Stocking Filler Gift Guide

One of my favourite things to shop for at Christmas is stocking fillers and there are so many amazing products out there to choose from. Today's post is my little guide to finding the perfect stocking filler.

Within this stocking filler gift guide, you will find everything from skincare and makeup to perfume and sleep aids to everything in between.  Most of these products can be found on the High Street and many of them already on sale.

The first item comes from Kat Von D with the Big Saintly Lashes Gift Set (£37) and this gift set contains two full-size products inside a beautiful white and red gift box, with its silver foil branding. 

Inside this gift set is a full size of the Kat Von D Go Big or Go Home Mascara and a 30ml size of the Kat Von D Saint Eau de Parfum.  The 'Saint' Eau de parfum features notes of warm vanilla, jasmine petals and musk which is absolutely stunning as a scent, quite the feminine fragrance which is perfect for daytime wear. The 'Go Big or Go Home' Mascara is powered by plant-based fats and it comes with quite the big bushy wand to give volume to the lashes.

Next from Balm Kind, we have the 3D Limited Edition Christmas Tree (£13). This tree hanging gift contains a full-size tube of our award-winning Alpine Rose & Lysine Lip Balm (10ml).

This formula contains a nourishing blend of antioxidant-rich fruit and flower oils and extracts with an essential amino acid, hydrating oat lipids and soothing liquorice root which work to nourish, soothe and protect even the most parched winter lips.

From Emma Hardie, we have Merrily Moringa (£10) which I featured in this post.  Anyone who reads my blog will know that I am a huge fan of Emma Hardie and in particular the Merrily Moringa Cleansing Balm.

The perfect stocking filler, secret Santa or something to hang on your tree, this Merrily Moringa kit is one to grab. Inside you will find Emma Hardie's Award-winning Moringa Cleansing Balm and Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth in a deluxe travel size (15ml).

One brand who always has some amazing gifts for Christmas is Burt's Bees, which I dedicated a post to (here).  With stocking fillers. Burt's Bees have some amazing tree ornaments in the shape of baubles (£6.99).

Inside the gold-coloured bauble are two products. The first product is the Beeswax Peppermint lip balm which gives a lovely coolness to the lips and it is designed to moisturise and hydrate your lips. The second product inside the bauble is the Burt's Bees Hand Salve and with its fresh herb scent, this hand salve is used to bring hydration and moisturise to hard-working hands, particularly good if you have dry skin.

Next, we have the Morning Glamour Satin Pillowcase (£12.99). If you have read my blog in recent months, you will have noticed that I am a convert to silk pillowcases.

Available in different patterns, I chose the Leopard Print option and absolutely love it. As you might expect, the Satin pillowcase comes with many benefits, some of which include helping to eliminate hair loss, snagging, reducing sleep wrinkles and creases and they also ensure that any beauty products you apply to your skin before bed are not transferred to the pillow, but instead stay on your skin. 

Again with Kat Von D is the cutest cracker (£20). Titled Love Big or Go Home Beauty Cracker Gift Set.

Packaged inside the matte black cracker you will find two Kat Von D products. The first product is a 3ml sample of the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade Lovecraft. Lovecraft is best described as a ‘mauve pink nude’ and it is a shade I really like and will wear.  The second product is a full-sized Go Big and Go Home Volumizing Mascara, which is featured above in another Kat Von D giftset.

From REN Clean Skincare we have some of the cutest gifts this Christmas and one of those gifts includes this Now To Sleep Stocking Filler (£12).

I first featured Now To Sleep on my blog over a year ago (here) and is described as being a scent which will send you to deeper sleep. Enriched with a unique blend of pure essential oils, it works to restore calm and pre-sleep tranquillity, so that you and your skin can renew and regenerate naturally. Within this stocking filler are two 10ml tubes of product.

For those who love natural skincare, we have the Antipodes Beauty Icons gift set (£38). I am quite a fan of Antipodes as a brand and have featured them on my blog quite a few times over the past few years.

Inside the box, you will find three luxurious moisturising products which are designed to replenish tired and thirsty skin. The first product is the water-based Apostle Skin-Brightening Serum whose job is to target pigmentation and brighten skin. Then we have the international bestseller Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream and I already adore this cream, its job is to soothe skin while reducing the signs of ageing. The final product is the nutrient-rich Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream featuring antibacterial manuka honey.

Caudalie is a brand I absolutely adore and one of my most favourite products from the brand is the Beauty Elixir and this stocking filler is just perfect (£12).

This Elixir, once spritzed, fills the air with notes of benzoin, myrrh, orange, blossom, grape and rose, all of which work to give your complexion a rosy glow. Add to that astringent rosemary and the stimulating essence of lemon balm and mint and the scent is really quite incredible and it is of course really gentle on the skin.  The ingredients coming together to smooths away fine lines tightens pores and gives the complexion an instant boost of radiance, helps calm redness and not forgetting that this product can also be used to set makeup! 

Feelunique has a whole host of Stocking Fillers and whether you prefer makeup, skincare or fragrance, there is something for everyone.  I have a beautifully packaged mini Jimmy Choo perfume.

Packaged inside a holographic box, the fragrance Fever is described as being a hot floral fragrance, a bit sweet and with a dark background. With top notes of black plum, litchee, grapefruit; heart notes of heliotrope and base notes of benzoin, sandalwood, tonka bean, what I love about this fragrance is how natural the scent of plum is when the fragrance is first applied and then as it dries down the fruit notes make their mark to create quite a fragrance and one I would purchase a full size of.

The third and final stocking filler from Kat Von D within this gift guide is the Everlasting love Liquid Lipstick Set (£13.50).

This set features six liquid lipsticks in the shades Lovecraft a Mauve Pink Nude, Hawkind which is also a Nude, Nocturna which is a Deep Grape, Bow N Arrow which is more of a light Nude, Nahz Fur Atoo which is a stunning Blood Crimson and finally we have Bauhaus which is a Deep Rasberry shade. This set makes a great gift for anyone who is a fan of the Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks.

The Pretty Little Present from Too Faced (£14) is one of the cutest stocking fillers within this gift guide and one that is a must for any Too Faced fan.

Inside the beautiful box you will find two products. The first is a Travel-sized Better Than Sex Mascara.  This mascara has one of the best wands I have ever used and it is described as being an hourglass brush with extra stiff bristles which work to ensure even coverage of carbon black pigment. This mascara is also enriched with collagen to create thick, curled lashes and protective acacia Senegal tree extract which will hydrate the lashes to keep them in optimum condition.  The second product is a travel-sized rich & dazzling High-Shine Sparkling Lip Gloss in shade Sunset Crush.  These lipglosses are non-sticky and as well as giving multi-dimensional colours, these glosses are infused with light-reflecting glitters and natural oils for a nourished, comfortable colour.

The final product within this stocking filler gift guide comes from Murad, a brand I am absolutely loving to get to know right now. Glowy Vibes (£10) features a Hydro-Dynamic™ Ultimate Moisture in a travel-ready size.

Described as being the most hydrating moisturiser Murad has ever created. The non-greasy, easily absorbed formula contains some amazing ingredients which include avocado, sunflower and olive fruit which work to enhance skin’s moisture levels, and a collagen support complex to boost skin’s resilience and plump dehydrated skin.

So there you have my 2019 Stocking Filler gift guide and if you are wondering what to grab as those last-minute gifts as you head to the shops over the next few days, hopefully, I have given you some food for thought.

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

CND Crystal Alchemy Collection

I am a huge fan of CND nail polishes and just before Christmas, this CND Crystal Alchemy Collection arrived and it is just a beautiful collection and one I have been making full use of, despite my nails being absolutely horrendous right now!

The Crystal Alchemy collection is said to have been inspired by Swarovski, each of the colours within the collection are inspired by jewels and stones.  There is five polishes within the collection which includes:

• Powerful Hematite - This polish was not at all as I was expecting it to be. Instead of being a deep black, it is instead a shimmery cool-toned black which makes a great shade for any occasion.
• Divine Diamond - A Gold Shift shade which looks totally different depending on the environment you are in, it can have a hint of silver or a darker run of gold.
• Lovely Quartz - This is a peachy pale shade of pink and one which again is perfect for any nude nail polish fan and one which can be worn on any occasion.
• Rebellious Ruby - My favourite shade of the collection and it is a very classic elegant shade of red which has a really lovely shimmer to it under bright lights.
• Sassy Sapphire - As you can imagine this is a beautiful stunning bold blue and again depending on your environment it does have a hint of shimmer.

What I have found with all of these nail polishes is that they differ in the number of coats they actually need.  

Show off your inner sparkle with the CND Crystal Alchemy collection as it celebrates the many facets of one’s personality, whether elegant, passionate, reserved, or spirited. 

Some need just one and others need three for really good coverage, on the whole, I have worn both Rebellious Ruby and Powerful Hematite the most and am happy with the coverage two coats gives.

Saving you from having to see the state that is my nails, the swatches above feature just two coats of each polish and from left to right we have Powerful Hematite, Rebellious Ruby, Sassy Sapphire, Lovely Quartz and Divine Diamond.  The shade which is the hardest to work with is Divine Diamond, I found it slightly runnier than the other four shades, but I do love the finish once it has dried. 

Each one of these nail polishes can be purchased separately here from Nail Polish direct and they are currently on offer for £7.96 each.

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

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Ritual Anti-Dark Spot gift set

If you haven't guessed by now, I am a huge fan of Caudalie* and in particular, the Vinopure range which I purchase the Purifying Toner over and over again.  Today it is Christmas gifting with Caudalie and this Vinoperfect Radiance Ritual Anti-Dark Spot gift set.

This gift set features three Caudalie Hero products from the Vinoperfect Collection and it contains the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum 30ml, the Vinoperfect Dark Spot Correcting 
Glycolic Night Cream 15ml and the Vinoperfect Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream 30ml

Reveal clearer, more luminous skin with the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Ritual, a triad of skincare treatments brought together in a luxurious Christmas set.

Putting this trio together you have a great introduction to the Vinoperfect range for those who have never tried it and a great way to top up on the best products from within the range for those who have and love it.

The Vinoperfect Radiance Serum is described as being effective and natural. This anti-dark spot serum contains Caudalies patented Viniferine that is said to be 62 times more effective than Vitamin C at boosting radiance and evening the complexion. It is suitable for all skin types and works to reduce the appearance of dark spots, including pregnancy mask, acne marks, sun pigmentation and age-related dark spots, and prevents them from reappearing.

I really like the silky smooth texture of this serum and it has the most wonderful refreshing and subtle fragrance which combines notes of citrus blossom, orange tree leaves, watermelon and mint.  So when applied it is as soothing as it is refreshing.

The second product is the Vinoperfect Dark Spot Correcting Glycolic Night Cream which is described as being a protective night cream that works overnight to renew the skin, leaving it brightened and glowing come morning. This cream is really lightweight on the skin, it doesn't feel heavy or greasy and it doesn't have a tacky finish once applied.

Again, it has a fresh and subtle fragrance combines notes of bergamot, sweet orange, mandarin and citrus tree bark.  Working well with the serum, it should be applied afterwards and I really love how my skin feels after using.

The final product within this gift set is the Vinoperfect Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream. It is described as being an innovative hand cream corrects dark spots while protecting and nourishing the skin, making your hands more beautiful. It combines the power of vine sap Viniferine with brightening white peony, to visibly reduce dark spots. Then we have the inclusion of both avocado oil and shea butter to nourish the hands throughout the day.  On the skin, the texture is quite fine but creamy and it melts instantly into the skin without being greasy.

As with the Vinoperfect Serum, this hand cream also has the refreshing and delicate fragrance of citrus blossom, orange tree leaves, watermelon and mint.

This gift set is priced at £46 (here) and is a must-have for any fan of the brand and of the collection, more so if you are yet to try this range!

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

theBalm Autobalm Palettes Review

Whenever theBalm launch a new product it always excites me and new to the range is the Autobalm palettes which arrived in the most exciting way - hidden inside cardboard cars and it was absolutely not what I was expecting to find inside, but as packaging goes, never has a palette been designed and created more amazingly.

The collection consists of three palettes: Grl Pwdr, Day 2 Nite, and Pic Perf. and each one is simply stunning, easy to use and compact enough to have in your bag for being on the go and they are lightweight and slot into your bag easily.

The first palette to grab my attention was hidden inside the blue car and it is the Pic Perf Palette (£26.50 here) which is in fact yellow in colour!

With the description 'Shadows on the go' Pic Perf eyeshadow palette is best described as being a jewel-toned palette which features five shimmery shades and two rich, matte shadows. Also included is a neutral eye primer which is really handy to have. On this palette are the shades:

• Broadway which is a burnt orange shade which has a slight red undertone to it
• Sunset Bvld which is a beautiful blue shade
• Market Street which is a beautiful champagne shimmer
• Ocean Drive which is a beautiful brown
• Rodeo Drive which is a lighter champagne shade to Market Street
• St Charles Drive is a light orange
• Pennsylvania Ave is a light brown matte shade

Complete with a mirror, this palette is great for travelling and it doesn't take too much space within your makeup bag.

The second palette which was found hidden inside the pink car is a Day 2 Nite palette (£26.50 here) and its job is to take you from day to night.

This palette which is similar in design to Pic Perf and it too consists of 2 matte and 5 shimmer shades but what really grabs the attention is the black primer. The shades on this palette are:

• Wall St. (light gold with rosy undertones; shimmer)
• Lombard St. (chocolate brown with gold flecks; shimmer)
• Haight St. (mermaid blue with icy silver tones; shimmer)
• Madison Ave. (bronzy rose gold; shimmer)
• Beacon St. (frosty pink; shimmer)
• Hollywood Blvd. (muted dusky mauve; matte)
• Las Vegas Blvd. (ultra-pale peach; matte)

Each one of these shades is just stunning but for me, the magic starts with the use of the black primer which brings each and every one of these shades to life, as this picture shows and I have never used anything like this before ever.
The final palette hidden inside the yellow car is Grl Pwdr Cheeks on the go (£26.50 here) and it is described a being your totally gorgeous blush & highlight palette. With 4 shades to wear alone or mix and layer for unlimited options and your perfect custom look.

On this palette are four shades which are:

• Houston - Which is a lovely light pink-peach shade
• Bourbon St - Which is a beautiful pink rose shade
• Bleeker St. - Which is a beautiful coral/camel shade
• Fifth Ave. - Which is a rose gold

I am not usually a fan of blushers but this palette has really grabbed my attention and I find myself switching between all four shades, but particularly where with Houston and Bourbon St.

Each one of these three palettes has, as you can see a mirror and they are designed to look exactly like a license plate, complete with the requisite metal packaging and signature lettering style.  I love that there are three different palettes to choose from and that you can use them all to complete a look, purchase one and have an amazing look or mix and match the shades.  Whichever option you choose, I am sure you will be as delighted with it as I am.

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