ADVENT CALENDARS: A Guide for the Whole Family 2020

*Advertorial Content - Gifted Items

Well, what a year it has been. I don't think any of us were expecting a worldwide pandemic and the impact that had on every area of life when we were sitting around eating Christmas dinner last year. It's quite shocking to think back really, but we can't let the ever changing restrictions and regulations ruin the run up to Christmas. This year, more than ever before, we all need something positive and exciting to focus on. It is looking like Christmas won't be a 'normal' one, but something we can do is treat ourselves and/or loved ones to an advent calendar that will bring a smile to their face every day during December. Each year the world of advent calendars becomes even bigger, better and more exciting, as the offerings provide excellent value for money and the designs simply wow. 

CHRISTMAS: Gift Guide for Him & Her £20 and Under 2019

*Advertorial Content - Gifted Items

When it comes to shopping for family and friends it can be a challenge to think of gift ideas, especially for those who always ask for nothing. My husband is one of those people who consistently asks for nothing, but I'm sure if I actually didn't get him anything he'd feel slightly disappointed! Do you have anyone like that in your life? In this Gift Guide I've tried to include something for everyone and all of the presents are £20 and under, so purse-friendly too.

FESTIVE: Advent Calendar Guide for the Whole Family 2019

*Advertorial Content - Gifted Items

The world of advent calendars has changed quite a lot since my childhood when there were two options...chocolate or pictures. Nowadays the number of different advent calendars increases each year with many getting all the more extravagant, creative and impressive. It's so exciting to see what the new releases will be; there really is something for the whole family, gone have the days when advent calendars were just for children. We can now join in on the magic as the countdown to Christmas begins on December 1st, so I thought I'd put together a guide to some of the best advent calendars available on the market this year. It doesn't matter whether you're shopping for your little ones, loved ones or treating a friend; there is the perfect advent calendar out there for them and hopefully these will inspire you.

NEW RELEASE: The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Range

The scent of product can be the make or break of it and the latest special edition range from The Body Shop is definitely a hit. The Virgin Mojito range has notes of zesty lime and crushed mint - amazing.

SKINCARE: The Body Shop Vitamin C Range

I'm forever falling in love with The Body Shop skincare products, I think they are really underrated. There ranges cater for all skin types and there's always some kind of discount code available, making it a very affordable place to shop.

BEAUTY: My tired skin saviours from The Body Shop Vitamin E Range

As I enter motherhood and when I was heavily pregnant it took its toll on my sleep. Cue tired looking skin and dark circles under my eyes - not the 'glowing' look I was going for! I've always had pretty dark circles under my eyes but they have been getting darker and darker recently. That was until I started using a couple of Limited Edition Vitamin E products from The Body Shop.

After my usual cleansing and toning skincare routine I've been applying The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream Limited Edition* (£11) all over my face and neck, gently massaging it in. The combination of taking time to work the product into my skin and the rich yet gentle moisture cream have really made a difference to the look of my skin. The increased circulation has helped to brighten the skin, while my skin was clearly not getting adequate moisture from my previous moisturiser as it drinks this Vitamin E moisure cream up! It's so gentle on the skin, making it perfect for all skin types. In fact my husband has really sensitive skin and I've caught him 'borrowing' this moisture cream a number of times! To be fair his skin has been less dry and smoother since using it, so I'll be sending him out to get his own pot. 

After moisturising my face and neck I've been concentrating on the sensitive eye area, often the area that gives it away if you're tired. The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube Limited Edition* (£8) is so lovely to use around the eye area. It's so cooling, despite not being kept anywhere near a fridge, and refreshing that it really does help to wake me up! It's enriched with wheatgerm oil, which is one of the highest natural sources of vitamin E. The tube means it's easy to quickly apply or you can gently massage the product into your under eye if you have a bit more time. I've been using this daily, it's so easy to apply but still feels luxurious and pampering.
There are also loads of offers available on The Body Shop website, so you'll definietly be able to pick these tired skin saviours up with a discount. 

How do you waken tired skin?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

BODY: The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter

I am obsessed with anything scented or flavoured with apple, I just love it! So when I saw that The Body Shop had bought out a new range called Glazed Apple I had to get down to my local Body Shop to check the range out. I certainly wasn't disappointed, it smells divine, so divine in fact I never used a body butter up so quickly! The Glazed Apple Body Butter* has all of the loveliness of the usual Body Shop body butter ranges - thick, rich body cream that is just the most moisturising - especially welcome at this time of year. 

I would be so happy if I received anything from the Body Shop Glazed Apple range this Christmas, it makes for such a 'treaty' gift! Also, The Body Shop have always got various offers on to take advantage of, at the time of writing this they are offering a massive 40% off plus free standard delivery on orders over £5. So there's definitely always a bargain to be had, without compromising on the quality at all.

Which is your favourite range from The Body Shop?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

CHRISTMAS: Advent Calendars without chocolate?

Every year there seems to be more and more 'alternative' advent calendars to choose from. Forget chocolate or pictures, you can now get advent calendars filled with beauty products, alcohol, candles, puzzles, jewellery etc. This concept excites me greatly, I'm a massive Christmas fan and anyway of extending that excitement across the whole of December is ok with me. Generally the downside of these advent calendars is the price, too often they are very expensive for an 'advent calendar'. After searching the internet it's clear that the options are almost endless, so here's my quick guide to some of the choices. Starting with the cheapest...

Nutcracker Advent Charm Bracelet by Little Baby Company - notonthehighstreet - £16.95

Advent Christmas Tea Gift Set by Victoria Mae Designs - notonthehighstreet - £19.50

W7 Cosmetics Advent Calendar - TK Maxx - £19.99

Yankee Candle Advent Calendar 2014 - Yankee Candle - £21.99

No7 Beauty Calendar - Boots - £35 (Sold Out now)

Ciate Mini Mani Manor Advent Calendar - Ciate London - £49

12 Beers of Christmas by Best of British Beer - notonthehighstreet - £49.50

The Body Shop 24 Days of Joy - The Body Shop - £50

Elemis 12 Days of Beauty Gift Set - timetospa - £59.50

Jo Malone Advent Calendar - Harrods - £250

What would you want in an advent calendar?

I love the idea of having a new candle each day, especially when they are festive scents. I'd also love to have an advent calendar that had a different vouchers/gift cards in each day, so you can treat yourself when money is tight!

Helen x

BEAUTY: The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes

The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes* (£16 each) are brilliant for both experienced and newbie's to eye shadow application due to their variety of colours and ease of application. Each 'cube' has four different eye shadows, that compliment one another, so there's no guessing work about which colours go with what. The Shimmer Cubes are available in seven different shades, including: Warm, Blue/Grey, Pink, Green, Purple, Hot Pink (shown below) and Spring Bronze (shown below). There's something for everyone!

The Hot Pink Shimmer Cube contains four shimmery eye shadows, two lighter shades and two darker. You can use these shades to create a variety of looks, including a dramatic smoky eye look or a subtle everyday look. Especially with the Hot Pink Shimmer Cube, the colours aren't so bright that they are hard to wear throughout the day. I've really enjoyed applying the lightest shade all over my eye lid and then blending a small amount of the next darkest shade into the furthest corner of my eyelid. It adds a subtle shimmer and makes your eyes look more awake!

The Spring Bronze Shimmer Cube has been my personal favourite, in fact it was the one eye shadow block I took to Florida with me on holiday - you can just get so many looks out of these colours! In this Shimmer Cube you get a really light shade (kind of cream with a golden shimmer), a golden shade, bronze shade and a dark brown shade. I found that the lightest shade is perfect for highlighting just under the brow bone and for lightening up the tear duct area - awakening those eyes! For an everyday look I use the lightest shade over the whole of my eye lid and then apply the golden shade to the corner of my eye. For a night time look I use all four colours to create a gorgeous, golden bronze smoky eye.

The only slight negative I have with this product is that you don't get any application brush, so you have to either use your fingers or your own brushes. For a lot of people that suits them anyway, as they have their 'favourite' eye shadow brushes but just worth considering. Other than that I can't recommend The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes enough - so perfect for on the go and for creating a wide range of looks.





^For this look I used all of the shades in the Spring Bronze Shimmer Cube.^

Which is your favourite Shimmer Cube shade?

CHRISTMAS: The Body Shop Festive Hand Cream Trio + DISCOUNT CODE!

The Body Shop has been a staple store on our high street for a very long time, I always remember going in to get those bath pearls that would melt in the bath releasing bubble bath! One thing The Body Shop always get bang on is their scented products, they are never scents that you can barely detect, they're full bodied, long lasting and often appetising scents! Their Chocomania range smells ridiculously good - think chocolate, sweet and cocoa butter - heaven! I've also heard amazing things about their Honeymania range but I'm yet to try it out.

 

 

The Body Shop always bring out a lovely range of products especially for the festive season, this year the main three ranges are Ginger Sparkle, Vanilla Bliss and Cranberry Joy. When it comes to scents of skincare, body care, candles, air fresheners - anything really - vanilla has to be one of my favourites! It's the one scent that is consistently lovely and had become quite a homely scent to me now. As for Christmas scents Cranberry is up their with my favourites, not helped by the fact that I'm slightly addicted to dried cranberries at the moment after making golden honey granola (see post here)! So I was excited to try The Body Shop's Festive Hand Cream Trio* (£12), which includes all of their Christmas scents this year.

 

 

I applied each of these of three days and I couldn't believe how long lasting the scent was! The hand cream was very moisturising, which is perfect for this cold weather. My hands always seem to suffer from being in the cold, then hot, then cold etc. Each of these hand creams are a perfect size for popping in your handbag or if your feeling generous they would make a lovely Christmas present. They come in a Christmassy gift box too, which always makes wrapping easier!

 

At the moment their is a voucher code for The Body Shop that will get you 40% off your shopping PLUS free delivery! The code is 14322. If you enter this at the checkout the amount will be deducted. The Festive Hand Cream Trio is £12, but with the discount and delivery code it will only cost £7.20! This offer finishes on Monday 25th November 2013, so don't miss out!

 

Which is your favourite Christmas scent?

 

Feel free to leave me a comment :)