I'm endlessly impressed with it. For hair lovers this is definitely a brand worth trying and I think a luxurious conditioner is a gift that keeps on giving!

(Read more about Kerastase's Cristaliste Conditioner here.)

Elie Saab Perfume Set - £59

Elie Saab is my 'go to' winter perfume. It is really gorgeous, I think it's a very sensual and sophisticated perfume that always gives me a little confidence boost. If you haven't smelt it before I'd highly recommend doing so and this gift set is the epitome of luxurious gift giving as far as I'm concerned!

Benefit Gimme Some Lovin Gift Set - £39.50

I very rarely come across anyone who dislikes Benefit's make-up. I for one love their powder blushes, highlighters, primers and mascaras and this gift set contains one of each of the aforementioned products! It's a great sort of gift to give to anyone new to make-up (I remember my Dad giving me something similar when I turned sixteen) or anyone who loves Benefit! I personally would be thrilled to wake up to anything from Benefit on Christmas morning.

Nails Inc Polish Diary - £42

Oh holy polish - this is seriously exciting me and I'm not even a nail polish junkie. This nail polish set features twelve different polishes and has a value £132 - so although £42 isn't exactly cheap, this gift set is a bit of a bargain. I personally love Nails Inc polishes but at roughly £12 each they're usually an unaffordable habit for me, except when there are bargains like this to be had. This is definitely a good gift set for anyone who is into keeping their fingers and toes polished.

L'Occitane Provencal Harvest Collection - £16

And last but by no means least, I had to sneak in a little L'Occitane gift set. I like L'Occitane's products and their gift sets (featuring mini versions of some of their most loved products) make excellent gifts! This particular set contains a couple of my favourite L'Occitane products - the Almond Shower Oil (seriously heavenly stuff), their Shea Hand Cream and their Lavender Bath Soak, plus a small Verbena perfume spray. With a £23 value it is an affordable way to try some new products or a great gift for anyone into luxury bodycare.

So that concludes my FeelUnique Gift Guide! There are plenty of other lovely products on the website but those were the things that I've had my eye on or that I have received and loved. Have you shopped on FeelUnique before? Do you like the look of any of the products in today's post?

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The Long Awaited Face Mask Repurchase...

On My Nails This Week: Topshop Nail Polish in AWOL

I've never tried any of Topshop's nail polishes before but I couldn't help myself when it came to the shade AWOL. I've seen a lot of people talking about this shade in the past and I've always had an excuse as to why I shouldn't get it. Well, today the only thing I have to say is that the colour is enough. Oh my god, this shade is a whole new level of dreamy. I love wearing bright colours at this time of year as I find they offer a nice contrast to my usual monochrome wardrobe and they tend to brighten things up. Blue shades can be hard to wear but this one is bright with just a touch of milkiness that stops it looking too stark, especially against my very pale (sun-deprived) skin. I'm in lust with this nail polish, and the dinky little bottle only makes me like it even more. 

Have you tried any of Topshop's nail polishes before? Do you like the look of 'AWOL'?

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