And Finally, On the 12th Day of Christmas...The Best of the Rest

 12 Days of Christmas

Day 12: Best of the Rest

Well guys, it's Christmas Eve, so I hope you've bought all your presents now! For the last day of our 12 Days of Christmas feature I thought I'd do a quick run-down of some lovely products I haven't got to mention yet, all of which are on my wishlist - for Christmas and for the January sales!

Left to right: Sanctuary Softening Thermal Sugar Polish, £9.25, The Body Shop Vitamin C Radiance Capsules,  £15.00, MeMeMe Beat The Blues in Moonbeam, £5.25

 Left to right: Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara, £10.99, Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub, £9.45, Sanctary Lift & Brighten Eye Complex, £12.77.

 Left to right: Benefit Sugarbomb, £23.50, Dermalogica PreCleanse, £31.00, MeMeMe Blush Me! Blush Box, £8.50.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and find lots of beautiful goodies under your tree tomorrow morning!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items. 

On the 11th Day of Christmas...Hair Care

12 Days of Christmas

Day 11: Hair Care

Stocking filler: Umberto Giannini's Glam Hair range is one of the latest obsessions to hit my salon - great for instant, lasting, sexy volume. This hair spray comes in a cute 30ml miniature size, perfect for Christmas stockings!
Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Rock 'N' Roll Extreme Hairspray 30ml is available from Boots for £1.99.

On a budget: This gorgeous little kit is great for post-Christmas party stressed out locks! Contains everything needed for a bit of hair pampering - volumising shampoo and conditioner, intensive conditioning mask, Magic Drops, a comb, butterfly clips and a hair turban, all contained in a gorgeous leopard print case.
Mark Hill Girls Night In Pamper Pack is available from Boots for £25.00.

Blow the budget: Give the gift of hair repair! From the award-winning Aveda comes this fabulous gift set, including Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair, shampoo, conditioner and treatment, promising healthier hair for 2012.
Aveda The Gift of Repair is available for £50.00 from Aveda stores and salons, search for your nearest location.

It's Christmas Eve tomorrow! See you then for the final day of our 12 Days of Christmas!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 10th Day of Christmas...Fragrance

Continuing the list of fantastic last minute Christmas gift ideas! If you missed days 1 - 9, you can catch up here.

12 Days of Christmas

Day 10: Fragrance

 

Stocking filler: Natural Collection's body sprays are unashamedly cheap and cheerful! These are an old favourite at my work for quick fragrance touch ups during the day and they're great for layering with similair scented perfumes.
Natural Collection Body Sprays (shown above in Vanilla) are available from Boots for £2.03 (and is currently included in their 3 for 2 offer if you need to stock up!).

 

 On a budget: The Body Shop's perfumes are so underrated! I got Love Etc... last Christmas (and just finished it last month, boo!) - it's a beautiful, girly, long lasting floral fragrance. This pretty gift box includes a 50ml eau de parfum, a shower gel and body lotion.
The Body Shop Love Etc... Gift Box Trio is available from The Body Shop for £25.00.

Blow the budget: Armani Code has been on my wishlist for years! It's a luxurious, sensual fragrance with notes of jasmine, orange blossom, honey and vanilla. The gift set includes a 50ml bottle of the eau de parfum, a 75ml shower gel and a 75ml body lotion.
Giorgio Armani Code Femme Fragrance Gift Set is available from Boots  for £54.00.


See you tomorrow for Day 11!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 9th Day of Christmas...Pedicure

12 Days of Christmas

Day 9: Pedicure

Stocking filler: Am I the only one who, despite having several pairs of toe seperators, can only ever seem to find one? These pretty patterned toe seperators make a cute stocking filler for nail polish nerds.

Ms Pedicure Stand-Alone Toe Seperators are available from Boots for £2.55.

On a budget: This beautiful little gift set includes a bottle of OPI's amazing Original Nail Envy - a base coat/nail treatment that's an absolute miracle for weak, splitting, peeling nails. Also includes a pair of pedicure socks.

OPI Fabulous Feet is available from Lena White for £18.55.

Blow the budget: Perfect for a little bit of relaxation after a long day. The Bubble Bliss foot spa has soothing massage settings, acupressure rollers (great for aching feet!) and a heat setting to keep the water warm. A fantastic gift for someone who spends a lot of time on their feet.

Champneys Bubble Bliss Delux Footspa is available exclusively from Boots - currently reduced from £49.99 to just £33.32!

I hope you're all almost organised for Christmas now - and if you're not, come back tomorrow for Day 10!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 8th Day of Christmas...Hand Care

12 Days of Christmas

Day 8: Hand Care

Stocking filler: More S&G minis! Hand Food is an fantastic hand cream - working in a salon I'm constantly in contact with harsh chemicals, making my hands very dry with patches of dermatitis. I carry Hand Food in my bag everywhere I go and apply it through the day for some instant, non-greasy hydration. Love it!

Soap & Glory Mini Hand Food Hand Cream is available from Boots  for £2.35.

On a budget: This lovely little gift set from No7 includes a revitalising hand scrub, a rich foot balm, 4 gorgeous nail polishes from the No7 Stay Perfect range, a pair of toe seperators, a foot buffer and a 4-way nail buffer. Perfect for an at-home mani/pedi!

No7 Pamper and Polish is available from Boots for £20.00.

Blow the budget: From the amazing, unbeatable Creme de la Mer comes The Hand Treatment - a tube of pure indulgent, silky smooth bliss. This cream protects your hands from environmental damage, prevents dehydration and fights signs of aging - the whole package. Incredibly expensive for just 100ml, but beauty geeks will love it.

Creme De La Mer The Hand Treatment is available from House of Fraser for £65.00.

See you tomorrow for Day 9!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 7th Day of Christmas...Nails

12 Days of Christmas

Day 7: Nails

Stocking filler: I'll be the first to admit I have expensive taste when it comes to nail polish, but I still love Collection 2000 for trying out the season's new colours. The 8ml bottle are super cute, perfect for Christmas stockings!

Collection 2000 Hot Looks Fast Dry Nail Polish is available from Boots  for £1.79.

On a budget: I wasn't really sure about putting this under the budget category because it is a bit much for a nail polish, but hey, it could be worse...and this is just such a great gift idea! Personalise a bottle of Nails Inc polish - you pick the colour, the cap, the message on the bottom and the stickers on the gift box. So cute!

Pick your Couture by Nails Inc polish on the Nails Inc website for £20.00.

Blow the budget: When it comes to nail polish, OPI is the best of the best. Lena White, official OPI stockists for the UK, have a great offer which lets you create your own gift sets for a fraction of the cost of buying the polishes individually. Browse through each colour category on the website and pick from hundreds of shades to put together the perfect collection.
Custom OPI gift sets are available from Lena White costing £26.65 for 3, £48.30 for 6, or £64.95 for 9.

Come back tomorrow for Day 8!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 6th Day of Christmas...Spa Days

12 Days of Christmas

Day 6: Spa Days

Stocking filler: If you're on a tight budget, why not treat your friend to a DIY spa day at home? Apply face masks, paint your nails, drink fruit juice and make cupcakes and watch your favourite movies. It may not be the ultimate in luxury, but you'll have fun and you won't break the bank.

Shown above is Montagne Jeunesse Chocolate Face Masque, available from Boots for 99p.

 On a budget: Most salons will sell gift vouchers and the good ones will let you pick a voucher to any value or for any specific treatment that they offer. If your friend frequents a salon, get her a gift voucher from there, you know she'll appreciate it!

Find your nearest BABTAC approved salon.

Blow the budget: A day at the famous Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden is the ultimate girly treat. Go all out with their Time for Two package - including an 85 minute treatment for both of you, a 2 course lunch and full use of the spa facilities (including the exercise pool, steam rooms and infrared sauna).

Sanctuary Spa's Time For Two Package is £314.50, see their website for more information.

See you all tomorrow for Day 7!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 5th Day of Christmas...Body Care

In case you missed it, we've been counting down to Christmas with some amazing last minute gift ideas, here's a list of what you've missed.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 5: Body Care

Stocking filler: Yes, another Soap & Glory mini - these make such good stocking fillers and 2 or 3 together make a lovely, girly secret santa gift (my heavily pregnant boss got a couple in our salon's secret santa and she's packed them away in her hospital bag, such a good idea!). Flake Away is a gorgeous fruit and floral scented body scrub which promises to leave skin silky smooth.

Soap & Glory Travel Size Flake Away Body Scrub is available from Boots for £2.35.

On a budget: The Body Shop's body butter is always a hit at Christmas and this seasonal scent is good enought to eat! Paraben-free, with a buttery, non-greasy texture, this makes the perfect gift.

The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Butter is available from The Body Shop for £12.50.

Blow the budget: Caudalie's Spa in a Bag is a detoxing, contouring bag of home spa goodies - it includes a body scrub containing cellulite-busting essential oils, a slimming Contouring Concentrate and detoxing herbal tea. Perfect for a New Year detox and some home pampering!

Caudalie Spa In A Bag Body of Your Dreams is available from Boots for £39.00.

Come back tomorrow for Day 6! (How close is it to Christmas now?! I am so not prepared!)

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 4th Day of Christmas...Facial Skincare

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 4: Facial Skincare

Stocking filler: Boots' cucumber range is great for sensitive skin and such good quality for the price. This eye gel is fantastic for tired, puffy eyes - I keep it in my make up bag and use it through the day to instantly wake up my eyes.
Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Gel is availabe from Boots for £1.52.

On a budget: Dermalogica are a world renowned spa & salon exclusive skin care brand, their products are second to none. These Skin Kits (each containing mini versions of a cleanser, toner, moisturiser, exfoliator and eye treatment, plus a sample of a mask and their infamous PreCleanse) are a great way to indulge skin and try out the range before splashing out on the full size products. Take a peek at your friend's skin and get them a gift personalised for their skin type.
To buy your Dermalogica Skin Kits use Dermalogica's store locator to find your nearest stockist. RRP is £24.50, but whenever I've seen them in salons they were around £20, so shop around!

Blow the budget: This lovely gift set, inspired by Bliss Spa's famous Triple Oxygen Facial, contains their 'instant energizing' mask, eye mask and cream. Great for brightening up dull, dehydrated complexions, this set promises to "leave your giftee's complexion looking so luminous, you would even say it glows".
Bliss 'Glow'-Ho-Ho Gift Set is available from Bliss Spas for £60.00.

Make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 5!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...Bath & Shower Gifts!

Twelve Days Of Christmas

Day 3: Bath & Shower

Stocking filler: I love Soap & Glory and their miniatures are so cute! Clean On Me is a shower gel with built in body lotion (I'm not quite sure how that works, but it sounds good!) to keep skin clean & soft, and is scented with their ever popular Original Pink fragrance.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Body Wash (75ml) is available from Boots for £2.35.

On a budget: Everyone loves a bit of Body Shop and their bath and shower products are divine! This beautifully presented box of goodies includes shower gel, body scrub, body butter, soap and a bath lily, all with a delicious mango scent. If your friends aren't into mango, don't worry - they have plenty of other fragrances to keep them happy.
The Body Shop Mango Gift Box is available from The Body Shop for £25.00.

Blow the budget: This gift set from Champneys, the renowned spa brand, includes full size shower gel, body scrub and body lotion from their Citrus Blush range - uplifting lemon and orange scents with vitamin E to keep skin luxuriously soft. All this comes packaged in a gorgeous vanity case along with a bath lily (is it just me that gets about 5 bath lilys every Christmas? They're in everything!).
Champneys Spa Citrus Blush Body Care Vanity Case is availabe from Boots for £40.00.

See you tomorrow for Day 4!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...Make-Up!

Twelve Days of Christmas
Day 2: Make-Up

Stocking filler: Barry M have a bright, exciting range of make up, perfect for parties. Their lip lacquer crayons are highly pigmented with a creamy texture, so they won't dry lips out. Available in 5 shades, from pale Barbie pink to daring red.
Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayons are available from Boots for £4.99.

On a budget: Perfect for the girl who is constantly trying new looks - the 100 piece eyeshadow set from ELF. Every shade under the sun and an undeniable bargain. Pro tip: Use eye primer and apply these shadows with a wet brush to make the colour really pop.
ELF 100-piece Eyeshadow Collection is available from eyeslipsface.com for £15.00.

Blow the budget: I've never met anyone who doesn't love a MAC eyeshadow, and these gorgeous compacts from their holiday collection make the perfect gift! Available in Cool, Warm & Sultry, each compact contains 6 shadows and is topped with a glitter filled snowglobe - so cute!
MAC Snowglobe Eyeshadows are available from House of Fraser for £31.00.

So what's on your wishlist? Let me know in the comments, and look out for Day 3!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1: Tan

For those of you who still struggling to find the perfect Christmas gifts, this is for you! Everyday from now until Christmas Eve I will be posting some of my favourite picks for this year's Christmas presents - all beauty related of course! - with a different theme each day.

Day 1: Tan

Stocking filler: NYC have a great range of cheap and cheerful (and generally damn good for the price too!) cosmetics - lately I've been drooling over their Color Wheels, a gorgeous collection of mosaic powders to bronze, brighten and highlight. The bronze shades are perfect for those who want a bit of colour, but don't have time to tan.

NYC Color Wheel Face Mosaic is available in 6 shades (shown here is Bronze Glow) from Superdrug for £3.99.

On a budget: Lauren's Way is the famous TOWIE tan - I've been hearing so much buzz about this lately! Apparantly this gradual tan can give you a dark bronze with one application. Great for your tantastic friends (we all have one)! Pair it with a couple other bits and bobs from the range and you'll have a DIY gift set.

Lauren's Way Gradual Tan (250ml) is available from the Lauren's Way website for £13.95.

Blow the budget: Fake Bake Original is a modern classic - it gives a great, flawless, professional looking tan. This set includes a bottle of the Original lotion (with applicator gloves) plus their amazing Passion Fruit Body Scrub and Skin Smoothie, a luxurious, sweet scented, dry oil spray. I have to admit, I don't tan very often, but I love Fake Bake's scrub and smoothie, and I think anyone would love to see this under their tree on Christmas day!

Fake Bake Original Self-Tanner Kit is available for £44.10 from FeelUnique.com and select salons (mine included!).

Let me know if you have any other suggestions! And keep your eyes peeled tomorrow for Day 2!

All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been paid to promote these items.

MeMeMe Beat The Blues Sunbeam - more Benefit dupes!

MeMeMe’s Beat The Blues illuminators are another of their infamous Benefit dupes. MeMeMe’s Moonbeam is a dupe of Benefit’s High Beam and MeMeMe’s Sunbeam is a dupe of Benefit’s Moonbeam. Confused? So was I – and I ended up ordering the wrong one!

For a while I’ve been searching for a cheap alternative to High Beam, a gorgeous pearly pink highlighter. When I heard some murmurings about Beat The Blues I immediately got onto Superdrug and ordered a bottle. Thinking that MeMeMe’s Moonbeam MUST be the dupe of Benefit’s Moonbeam, I ordered a bottle of Sunbeam – oops. So instead of my pink highlighter, I got this:

Left: Sunbeam blended. Right: dabbed straight on, unblended. Click for bigger picture.

I really wish I had someone with a good tan around to model this for me, because it just does not work with my pale skin! Sunbeam is a very shimmery, golden shade and I’m sure it would look much better as a highlighter for more tanned skin tones. On me…not so great.

There’s not much I can really say about this product. It seems to be good quality, with my favourite nail polish bottle style packaging and applicator, like the Benefit originals and MeMeMe's Poppytint, however the brush was already a little mangled when it arrived and has been in an utter state since. Sunbeam is very shimmery, so if you’re not into your glitter, stay away! And, sorry to repeat myself, but again, this is not for pale skin tones!

MeMeMe Beat The Blues illuminators are available from Superdrug for £5.25, and on the MeMeMe website.

PS: I've dropped some heavy hints that I'd quite like the High Beam dupe for Christmas, so expect a review of that in the New Year!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and all products were purchased by myself.