2017 Favourites

Some of these were new this year, some were just new to me this year and some are old favourites that just haven't been beaten yet. I've marked the products that were released this year with a *

It's quite a long video but there was a lot to cram in. All products are listed below and any blog reviews are listed at the bottom.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year - see you in 2018!

Products:
Cowshed Grumpy Cow Shampoo
*Mane 'n Tail Conditioner
Amelia Moss Argan Oil
*Pixi x Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
*Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Pads
Origins Make a Difference + Cream
Origins GinZing Eye Cream
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10%
Skin Owl Beauty Drops PM
*NARS Sun Wash Diffused Bronzer
Bourjois Smokey Stories in Over Rose
Hourglass Ambient Light Powder
*Rosie for Autograph Eye Shadow Sticks
*Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Younique Precision Lip Pencil in Popular
*Origins GinZing Tinted Moisturiser
Jao Brand LipJao
Eco Tools Brushes
Louise Young Eye Trio in Studio 54
Ilia Multistick
Ilia Illuminator
Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner
*Pixi Correction Concentrate
Maybelline Great Lash Big
*Daniel Sandler Customisable Colour for Cheeks
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Rose Glow
Lord & Berry Kajal
Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Bitch Perfect
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Dangerous

Reviews:
Cowshed Grumpy Cow Shampoo
*Mane 'n Tail Conditioner
Amelia Moss Argan Oil
*Pixi x Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
*Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Pads
Origins Make a Difference + Cream
Origins GinZing Eye Cream
*The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10%
Skin Owl Beauty Drops PM
*NARS Sun Wash Diffused Bronzer
Bourjois Smokey Stories in Over Rose
Hourglass Ambient Light Powder
*Rosie for Autograph Eye Shadow Sticks
*Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Origins GinZing Tinted Moisturiser
Jao Brand LipJao
Eco Tools Brushes
Ilia Multistick
Ilia Illuminator
Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner
*Pixi Correction Concentrate
*Daniel Sandler Customisable Colour for Cheeks
Lord & Berry Kajal

Some links are affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you click through and buy from them. There is no extra cost to you and if you are not comfortable with that then do feel free to open a separate window and google the product for yourself

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Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Due to life getting in the way I never did my intended teen post - there are some ideas for teens in the post below but also some ideas that you can either get online while there's time or on the high street. For women (and some men) if in doubt you can make up a goodie bag, for men you don't know well food and drink always goes down well.

Blue Bowl - last orders from this amazing present website are by 2pm on Thursday 21st. Need some stocking fillers? I simply love my leopard and though the zebra's are sadly sold out you can get these cool wild animal dispensers for the washi obsessive in your life (everyone has one of those). Tricky to buy for teens can have these pom pom hair ties or a pyramid pouch.

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How to use Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

This is one of the questions I'm asked most and I hope this video helps. I've put a link to my previous reviews of this powder below and you can see it in action in probably 90% of my videos. I'm using Diffused Light as it not only suits my skin colour but helps with redness which I have. There are five other colours all which do different things so you can find the perfect one for you. This is a very light powder which is why I love it and refines and flatters the appearance of the skin.

I hope this helps you understand how to use it - think of it as an incredibly light, flattering finisher to your make-up. It just pulls everything together. I've also listed the other make-up I'm wearing below in case you want to know!

Rimmel Eye Shadow in Bluffing
Lord & Berry Kajal
Maybelline Great Lash Big
Origins GinZing Tinted Moisturiser
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Chelsea
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light
NYX Butter Lipstick in Pops Explosif

You can see my full review of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder here

My review of the Lord & Berry Kajal is here

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Skin Owl Maqui Berry Beauty Drops PM

One of my friends is a bit of a skincare obsessive, like me. And like me her skin doesn't like a lot of things but luckily for me our skins like different things so I get a lot of her rejects and one of them was this Maqui Berry beauty drops oil from Skin Owl.

Now, I've said it before and I'm saying it again, it's quite rare for me to have an immediate wow from skincare but I've been feeling pretty wowed by this. I have to confess to not having really looked into Skin Owl before. I'd heard of the brand but with so much skincare available now it's hard to keep up especially when you buy 95% of the products yourself (fact). So I didn't know anything about the brand, I don't think much happens with oils so I just whacked this on one night when my skin felt like it needed a real hit of moisture - the weather has wreaked havoc on my dry skin. Woke up with skin like a baby.

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Christmas Gift Ideas - Books

As some of you will know I used to work in publishing and so I am very much a fan of giving and receiving books. Though this has got me into trouble - I am currently desperately finding places in my already-full house to put yet another bookshelf - its an addiction I just can't seem to give up. My Amazon wishlist has got to be one of their longest.

A good cookbook or coffee table book makes a great house gift if you are going to stay with unfamiliars this Christmas. There are some great kids books in there too.

Agatha Chrisie - of course I think my favourite author should be given to everyone. If you can track down the little hardbacks they look amazing on your shelves. My recommendations are - Mrs McGinty’s Dead, Five Little Pigs and Sleeping Murder. There is an absolutely stunning illustrated edition of Murder on the Orient Express: Illustrated Edition film tie-in that is beautiful to look at let alone read.

The Christmas Chronicles - if I were only allowed to choose one cook book it would probably be this. It's festive, it's beautiful and Nigel Slater always manages to write in a way that is slightly more than just a cookbook.

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Lord & Berry Kajal

If you don't like your eye make-up to budge then you should probably stop reading. This isn't for you. If you are like me and don't mind everything grunging up again then this could be something you'll love. I read about this a couple of years ago and have been meaning to try it for ages (as I consider myself a bit of a black eyeliner aficionado) - it is loved by almost-a-national-treasure Claudia Winkleman. And though I love her, she's not always the tidiest in the make-up department. I don't think she cares about that.

So, in case you haven't already guessed it. This moves. It glides on beautifully and will also glide around beautifully given half a chance. Eye rubbers step away from the kajal. This is great with some eyeshadow pressed over the top to set it a bit or if you like to smudge up and smoke out your eyeliner. If you wear it on the waterline it will go on incredibly easily, but you will need to re-apply it throughout the day.

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Beauty Christmas Gift Ideas

This could be pretty endless so I've tried to keep it concise. Some of these I've tried, some I haven't, but all of them are things I would willingly give and gladly receive.

Bath Bombs - I don't know why but they always feel like a treat to me. And come on, they are fun.

Becca Glow on the Go - this on-trend rose gold kit should suit most skin tones. And it's another one that's pretty reasonably priced.

Bobbi Brown - have a lot to offer this Christmas. For those on a bigger budget the Sparkle All Night Eyes and Lips Kit is very wearable and transportable but my personal favourite is the Caviar and Rubies Eye Set.

Charlotte Tilbury - yes her products are (mostly) worth the hype. I'd chose the Bitch Perfect Lip Set (every time I wear this lipstick I get asked what it is, without fail),  I've always secretly wanted this make-up bag, I'm pushing the boundaries on whether you can actually have too many make-up brushes I love this mini kit for when I eventually travel again.

Daniel Sandler - any of the watercolour blushers would be absolutely lovely but the Customisable Colour for Cheeks is pretty special.

Laura Mercier - another gorgeous brush set this year.  The Art of Exotic Colour collection looks love too.

Lipstick Queen Transformer Trio - these are fun and really not unreasonably priced.

Lord & Berry - much underrated in my opinion. I use and love their kajal and their lipsticks and would happily receive their stylographic liner, lipstick pencils (in fire, scarlett or blush), or Twistick (in On Stage). And at the moment they are offering a free gift (that I really want) when you purchase two products or more.

Louise Young - another brand from which I would happily recommend anything and her brushes would make gorgeous stocking fillers or goodie bag stuffers.

Marc Jacobs On the Prowl Set - the Marc Jacobs eye shadows have been one of the most talked about releases of this year and the one included in this set looks incredibly wearable. The Wild One eye shadow palette is pretty incredible looking too.

Nudestix - This Matte Nude Lip and Cheek Stain is lovely, even if I'm a little over matte at the moment.

NYX - may not be high end but one of their Jumbo Eye Pencils would be a welcome addition to any stocking or goodie bag. Cashmere, Iced Mocha, French Fries and Yoghurt are all great colours.

Origins - I'm a huge Origins fan and this Holiday Gift Set looks absolutely wonderful. The Easy Slider Pre-Shave Oil would be great for the man in your life

Philip Kinglsey - the elasticiser is one of the few products I genuinely think makes a difference.

Pixi Best of Bright - yes I love the Glow Tonic but there's something more festive about this little kit and they are the perfect size for those who travel.

Don't forget to go and see my non-beauty gift ideas, and my suggestions for what to get kids aged 0-10. Still to come are presents for teens and my book suggestions.

Some links are affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you click through and buy from them. There is no extra cost to you and if you are not comfortable with that then do feel free to open a separate window and google the product for yourself

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Christmas Giveaway

On my Instagram at the moment I am giving away a goodie bag of surprise treats. All you have to do is find the post, like it and nominate a friend you think deserves something nice.

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Christmas Gift Ideas (non make-up)

In my notes I've called this 'Present's for Grown-ups' because it's so hard to divide everything into categories all the time and it's not like when you are Christmas shopping you go 'Oh well I'll just buy for the men I know today, women can be next week'. These can be actual presents, stocking fillers or presents for those tricky-to-buy-for friends of the family who may spend some of the festive time with you. Also some great suggestions for house gifts if you are going to stay with people and want to avoid the usual wine/chocolate/panetone.

Beeswax Wraps - I love these. I love them so much that they sent me some to say thank you for a review and I immediately went online and bought some for friends. If I could be bothered I'd find the timing that I Instagrammed my excitement at the post and then the receipt of my purchase. There's an hour in it max. Anyway, I love all of these and we use our Medium Kitchen Pack all the time and you can read my full review here. Any of these packs would make a really unusual house gift and I like Cheese pack but as a stocking filler the 1 Medium and 1 Small wraps would be great and men who have fires will love the Bee Bombs (a useful present that doesn't clutter up the house... who doesn't
want that?)

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