The Christmas tree lights are twinkling in the background, the rain is battering off the windows and my little girl is snuggled up beside me watching Toy Story 2. My idea of heaven. This scene is a bit different from last week’s series of unfortunate events. My husband, my 3-year-old Penny, my 1-year-old Poppy and I ALL had a sickness bug. Think literal projectile vomiting in every room of the house. Emotions were running high, to say the least. So my gift guide is live a little later and shorter than planned this month but, don’t worry, there’s plenty of time to treat that special gal (of indeed fella) in need of pampering this Christmas. Let’s start with one of the most special gift sets in today’s guide: the Natural Christmas Facial Skin Care Gift Set from cult beauty brand, BY SARAH LONDON…
BY SARAH LONDON was created by two sisters, Sarah and Lauren. When Lauren began her recovery from leukaemia in 2012, the sisters became more mindful of the ingredients in skincare and cosmetics, however, she found that many natural and organic ranges had long, cryptic ingredient lists and often confusing and misleading labelling. So, Sarah took matters into her own hands. With her knowledge of working in the skincare industry and her childhood passion for skincare, she formulated and handcrafted her own blends using carefully-curated, organic, plant-based ingredients.
BY SARAH LONDON believes in clarity, authenticity and simplicity when it comes to skincare. BY SARAH LONDON is the only UK skincare collection with the full list of ingredients on the front label across the entire collection. This pioneering initiative is to help you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin – and to showcase the beautiful all-natural and organic, plant-based ingredients inside.
The Festive Facial Skincare Gift Box (£70) contains two of their handmade multi-award-winning hero products as well as an Organic Muslin Facial Cloth made from GOTS cotton. Their bestselling vegan Organic Facial Oil (30ml) is blended with only the finest cold-pressed, certified organic, plant-based ingredients, including pumpkin seed oil and apricot oil, to hydrate and restore all skin types. You won’t find any artificial or synthetic fragrances, added water or filler ingredients. The lightweight oil is easily absorbed into the skin and helps give skin a youthful, glowing boost without feeling greasy.
“Full Ingredient List:
- Organic Sweet Almond Oil supports the formation of new skin cells and the production of collagen
- Organic Apricot Oil is high in Vitamins A, C and E to provide long-lasting nourishment
- Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil is a natural anti-inflammatory to calm and soothe the skin
- Organic Argan Oil is a light, fast-absorbing plant-based ingredient that helps to balance sebum production due to its high oleic acid content
- Organic Evening Primrose Oil is rich in gamma linolenic acid to help skin retain moisture
- Vitamin E neutralises the effects of free radicals to help prevent damage caused by everyday pollution and UV rays”
The gift set also includes a 60ml jar of their Green Clay Cleansing Balm. This gentle, yet effective balm contains Organic Beeswax, Virgin Coconut Oil, Apricot Oil and French Green Clay. When used with the muslin cloth it gently buffs away makeup and daily impurities revealing brighter skin. The products come in a lovely reusable box which made from 77% recycled paper content and the bespoke festive sleeve is made from crushed grapes, saved from landfill and made from 100% green energy which helps to contribute to a more ethical festive season.
The Festive Facial Skincare Gift Box by BY SARAH LONDON retails for £70 and is currently available online here.
If you want to give the gift of glowing skin this Christmas, then Pixi have a wonderful collection of gift sets available. The holiday range this year includes stocking fillers, tree decorations and money-saving giftsets all beautifully packaged in Pixi’s signature pastel green and gold. If you’ve ever wanted to try their bestselling range of tonics, now is the time to pick up their Essential Tonic Trio (£24). There is also a limited-edition Best of Tonics Vault (£58) available which includes 250ml bottles of their Retinol Tonic, Milky Tonic, Vitamin-C Tonic and Rose Tonic with a saving of over £14. I picked up the MatteLast Liquid Lip & Endless Silky Eye Pen Set (£20) as I adore both products and I know my mum will do too; although I’m tempted to keep it for myself. Their liquid lip formula is one of the best I’ve ever tried. The colour is opaque, long-lasting and is one of the only liquid lipsticks that doesn’t completely dry out my lips and look flakey. The eyeliner pencil is a total game-changer and is literally the only one I ever buy. It’s incredibly creamy, richly pigmented and effortless to apply.
The MatteLast Liquid Lip & Endless Silky Eye Pen Set by Pixi retails for £20 and is currently available online here.
Now on to my favourite section – the stocking fillers! Multi-award-winning nail experts, Leighton Denny are bringing the glamour this festive season with their adorable collection of mini high performing nail polishes in season shades. Their products are currently available at Marks & Spencer, Look Fantastic and their official website here. If you’re looking for the perfect stocking filler, their AW19/20 WAlk-in Wardrobe Capsule Collection contains some beautiful shades such as Smoking Jacket, a stunning twist on a winter red that shimmers, shines and captures the eye.
FalseEyelashes.co.uk stock over 2,000 styles of falsies from brands such as Doll Beauty, Unicorn Cosmetics, Lilly Lashes and Peaches & Cream. They have a huge range of styles available including multipacks, strip lashes, mink lashes and individual lashes and also have accessories such as glue, specially designed applicators for newbies, tweezers and lash cases. The best bit? They offer FREE 1st Class delivery on every order in the UK. Their Red Cherry lashes in my favourite style, #WSP Wispy retail for just £3.99 a pack (click here to see me wearing them), however, just a little heads up, they don’t come with lash glue. If you’re looking for the perfect pair of fluffy, wispy lashes this Christmas, whether it’s to wear to your Christmas party or for the perfect stocking-filler for any beauty-obsessed recipient, look no further then Red Cherry at FalseEyelashes.com.
My final beauty stocking filler is the #soakmewet Hydrating Sheet Mask (£7) from bubu Skincare, a new fun and playful beauty brand recently launched at PrettyLittleThing.com. This K beauty-inspired sheet mask delivers a powerful shot of hydration, quenching your skin with moisture, (environmentally friendly) sparkle and an infusion of vitamins and antioxidants. What makes bubu masks so magical is their “Advanced Glitterati Hydrogel Structure” – a globally patented, thermo-sensitive, water-soluble hydrogel. The solid gel reacts to skin/body temperature to release key actives encapsulated within the structure to maximise penetration. Of course, it contains my hero ingredient – Hyaluronic acid and the mask is environmentally friendly and vegan! Their collection also includes #t-spot Blemish Busting Sheet Mask, #stripitoff Exfoliating Sheet Mask, #feelingdisty Pollution Busting Sheet Mask and #youpucker Lip Plumping Mask which I’m dying to try. This is definitely a brand to keep an eye out for!
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