One of the best places for doing some early shopping for Christmas presents is Boots which has an amazing range of gifts. At their store on Oxford Street in London, there was an entire floor devoted to Christmas gifts, featuring a mind-boggling array of brands. All were eligible for the "3 for 2" promotion.
Soap & Glory had makeup, skincare and bodycare sets.
No.7, which is exclusive to Boots, also had a wide range of makeup, brush and skincare sets. Even after the recent revamp, I still feel that the quality of the brand is very hit-and-miss. None of the makeup and brush sets looked that fantastic, to be honest.
17 also didn't look that tempting.
At first glance, I thought that these shower gels were by Philosophy. Upon closer examination, I realised that it was just a very cleverly designed knock-off.
Ted Baker is one of my favourite UK clothing brands but their makeup and bodycare line for Boots doesn't have much going for it aside from pretty packaging.
Even Starbucks and Nando's have gotten in on the act.
I did splurge on the Hello Kitty x Liberty collection, which like last year's range, contained makeup, bodycare and accessories. That retro alarm clock was right on top of my list.
Fearne
L'Oreal & Dove
Even Twilight and Glee sets are available.
Have you started on your Christmas shopping?
I managed to finish up several products since the last empties post back in May. It seems like the months keep slipping by more quickly as the year goes on.
1. Paul & Joe Pressed Powder 03 is a finishing powder that gives a lovely glowy effect. The glimmer is a touch more obvious than Guerlain Meteorites but not too over-the-top. This has since been discontinued and replaced with the Pressed Powder Duo which combines matte and pearl face powders.
2. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose is one of my favourite lip balms as it protects with SPF15 and never feels sticky on the lips. I just purchased the new Coral version which looks very promising.
3. Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist is quite refreshing but I preferred the scent of the Rosewater version. It's also way too pricey for a face mist (this was a gift with purchase). I've switched to L'Occitane Angelica Mist which gives much better value for money (€12.50 for 100ml) and produces a finer mist.
4. Stila Lip Glaze in 08 Apricot has a glossy finish but does not feel particularly moisturising on the lips. It is also slightly tacky with an artificial fruity scent. The amount of product is so puny at a mere 1.5ml that it can be easily finished within 2-3 weeks with daily usage. Also, they are much cheaper than they used to be but the flip side is that these are now made in China.
5. K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow 01 is a daily staple, as it lasts much better than eyebrow powders and is a breeze to use. I go through one every two months and have re-purchased it too many times to count.
6. Sunsilk Hair Recovery Treatment turned out to be pretty average. It didn't weigh my hair down but I did not notice any significant improvement in my hair. Ingredients list is below.
7. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil also did not make my hair feel more hydrated or softer than usual, so it was a disappointment. The amount of argan oil in it is probably miniscule, given that it is tenth on the list of ingredients after silicones and perfume.
8. Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Shampoo had a lovely light floral scent. This did not leave my hair in tangles or feeling stripped, but it did not feel extra silky or glossy as promised. This contains sulfates.
9. L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Gentle Shampoo has a nice scent and cleanses well without stripping my hair. However, I find this too expensive to re-purchase.
10. Philosophy Tinsel Town has a delicious crisp berry scent. It lathers up very easily but my skin still needs moisturiser after using this, especially in the winter months.
11. Soap & Glory Flake Away is a body polish containing shea butter, sugar and peach seed. The scent is very strong and sweet, possibly too cloying for some people. It does provide excellent exfoliating action though.
12. The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Morocco Argan Oil & Orange Blossom Body Souffle has a wonderfully light texture that sinks into the skin without feeling greasy. However, it's just too pricey at S$39.90 for 200ml.
13. Paul & Joe Fragrance Body Cream 002 was part of a holiday set a couple of years ago. This felt slightly greasy on the skin and I didn't quite like the scent.
14. Lush Buche de Noel was a limited edition oats-based exfoliating face cleanser released for last Christmas. It reminded me very much of Angels on Bare Skin, except that this has a stronger cherry scent. This is gentle enough to use every day and rinses off cleanly without any residue.
15. L'Oreal Elseve Liss-Intense Serum Anti-Frizz used to work well for taming my hair but recently, it doesn't seem to provide the same sleekness as before so I won't be re-purchasing this.
16. L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is a daily staple that I've re-purchased many times as it does not irritate my eyes. The biphase remover takes off eyeshadows in a jiffy while mascara and eyeliner take a bit more effort to wipe off.
17. Pure Fiji Nourishing Exotic Oil in Coconut worked wonders with my hair, keeping it glossy and frizz-free throughout the day. The warm coconut scent takes a bit of getting used to though.
Addiction Crow is a lovely sooty black that is loved by both Mag and Blogdorf Goodman. The shade is very aptly named, with a blackened bluish sheen.
The pic above was taken under normal indoor lighting while the pic below was taken under a spotlight that showed up the shimmers more vividly. When applied, it is actually not that shimmery.
For this look, I paired it with Addiction Blue Moon in the crease and outer half of the lower lashline, Horizon over the browbone area and Silent Scream along the lower lashline. Applied over Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Crow take just a few brush strokes to achieve an intensely pigmented finish that lasts all day without any creasing, although there was a tiny bit of smudging at the outer corner.
I finished by applying MAC Designer Purple Pearlglide Eyeliner along the upper lashline and Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes mascara.
The other products used include: Armani Sheer Blush in Tourmaline Pink, Soap & Glory Show Good Face in A Good Light, Kick Ass Concealer in Light, K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow, Dior Addict Ultra Gloss #732 Orange Boléro and Paul & Joe Pressed Powder 03.
Pink Tourmaline is extremely pale and sheer, with a very refined shimmer that makes it more suitable as a highlighter than a blush. It adds just the barest hint of colour to my cheeks. The delicate ballet pink hue was just too mesmerisingly pretty in the compact to pass up.
Show Good Face is described as a 2-in-1 skin energising foundation & primer. I found this quite average. It's alright for evening out the complexion but it does not cover red spots well. The concealer works somewhat better but I find the texture slightly dry. I use the peach shade on the left for under the eyes and the beige shade for covering up spots like those on my cheek.
Whenever I visit the UK, I usually return with an armful of magazines, thanks to the amazing freebies bundled with UK magazines. They often also include sample sachets of the latest foundations or skincare products (but sadly, these are not included in the issues sold outside of the UK). While Japanese magazines offer branded freebies as well, these are usually accessories like pouches and bags or stationery, instead of the full size beauty products with a retail value a few times the price of the magazine.
Cosmopolitan was giving out two Clinique deluxe sample products with each issue. I picked the 7 Day Scrub Cream (30ml) and Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss 10 Grapefruit (7ml), which is a clear baby pink.
I love the Superbalm Moisturizing Glosses as they leave the lips feeling very soft and comfortably hydrated. I already have this in Black Honey, which I adore.
Elle was giving away this Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara which normally retails at £10. The magazine was less than £4. The reviews on Beauty Bite and Princess Livia make it look pretty good.
The April issue of Marie Claire (£3.70) came bundled with a full size Neal's Yard Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture (45ml) worth £12. I haven't started using this yet but the rose scent smells quite lovely.
Made in the UK, it contains rosa centifolia extract, damask rose oil, hyaluronic acid and calendula extract. It is free of mineral oil, parabens, silicones, phthalates, artificial fragrances and colors.
These Leighton Denny polishes in Crushed Grape (left) and Vamp were freebies with the March issue of Red. The polishes, which usually retail at £11 each, were only bundled with issues sold in Marks & Spencer and WH Smith at railway stations. I found these at the WH Smith in Victoria station. (See swatches of Crushed Grape and another shade, Lilac, on Le petit jardin de Liloo.)
Glamour (£2) was giving out the new Percy & Reed haircare range with each issue. With the four products (all 100ml sizes) worth £43 combined, I ended up buying four copies to get the whole set, and gave away the extra magazines to my sister-in-law. These also came with sample sachets of Estee Lauder's new Invisible Fluid Makeup in shade 2WN1.
So far, I've tried only the Splendidly Silky Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner. Both have a light sweet floral scent. Made in England, they leave my hair soft and tangle-free without feeling weighed down. The artwork is a quirky, eye-catching departure from the usual generic mass market brands.
The Finishing Polish is a styling cream (read a review on The Glossy Guide) while the Hydrating Mask is meant to be used as a 10-minute intensive hydrating treatment.
