Christmas Gift Guide: Stocking Fillers

Day two of 'Blogmas' brings my first Christmas gift guide of the year. By some miracle I have held off this long before talking about the C word when in reality I have been excited since September. Warning: a little beauty heavy and I've gone mad in terms of beauty novelty products. Oops.

Yankee Candle Gift Set (£7.99) - We all know someone who is a crazy candle lady (or man). This set contains five classic scents for the festive season.

No7 Cracker (£8) - Novelty? Check. Rose gold packaging? Check. A lovely little treat containing a kohl eye liner pencil and mascara. 

Simple Gift Set (£7.50) - For the skincare shy I'd recommend this set. The moisturiser included is one of my favourites. Don't forget the cute cosmetics bag too.

Soap & Glory Bauble Gift (£6) - More novelty but so so so cute. Who doesn't love one of the adorable gift sets Soap & Glory have on offer?

Benefit Stocking (£15 in store only) - This is possibly the best gift idea I've ever seen. You mix and match four mini products from Benefit and pop them into this cute stocking. 

Have you got any Christmas gift ideas?

What's In My Travel Bag?

Another day of December means another day of Blogmas! I've got to say it's hard work blogging everyday but I'm really enjoying it! Tomorrow I'm off to Birmingham for a few days - a couple of gigs to attend to, the German Christmas market to visit along with all the other amazing shops Birmingham holds! If I'm honest I'm quite glad for this mini break. Working in retail is stressful any time but at Christmas a lot of people turn into an idiot customer and it doesn't half get you down. Anyway, back to the point of the post.. With my mini break looming I thought it would be the perfect chance to show you what bits and bobs I'm taking with me on my travels. A lot of this you can easily pick up in the drugstore and always a good time to try out samples.

I go for a clear wash bag to keep everything in because I've got a tendency to forget things and I'm always in a rush so a last minute check of everything is made a little easier with this option!

• Shockwaves Ultra Strong Power Hold Spray (£2.95) - What a fancy name for a hairspray eh?! Names aside I've been using this hairspray for years. I'm yet to find one that keeps my hair in place for longer or one that smells as nice. A lot of hairsprays I can't stand the scent of but this one is spot on!
• Sunkissed Instant Self Tan Moose Medium Bronze* (£4.99) - Become my new tanning favourite recently so this has to come with me for a tanning top up. Read my full review HERE.
• Batiste Dry Shampoo Paisley (£2.99) - Always safe to carry a bottle of dry shampoo around with you. However I think they have stopped making this paisley version as I can't find it anywhere online but I've spotted it in my local Superdrug recently. 

• Nivea Double Effect Anti-Perspirant (£3.29) - Bit of an obvious one but I've been loving Nivea's deodorant range recently and they do the job!
• Nivea Invisible Black & White Clear Roll On (£2.10) -  I like this roll on especially because you can use it with whatever colour clothes you are wearing without the worry with white marks on your new black dress and I prefer a clear roll on as well.

• L'Oreal Matt & Messy: Salt Spray (£3.75) - One of my favourite purchases ever brought on a whim, I picked my first bottle up in the summer. As a natural wavy/curly hair girl I love to embrace it and I love spraying this for an added texture to my waves.
• L'Occitane Jasmin Passion Hand Cream (:Limited Edition) - C'mon it's Winter and the dry hands are making there way out to haunt me. I love this 30ml size, perfect for travelling. It has a slight scent which is nice as I don't like strong smelling hand creams (yuck for finger foods half hour later!)

• Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser (£3.79) - Whenever I'm having a skincare nightmare I always turn to Simple. My skin gets dryer as it gets colder and applying this twice a day has kept the dryness at bay as it hydrates the skin.
• L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution (£4.99) - I'm currently in the trail period with this product but so far I've been enjoying it. It does a good enough job of removing any make up and toning the skin. (Don't forget the cotton pads either!)

• Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream (£18.50) - When it comes to travelling out it always the right time to gather your samples and try them out. I have tried this a few times before and it always leaves my skin extremely soft and helps glide on primers/foundations even easier.
• Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion+ (£28) - I can see why so many people love this after a couple of uses. Already thinking of purchasing the full size if I'm honest!
• Vichy Idealia Life Serum (£29.50) - I got my hands on a couple of sample sachets of this and I was hooked after one try of the stuff. Every time I go into I'm stopping by this but the price tag for such a small amount puts me off. I can see myself buying it in the new year though.

So that's a few bits I'm taking with me this weekend (don't worry I know I've missed out key things like shampoos etc but I'm doing a haircare post soon!)

What are you up to this weekend?

Sunday Stuff #1

Usually I'm at work on a Sunday but when I check the rota and see 'Lauren - OFF' I get more excited than I should as I really do take it very seriously as the day of rest. Magazines and endless amounts of my favourite products are at the ready! People often talk about taking care of themselves by eating clean and exercising but a little time for themselves isn't always on top form. I feel it's so important to take a few hours out at least once a week. So what's my check list?

Reading materials - A glossy magazine or two (Glamour and Cosmopolitan have great freebie samples this month as well. Think Alexa Chung's go-to eyeliner from Eyeko and tanning favourite St Tropez!)

Hair care - Aussie Take The Heat shampoo | Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor | Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter | Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour Deep Replenishment 

 Skin care - Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub | Simple Kind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash | Radox Shower Smoothies Soul Soother

Music - Arctic Monkeys - AM (those boys never fail me!)

So there's my essentials for my typical chill out Sunday. What's yours?