Santa baby…

Christmas is coming. #Sorrynotsorry. I love Christmas for many reasons but gift giving and receiving has to be one of the most fun parts. A well-considered gift that is beautifully wrapped can express so much love and care. During foolish childhood years it seemed to be the quantity of gifts that was important. I just wanted to rip open the paper and didn’t take much notice of what was inside. Now with some years of experience under my Santa’s hat, I realise it’s the quality of the gift that truly conveys the sentiment of the Christmas spirit.

I’m a beauty-addict not-so-anonymous!

I can confidently say that my obsession with beauty started aged nine when I remember attentively staring at my glamorous mother applying layer after layer of lotions and potions, and I thought: WHAT IS THIS SWEET-SMELLING SORCERY? I WANT THOSE! To some it may seem excessive but she looks darn good so something must have worked. My auntie was a hairdresser and owned her own salon, so my love of all things hair and cosmetics also blossomed rapidly in my formative years. Since then I’ve never looked back. If you wanna talk beauty, come talk to me! I’ll get the kettle on…

If you buy cheap, you’ll buy twice… 

As with most things, buying quality is paramount. Beauty is certainly no different. For me, I use beauty products every day so poor quality is noticeable very quickly. It’s worth spending that teensy bit more for a tried and trusted brand that has a solid reputation in the beauty industry. Then you’ll have no disappointments come Boxing Day.

So, if you’ve got a beauty-bonkers loved one (ahem, hubby I hope you’re reading this…) then look no further for the ultimate Beauty Lovers Gift Guide. Have a scroll through and be inspired! From professional make-up cases to luxury fragrances, you can be sure these particular items will have any make-up-mad or skincare-savvy lady swooning on Christmas morning (and seriously chuffed that you read her mind). You can thank me later…

1 JOLIGRACE GIRLS MAKEUP CASE WITH MIRROR -LOCKABLE WITH KEYS (PINK) £24.99 by Makeup Fix

This professional make-up case is a small and lightweight Tardis for all your beauty bits! Complete with a mirror, this case becomes your vanity unit on the go. I’m a huge stickler for organisation and there’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination with your make-up jumbled around, opened, or worse still – broken! This case comes with trays so you can compartmentalise your items and feel like a pro make-up artist in no time. Find it here

2 LIQUID AURA ILLUMINATING MIX-IN MEDIUM £24 by Urban Decay

The highlighter or “strobing” trend gets ever more popular with Instagram and YouTube stars like NikkieTutorials showing us mere mortals how it’s done. However, highlighting doesn’t have to mean looking like a pearlescent bauble. The “natural” way to highlight is with an illuminating fluid mixed in with your usual foundation for an all over ten-hour sleep refreshed look, or a dab of it lightly tapped on the cheekbones for a subtle dewy glow. Find it here

3 LIMITED EDITION INSTANT EYE PALETTE £60 by Charlotte Tilbury

Celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury is someone who knows make-up, she really gets it. Her make-up counters are popping up in more department stores nationwide which makes me whoop with joy. Her products are stunning, and incredible quality. This palette is extremely popular and has a cult following on social media. It hasn’t quite reached the dizzying heights of fandom that the Urban Decay Naked palettes have, but I actually think this palette will suit more women. The colours will take you from desk-to-dinner, through all seasons and they blend beautifully together. Find it here

4 GEL EFFECT NAIL POLISH IN ‘PORCHESTER SQUARE’ £15 by Nails Inc.

As I said at the top of the article, I love quality and this is (in my opinion) one of the best nail polish brands around. Their salons in London have been famed for their express manicures for yonks, and now they’re a global brand. This is my favourite shade (think grey and beige…greige!) and their gel effect formulation is super long lasting without the need of a UV lamp or tedious soaking off afterwards. Pair this with a glass nail file and a nice cuticle balm and you’ve got one fabulous gift to sit under the tree. Find it here

5 No7 ROSE GOLD ILLUMINATED MIRROR currently on offer only £17.99 (!) from Boots

A fantastic quality mirror for an unbelievable price. I got mine for Christmas last year in silver tone, and oh how I love it. It’s not the lightest mirror ever, and yet I loved it enough to cart it all the way to USA and back for holidays! It has a magnified side to get up close and personal with those pesky stray hairs and also a standard side for everyday. You can use it unplugged, but the best bit about this mirror is how good the lamp is. It’s a lovely soft diffused light which is excellent for doing your make-up on dark early mornings or dreary days. Get it or regret it! Find it here

6 EXPRESS YOUR SOUL SHIMMER BODY CREAM £19.50 by Rituals

Once Christmas has passed, I’m in total new year mode. It’s all about the resolutions, spring cleaning, healthy eating and fitness. This cream smells divine! A floral-citrus scent which is so fresh and cleansing, and fits perfectly with the “new beginnings” mentality. Slather this on and you’ll certainly feel positive and motivated for 2018. It has a delicate subtle shimmer too which will look great alongside a new years’ party outfit! Find it here

7 HUDA BEAUTY SLANT TWEEZER £28 by Tweezerman

Who is Huda Beauty? The question ought to be: where have you been hiding? Huda Kattan is a make-up artist and Instagram royalty who has turned her beauty blogging into a hugely popular business selling false lashes, eyeshadows, and more recently a hotly anticipated foundation. Her eyebrows are consistently on point, so it’s no wonder why she has her own range of high quality tweezers in a choice of fun lip designs. Beauty addicts will rejoice at this luxurious gift! Find it here

8 MINI TERRE DE LUMIÈRE STAR £8 by L’Occitane

With amber, pink pepper and honey, this warm gourmand fragrance is sublime. Both me and my mum love this scent, so this really would be a perfect gift for all ages and tastes. It smells wonderfully expensive, but in this dinky purse-friendly 5ml size it’s a piece of luxury for a fraction of the cost. Spritzed on a soft scarf or cosy jumper, this perfume will take you to warmer climes whilst we’re in the depths of winter. Find it here

I hope you enjoyed my beauty lovers gift guide, I would love to hear your recommendations in the comments below. Happy Christmas shopping!

*This post includes a collaboration with Makeup Fix. However, all recommendations and opinions are solely my own. Prices and website links correct at time of publication.

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