Christmas Presents 2013 – a beauty bonanza!

Merry Christmas! I hope you’ve all had a fantastic Christmas, eaten lots and enjoyed a good old rest in front of the TV. I know I’ve had a great day, seen lots of family and watched a few films (The Santa Claus and Hot Tub Time Machine!)

I wanted to share with you some pictures of what I’ve had for Christmas this year. This little lot is from three of my best friends that know me really well as you can see it’s very beauty focused!

REN, L'Occitane, Rodial, Eve Lom. Crabtree & Evelyn Christmas Gifts

The two biggest treats were the Eve Lom Kiss Mix Lip Balm and Rodial Glamstick in Thrill.

The Eve Lom Kiss Mix is a really moisturising lip balm with a minty flavour that can be worn on it’s own for a light sheen or under lipstick. It’s a real luxury gift and a step up from my trusty Carmex!!

Beautiful gifts including the Rodial Glamstick and Eve Lom Kiss Mix

I hadn’t heard of the Rodial Glamstick and had a real surprise when I opened it as I didn’t recognise it. However, here’s the spiel:

“Rodial Glamstick is a nourishing lip butter enriched with vitamin E and coconut butter to hydrate and protect. Infused with a light coconut flavour for beautifully scented lips with an irresistible sheen. Apply as and when needed to smooth lips for instant glamour.”

First up, the packaging is a funky square shaped clear cube, very grown up, with a silver bullet inside. The coconut scent is quite strong and reminds me of holidays. They come in three very neutral colours, thrill, bite and lust and Thrill is a neutral brown. Again, it’s a real luxury product and as a tinted moisturising lipbalm, great for using everyday. I can’t wait to give it a shot!

REN minis

I also had a huge lot of L’Occitane products including the Verbena soap, Verveine body lotion, Precious Cream, Essential Water and Precious Eye Balm from the Immortale range (I’m most excited about this little trio!) and Dry Skin Hand Cream.

Next up was a pile of REN minis including the Vita Mineral Day Cream, Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel, Vetiver Hand and Body Cream, Hydra Calm Global Protection Day Cream, Keep Young and Beautiful Anti Ageing Eye Cream and Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream.

Ok I admit, I've already eaten most of these chocolates!

Lastly, I received the Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy (love this already!), some handmade orangettes (my favourite chocolates) from my favourite little French chocolate shop in Birmingham and a Lindt bear.

Did you find any beauty products under the tree?!

Christmas presents – What Santa got me for Christmas 2012

So this is super late, but hey, let me explain. I’ve finally managed to squeeze in some time for blogging after the madness of Christmas. Work was so busy that I only had time to take pictures in readiness for writing and posting later. But never fear, I can finally share with you the pictures of what I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas.

First up, my fellow beauty addict friend got me a personalised Glossybox! This was in fact a pink Glossybox filled with minis from L’Occitane, a brand that I’ve been meaning to try out more and did in fact ask for.  Inside the box I got a Verbena Shower Gel, Pivoine Flora Shower Gel, Essential Water and Cooling Hand Cream Gel as well as a red Yves Rocher lipstick which actually did come from a previous Glossybox. This was such a thoughtful present and I love things like this! I’ve used the Essential Water so far and really liked it as a toner.

Next, more beauty from a male friend who I was super impressed with! When asked what I wanted, I basically directed him to the Harvey Nichols beauty hall.  He did so well! This Korres Lip Butter has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while and the rose colour is exactly what I would have picked myself. It hasn’t left my handbag since I got it, and I really use it as a light lipstick as the colour is so pigmented it’s more like Benefit Benetint lipbalm. This nail polish is OPI, another brand that I’ve been meaning to try out more.  The shade, every month is Oktoberfest, is part of their special edition Germany Collection from Autumn Winter 2012 and is in my opinion the standout shade. A deep rich metallic red, I was so impressed by the consistency of this and it went on really easily. I’ll do a NOTD for you guys later.

This No7 Art Deco Palette was a Secret Santa gift from work. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet but the colours are a great mix of smoky browns, greys and blacks in this gorgeous handbag sized palette!

I’ve been going on about how much I wanted these UGG Scuffette II slippers for ages now, everyone is so sick of me talking about them! But, I finally have them! I got them in grey/black because I wear a lot of black, and they are ridiculously comfortable, much more so than cheaper imitations. So in short, get some!

I got a cupcake gift bag full of cupcake making bits and pieces as everyone knows how much I love baking! Inside are some cakes, sprinkles and a professional tin so next time I make cupcakes I can get really creative!

A few pieces from the family, I asked for the Benefit High Flyin Glosses set, Nivea minis and Harvey Nichols fudge (I love fudge!). The gloss set is perfect for me because I never finish any of my products and I get to try out all the shades, which are Coralista, Dallas, Bella Bamba, Hoola, Sugarbomb and Dandelion.

More family presents, a half bottle of Harvey Nichols champagne (which I got to enjoy at THIS event), Dior Addict Eau Fraiche perfume, Tweezerman Slant Tweezers (mine have gone blunt and I wanted to have a pair ready for when I send them to the USA to be sharpened), and finally, the Real Techniques Core Collection brushes. I can’t wait to use these!!

And finally, I got a bottle of Soap & Glory Clean On Me from my friend in Secret Santa (that's me sorted for shower gel for months!) as well as some gift vouchers which I’m going to spend on a NARS makeover and put towards some blusher/bronzer, as I always hear such good things about their products.

That’s it! I’m so lucky to have received such lovely gifts this year, beauty themed now more than ever as my friends get to know about the blog. What did you get for Christmas? Show me your links guys!!