Christmas Gift Guide For Her: Budget Stocking Fillers

Oh hello Christmas. You are so nearly here and I have to admit, I'm so blooming excited. This year, there are some of the best and most exciting gifts I've seen and I am so excited to be (finally!) writing up my beauty picks. 

This year really is the year that so many beauty brands have upped their Christmas game. With so many releases from beauty advent calendars to christmas gift sets, there really is just SO much to choose from this year and stocking fillers are no different. There are obviously a couple of ways you can look at a stocking dependant on your budget - but for me, a stocking has to be budget friendly and of course fit in a stocking. 

I like stockings for women to be filled with little pamper treats and Mandara Spa has some great options. It looks a whole lot more luxurious than the price point and the products inside are great too. If you know someone that loves to have a bath then the Mandara Spa Honey Milk Dreams Softening Bath Milk, the Mandara Spa Honeymilk Dream Bath Powder or the Mandara Spa Indulgent Bathing Rock are all really great options. All under £10 and they smell lovely. I know a lot of people that aren't into baths however, so if that's the case for you too then the Mandara Spa Honeymilk Dream Conditioning Shower Cream or the Mandara Spa Shimmering Lip Butter Treats set in a beautiful bauble also work incredibly well. These are also super friendly on your pockets!

Day to day products are lovely to find in a stocking. Especially when they are brands you might not have tried before, or are favourites in pretty Christmas packaging. The Bee Good Lip Balm Christmas Trio is a great option for a set like this. These lip balms are a little more targeted than the Mandara Spa ones as they are created to enhance youth with essential amino acids and anti-oxidants that revive mature skin and fight any signs of ageing - but don't worry, this isn't plastered all over the packaging so if you know someone (or you too!) that isn't in the mature bracket then these still work great. There's three scents/flavours in the packet. My favourite is the Vanilla and Honey! 

Onto hand cream and there are two brands that are always my go-to at Christmas as they always have beautiful festive packaging. This year I recommend the Balance Me Rose Otto Hand Cream Christmas Angel and the Roger & Gallet Bois D'Irange Hand Care Mini Gift. Both come in beautiful festive packaging, and what's inside works (and smells!) a treat. I think I ALWAYS give someone these at Christmas time as they are such a handy size for travelling or throwing in your bag! 

Minis of favourite beauty products of mine are something I always like to get my hands on in a stocking and Weleda have hit the nail on the head with this cute little Weleda Skin Food and Pomegranate Hand Cream set. It's adorable. You can either pop it in the stocking as it's super tiny and cute or you can hang it on the tree with the hanging ribbon at the top. The hand cream is brilliant and there's a tiny do-it-all skin food cream that is perfect for popping in your bag and taking with you on the go. 

If skincare is their thing, then I'd really recommend Kiss The Moon. The brand is beautiful, in fact I've got an 'Introducing' post coming up on them soon with an interview with the founder so keep your eyes peeled for that as you need to the lowdown on them for sure. For a stocking filler, the Kiss The Moon Mini Moment Calm Face Oil is a beautiful addition. It comes beautifully wrapped with their signature ribbon and the product itself is perfect to give the product a go, or take travelling with you. It's incredibly relaxing and is perfect for the person you know that just doesn't stop. 

Calming products are something I'm obsessed with picking up at the moment and one of my favourite brands is ThisWorks. Their products are so incredibly relaxing and are a staple in my bedtime routine. The ThisWorks calm to go set, is adorable and I fell in love as soon as I saw it. This little set features a mini Deep Sleep Stress Less roller ball with a keyring case to pop it in to take it on the go with you at all times. I love this product and highly recommend picking this up while it's still available. 

I love putting food and drink in stockings. Tea especially is my go-to and I love including brands that I know they won't have heard of. This year Dragonfly Tea is my go-to for this. The packaging is so beautiful and the tea feels incredibly luxuriois which is just what you want for Christmas. Pick up a box of this as a treat for a tea-lover you know (or just for yourself, I won't tell, promise). Pukka teas are also a great alternative, I love their Pukka Night Time Tea!

 Finally, if you know someone that loves makeup the the Laura Geller Color Lustre Lip Gloss Duo or the Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick Tree Ornament are must-buys. Both incredibly affordable, in beautiful packaging to pop on the tree or add into a stocking but its the mini versions of the products themselves that make it so worth buying. 

So that's the stocking sorted... Watch this space for the rest of my gift guides from budget favourites to luxurious recommendations. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting festivities! 

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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The budget beauty advent calendar you need to buy

Beauty advent calendars have blown up this year and with so many on the market to dream about, I thought I'd come at you with a budget one that's worth spending those pennies on (and not breaking the bank balance in the process). 

There's just something incredibly exciting about opening up a door to a mini beauty product every day for a month (or there about) and just about every brand has got on board with that. I'm a beauty hoarder and because of that, and because of the fact that Christmas is literally just around the corner - I just can't quite justify the idea of spending too much on one (though as this is my first, watch me get incredibly excited and pick up one of the big ones next year). Justification, you know it... 

The Dirty Works Beauty Calendar*, £15 is available at Sainsbury's now. This beauty advent calendar has 24 doors (not quite like some of the slightly more stingy 12 day options) so it'll keep you feeling festive right up until Christmas day and give you a pamper along the way. 

I love Dirty Works products and they're incredibly affordable which is an absolute bonus. The calendar keeps to their packaging theme; it's super cute, pretty festive and great quality too. I've seen some more flimsy beauty calendars and this isn't one of them. 

The calendar opens up to reveal two sides so you can either keep it open throughout December to reveal the doors or shut it to keep the cute design on show. From bath products to body lotions and beyond, this calendar will fill up your travel beauty stash or give you a chance to try out a few products to find some new favourites to pick up in full size. 

With it's super budget and bargainous price of £15, you can't go wrong. I got my Mum one for her birthday, and mine is patiently waiting for the 1st of December to arrive, and hopefully it'll stop me eyeing up those Jo Malone and Diptyque ones... 

Lorna x

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Travel Beauty Products Actually Worth Buying

There's always something that gets me about travel sized beauty products. They're ten times smaller than the usual-sized product and so blooming cute. I always find myself browsing the travel-sized beauty aisle in Boots, whether I've got a holiday or not but there's always something that stops me from actually buying it. Do I have enough room to actually bring the full size I've already got at home and save some cash? Will it be cheaper to just decant it into a smaller bottle? Usually one of these options is better - but when you do want to treat yourself to some minis that can actually save you some space (and they're just incredibly visually pleasing and super super cute) these are the one's I'd recommend...

For your hair 

Hair product minis are something I both love and hate. Usually I'm travelling with someone who I can usually just share a full size product with, so generally I'd opt for those but when I headed to Bilbao this summer I brought along two minis to not only give me an option of which to choose, but I knew my boyfriend would have a preferance over one of them too. I'm obsessed with the Davines haircare range. If you want to give your hair a treat, pick up some of their products and behold you'll notice the difference instantly. I knew I was going to be camping on holiday and knew I'd need a treat when I got the chance to shower so Davines had to be included in my summer holiday beauty stash. I brougnt along the Davines Momo Shampoo & Conditoner Mini's* and after a day in the sun, washing my hair with these felt like such a treat. They are incredibly hydrating and leave my hair feeling super soft. The same can be said for the ogX Coconut Water Shampoo and Conditioner Mini's*. Again this is a favourite haircare brand of mine and actually my boyfriends especially. I know he loves this brand so I had to pack these too. These are incredibly hydrating but leave my hair feeling super lightweight at the same time which can often be a product for hair hydrators. 

For your skin

Skincare mini's can be incredibly expensive, but honestly, I think it can be worth it. Using the skincare I normally use is super important to me as I find my skin can play up when I'm away. Sometimes it can react to the sun or just the change of location and having my skincare can save this. I have decanted my skincare into smaller pots but generally I don't find this to work too well for me as usually its super messy and just a bit annoying. Especially for things like spray toners and cleansing oils. Unfortunately smaller sizes aren't always available, so it can be worth looking around and seeing what other brands do smaller sizes well (and also work for you skincare wise). I love the Liz Earle minis, my favourite Garnier Micellar Water now comes in a smaller travel size too and the Dermalogica travel products* also come highly recommended. 

If you're more of a skincare gadget kinda guy or gal and you don't really fancy lugging your Clarasonic on the plane, then I'd recommend giving the Foreo Luna Go* a try for a luxurious deep daily cleanse or if you're looking for a more budget friendly option, the Oh! K Cleansing Pad* is a great alternative. 

For the body

Hair removal is key for me when I'm going away but I hate nothing more than a razor sticking out in my wash bag, with the cover often falling off. My saviour for this is the Gilette Venus Snap Razor*. It's super small but still perfectly easy to use and has a handy travel case meaning it won't move about in the same way in your bag leaving you with any nasty cuts from not realising it was out in the open. It's affordable, and it has been my go-to ever since it came into my life. The best hair-removal space saver I've come across so far.

When it comes to going away and body products I love love love taking something that is a little more luxurious that I would usually use, or something I truly know and love (knowing that it will be perfect for my daily pamper). This summer, my go-to has been the Therapie Travel Kit*. Including a body wash, himalayan detox bath salts, a bath infusion and a skin serum, this set is well worth spending the cash on. If you're looking for another little extra then I'd really recommend picking up the Therapie Restore Aura Spray Mini*. A spritz of this is perfect for when you're feeling a little run down or if you just want an added extra in your relaxing pamper routine - or when you've just stepped off the plane (with a bit of jet lag).

What are your go-to beauty minis?

Lorna x

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The Best After Sun Products Out There

Heading to the heat? Protecting your skin from the sun is key when heading on holiday (I have written up my favourite SPFs here, so go and get protected) but what do you do afterwards, when perhaps your skins a bit burnt or you just want to lock in the tan and make sure it sticks around? 

There are so many different aftersuns out there, some are better than others, so if you've got your eye on something, give it a go, you never know, you might find a new favourite. 

Like I mentioned in my SPF feature, I really think it's important to use a different product that's targeted specifically for your facial skin to that that is made for your body. I wouldn't slather my usual body butter on my face, so unless I'm desparate, I'm not going to do that after being in the sun afterwards. My top pick for a facial aftersun is the Institut Esthederm After Sun Repair*, £36. It hydratesand soothes the skin post-sun exposure while making sure it is optimised for tanning the next day. If you're a little burnt, this will sort you right out as it will calm it down and intensify the tan that's coming through. It has anti-aging properties and works to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles that may be on the skin while still working as an aftersun to protect and restructure. It feels extremely luxurious, and I can see myself stocking up for summers to come. A new skincare favourite for sure! 

For body, if I'm looking to cool down, I'll either opt for the Ladival DNA Repair After Sun Gel*, £7 or the Bioderma Photoderm Apres Soleil Refreshing After Sun Milk*, £11.10 as they are both super light and refreshing on the skin. They sink in quickly while leaving my skin incredibly well hydrated, and ready for the evening ahead. There's nothing worse than having a hydrator that doesn't sink in and that leaves a residue, and these definitely don't do that. 

If you're more of a body oil kinda gal (or guy) and are on a budget, the Solait After Sun Dry Oil for Body and Face*, £3.99 is perfect to give a go. It's soothing and nourishing and helps to releave any tightness on the skin from the sun exposure that day. I love the glow this product gives! 

If you're looking for something a little more intense, the Dermalogica After Sun Repair*, £30.20 is incredubly soothing and hydrating. It works to repair any damage from exposure to any UV rays and will cool any sunburn and reduce any discomfort you may be in. It contains no artificial fragrance or colour, so I'd recommend this one if you've got sensitive skin! 

Hair is something I have to admint I always forget about when it comes to protecting and hydrating after being in the sun. I wash my hair every day if I'm on holiday as being in the sun, it just feels as though it needs it. The ogx Quenched Sea Mineral Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner*, £6.99 quenches dry and damaged hair (and trust me, you'll need it after a day in the sun). It hydrates and leaves your hair feeling super soft. It contains green algae which is a natural antixidant that helps to protect hair strands against UV radiation and heat damage, so will work to protect your hair the next day too. 

What are your go-to after sun beauty products?  

Lorna x

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Beauty Essentials For Great Summer Legs

With the next heatwave (supposedly) just on our doorsteps, I'm putting a few products into practice to get my legs ready an to transport me to feeling as though I'm someone a little further and a little more exotic. 

The Aveda Beautifying Radiance Polish*, £36 is an incredible body scrub. Not only do I use this on my legs, but all over in fact. This scrub feels like a treat. The scrub is fine, but abrasive enough to notice the difference and the scent reminds me of a spa. It's super uplifting and if I need a pamper and a mood lift, this is my go-to. 

Afterwards, moisturiser is key to getting the perfect finish. I'm obsessed with The Body Shop's Pinita Colada range as it just smells like holiday. I'd far rather be on a beach somewhere far far away sipping on Pina Colada, but I'm not so this will have to do. If I'm looking for added hydration, The Body Shop's Pinita Colada Body Butter is what I would usually opt for. It's the same formula as the rest of The Body Shop's Body Butter*, £14, and truly just as great. It hydrates, leaves my legs looking and feeling great - oh, and the scent... It's delcious. Sometimes though, if its a little on the hotter side, I really don't feel like slathering on a thick body cream all over my body. That's where The Body Shop's Pinita Colada Body Sorbet*, £8 comes into play. This is an incredibly cooling and soothing body lotion that cools you down, hydrates your skin and leaves it smelling incredible. If you want an extra bit of cooling action - pop this in the fridge - it blew my mind the first time I did this! Perfect for hot weather hydration. 

Go on, give your legs a bit of a pamper - or just your whole body, you will really notice the difference with these new favourites. 

Lorna x

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