Christmas Gifting with Dr Murad

The festive season has well and truly arrived with Dr Murad, who has some incredible gift sets on offer right now and I am sharing with you the Take Time Off collection*.

Sitting inside a custom designed, recyclable gift box which opens out to reveal quite the brilliant Skin Trivia Quiz and then sitting in the centre, almost on a stage is a 4-piece skincare collection featuring some of the best selling items.

Skip the lines. Visibly minimise fine lines, smooth away rough texture and rejuvenate for a radiant glow

Whether you have dry, normal or combination skin, this collection is designed for your skin type and inside you would find:

• Retinol Youth Renewal Serum Full Size (1.0 FL. OZ.) - Worth £75 on its own, this product is just brilliant and I have a full review of it right here. To be used after cleansing, this serum uses the Tri-Active Technology mentioned above as well as Hyaluronic spheres which impart long-lasting hydration for that radiant glow. Then we have Swertia Flower Extract which works to increase resilience which in turn reveals a luminous, youthful-looking complexion. 
• Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream Trial Size (0.25 FL. OZ.) - Using the Murad Retinol Tri-Active Technology so whilst you sleep, the Retinol is time-released to work its magic in minimising the appearance of wrinkles and smoothing out the skin. 
• Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel Trial Size (0.33 FL. OZ.) - I have a full review of this Peel right here. This is a daily bi-phase peel that accelerates cell renewal by 33% in just 7 days while nourishing skin to prevent dryness and reduce irritation which is all done thanks to its two-phase intensive treatment.
• Renewing Eye Cream Trial Size (0.14 FL. OZ.) - This Eye cream has been specifically formulated with a powerful mix of retinol and rich Marine Kelp Complex which both work together to reduce the appearance of crows feet and dark circles whilst at the same time keeping the eyes moisturised.

I love how this collection has been put together and I am already a huge fan of the entire contents included.  It is a great way to get to know some of the best products the brand has to offer and for me, it is a great way to stock up on some of my favourites too.

As well as Take Time Off, there happens to be five other Dr Murad Christmas Gift sets on offer, I have one being featured in my Stocking Filler Guide in a few days time, but there is something for every budget, starting at £15 rising upwards to £110.  

Find all the Dr Murad Christmas Gift Sets here*.

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

Stocking Filler Gift Guide 2020 - The Fragrance Edit

Fragrance gifting is such a personal thing to do, you can get it right or you can you can get it wrong.  Over the last 12 months I have discovered some amazing fragrances including Giorgio Armani My Way and Alive by Hugo Boss to name a few.  Today I am sharing with you three fragrances which smell absolutely beautiful, but won't break the bank and definitely won't be costing you more than £30!

First from Missguided we have Babe Vibes. Missguided fragrances have now been around for a few years and when they first released Boss Babe, everyone I knew wanted to have it, try it and wear it. Following on from Boss Babe came Babe Dreams and Babe Oud, all of which I featured here.

Babe Vibes is the next fragrance within the collection and it is described as being a vibrant Floral Fruity Fragrance. 

It opens with top notes of bergamot, pear and accents of pistachio which give that real hit of fruit which is uplifting and warm but the pistachio holds it from being too sharp. The heart brings together rose accords with almond milk, orange blossom and magnolia which bring to life those floral notes, dampening down on the fruit notes and together they are quite the force but it is the base notes cushion with patchouli, amber, sweet tonka, vanilla, musk and creamy sandalwood, which dry down to give this fragrance a sweet edge.  Priced around £28 from the Fragrance Shop.

From Beauty Pie is a fragrance I bought on a whim because the notes appealed to me and I could fit it into my monthly allowance when purchasing a few more items.  That fragrance is Orange Absolute.

Orange Absolute is described as being a glorious, modern, woody, soft citrus fragrance. It features top notes of Lemon Essence, Bitter Orange and Sweet Orange which as you can imagine give it that incredible hit of citrus and it really captures your attention. The heart notes of Aromatics, Florals, Jasmine Sambac Absolute and Solar settle the top notes down to take out the sharpness whilst giving a slightly warm and floral hint and for me this is when the fragrance really got my attention, I adore it. The base notes of Musk, Wood and Tonka Bean gives a whole new meaning to the word heavenly in a fragrance, it is just divine and I can't get enough of it. Beauty Pie has this priced at £100 per bottle but as a member, I got it for just £18.12 can you believe it? Neither could I, so a few of my friends have this a gift for Christmas too.

The final fragrance I am sharing comes from Ted Baker and she is called Amelia but is Limited Edition, so to get your hands on it, you will need to be quick.

Packaged inside a royal blue box, the fragrance bottle is very regal looking features a blue ombre design with a gold coloured lid, it is very eye-catching.  Described as being Lavishly opulent with a contemporary twist, Amelia is perfectly polished. With her glamorous style, fearless heart and effortless elegance, Amelia commands every room. With top notes of rhubarb, almond and magnolia, the opening of this fragrance is just stunning, it is sharp yet not overly strong and with the hint of almond, there is just a slight warmness. The heart notes are dark florals and with it comes jasmine, heliotrope and liquorice which add quite the twist on a scent because the liquorice I had expected to add an almost aniseed like stance, but it doesn't, it is the florals that come right through before the base notes of tonka bean, maple and patchouli turn this fragrance into a more mature scent than previous offerings from the Sweet Treats range.  You can find Amelia for just £20 at Superdrug.

So, three very differently packaged fragrances with very different notes, styles and prices to choose from.  If fragrances are gifts that you like to give for Christmas, or any other occasion, these three are suitable for all of those.

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

Moroccanoil Dreaming of Hydration Gift Set

I am definitely in need of a trip to the hair salon, I haven't been since February time and my hair is an absolute nightmare to deal with right now, my local salon however is all booked up, I wasn't quick enough to book in.  My hair is combination hair, much like my skin with greasy roots and dry ends, but over the last few weeks, i've noticed it has become a lot more dry from the mid-lengths to the ends.  So it is Moroccanoil to the rescue with this Dreaming of Hydration Gift Set*.

Moroccanoil have a whole host of gift sets available* this Christmas and whether your hair needs a bit of TLC, repairing, or like mine, some hydration, there is a lot to choose from. This set features a curated selection of products to hydrate thirsty hair and they come packaged inside a very large wash bag. Inside the bag is a trio of products which features the Intense Hydrating Mask, the Hydrating Styling Cream and a travel-sized Moroccanoil Treatment.

So the products inside this Gift Set are:

Intense Hydrating Mask 250ml - This mask is perfect for those with medium to thick hair and better still, it only needs 5 minutes of your time. The mask is rich, it is creamy and it smells like a Caramac bar! Infused with ingredients such as antioxidant-rich argan oil which is the star of the show, you will also find other nourishing ingredients such as Glycerin which provides hair moisturising benefits and Linseed Extract which is not only a good source of alpha linolenic acid but it is also an essential fatty acid that helps improve the health of hair. 

With this mask, once it is applied to your hair, of which you need a small amount, the advice is to comb it through an leave for between 5-7 minutes. It's job is to hydrate and condition while also improving hair's texture, elasticity, shine and manageability.

Hydrating Styling Cream 300ml: - Designed to hydrate and tame frizzy hair, this styling cream is a leave-in styling cream which is said to be the perfect partner for blow-drying as it smoothes flyaway hair, so gone is that static, which I definitely have a problem with, if I blow-dry my own hair.  Again, this cream is argan oil-infused, so it helps to add that shine and another ingredient worthy of a mention is Behentrimonium Chloride which is described as 

being an anti-static and conditioning agent.  

To use this product, you can either use it on its own, or if you have thick hair, you can combine it with the Moroccanoil Treatment - it should be applied to damp hair and having use it a few times, my advice is a little goes a long long way.

Finally we have the Morroconoil Treatment Original 25ml - This is the product I am sure everyone has heard of, come across and used. It is this treatment which created quite the buzz when it was first released and I remember everyone using it, raving about and just loving it. It has been a while since i've used the Moroccanoil Treatment, but my hair definitely needs it and it is probably the product most people have used or heard of when it comes to the brand. 

For centuries, women across the Mediterranean, where Argan trees grow, have used argan oil in their beauty regimen for vibrant, healthy-looking skin and hair. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which help to hydrate and soften your hair, skin, body and nails. For the hair, it helps to increase elasticity and helps to restore shine to hair that is dull and lifeless (like mine right now)

This treatment is infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and shine-boosting vitamins,which not only helps with detangling the hair but also helps to speed up drying time and boosts shine. To use, it is really easy. Simply apply Moroccanoil® Treatment to clean, towel-dried hair, from mid-length to the ends and then either Blow-dry or let dry naturally. You can also add this treatment on to dry hair to help tame flyaways, condition split ends and smooth hair.

This really is a great gift set and each product is also available separately too, so you could make up your very own hair care gift set for someone.  This particular set is priced at £44* and is available from Harrods.

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

Stocking Filler Gift Guide - The Makeup Edit 2020

Today as part of my stocking-filler gift guides, I am talking about make-up. I absolutely love make-up and I love discovering new brands and of course, I am a mascara-fiend, so you might find one those featured within this guide. Everything featured costs less than £30.

For me, 2020 lead to the discovery of the Israeli brand Gade (pronounced Jade) and with it comes a whole host of amazing products from across the skincare and makeup spectrum. Having made my way through quite a few products and having shared them on my blog, today I wanted to share an eyeshadow palette that has given me a lot of joy throughout lockdown and is probably the only reason i've looked human on Zoom meetings and events when I have dared to put the camera on!

Gade recently launched onto QVC and with it, a whole host of amazing products and one of those is the beautiful Imagine Eyeshadow Palette (£29.50). Imagine features 8 highly pigmented shades and is designed to take you from morning to the evening all in one. The 8 shades feature a mixture of different textures and finishes which range from matte, chrome metallic and crystal-inspired multi-dimensional option and whether you like your more neutral look or something that pops, Gade Imagine has those bases covered. Gade is a little unusual in its makeup because, like this eyeshadow palette, it is enriched with sweet almond oil extract to help protect and soften the eyelid, these shadows can be applied wet or dry depending on your preference, above they are dry swatches, so it makes you look good as well as looking after you and your skin.

From ByTerry is the is the Beauty Essentials Kit and this one is such a bargain at £25*, it is worth grabbing it if you see it on sale. 

Packaged inside a beautiful purple embossed limited-edition leather pouch is three of the brands cult products.

• The first product is a 1.5g Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder which is designed to perfect and smooth the look of your skin. This translucent setting powder, which helps lock your makeup in place or can be used on bare skin. It contains whipped Hyaluronic Acid Microspheres that 'fill in' pores and imperfections for smoother, more even toned results; it camouflages blemishes and blurs fine lines for a smoother, younger-looking canvas. 
• The second product is the Mascara Terrybly in Black Parti-Pris and not only is it enriched with what is referred too as ‘Lumicoat Care Technology’ – a cocktail of glycoproteins, collagen and hyaluronic acid which conditions and promoted thickness of the lashes, the formula is an absolute dream to work with because the wand grips and separates each individual lash without flaking, smudging and there is no sign of clumping either. 
• The final item within this pouch is the Baume De Rose Le Soin Lèvres, the much loved lip balm with a delicate Rose scent. Infused with Shea Butter, Rose Flower Essential Wax and antioxidant Vitamin E, the formula softens and moisturises lips, whilst delivering subtle, non-sticky shine. A bit of a multi-purpose balm, it can be used as an overnight lip treatment, or applied on the nails and cuticles to nourish, fortify and protect from dryness.

Such a fabulous gift set and one which I have purchased as gifts for a few friends over recent months, as I said, if you see it, grab it.

When it comes to Too Faced, you can always guarantee that not only are the products a lot of fun, but they are also amazing.  Featured within this guide is the Lip Injection Extreme and it comes packaged in a cute bunny rabbit cardboard holder.  

This Lip Injection Extreme is described as being a serum-meets-gloss that is powered by medically proven blood vessel-dilating technology to give you those fuller lips but without the need for fillers. As it is applied to the lips, there is a slight tingly feeling, which isn't uncomfortable. The lip gloss is clear and non-sticky and is said to be infused with a host of nourishing, smoothing and va-va-volumising extracts. It is on sale for just £12* and who wouldn't want it on their Christmas Tree?

From Beauty Pie is a palette I have ummed and ahhed about since I became a member and it is the one product I see most people raving about - The One Palette Wonder in Cool Neutrals.

Priced at £35, as a member I got this for less than £7, I am still shocked by the price if I am honest, but I am glad I took the plunge and bought it because it is incredible.  Described as being the all-you-need palette, it features 6 finely milled powders which have been selected for their cool and neutral undertones, which in turn give you the ability to create a smokey eye as well as to give you an all-day-long-glow.  The palette features one matte bronzer, a blusher, one highlighter and 3 longwear eyeshadows which are in matte and shimmer finishes. This palette is then finished with the inclusion of a mirror which fills the top half of the palette.

I am really picky when it comes to false lashes but I am a huge fan of the new Kiss Falscara Lash Kit which I reviewed here.

Described as being the 'New Way To Lash' if you are a fan of false lashes then you will absolutely love these offerings. Kiss Falscara Lashes includes wisps which have a unique microband and featherlight fibres which you place under your natural lashes rather than above them! They are so easy to use and apply, I adore them and all for prices which start at just  £8.99 and for the complete kit tp £24.99 and all available via Superdrug.

During the Lockdown, I have learnt that products with a multi-use can be and usually are a life-saver.  The same can be  for these Lid to Lip Balmies by Axiology, which I have used a lot more than I expected too.

I originally reviewed this kit here but they are just brilliant. Described as being a 3-in-1 one product which is more affordable, therefore more savings to be had, these Balmies are the same size as the Lip Crayons which Axiology also have within their collection and you might be looking at them thinking they look small, well they are but for a very good reason - the plastic tubing which most brands use to house their lipstick bullet in has been removed in its entirety.  The Axiology Lid-To-Lip Balmies are available right now via ASOS and there is the option to purchase the trio, as I have got for £29, here* or the shades are available singularly for £12 each* and there is around 13 shades to choose from - either way it is an absolute bargain to be had.

 

As you can see, there is a wide variety of products featured within this guide and there is so much more that you can add to it to make it even more amazing. I have a few items lost in transit from Black Friday sale purchases which have not arrived at the time of writing this post, so instead, I will turn into other posts in the New Year.

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