Christmas gifts out at Boots already!

Wow, it's not even Halloween yet, but Boots are getting ready for the Christmas gift giving season. You can see their selection of goodies here, but here are my top picks!

Okay, so I'm a bit selfish, I guess. I picked things I would love to receive... but then I think when it comes to beauty products, if you don't wanna receive it, why would anyone else? ... Yeah, erm, I know that's not always the case, but I think these gifts would probably be well received by any lucky lady!

No 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Experience, £35.00

First things first. Skincare is beyond important, and no matter your age, or the intended recipient's age (well,,, within reason), a lady cannot go without reliable skincare products. So my first pick is this No 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Experience. It may seem a bit steep at £35.00, but it has an awful lot of useful products included in the 'experience', such as:

• No7 Soft and Soothed Toner (30ml)
• No7 Soft and Soothed Cleaner (30ml)
• No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum (30ml)
• No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Day Cream (25ml)
• No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Eye Cream (5ml)
• No7 Protect and Perfect Intense night Cream (25ml)
• No7 Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator (15ml)

I know personally, I would love this set. Most of the products are smaller than the full size, so if you haven't used it before, it's not a massive commitment, but it's still a lot bigger and more substantial than a sample. Also, I have been dying for No7 to bring out travel sizes! Those big glass jars may look lovely on my dresser and in the bathroom, but when I'm on holiday it's the last thing I wanna carry around with me.

Dior Christmas Expert Eye Palette, £52.00

This Dior Christmas Expert Eye Palette contains everything you need to pull off a sexy smokey eye. But of course, as it's a shade of neutral browns, you don't have to go full on smokey sexiness, but can keep it casual for the office. This is an amazing palette, and no matter what any girl tells you, she can never have enough brown eyeshadows. They are so versatile and everyon can wear them. Dior eyeshadows are also a great gift for any lady who loves premium makeup.

This kit includes it all:

• Serum primer
• Mini-Eyeliner Pencil
• Matte Serum enriched eyeshadow
• Shiny Serum enriched eyeshadow
• Glow
• Brow liner
• 2 double-ended applicators

Hello Kitty Liberty Lip Gloss Collection, £10.00

Last, but certainly not least, is a more purse-friendly option from Hello Kitty and Liberty Arts. Hello Kitty and Liberty Arts actually did a similiar collaboration last year, which included 4 shades of lip gloss in a collectable tin, which they have repeated this year. However, the colours are different: Golden Rose, Pink Shimmer, Pale Pink, and Natural Shimmer (8ml each). Notably, there is a bright pink replacing the darker lip shade, but on the whole the shades are all wearable and this is a must have for any girly girl or lover of Hello Kitty.

Have you already started your holiday shopping? Or are you too busy making your wishlist?

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist

I'd never tried balancing mist before I kindly received Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist as a gift from a dear friend.

I have to admit, I've had this awhile now and I haven't used it in my daily routine, so I don't think it's fair for me to comment on its toning properties, but I do use it on occasion for a light fresh on my face. The scent is lovely and delicate, but a bit strong for my face - it may be that I'm spraying too close? Who knows.

If you have a chance to try this, I would recommend it. It's a lovely little pampering treat.

Protect & Perfect? Yes, please, Boots No7 Skincare

I know that it may not be news, but I wanted to share my favourite skincare products from the Boots No7 skincare range: 

Protect & Perfect Day Cream

Protect & Perfect Night Cream

Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum

 

I actually bought these 3 just before Christmas and have to say that my winter skin has really loved this trio!

Honestly I use the Intense Beauty Serum religiously, and try to remember to use the Day Cream. I usually completely forget about the Night Cream. That's not true, I don't forget, I've just been really lazy at night before bed.

While the creams are amazing, the Beauty Serum is what I've been most impressed with. I know I'm not the first, but it has really won me over. Those five little pumps each morning after washing my face make all the difference. I've already bought myself a refill and am halfway through it. I prefer it in the glass bottle with the pump top, but it also comes in a squeeze tube - same amount of product and same price (not really sure why they do that!?)

Using the serum, I have really noticed a glowing difference in my skin, that I can only put down to using this product. It's amazing and I whole-hardheartedly recommend it.

Then completely not related...

There's going to be a Rurouni Kenshin / るろうに剣心 (also known as Samurai X) movie this summer in Japan! Sounds great. Here's a trailer with English subtitles. Are you excited too?

Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar and Wild Honeysuckle lotions and gels

Bath & Body Works is a wonderful store full of so many different fragrances of soaps, body lotions, shower gels, and now even shampoos, conditioners, and air fresheners!

I've been a fan of Bath & Body Works since I was a wee kid, but now that I live in the UK, I do miss it. I admit to stocking piling the body lotion because I literally can't live without it! Over the years scents have come and gone and I thought I'd share my favourites today.

Honeysuckle. We had honeysuckle growing in my dad's garden when I was a kid, and I love love love the smell. I'm not sure if I love it so much because of the childhood association or not, but I adore it like no other scent. B&BW used to have a Honeysuckle lotion and shower gel that I started using in my early tweens, but sadly it has been discontinued long ago.

Every so often, B&BW rereleases some of their classic scents and I think it was maybe 5 years ago or more I last purchased a reissue of that classic Honeysuckle shower gel.

Luckily, I wasn't the only fan of Honeysuckle, because B&BW released another honeysuckle scent, Wild Honeysuckle several years ago. I used to be able to find it in the stores, but now it's only available online - so I guess it's not that popular (oh well!), and so now that I'm visiting the US for a couple weeks, I'm hoping to order me some!

My other favourite scent is Warm Vanilla Sugar, which they've had for years. I find it so light and delicious smelling that I can never resist it! I'm glad this one seems to be ever-popular and am excited to see they've even got shampoo and conditioner - I am totally tempted to try this!

Have you tried Bath & Body Works? What's your favourite scent?

Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 Review

Not to long ago I blogged about Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Liquid sunblock that makes a great facial sunblock, but as it's winter my skin needs more moisturizing as well as SPF protection. That's when I turn to another Neutrogena product, Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50. Although I always apply a moisturizer after washing my face, I find in the winter a creamy sunblock for my face doesn't go amiss. 

This stuff is great. It's thick and creamy, but blends into my skin well leaving it feeling moist and not greasy. I do have fairly dry skin, so I find this a great alternative to the Ultra Sheer Liquid on days when I need a bit more moisture. It also doesn't feel heavy and works well under makeup. I really can't recommend this stuff enough. My only regret is that it's not easily available in the UK, but it is in the US and retails for $13.99. 

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock Review

As a pale lady, I've always been a fan of a good sunblock. Especially one you could wear on your face that was light and non-greasy. For years the East Asian market has led the way with facial sunblock. When I was a student studying in Japan before the turn of the century (yikes!) I can remember stocking up on SPF 100. Thankfully the good people at Neutrogena heard my prayers and answered all my wishes with their Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock available in SPF 70 and 55. I've not yet tried the SPF 55, but I've gone through quite a few bottles of SPF 70 to recommend this product.

If you're accustomed to Japanese or Korean brands of facial sunblock, Ultra Sheer Liquid will be no surprise. It's a liquid which you shake before using and goes on light, smooth, blends into skin and leaves your skin feeling moist. Unlike some Japanese brands I've tried, which leave my face dry and tight, I find the Neutrogena formula moisturizing. I do have dry skin, so I moisturize, then apply this sunblock, and then foundation, but I still don't find my face getting greasy. I'm not sure how this would fare on greasy skin. Any of you out there tried it?  Honestly, it's not so light I don't notice it. Of course, I notice it but honestly after 5 minutes I can't even tell I've put it on. Although there is a slight sunblock lotion smell it's not strong. It's the best sunblock I've used, and with it widely available at drug stores in the US, it's much more accessible than the Japanese brands. It usually retails for $12.49 US. The only downside to this product is that it's not been released in the UK. Maybe Neutrogena don't think we get enough sun exposure to warrant a release here,  so in the meantime, I will continue to buy it from the US!

Do you use any facial sunblock?