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?

January Favourites

I've found that this month I have been trying out so many products, especially because I've put myself on a spending ban which you can read HERE. What comes with a spending ban is the fact you're forced to use a lot of products you already own - finding some old treasures in your never ending collection. Along with Christmas gifts too January has very much been the experimentation month!

• Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer (£10.99) - I picked this product up with a gift card and Bourjois are a brand I'm really starting to enjoy. I was a little hesitant about a matte primer as I have a dry skin type but still I went ahead. I'm so glad I did, it gives me an airbrush like finish to my foundation after application. I also like how it comes in a glass bottle with a pump as I often feel like I'm wasting product when using a primer from a tube.
• Clinique Lash Building Primer (£12.00) - Another primer! I actually picked this up a few months ago but couldn't get it work right for me. The mascara style wand holds a white product with the same consistency of a mascara, I swipe a few times over the lashes and it leaves my lashes with length all day, such a good purchase that was brought on a whim. 
• Carmex Original Lip Pot (£2.69) -  I actually picked this up in Primark of all places for a little cheaper with a price of £2. I often wondered why everyone raved and ranted about this lip balm and now I can see why. I suffer with terribly chapped lips and this has been keeping the dryness at bay with so much ease. I really like products when I can see an impact straight away and this offers that.
• Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (£7.99) - Now I know I'm massively late with this product, so late Revlon have actually brought a new release out on this product but whatever. I opted for the shade Honey as I wanted something natural for everyday wear. I've been really enjoying lip stain products and this one from Revlon has become my absolute favourite. 
• L'Oreal Triple Active Day Moisturiser (£6.49) - This product I actually picked up in a gift set from the boxing day sales and I adore it. Suffering with dry skin always means I need something leaving me hydrated and keeping any dry patches at bay too. This really does do the trick. I pop it on in the morning and it also makes make up application a lot smoother too.
• DKNY Be Delicious 30ml (£34.99) -  I love this range of fragrance from DKNY. I find that Be Delicious is the strongest smelling scent I have tried from the range but definitely my favourite one. Personally I prefer to wear it in the evenings but it's long lasting and I've gotten so many compliments on the fragrance.
• Bourjois Java Rice Loose Powder (£9.99) - I have wanted to try this out for the longest time and I am sure it was worth the wait. Released as part of Bourjois' anniversary and I can see why it's a best seller from back in the day. It gives a lovely radiant glow to the skin and sets make up well too. I like to use it a highlighter as well due to it's shimmery finish. 
• Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara (£10.50) - This was part of the Yule Monty gift set from Soap & Glory and why has it taken me this long to try it? The mascara wand is like a thinner cone shape and really lengthens the lashes well giving them a thickness as well. Somehow I don't already have anything similar to this mascara in my collection making it a great addition and often reached for.

What products have you been loving lately?

2013 Favourites Part 2/2 - Skincare/Haircare

Continuing with my 2013 favourites three part series, today I have the skincare and haircare bits and bobs I've been loving. I do have a hair care post coming out soon as it has been requested so I haven't included too much as more in depth reviews will be coming very soon. Like I mentioned in yesterday's post I'm not a high end type of person but in 2014 I definitely want to splurge a little and use some higher end skincare and haircare products. I did experiment more towards the end of 2013 mind you.

| SKINCARE |

The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner & Facial Cleanser (£3-£8) - I really enjoyed using these two products together though I do wish I'd brought the bigger sizes. That's the great thing about The Body Shop, a lot of their products you can buy in mini size which is great for trialling new products. These two together left me feeling really fresh though, perfect for mornings. 

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Purifying Micellar Solution (£4.99) - With this offering from L'Oreal you can easily remove your make-up before having a good cleanse. With a quick few swipes over your eyes you can remove any tough eye-liners or mascaras with so much ease, no more sore eyes.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub (£8) - By far my most favourite exfoliator choice. Leaves the skin very soft and the perfect kick start to a killer fake tan. I'm a massive fan of citrus smells in body care products so I love the lime scent that goes with this glorious little pot. 

| HAIRCARE |

Aussie Take The Heat Shampoo (£4.69) - Now this might just be me being a little crazy but I find with blonde hair it's really hard to get a nice shine to it. Like many Aussie products it just gives me the best shine out of many hair products I've used. And anything that protects from heat damage is always a bonus.

L'Oreal Studio Line Matt and Messy: Salt Spray (£3.75) - Having natural/wavy hair is sometimes a good thing for myself. The amount of times I'll leave it in it's natural state and add a little bit of this salt spray from L'Oreal. It adds a bit of texture to it and I'm a fan of the whole 'beach hair' look. This small bottle lasts ages as well (I think they've changed the packaging since I last repurchased anyway). 

The Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter (£3-£8) - Another product from The Body Shop that I brought in a mini size but is lasting me ages. I add this hair butter to the ends of my hair after conditioning to keep them soft, you don't need a lot of the butter. The trick with this one is 'less is more'. 

Part two of my 2013 favourites over with, if you missed yesterday's 2013 make-up favourites you can catch up HERE. What have been your favourites products in the past year?

What I Got For Christmas 2013

Firstly I want to massively apologise for not posting in over two weeks. If you work in retail you will get me when I say it is the worst time of the year. I absolutely love Christmas but arsey customers don't half get you down. It doesn't help with your blogging schedule when you're working twelve days in a row. So I failed blogmas massively, sigh. Regardless of my ramblings I had the most lovely Christmas and already counting down to next years festivities. Just a little disclaimer to say that I'm not in no way bragging about any of these things I have been kindly gifted by my nearest and dearest. I've just been loving being nosey at everyone else posts if I'm honest with you. 

| The Yummy Stuff |

Could you get any more opposite in terms of mugs? My best friend Zoe got me the Joy Division one and secret Santa at work the Mike Wazowski offering (I love Disney too much). As for all the yummy treats, half of them are gone, oops, and I can't remember who got me what now, oops again. The little union jack tin though was picked out using my mum's purse no doubt by my little brother. It's filled with yummy shortbreads but the cute tin will come in handy after they're all gone.

| The Fluffy Stuff |

It's out of hand how much I want a real Dalmatian in my life so my Mum substituted with these cute nightwear items. I actually spotted these PJ's in Primark and mentioned them to my mum, she certainly listens. As for another person who listens is my Dad's girlfriend, Lyn. Since moving house back in October it's a little cold sometimes even with the heating on. We're placed on a hill with an open chimney and we get all sorts of little draughts around the house so she got me the lovely and snuggley hot water bottle in dog form. I'm the crazy dog lady, never mind cat lady.

| The Beauty Stuff |

Polka dot nail files, I was sold straight away. A couple of magnetic nail polishes I'm excited to try out. Bath bombs (though my angle here doesn't show them very well but them pastel blobs are bath bombs, honest). I embrace my paleness as much as possible but sometimes not being able to rock a gorgeous nail polish colour breaks my little heart at times so a girl has to fake it now and then, can't wait to experiment with this Xen Tan - who said Dad's can't make good beauty picks without any assistance or hints. A gorgeous scent from Ghost in Anticipation (I also had DKNY Be Delicious which isn't pictured). I actually had two of these Soap and Glory sets but it's full of travel sizes and no doubt I will make my way through the Hand Food's once popped into my handbag (I've had a new bag as well too actually which isn't in these pictures too).

| The Pretty Stuff |

I'm not entirely sure where the necklace is from as it came in a sparkly gift box but I love it. I'm not a massive jewellery wearer but I want to be and I love this simple piece. Yes I am still swooning at these Pandora boxes. Now if I'm honest with you I knew that my Nana had brought me a leather bracelet because back in August she popped into to my work (there's a Pandora stockist in the shop next door) and asked what colour bracelet I wanted. As for the other little box I wasn't expecting it at all but my Mum really made my day with this one. It needs a picture of it's own:

I've been lusting after this charm for ages and I knew they had sold out everywhere in stores in my local area so my Mum was a star and managed to get it online. I love scooters as mad as that sounds and always get over excited when I see one. I'd love to own a Vespa one day. Enough scooter talk anyway.

| The Technology Stuff |

If you've never watched any of the This Is England stuff it's well worth the watch (I know it's available on 4od still!) My best friend got me this Limited Edition version of The View's Which Bitch? album, it has a DVD with it that contains a documentary and a live gig so I can't wait to watch all that. The only thing I asked for this Christmas was an iPod docking station and I love this one from BUSH, it's so mini and cute and I love it loads (I sound like a complete saddo but MUSIC). If anything blew me away then it was this little secret surprise from my Dad. Never in my life did I expect the latest iPad Air. I haven't put it down if I'm honest since I opened it and I can't wait for 2014 blogging wise with this amazing product.

I feel so lucky to have such amazing family and friends who are so thoughtful and kind. I hope all my lovely readers had an amazing Christmas and a Happy New Year also!

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?