Paul & Joe Beauty Christmas Collection 2015

I was kindly invited to the Paul and Joe Beaute Store* to preview their Christmas Collection back in November and it was such an amazing collection. First off, Paul & Joe beaute products have one of the best packaging I have ever seen. They remind me of very beautiful Asian  makeup packaging with a Western Twist to it  and I think that’s exactly what they were hoping to capture (they absolutely nailed it, if you ask me). I have never really had a chance to try out any of their products until last month and I am seriously impressed. To be honest, they are so pretty that you never want to use them. I just want to stare at them and admire them but alas! I have used the ones I own and I can tell you they are amazing.

Brief overview of Paul & Joe Beaute

Paul & Joe was founded by Sophie Mechaly (formerly known as Sophie Albou) in Paris around 1995. The brand started out as a fashion house specialising in men’s wear before launching a women’s wear range. If you are curious about the name Paul & Joe (like me), you would be pleased to know it was named after Sophie’s two sons which is so lovely. In 2001, Paul & Joe Beaute was launched and as they say, the rest is history. Paul & Joe currently has over 30 shops worldwide in many cities including New York, London, Paris and Tokyo. One striking thing about the Paul & Joe Beaute is their amazing packaging like seriously, one would hardly ever want to use them because they are super cute. The packaging has an Asian and Western vibe to it and I love it!! According to the Paul & Joe Beaute Website, their Beauty range is all about high quality formulas with particular attention to detail to the packaging so much so that they are immediately recognizable. I absolutely agree with this as I can tell a Paul & Joe packaging even if it has no label on it because they really stand out. The interesting thing is that they have incorporated cat designs (cat ladies & men would love this) into some of their products and packaging which is so cute as Sophie loves cats.

The Event Details

The event took place in the Paul & Joe Boutique in Brompton Road London and it was my first time in this particular Paul & Joe boutique. It is a really beautiful store in a choice location which I always love. The beauty range was well arranged in the store and they looked stunning. I was welcomed by the lovely representatives of Paul & Joe Beaute as well as their PR Company.  There were some lovely drinks and nibbles while we waited for the presentation. I really enjoyed listening to the presentation of their Christmas Collection as I also learnt more about the brand. I also learned a few tips about putting on makeup which I knew but hearing the reasons behind these tips was refreshing. For example, you should not apply the same layer of foundation around the face as the skin on the face has different depths to it. Areas around the eye and forehead have a lighter layer of skin compared to the cheeks so you should use a super light concealer/foundation and a light hand. Anything heavy would result in creasing because the skin can't take it. I also learnt that steam really helps refresh makeup and prevents the infamous cake face. Apparently, this is the method used during film production so the actresses look fresh always.  Lastly,  your makeup (especially foundation) usually looks the best after 20-30 minutes (following application) as that's when the skin's natural oils seep through and gives it a more realistic look. Amazing,  isn't it?

The Paul & Joe Beaute Christmas Collection 2015

The Paul & Joe Christmas 2015 Collection is themed “Masked Ball Beauty (Le Bal Masque) which I am totally loving as it’s very different from the traditional Christmas theme. As you would have guessed, it features a masked lady wearing a mask that is cat eye shaped. The Paul & Joe Masked Ball Collection consists of  the following products- Satin Pouch (with the masked lady), Creamy Cheek Colour, Waterproof Eyeliner, Eye Colour (sheets of powder eyeshadow) and Rose Treatment Balm. The entire collection retails for £35 which is a really amazing value as you get good value for money. I was well intrigued by the Eye Colour which is essential 5 sheets of Powder Eye shadows housed in a pretty striped paper case/packaging. I tested a few of the eyeshadows and I can tell you they are pretty pigmented (more than some of the other eye shadows I tested). I was seriously impressed! It would be perfect for travelling or on the go although I still do prefer having eye shadows in a palette. However, I am very impressed by this innovation and who knows, it may be a trend soon.

Other Paul & Joe Beaute Collections and Products

We were also shown the rest of their swoon worthy collection including their lipsticks, primers, foundations, powders, etc. All of them looked exceptionally stunning and I was really surprised at how much attention was paid to every single detail. I even had a chance to play with their refillable lipstick which is something that I need in my collection. While I don’t think their foundations may suit darker skin tones, the rest of the products in the range are pretty universal and I am pleased about that. Their lipstick range has so many interesting colours that I know many people would love. 

I also had a peek at their body care range which featured bath salts, shower gels and body creams which were in equally stunning packaging. I just love pretty things and being surrounded by all this Paul & Joe Beaute products made me slightly giddy with excitement that I snapped, snapped and snapped away. I do hope you enjoy these pictures. Soon, it was time to go and I was kindly gifted the Paul & Joe Beaute Luxurious Body Care Collection* which I love so much as it’s perfect for a pamper day. I was also gifted this beautiful Masked Ball Theme notebook which I am saving as my Blogging Notebook for next year. You can find Paul & Joe Beaute on their Website, Selfridges, Beauty Bay and ASOS (which have loads of discounts). I had an amazing time as you can guess and I got to meet the lovely Laura from Laurzrah Blog (you should check her out she is amazing). A big thank you to Paul & Joe Beaute and Dowal Walker PR for inviting me. Have you tried any product from Paul & Joe Beaute?

*Gifted PR Sample, read my full disclaimer here

Christmas Stocking Fillers (£20 and under)

So we are here at my final instalment of my Christmas Gift Guides. I decided that doing an under £20 and Stocking Fillers edition was one that many people would like. To be honest this year, I don't think I would be getting any Christmas Gifts because I have received a lot of amazing products (some of which I am currently giving away) from various brands. I can't think of anything else I want and as I grow older, I get so much more happiness giving to other people. Their smiles and happiness mean a lot to me and that's the beauty of Christmas. If you are on a tight budget or want to add some stocking fillers to your gifts, I have a few products I hope you find useful. Majority of these products are £20 and under. I have a few which are £22 and £32 but they are such absolutely amazing value that it would have been a crime not to include them. You can check out my Christmas Gift Guides (Part 1), Christmas Gift Guides (Part 2), Fake Bake Beauty Christmas Collection, Molton Brown Christmas Collection and The Body Shop Christmas Collection.

Stunning Eyeshadow Palettes// from £7.49
Now, this is where things get very exciting. I am a total eyeshadow palette junkie and magpie. I absolutely love them and I have built quite a little collection. Nevertheless, I am always open to adding more to my collection. There are three eyeshadow palettes that have stood out for me this season and I can't think of any makeup lover who would not want to add them to their collection. The first is the Sleek iLust Eyeshadow Palette from their Gold standard edition which I love. You get two cream shadows and four powder eyeshadows. As expected from Sleek, the palette is amazingly pigmented especially for just £7.49. The next palette which is more for someone who prefers a subtle smoky eye is the L'Oreal La Palette Smoky which I purchased as soon as I got wind of its release. It's more on the pricey side of drug store eyeshadows at £14.99 , however, there are always numerous deals and I have actually never paid full price alone for any of these L'Oreal eyeshadow palettes I own. They are perfect for beginners because they are not too pigmented but they have a nice amount in them that can be built up. Last but not least is the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette which has risen to become one of my favourite eyeshadow palettes and I cannot even believe it's only £15.50. The eyeshadows are well pigmented with minimal fallouts and creasing. I can't fault it and I think it will make an amazing gift or stocking filler for a makeup obsessed loved one.





Body Shop Fragrances// from £8.50
I love Body Shop a lot and I am really loving all the improvements they have made to their packaging this year. They also have a wide range of Christmas Crackers under £20 plus their ever generous discounts. However,  I picked out some fragrances which smell amazing. The first two are from their limited edition Christmas range which they release every year. My favourite are the Frosted Plum Mist* and the Glazed Apple.  They only cost £8.50 each but you know Body Shop constantly has a lot of offers so you never really have to pay full price for many things. They would make such stunning gifts and I don't think they need to be wrapped. They are quite heavy so they may not be best for hanging on Christmas Trees although they do look like Christmas Baubles. Another perfect affordable gift is the Black Musk EDT* which smells so sexy and it costs only £18 for 60 ml. If you/loved ones are not into sweet fragrances such as the mists, you should definitely look to try this Black Musk. I love everything about it down to the bottle and it is perfect for A/W.

Yardley London English Bluebell Fragrance // Link //£9.99 (currently £6.66 in Boots)

Yardley London revamped their brand this year and I am loving the new package. The English Bluebell is one of my favourite fragrances from the range because it is a very feminine fragrance. I know it is A/W season and people prefer to opt for heavier fragrances but I like to mix things up a bit and use fragrances based on my mood. I think this Yardley London offering will make an amazing inexpensive gift or stocking filler for a loved one. It is my hand bag perfume because it makes me feel really fresh all day (I do have to reapply) which I don’t mind at all. It smells great and I think it lasts really well for an EDT. It comes in 50 ml and 125 ml which are all affordable as well.

Fake Bake Beauty Christmas Collection*// Link// from £10
I already wrote a separate post on Christmas with Fake Bake Beauty which you can find here. All these products were featured in that post so I won't repeat myself too much. My favourite collection is definitely the Cashmere Me Collection which is so perfect for a chilled evening. The good thing is they are all under £20. The Room Spray is such an amazing value for £14 for the quality you get. The Candle (which I have already burnt almost half way) is so perfect for a relaxed evening or pamper session. It would make a beautiful inexpensive gift. If your loved one prefers makeup, Fake Bake Beauty have their limited edition Glitterbomb collection which is made up of Glitter Eyeliners and Glitter Nail Polishes. There are three of each item in the bauble and they cost £10. You can't argue with that at all. For £20 a pop, you could also get either the Be-jewelled Lip Palette (amazing colours) and the Semi- Precious Eyeshadow Palette.

Roger & Gallet Christmas Crackers*// Link //£6

Isn’t this one of the cutest Christmas Crackers? I am a big fan of Roger & Gallet and I love how amazing their fragrances are. This festive season they have these affordable beautiful Hand Cream Christmas Crackers in three fragrances including Bois d’Orange, Fleur de Figuier and Fleur d’Osmanthus. I have the Bois d’Orange fragrance  which has a beautiful citrus fragrance. I seriously can’t go anywhere without a hand cream because my hands get ridiculously dry especially this season. I really like it because it smells amazing, fits well into my tiny clutch and does a good job at keeping my hands moisturised. It also comes with a tiny perfume sample of the same fragrance which is a really nice addition. It will make a perfect stocking filler for anyone. I am pretty sure many people will appreciate hand creams at this time of the year and a cute one makes it even extra special. If you have some extra cash, you can always get the Gingembre Rouge Fragrance which is affordable at £17 (for 30 ml) and smells too gorgeous for words.

Grown Alchemist Vanilla and Orange Peel Hand Cream*// Link //£9 and £14
I was delighted to find this beautiful hand cream in a goody bag of an event I attended back in October. I have always wanted to try something from Grown Alchemist because I have heard so many good things about the brand. I am so glad it is now easy to find here in the UK with various retailers including Escentual, Cult Beauty, John Lewis, Feel Unique, Space NK, etc Again, I love the elegant packaging and I find that anything monochrome always looks so beautiful. I have already used this hand cream for a little bit and I love it because it strangely reminds me of Christmas. It smells exactly as the name suggests- Orange and Vanilla and it does an amazing job at keeping my hands moisturised this season. It would make an amazing stocking filler for a loved one (both male and female).

Balance Me Heavenly Hands Duo*// Link // £10

I already featured this duo in my previous Christmas Gift Guide (Part 1) and it  is back again because I think it is really good value. The Balance Me Hand Duo contains two hand creams which I love- Super Moisturising Hand Cream and the Rose Otto Hand Cream. I particularly like gifts that don’t need too much fancy wrapping and this makes an amazing stocking filler. Of course you can tie a bow around it to make it look prettier. You can see I am a bit crazy about Hand Creams and I own quite a lot because I use them often. I am sure many people love hand creams so this is a much needed gift. It’s also a good way to get to try products from Balance Me which are at least 90% of natural origin.

Molton Brown Christmas Crackers*// Link // £20
I already featured these crackers in my Christmas with Molton Brown post so I won't waffle too much. This is hands down the best value gift in my opinion. The packaging alone is absolutely exquisite and the contents are so worth it. There are two versions- The Fiery Pepper Cracker for Women and the Re-charge for Men. I already bought an extra one for my sister because I know she would love it. It's also an amazing way to try out Molton Brown. The only bad thing is you would always be hooked. I am not even going to recant how much money I have spent on Molton Brown already especially towards the end of the year. If you are not willing to spend £20, you can purchase one of their Christmas Baubles which are also exquisitely packaged. You also get a good amount of product in it and if you are lucky to meet an illustrator, you can get your name or loved one's name inscribed on it like mine!!

Diptyque Mini Candle in Tubereuse //Link //£20
This is also my first Diptyque Candle and I am absolutely in love with it. It costs exactly £20 for 70g which may seem a little expensive but Diptyque candles are treats. I chose the scent Tubeuruse because I think that's one of  my favourite scents and I can tell you this candle smells amazing. First off, Diptyque candle packaging combines simplicity with elegance and that's one of the reasons why I was drawn to this candle. It would make an amazing gift or stocking filler for any candle obsessed person. I don't think it needs to be exquisitely wrapped as the packaging is already cute. All you need is a nice black bow or ribbon and you are done. Next time, you are in Space NK, have a little sniff and I promise you, it will be coming home with you.



Jo Malone Mini Candle in Red Roses// Link //£22
I can't remember how long ago it has been since I have been wanting to try a Jo Malone Candle. I am already a huge fan of Jo Malone fragrances and I have built up quite a little collection which you can find here. One day, I decided to treat myself to this mini candle as a reward for writing 9 exams since September. It is always good to give yourself a little reward every now and then. I have not burnt this one yet but it looks and smells amazing. It costs £22 which is £2 more expensive but the amazing packaging is out of this world. It also comes with the cute Jo Malone matches and I can't think of anyone not being very impressed with this candle and the packaging. It is simply amazing!!





Laura Geller Sweetest Thing Gift Set* //Link //£32
I know what you are thinking when you scanned the price of this -£32!! I know I said everything in this post cost £20 or below but hear me out. With the Laura Geller Sweetest Thing Gift set, you get so much value for what you pay and I think it will make an amazing present (or stocking filler if you have more money to spare). Inside the Gift Set, you get six full size products including the Baked Blush-N-Brighten in Pink Buttercream, Baked Balance–N-Brighten Foundation in Medium, Baked Highlighter in Golden Rose, Baked Eyeshadow Duo in Opal & Violet, the Color drenched Lipgloss in Pink Lemonade and a Double Ended Brush. See what I am saying? I would be reviewing this product in a separate post but I am well impressed.


Overall Thoughts
This post completes my Christmas Gift Guide Posts. I hope you have enjoyed this series and I really enjoyed doing them. I am awaiting one more product so I can complete my Giveaway for you lot which I am planning so keep your eyes peeled.  I hope you have an amazing Christmas ahead. Of course, I have more posts coming up so do stay tuned. Thank you for your amazing support!! What's your favourite Christmas Stocking Filler/Cracker?
*Gifted PR Samples + Affiliate Links, read my full disclaimer here.