Christmas Gift Guide | Gifts for Men

Hey guys 

As you already know I have started my Christmas Gift Guides to give you all some inspiration. It will be uploaded every Thursday and Sunday at 7am so keep your eyes peeled. This week I thought I would talk about Gifts for Men. If you already know what you are buying then you can skip this and head on over to my other gift guides which you can find here:

Christmas Knitwear

Make Up Gifts > £50

Make Up Gifts Between £20 - £50

Make Up Gifts < £20 

My Wish List

Food Lovers Gifts

Now I am no professional when it comes to shopping for men, I find it extremely hard to buy for the men in my life because they give no idea as to what they want. I normally pick up boxsets, clothes etc. and I stay away from socks and smelly sets as they are so impersonal. By all means get a fragrance set but make sure its nice, nobody wants 5 Lynx sets at Christmas because you know some parents and grandparents have already bought one.

Trimmers 

I have included a budget buy and a high end buy which have excellent reviews and I also know they are good from listening to friends and family rave about them.

Babyliss 7107U Beard and Moustache Trimmer (£9.99) 

Philips TT2040 Body Groomer Pro Shaver & Trimmer (£57.49)

Hip Flasks

We all have a dad or a grandad who loves a little tipple don’t we? So why not pick up a lovely hip flask so they can have a cheeky little sip throughout the day. You could even pick up a miniature bottle of their favourite drink to go along with this to bulk it out and make it a little more personal.

Brushed Stainless Steel Hip Flask (£12)

5oz Mock Croc Calf Leather Hip Flask

with free engraving (£45)

Book Lovers

We all know a book lover so why not buy them a kindle. They are all kinds of amazing and Amazon have different types starting off with their basic model right up to a tablet like device which is wi-fi compatible and has a camera on it. 

Kindle E Reader with Touch £59 

Kindle Fire 

With Wi-Fi and comes in 8gb or 16gb with a range of different colours from £79

Gamers

I know that we all have someone in our lives who plays computer games nonstop so a console would be a great buy or if you cant afford it or they have their favourite one, go for a few games. I have chosen a PS4 as I know it’s something Liam wants and some games to go along with it. 

PS4 with Grand Theft Auto from £349

Watch Dogs from £16.80, Fifa 15 from £24.99, Far Cry 4 from £40.75, Call of Duty Advanced Warfare from £39.85 and Assassins Creed Unity from £35.54

Watches

I have included one watch here, but you get the idea. If they like a certain type of watch then buy one of them. It doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many brands now who are catering for every price range to there is no excuse.

Emporio Armani AR2427 Classic Brown Leather Watch (£185)

Skincare

I did say no to smelly gifts but these are a little nicer than those normal ones we often reach for.

Soap and Glory Male Polish Gift Set (£12)

Clarins Men Grooming Essentials (£38)

Gardeners

I think we all know someone who loves a spot of gardening so I picked this for them.

The Thoughtful Gardener Seed Organiser - £14

Wallets & Money Clips

Asos Wallet (£6 - £9)

Classic Money Clip that can be personalised (£14.95) 

Mulberry Laser Cut Money Clip (£70)

Boss Sienna Leather Wallet (£95)

You can always add in some extras such as a pair of slippers, gloves, hats, ties, mugs, chocolate, favourite alcohol etc which you will find everywhere at this time of year, i would head into Primark and pick up pyjamas or underwear as they have great variety. Boots is also great for little extras such as radios, games or skincare products as they always have a 3 for 2 offer on so you will not be stuck. 

My Voucher Codes were kind enough to offer some money off codes if anyone is interested which i have popped down below, I hope you enjoy guys:

10% off on orders of £100 at Boots

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/boots

18% off or 20% off first orders at LookFantastic.com

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/lookfantastic

£5 off orders of £40 at Superdrug

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/superdrug

As always, i hope you have enjoyed this list and hope you have found something for your loved ones.

 Have you checked out my latest post featuring The Magnitone Lucid?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |  

Magnitone Lucid | 7 Day Challenge

Hey guys,

As you may know it as youngest sisters 18th Birthday and she loved every minute of it. She came over to my house so she could rummage through my makeup collection. She obviously picked all the most expensive products so she could feel like a little princess, which she should do on her special day. She looked absolutely stunning. I am forever telling her to go to college and study makeup as well as getting a part time job on a makeup counter as she is amazing at doing makeup.

Liam and I bought her some gorgeous makeup gifts as she has been eyeing up my Christmas Gift Guides so it wasn’t only right that I put my money where my mouth was and spoiled her. I also ordered her some red velvet cupcakes from a girl called Debbie who lives quite near me. They were all personalised for her using some of my favourite pictures of her as a baby, growing up and then becoming a woman. She had the best night possible and she actually let loose which is unlike her. I’m glad she had a night to remember as that’s all you really want on your 18^th birthday.

Liam will be home for 3 weeks tonight, which I’m excited for because it means we can buy some Christmas decorations and get the house smelling of Christmas for the 1^st December. I love Christmas Markets so we will definitely be hitting the Glasgow markets for some mulled wine and cookies at some point. We also have an adult panto with some friends and a LOT of Christmas dinners with our families so I am very excited.

Anyway, enough about me, let’s get on with this review. I was recently sent a Magnitone Lucid* (£69.99) to carry out their 7 day challenge and review the product. I’m not gonna lie, I know I shouldn’t use products like this on my face as they can seem a little abrasive but I don’t care, I want to try everything so I can give my thoughts on it for you guys.

The Magnitone Lucid claims to give clearer, softer and brighter skin within 7 days, that’s quite a statement. The brush is to be used morning and night to give your face a deep clean where it uses electromagnetic pulsations that send rapid vibrations into skin. It has 10,000 movements per minute. That’s impressive! These vibrations claim to naturally unclog pores, clean away dirt and dead skin cells leaving the skin looking clearer. The brush works in a similar way to the Clarisonic (£125) in the sense that it cleans your face in 1 minute with a beep indicating when you should move onto another area of your face. Your forehead, chin and nose take 20 seconds each and your cheeks have 10 seconds each which is ideal.

When I received this facial brush I was quite impressed with the size of it and the goodies that came along with it. I got a headband to keep my hair out the way when washing, a brush cover to keep it clean, a wireless travel charger and a European plug for when I’m on holiday.

I have used the Olay Professional Face Brush (£39.99) before but I found it was very harsh for my sensitive skin. I know what you’re thinking, why am I excited about this brush if I have already had a bad experience and you are right to ask that, but as I said, I like to try things out and this was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up as I wanted to compare it.

I completed the 7 day challenge without any problem. I made sure it was the first thing I reached for in the morning and the first thing I grabbed when I took my makeup off. Well that’s a lie, I used makeup remover first, a cleansing balm and then I used this but as I say, I done it for the full 7 days so I could come to a fair judgement.

I used the brush on the sensitive setting for the first 5 days, yes that’s right, it has a sensitive setting for all of us sensitive skin types out there. I put some cleanser in the middle of the brush and used all over my face in circular motions. Every time it beeped, I would move onto another area of my face. It doesn’t beep when you are working on your cheeks though so be mindful of that if you buy this. I was warned that I may break out but I only had a few blemishes on my chin which cleared up pretty quickly. I am really amazed at this, the brush heads are very gentle on the skin so don’t press it onto your face, just move it around in circular movements and move onto the next section once the brush beeps.

I was surprised after 7 days, I really was. My skin felt incredibly softer, it looked clearer and it looked healthier. Some people say you shouldn’t use products like this but after using this for 7 days, I have to disagree as it really does work. I felt like I was giving my skin a deep clean every night and I have to say, it felt good.  Going forward, I will only be using this at night as I don’t feel I need to use it twice a day. Once at night is plenty for me as it makes sure I have removed all makeup before loading up on the skincare products.

Have you tried the Magnitone Lucid yet?

Would you use an electric brush on your skin?

 Have you checked out my latest post featuring Christmas Gifts For Food Lovers?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |  

Christmas Gift Guide | Food Lovers

Hi guys

Another Christmas post today and this time it is for all those foodies out there who love to eat, cook, bake etc. But if this isn' for you, I have other posts that you can check out here:

Christmas Knitwear

Make Up Gifts > £50

Make Up Gifts Between £20 - £50

Make Up Gifts < £20 

My Wish List

This is my top 15 gifts so I hope you enjoy

 

 

1. Gingerbread Chocolate Spread (£6)

2. The Best Ever Retro Sweets Giant Treasure Box (£13.85)

3. Thomas Plant Cake Pop Set (£15)

4. Hairy Bikers The Spice Boys Tool Box (£16)

 

 

5. Starbucks Coca Hot Chocolate Duo (£16.50)

6. Laura Ashley Ceramic Pie Dish (£16.50)

7. Lavendon Manor Cheese Board and Tools (£16.50)

8. The Indian Food Lovers Gift Box (£21.99) 

 

 

9. British Twist Cheese Gift Set (£23.95) you can also create your own hamper with this company which you can find here.

10. Nicolas Vahe Milk Chocolate and Caramel Fondue Kit (£29.99)

11. The Christmas Collection (£35)

12. Truffle Hunter (£64.99)

 

13. Crystal Head Vodka Set (£69.99)

14. Domecq Traditional Ham and Red Wine hamper (£89.99)

15. Cookbooks – Some of my favourites are as follows:

50 Great Curries of India (£7.69)

Jamie’s Comfort Food (£9.99)

Tom Kerridge Best Ever Dishes (£11)

Michel Roux Snr The Essence of French Cooking (£11)

The Hairy Bikers Perfect Pies (£18.99 )

My Voucher Codes were kind enough to offer some money off codes if anyone is interested which i have popped down below, I hope you enjoy guys:

10% off on orders of £100 at Boots

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/boots

18% off or 20% off first orders at LookFantastic.com

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/lookfantastic

£5 off orders of £40 at Superdrug

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/superdrug

Do you know a food lover who would like these gifts?

 Have you checked out my latest post featuring My Beauty Essentials?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |  

My Beauty Essentials

Hi guys

As you all know, it isn’t just great skincare and makeup that helps to create a gorgeous looking face. There are a lot of little bits that go into it such as tweezing, bleaching, derma rolling, derma blading (if you do that, I don’t!) and many more things we need to go through. So this post is all about my beauty essentials. Some I do every day, some a few times a week and others once per week. These aren’t glamourous, but they are pretty essential to keep yourself prepped and preened to perfection.

1. Tweezers

Tweezers are an absolute must have in your beauty regime guys, they will remove those pesky little hairs and keep your brows looking clean. There are so many different brands out there but I have been loving the Tweezerman Slants (£22.99) as they tug on those pesky little hairs that just won’t budge.

2. Hand Cream

Winter has well and try kicked in and the one thing I reach for is hand cream. This is an absolute necessity as I want to keep my hands hydrated and nourished, plus I don’t want 80 year olds by the time I am 40. I keep Soap and Glory Hand Food (£6) or the Neutrogena Nourishing Hand Cream with Nordic Berry (£4.19) in my college bag as I reapply about 20 times a day so it’s nice to have one when I am out and about. I also keep one beside my bed and one in the bathroom ha-ha. I am obsessed.

3. Eyelash Curlers

I don’t reach for these every day but when I go out with friends, I like to give my lashes a little curl before applying mascara. These don’t have to be expensive. Sure you can buy some expensive ones such as Kevyn Aucoin (£17) ones but I have Superdrug Curlers (£1.99) and they work just as well.

4. Pencil Sharpener

If you are a fan of brow pencils, eyeliners and lip liners then you will definitely need a sharpener to make sure they are sharp and ready to use. I have the Bourjois Pencil Sharpener (£3.49) which has a normal size hole and a larger one for any jumbo pencils you may have in your collection.

5. Nail Polish Remover

If you have as much of a nail polish fetish as me then you will need to have a good remover too. I find the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover (£4.99) to be the best as it removes every trace of polish, it’s very gentle and doesn’t strip my nails.

6. Concealer

Come on now, a concealer is a must have beauty essential. Even if you don’t wear makeup, concealer will help to cover any blemishes, redness and dark circles. Once you cover those, your skin will look flawless. If you are lucky enough to not have any of these issues, then skip this paragraph. I have two drugstore favourites and they are Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19) and Rimmel Wake Me Up (£5.49)

7. Eyebrow Brush and Spoolie

I need a brush and a spoolie. Its as simple as that. Even on days where I don’t wear makeup, I like to brush through my brows to help them look tidy as they can be a little unruly. These are pretty inexpensive and can be bought pretty much anywhere. I have this Superdrug Brush & Comb (£1.99) and this Morphe Spoolie Brush (£2.95) which I’m sure you can agree, are very cheap.

8. Hair Brush

This is a no brainer really! We want out hair to look presentable so I always keep a brush in my bag to run though my hair throughout the day. I have this Tangle Teezer (£6.90) that I can keep in my bag so I have it to hand if I need it.

These are my top picks guys. I’m sure there are many more but these are the ones I reach for mostly. Is there anything that you have in place of one of my items? If you want to pick up any of these items and they happen to be from Superdrug, then use this £5 money off code for purchases over £40.

What are your beauty essentials?

I hope you all have a nice relaxing week guys!

Have you checked out my latest post featuring My Christmas Gifts Under £20?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |  

Christmas Gift Guide | Makeup Gifts Under £20

Hi guys,

You know the drill by now, this is another Christmas post and it is bringing you some pretty great makeup gifts under £20. If you want to check out my previous posts you can find them here:

Makeup Gifts Over £50

Christmas Knitwear

Christmas Wish List

Makeup Gifts Between £20 & £50

1. Makeup Revolution Pout & Gloss Collection (£8 to £10)

2. Makeup Revolution Bronze, Contour and Highlight Collection (£10 to £15) 

3. Seventeen Ready Steady Glow (£12)

4. Makeup Revolution Pro Make up Collection (£12.50 to £25)

 

5. Burberry Nail Polish in Oxblood (£15)

6. Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Crayons (£16)

7. Burberry Lip Glow in Oxblood (£19)

8. Clarins Lip Collection - All About Lips (£19.50)

 

9. Benefit Sweet Tintations Christmas Gift Set (£19.50)

10. Real Techniques Nic’s Pics (£20)

11. Clinique Whole Lotta Chubby (£20)

12. Soap and Glory Glamour Push Gift Set (£20)

If you still don't know what to get that makeup obsessed person in your life then get them a gift card or voucher. As you know by now, I like Boots, Debenhams, Selfridges or House of Fraser as they have multiple brands.

My Voucher Codes were kind enough to offer some money off codes so feel free to take full advantage of them, I hope you enjoy guys:

20% off when you spend £75 or 12% off on any order at BeautyExpert.com

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/beauty-expert

10% off on orders of £100 at Boots

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/boots

18% off or 20% off first orders at LookFantastic.com

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/lookfantastic

£5 off orders of £40 at Superdrug

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/superdrug

What’s on your Christmas list?

Have you checked out my latest post featuring My Would I Buy Again Products?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |