Tuesday 20 December 2016

Christmas Gift Guide For Him


Buying gifts for men at Christmas time can be the biggest bane of my life. The men generally buy what they want throughout the year so that leaves very little for me to pick up for them to put under the tree. The one thing however I do find they rarely treat themselves too is nice beauty gifts. I think the word beauty generally puts them off a little and if I'm honest, a lot of them generally don't know where to even start. That's where I come in at Christmas as I always pick up my favourite grooming products at this time of year (with a few other bits thrown in for good measure) as I know they wouldn't treat themselves to it - and I know they blooming love it too. 

When it comes to skincare, whether the men in your life know what they're doing and already have a stash or are at quite the other end of the spectrum and need a place to start then picking them up a thing or two is a great option. If you're on a budget then I'd recommend having a look at Nivea Men. They have some great options but if this is what you're going to go for I'd recommend keeping it simple and sticking to the Nivea Men Creme, £5 and the Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm, £5.29. Again if you're under a budget, Bulldog Skincare for Men is great. Again, I'd recommend keeping it simple and either pick up one of their gift sets as the packaging is lovely or stick to the Bulldog Face Wash, £4.50 Bulldog Face Scrub, £5 and the Bulldog Original Moisturiser, £6. They are so great for the price and look and feel far more expensive. 

If you've looking for something a little more luxurious then I've got a few incredible brands for you to choose from. Liz Earle are generally my go-to and I always pick up the men in my life their Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser for Men, £15.50 and if the men in your life haven;t tried it then you need to get them one, but if they have then I've got a few other brands I'd recommend giving a go too. 

The Clarins for Men range is incredible. From their male friendly packaging to the quality of the products, I just know (and my boyfriend wholly agrees) that anyone would be lucky to find this under the tree. They have an great extensive range, but if you're not sure what they like (or if they're not sure what they like!) then I'd recommend keeping it simple again with the Clarins Men Exfoliating Cleanser, £21.50, the Clarins Men Active Face Wash Foaming Gel, £19.50 and the Clarins Men Moisture Balm, £29.

Neville is a really great option too. I fell in love with the brand when I saw their barbers in the Barber and Parlour in Shoreditch and the branding on their skincare is absolutely on point too. I recommend picking up the Neville Rescue Scrub, £22 and the Neville Face Reviver, £25.


My last individual product recommendations of this sort come from Origins. Again another skincare brand I swear by personally and their products that work for men also don't disappoint. With this in mind, I'd recommend picking up the Origins Blade Runner Energising Shave Cream, £15 and the Origins Charcoal Body Wash, £19. 

Onto my favourite skincare gift sets and another of my favourite brands and the Cowshed Bullocks Grooming Gift Set, £35. The beautifully packaged set includes a body wash, face scrub and moisturiser. I adore cowshed products, they are super luxurious and the range for men are no different. 

Aesop is another one of my all time favourite skincare brands and I could reel off for days my favourite products but one thing I've noticed too is that men absolutely adore them too. Whether they've tried them before or eye up the packaging, Men always seem to be drawn to it. They really know how to do Christmas gift sets well and I really recommend picking up the Aesop The Intrepid Gent set, £65 if your budget suits. It really has the wow factor when you open it and the products are so beautiful. This gift set includes their fabulous face cleanser, Moroccan neroli post shave balm and the coriander seed body cleanser all in their iconic packaging.


Know a beardy man? Know a man that shaves? Just know a man? Chances are they've got to shave. If they like a clean wet shave, then I'd recommend keeping it simple with the Gilette Fusion ProShield Chill, £12 or for something a little different the EvoShave razors. If they're a little more beardy and like to keep it that way, then I'd really recommend the Wahl Beard Trimmer, £44.99.

If you don't want to hit just skincare, or body care etc. there are some sets that hit a few and I really recommend them. My favourites this year are the Jack Wills Boxer & Toiletries Gift Set, £20 as it comes with super useful products - boxers, body spray and body was - everybody uses them and the packaging is great and the Crabtree & Evelyn Morrocan Myrrh Traveller Gift Set, £24 also. This gift set is so beautiful. The packaging makes it feel so special and the tin gift set includes a mini hair & body wash, mini cologne, mini shave cream and mini after shave balm - and it smells incredible!

Fragrance for men is something I always pick up this time of year for gifting as again I think its one of those things you kind of feel reluctant to pick up yourself but adore having it so perfect for Christmas. My picks this year are the Zadig & Voltaire This Is Him! EDP, £40, YSL L'Homme EDT, £40 (you can also get matching body wash and after shave balm if you really want to treat them), the Dunhill London Icon Elite, £77 and the Azzaro Wanted Gift Set, £49. They all smell incredible and feel super luxurious. If you do however have a bit of a bigger budget and want to pick up a fragrance that really is luxurious, then I'd really recommend the Yves Saint Laurent Le Vestaire Des Perfumes Tuxedo, £195. This is a unisex fragrance, but for me it's a little more on the masculine side but the quality of the fragrance itself is what blows me away - it lasts all day long and the packaging is so luxurious too.


If you didn't want to get a beauty gift, then I'd recommend either going down the food or tech options. Crabtree & Evelyn do some really beautiful foodie gifts and I usually end up picking up some of their shortbread for someone, this year their beautiful Crabtree & Evelyn Star Shortbread Biscuits, £8 as they taste incredible and come in the most beautiful packaging. Tech wise - I'd really recommend what I picked up my boyfriend this year for his birthday as I absolutely fell in love with it. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 in black, £119. I adore instant cameras and this one looks so cool. Really recommend it!

If I don't speak to you beforehand guys, have the best Christmas!

Lorna x
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Monday 19 December 2016

Christmas Gift Guide For Her: High end luxury beauty




The last in my Christmas gifts for her series and this time the guide is for those are feeling spendy. If you want to pick up a treat for someone that really deserves something special (and of course, you've got the budget for it) then I think I might have a treat or two right up your street. In this gift guide I'm talking the budget of over (around) £50. 

There are some of the most incredible and luxurious launches from some of my favourite brands this year and I've rounded up a few of my favourites... 

When it comes to skincare, 2016 has introduced me to one of my now, favourite skincare brands, Aurelia Skincare. I have absolutely fallen in love with the brand. From the packaging, to the quality of the products themselves, they are just incredible. I swear by the cleanser but I have fallen in love with the Aurelia Repair & Revitalise Gift Set, £60 this Christmas. The set all encased in their beautiful packaging features a mini moisturiser, full size night time facial oil and the most beautiful makeup bag. 

If you've been dying to try the Ole Henriksen skincare range, know someone that is or just know that someone would like the range, then the Ole Henriksen love the 3 little wonders set, £55.25 is perfect. The set includes the sheer transform, truth serum collagen booster and the invigorating night treatment. Really recommend this range! 

Next up in terms of skincare is from one of my all time favourite skincare brands Liz Earle and includes some of my absolute favourite products from them. The Liz Earle Superskin Superstars set, £80 is really incredible. The set includes the superskin serum, superskin eye cream and superskin concentrate for night, all worth £125 so such a bargain when you look at it this way. I absolutely adore these products and can't recommend giving them a go any more. The products are beautiful and the packaging is too. 

Cleansing brushes have been discussed and discussed for so long and Christmas is the perfect time to pick one up for someone that deserves a treat. I've fallen in love with the design of the Magnitone Barefaced! Vibra-Sonic Cleansing Brush by Heather Marten, £70. It's so beautiful, it works really well and comes with a free shower hammock for easy use. I am obsessed. 

For relaxing, Kiss The Moon is one of my absolute favourite brands and I have fallen in love with them this year too. They have the most beautiful gift sets, to the point where it was actually incredibly hard to choose my favourite but I went for the Kiss The Moon Calm Beauty Queen Gift Set, £68 and much like Aurelia, this brand is packaged so well. It includes a full size calm facial oil and the most beautiful cashmere and silk sleep mask by Row Pinto. It all feels incredibly luxurious and will be well needed when January comes around and we all need to catch up on our sleep. 

If you know someone that loves products to help them sleep or struggles to sleep, then another brand to think about is most definitely This Works. It's one of my absolute favourite brands right (I know I keep saying it but, really) and I swear by their pillow spray. The This Works The Big Sleep set, £70 literally features full size products of all of the sleep product you would ever want to try from the brand including the softest sleep mask. 



I absolutely adore Illamasqua  for makeup gifting as they group their incredible products together so well. My pick this year is the Illamasqua Chisel and Glow gift set, £50. It's in the most beautiful packaging and features everything you need to create a beautiful contour and highlight. The set includes the Gel Sculpt, Gleam Cream in Aurora and the Round Buffing Brush. I love each of these products and having them in the set is super cool.

If you've got a bigger budget, fragrance is generally my go-to. I have got quite the selection of fragrance (and favourites in the process) but have narrowed down my picks to a few - though I want to write a run down on my fragrance collection soon to give you the lowdown on all of the scents I love but for now I'll keep it as short and sweet as possible. 

Another brand that 2016 has brought into my life is Clean Reserve. From the packaging, to the scent and to the incredible quality of the fragrance, I am just obsessed. I have the Clean Reserve Rain EDP, £79 and the Clean Reserve Blonde Rose EDP, £79 and both are super different to anything I've ever smelt before. Generally I am drawn to more unique fragrances and these are definitely that. You can pick them up in Space NK and I really recommend them. 

The Zadig & Voltaire This Is Her! EDP, £52 for 50ml is another new fragrance I'm obsessed with. Again it's a little on the unique side and the packaging is super cool and unique too. If you're looking for something to buy a couple, they do a matching This Is Him! fragrance too (my boyfriend has this and it's so lovely) so is such a treat for them both. The fragrance reminds me of the summer and I just know it's going to be my go-to once the sun starts shining again. 

If you don't really know what kind of fragrance the person you would be buying for would like going for something a little more for everyone could be a good idea. I've got a few fragrances that just about anyone would like, and they look truly beautiful too. These are the YSL Black Opium EDT, £54 YSL Mon Paris EDP, £66 Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence EDP, £64 and the Calvin Klein Deep Euphoria, £38.

Lorna x
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Christmas gift guide for her: luxury beauty over £30




Whether you're looking to spend not so much or a little more this Christmas I've got you covered. In this post I'm talking the high end, but if you really want extra luxury keep your eyes peeled for my super luxury high end gifts for her guide coming up shortly. This post features gifts from around £30 to around £50. So if you've got a lucky gal to buy for this year and that's within your budget, read on...

One of my favourite brands at Christmas time is most definitely Aromatherapy Associates. Every year they absolutely nail their Christmas gift sets and in turn I of course, rave about them each time. My pick of their sets this year is the Aromatherapy Associates Pure Indulgence Set, £45 as it gives you a chance to try out a lot of the products from the brand and give yourself or someone else a 360 degree pamper. The set features a mini shower and bath oil, full size shower gel, mini body oil and mini candle - and they all smell incredible. If you're looking for something at the lower end of the £30-£50 budget, then the Aromatherapy Associates Star Jewels set, £34 with 3 of their bath and shower oils in is a great option too. Plus the packaging is truly gorgeous!

If you know someone that travels all the time, then I have the most perfect gift set for them. The Weleda Three Drawer Gift Set, £30.95 is an incredible option. The gift set has super cool packaging and is set out in three drawers and each drawer is filled with mini shower gels, body lotions and body/massage oils. They are all in a range of scents and smell incredible. If you're looking for something that's a little bigger however, and is a total treat then the Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Body Duo, £37 is incredible. If you love a rose scent or know someone that does, then you need to get your hands on this as the products (and packaging) are truly amazing. 

Onto skincare, and Pai is absolutely one of my favourite skincare brands at the moment. Much along with my love of Liz Earle, anyone I've got to try the brand has loved it just as much as I do. The Pai Everyday Hero Collection, £38 is a great opener to the brand as you get a full size cleanser, rosehip oil and mini day moisturiser. The products are super gentle, so work incredibly well for just about anyone, even those with sensitive skin. 

Onto makeup and Urban Decay is one of those brands that just remind me of Christmas. This is partly down to my Dad picking me up one of their palettes every year for the last few years but also just because I would always want to find a little something something from them underneath the tree. This year, I've gone a little off piste from my usual natural Urban Decay Naked Palettes and am obsessed with the Urban Decay Full Spectrum Palette, £43. Their palettes are always in the most incredible packaging and the pigment and buttery blend ability of the shadows themselves are always incredible.  

If you're after something a little more natural then this year I am obsessed with the Clarins Festive Eye Palette, £35. These shadows are super wearable and take you from day to night perfectly. If brows are their thing, then my go-to this year is the High Definition Brow Essentials set, £49. They were the brand that got me into brows years ago so seeing their rebrand in this beautiful set is just perfect. 


If you want a palette that does a bit of everything, perfect if you're really not sure if they prefer eyes, lips or colour etc. then the PUR Cosmetics Love Your Selfie 2, £34 is a great option. I love the quality of PUR products as they are always so incredible for the price and this palette is incredibly wearable. It features 8 eyeshadows, a lipgloss, mascara, blush, bronzer and highlighter - a brilliant look in a palette and I am obsessed with it. If you're after something for someone that knows their brands and has very specific (but wearable) tastes, then the Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Gold Shimmer, £40 is just perfect. The packaging is incredibly luxurious but the palette works well all year round. 

Like I mentioned earlier, I'm a bit of a Liz Earle advocate. I swear they can do no wrong in my eyes. I've adored the brand since I got into beauty and it has followed me through every year and when it comes to their Christmas launches they blow me away time after time. They have so many incredible sets but for this gift guide I've chosen the Liz Earle Botanical Collection in Soothing Lavender, £32.50. This set is perfect for a pamper as the lavender scent is incredibly relaxing. It features a body cream, hand cream and super cute Liz Earle notebook that's perfect if you know someone that adores Liz Earle too. 

Fragrance is one of my favourite things at this time of year. I've narrowed down my recommendations but if you're not sure, then definitely go and give them a good sniff to see which you're favourites are.  Fragrance sets are always a lovely lovely idea and my picks this year for this guide is firstly the Mugler Angel Gift Set, £45. Not only does it look beautiful but it features the fragrance, body lotion and shower gel. This is very much a cult favourite fragrance, so if you know someone that loves it then you need to get them this. 


If you're looking for a gift set that has a bit of an extra wow factor, Ghost are absolutely nailing it this year and I just can't get over the prices for the beautiful sets. The Ghost 'the Fragrance' EDT Christmas Gift Set, £36 and the Ghost Sweetheart EDT Christmas Gift Set, £36 both feature the full size fragrance, mini fragrance, mini candle, makeup bag, nail polish and hand lotion but the thing that gets me is the incredible packaging and the price. Highly recommend these! 


If you've got someone that's a little younger, and prefer picking up a fragrance on its own, then within the budget I'd recommend having a look at the Nicki Minaj Trini Girl Fragrance, £30 for any Nicki Minaj fans out there or the Juicy Couture 'I Love Juicy Couture', £37 is another great option for its super cute packaging. 

On the other side of the fragrance spectrum, I am absolutely hooked on home fragrance and I'm always torn between reed diffusers and candles but this year, I've chosen my favourite of both and on the Reed Diffuser side, I really recommend having a look at the Rathbornes reed diffusers as the quality and packaging is incredible for the price. My pick is the Rathborne Reed Diffuser in Dublin Tea Rose, Oud & Patchouli reed diffuser, £38. It smells incredible and is a really beautiful addition to your home decor. I adore using a festive candle at this time of year and the Annick Goutal Petit Cherie Candle, £45 is perfect as its festive enough to use now but also to take you throughout the year too. 

Lorna x
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Friday 9 December 2016

Christmas Gift Guide For Her: £15 to £30


In the third feature in my 2016 Christmas Gift Guide series, I'm talking Christmas gifts at the mid-range price point at £15-£30. If you're looking for something a little more budget friendly, head to my stocking filler gift guide and budget beauty gift guide but if you're looking for something a little more luxurious then keep your eyes peeled for a couple more gift guides coming your way soon. 

While 2016 may not have been the best year for the world, when it comes to Christmas beauty gifts it truly the greatest year yet for the industry. Some of the gifts on offer are insanely exciting and I've rounded up a few of my favourites. 

Makeup is probably one of the most wow-factor presents at Christmas time. You can pick up a luxurious lipstick etc. and it still be affordable and fit into this guide which generally is always my go-to. YSL do Christmas so well. This year the YSL Holiday Sparkle Edition collection is so dreamy and if you're looking for beautiful packaging and great quality product, then you need to keep your eyes out for this. Unfortunately most of the collection is now sold out but the cult favourite YSL Sparkle Edition Touche Eclat, £25 is still in stock and looking more beautiful than ever. 

Burberry is also another great option and has some great options within this price bracket. Anything gold and sparkly is a favourite of mine at Christmas (as you can probably tell from my love of the YSL Christmas launch) and Burberry have absolutely nailed it. They have their sparkly nail polish offering the Burberry Nail Polish in 451 Gold Shimmer, £15 from the Festive 2016 collection. It's a beautiful gold glitter polish and on the other end of the spectrum, something very similar in lipstick form. I never thought I'd wear a gold lipstick, in fact I didn't even realise it existed, but the Burberry Kisses Lipstick in No. 224 Gold Shimmer, £25 is beautiful. I'm not usually one for glitter on the lips but this adds a beautiful glow that I can't get enough of for festivities. It also looks beautiful when layered over the top of a red lip. 

Sisley are also one of my go-to's when picking up gifts as their packaging can be super fun. My picks this year is their Sisley Phyto Lip Twist in 16 balm, £29 to hydrate the lips and the new shade, Sisley Phyto Lip Twist Matte in 18 Tango to add colour. It's a beautiful bright red and the perfect festive shade for this time of year. 



If you don't want to go for one product or don't know specific shades that the person you're buying for might like then going for a set or palette is a great option. The Make Up For Ever Artistic Essentials kit, £30 features 5 makeup essentials (primer, setting powder, eyeliner, mascara and lipstick) all in adorable smaller sizes. These products are brilliant and they would be great for just about anyone. If you're looking for a do-it-all palette then my go-to is always Pixi's Christmas offering. This year the Pixi Ultimate Beauty Kit 3rd Edition, £28 has some beautiful festive packaging and the palette is as good as ever. Featuring 40 Eye & Brow Shades, 3 Highlighters, 2 Bronzers, 2 Cheek Powders & 1 Contour Powder - this palette really does have it all covered. The powders are brilliant and I really can't recommend enough. For lips, the High Definition Lip Essential Collection, £29 is great option as it features three wearable lip gloss shades that work perfectly all year round.  

A bit of a skincare/makeup hybrid and it comes in the form of the ESPA Nourishing Lip Treatment Trio, £29. ESPA are a beautiful and luxurious brand and is one of my go-tos for a bit of a pamper. At this time of year, I really suffer with dry lips (and I know this is also a trouble for most!) too so this beautifully packaged cracker is a great gift this year. It features three hydrating lip treatments in natural, pink and red shades. They hydrate really well and leave a beautiful tint on the lips. 


I love getting products at Christmas that give me a chance to have a good ol' pamper at home. Whether that be with skincare, body care, hair care or home fragrance, I love a bit of it all as it feels s luxurious and special. 

On the skincare front, there are some beautiful sets this year. The Ole Henriksen 'A Lil' Love A Lot O' Radiance gift set, £21.50 is a pick of mine this year. From the pretty packaging to the radiance boosting products inside - this is a perfect pick me up at this time of year when Christmas parties are a plenty. 

If you know someone that travels a lot, Christmas is the perfect time to up their travel mini stash. I love the Bee Good Youth Enhancing Travel Trio Gift Set, £20. This set features a mini serum, moisturiser and eye cream and is the perfect trio for adding hydration on the go. Bee Good is free-from nasties like parabens, synthetic colour and SLS etc too. 

Onto looking after your body, and one of my favourite gift sets this year comes from REN and is the REN Neroli & Grapefruit Duo, £29 (currently £20.30 at ASOS). This beautiful gift set features both full-size Neroli & Grapefruit body wash and body cream. These products are incredibly luxurious. They feel beautiful against the skin and smell incredible too. I love using these in the morning as they are super refreshing! It's the packaging this year of these sets that get me though. They are created in collaboration with London based textile designer, Kangan Arora and I absolutely adore it. 

If you're looking for something a little less everyday and something for more of a pamper, then the ESPA Moments Of Peace Gift Set, £20. ESPA body products are incredibly luxurious and I find it super relaxing to apply. This little set features a body oil and mini candle. Its perfect to pamper yourself with or is a perfect set up from a partner too as the body oil can double up as a massage oil. 

Along the same lines, gifting someone else with products that can help them relax is always something really beautiful. Life's stressful and a little something to help that can go a long way. Aromatherapy Associates is always my go-to brand for this as they have some really beautiful scents. At this price range, I'd recommend picking up the Aromatherapy Associates Instant Wellbeing set, £18. It features two roller balls (which I swear by) in the fragrances Revive Morning and Deep Relax. These are two of my favourites from the brand, they're perfect for a morning pick me up, especially if you're feeling a little worse for wear or to get you deeply relaxed and ready to sleep in the evening. I love the handy rollerball packaging as they are perfect to pop in your handbag or keep on your bedside table. 


Onto hair, and I always buy these gift sets at Christmas time. Shampoo and conditioner is one of the things I resent buying throughout the year (unless I've really fallen in love with something) so I always try and pick it up for my loved ones at this time of years. Plus, it really gives you a chance to have a full on 360 degree pamper. 

The Schwarzkopf Repair Rescue for Damaged Hair set is a really great option. Its super hydrating on the hair and features a shampoo, conditioner and treatment too all in a lovely wash bag. Similarly, if you know someone that loves to travel (or wants to grow their hair) then the 3" More Inches Travel Set, £24 is amazing. This set includes a pre-wash treatment alongside a shampoo and conditioner all in a plane friendly see through travel bag. The 3" More Inches range from Michael Van Clarke is super restorative and really gives the hair a treat. I've been hooked ever since I gave it a go. Maybe I should pop the full size on my Christmas wish list this year? 

Personalisation this year is key, with The Body Shop letting you pop your name on their famous body butters and Boots letting you engrave and wrap just about anything, the element of choice and beauty and personalisation is where it's at this year and Aveda, one of my favourite haircare brands have completely got on board with that. This year Aveda are helping you make the difficult decisions with a handy quiz to help decide what products will be best for who your buying for and at what budget. With price points from under £20 to £50+, this gift finder really is suited to you personally. You can choose whether you'd like hair products or body products, which scent family would be best, and you also get the opportunity to add their name in for personalisation on the gift wrapping. If you're struggling to decide what to get a loved one, this is a great option. 

Taking the travel that bit further, I'd also really recommend the Sonic Chic Deluxe Gold Toothbrush, £30 (currently £20 at Boots). These toothbrushes have been an absolute saviour of mine for travel and festivals this year. I use an electric toothbrush all year round but when it comes to travelling, I don't really want to lug my big one around. That's where Sonic Chic comes in. It's a battery or USB powered toothbrush with a travel friendly lid. They are super sleek, and fit in nicely to your travel bag. The power lasts incredibly well too - I'm obsessed! 

For a further pamper, recently I've been obsessed with using an eye mask when I go to sleep at night. I have to say I've got a bit of a collection going on but one of my absolute favourites is the Iluminage Skin Rejuvenating Eye Mask, £25. The mask has a silky texture and sits on the head nicely. Its comfortable and the fact that the woven copper fibres are working on anti-ageing my skin as I sleep is a massive bonus. A really unusual product compared to the other eye masks out there and I really recommend picking it up for yourself or someone you know. 


Fragrance is a great option at this time of year. I love stocking up my fragrance at Christmas and discovering new scents I didn't know about before and with some beautiful sets on the market, it's really difficult not to be eyeing them up. I love the Monsoon Rose Gold Gift Set, £29. It smells lovely and I mean, it's rose gold. Who doesn't love rose gold?! 

If you fancy something a little more festive then I always love The Library of Fragrance at this time of year as some of their scents are incredibly festive. I'd recommend The Library of Fragrance Christmas in New York, £15 or The Library of Fragrance Blue Spruce, £15 if you're after something festive but if you want something that's perfect all year round then I'd recommend one of their favourites. Apparently their best selling scent is The Library of Fragrance Gin and Tonic, £15 and I can see why. If you've got a G&T fiend in your life, definitely look into picking up this one this year. 

If you're not sure on which fragrance to get, then home fragrance is a little less personal and in fact for many it's a favourite. My house is dotted with candles and reed diffusers everywhere but I never stop picking up more. One of my top picks this year is the Orla Kiely Orange Rind Gift Set, £20. It smells incredible. I love orange scents and this is a festive version of that and I'm hooked on it. The affordable set features a mini candle and reed diffuser all in the signature Orla Kiely packaging. Crabtree & Evelyn are always a great option for candles. They smell incredible and look beautiful. My pick this year is the Crabtree & Evelyn Noel Botanical Candle, £25. It's wax embellished with cinnamon sticks and apple slices and I've adored adding this into my Christmas decoration this year. 

Okay, I know I've listed SO many things and it all can still be a little daunting. If you're still left not really knowing what to buy, then picking up a beauty box subscription is a great idea as it takes the element of choice out of your decision making this Christmas. Glossybox is generally my go-to and you can pick up a three month subscription for £28.50 but if you bump it up to a six month subscription at £54 you also get a free NARS Blush thrown in too - and these are blooming great. 

So that's my pick of the best beauty gifts for her at the £15- £30 mark. Keep your eyes peeled for my luxury gift guides coming up soon... 

Lorna x

This post features products that were gifted to me for review but as always all thoughts are my own!
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Wednesday 7 December 2016

Christmas Gift Guide For Her: Budget Beauty Under £15




On a budget this Christmas? Looking to pick up some delicious beauty gifts without spending too many pennies (or pounds in this case?). Well you're in the right place. Like I said in my budget stocking filler gift guide, there are so many incredible beauty gifts out this year but narrowing them down and working out what to buy and who to buy it for without breaking the bank can really be tricky. 

When it comes to makeup at Christmas, I want beautiful packaging and the wow factor when I look at it. I get that you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover, but when you unwrap a gift at this time of year, you want it to be blooming beautiful and exciting. The Rosie for Autograph makeup range is perfect for this. Hubba, hubba - just look at the rose gold packaging. The quality of this range is also really great for the price point. The Rosie for Autograph Cream Eyeshadow Sticks are super easy to apply and when swatched, they literally blow my mind. The pigmentation is incredible and they blend out really beautifully. Just make sure you pop an eye primer on first to ensure it lasts. I've got the shades Almond Eyes, Feline Fox and Movie Star Crush and they all work beautifully together. Wow indeed. If you know more of a blush kinda gal, then the Rosie for Autograph Cream Blushers are amazing too. 

Eyeshadow palettes are a go-to for Christmas. I usually get an Urban Decay Naked Palette every year from my Dad (though this year I've had to stop the tradition to my new found obsession and overflowing palette collection... Oopsie!) and I love giving them to friends too. On the budget end of the spectrum, the best all-rounder palette has to be the Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave palette. I mean, just look at it. This is the palette that was created with British Beauty Blogger and I can see why! It's under £10 and features 30 beautiful shades - I still can't quite believe it. Don't worry, the quality is great too. If you know someone that's always on the go and is more likely to take their makeup with them, a great option is the Bourjois Eyeshadow La Palette Les Nudes. This palette is great for day wear and it's super pretty with a great mirror for applying on the go. 

Christmas is always a time for pampering, I mean I'm already dreaming about the amount of face masks I'll have time to apply and mani's I'll have time to paint over the break. So treating someone to something that they can do this with is ALWAYS a great shout. The Dirty Works Beauty Stack is a great place to start. This budget friendly beauty gift is truly beautiful for the price. It features a mini pack of bath caviar, a bath fizz and some body butter - but it's the packaging that really gets me with this one. For Lush fans, the Lush Rudy Gift set is great. Cute packaging and two bath bombs inside!

If you've got someone that's a little older (or perhaps just loves taking care of their hands) then I'd really recommend picking up the Crabtree & Evelyn Feast For The Senses Hand Therapy Cracker. These are really incredible quality and how adorable is the packaging? The English Soap Company's soaps and candles are a great option too. The packaging is super festive and I'm obsessed. The candle says Merry Christmas and smells great too! 

If skincare is more their thing, then I'd recommend having a look at Caudalie's options. They have the lovely Caudalie Divine Bauble and Caudalie Hand Cream Trio but my top budget pick is the Caudalie Vinosource Face Cracker. This features some of their most raved about face hydrators which is perfect for this time of year when skin needs a little extra help. If you're looking for something that covers a few more bases on the skincare front then the Bee Good Award Winners Gift Set is a great shout. This affordable set includes a cream cleanser and lip balm that works well for all skin types.    

Hair is always a go-to of mine if I'm unsure of the route to take. I fell in love when I saw this Toni&Guy Ashely Williamson Limited Edition Washbag Gift Set. For one, the bag is super cool and a great addition to to any gals washbag/makeup bag stash but the products inside are great too - a mini volume boosting shampoo and conditioner and a full size 3D volumiser spray



The Body Shop has always been a go to for me at Christmas time. In fact for as long as I rememeber I'd always pick up gifts there for my friends. Throwing back to the cube gift sets with mini shower gel days... But it's the Christmas product releases that get me every year. This year I've fallen in love with the Vanilla Chai range and the The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Body Scrub, The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Candle and The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Hand Cream. All at great price points and they smell delicious. If you prefer something a little frutier, then the Spiced Apple (here) or Frosted Berries (here) ranges are great options too.

Lorna x

This post features products that were gifted to me for review but as always all thoughts are my own!

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