Christmas Beauty Baubles 2014

I mentioned in this post a few days ago about Christmas Tree decorations for beauty lovers and today's post introduces a few more ideas by way of Beauty Baubles. As a stocking filler, I think they are a brilliant idea, something quirky yet useful to hang on or from your tree.

Below you will find some of the ones I like the most, and this year it seems like there is so much more choice!

Boots No.7 - This No7 Nail Polish Christmas Star Bauble makes a lovely stocking filler for No7 fans! The star makes a stylish tree decoration and opens up to reveal a Stay Perfect nail polish. Price £6

Caudalie - Mini Caudalie Divine Oil - A multi-purpose, luxurious dry oil moisturises, nourishes and enhances the skin thanks to its unique formula made with an exceptional blend of oils (grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan) combined with our patented anti-oxidant Polyphenols. It envelops the skin with a subtle, floral and sun-kissed fragrance, with woody notes. Use it on the body, hair, nails, in the bath or as a massage oil. Price £8

This Works Hanging Sleep Balm - Inside you will find This Works’ award-winning Sleep Balm, formulated with a soothing fusion of lavender, vetiver and wild camomile to calm the mind and relax the body, helping induce a rejuvenating night of beauty sleep. Price £10

Molton Brown - Choose from some exceptionally bright and colourful festive baubles in a range of scents from Eucalyptus,Ylang-Ylang, Pink Pepperpod, Templetree, Frankincense & Allspice and Gingerlilly. Priced at just £10 it makes for a very interesting shower as they are filled with a Molton Brown Signature Scent!

Balmi - Available in three different flavours, this Balmi Bauble is filled with a lip balm which is packed full of vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil, it provides moisturisation and protection from harmful UVA rays. Price £5

Champneys - A choice of two baubles from Champneys in red or white. One contains a 50ml Champneys Oriental Opulence Body Cream and the other 50ml Champneys Exotic Retreat Body Cream. Priced at just £4 they are also a great stocking filler.

Eve Lom - The inimitable Eve Lom Kiss Mix lip treatment, presented in a limited edition star-shaped gift box.  Price £16

Purity - Made Simple, the one-step facial cleanser in trial-size 90ml, suitable for all skin types. Price £9

Origins - FThis gift set bauble contains Origins best sellers which are: GinZing™ Refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff (5ml), Make a Difference™ Overnight hydrating repair cream (5ml), Clear Improvement® Active charcoal mask to clear pores (7ml), Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight mask to quench skin's thirst (7ml), Modern Friction™ Nature's gentle dermabrasion (15ml).  A great way to try before you buy and priced at £12.

Soap & Glory - Merry Kiss Much contains A GREAT KISSER™ Lip Balm in Juicy Peach, all wrapped up in a covetable, collectable, giftable bauble.  Price £5

Rodial - An alternative to the traditional baubles for the tree, why not surprise a loved one with a bespoke Rodial tree decoration this Christmas? This decoration contains best-selling glam balm lip that boasts 3D hyaluronic filling spheres for instant plumping. Priced at £19

The final item comes from Aromatherapy Associates in the form of a star. It is one of those products that really stands out with its's teal coloured packaging and it is perfect for hanging on the tree with the little elastic hoop at the top. Once inside the box, you will find a 7.5ml glass bottle of the Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil.  This oil is absolutely amazing, it is just brilliant and was designed to help brin about a sense of calm and inner peace and it uses a combination of frankincense, clary sage and cardamom essential oils which are some of my favourites for this time of year.

The Inner Strength range is particularly special as 10% of all proceeds are donated to the Defence Against Cancer charity, which is such a thoughtful touch, especially as a couple of my family members are currently fighting cancer.

Have you got any beauty baubles for your tree? 

Are there any that you really like the look of?

Magazine Freebies!

Every month I read reviews about magazine freebies and it is very rare I am excited enough to go out and buy them, though last month I did get the mini REN hot cloth cleanser which was fabulous. This month, I feel a little bit more spoilt for choice with the choices on offer, there are just so many good ones to get, plus my very friendly newsagent has been a little generous with some of the extra freebies which didn't seem to belong to any of the magazines for sale in his shop, so when he asked if me I would like them, how could I refuse?

So what did I manage to get my hands on?

Yes I think I have done pretty well this month with getting my hands on the whole Clinique set which comes from Glamour magazine. There are two Chubby Sticks in Super Strawberry and Woppin' Watermelon, a mini High Impact Mascara and a mini bottle of Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+ though I seem to have two of these. All of these together are said to be worth £30 and given Glamour Magazine costs just £2 perhaps it would have been worth shelling out that extra £6? I had initially opted for the Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon as I like the look of the colour, but as I was given both Chubby sticks plus the mascara and two Moisturising lotions, I am more than chuffed with this little haul!

With Instyle magazine comes a free Neal's Yard Geranium and Orange Hand Cream in a 50ml tube, which is worth £10 and given Instyle costs just £3.90 this in itself is an absolute bargain and I am a huge fan of Neal's Yard products and am yet to try a hand cream, of which I go through quite a lot, so I am hoping this is good.

The magazine I really wanted besides Glamour was Red magazine because they have a Rodial Stemcell Super Glam Balm Lip 10ml, a 7ml version in Marks and Spencer and Harrods which has an RRP £17, so this is an absolute bargain given I paid just £4 for the magazine!

In Cosmopolitan this month you can choose from four freebies from a brand called New CID Cosmetics, those freebies are a Black Mascara and three shades of their Lip and Cheek Tint, all together worth £60, I have the Mascara which I was given and the Lip and Cheek Tint in Rose Tint which is a shade I really like.

Marie Claire Magazine has a freebie from one of my favourite brands Balance Me this month and there is a choice of the Luxury Face Cream 15ml or Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm 40ml which together are said to be worth around £25. I opted for the Face Balm which I have had my eye on for some time and I can't wait to see what it is like. This Magazine usually costs £3.90 but if you go to Tesco it is just £2.50 which means even more of a saving for a fab freebie.

The one magazine I didn't buy was Elle which has a skincare travel set by Malin and Goetz and the kit contains a Grapefruit Face Cleanser 10ml, Lip Moisturiser 5ml and Vitamin E Face Moisturiser 10ml which together are worth £10, the only reason I don't have it is because someone had stolen all the freebies from the magazines on offer, but if you do want it, then Elle is £4.

The Lip Crayons I am really looking forward to using and this is how they swatch:

The Mascaras I am also looking forward to using and they look like this:

So there you have this months magazine freebies and the ones I was lucky enough to get.

Have you managed to get your hands on any of these freebies this month? 

Are there any that you really want to try?

Beauty Products I want to try in 2014!

Not quite a wishlist but when you read other peoples blogs and think "Ooh I want to try that" I decided that I would create a list of products I want to try:

So it is almost like having a wishlist really, some of them I have seen reviewed and some of them I haven't, but they are:

1. Billion Dollar Brows Brow Boost - Billion Dollar Brows Brow Boost is a deep conditioning treatment formulated to help strengthen and condition thin, weak brows which mine most certainly are due to over-plucking and one dreadful waxing experience in a salon (never again).  Retails for around £25

2. NARS At First Sight Eye & Cheek Palette which includes - Deep Throat Blush and Laguna Bronze as well as Eyeshadow Top Row: All About Eve, Nouveau Monde and Eyeshadow Bottom Row: Bellissima, Cordura (II).  Retails for £45

3. This Works dream believers - I often suffer from broken sleep (cats meoqing at the window to come in and out all the time) and this little kit has a really lovely description "Wrap yourself in a cocoon of soothing essential oils – any place, any time – with our versatile hand and body cream, deep sleep dream cream. Let the calming properties of Lavender relax your senses by applying our protective sleep balm to your pulse points". which makes me want it more.  Currently on offer for £16 (and I have the sleep balm already).

4. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - seems to be a cult favourite amongst the world of #bbloggers and is yet to be a bandwagon that I am to jump on. Prices start at £14.75

5. Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot - an oil absorbing, shine controlling face powder for all skin types, which sounds perfect to me and is available in Boots for £12.

6. Glam Glow Mud Mask - Another product that I see frequently on beauty blogs and people rave about it, so naturally I want to try it.  Apparently great for when you need great skin and a glowing complexion in just 10 minutes.  Retails at around £25

The next three products are listed because I am intrigued, slightly scared and a bit obsessed with them:

7. Rodial Dragons Blood Eye Cream - The product description for this is fabulous

"This instantly cooling gel refreshes and hydrates puffy tired eyes with Rose Water, Arnica and Dragons Blood. Instantly brighter, the delicate eye area is restructured to thicken translucent skin and plump wrinkles. Hyaluronic Acid comforts dehydrated skin and refines the skin's surface for wide awake eyes" - it contains Dragons Blood!!  Anyway it costs £45.  I also want the Snake Mask which I have a sample of somewhere in one of my jars, I just haven't tried it yet, hence why it doesn't appear on my list.

8. Heaven by Deborah Mitchell Bee Venom Mask - Again the intrigue comes with the words Bee and venom it sound stingy but is it really?

"Containing Manuka Honey, renowned for its soothing and healing properties, it also contains the magic Bee Venom ingredient that works to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming, whilst getting to work on frown lines and wrinkles"  and it costs £25.30 for 15ml

9. Dr Organic Snail Gel - Yes another gruesome sounding product and I simply want to try it because it sounds totally gross and it does actually contain Snail Slime, here is the description:

"Dr. Organic Snail Gel is a moisturising, soothing, anti-aging gel which harnesses the remarkable cosmetic benefits of Helix Aspersia Muller, a unique substance the snail produces to quickly regenerate its own shell and skin when damaged. Combined with organic Aloe Vera and our proprietary blend of bioactive ingredients it effectively soothes and hydrates the skin". It retails for £19.99

The final products on my list isn't something gruesome sounding it is:

10. Naked 3 Palette - Yes totally hopping on the bandwagon with this one, it seems like everyone has it and I don't and from the three of them, this would be my preference.  Retails for £37

11. MAC - Not just a Lipstick but there have been quite a few products that I have seen of late that I really want to try, the only problem is the stores scare me.  I have only ever walked into one and was pounced upon before I had even shut the door with the lady telling me how many amazing products she could see me wearing, that I turned around and left. Oh and Sharon and Kelly Osbourne doing a range - I want it!

So there you have a list of products that I really want to try in 2014.  Do you have a list and have you tried any or many of these?

The Beauty Blogger's Perfect Christmas Tree!

As a beauty blogger there are many things that excite me and nothing could currently be more exciting than a Beauty Themed Christmas Tree.  I am amazed at some of the things you can buy as a Christmas Decoration and if I was to build my perfect Beauty Blogger Tree, some of these items would be making an appearance.

Starting with the top of the tree

The Liz Earle Christmas Star - £5.50-£14.00
How much of a bargain is that?! Inside your star, you will get a 30ml of the iconic Hot Cloth Cleanser and Muslin cloth to go with it which costs £5.50. Or there is a choice of two different shades of signature lipsticks which cost £14.00 or a choice of two shades of nail strengthening polish which cost £7.50 each.

Available from the Liz Earl website. 

Then we put on some crackers

I am quite excited about all of these crackers if I am honest and some of them are such good value for money.  These are just some of my favourites:

Nails Inc Christmas Crackers – £29.50

Take your dinner party to the next level and adorn your table with these stylish crackers. Each cracker is complete with a full size polish and fashion quote. 

• Mayfair Mews – navy Fibre Optic polish
• Baker Street – cobalt blue
• Marylebone Lane – red full coverage glitter polish
• King’s Road – rose gold Foil effect polish
• Kensington High Street - deep wine polish
• Trafalgar Crescent – silver Galaxy polish

 They are available from Nails Inc

Balm Balm Frankincense Organic Skincare Collection Cracker - £22.50In this cracker you will get:

• Balm Balm Frankincense Hydrosol 100% Organic 30ml
• Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm 100% Organic 30ml
• Balm Balm Frankincense Light Facial Oil 100% Organic 10ml

Available from Feel Unique

Cowshed - Cracking Cow Christmas Cracker £10.00 each

A ‘cracking’ stocking filler or Christmas table decoration to add a touch of fun during the festivities and in this racker you will get:

• Wild Cow Invigorating Bath & Shower Gel (30ml) and a 
• Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion (30ml). 

Available from Selfridges

Clarins - Box of 6 Crackers £39.00
In these crackers you will find quite a few lovely beauty treats which include:

• Beauty Flash Balm, 
• Mascara, 
• Lipstick, 
• Hand and Nail lotion, 
• Eau de Jardins 
• Gentle exfoliator. 

Available from Selfridges

Weleda Crackers for Men and Woman - ££14.95-£5.95
A choice of a moisturising cream for the man in your life or for yourself a wild rose smoothing day cream plus a Skin Food Cracker too.  

All Crackers are 30ml and available from Feel Unique 

Jo Malone Christmas Cracker - £30
Spoil every dinner guest with our Christmas Cracker, full of scented surprises. Tart-juicy Blackberry & Bay Cologne. Reviving Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash. Enlivening Grapefruit Body Crème. Tied with ribbon to set the table with style. 

Available from Jo Malone.

More crackers:

Marks and Spencer Crackers:

• Autograph Crackers - A collection of 6 novelty beauty crackers, each containing a specially selected mini make up product and beauty tip. Unwrap each to discover your Autograph lip gloss, liquid glow illuminator, mascara and kohl pencil eyeliner.  Cost £18 for 6
• Royal Jelly - A limited edition collection of luxurious hand creams from the Royal Jelly range and cost £6 each
• Nature's Extracts Lemon Verbena - Experience daily luxury with our Nature's Extracts collection in a festive cracker gift set. These limited edition body care essentials have been enriched with natural extract of lemon verbena - either a shower gel or hand and body lotion. Currently on offer at £2 each
• Happy Holiday Pick N Pix Cracker - Adding some festive fun to your bath with this cracker, costs £5

Now onto your trinkets and baubles.  Again there is so much choice out there that making a decision as to what I was to include was quite difficult, but here are some of my favourites:

Ciate Tree Trinkets - 6 Baubles for £30.00Each bauble is wrapped in a signature Ciaté bow, with a mini Paint Pot in a glamorous glitter shade peeking through, ready to be worn. 

Available from Selfridges

Lancôme In Love Christmas Cubes 4 for - £39.00
These festive cubes contain, a full size Nail Polish in Love, Mini Lip Gloss in Love, Mini Lipstick in Love and Mini Hypnôse Classic Mascara. 

Available from Selfridges

Rodial Glam Balm Christmas Tree Decoration -  £12.00
Give the gift of glam this year with Rodial glam balm LIP SPF 15 Xmas tree decoration. STEMCELL super-food SPF15 glam balm lip is a rose flavoured lip balm, with stem cells and the added benefit of SPF15.

Available from Debenhams 

The Rodial Glam Balm is also available as a little pot for £2 more which you can find HERE

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES Little Bell gift set  - £10

Awaken your senses with Aromatherapy Associates' delectably uplifting and invigorating wonders of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper for a truly reviving start to the day. Includes Revive Morning bath and shower oil.  

Available from FeelUnique

Mistletoe Kisses - Coca Cola Lip Smacker - £3
Time to get festive with the heart shaped lip balm that you can use to decorate your tree or just simply save for that special kiss under the mistletoe this year. £3.00 available in Sainsburys

This Works Perfect Beauty Baubles – £12.00

Silent Night Bauble is a sleep balm to help calm the senses and Shimmer Balm a pocket sized pot of glittery balm. In two words: this works. – 

Available from ASOS

Jo Malone Christmas Ornament - £20

Trim the tree with this season's most desired decoration...a smart little box that opens to reveal a Pomegranate Noir Cologne and a delicious English Pear & Freesia Body Crème. Wrapped and ready to hang for a best-dressed Christmas. 

Available from Jo Malone.

More trinkets for your tree:

• The Body Shop Mini Shower Gels which cost £8 
• Mavala Nail Baubles which cost £5
• Cath Kidson egg shaped soap which costs between £4-£8 online and there are three different ones available
• M&S Limited Collection beauty bauble which contains a mini nail polish and two mini lip glosses and costs £5

And if all of that isn’t enough for you Beauty Bloggers then how about a Liz Earle Limited Edition Stocking? Designed by Jan Constantine and costing £50 

this stunning limited-edition Christmas stocking is brimming with treats, including:

• Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml pump
• Instant Boost Skin Tonic 50ml bottle
• Skin Repair Moisturiser Normal/combination 15ml tube
• Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash 100ml bottle
• Nourishing Botanical Body cream 50ml tube
• Two pure Muslin Cloths

So there you have it, my idea of the perfect Beauty Blogger Christmas Tree with decorations, baubles and even a star or five.

What would be on your Beauty Christmas Tree?