Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide

I was so sure I was over Christmas Gift Guides but the truth is I enjoy reading them and enjoy writing them even more. There are so many exciting gift sets out there and I could not resist sharing some of my favourite beauty picks. Right let's get started...

Verso Skincare //Link 
Verso Skincare is one of my favourite skincare brands and I have a review here. The great thing is that they are effective and contain Retinol 8 which offers all the benefits of Retinol (and more) while being suitable for many skin types without causing irritation which is commonly seen with many Retinol products. The perfect gift set which any skincare enthusiast will absolutely love as a gift is the Verso Star Serum Suite* which contains some of Verso's Bestsellers including: The Antioxidant Tumeric Booster*(£79), Super Facial Serum (£100)* and the Hydration Serum with Niacinamide* (£79) .


If you want to save some money, I will highly recommend joining the MMCL Pro family where you get as least 30% discount on Verso skincare products which goes a mighty long way. MMCL Pro is open to students, makeup artists, beauty enthusiasts, bloggers, etc. You can join here and check here for the registration requirements.


The Verso Enzyme Peel* (£80) is a perfect all rounder gift because it will work for many skin types. It contains AHAs and PHAs and it is excellent in gently but effectively exfoliating the skin. I absolutely love it and try to use it at least once a week.

Cult51 //Link 
Cult 51 is another skincare care brand I love because they deliver above and beyond expectations.  I am still very much in love with my Cult51 Day Cream(£100), Cult51 Night Cream (£100)* and Cult51 Immediate Effect Serum*(£95). They now do great bundles which are value for money if you were looking to spoil a loved one. They will make amazing gifts for Mothers, Aunties and even friends who approaching their 30s. Of course, anyone can use these products but I personally think they will suit people from their 30's (both male and female). I know this is not skincare but Cult51 also have the Luxurious Gardenia Scented Candle*(£35) which will be perfect as a gift for a loved one who has just moved homes. It is such a beautiful candle and burns well with no tunnelling.




Omorovicza //Link
If anyone told me I'd enjoy an introductory beauty set so much, I won't believe them but that's exactly how I have felt about the Omorovicza Christmas Introductory Set (£65). I am sure everyone must have heard about Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist and that's what drew me to this set because it contains a generous amount of the mist in it. This set has pretty much a complete skincare routine and that's why I love it. Inside you get the Queen of Hungary Mist (30ml), Balancing Moisturiser or Elemental Emulsion (30ml), Thermal Cleansing Balm (15ml), Deep Cleansing Mask (15ml) and Cleansing Foam (30ml). It's such an amazing set and I will highly recommend it as a great gift for anyone who is looking to try out the Omorovicza brand.



Pixi Beauty //Link 
I am such a big fan of Pixi Beauty particularly their Glow Tonics which I have used for many years and made countless repurchases. They are a major game changer and I am so glad that they have expanded their Glow Tonics to include the Rose Glow Tonic and the Retinol Tonic. The great thing is that they come in such lovely and affordable gift sets (minis) which go for £10 each. You can even buy the Trio for £20 over here at ASOS which is amazing. They will make great stocking fillers and even proper gifts. The great part is there is no need to wrap them too much as they already come in a nice festive gift packaging. I picked up the Retinol Glow Tonic and Rose Glow Tonic Festive Gift Set from Harvey Nichols but I believe you can also find it from other retailers.

FOREO //Link 
It will be a crime not to mention FOREO in this Christmas Gift Guide because they are one of my favourite skincare device brand. I use at least one FOREO product everyday and none of my skincare routines can ever be complete without them. The only product I have not tried yet is the FOREO UFO and it is already on my wish list. I will highly recommend at least trying the FOREO Luna Mini (£119)* or Luna Play (£29). They provide such value for money and I have actually purchased some for my sister and Mum. They have some great gift sets as well so they will make perfect gifts for this season.




Urban Decay Cherry Palette (£42) //Link (currently £35.70 in John Lewis)
I never wanted to pick this palette up because I am still very much in love with the Naked Heat Palette and still believe it is the best palette Urban Decay have ever made.  The Urban Decay Cherry Palette is a great A/W palette and fits so well with the festive season. I could resist no longer when I was at the airport and had a chance to properly swatch it. The best part was it was in Duty Free so I saved some coins. Honestly, the gift sets in Duty Free are so tempting and I try my best to just pick up something that I really need. I think the Naked Cherry Palette will make a great gift for any beauty enthusiast and it comes in such great packaging. If you do find yourself going through Duty Free, I will suggest picking it up there or when there are discounts such as in John Lewis right now.

Touch in Sol Metallist Collection //Link 
Touch in Sol is one of the brands that I have fallen hard for and I am so impressed with all the products I have tried. You can read my review about them over here. I love that they are not resting on their oars as they launch really great new products. I love the packaging, the quality of their products and how affordable they are. For Christmas Gifts, they can work as regular gifts or stocking fillers. I highly recommend checking their Metallist Collection especially their Liquid Foil and Glitter Shadow Duos* (£20), Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo* (£20) and the Metallist High Shine Bouncy Cream Shadow Palette (£34). If I did not have them, they will be one of the products on my Christmas Wish List. The No Poreblem range is also amazing and it works great for many skin types.





I recently tried out their Pretty Filter Waterful Glow Cream* which seriously gives your skin the much needed hydration it needs especially with the current season. I love that it works both as skincare and makeup. If you love dewy skin and makeup, I will highly recommend adding it to your wish list or getting it as a gift for that loved one who adores dewy skin.





Hourglass Ambient Palette //Link 
I have always loved Hourglass products because they are such great quality and very unique. I got the very first Hourglass Ambient Palette as a gift from my husband a few years ago and I still absolutely adore it. This year, I saw that they were launching the Ambient Palette (Unlocked)//£69 and I was in love because I knew it will be perfect for my skintone. I was so delighted I finally got my hands on it and I think it is the best Ambient Palette they have made ever (in my opinion). I am so glad they launched two versions (Unlocked and Volume 4) which is such a brilliant move as it suits many skin tones.




While I was waiting for the Unlocked Palette to make its way over to me, I got the Ambient  Lighting Blush Palette (£60) which I have always had my eye on. I know I don't need to say this but Hourglass packaging is just so luxurious. I can't think of anyone unwrapping these palettes as gifts and not being over the moon.




Fenty Beauty//Link 
I love Fenty Beauty so much and whenever I check my Harvey Nichols Rewards App and see how much I have spent on Fenty Beauty since 2017, I actually can't believe it. I don't think I have spent as much on a single brand ever but I will do it all over because all the products I have purchased are amazing. I already have a proper review of my first ever Fenty Beauty Haul over here if you want to have a read.



For their Holiday collection (Chill Owt), I only picked up the Frost Bunny Metallic Eye and Lip Crayon Set (£30) and I can't get over it. It was love at first swatch. The other products in the collection are great but I only want to buy products I will use regularly. For your wish list or as a gift guide, I will highly recommend trying out the Stunna Lip Paints// £19 (they recently added four new shades which are stunning) and The Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette (£42).




OUAI Haircare and Fragrance //Link  
OUAI is another brand that has not rested on their oars for one second at all. They have expanded and diversified which I absolutely love and I am hoping they continue this way. I also have a a few posts about OUAI here.  This year, I got to try their OUAI Scalp and Body Scrub* (£32) which smells so heavenly. I use it more on my body than my hair but either ways, it just feels so soothing and relaxing and I love that the fragrance gently lingers on my skin. For their holiday collection, they have several gift sets which are affordable and offer great value for your coins. I have the Swing Both OUAI Gift Set (£40)* which contains the OUAI Texturizing Hair Spray and OUAI Hair Oil.  I was filled with so much delight to see that there is an XL OUAI Hair Oil in it because that's one of my favourite OUAI Haircare product. I also love the OUAI Leave-in Conditioner * (£22) and my natural hair (Afro) loves so much. I will highly recommend checking out the great gift sets OUAI has.



I saved one of my favourite purchases for last and it is none other than the OUAI Fragrances. The first time I tried OUAI Haircare, I just wished there was a matching fragrance to the products and I know many people felt the same way. I am so glad Jen Atkin listened to everyone because we can finally smell like our favourite OUAI haircare products. There are 4 fragrances in total- North Bondi, Mercer Street, Rue St Honore and Melrose Place. I picked up North Bondi (£46) and Mercer Street (£46) because they are my favourite scents and I have not stopped using them. I will write a separate review at some point. Basically, if you want to try them out, this is the best time to purchase them (maybe as a gift for a loved one but I am keeping both of mine) because I hear they are limited edition. You can purchase them in-store at Selfridges and online at OUAI website and Cult Beauty.




I hope you enjoyed this year's Christmas Gift Guide even though it is slightly late. These are some of my favourite products and I know I'd be delighted if I received them as gifts. I hope this Christmas Gift Guide serves both as a guide and a wish list for boxing day if you want to get a discount. What product would you want to try?
*Gifted PR product + Affiliate Links uses, read my full disclaimer here

Christmas Gift Guide- The Luxury Beauty Edition

Tis' the season for Christmas Gift Guides and this particular one is my favourite to write because it involves products and brands I absolutely love. Some of them are my holy grail products that I would be more than happy to unwrap for Christmas and others are new brands I have grown to love. As it is a luxury beauty edition, some of the products are expensive while others are affordable. Hope you enjoy this post and get some inspiration for gift ideas for loved ones or a wish list for yourself. Right let's get started.....


Serums
I love Serums because they contain very concentrated ingredients that pack a punch when it comes to delivery high quality results. There are various types of serums for different uses include hydrating, firming, brightening, hyper pigmentation, all rounders,etc. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair*//£53 which has a huge cult following because it is an all rounder. It is hydrating and firming and works for many skin types especially for matured skin. Another all rounder serum is the Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate// £59 which is my all time favourite serum. It is hydrating, plumping, firming and keeps the skin youthful. For brightening, there are two options I love. The first is the Oskia Renaissance Bright Serum// £88 which I am currently trying out. It looks gorgeous and keeps my skin radiant. The Aveda Tulasara Bright Concentrate*//£45 is another incredible brightening serum that is made from predominantly natural ingredients and works for many skin types. For hyper pigmentation, my top serum has to be the Biologique Recherche Placenta Serum//£61. This is not the easiest to purchase but it is worth the hassle as it has worked incredibly well for my hyper pigmentation. For matured skin, I will suggest picking the REN Keep Young and Beautiful Serum //£46, Aveda Tulasara Firm Concentrate*//£45, Institut Esthederm Retinol Oil Serum*//£63 and Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum*//£48 as they all help firm up the skin so they will make a perfect gift for mums, aunties or any friends hitting their 30's.




Cult 51 Skincare // Link // from £95 (Review)
I have already spoken about Cult 51 Skincare in a review here so I won't go into too much details. It is one skincare brand that really works for various skin conditions. I have almost all the products they make and I have absolutely enjoyed them. The Immediate Effect Serum* //£95 can be used both as a serum and as an eye serum. It really works for puffy eyes, dark circles, etc. The Day Cream//£100 and Night Cream*//£125 are cult favourites and with good reason. They leave the skin smooth and firm. I love that all their products are multi-tasking as they work as a serum, moisturiser, anti-ageing, primer, etc. The great thing is that their packaging looks great as a gift and I believe they offer gift wrapping/boxing with an added cost.



I noticed that they recently changed the packaging of their Day Cream (possibly their Night Cream too). I personally prefer the previous outer packaging (pictured above) which looked and felt more luxurious than the new one. I don't think it matters too much but the glass tubs are the same and the creams now come with a spatula which is great to have.


If you do not want to splash out on the full size but you wanted to still  treat a loved one, I recommend trying out the mini sizes of the Cult 51 Day Cream or Night Cream. I had the Day Cream Mini*//£40 which I completely finished and it prompted me to purchase the full size. It retails for £40 which is reasonable for the amount of product you get.



Jurlique Herbal Recovery Range* // Link  //Set for £89 (Review)
I am a big fan of the Jurlique Herbal Recovery range and I was kindly gifted some products a few months ago. Within the range, you get the Herbal Recovery Advanced Day Cream//£37*, Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum*//£48 and Herbal Recovery Advanced Eye Serum*//£47 . I think this is such an amazing set to gift anyone who loves skincare. I know they have some great Christmas Gift Sets where you get good value for your money. Their skincare is made from pure and natural ingredients infused with herbal plants and homeopathy. I love that they grow their own plants so they have greater control of what goes into each product!!



Murad Skincare Range*//Link // from £35 (Review)
I have also spoken about Murad Skincare here and it is a brand I absolutely love. I am sure everyone must have heard about Murad at some point because they make fantastic skincare products. They also have great Christmas sets where you can make some savings and get good value. I can't choose which products are my favourites because they all work so well. I will highly recommend checking them out especially the City Shield range*which is incredible.




Omorovicza Discovery Set // Link //£59
I am quite new to Omorovicza but I have not been disappointed at all. I got this Discovery Set a little while ago and I think it is really the best way to try the brand. Inside the set, you get a Cleansing Foam, Thermal Cleansing Balm, Deep Cleansing Mask, Balancing Moisturiser and the cult classic Queen of Hungary Mist. These products inside are not sample sizes rather they are generous deluxe sizes (15-30ml) and I think this set is worth the price. The best part was I also got a Gift with Purchase when I got mine and it had other products inside including a gorgeous blue pouch. I think this will make a great gift for anyone because the products inside work for all skin types and I have enjoyed them all.


Eye Cream/Serum
Tired eyes are the bane of my many people's lives and I know many people will appreciate eye care skincare products as gifts. I have tried quite a few eye creams and serums but my favourite ones are what I have included in this post. The first is the Lancome Advanced Genifique Yeux Light Pearl//£47 which is a serum-eye cream hybrid and I absolutely love it. It works a treat at keeping my under eye plump, hydrated and prevents dark circles. It comes in a stunning bottle complete with a dropper/pipette also designed like a pearl. I know Lancome has many gift sets with this product in them. Another favourite is the Institut Esthderm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches* //£53 which has been a life saver especially for days when I feel tired. The box contains 10 pairs of eye patches  which are so refreshing and keep my eyes hydrated. I save them mainly for pamper nights. This will make an incredible gift for anyone.




Fragrances
I have tried so many great fragrances this past year and I have written about them in various posts. I won't go into too much details about all the fragrances because I have full reviews here which I will link on here. Some of these fragrances include Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier* (£42 //Link //review), Lancome La Vie est Belle* (£75 //Link ), etc.  My current favourite fragrance is the Shay & Blue London Scarlet Lily* //£55. Shay & Blue London has been around for a good while and I have tried a few samples here and there. They recently launched some incredible scents and they are the perfect gift this season.



I am absolutely obsessed with the gift packaging as it is very high quality. If I received this for Christmas, I would be over the moon and I know that many people would love to receive this. When this arrived in the post, it indeed felt like Christmas. Scarlet Lily is described as a richly voluptuous floral scent for the 21st Century and I could not have explained that any better. Its  top ingredients include Lotus Blosson, Ariadne Lily, Ylang Ylang and Amber among other great ingredients. You can find out more about the fragrance here.



                                                         Beauty Tools //FOREO
I know I always talk about my FOREO beauty tools and it's just because they have made such a difference to my skin. I have had all these devices for close to two years and I use at least one FOREO product everyday yet they still look as good as new. I have kept all their outer packaging to store them when I move houses and that's why I still have them. I can't imagine anyone not appreciating receiving a FOREO product this Christmas. The great thing is there is something for all budgets. If you are on a strict budget, you can gift the Luna Play*//£29 which is the cutest thing ever. It is not rechargeable but it will last for 100 uses. Mine lasted way more than 100 uses so it is totally worth the price at £29. I believe they are also being sold in gift sets where you get a FOREO Issa,  Day and Night Cleanser. If you have a bit more to spend, I will recommend the Luna Mini 2*//£119  which is my regular one. It comes in different colours and it is the perfect fit for my hand, face and travelling. If you really want to go all out, I will suggest the FOREO Luna 2*//£169 and FOREO IRIS*//£119. I have written about all my FOREO devices over here. 




Body Care- Apple &Bears //Link //£34.95 (Review/Giveaway here)
I already spoke about Apple & Bears in this post so I will try not to be repetitive. The brand makes organic and natural body care products which are really lovely. I have tried their Honey & Hemp Luxury Gift Set and I have to say it is such a great gift for this season. It is well packaged and you don't need to faff around with too much wrapping. I have got a 15% discount code here- "FASHSTYLELIV15" and you can save some money. If you are looking to try it out for yourself, I have a Giveaway going on right now which you can enter here.




                                                           Candles
I think the best season for candles are definitely A/W and Christmas because candles make the house very cosy. For Christmas, candles add an extra festive feel to everything and I know many people will love to unwrap candles for Christmas. I always love Molton Brown candles because they smell so gorgeous and burn evenly as well. I have quite a collection of their candles and they last a good while. I adore their Christmas/Festive Candles which come in beautiful sets like the one above. My current favourite is the Delicious Rhubarb and Rose Candle* //£39 which will make a great gift for women and the Russian Leather Candle* //£45 will be the perfect gift for men. I had to include the Rathbornes Cedar, Cloves and Ambergris Candle* //£32 which is my  perfect festive candle because I always burn it around this season. It is such a lovely candle and will make a great gift for anyone including new home owners.
That's it for this Christmas Gift Guide. I have another one coming up in a few days and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing them up.
*Gifted PR samples + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here