Valentines Day gift guide: Part 1

Some people celebrate Valentine’s day, and others don’t, it is a personal preference. If you are looking to get your special someone a gift, I have put together a few ideas.

Bodycare

mad beauty bath fizzers

Mad beauty bath fizzers

£6.99

www.madbeauty.com

I LOVE Mad beauty, they have such an amazing range of gifts, not just for Valentine’s! The bath fizzers are a great gift, for anyone that loves to pamper themselves (I am a massive bath bomb fan!). I love the packaging for this range as it is multicoloured hearts and it is just such a lovely gift.

ren moroccan rose body wash

Ren Moroccan rose body wash

£32

The Ren moroccan rose range has got to be one of my favourite body ranges out there. I love the scent and have used the body lotion and oil before and just adore them.

Ren have teamed up with McQueens florists for this limited edition body wash. It is a great size(500ml) and I just love the design on the label.

jurlique rose body oil

Jurlique rose body oil
£38

I love the whole of the Jurlique rose range, the formulas, the scent, how gentle it is to your skin and how simple but beautiful the packaging is.

I have used a Jurlique facial oil before to help my acne and really helped. Even though the rose body oil is only 100ml it literally will last forever!

The oil is so luxurious and lovely to use after a relaxing bath, you don’t need to put it all over, you can use it wherever you like and it really is moisturising. It sinks in quickly so doesn’t leave you feeling oily which is a bonus 🙂

Amphora aromatics

Amphora Aromatics – Love it gift box
£11.95

This beautiful set contains a bath oil, massage oil and a body lotion. The bottles are a good size and this is really great value.

The bath oil smells so amazing, it contains lots of great oils that are good for your skin and the bottle contains enough for up to 8 baths. The massage oil can be used either on yourself or your partner and I like that is isn’t too oily if that makes sense. The body lotion is very hydrating and leaves your skin so soft and leaves you smelling divine!

*********************************


Makeup

urban decay vice lipsticks

Urban Decay vice lipsticks

£15 each

www.urbandecay.co.uk

I have been a massive fan of the vice range since it was first released, I have recently added the above three to my collection and wanted to add them into my gift guide as I think they would make great gifts.

The lipsticks are so pigmented and easy to apply, they last ages and come in a range of what seems like a gazillion colours.

From top to bottom:

Tryst

Obsessed

Morning After

I think the names in the range are great too 🙂

blank canvas brushes

Blank Canvas dimension series brushes
www.blankcanvascosmetics.com
Prices range from £6.50 to £14.50

These brushes are every mermaid/unicorn wannabees dream (including mine!). The colour is just beautiful. Why wouldn’t you be attracted to something so shiny and pretty and champagne pink?!

I am lucky to have got my hands on the F08 dome buffing brush and F06 bevelled foundation/contour brush. They are both such great quality and so lovely to use. A good brush really does make a difference and to your make up routine.

*********************************

Perfume

how to marry a millionaire perfume

How to marry a millionaire perfume
£20
Can be purchased from most major perfume retailers.

One of the coolest perfume bottles I have a seen, a massive diamond ring!
This perfume is inspired by the film starring Marilyn Monroe and smells really sweet.

*********************************

Skincare

Jurlique rose moisturising cream mask

Jurlique rose moisturising cream mask
£32.50

I have used the rose water balancing mist and face cream before so to add this cream mask into my beauty regime was really exciting. You can either use it as a mask for ten minutes or if your skin really needs saving, you can leave it on overnight.

It has so many great natural ingredients in and leaves your skin super hydrated and looking fresh and far more awake!

*********************************


Nail/Handcare

deborah lippmann nail set

Deborah Lippmann nail varnish set
£28
Available from February 2017 online at Harrods / Lookfantastic / Feelunique / Selfridges

This set contains 6 beautiful rosy nudes and wold be great for any nail polish fan or even someone that prefers natural looking nails as the colours are all very neutral.

I have always been a fan of this brand as they are easy to apply and seem to last ages. The packaging is gorgeous and I just love the names of them: life is rosy, the look of love and a trail of petals to name a few.

mad beauty hand cream

Mad beauty hand cream

£4.99

www.madbeauty.com

Another one from mad beauty.  This hand cream is also within the same eye catching packaging. It is the perfect size tube to carry around with you and I mean, you can’t have enough hand cream can you?!

Jurlique rose hand cream

Jurlique rose hand cream
£18

I have been using Jurlique hand creams for a few years now, a couple of Christmas’s ago I got a set of four different scents and instantly fell in love. Keeping in the theme of rose I wanted to include the rose hand cream.

This hand cream is the perfect size to carry around with you and with its non greasy formula and beautiful scent you can use it whenever you are in need. Particularly with the cold weather here at the moment hand creams have been a massive savour for me.

Crabtree & Evelyn - hand therapy

Crabtree & Evelyn – hand therapy
£6

I love their range of hand creams.  At only £6 each they are great value and the perfect size to leave in your desk, bag, car, pocket, wherever you may need one. They come in such a variety of scents and would make the perfect gift for any women(or man!).

They smell great and soak in quickly, what more would you want from a hand cream?!

the english soap company

For the one I love soap

£4.95

www.theenglishsoapcompany.com

As I have mentioned before, I love a good bar of soap. A great smelling soap is pretty good gift for anyone at any age.

I love the quality and luxuriousness of the soaps from The English Soap Company, you can really tell they take pride in their products and have put a lot of effort into the scents and delicate packaging.


*********************************

Haircare

Crazy Color conditioner for coloured hair

Crazy Color conditioner for coloured hair
£4.95

Products like this are a godsend for coloured hair. I have previously used the shampoo in this range for red hair but now my hair is multicoloured I cant use a specific colour product, so this is meant for any colour 🙂

This would be the perfect gift if your loved one has coloured hair!

Osmo matt salt spray

Osmo matt salt spray
£8.99 in Sallys

This salt spray is great to use to get the beach wave look. This is a great gift for male or female that loves their hair and likes to style it.

It is easy to use and you don’t need much, meaning the spray will last a long time!

*********************************

I hope I have inspired you with some of my gift selections 🙂

Keep your eye out for Part 2 tomorrow 🙂

Sarah x


       

Christmas Gift Guide 3 of 8: Make Up

This year I have put together a Christmas gift guide, they could be presents for a family member, a friend or even a treat for yourself!

I have put them into categories the best I can and I have put very short reviews on each product. If you want to know more about any of the products tweet me @sarahtrademark and we can have a chat 🙂


Make up


Disney Alice Make Up Palette

Disney Alice Make Up Palette

Disney Alice Make Up Palette

£7.99

This palette is part of the new Disney range for Mad Beauty. It contains some beautiful brown/gold shades as well as a highlighter and would be great for any make up/Disney lover! It comes with two applicators and is great value for money. 


Earthnicity Tinted Moisturiser

Earthnicity Tinted Moisturiser

£27.50

This tinted moisturiser is mineral based, it is better for your skin than a normal liquid foundation as it is not so heavy. It applies really evenly and smoothly to create a fresh base, without having to wear too much make up.

Earthnicity

Earthnicity

Mineral Foundation

Shades Porcelain/Biscuit

£16.99 each

Mineral Blush

Shade Glamour

£10.99

Mineral Bronzer

Shade Bronze Shimmer

£13.99

Mineral Finishing Powder

Shade Light

£14.99

Mineral Concealer

Shade Ivory

£10.99

Kabuki Brush

£11.99

I love this brand so much right now, the products come in so many shades and I have been using mineral foundation for a while now rather than a liquid full coverage. I find the powders quite pigmented and you can layer them to create the perfect flawless look.

This would be great for anyone that has not tried mineral foundation before and the ‘Starter Kits‘ are really good value!


Jurlique Lip Trio

Jurlique Lip Trio

£26

This set contains:

Rose Love Balm

Hydra Gloss I’m Blushing

Hydra Gloss I’m Neutral

The balm is very hydrating and easy to wear as an everyday product. It is also great as there are two different shades of the gloss included, so depending on your mood you can pick one to suit.

Glitter Lips

Glitter Lips

£12.50

These are pretty cool. You get the glitter bond and the loose glitter to create an amazing sparkly lip that can last up to 8 hours. They last through eating and drinking and something like this can be suitable for such a varied age range! There is a good choice of colours in the range.

Burts Bees Lip Gloss

Burts Bees Lip Gloss

£8.99

These come in a wide variety of colours, aren’t sticky and are natural. What more could you want from a lip gloss?! In this range you will find one to suit everyone and any make up lover knows the pain of sticky lip gloss and will fall in love with these. The pigment is very good in these too.

Fab Brows Contour Kit

Fab Brows Contour Kit

Fab Brows Contour Kit

£20

I have tried several contour kits, still not really got the hang of it, but this one is by far the best if you are still trying to master the contour look. The shades work well together and the brush is really easy to use, you can’t really go wrong! After using this I had a very healthy natural looking glow.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Palette

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Palette

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Palette

£30

Everyone loves a good eyeshadow palette, to create the perfect smoky eye you need browns/black and often some lighter shades, this has them all. The shades are highly pigmented and the mirror is an ideal size.

Beautiful Brows Set

Beautiful Brows Set
£30

This brow kit helps you create the perfect eyebrow. It comes in various shades and each kit contains:
Eyebrow powder
Three eyebrow shapes
Duo applicator brush
Eyebrow highlighter
Highlighter brush
Soft grip tweezers
Magnifying mirror

It literally contains everything you will need and as there are three different shapes you can pick the best one to suit your face. Some days I prefer a thinner brow and others I want them really thick so it is great you can mix it up a bit.

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics
£38.50

This all matte palette is great for any UD fan. Their naked palettes have always been popular and always contain a great selection of colours. It contains 12 shades that are all new and exclusive to this set and it also has a great brush. It is a must have for any make up fan.

The eyeshadows are highly pigmented and easy to apply, either with the brush provided or with your finger. I love the variety of shades and it can be used to create a really great smokey eye.

Film noir nights

Film noir nights

Charlotte Tilbury
Film noir nights
£35

This kit is great value for money when it comes to a luxury brand. It contains a lipstick and eyeliner in the cute light up box and the lipsticks are usually £23 each and the eyeliners are £19 each. The packaging is so luxurious and I just love the design of the lipsticks. Her products are always a big thumbs up with me! The lipsticks are really pigmented and a great non drying formula and the eyeliners are always so nice and just glide on.

Sarah x


       

Urban decay vice lipsticks

Urban Decay have recently released the Vice lipstick range featuring 100 shades, yes ONE HUNDRED. Imagine owning all of those! They come in 6 different finishes.

I have managed to get my hands on 5 of the most popular shades to show you.

Urban decay vice lipsticks

From left to right:

714, Pandemonium, Big bang, Firebird, Backtalk

Urban decay vice lipsticks

Urban decay vice lipsticks

714

This shade is in Mega matte

It is a very bright red with a matte finish and it really stands out. In my opinion every girl needs at least one red lipstick and I think red suits everyone!


Urban decay vice lipsticks

Pandemonium

This shade is in Mega matte

This is another matte one from the range, it is a very bright purple and I love it, I used to have my hair this colour! Purple is a colour not everyone would wear but it certainly will attract attention 😉 Not to sure if it clashes with my blue hair?!


Urban decay vice lipsticks

Big bang

This shade is in Metallized

This shad is just WOW, I love it. It is pink and glittery metallic and when I wear it I feel like Barbie! It is such a girly glitzy shade and I love this finish, I am definitely going to look at more of the metallized range!


Urban decay vice lipsticks

Firebird 

This shade is in Cream

This is a lovely deep pink shade and it appears very creamy. I really like the colour of this and would like to maybe try one a bit deeper too!


Urban decay vice lipsticks

Backtalk

This shade is in Comfort matte

It is a great pinky nude colour. Everyone needs a good nude lipstick. I find with nude ones I tend to sway more towards to pink nudes rather than the brown nudes so this one is spot on!


I have always been a big fan of Urban Decay and all of the lipsticks in this range and great to apply and don’t dry out your lips at all. They are long lasting and well worth the money 🙂

Sarah x


       

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2015 : MAKE UP

Make up



The Swag Bag

Small £9.99

Big £12.99

I was looking for a new make up bag to carry round in my handbag and this one caught my eye. They do lots of different bags, all different designs and slogans and also in a variety of sizes. This one is perfect for everyday use to carry round my essentials in my handbag.

****************************************

Urban decay vice 4

£43

I have only ever used the Naked palettes before so this was a pleasant change. The Vice 4 comes inside an eye catching bag and the packaging is multicoloured to match the eyeshadow shades. Since changing my hair to a crazy unicorn/mermaid combo this will come in handy so I can make my eyes more colourful too! The shades are highly pigmented and its worth investing in a more expensive palette like this as you cant really match the quality of Urban Decay eyeshadows.

****************************************

Dr paw paw – tinted peach pink balm

£6.95

I am a massive Dr Paw Paw fan, I reviewed the red one over a year ago here. I also love the original but this was my first time trying the peach. It is a great lip balm and really does make your lips super soft whilst adding a hint of colour. The original one can also be used as a multi purpose balm as it is not tinted 🙂

****************************************

Charlotte Tilbury colour morphing eyeshadow pencil

Mesmerising mink

£19

Charlotte Tilbury is one of those brands that everyone now loves, I hadn’t heard of them until this year but they do some great products. The colour chameleon eye pencils adapt with your eye colour and compliment your eyes. There are different shades depending on your eyes. I have blue eyes so the shade that was recommended for me is mesmerising mink, it really helps your blue eyes to stand out. I would love to know if anyone else has used these? The creamy texture is easy to apply and the product is long lasting 😉

****************************************

China glaze mini mixers 

£14.99

I adore nail products and Christmas is the best time to get hold of limited edition sets and also minis like this. It is a fab way to try lots of new shades as I hate paying for a full size nail polish and then realise I don’t actually like it once I have put it on. This set has 6 colours, a mixture of glittery, matte and shimmery. This set is from Sally’s and they often have the small gift sets on 3 for 2 nearer to Christmas so I would recommend going in store to have a look.

****************************************

I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope it has helped to inspire you for gift ideas!

Sarah x

       

Please note the items featured are a mixture of things I have purchased myself, things I have won(I enter lots of competitions!) and PR samples.