Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar 2015

If you follow me on Instagram then you might have seen my daily posts from my L'Occitane and Marks and Spencer Advent Calendars.  If you didn't then you are in for a treat because I am going to share all of the contents of the 

Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar with you now and then L'Occitane in its own post too.

There had been quite a lot of excitement surrounding the Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar and I was one of the lucky one to get it for £25 as I had re-ordered some Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner. I was surprised at how heavy the advent calendar was but it is made so well, that my intention is to keep the box and make my own advent calendar for someone in 2016.  

Inside the box are 24 individual numbered boxes and then inside each box was a product that can be found on sale in Marks and Spencer, naturally it is all beauty and there is a wide variety of items to be found.

So as you can see there are some really good products here and this is what I found and when:

Day One - Philip Kingsley Geranium and Neroli Elasticizer 

Day Two - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Day Three - Cowshed Grumpy Cow Uplifting Body Lotion

Day Four - Pur Minerals Volume Vixen Mascara

Day Five - Leighton Denny Renovate nail repair cream

Day Six - Rosie for Autograph Nuit Perfume

Day Seven - Rituals Organic Rice Milk and Cherry Blossom Shower Gel

Day Eight - Pure Super Grape Day Cream

Day Nine - Filorga Time Filler Absolute Wrinkle correction cream

Day Ten - Neal's Yard Frankincense Nourishing Cream

Day Eleven - Josh Wood Full Bodied Shampoo

Day Twelve - Diego Dalla Palma Lipstick in shade 46 Antique Rose

Day Thirteen - Mio Skincare Liquid Yoga Restorative Bath Soak

Day Fourteen - Percy and Reed Volumising No Oil, Oil

Day Fifteen - Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand and Nail Cream

Day Sixteen - Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel

Day Seventeen - Swell Hair Ultimate Volume Mask

Day Eighteen - Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Bar of Soap

Day Nineteen - Autograph Lip Crayon in Nude

Day Twenty - L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel

Day Twenty One - Pixi Glow Tonic

Day Twenty Two - Ren skincae Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

Day Twenty Three - Stila Lip Glaze in shade Sugar Plum

Day Twenty Four - Morgan Taylor Nail Polish in shade Pretty Woman

For a very first advent calendar, I actually think Marks and Spencer have smashed it.  Not only was it such great value for money, but there are so many amazing brands and products inside making it well worth the £25 it cost and one to hope for in 2016.

What do you think to this Advent Calendar?

Sleek Makeup 24k Gold collection review

Sleek’s new launches arrived in time for CHRISTMAS and for party season. The collection is called 24K gold and it is all about metallic finishes, glitter and shine. The collection itself features just two palettes and some lipglosses and all of them are just stunning. 

I am a huge fan of Sleek products, not only is it an affordable and amazing value for money brand, these palettes, with their new design fits the brand name Sleek really well, because they are just that - Sleek. 

The Gold Standard i-Lust Palette features a collection of six shades, four silky shimmer powders and two rich cream formulas. If like me you find yourself in the comfort of nudes and neutrals but want a little something more, then this palette will have something for you.  With shades that have been inspired by a famous fashion designer such as Coco, Vera and Louis to name but a few, you have everything you need from the soft champagne to the richness of copper and bronze! As you can see the formulas are both rich and pigmented and all for just £7.49.

The Midas Touch highlight palette is the one which really caught my interest. With a palette comprising of three baked powders and one luxurious cream formula, they are all pigmented and cool toned and one shade is most definitely attention catching, but it isn't as scary as it looks and is one which needs to be used with a slight touch or you might just turn into Elsa from Frozen. That shade is Rhinestone which is used to lift the brow and can be used on the cheekbone.  Tanzanite which is the light shade is said to help highlight the eyes. Solitare which is the pink toned shade is used to add shimmer to the cheekbones and finally Cubic Zirconia is used to enhance the lips by highlighting the cupids bow.  The palette costs just £10.

The final items within the collection are these three lip glosses which are called Money Talks – gold; Uptown Girl – Pink and finally Private Jet which is a nice shade of red. When used they are all are quite sheer but have a really nice shine to finish off the look and are not overly sticky, a pet hate of mine with lipgloss. As you might also expect, there are flecks of glitter within each one of them, so these glosses are perfect to be worn on their own or over your favourite lipstick are they are so reasonably priced at just £5 each.

I think this is a great little collection for the party season and there is definitely something for everyone, whether that is your nudes, your glosses or something funky with a highlighter. The 24K Gold collection can be found on Sleek counters at Boots and Superdrug, plus online via their websites.

What do you think to the new products from Sleek?

Products to help you De-Stress

The festive Season is one of the most stressful times of the year and stress can lead to all kinds of other issues such as insomnia, a lot of shouting and swearing not to mention being overwhelmed. Presents to buy, cakes to make, cards to write, cellotape to find, the last date of posting to remember, the Turkey needs ordering and that is before table plans are even argued over. Then the Boxing Day sales, do I need it do I not need it. Then New Year will be upon us all and the big dilemma of going out or staying in, setting New Years Resolutions and the stress of sticking to them. So before you spontaneously combust, stop, take a breath and relax for just a few minutes.  

If you still frantic and frazzled, short on sleep and temper then I might just have something to make you feel more human and less like ripping someones head off.

Scentered Balms - I came across this brand through You Beauty Discovery Beauty Box which I get monthly and I am always wary of products that claim to be 100% natural but can also help me feel less stressed and also help me sleep, but these balms are brilliant and portable, so you can chuck one in your handbag and use as you need too.

These rich, nourishing balms have been carefully formulated with a blend of moringa and shea butters to ensure a non-greasy finish on the skin and long lasting fragrance delivery.

Sleep Well Therapy Balm is scented with Palmarosa, Lavender and Ylang Ylang all of which work together to help to clear the head, quieten the mind and relax the body.

Stress Less Therapy Balm is scented with Chamomile, Neroli and Mandarin which make for one amazing uplifting and feel good scent which eases everyday tensions, soothes the mind and lifts the spirits.

To use these balms you simply stop what you are doing, take a deep breath, apply the balm to your pulse points, inhale deeply and then continue with your day or night.  More information on Scentered Balms can be found here.

This Works Deep Sleep Range - I have been a huge fan of this range for a good few years now and swear by it if I need sleep so badly that suitcases form under my eyes.

Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is infused with essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile to soothe the body and mind. Designed to be spritzed on to your pillow. I tend to spray my pillow before I begin my 'getting ready for bed' routine which gives the fragrance a chance to dissipate and work its way onto the bed linen, ready to send me off, which it does, to the land of nod.

Deep Sleep Stress Less is infused with refreshing Eucalyptus cleanses, invigorates and helps to counter physical and mental fatigue. Frankincense essential oil acts as an antiseptic to help fight infections and to help you relax physically and mentally whilst rejuvenating the skin. Lavender Oil is the most effective oil in helping hypertension, nervous tension and insomnia. Designed in a rollerball style to make applying to your pulse points a much easier task.

Alongside having a nice long hot bath with bubbles, a cup of tea and a good book, I have found all of these work for me when I am in need of some down time.

What do you use to de-stress?

You Are NOT Alone

Source

So this is my last post for the next couple of days as it is Christmas Eve. A time for joy, family and happiness.

Sadly, not everyone experiences this at Christmas and for some, this time can be a dark and lonely time or a time when emotions such as depression can be heightened.

You may be one of those people. You may have come across this blog post by chance, or someone may have forwarded it to you to read.

Consider it fate.

I don't want you to feel alone this Christmas.

I don't want you to feel depressed or lonely.

If you feel that you have hit rock bottom and you feel empty inside, If you can see the lights twinkling in other peoples windows, hear the laughter of your neighbours and yet you experience no joy, as if the world is a dark place in which you see no place for yourself any more.

Or if you feel that you are ready to make a change.

I want you to pick up the phone......................

MIND
Website www.mind.org.uk
Tel No 0300 123 3393

Samaritans
Website www.samaritans.org
Tel No 116 123

Alcoholics Anonymous
Website www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Tel No 0800 9177650

Stonewall
Website www.stonewall.org.uk
Info line 08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
Tel No 0207 837 7324

SANELine
Website www.sane.org.uk
Tel No 0300 304 7000

Papyrus, Prevention of young suicide
Website www.papyrus-uk.org

National self-help body for the Transgender community
Beaumont Society
Website http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
Information Line 01582 412220

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Depression Alliance
Website www.depressionalliance.org

Refuge
Website www.refuge.org.uk
Tel No 0808 2000 247

Beat
Beating eating disorders.
Website https://www.b-eat.co.uk
Help line 0345 634 1414
Youth Line 0345 634 7650

Shelter
Website www.shelter.org.uk
Tel No 0808 800 4444

NHS Direct
Tel No 1111

No Panic
Website http://www.nopanic.org.uk
Tel No 0844 967 4848
Youth helpline 01753 840393

If you need someone, please call one of these numbers. You are NOT alone over Christmas, there are people out there that care, I care. 

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I would also love to thank Kellie over at Big Fashionista for allowing me to use this post, it is so important.