Last Minute Stocking Fillers – Blogmas Day 24

 

There is always something that gets forgotten in the haste of preparing for the big day. Check out my selection of little things that you can find whilst out and about just to stack up those stockings for a champagne breakfast and sneaky present opening. From Urban Decay to Yankee Candles this selection has something for everyone – although there is a lack of male presence! So for the men in your life check out the selection below for some last-minute gifts that can be found in many shops.

If you man has a sweet tooth or likes to pamper himself there is something for almost anyone in the selection above. I hope you are more prepared than I am and are enjoying the holiday season.

#1 Hand Care

There are so many hand care items on the market that the saturation point seems to be close. However there seem to be more on the horizon every day with different brands sprouting out of the woodwork at every chance available. This however can only be seen as a good thing from my side of things. There is always room for improvement when it comes to skin care and especially hand cream.

Above is a selection of creams that I have tried and tested over a period of time and found to be the best of those that are deemed affordable and if even slightly expensive most definitely worth the price paid. With Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream at the top of the price charts and the Botanics Intensive Hand Cream at the bottom there is a wide variety in type and price in between that offer so much for the eyes to see and the hands to benefit from.

The two most universal products of the bunch are Lush’s Ultrabalm and Burt’s Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme, both of which can be used on hands, lips and other parts of the body. Ultrabalm is a staple in my handbag and travel bag, there is also one that seems to be stuck inside my gym bag just incase I forget my regular body moisturiser. Being more of a balm you only tend to need a small amount which is great. The only problem I have with this particular balm is the smell – it is not very nice! The Burt’s Bees product however smells edible (IT IS NOT!).

My two absolute favourite products are Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve which leaves my hands feeling like they have been coated in a silk glove and Korres Almond Oil and Shea Butter Nourishing Hand Cream. The Korres product in particular is great as the scent is just so beautiful and feels great when your hands are coated and snuggled up in moisturising gloves. For work I must say Kiehl’s wins hands down.

As I wash my hands at least 50 times a day (not an exaggeration in the slightest!) as well as using alcohol gel and wearing gloves my hands get pretty dry and tired. Kiehl’s really does pull them out of that funk and combats the dryness immediately. Once worked into the hands they will feel soft, supple and cared for. In other words – callous be gone!

One little product that I haven’t included in this group of lovelies is an extra cheap treat that you can pick up in your local Superdrug on the off-chance that you have no hand cream to hand and just need a touch of moisture to last you until you get to your regular supply.

Check out that price tag! For a couple of pounds with change this beauty can get you out of a tight spot!

So lovelies those are my choices of hand care after a tough shift on a busy hospital unit – no matter what you do with your day/night/life good hand care is essential and these bad boys will sort you out to no end.

Are there any in the group that you have tried and loved?

Are there any that you would like to try but have never been sure whether to take the plunge? 

Are there any that you would recommend?

Get in touch . . .

Let me know!

Lush Haul

It has been way too long since I last visited my beloved Lush and on entering I wondered to myself quietly why I had stayed away so long. Then I looked at the prices and the amount of items I would love to walk out with. This is when I remembered that my bad habit was curbed quite nicely. Until now!

With a couple of samples thrown in for good measure my card actually managed to get away without burn marks!

Having previously tried Lush’s oh so wonderful toothy tabs and thinking that they tasted like congealed talcum powder and black pepper, it was time to try again.

According to the lady in the shop ‘Atomic’ and ‘Chou Chou I love You’ are the two that are least likely to make me want to vomit. We shall see!

In essence Lush Toothy Tabs are sold as ‘A solid alternative to toothpaste with essential oils and spices for fresh breath and a sparkling smile’.

Hmmm!

Once upon a time I owned the loveable Bubblegum Lip Scrub however after a couple of weeks of non use and drier climates it sadly went hard and was to never be seen again!

Enter MINT JULIPS. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this product – well actually I can so watch out for the review.

Truly AWESOME!

Bath bombs have always been my THING for the bathroom as there is truly nothing better after a stressful (well any!) day than running a super hot bath and sticking one of these bad boys in it.

After a couple of minutes fizzing around your bathroom smells like paradise and your skin once in the water feels like it too.

May Day is a new one for me and a Limited Edition for Lush (For May only!). I will be trying this one out tonight so I will let you know how I get on.

What are your favourite Lush products and why?

February Favourites

Over the past couple of months I seem to have forgotten to post about the products that I have recently run out of so this is that post!

This is the collection that seems to have taken over a corner of my shelf. Please do bear in mind that this is from January also.

Now down to the nitty-gritty – I have taken some stand alone pictures of my absolute favourites but not all of the products. If you would like to know where certain products came from please do get in touch.

Hair Care

My arsenal of hair products seems to be growing by the day. This little collection has done my hair a good turn and each product does a good job in a variety of situations.
As a collective it can be quite expensive, however when bought separately the prices are quite manageable. As my hair is quite difficult to maintain I seem to spend more of such products than make-up however in the long run it is definitely worth it.

This collection was found in my local 99p store and I am extremely happy with the results when used as a collective and singularly. The 30 second spray really lives up to its name and I would happily pay three times the price for the products (Only £3!)

Both of these products are just wonderful. My hair-line always seems to be the driest part of my hair and breaks very easily. It got to the point that it was only growing to the length of my little finger and no longer. Macadamia Healing Oil Spray really did the trick when used with regular conditioning treatments, wrapping and keeping my hair-line moisturised. This spray gave my hair the boost it needed and kept it from getting overly dry. The Moroccan Oil Treatment is one that can be used in a multitude of ways and I chose to use a very small amount and massage it into my scalp. This aided my straighteners to give me a sleek look that lasted more than three days. Both products are quite pricey compared to most hair treatments however they last for more than three months if used as advised – a little goes a long way!

Lips, Nails etc . . .

This is an essential part of anyones beauty shelf if you want extra soft lips and a good base for all those wonderful lipsticks available. This little pot of joy is quite cheap and lasts a while, however unlike I did do not let your pot dry out. Speak to the lovelies at Lush and they will advise you on the best way to stop this happening. That is something I must do today as this little pot is sadly hard as nails! Oh and it smells divine – there are other scents 😀

Chanel to me is always a little luxury that I love to buy. The packaging is delightfully sleek and has a feel of quality as well as just being gorgeous. This nail polish remover lasted me a while and got rid of some of the most stubborn nail polishes over the past 6 months. Compared to most removers on the market this one would be considered over priced but as it lasts so long and you only need a little get off some of the toughest colours it is most definitely worth it. The other thing that is just pure vanity on my part – the liquid is PINK!!!

As I approached the Chanel counter my eyes frantically scanned for this little bottle of joy. No such luck – apparently there is a new product that has taken its place. Bitterly disappointed is one way of putting my feelings, utterly livid at myself for not stocking up is another! This base served me well for almost a year, another testament to a little goes a long way and not heavily overpriced for what it is. The replacement – well lets just say that will be reviewed another time.

This extremely feminine scent got me through the winter months with a smile on my face and a sniff of many passers-by. The volume drastically reduced and I only found out it was because my mum was taking a sneaky daily couple of squirts. I already have a replacement waiting in the box but for now I have moved on to the delightful Versace Vanitas – it smells scrumptious.

March will be a more manageable bunch – I promise! 😀