Beauty Advent Calendar's Still on Sale 2021

There is now a month left until we hit December and people begin to open their Advent Calendars.  There is always a debate to be had as to whether you start opening them on 1st December or on Christmas Day, personally, I don't have a view either way as to what people choose to do, just know that mine will always be opened on 1st December!

This year there has been quite the selection of Advent Calendars for which, I created a directory, and even now, some people haven't yet decided which one they want to buy, some sold out within seconds of going live and others are still available, not forgetting that a few are rumoured  to still be coming back into stock! 

Over on my Directory Page, there is a whole list to look through, but I thought I would share some incredible options that are still available, for now!

Liberty - There is always so much excitement with this Advent Calendar. In years gone by I have seen people queuing round the block of the store to get their hands on it!

Everything about this Beauty Calendar ticks boxes and I shared the entire contents of the calendar on my blog when it was first revealed. Priced at just £225 the contents inside are worth almost £850 plus there is that chance to find a golden ticket worth £5000!  On sale with Liberty.

Marks & Spencer - This has been very much anticipated for 2021 as it didn't happen in 2020 and it is a blooming good Advent Calendar, which I featured on my blog.

Worth £300, this is a 25 Advent Calendar and it can be yours for just £40 when you spend £30 across Beauty, clothing or home and it is still on offer with M&S!

FeelUnique - This is without question one of the most value for money offerings for 2021 when it comes to a multi-branded Advent Calendar.

Featured on my blog here with a full list of contents, this Advent Calendar has contents, which are worth over £385 will make the price of this calendar just £119 and it is available now

When it comes to relaxing and unwinding, there has been some amazing Advent Calendars for 2021 and the three which are still available that I absolutely love are:

Temple Spa - I was lucky enough to do an unboxing of this Advent Calendar for my blog and there isn't a single product inside that I wouldn't or won't be using.

Featuring 24 products, this Advent Calendar is delightful and an absolute must for anyone who lives to relax and unwind. It is still on sale here with Temple Spa.

ESPA - Every year ESPA creates a stunning Advent Calendar and 2021 is no different, called Hidden Treasures, the calendar features 25 drawers. If you want to see the full list of contents, I have shared them on my blog.

I am still shocked that this Advent Calendar is on sale because it is such a popular brand, but if you haven't yet decided what to treat yourself too, this one is on sale here with ESPA.

Neom - This is a brand first for Neom and it is a delightful looking Advent Calendar, of which I have also shared the contents here on my blog.

This Advent Calendar is called the 12 Days of Well-being and definitely is something we should all be taking advantage of right now!  You can find it on sale with Neom here.

We all love a good make-up Advent Calendar and once again there has been so many to choose from for 2021, some have sold out and won't be back in stock, but some are still around, so here is just a few of them.

By Terry - I absolutely love By Terry as a brand and first shared the Advent Calendar quite early on over on my blog.  I just love the Diamond like design and of course the contents, which if you want a sneak peak, you can find them here.

Inside the calendar, you will find 24 products and some of them are my personal favourites from the brand. It is on sale via various retailers and is worth over £400!

Charlotte Tilbury - Can you have a favourite looking make-up Advent Calendar without mentioning Charlotte Tilbury? Well this offering might just be my favourite that there has ever been.

This Golden Box of Dreams, which I featured on my blog here with a spoiler as to the contents, has sold out in a few places, but you can still grab it at Space NK.

Then we have Bobbi Brown, another brand I just absolutely love for a whole host of reasons, mainly lipstick, but so dreamy.

Featured on my blog here, the Bobbi Brown Advent Calendar is features 12 of the brands best-selling beauty treats and it is described as being the ultimate beauty advent for any Bobbi Brown superfan.  You can find it still on sale with Bobbi Brown.

For the Fragrances this year, there has been quite a few new entries and some that I had expected to see. So with the likes of Diptyque, Jo Malone, Jo Loves, Perfume Shop, Fragrance Shop.  Sadly a few of these Advent Calendars have sold out but you can still find both Jo Malone and Jo Loves still on sale as well as The Perfume Shop and The Fragrance Shop, but if you want a calendar that grabs attention then given Diptyque has sold out, Penhaligons has that wow factor.

It features 24 days of scented surprises and inside are some of my favourite products that come from the brand. I did a full reveal on what is inside on my blog just a few months ago when the information was first released.  

The second offering that I just love comes from Atelier Cologne, a brand who has the most amazing store and some of the most amazing stories to go with their scents.

It This Advent Calendar is 100% free of plastic and when it opens, inside is a selection of 24 products from the range - so you get a really good selection of their fragrances such as Pacific Lime and Rose Anonyme which are just delightful.

The final Advent Calendar to mention ticks the box for Vegan. A lot of questions I am asked currently in relation to products is whether or not something is Vegan, well not only is the Freedm Street Advent Calendar completely Vegan as well as being Cruelty-Free, Plastic-Free, Supports Small & Independent Businesses, Supports Charities and has no fillers

I was lucky enough to be sent this Advent Calendar and I have done an entire unboxing of it on my blog. What I love about it is that there is a mixture of makeup, skincare, hair care, bath and body products plus some sweet treats.  If this sounds like your kind of Advent Calendar, then it is on sale right now and on offer!

Those are just some of the Advent Calendars still on sale, there is a whole lot more, which you will find in my Advent Calendar Directory.  Id love to know if you have purchased one and if so, which one.

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

Onaie Sheepskin Slippers

ONAIE is London based, female founded, independent online slippers shop. Created by Eve and Justine, two sisters who are paying homage to their heritage. They offer a wide range of stylish handmade women's and men's sheepskin slippers, ladies slip on mules, kids and baby slippers and vegan slippers and I was kindly sent some to try and my gosh, they are the comfiest slippers I have ever worn!

Around the house, I am 99% of the time in bare feet, I cannot stand the feeling of socks on carpet, it is one of those feelings that sends me cold to the bone, just horrendous and whilst I have owned pairs of slippers, I have never owned anything as luxurious as these.  Lovingly made by a team of highly skilled craftswomen in the Polish Highlands, these slippers are ethically manufactured and Onanie works side by side with its suppliers to ensure that there is an ongoing ethical, social and environmental compliance. As you can see, sustainability is at the heart of the brand and alongside slippers, there is a whole catalogue of products, I've got my eye on one of the Wool Gilets which are just stunning.

I know a few people won't see the fascination with slippers and we can all go and purchase a paid for less than £10 on the high street which won't last a few months. Onaie Sheepskin slippers are completely unique, have a specially moulded sole, so they can be worn in the evening and all day without any discomfort, which for me right now is important, especially on the days when I work from home with my ankle injury, for me comfort takes presidence over everything. These slippers have also made from the finest by-product of sheepskin and soft lambswool available on the market.

The first pair of Onaie Slippers I have are the Star Sheepskin Slippers (£39), the first pair I was drawn too when choosing my pair. The ladies slippers do start in a UK size 3 up to a a size 9, though thankfully I sit right in the middle with a size 6 foot.

Each pair of slippers made for the Onaie brand takes around an hour and because of the materials used, which in this case is leather for the soles of natural cow split leather lined with natural wool from sheep's fleece, fur and leather on the sides, also of natural sheepskin.  They are have a light blue colouring with golden stars embroidered into the pattern and when wearing them, it is heaven, so lightweight, warm and comfortable.

The second pair of Onaie Slippers are the Snow Sheep Skin Slippers (£39) and again, I am a UK size 6 and they fit absolutely perfectly on my feet.

This time, the main body of the slipper is a beautiful beige/natural shade and as with the slippers detailed above, these also feature leather for the soles of natural cow split leather lined with natural wool from sheep's fleece, fur and leather on the sides, also of natural sheepskin.  On the body of the slippers is a a delicate snowflake pattern, embroidered using different coloured yarn to create the affect.

As well as full slippers, there is also a choice of mules, slipper boots, Wool Slippers, Felt Slippers and a whole lot more choice, not forgetting the list of accessories which ranges from Gilets and Gloves to rugs and socks.

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

Coping with SAD

I’m very much a Summer girl. I love the sunshine, the light, the heat but I also love the rain, the cold and the joy of being able to have such a thing as seasons. But what is it about the darker mornings and evenings that just don’t work for me.

Image credit 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is often referred to as the Winter Blues or Winter Depression and it affects people in different ways, some more debilitating than others, and whatever your symptoms, they should in no way be compared to anyone else’s . The symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder are also really wide-ranging and are described as being somewhat atypical when compared to other depressive disorders. 

They include:

• Prolonged low moods
• Low energy and irritability 
• Difficulty focusing 
• Oversleeping and finding it hard to get out of bed in a morning 
• Feeling anxious
• Overeating, craving carbohydrates, gaining weight 
• Loss of energy 
• Withdrawal from social situations

For me, I tick the obvious of boxes, low moods, low energy and irritability, the craving of carbs and I don’t feel particularly sociable, though I do force myself to be so. 

I had never heard of SAD until it was referenced when I was at University. At the time, I was lucky enough to have a GP who was willing to listen but who also suffered from SAD and she was able to talk through the symptoms, talk about her own issues whilst at the same time, reassure me that everything would be just fine, which it was and still is. However, my one piece of advice to anyone who is struggling, needs help or someone to talk to, if you can’t talk to your GP, then you can always arrange online counselling with a qualified, objective professional who will help you get to the bottom of your uneasiness.

I have tried many different things to help with my SAD and there are a few that I still rely on today. The first is light therapy and that is where my Lumie Clock comes into its own. In a morning instead of being rudely awakened by an alarm, my Lumie light gently wakes you naturally producing light that gradually increases in intensity, just like the sun. 

So instead of hearing a foghorn going off as my iPhone kicks itself awake and has me jumping out of bed confused, I can set my Lumie to slowly wake me up. But that’s not all, this clever device can also be used in an evening to help me wind down and relax, plus I have the option to add in some white noise or have the radio on if I need too.

Then we have aromatherapy, something I am hugely obsessed with. There is a whole host of essential oils which can have an affect on your mood, for example:

• Orange, lime and bergamot are great for uplifting your mood
• Lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus help to de-stress and relax
• Grapefruit, pine and cinnamon help to boost energy

I spent years figuring out what works best for me, reading books and articles on how to use them. So currently, I have an essential oil diffuser which is great and dispensing my oil(s) of choice throughout the room I am in. You can of course opt for aromatherapy rollerballs that are great for use on the go, or another product that I use is my Lava diffuser necklace if I have got a packed day and need that extra support.

As well as those ways of helping, the advice from professionals and advice bodies is to get as much natural sunlight as you can - even if it is a brief and brisk lunchtime walk out in the fresh air. Sit near windows when you are indoors and make your work and home environments as light and airy as possible - I annoy my work colleagues by constantly opening windows, I’m not a fan of the heating being on at any point. Then there is the option of further medications which your GP might recommend such as therapy or antidepressants. 

If you think you suffer from SAD, there is a lot of information online about it and the differing symptoms and the NHS website has some really useful articles that I found helpful many years ago. 

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

The Perfume Society Time to Shine Edition

The Perfume Society is described as being your personal fragrance shopper, taking you from discovery and selection to purchase. From finding “the one” , to building a seasonal fragrance wardrobe of many “ones” and all from the comfort of your own home. I was kindly sent the Time to Shine Discovery Box and I have really enjoyed trying out some fragrances that I have heard about but never come across.

The Time to Shine Discovery Box is priced £26 + p&p* to VIP Club Members & £30 + p&p* and it really does give you quite a selection of varied products inside. At this time of year when people are beginning to think about Christmas presents and gifting, if you have a friend or friends who absolutely love their fragrances, then a box such as this will really make a wonderful present because it is a whole lot more than just a box of samples.

Inside this hefty box of goodies you will find 11 different fragrances in a variety of sizes and two other beauty and well-being products which also have a scent theme to them.

Carolina Herrera Good Girl (7ml eau de parfum) - Good Girl is said to have been inspired by Carolina Herrera’s unique vision of the duality of the modern woman: audacious and sexy, elegant and enigmatic, good and bad. It sits within the Gourmand Oriental family and you might recognise the name because it has such a unique bottle that is shaped like a stiletto. 

With top notes of almond, heart notes of tuberose and Jasmine Sambac and Base notes of Tonka bean and cocoa, this fragrance is definitely on the floral side of fragrances and it has great sillage, I liked it a lot more than I was expecting too and I can imagine this is a scent that you can wear all year round.

Christian Louboutin Loubirouge (4ml eau de parfum) - This fragrance sits within the Oriental Spicy family and is one I actually expected to really dislike from the notes, but found myself quite liking it. 

It opens with top notes of Cardamon, heart notes of Iris and base notes of Vanilla.  As you can imagine it is very much a spicy vanilla fragrance and for me, the Iris stops the vanilla from over-dominating the fragrance to make it too heady and heavy. 

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal A Paris 6ml eau de toilette - Without question this is a Chypre Floral and I need the larger bottle in my collection because I cannot get enough of it.  

With a top note of Pear; middle note of Jasmine and a base note of Honey, so it opens with a fresh fruity scent before Jasmine comes through and as a note I adore, it could never be too strong, but the honey note is the one which gives that sweet yet creaminess and it is just delightful.

Floral Street Ylang Ylang Espresso 10ml eau de parfum - A creamy Gourmand, this is one of my favourite scents from Floral Street. With top notes of Sichuan Pepper, Rose and Tangerine; heart notes of Ylang-Ylang, Tiramisu, Patchouli and Jasmine, plus base notes of Coffee, Whipped cream, Cacao and Guaiac Wood, there is nothing I dislike about the scent. The Ylang Ylang note is most definitely the dominant one with Jasmine and the coffee hiding behind it. A sweet balance of both the floral and coffee and the sillage is incredible.

Lalique Les Compositions Parfumées Velvet Plum 5ml eau de parfum - This is an Amber Woody Fragrance which, on the first spritz, I didn't really like as there is quite a sour note which dominates as it dries down and despite its name, there isn't a plum note within the description. Described as being a floral-synthetique, it opens with top notes of Nectarine, Pink Pepper and Mandarin Orange which I had expected to give it that spicy orange/citrus note but it doesn't.  The Heart notes are Iris, Tuberose and Osmanthus Absolute which I am guessing is where the plum part of the name is coming from. Finally the base notes of Suederal, Heliotrope, Patchouli and Cashmeran are all too much.

Maison Crivelli Santal Volcanique 5ml eau de parfum - This is a scent which firmly sits within the Woody Musky family and is described as being "the scent of scorched sandalwood on the slopes of an erupting volcano". It has notes of Ginger essential oil, cardamom essential oil, limette essential oil, sandalwood essential oil, cedar essential oil, ylang ylang essential oil, coffee absolute, musks and it is absolutely delightful. I was expecting something that resembles Old Spice from the description, but absolutely wrong on that front. It is quite the delight as the Sandalwood, the slightly dominant notes mixes with both the Ginger and Ylang Ylang, you get amazing sillage and I have really enjoyed wearing it.

Manos Gerakinis Parfums Immortelle 3ml eau de parfum - A Gourmand in every sense of the word and one that takes some getting used too, but it is absolutely lovely and to me brings back memories of a greek bakery. It has top notes of Cinnamon and Cloves; heart notes of Immortelle and Milk and then base notes of Brown sugar, Benzoin, Sandalwood and Patchouli. It has spice, it has butter and it is powdery all rolled into one.

Cochine Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood (1.8ml eau de parfum) - This scent sits within the Woody Family and is said to be inspired by the romance of travel and long summer evenings in the tropics, our unique fragrances capture the very essence of romantic escapism. It has top notes of Pepper and Lemon Leaf, heart notes of tuberose absolute , ylang ylang , orris and base notes of leather and sandalwood and the only words I have to describe this fragrance is wow, stunning and I need to try the rest of the collection, I love it.

Memo Paris Suitcase Marfa 2ml eau de parfum & Irish Leather (2ml eau de parfum) - This is a Floral Woody Musk fragrance for women and men and it is absolutely stunning.  With top notes of Orange Blossom and Mandarin Orange; middle notes of Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang and Agave before the base notes of Vanilla, Sandalwood, White Musk and Cedar. It opens with the most wonderful citrus scent which then brings in the floral notes before drying down and whilst it isn't green or earthy, there is definitely a warmness that comes through.

Malin + Goetz Cannabis 0.75ml eau de parfum - This is a woody spicy fragrances, which despite it name contains no THC and has top notes of Black Pepper and Bergamot; heart note of Magnolia and finally the base notes are Patchouli, Cedar and Sandalwood. So it is earthy as well as being spicy and the heart note of magnolia manages to  not let the what should be the dominant notes take control.

Malin + Goetz Dark Rum 0.75ml eau de parfum - Described as being part of the Aromamatic Fruity Family, we have top notes of Plum and Bergamot; heart notes of Leather and Rum and finally base notes of Amber, Milk and Patchouli.  As a fragrance it starts off quite sweet and as it dries down, it is a warm creamy scent which thankfully isn't over-powered by the rum note.

That is all of the fragrances you get to test and try within this box but it doesn't stop there as we have two other products waiting.  The first comes from Cochine with a Hand Cream and within the box, you will either get White Jasmine & Gardenia or Vietnamese Rose & Delentii 50ml.  

I have White Jasmine & Gardenia which is a luxuriously creamy hand cream with notes of Jasmine, gardenia and peony which work alongside Vitamin E and natural, plumping Hyaluronate to hydrate and leave your hands moisturised.

Then finally from Ruth Mastenbroek we have the Ancient Frankincense Scented Candle (17g). If you like a candle that is spicy and warm, then this one you will absolutely love.  Whilst this version is just a sample tealight, as soon as the perfume box was opened, I could smell the candle.  With top notes of Pink Pepper Oil and Elemi Resin, Heart Notes of Frankincense Resin, Myrrh Resin and Labdanum Resin and base notes of Pine Resin,Cypress Oil and Patchouli Oil and it is the perfect scent for this time of year.

So there you have the entire contents of The Perfume Society Time to Shine Edition and it costs just £26*, so a great gift for a fragrance fan. 

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