Stocking Filler Gifts - For Him

I mentioned in a previous post about creating Stocking Filler gifts for friends in the past and today I am sharing one for him which will hopefully give you some ideas as to what presents to buy your nearest and dearest.

Stocking Fillers or creating a stocking full of mini gifts is something I really love to create and get together and it is such an easy way to make Christmas presents fun. So for him, despite the fact he really wants a Hammock, which Tropilex have a great selection of, to sleep in, this year there is a whole host of grooming products that I have included, products that I know my hubby likes and with some, has used before.

Fragrance

Starting with a fragrance, without fail every year, there is always a new fragrance wrapped for him to open and in this gift guide I have included Aldi Lacura's Pure Noir which is described as being inspired by Tom Ford with Black Orchid and people have commented asking if that is what he is wearing!  This bottle, which is available in Aldi an on ad-hoc basis, basically if you see it grab it, is priced at just £5.99

Bathing

In the shower, I like to think my shower gels are mine and his are his, nope, he will use whatever is there and doesn't really think about how it smells.  So I decided to grab two products for trying. The first comes from Primark with their Awakening Body Wash (£3.00) and it has Tea Tree and Aloe Vera alongside a fragrance of Dark Amber and Tonka, so it has quite a zing to it when used.  Alongside that from The Body Shop comes the Arber Hair & Body Wash (£6.50) and it is described as being a sensual woody fragrance with the aroma of lime, coriander and sandalwood. This is a 3-in-1 product and can be used as a cleanser, shampoo and skin conditioner.

Beard Care 

The biggest selection of products within this stocking filler guide is centred around shaving and beards because throughout lock-down he has grown an incredible beard, which is as important to look after as the hair on your head.  Starting with Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Shaving Cream (£19) and it is described as being a lightweight cream treatment to soothe and prep skin for a smooth shave. Packed full of amazing ingredients such as Squalene and Shea butter to moisturise, Vitamin E for its anti-oxidant properties and then Glycerin for hydration, this should be perfect for shaving those excess areas turning the mister into teen wolf as the hair starts to cover his entire face! Added to that we have the inclusion of the Razor MD Travel Trio (£28) which features three products - a pre-shave oil, a non-lathering shaving cream and a post shave lotion and they are packaged in a travel friendly clear wallet. Al three products are natural unscented, so there is no surprise scent when they are used. The finally from Johnny's Chop Shop we have the Beard Oil (£6) which is designed to nourish beard hair from root to tip and is infused with vitamin E, almond, apricot & olive oil and it is a non-oily oil and then we have the Beard Shampoo (£7) and it is described as being a formulated shampoo which works to soften and strengthen the beard while removing any traces of styling products and nourishing skin.

Skincare

I am always encouraging the use of serums, creams, masks and in this guide I have kept it simple with just a few products.  The Gruff Stuff, which we have used before and have since re-purchased, is a vegan, cruelty-free brand that is made in the UK and was created to be suitable for all men, and all skin types. In this guide we have the Spray On Moisturiser which is described as being innovative, it uses a fuss-free spray application which works to give a quick and powerful boost of hydration and then we also have the Eye Balm which is described as being a gentle, yet powerful hydrating eye balm which combats the entire orbital area. Using a combination of potent ingredients such as Matcha Green Tea extracts, it helps to fade dark circles, reduce puffiness and firm and together they are a set which can be purchased for just £45.   Face masks are always a big plus and they are such good value for money. From Masquebar with Bandito, the Chill a Minute or 30 Mask, this is a cream mask which uses Lemon Fruit Extract and Vitamin E and it is designed to leave the skin feeling soft, smooth and refreshed.  Then finally there is Proverb Strengthening Skin Serum which is designed to leave skin feeling instantly lifted and looking energised while helping improve signs of ageing. It uses a whole host of amazing sounding ingredients which includes Antarctic glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid, pomegranate, acai, sea buckthorn, blue agave, thyme, basil and bitter orange.  The final product is another face mask and this time it is from BARBER PRO with their Foaming Cleansing Mask with Activated Charcoal (£4.95).  This mask is designed to rid the skin of dirt, oil and impurities. Described as being 'soaked in' Activated Charcoal and a rich AHA Complex, the cleansing mask detoxifies the complexion, which is ideal for refining pores and reducing excess oil on acne-prone skin.  Fun to use and gentle on the skin.

The final item I am including within this guide is one that I absolutely love, though not as much as my mister and it comes from a brand called Fawler, which can be found on Trendhim and it is a Frisco Black Urban Tube Scarf.

As you can see, it is easy to wear, it is incredibly warm without being too restrictive around the neck.  It is available in a variety of colours and is priced at £45 which, for something as well made as this is, absolute bargain to be had.

I find for men, there is no end of products you can include within a Stocking to create an amazing gift, games, books, tool, skincare, fragrance, socks and so much more.  Hopefully this is a good insight as to what I would be including in the one I have created.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Stocking Filler Gifts - For Her

One of my absolute favourite things to shop for at Christmas time are gifts for stocking fillers, a tradition for me which dates back to high school with my close group of friends, both boys and girls, for whom we used to set a budget and create a gift. Having just had Black Friday and what feels like 12 months of continuous sales and deals, here is just some ideas to create your own Stocking Filler.

Stocking Filler gifts don't have to be expensive, if you set a budget you can easily find a whole plethora of gifts to create something quite amazing.  I have chosen to go with everything from skincare and makeup to hair care and fragrance.

Hair care

This is a topic I have seemingly mentioned a lot this year!  I have had so many people telling me I need to try Olaplex and I finally bit the bullet and ordered the Intense Repair Kit which was on offer for less than £15 so that I can finally give it a try.  The kit features  No.0 the Intensive Bond Repairing Kit and No.03 which is the Hair Perfector.  

Then to keep my locks tangle free, I have the Manta Hair brush (£20) which I have been using for over 3 years now and it is one of the best brushes I have ever used and one with such a lovely story behind why and how it was made.  It can be used on both wet and dry hair and is one of those brushes that doesn't snag your hair or pull if you have a tangle, it is so incredibly gentle.

Make Up

I think anyone who reads my blog or follows me on social media will know that I absolutely love the brand GA-DE.  So within this gift guide I have the Black Intense Mascara which with its quick drying formula is designed to designed to deliver superior volume and striking intensity.  I have also included the Everlasting Lip Colour in shade Pure Love and it is incredible, non-oily, full coverage, doesn't stick to dry lips, though always use a scrub first, it doesn't dry uncomfortably and it lasts all day, better still as this is a double ended product, there is a clear gloss at the opposite end to apply over the top. Then we have a GA-DE Everlasting Lip Liner in the shade Hazelnut which is my current most used, nourishing, creamy texture, doesn't smudge or budge and you could wear it on its own with a gloss over the top.  Plus use the code QUEEN20 to grab yourself a discount.

NARS Mini Wanted Palette (£26) - The perfect travel companion and for doing your eye makeup on the go, this palette features 6 shades which are matte, satin and shimmering metallic finishes in warm-toned hues from rose gold to copper and cranberry. It is such a good palette, I have bought it for 3 different people so far!

Aldi Desert Rain Eyeshadow palette - This Palette is priced at just £5.99 is, you could say one which has been inspired by the Anastasia Beverley Hills Soft Glam eyeshadow palette, at a fraction of the cost. This Velvet Eye Shadow Palette, which costs just £5.99 features 14 eye-shadows which are described as being ultra-pigmented, matte, metallic and shimmer shades and they come packaged inside an almost velvet-like palette, which alongside a double-ended brush is also a mirror which runs along the top of the palette lid.

Skincare 

This is a huge topic for me on this blog and there is no end of new released and product upgrades and packaging changes.  However, when choosing skincare for other people, you can be as picky and careful as needs be and here I have some pretty amazing products.  

Two products that I have really enjoyed using come from a brand called NeuroSkinfeeds with the MicroOil and the Micromilk.  The MicroOil is described as being an oil that takes care of your skin, your mind and your mood. As a formula, it is also a lightweight super skin serum, packed with omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. I have combination oily skin, so whilst I can have a shiny face come mid-afternoon, my skin is also quite dry, especially around my t-zone, so I do find that oils are my friend.  Then with MicroMilk, which is a hydrating and ultra-light body moisturiser, it is designed to be used daily to keep dry skin at bay and skin silky soft. With its Holistic Formula, it also helps to boost your mood as well as care for your skin.

From Primark, who have the most amazing gifts in all kinds of budgets, but the Gua Sha & Rosemary Skin Care Mantra Kit.  Gua Sha has become quite the phenomenon with so many brands now offering their own version of the original tool. This kit, which costs less than £5 is perfect for anyone who is starting out with their own facial massages.  I always find the Gua Sha tools work so much better in conjunction with another oil and this Rosemary option, which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties is a lovely, non-oily oil to try. 

Jurlique Travel Mini Duo (£40) - I am a huge fan of Jurlique and have already listed some of their amazing gift sets for Christmas, but for anyone who is new to the brand or already loves it, this duo comprises of a luxurious hand cream with the uplifting natural scent of Rose and the hydrating and refreshing Rosewater Balancing Mist.

Glow Hub Calm & Soothe Stick Mask (£10) - I love a good face mask and this one happens to be a mask in the form of a stick and I love the concept. Described as being a hemp infused face mask stick, its job is to really chill irritated skin out, enriched with both Jojoba and Hyaluronic Acid too.   To use, it is really easy and not at all messy, you simply apply a thin layer to the skin and leave for 10-15 minutes before removing.  The stick part of the mask, which my hubby did say looked like a Prit Stick, is designed to be applied direct to the skin.

Bath Care

One of my favourite places to be is in the bath, one of the most relaxing places for me in beside or in water - the joy of being a water sign! Within this part of my stocking filler Guide is some bath products. 

From the Aldi Hotel Collection comes the No.3 Pomegranate Luxury Bath Foam which I’ve been hiding from view in my bathroom for some months now.  If you are a fan of another brands version of a bath oil, then all I can say is that for less than £5 this is absolutely delightful.

Up next from Grace Cole I have the White Nectarine and Pear collection (£16) which features four products. The scent is described as being zingy scents of luscious Nectarine and English Pear blend with sophisticated yet delicate floral notes of Lily and Rose and it smells just wonderfully floral with a hint of citrus. The four products within the collection is a bath and shower gel, a hand and body lotion, a refreshing body mist and a hand and nail cream. They also come packaged ready for flying or taking away with you for that much needed long weekend away.

I have shared the wonderful Skin Alchemist on my blog before and once again I am featuring them in this guide, this time with the Cardmom and Rose Artisan Soap (£10). Hand crafted with balancing Geranium and a spiced concoction of Cardamom and Clove it is also infused with nourishing Coconut Milk, Cocoa Butter and Olive oil.  Again, this soap smells absolutely incredible and even before the box was opened. 

Fragrance

When it comes to fragrance, I am a bit of a perfume obsessive and I like a whole host of scents from high end brands to the more high street brands and in this gift guide I am sharing three different products that I really like. 

First up is a brand I have mentioned on my blog before, Potion Paris and for anyone who, like me, would prefer to find a fragrance they like in their own surroundings, rather than a high street store, then this is a great way to do just that.   This sampler set features 7 different fragrances to test and try and it gives everything from the florals and woods to an Oud and Musk.

From Primark comes PS Love Noir which is actually a favourite of someone I work with. It is sweet and fruity without having that 'too manufactured' scent to it and impressively it has a really good sillage, which I was not expecting to find.  Within this set you have a 20ml roll-on which is handy for carrying with you and also a 100ml bottle.  It is priced at just £9.

The next fragrance is the newest one to be added to my collection and it comes from Floral Street and happens to be their latest release with Sunflowers. Priced at £24 for this 10ml size, which by the way is such a good way to test and try these unique fragrances before splashing out on a full-sized bottle.   This is a citrus, fruity fragrance which you might have guessed has been inspired by Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting and I just absolutely love it.

Those are just a few last minute ideas or a good start to creating an amazing stocking filler gift, even if it is for yourself!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Burt's Bees Stocking Filler Gifts

Every year, Burt's Bees have some amazing gifts for Christmas and for every budget imaginable, with prices starting at just £3.99.  This year, I have a selection of Stocking Filler Gifts to share with you and, if you are a fan of the brand like me, then you will love them.

Burt's Bees is synonymous with Lip Balm and it is a product you can never have too many of, be it in your handbag, your desk drawer, on your bedside table, in your makeup bag and even in your suitcase - just in case you forget to pack one. 

A Bit of Burt's Bees Christmas Cracker - Vanilla (£8.99) - Described as being the perfect duo for nourished skin, this festive cracker ornament is ideal for hanging on someones tree, even your own and the hanger is a re-usable hair-tie which is really clever.

Inside the cracker you will find a Vanilla Bean Lip Balm which is formulated with nourishing Shea Butter, antioxidant-rich Vitamin E and finally 100% natural vanilla which gives it that fresh scent of vanilla. Also inside the cracker, you will find a tin of Hand Salve and its job is to provide relief to super dry hands and to do that it is infused with the soothing effects of botanical oils, herbs and Beeswax.

The second gift set to share with you is the Burt's Bees Kissable Colour Holiday Gift Set (£11.99).  Inside the festive packaging you will find a trio of warm-tone lip shimmers.

When these Shimmers first launched, I shared them on my blog. This gift set includes three warm shades;

• Peony is a pale beige mauve,
• Rhubarb is a bright cool pinky red
• Fig is a warm red brown with hints of coral.

These everyday shades are enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin E and antioxidant-rich fruit oils to moisturise, nourish and soften the lips and there is also the inclusion of Peppermint Oil, which you can immediately detect as soon as the lid is removed.

The final Gift Set is the Burt's Beeswax Bounty - Assorted (£11.99) and this is a 4 pack of naturally soothing lip balms that nurture and hydrate dry lips.

I have mentioned you can never have too many Burt's Bees Lip Balms and this set of 4 is perfect for topping up your collection. it features 4 of the much-loved and bestselling Burt's Bees Moisturising Lip Balms:

• Classic Beeswax - This is the original lip balm which was crafted back in 1991 and I am not surprised to see it within this gift set.  It uses Beeswax to condition the skin, antioxidant Vitamin E to moisturise and Peppermint Oil which provides that refreshing tingle
• Vanilla Bean - This lip balm is formulated with nourishing Shea Butter, antioxidant-rich Vitamin E and finally 100% natural vanilla which gives it that fresh scent of vanilla.
• Cucumber Mint - This is the most refreshing of all the lip balms so far, it uses Cucumber Extract alongside a hint of Peppermint Oil to give that cool tingly sensation and of course Beeswax to nourish dry lips while keeping them revitalised and hydrated.
• Coconut and Pear - Using Coconut Oil, Pear Extract and Shea Butter, this is a moisturising and hydrating lipbalm which smells just delightful, the coconut scent being all too evident and the pear just lurking in the background.

Each lip balm is 100% natural origin and power-packed with responsibly sourced Beeswax to condition and antioxidant-rich Vitamin E to richly moisturise and soften dry lips.

So there you have a few ideas from Burt's Bees for Stocking Fillers this Christmas and if you want to see the rest of their collection, you can find it on the Burt's Bees website.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Christmas Stocking Fillers with L'Occitane

I absolutely love L'Occitane, it is up there with my favourites and they have created products that neither my bathroom or I can be without - that being the Almond range!  Having shared the incredible Advent Calendars and been lucky enough to also unbox one, today I am sharing some of the gift sets that anyone would be lucky enough to find under their Christmas Tree!

There is over 100 different offerings of gifts from L'Occitane for 2021 and you can helpfully choose them by recipient, by budget, by gift type or you can just spend a merrily few hours making a mental note as to what to buy for yourself!

The first gift set I am sharing is the My Floral Hand Cream Trio (£20). If anything over the past 18 months has taught us, that is to never ever run out of hand cream because using santitiser on your hands can be an absolute nightmare for drying them out!

Thankfully, L'Occitane has the perfect sized hand creams for having on your bedside table, makeup bag, desk, handbag or even in your coat pocket, which is where I usually find a tube.  Inside this trio of hand creams you will find:

• Rose - Described as being a moisturising hand cream with the floral and green notes of the iconic Rose. It is enriched with Shea Butter which helps to moisturise and protect your skin.
• Cherry Blossom - The Cherry scent of this hand cream is delightful and also enriched with Shea Butter, it is non-greasy or tacky but smells so fresh.
• Neroli & Orchidée - I love sweet floral scents, so Neroli which is the blossom off a bitter orange tree, mixed with Orchid creates a beautiful scent and within this hand cream it is just lovely and relaxing.  Again, we have Shea butter for its moisturising and hydrating properties.

These three hand creams are a beautiful trio and anyone who uses as much hand cream as I do, will be delighted to see them under the tree.

The second gift set is the My Comforting Essentials Shea Butter Festive Star Bauble which features an ultra-nourishing skincare trio which helps to keep skin cleansed, moisturised and protected from head to toe.

Shea Butter is one of L'Occitane's hero ingredients and they have a great story to share with their work alongside the women in Burkino Faso which is a must read.

This Gift Set Contains

• L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream 20ml: This is a rich, luxurious body moisturiser which is perfect for dry to very dry skin. It contains 25% shea butter which intensely nourishes the skin to protect against dryness and strengthen the hydrolipidic barrier. It offers up to 72 hours of hydration, leaving the skin soft, comfortable and non-greasy.
• L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml: This is an award-winning hand cream that is enriched with 20% shea butter and alongside it there is a which also features a blend of almond, honey and coconut oil to give that intense nourishment. The cream isn't at all oily but it is just wonderful.
• L'Occitane Shea Butter Milk Soap 25g: This delicate soap is formulated with a 100% vegetable base and shea butter to gently cleanse skin and help preserve its natural moisture balance.  It smells just so wonderfully clean and leaves my hands soft and smooth to the touch.

This is another amazing gift set from L'Occitane and one I cannot wait to hang on my tree as soon as I am allowed to get it out of storage!  It is a great introduction to the L'Occitane Shea range.

The final gift set I am sharing today is one of my favourite scents from L'Occitane and the range that I spend all my love on - The Almond Range.  This gift set, The Almond Voyage Soothing and Firming Collection (£19)

Nestled inside the festively decorated L'Occitane yellow box is a trio of products from the Almond Range, all of which I absolutely adore and have in my bathroom.

This Gift Set contains:

• Almond Shower Oil (75ml) - Not that this product needs an introduction if you read my blog fairly regularly because it is my favourite product ever from L'Occitane and nothing has ever come as close to be as amazing as this. As well as smelling just incredible, when this shower oil comes into contact with water it turns from an oil into a lavish milky foam, leaving my skin feeling silky soft and smooth.
• Almond Delicious Soap (50g) -  This soap uses ground almond shells which very gently but impressively scrub away dead skin cells, leaving your hands clean and those rough areas, such as the elbows, knees and feet feeling smooth. There is also the inclusion of sweet almond oil which gives this soap that amazing scent.
• Almond Delicious Hands (30ml) - This is my favourite hand cream ever and it is one I always have a back up of in my drawer.   Enriched with both Almond milk and Almond oil, which help to nourish and soften the hands, it brings with it that delightful scent I rave about. This cream, luxurious on the skin, is non-greasy or oily and leaves the hands hydrated and moisturised.

For anyone who is a fan of the L'Occitane Almond collection or if you know someone who might become a fan, then this is the gift set you need to have under the tree as an introduction.

So there is just a few of the L'Occitane gift sets that you can find on offer and with so much choice for every possible budget, I would happily purchase as many as I could!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.