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Katie Beauty

Last minute gift suggestions

I did all my shopping online this year but after a quick jaunt to the shops yesterday, I have grabbed a few last minute bits and bobs and I thought i’d share with you the best picks I saw as purse savvy last minute gifts or stocking fllers. I would both love to give and receive these items!

1. Celia Birtwell Photo Album – £8 – Boots.com

I LOVE this purse style photo album from Boots. Both myself and a lot of my friends travel extensively for work and I have to admit, after the 3rd or 4th month away from home you really wish you had a photoframe to keep on your bedside. Not entirely practical when moving from hotel to hotel but this is where I could really see this coming in to its own. Both slim line and compact I can fill this albums fold out clear plastic pockets with photos of my friends and family to keep me going on those lonesome days away.

The snap style is a bit quirky and retro which everyone loves, right?!

I will be gifting this to a friend who travels constantly. I have printed a selection of photos to fill this with photos of our group of friends, her partner and family as a pre-made gift that she can travel with.

2. No 7 Brush Collection – £16 – Boots.com

I believe if you don’t use the right tools to apply your make up, it doesn’t matter if you are using a £4 or £40 eyeshadow. This set of beautiful brushes from No 7 will make a perfect starter set for a teenager, a core set of brushes for someone who wanting to expand their collection or a travel set for in a wash bag. I know you can buy better brushes from Sigma, Royal & Langnickel etc but from the highstreet, this is just a great selection.

I will be giving this set to my friend who want’s to wear more make up but doesn’t know where to start. Brushes are a great way to build a collection and create new looks and this set has all your staples covered.

3. Strictly Come Dancing Fab-u-lous nail collection – £16 – Boots.com

I don’t watch Strictly Come Dancing but this is an undeniably awesome selection of nail polishes for a bargain price of £16. I love how the set is seperated out in to dance styles and just picturing the music, I think these colours are a good match! The top row is bright bold Salsa, 2nd row is soft muted Ballroom and the 3rd row is deep dark sultry Latin.

This will be a good gift for a young relative wanting to be girly, a huge SCD fan or anyone wanting to build up a nail polish collection to rival that of the lovely Helen over at www.just-nice-things.co.uk

The set has all the colours you could want covered off so it’s an all round great set or a starter set. The joy of the last 3 presents is that they were all part of the 3 for 2 Christmas presents which saves money!

4. Naturals Lip Balm trip – £3.99 – Superdrug.com

I spotted this while in Superdrug yesterday and stocked up on a few for stocking fillers. The set of 3 lip balms for £3.99 is a great bargain stocking filler or secret santa gift that won’t break the bank. Either buy for yourself or gift it on. Superdrug also offers 3 for 2 on gifts which made stocking up that little bit easier AND cheaper!

I think I’ll have one of those for myself if I go back!

5. Yankee Christmas Candles – assorted retaillers and sizes

I am a sucker for a scented candle and my purse friendly finds this year have to be 2 small jars from Yankee Candles £7.99 in stores or you can find them cheaper online at places such as www.yankeedoodle.co.uk. I normally buy the larger sizes as I find they give off a greater scent but to try new flavours and build a collection of candles for different seasons, the small jars are great and they make a super cute little gift.

The Christmas Cookie is a deliciously sweet, sugary vanilla scent that is lovely to burn when you want to get toasty warm on the sofa with a nice dvd. It is sweet but not overpoweringly so.

The Red Apple Wreath is a warm, wintery, christmas smell. It’s fruity but also has a kick of cinnamon to it which I LOVE! I like to burn this on an evening when I’m in my PJs just before bed as I find it a nice relaxing smell.

I should also mention the Christmas Eve scent.. It is lovely and fruity… this will be my next purchase I think!

6. Lipsmackers Coca Cola lip balm tin – £8 – Sainsburys

With winter being in full swing now, our poor lips are being battered daily with wind, cold and blasting heating. I love a flavoured lip balm for topping up during the day and I can’t resist Coca Cola or Cherry Cola flavoured Lip Smackers.

Imagine my joy when I saw this in Sainsburys!

Perfect gift for a friend, sister or younger relative. Not something I’d give to my Mam though.. But that’s just me!

I’ve asked my parents to get me one for Christmas too!

Hope this has been some last minute help. No matter how well planned we are, someone nearly always drops by with an unexpected gift so I always like to have a couple of little stocking filler type presents that can be used in emergencies!

Katie Beauty

Decembers Boudoir Prive / Jolie Box

Well seeing as I’ve been struck down with both tonsilitis and the dreaded lurgy back to back, nothing brightened my day more than when my postman just dropped off a little parcel for me which just happened to have my December Boudoir Prive box in it.

As you may be aware, Boudoir Privé has aligned itself with it’s french arm to sit under it’s new name of Jolie Box. Along with the new name came a new design concept too. I must say, I prefer the new dark box, the new wrappings and the new product insert card. It feels more high end and not patronisingly pink.

In this Christmas box, I have to say we have been spoiled, truly. If this is a sign of what is to come in 2012 with Jolie Box then bring it on.

The box contains 7 items, with 2 being full size and worth more than the box itself!

OPI Gold Shatter (£10.50)

The blurb : Apply over any dry nail lacquer to create a stunning “shattered” effect

My thoughts : Over the moon to see this. You may love or hate the shatter effect but you can’t argue that including a full size OPI isn’t good value. You could always gift it out.

Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash 50ml (£4.50 approx)

The blurb : An invigorating shower wash containing natural English honey, Vitamin E and Wheat proteins

My thoughts : Great little travel size that’s actually generous enough for a few uses. Will go in my travel bag. Sadly i’m so blocked up I can’t smell it!

New CID Cosmetics I-gloss Baby Doll – (£16)

The blurb : Light up lip gloss with mirror for a non-sticky, long-lasting and high-glam shine.

My thoughts : Gorgeous soft, neutral pink gloss, it isn’t sticky and gives a super high gloss look with a smattering of micro glitter flecks that don’t feel grainy.

I-gloss on the left, Jane Iredale on the right

Jane Iredale 24 Karat Gold Dust (£8 approx)

The blurb : A multi use shimmer powder in shade Rose Gold to apply to cheeks, eyes, lips, body and even hair.

My thoughts : Gorgeous rose gold powder. Buildable colour with delicate glitter shimmer too it. Not too in your face. Looks gorgeous on it’s own over the lid with a black liner or even dotted on to the lips for extra glam over the Baby Doll lipgloss. Beautifully soft, finely milled. Great bargain for £8.

Yon-Ka Vital Defense

The blurb : Anti aging prevention, antioxidant and anti pollution cream to help the skin to preserve its youthfulness

My thoughts : I think I will pass this on to my Mam, anti aging products are not something I really focus my attentions on…. yet.

Bonus items

Kusmi Detox Tea 125g tin (£11.90 approx)

The blurb : A delicious blend of Maté, chinese Green Tea and lemongrass, full flavoured with lemon.

My thoughts : I’m not a huge fan of either green tea or lemon tea BUT, I have been so ill lately maybe I could do with drinking some of this to clear my system of ickyness! Mr Tramp is a tea fiend so this will no doubt go down very very well with him. Will be interested to see how it goes as we are always looking for new and interesting Tea companies (I’m obsessed with Earl Grey)

Joliebox Concealer Brush

The blurb : Designed for blending concealer, the pointed tip provides precision for small imperfections whilst the flat side smoothes cover across larger areas such as under the eye

My thoughts : For a free brush, this is pretty soft and supple. Fits in to the hand quite nicely so could be a great addition to a handbag make up kit or travel bag. Would be cool to see if Joliebox bring out any more ‘bonus’ brushes so that we can collect a full set of them!!

All in all, I am really impressed with the contents of this box. The Jolie Box presentation really does make it feel so much more high end.

Are you a subscriber to Boudoir Privé / Jolie Box? See anything in this box you like the look of?

Katie Beauty

A moody yet super glitzy NOTD

This past weekend, husband and I went away so I thought I’d treat myself to a nice festive-y manicure and pedicure. I wanted something super glittery but still quite grown up.. If that is even possible!

What I decided to go for was a dark grey and silver combo that I can’t stop looking at. I think it’s beautiful and reminds me a lot of China Glazes Tinsel Town

What I used…

1 coat of Trind Nail Repair
1 reasonably thick coat of Avon Matte Grey polish, not looking for perfect coverage, just to lay the base colour down.
4 coats of Barry M Limited Edition Silver Effects glitter
1 coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust
1 coat China Glaze No Chip top coat

8 coats in total might sound excessive but I have had this polish on for 5 days and it’s still not showing any signs of wear or chipping so I can’t complain!

I normally have much much longer nails but after a disasterous run in with a high street nail chain and some acrylic extenions I was actually missing huge chunks out of most of my nails so this is a VAST improvement! Onwards and upwards they say!

I think I’m going to try this look over China Glazes’ For Audrey next, I think that will look gorgeous.

Do you have a grown up way to do glitter or do you go all out glitterbomb?

Katie Beauty

The perfect winter treat by [comfort zone]

I’ve only ever had a mini sampler facial before and it brought me out in a rash. Because of this I can say I have never once since had the urge to re-visit that and try another facial. It’s just not worth it for me and my sensitive skin. I’d gladly let someone rub my face in a soothing manner, as long as they don’t load me up with product.

I say I’ve never been tempted to try another one that is until I have just learnt about the new treatment from [comfort zone].

On these bleak, wintery days, what would be perfect than a rich, opulent lovely massage and facial! Just think of a beautifully dim room, plush bed to lie on, toasty warm, candles flickering behind you and not a care in the world as you are worked on.

I am doing a little bit of treatment drool right now. I work absolutely every hour god sends in both my full time day job as well as running my own company full time and on top of that blogging and being a wife all in one go!

I will be tracking this down AND putting it at the top of my Christmas list. Mmm Myrrh, incense, scalp massage.. oh my, there I go drooling again!

The Arabian Back Scalp and Face Ritual by [comfort zone] is the ultimate winter warmer!

Starting with a warm oil massage, this Arabian inspired ritual ignites your spirit whilst creating energy and calm for a tired body and mind. It uses [ comfort zone ] oil – a blend of intense and sensual ingredients native to Arabia comprising myrrh, amber, sandalwood, incense and coriander… evoking the experience of being in exotic lands.

The foot massage includes symbolic moves from the Tuareg (nomads from the Sahara) which helps with pain removal, whilst the scalp massage is mildly hypnotic to remove you from everyday stresses.

It is a complete top to toe experience which has real benefits to body and mind but unlike many rituals, this one also includes a full facial to leave you glowing and radiant. www.comfortzoneskincare.com

Google tells me, and my local readers, that [comfort zone] is a featured brand at the following hotels :

Matfen Hall, Corbridge

Rockliffe Hall, Darlington

Swinton Park, North Yorkshire

Katie Beauty

The hunt for red hot… hair.

Don’t even ask me why the I had The Hunt for Red October in my head. The mind boggles.

I’ve been on the hunt for a set of wide straighteners for a while and I am quite anti GHD so i’m doing research and trawling reviews for some suggestions of alternatives.

One that keeps cropping up is the Wide Intelligent Digital Argan Styler. After reviewing the Diva Big Hot Rollers HERE, I was so impressed, i’m going to track down the Argan infused irons at my local Sallys to try them before I buy.

That’s the perk of Sallys and Salon Services… they have a stock of irons and curlers you can try before you buy. This is super important to me as I refuse to buy hair tools that i’ll theoretically be using every single day without trying them first. I’ve fallen foul of difficult tools before so I’ve definitely learnt my lesson!

Has anyone tried the Diva Pro Styling range? Can you recommend some wide straighteners that are NOT GHDs?