Gift Guide – Beauty

I was originally only going to post one gift guide but I was going to end up ridiculously long so I’m breaking it down into sections. This post will focus on all things health and beauty so think make-up, skincare, bath and body! Again, I’m going to talk about things that I have either used myself and recommend or items that I’d love to receive or give as a gift. All opinions are my own and I am in no way an expert on anything!

I’m going to start off with make-up as this is one of my favourite things…although I have barely used the stuff since I started working from home in March. One of my favourite items are eyeshadow palettes and I really have to reign myself in and not continually buy more as there’s only so much I can get through! My favourite palettes at the moment are from Huda Beauty…the colours are seriously pigmented and blend like a dream but my favourites are the glitter shades, they just add the right amount of sparkle and really make the eyes pop! I find that with large palettes, I end up using the same few colours and others go to waste but I’ve been using the Precious Stones Obsession in Topaz and the Nude Obsessions in Light. There are plenty of others to choose from and these palettes come in at £25 each.

Another brand I want to mention is Urban Decay…I haven’t tried any of their eyeshadows but I have heard great things and they currently have a Black Friday sale with up to 40% off! I’m loving the look of the Stoned Vibes palette because, uh hello…sparkles! Full price it is £46 but is currently £27.60! If you prefer a more toned down look (but still a touch of glam), I’d also look at the Naked collection…I particularly like the look of the Naked Honey palette which usually retails at £43 but is currently £25.80.

Other than eyeshadow palettes, I am always on the lookout for a new mascara…I still don’t think I have found The One. But I also have a lot hibernating in my room that I haven’t got round to using yet so can’t justify buying myself another. At the moment, and it may sound surprising but my favourite mascara is actually Primark’s Fake It mascara. I kid you not, this stuff is gives me a load of volume and length plus it doesn’t smear under my eyes. It’s also incredible value, the last time I purchased it, it was just £2.50. Seriously give it a try and don’t knock it til you try it…I can’t link it as Primark don’t have a site so you’ll have to go and find it on your own.

The one mascara I do have on my wishlist is the newly released Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes. It costs £23 which is more than I would usually spend but I am hoping it lives up to it’s claims of which there are too many to list here.

I’m not one for a bright lip but I have tried almost every nude lipstick under the sun and my favourite has to be MAC Satin Lipstick which is £17.50. I wouldn’t normally spend this on this kind of product but I received it as a gift myself and I have to say I love it! It doesn’t dry out lips and the nude colour is perfect for me.

As for nails, I feel this may be more relevant to many since lockdown seeing as people can’t get their nails done at salons at the moment. I can’t say I have ever had my nails done professionally and I also haven’t really worn nail varnish since May but there are a couple of brands I’m loyal to in this area. My favourite brand is Nailberry as I find the formula applies incredibly evenly, even with just one coat and it lasts well. They have loads of colours but for this time of year, I’d be choosing a deep red such as this Noirberry shade. They are £15 a bottle so not one that I purchase on a regular basis but perfect for a treat.

My other go to, and much more purse friendly option is Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish. At just £3.49, it’s a total bargain and you just need one coat for a bright, even colour. You can find their colour options here.

Moving away from make-up and onto skincare, another favourite of mine! I have so many skincare products it’s hard to keep up but I love trying new things. Obviously everyone’s skin is different so I can’t make any recommendations but these are just a few products that I love and now don’t want to be without! First of all, and something I only recently discovered is Shiseido Power Infusing Concentrate. This serum literally made my skin feel softer than ever before and when my sample bottle ran out, I was devastated! It is pricey at £69 for 30ml so not something I’ll buy on a regular basis but if I ever want to treat myself then this will be at the top of the list!

Moving onto cleansers, I have a couple that I absolutely love! The first of which is the Caudalie Make Up Removing Cleansing Oil which literally removed all my make up and left my face feeling completely clean but also moisturised which rarely happens with a cleanser. It is quite pricey at £18 for 150ml but I’ll definitely be looking for another bottle!

I’m also a huge fan of The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter. This is super gentle on skin but removes every trace of make up and leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturised rather than tight and uncomfortable. It costs £11 for 90ml and you can also get a little 20ml for £5.

I’m trying to think of a face mask that I really love but if I’m honest, I don’t think I’ve tried any that have really blown me out of the water. One product that I have been loving since I first discovered it are the Vitamasques gold eye patches. These make my eyes instantly look brighter, less puffy and fine lines are plumped…plus they are gold and sparkly so look fancy. No it’s not a long term fix but for a night out or after a particularly bad sleep, I find these make a big difference! I wish I could buy these in multipacks but it doesn’t seem that they offer this. You can get hold of these gems at £5.99 for a pair.

For a sheet mask that leaves skin feeling moisturised but are also super fun, head to Nails.Inc. They have everything from unicorns to rabbits and bring a bit of fun for the 15 minutes you wear them.

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The last facial product that I can’t live without is a face oil which I mix with a night cream before bed. I have tried a few but the one that comes out on top for me is Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil. It is really light and doesn’t leave my skin feeling slippy or greasy, nor does it make me break out…just soft, moisturised skin come morning! It costs £35 for 30ml but lasts forever as I only use a couple of drops in the evening.

From the face to the body…although it feels like a chore, I try to apply a body cream as much as I can after a shower (this doesn’t happen nearly as regularly as I would like). I like a cream that skins in quickly, doesn’t leave sticky or slippy residue and it has to smell fantastic! I have a few favourites in this category and one that I am using currently is Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Body Cream. I love anything by this brand and this smells so good, plus the packaging is pretty so it looks nice on the bedside table. This costs £18.50 so a touch higher end but totally worth it. There are lots of different collections and I haven’t tried them all yet but as yet there hasn’t been any that I haven’t liked!

Another product I am pretty obsessed with is The Body Shop Body Butter, although lets be real, I’ll use anything from there as it all smells bloody amazing! The one I turn to most is the Moringa Softening Body Butter (£16 for 200ml) which has a slightly lighter scent than some of the others. They are pretty thick in texture but I don’t find they leave my skin sticky, however, there is also a range of body yoghurts which are slightly lighter. If strong scents aren’t your thing then these maybe aren’t for you but I personally, I’m all for it!

The last body cream I really feel the need to tell you about is First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream which I came across last year after receiving it in a beauty box, and boy am I glad I did. This left my skin feeling soooo soft and sank in really quickly. It doesn’t have an uber strong scent either for those who aren’t keen. I got through two tubes of this and then ran out but need to have this back in my life again. It’s £12 for a 56.7g tube (very specific) but if you want a bigger version, you can get a 170g tub for £28.

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I feel like hand and foot products are very underrated and don’t always get the attention the deserve. I for one go through so many hand creams and I always buy them as presents as everyone needs them (especially all my country pals who spend a lot of time out in the cold). It will come as no surprise I’m sure that my favourites happen to be from Rituals and The Body Shop. I’m currently using Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Hand Lotion which smells just like the body cream and leaves my hands feeling soft and smooth. At £9.90, it’s a yes from me!

I’ll use pretty much any hand cream from the body shop, as with the body creams and pretty much any other bath and body products they sell, they smell incredible! I’m also currently carrying the Almond Milk & Honey Calming and Protecting Hand Cream. It’s got a subtle scent compared to some of the others and sinks in super fast so you don’t have to worry about slippery hands. I also want to get my hands on some of the festive products as they always bring out some fun scents around winter time…this year they have Festive Berry, Warm Vanilla and Winter Jasmin!

As for foot products, I don’t have a favourite foot cream but I do like using but is incredibly gross so probably not the best if you’re squeamish, is Oh K! Peeling Foot Mask (£8.50). Basically you put your feet in the booties and over the following week all the dead skin peels off. You will look like a shedding snake but it’s worth it for the soft tootsies at the end!

And from the body to the hair! I have literally done nothing but wear my hair bundled on top of my head since lockdown first started, and let me tell you, it has done me no favours! It is in desperate need of some TLC! My hair is very long, very flat and poker straight so I look for products that can provide me with some volume! One of my favourite products and something that is on my wishlist is Percy & Reed Radiance Revealing Invisible Dry Shampoo (this is excellent as it also means I don’t have to wash my hair as much). This is quite pricey at £15 when I can get Batiste for a fraction of the price but it smells amazing and doesn’t leave any white residue. It also gives my hair a little bit of oomph which I am always grateful for! I also love the Percy & Reed Smoothed Sealed & Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil for Fine Hair (also £15). Just because you have flat hair that gets greasy quickly absolutely does not mean you can’t use an oil. This leaves my hair feeling silky smooth and gives some much needed shine without weighing it down.

As you can imagine, a hair mask is also an essential for me and I know I can always rely on Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment. This is a complete faff to use as you have to wet your hair then leave it on for at least 20 minutes before rinsing. However, it leaves my hair feeling so amazing that I’m willing to look past the inconvenience. This stuff works wonders and has about a million amazing reviews to back me up. It costs £19 for 75ml and there are also 150ml and 1000ml options!

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Moving away from lotions and potions and onto another product that I only discovered fairly recently, Spacemasks self heating eye masks are an absolute revelation! I first used them when I had a cold and I swear to God they made me feel so much better! (Obviously they do not cure a cold but are very soothing on the sore noggin). Stock up, your life will never be the same again. A pack of 5 masks comes in at £15 and I’ll eat my hat if you’re disappointed.

Another product that I always have on hand (or at least on the bedside table) is This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (£19.50). Does it actually actually improve sleep quality? I have no idea but the lavender scent certainly is relaxing and I feel like get a good night’s sleep when I use it. Could it be the placebo effect? Absobloodylutely, but if it helps, who cares.

If you follow me on Instagram or have read my blog before, you are probably aware that I am partial to a beauty box or two! These make fabulous gifts…whether it be a one off box or a subscription, they are so much fun and it’s like receiving a little present every month! My favourite subscription is Glossybox. Each month you get a mix of 5 full size and trial sized beauty products, it’s as simple as that! I’ve been a member for years and of course there are sometimes products that I don’t use but there have been so many new finds or old favourites…subscribers received a full sized Huda Beauty liquid lipstick recently so if that doesn’t tempt you I don’t know what will!. Prices range from £11.75 – £132 depending on which plan you take but it is fantastic value for money. And you can get 20% off your first subscription with this code https://www.glossybox.co.uk/referrals.list?applyCode=KIRSTY-R25

I also subscribe to Birchbox and have also been with them for years now. The reason I don’t like them quite as much as Glossybox is because there have been a few repeat products (although after this length of time I maybe shouldn’t be surprised) and they do have a tendency to send out small samples. Having said that, Birchbox often smash it out the park with the brands with the likes of Bobbi Brown and Benefit. Prices range from £12.95 to £145.40 depending on which plan you take but you can get 30% off a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription with this code https://birchbox.mention-me.com/m/ol/wt7fa-kirsty-arnott

I think that’s about it from me for this section, I may add some more bits and bobs if I think of anything I have forgotten (which will very likely be the case). Hopefully this gives some inspiration for anyone struggling to think of what to give or what to ask for! I’d love to hear your opinions on anything mentioned here and also anything I haven’t mentioned! I’ll have another gift guide on the way soon so look out for that.

Until next time,

Kirsty x