Christmas Gifting Beauty Edition

Hi,

So it's that time in year again. It's Christmas and time to start buying Christmas gifts.

Buying beauty gifts can be difficult, you don't necessarily know what people want or whether they already have something. Unless this said person has kindly provided a list for you here are some of my suggestions for beauty gifts.

After talking about how nicely scented the Ted Baker range was in my haul. I had to include a Ted Baker product as part of my gift guide. This Ted Baker Body Souffle Bauble would make the perfect stocking filler or maybe even a secret santa present due to its small size. The packaging alone makes it look luxurious and the size of the moisturiser is perfect for travelling.

Another cute little stocking filler, maybe for a girl who wants to try different higher end tan is this St Tropez Cracker, which has a 50ml St Tropez instant tan suitable for face and body. A bit of a bigger set here but still affordable is this set of three 50ml body buttercreams from Soap and Glory. This is perfect for someone who maybe hasn't tried the brand before or people who just like a good pamper.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six

See you tomorrow!

Jess

x

My Beauty Haul

Hi,

So last week it was my birthday, of course this meant that I decided to do a bit of beauty shopping (obvs). Being a bit of a newbie to blogging I have been taking part in a lot of blogger chats on Twitter (@JessieLou33 if you care) and this has made me write a list so long on my notes pages on my phone that I barely know where to start with. Here is a selection of things that I picked up when I went into the aisles of Boots and other such places that I am excited to tell you about...

The first product in my haul is this Ted Baker Body Wash. I have never tried Ted Baker body products before and so when I browsing Boots, these beautiful products caught my eye. The packaging alone is beautiful and could probably persuade me enough on its own as I am a lover of pink. The smell is also divine it is quite fruity and floral smell and is described as a mix of grapefruit, mandarin, mango, neroli, jasmine, patchouli, sandlewood and musk. Personally I think it is the jasmine that makes me like it so much as that is one of my favourite scents.

On a similar sort of vein this is the matching Ted Baker Hand Cream. This has the same brilliant scent as the body wash but in hand cream form. The one that I have is perfect for fitting into any handbag due to its small size although I can't find the small one on the website so it might just be in store unfortunately, Now all I need is the matching body spray and I can smell of the divine scent all of the time. Maybe that will be next on my list.

The next product that I have bought is the Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue in Coral Crave. Although I have bought baby lips before in the normal range and was not too impressed with them I still wanted to try the Dr Rescue range. I don't necessarily want it for the colour pay off although I am big fan of a nice coral colour. I wanted it to see if it would moisturise my lips and keep them moisturused. Although I am yet to try it so I will get back to you on that one.

After reading up on what make-up Little Mix were wearing in the latest music video, I had to run out to the shops and buy these two products. I was actually surprised at how many drugstore products that they used. First up is the Barry M Light Me Up Highlighter, which is a lovely golden highlighter, which is perfect for the cheek bones. I have also used it to give me a bit of a sheen on my eye lids too when I can't be bothered to apply proper eyeshadow. It makes the skin nice and radiant and like you have a glow from within.

The last product in my haul also my Barry M is the Barry M Make Me Blush Cream in Rhubarb Crumble. This is a lovely natural pinky flush of colour that is not too obvious. As it is a cream formula you make it blend easily and seamlessly into the skin, to make it look very natural. I use a stippling brush straight away after I place the blush on my cheeks to blend it in. I like this so much that I may have to get the other two colours as well.

Is there anything that you have bought recently? Tell me in the comments below what you bought, so I can make my wishlist longer.

See you on Monday!

Jess
x

Ebay Bargains: Brush Dupes

Hi,

I thought today I would show you some dupes for some make up brushes from ebay. Make up brushes can be very expensive but ebay is a good place to go to get some cheaper alternatives. 

Mac 217 Dupe - RRP £20 (99p - eBay)

Although I already own a Mac 217, I could do with a few more just as I am lazy and cannot be bothered to wash my brushes so often, but when they are £20 its just not worth it. So here is an alternative which means I could have twenty for the same price. These brushes are perfecting for blending eye shadow seamlessly into each other to create the perfect eye look. 

Beauty Blender Dupe - RRP £16 (99p - eBay)

Although I do not have the real beauty bender I do have the Real Techniques version of it. So maybe if you want an even cheaper version of that then you should go for this one, with a massive saving on both of the proces. This sponge helps to blend foundation into the skin and gives an almost flawless finish to the skin, a must for when you are going out. 

Real Techniques Pointed Crease 201 Dupe - RRP £12 (99p - eBay)

This is another brush that I already have which I find perfect for doing blending eye shadow in the crease and also for applying any eye shadow under the eye. It just looks beautiful and applies the perfect amount. Being part of Real Techniques professional line it is a bit more on the expensive side but this dupe looks perfect. 

Urban Decay Naked Basic Double Ended Brush Dupe - RRP £18 (99p - eBay)

Another brush that I already have this one is perfect for if you are on the go and don't want to take loads of different brushes with you as this one has two ends to it. One for applying eye show and blending it in, I tend to find that if I have more colour I will just use different sides of the flat brush to apply them. The only problem with this brush is that I don't know how to store it with the rest of my brushes as I don't want the bristles to get damaged. 

BareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush Dupe - RRP £24 (99p - eBay)

This is a brush that I am very intrigued to try as I do not know how my foundation will react with it. I feel like they would just go down into the dip in the middle and that all the foundation will be absorbed. I am glad that a cheaper alternative is on the market so I don't have to waste my money on something that might not be very good. 

The total value of all of the luxury brushes added together would be £90. Now if you don't fancy spending all of that the cost of all the dupes addeed together comes in at £4.95. What a saving! Is there any brush dupes that you know of? Let me know. 

See you tomorrow. 

Jess

x