L'Occitane Classic Advent Calendar

When it comes to Advent Calendars for Christmas, without question L'Occitane have always got a little gem of an offering up their sleeve. This year there is not one but two offerings to be had and honestly, they are both so beautiful, it is hard not to choose a favourite.

Illustrating this year’s Classic Beauty Advent Calendar for L'Occitane is French fashion house Castelbajac Paris. It is said that when L’Occitane’s ethical and sustainable commitments meet the bright, bold and colourful world of Castelbajac, the result is a happy and poetic expression, beautifully translated in this calendar.

Bright as it is bold, hidden behind every one of the 24 doors on this advent calendar is a bestselling product from L’Occitane and it is made up of a mixture of fragrance, skincare, body and hair care. Opening up as though it is a hamper, this is what you will find inside - word of warning, this post will detail each product that you will find behind the doors.

Inside the Calendar you will find:

• Almond Shower Oil, 35ml  - This is my absolute favourite product from L'Occitane and the mister and I go through so many refills of this every single year. It smells amazing and is perfect for moisturising and nourishing the skin.
• Shea Butter Shower Cream, 30ml - Another incredibly moisturising shower product from L'Occitane and again if you like Shea Butter products, then this is worth trying.
• Verbena Body Lotion, 30ml - This is a zingy scented body lotion which leaves the skin lightly scented with the fragrance whilst being soft and smooth.
• Verbena Leaf Soap, 25g - As with the Body Lotion, this soap is delightfully zingy and creates a beautifully scented lather.
• Shea Butter Body Lotion, 30ml - Rich in Shea Butter, this body lotion is amazing if your skin needs some TLC and it also smells just heavenly too.
• Cherry Blossom Shower Gel, 35ml - As a foaming bath, this gel transforms into a creamy, abundant mousse when it comes into contact with water and in doing so, there is a delicate Cherry Blossom scent that is released.
• Citrus Verbena Shower Gel, 30ml - If you need a sharp wake up call in the morning then this is the shower gel for you. It is Zingy but fresh scented.
• Shea Butter Hand Cream, 10ml - One of my favourite L'Occitane hand creams and my go to when my hands are really dry and chapped. It is packed full of Shea Butter which is deeply nourishing and moisturising.
• Shea Butter Foot Cream, 10ml - As with the hand cream, this foot cream is an amazing treatment for the feet and if my feet need a little extra TLC, I slather it on, put some socks and allow the cream to work its magic.
• Peony Hand Cream, 10ml - If you love the scent of Peonies, then this is the hand cream for you because it smells as fresh as a bunch of freshly picked flowers and is delightful for the hands.
• Aromachologie Shampoo, 35ml and Aromachologie Conditioner, 35ml. This range is silicone free and both the shampoo and conditioner work together to help repair, strengthen and protect dry and damaged hair. Using oat amino acid to repair, restructure and improve the hair fibre condition, alongside a patented anti-breakage complex of five essential oils (angelica, ylang-ylang, sweet orange, lavender and geranium) with provitamin B5, and sunflower oil, which works to protect and give softness and suppleness to the hair.
• Almond Delicious Hands, 10ml - My second favourite hand cream from L'Occitane is from the Almond Range.  It smells just absolutely incredible and I love that the scent lingers for absolute ages on the skin.
• Verbena Hand Cream, 10ml - In my view, you can never have too many of these hand creams because they fit perfectly into your handbag.  The Verbena Hand Cream is again as zingy as the rest of the collection and does an incredible job at keeping my hands soft and smooth.
• Arlesienne Soap, 50g - This Soap is subtly perfumed with the floral and captivating bouquet of rose, violet and saffron and lathers to create a beautiful fresh floral scent.
• Arlesienne Eau De Toilette, 7ml - If you like your floral scents, then without question this is a scent for you. With top notes of Saffron and Bergamot, it opens with a musky floral burst before the heart notes of Rose and Violet bring to life the fresh floral scent.  The base notes of Ambrox and White Musk give a smooth creaminess to the scent without drowning out the floral notes.
• Almond Soap, 50g - The only bar of soap I ever have in my bathroom is this one.  It smells just like the shower oil but in solid form and I just absolutely love it.
• Almond Milk Concentrate, 20ml - The only body lotion I have repurchased more than once and actually finished.  It is smooth, it cocoons the skin and leaves the most incredible lingering scent.
• Shea Butter Lip Balm, 3ml - You can never have too many Lip Balms and this is one that moisturises as much as it does nourish and is perfect for these colder days that are creeping in.
• Aromachologie Bath cube, 33g - This is a product I have never tried before and I am looking forward to dropping it into the bath to give it a try.
• Cherry Blossom Body Lotion, 35ml - Taking the scent of the shower gel and turning it into a body lotion, the scent is just beautiful and lightly scents the skin of fresh cherry blossom.
• Aromachologie Shower Gel, 35ml - If you want a shower gel that is designed to relax, then this is the one for you. It is enriched with a foaming base containing lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange and geranium essential oils.
• Shea Light Cream, 5ml - This is without question, one of my favourite L'Occitane creams. The texture is so light and it has an SPF20. Offering a triple action to smooth and firm the skin, while preventing damage caused by the sun.
• Shea Butter Milk Soap, 25g - One of the gentlest soaps I have ever used and one that smells just divine. It is as rich as it is smooth and above all else, it is so moisturising.

I think L'Occitane have taken some amazing products to create this calendar and even for me, someone who is well acquainted with the brand, it is exciting to see what is behind each door.

This advent calendar is on sale now right HERE and it is an absolute bargain at just £49! If you are new to L'Occitane and have never tried anything before, then this is an incredible way to get to know the brand.



*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

The Best Beauty Crackers and Baubles for 2018

I know Beauty Advent Calendars are not for everyone for very different reasons but there is a compromise in the form of beauty crackers, which I happen to absolutely love. Long gone are the crackers you got on the table at Christmas with the useless paper crown and awful jokes, in their place come some incredible options and here they are! Just imagine some of these danging from your tree!

Aromatherapy Associates (£12)
One of my go-to products, when I am feeling really run down and full of cold, is Breathe Support by Aromatherapy Associates.  This Christmas, The Pearl of Wisdom Bauble is the offering.

Inside the bauble is the Light Relax Shower Oil which you can find right here via Lookfantastic.

Aveda Style On The Go Cracker (£18)
Perfect for touching up hair on-the-go or taking away for a weekend city break, this features some of Aveda’s bestselling styling essentials, from the Thickening Tonic to the new Blow Dry Accelerator. 

On sale from November 1st here.

Aveda Colour Conserve Cracker (£14.40)
If you have coloured hair, then Aveda haven't forgotten about you. As with the cracker above, nestled inside, there are four products which will restore full vibrancy and shine to your hair and skin.

Products include a 50ml Colour Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner, 10ml Thickening Tonic and a 7ml Tulasara Renew Morning Crème.  On sale right now here.

Birchbox Skincare & Makeup Crackers (£15)
Birchbox are selling not one, but two beauty crackers. With skincare and makeup options, each is packed with four mini treats from brands such as Benefit and Sand & Sky. 

On sale from 2nd November right here.

By Terry Baume De Rose Tree Decoration (£20)

This I would love to find hanging on my Christmas Tree! I am a huge ByTerry Fan and this is just a divine gift.

Inside you will find the highly coveted lip balm with a velvety texture and a delicate Rose scent.  On sale right now here via Lookfantastic.

Caudalie Vinosource Christmas Cracker (£10)
If you still haven't tried anything from Caudalie then this cracker is an amazing introduction to a fantastic trio.

Inside the cracker you will find a Micellar Cleansing Water (30ml), Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum (10ml) and a Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet (15ml). Three incredible products for hydrating the skin and it is on sale now right here.

Clarins Face and Lips Cracker (£10)

Inside you will find two essential makeup products and it includes the Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer 4ml and Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in 01 Honey 2.8ml. 

On sale now via Feelunique here.

Clarins Lips and Eyes Cracker (£10)

If you are looking for a little bargain then at £10 for a mini mascara and lip perfector, this would make a brilliant secret santa or stocking filler.  

It is also on sale right now here.

Cloud 9 (£18.50)

Cloud Nine's Gift of Gold It's a Cracker Set conceals a must-have hair hero, specially formulated for all your styling needs.

Packaged inside, you will find a Cloud Nine Magical Quick Dry Potion and it is available right now via Beauty Expert here.

Cowshed Tree Decoration (£12)

Inside this sleek box topped with a festive bow that houses two gorgeously-scented bodycare must-haves for a good night’s sleep.

Inside you will find Knackered Cow Relaxing Bath & Shower Gel and Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion. On sale here right now.

Crabtree & Evelyn Red Berry & Fir Hand Therapy Cracker (£8)

Inside this cracker is a nourishing, limited edition hand cream which is designed to leave skin feeling pampered and nurtured.

Described as being a super-moisturising and replenishing hand cream whose formula harnesses the softening and conditioning properties of Shea Butter to comfort and condition hands, nails and cuticles. It absorbs quickly into skin, delivering a host of beneficial ingredients to leave winter-bitten hands feeling soft, hydrated. On sale now with Lookfantastic here.

Emma Hardie All Is Bright Cracker (£16)
One of my favourite skincare brands has put together this amazing cracker which serves as a great introduction to the brand.

Inside the cracker, you will find the incredible Moringa Cleansing Balm (15ml), Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask (15ml) and a Dual Action Mini Cleansing Cloth. Such a bargain and if you have been wanting to give the Cleansing balm a try, then grab this cracker quick! On sale right here.

Eyeko (£15)
Festive Flutter Christmas cracker, containing the ultimate drama duo designed for after-hours glamour. Featuring the Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner and Black Magic Mascara.

The Eye Do Liquid Liner delivers intense single stroke colour, whilst the best-selling Black Magic Mascara combines drama, volume and curl for visibly transformed lashes. On sale right now for £15 with Eyeko here.

Fenty Beauty (£17)
This bauble is incredible value for money considering it includes Two Lil Mattemoiselles Plush Matte Lipstick Duo.

Featuring Spanked (Dusty Rose) and Griselda (Bold Burgundy) this duo comes packaged in a limited-edition ornament.

Gatineau Christmas Cracker (£15)
I am a huge fan of Gatineau and I think this cracker is just an absolute steal. Packaged inside the traditional Gatineau packaging you will find four products.

The products inside include - Melatogenine Refreshing Cleansing Cream 50ml, Melatogenine AOX Probiotics Advanced Rejuvenating Cream 15ml, a Muslin Cloth and a Gatineau Keyring. On sale now here.

Jo Loves (£40)
Now, this is one cracking Christmas Cracker and it is said to have a semi-customisable concept (you can choose to include a Fragrance Paint Brush or a Body Spray) which I happen to think is rather fabulous. 

On sale from October and definitely one to grab quickly because these will be guaranteed to sell out just as quickly as they come into stock.

Jo Malone (£32)
If the Jo Malone Advent Calendar is slightly out of your budget, how about a cracker instead?

I am told this year by a friend of mine, that the brand is offering a ready-made cracker for £32, as well as customisable options. On Sale from mid-October here.

L'Occitane (£12 here)

The 'My Floral Essentials Cherry Blossom' Body Care Bauble is just as stunningly decorated as the two advent calendars.

Each one opens to reveal three 'Cherry Blossom' products to gently cleanse and moisturise skin, leaving behind the delicate floral scent of Provençal cherry blossom.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Festive Bauble (£12 here)
A lovely gift or stocking filler, this star shape bauble endorsing Castelbajac Paris design is a gorgeous addition to any tree. Keep your skin super soft and protected with this sweet tree decoration filled with three of L'Occitane's best-loved Shea Butter favourites: 

30ml Ultra Rich Body Lotion, 25g Shea Butter Milk Soap and a 10ml Shea Butter Hand Cream.

Lanolips Xmas Tinted Rhubarb Lip Gloss Bauble (£7.99)
Dangling from your tree, would you be happy to find the Lanolips Xmas Bauble which contains the brand's Tinted Lip Gloss in 'Rhubarb'?

Using Ultra Pure Grade Lanolin, this natural, cruelty-free lip gloss moisturises and softens, whilst delivering sheer, non-sticky colour that deepens natural lip colour. It also has SPF 30 protects from environmental aggressors.

M&S Beauty Ragdale Hall Cracker (£12.50)

This beauty Christmas cracker is filled with divine miniature beauty products that have been designed in collaboration with the award-winning Ragdale Hall spa.

Inside you will find a range of pampering products including bath elixir, hand cream and aromatherapy body mist and essentially it has everything you need in one cracker for a relaxing start to a hectic Christmas Morning. On sale now via Marks & Spencer here.

Margaret Dabbs London (£25)
Inside this Fabulous Foot Lotion Christmas Cracker you will find the award-winning Fabulous Feet Foot Lotion 200ml

Available (here) from FeelUnique this is a beautifully presented cracker.

Marc Jacobs (£18)

The Anything Goes Cracker features Marc Jacobs' bestselling Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara and Le Marc Lip Crème - in shade Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Looking festive with it's gold packaging, this cracker is available from Harvey Nichols.
Molton Brown (£20)
This is an incredible cracker for fans of Molton Brown.  Inside there are four mini versions of Molton’s bestselling shower gels.

Those shower gels, which are all 50ml includes Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel, Orange & Bergamot Bath & Shower Gel, Dewy Lily of the Valley & Star Anise Bath & Shower Gel and finally the stunning Rosa Absolute Bath & Shower Gel.  On sale right now at John Lewis.

Molton Brown £12
This Mesmerising Oudh Accord & Gold Festive Shower Gel Bauble is described as being an opulent bath and shower gel enriched with precious oudh accord and 24-carat gold leaf extract in a festive bauble.

Alongside this bauble, you can also find a few others right here via Molton Brown.

Nuxe (£10)
For just £10 this 2018 Nuxe Christmas Cracker contains no less than 4 products from the brand .

Inside you will find: Huile prodigieuse 10ml, Rêve de Miel® hand cream 15ml, Rêve de Miel® face cream 15ml and a Rêve de Miel® Gentle Face Cleanser 15ml. On sale now right here.

Oskia Star Kissed Christmas (£15)

Inside the Star from Oskia is the Cupid's Bow Lip Balm has been given a festive update wrapped in bauble-style packaging. 

The Star Kissed Christmas contains a super-lightweight lip balm and is the perfect stocking filler for those in need of a nutritious lip treatment. Formulated with Avocado Oil and natural Shea Butter, plus a blend of Vitamins A and E, the nourishing lip balm glides on effortlessly, soothing and protecting to leave lips feeling soft and healthy. On sale now right here.

Philip Kingsley (£10)
If you are a fan of Elasticizer then this is the cracker for you, especially at this price. 

The 'Let It Shine' Cracker features the Daily Damage Defence' conditioning spray and an Elasticizer and it is on sale right here .

Real Techniques (£6)

Inside the bauble you will find two mini beauty sponges from Real Techniques.

The Mini Sponges are perfect for travel or on-the-go touch ups using creams, liquids or powders. On sale via Boots here.

Stylpro (£8.99)
A Beauty Bloggers dream is the Stylpro brush cleaning device which is absolute heaven for that much-dreaded task, so how about a cracker?

Inside this cracker you will find a brush cleanser and conditioner and it is said that the formula will cut through stubborn cosmetics and at the same time nourish and gently condition the brush bristles with Wheatgerm, Grapeseed and Argan oils leaving them silky, smooth and protected.  On sale now at Boots here.

This Works The Big Bang Cracker (£13)

Inside this beauty of a cracker, you will find two amazing this works products which, if you haven't tried, you need too.

There is, of course, a Deep Sleep™ Pillow Spray which is raved about and very much loved and a luxurious looking eye mask to complete the duo. Available right now here.

Too Faced Limited Edition Cracker (£14)
This beauty cracker is limited edition, so if you want to grab it then you need to be quick!

Featuring everybody’s favourite mascara, Better Than Sex and a highly pigmented liquid lipstick, this is all you’ll need for a season of festive partying. On Sale from 5th October.

I love that there is so much choice with regards to Beauty Crackers and I really like that there is something for all budgets.  Do you see any that you like?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Feelunique Exclusive for Christmas 2018 - Beauty Boxes

So many of my friends have finished their Christmas shopping already and I hold my hands up and admit, I haven't bought a single product yet! Feelunique is one of my favourite sites to browse and they have some amazing little gift boxes tucked away just waiting to be found - these four are incredible value for money, so perhaps I might just treat myself!

The first beauty box is The Little Beauty Parcel - The Skincare Edit (£30 here) and it comes with the following description:

What better way to spoil that special someone in your life than with an indulgent selection of skincare saviours? We’ve rounded up our go-to products for when our skin needs a little pick me up, including a This Works detox mask, DHC nourishing cleansing oil, Skyn Iceland cooling eye gels and even a Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. Enjoy!

This is a Feelunique Exclusive for Christmas 2018 and it is something that is just absolutely brilliantly put together.

I really like the contents of this box and inside you will find:

• Gatineau Gentle Silk Toner 40ml
• FILORGA Lift Structure 15ml
• Nuxe Aquabella® Micro-Exfoliating Purifying Gel 15ml
• This works Evening Detox Clay Mask 5ml
• Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter 6.2g
• DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 30ml
• Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream 15ml
• Skyn Iceland Hydro cool eye gels x 1 pair of eye gels 3.2g
• NIP+FAB Exfoliate Glycolic Fix Gentle Pads Sensitive 80ml

Again, all of this for £30 when it has an RRP of £60 is brilliant value for money and a great way to try products you might have had on that wishlist for some time.

The second offering from Feelunique is The Little Beauty Parcel - The Unique Boutique Luxe Edit and it costs £58 (here) but has an overall value of £143 and again, amazing value for money.

Described as being the box for those ' who like the finer things in life', the products that have been handpicked are said to be some of the most luxurious lotions and potions to create one bespoke box. Again this is a Feelunique Exclusive for Christmas 2018 and the contents are totally amazing.

• Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Advanced 7pc
• Cover FX Shimmer Veil 4ml
• Shiseido Ultimune ImuGeneration Technology 10ml
• BY TERRY Ombre Blackstar Melting Eyeshadow 1.64g (will be either 2 shades: Black Matte & Blue Obsession)
• Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray 50ml
• Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer 8.9ml 
• It's Skin Prestige Crème D'Escargot 10ml
• this works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray 5ml
• Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask 10ml

Again, so many amazing brands in one box and products which are a great shade for trying before you splash out on a full size!

The third box is The Little Beauty Parcel - The Vegan Beauty Edit and it costs £40 (here) but has an overall value of £103.

Described as being ideal if you are stuck for that present for someone who prefers to use vegan beauty products or even if you yourself want to give some brands a try.  Again, Feelunique has handpicked their favourite cruelty-free products which include:

• Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose Superfood Facial Oil 15ml
• INIKA Vegan Lipstick 4.2g - Pink Poppy 
• Cowshed Knackered Cow Relaxing Bath & Shower Gel 100ml
• SISTER & CO. activated Charcoal Deep Cleanse Detoxifying Soap Bar 110g
• Lily Lolo Eye Shadow Brush
• Elemis Superfood Facial Wash 150ml
• Nude by Nature Sheer Light Illuminator 15ml

If you are wanting to get your hands on this box, then grab it quick because it is a Feelunique Exclusive for Christmas 2018. 

If all of this isn't enough for you, then how about something for the man in your life too? For me it is always a struggle (or was) to know what to get and this is quite a clever little box - 

The Little Beauty Parcel - The Men’s Edit.

Priced at £25 (here) but has a value of around £45 there are five products and all of which give the man/men in your life an excuse for pampering.  Items include:

• Barber Pro The Gentleman's Sheet - Face Mask
• Man Cave Moisturiser 30ml
• Gentleman's Tonic Exfoliating Face Scrub 100ml
• Tigi Bed Head for Men Lion Tamer for Hair and Beard 100ml
• Men-U Matt Moisturiser 15ml

What I love about this box is the variety of products, of which I know Beautykinguk would actually use and all for less than £30 making it a great gift.

I am hopeful that these boxes have given you a bit of a helping hand when it comes to buying some presents for a loved one or even yourself.  Do any of them catch you attention?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.