Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hi guys hope everyone has an amazing Christmas! Enjoy the holidays and I'll be back very soon with some updates! I am off to Germany for New Year as well so will keep try to blog as much as I can! Thanks for all your kind words and support! xxxxxx

Cupid and Grace - perfect for hair lovers

If you are still looking for the perfect gift for a hair lover, then I have found the perfect site called Cupid and Grace that just sells hair products. Yes it is heaven and I want everything on there! I am a total hair junkie and am really impressed by the amount of professional hair brands that are on offer - Tigi, Keune (love their shine spray), Schwarzkopf and also electrical brands such as Babylis and GHD. They also offer loads of men's gift ideas as well - the Kent for Men Wet Styler I ordered for my boyfriend has been a real success for him and it only cost £7.95. I also ordered the much talked about Babylis Conical Wand in pink! for £28.95 which I can't wait to try out and review once my broken finger has healed. My order arrived really quickly and I was also emailed regularly about the status of my order, which is very reassuring especially this time of year! The packaging was also really nice and had a few personal touches inside the box - overall the service is excellent and much better it seems that bigger rivals HQ Hair which other bloggers seem to have issues with.

Don't worry you can also still order in time for Christmas up to 2pm on Wednesday 23rd December by choosing the next day delivery service at checkout!

Gadget gifts for him from Braun....ok one tested by me!

Hope you are enjoying the weekend and my gift guides so far! I have struggled so far to find presents for my Dad and Boyfriend, so thought I would write about two great Braun products that are currently half price or less in Boots, so are a bargain as well!

I was originally asked to review the new Braun Triumph 5000 Power toothbrush so wanted to try it out properly in order to give an accurate review. This latest toothbrush from Braun comes complete with a digital smart guide and has 8,800 rotations and 40,000 pulsations a minute. It also has 5 modes - daily, sensitive, deep clean, polish and massage mode, so you have plenty of options for dentist-clean teeth every morning. It is reduced to £62.50 in Boots at the moment and I must say I have always been sceptical of spending loads of money on a electric toothbrush but it is so worth it. I couldn't go back to a normal toothbrush now, as it leaves my teeth really clean and my dentist has even noticed as well. So an investment of £62.50 would definitely pay off in the future as you have healthier teeth and don't need as many fillings. My boyfriend has tried to steal this off me several times, so I know a lot of men would really love this as a gift!

For lazy men, I recommend the new Braun Series 3 wet n' dry shaver (£48.94), which has been designed with the Monday morning shave in mind! The foil head cuts long and short hairs in one stroke, reducing skin contact resulting in less skin aggravation. Plus it can be used in the shower apparently - just don't drop it on your foot. It also comes complete with a stylish travel bag and charging stand, so makes a nice gift as well and won't make your bathroom look messy!

Hope this is useful, it will certainly make the man in your life a lot happier than getting a pair of socks!!

Skincare gift ideas under £50

If you're still struggling to find a present for a female in your life, then I have found two fantastic gift sets for under £50 each, which is great value for products you get. Boots have had some amazing offers recently and their website even crashed yesterday thanks to all the people trying to buy the Soap and Glory Hat Box yesterday! My favourite offer though is the No7 Ultimate collection, which features the No7 skincare range in a beautiful tiered box with mirror. You get £133 worth skincare & cosmetic products for an amazing £40, including the gorgeous No7 Heavenly Mask and loads of eyeshadows and make-up brushes! For all the latest beauty offers it is worth checking out money-saving websites such as www.vouchercodes.co.uk, who has a good selection of make-up and beauty savings and you can find out about all the latest deals.

Nude have some gorgeous Christmas gifts, that have lovely festive packaging as well. Nude has pioneered the use of pre and probiotics in anti-ageing skincare and their Basically Nude Collection (£49) is a great introduction to the brand for brighter, younger looking skin. Advanced bioactives and probiotics work intelligently with the skin for visible results.This collection contains a daily regime of best sellers: 200ml Cleansing Facial Oil, 200ml Hydrating Water and limited edition sized 15ml Age Defence Moisturiser. Order by tomorrow evening to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas!

Gift Guide under £10

Hey guys - a short and sweet post this morning as I am worn out from all my present wrapping this evening! The snow has also seemed to have dried up which is very disappointing but am looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I hope you found my under £5 gift guide useful yesterday, well today I am writing about my best gifts for under £10 - let me know if you have found any better ones!

1) Dove Beautiful Secrets Gift Bag Set containing Body Wash 250ml, Body Lotion 250ml & Shower Puff (£6.99). Dove have a great Christmas gift selection this year and all the gifts look beautiful and are great value for money. For under £7 in the Beautiful Secrets Gift Bag Set, you get a stylish gift bag filled with Dove essentials to help hydrate and nourish skin and make skin amazingly soft - love this!

2)The Johnson’s Travel Treats Gift Set (£5.99) contains four essential, moisturising products in a convenient 50ml travel size so you can take them as part of your hand luggage - genius! This set consists of Johnson’s Holiday Skin gently tanning moisturiser, plus 3 Johnson’s 24 Hour Moisture products - Extra Rich Body Wash (2) and Extra Rich Body Lotion. Perfect for travel-loving friends or even somebody who isn't sure what they want, as they are 'trial' sizes.

3) Play.com have literally everything on their site - so if you are stuck for ideas have a browse there! I plan to order some more presents for my boyfriend today as they will deliver in time for Christmas if you order today. I got my Dad the Wallace and Gromit Complete Collection for £8.99 which he will LOVE! Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Wallace and Gromit the creators have specially re-mastered all four of their smashing half hour specials.

Last minute gift guide - under £5

As it is one week until Christmas I thought I would put together some last minute gift guides for everyone who is struggling for ideas. I love shopping for gifts so much and would happily shop all day to help someone out! Shame I have to work right up until Christmas Eve...Anyway all my Christmas shopping is done thanks to a great shopping trip to Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth but I thought I'd share with you some of my gift ideas. First up today are gifts under £5, perfect Secret Santa presents.

1) Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses (£3.99) These gorgeous limited-edition treats consist of heaveny Galaxy chocolate, with an indulgent mousse and caramel centre. Perfect for sharing with a loved one or all to yourself!

2) Nivea Glamorous Gloss (£3.99) contains ultra shine pigments and exotic scents, brings dazzling shine to your lips and provides long lasting moisturisation and care. A perfect stocking filler for your mum or sister!

3) Simple Kind To Lips Essential Lip Balm SPF 15 (£2.49) isn't actually available until January 2010 (sorry!) but I was kindly sent a sample to review and it would make a perfect post x-mas stocking filler for under £3! It contains active ingredients and vitamin goodness, including Glycerin and Shea Butter to give long lasting daily care.

I hope you find it useful - good luck with all your last minute shopping! Tomorrow I will have gifts under £10 for you! Let me know if you have found other fab bargains for under £5.

Sparkly Christmas make-up!

I am really excited that Christmas is only one week away! I hope you are enjoying the party season, I have had two great parties and though I'd reveal my top-three party make-up items!

1) Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion (£15.00) is an amazing primer that a lot of have bloggers have recommended and it totally lives up to that reputation. This lightweight, oil-free, paraben-free formula includes Matrixyl 3000 which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It also leaves your skin incredibly soft like moisturiser, which means your foundation will apply smoothly, evenly, and last longer! I recommend this product for complexions that need moisture, not oily types as it may leave your skin too shiny.

2)Sleek Illuminating Powder (£5.99) is one of Sleek's latest products, that absords excess oils, has SPF15 and contains jojoba to give a light velvety powder. It's available in four shades to suit all skin tones and also contains shimmer in it to brighten up your skin and leave a light glow. It's a perfect touch-up to your look after a busy day in the office before the office party.

3) I love love love the new myface Blingtone Single Eye Shadows (£9.78), which are ultra-modern and deliver super-chic, shimmery glamour. I love Purple Haze, which is a deep purple and extremely shimmery - perfect for Christmas parties. They are also on offer for 2 for £15 in Boots at the moment.

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Extreme

If you looking for a strong fragrance for the evenings, then you must try out the new Flowerbomb Extreme EDP from Viktor and Rolf. I first read about it on Lolipop26's blog and knew I had to have it! Flowerbomb is my all time favourite perfume and has been for the past few years when nobody knew about it! It is also Cheryl Cole's favourite perfume too! The Extreme EDP is a sensual, more Oriental version of Flowerbomb that is perfect for Christmas parties. It isn't cheap at around £55 for 50ml but it lasts all day which isn't the case for most perfumes. Add to your Christmas list now!!

The Clothes Show Live Birmingham

Last Saturday I went to the Clothes Show Live in Birmingham, which was amazing but very busy as you can see from my photos! As you may have heard on Twitter I have broken my fingers playing netball so am finding it really hard to type and write at the moment so it will be a brief review and lots of photos instead!

The show was excellent (despite a very rude steward who worked at the NEC making us move seats mid-show!) and was set to a Winter Wonderland theme, which included a lot of half-naked, yummy men to the delight of the screaming girls in the crowd. My favourite area of the show was the Pink Zone, which was where all the beauty stands where. I particularly enjoyed seeing Tara Smith styling a competition winner's hair and offering her expert tips. Jeff Brazier was also there for Reveal Magazine, although they were not giving away or selling copies of the magazine… weird! I also love the Jelly Pong Pong goodie bag that were £12, which is a great way to try out new products at a much cheaper price! I was gutted that All Saints weren’t there as I got some good bargains last time, maybe they will be back next year! I got some really nice clothes in the Purple Zone, which was so busy all day with people everywhere – I think that they let too many people into the show as I don’t remember previous years being so busy. The Clothes Show in London was so much nicer and quieter, cooler and in an excellent venue unlike the NEC which I dislike more and more every year!

Anyway I managed to get some nice, individual presents for Christmas and recommend anyone who loves bargain fashion and beauty buys to visit in London next year (4^th – 6^th June 2010) or Birmingham (3^rd – 8^th December 2010).

Xmas ideas for your man!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend! I went to the Clothes Show in Birmingham with my Mum and sister yesterday so have been recovering from that as it was soooo busy and very tiring! Photos and blog post to follow tomorrow... Anyway I have been trying to sort out all my Christmas presents and have found it really hard this year to come up with ideas for the guys in my life! My boyfriend is a big skincare junkie and loves products from Lab Series, especially the Invigorating Face Scrub which is his favourite product for smooth skin. I came across this fab Christmas Set for £34.26, which saves £20 if you bought the items separately! The starter kit contains the cult products in the Lab Series product line which are essential shaving items - the face scrub, face wash and SPF15 defence lotion which all smell gorgeous, so should please any man and is great value!

What are you getting your man for Christmas?

Lovely Lancôme goodies

I was very lucky to be sent some lovely cult products from Lancôme to try out, which I have been properly testing for a month or so. I am a huge fan of Lancôme products, thanks to my mum always having the latest products on her dressing table - sorry Mum! She swears by their skincare products in particular, so we were especially excited to try out the new GÉNIFIQUE which has taken the beauty world by storm!

Génifique’s innovative new formula stimulates the skin's surface and leaves your skin extremely soft when used morning and evening. I really recommend using as a serum under your make-up as it makes a great base. It is pricey though, with the cheapest bottle at £52.50 but you get what you pay for with skincare and it is worth it for the unique benefits.

Carrying on with the theme of innovative technology, I also tried the revolutionary ÔSCILLATION mascara which caused quite a stir when it launched in the US last year, thanks to the fact it vibrates and provides 7000 oscillations per minute! It is a fab mascara which actually lengthens the shortest of lashes and the vibrating technique makes it a lot easier to separate lashes – I love it. Again it is pricey at £28 but considering the cheaper mass-market alternative from Maybelline costs £15 it isn’t bad value if you can afford it.

Finally I am sure you need any introduction to Juicy Tubes, they are the cult lipglosses are more affordable at £14.50! I love how gorgeous they taste, as well as giving you really sheer coverage that isn’t too OTT. I tried Sorbet de framboise, which surprisingly (!) tastes like raspberry and gives lips a pinky sheer look. There are lots of different types of Juicy Tubes available now; I love the look of the pure range, which contains 100% organic oil.

I hope you find my review useful, as I don’t often see many reviews of Lancôme products on many blogs. I have really enjoyed trying out the products and have been impressed with the quality, which isn’t always guaranteed with premium brands. I would definitely re-purchase the items if I had the money available at the time! I look forward to hopefully trying out some of the new releases for Christmas and reporting back!

New Ed Hardy fragrances for him and her!

I am loving the new Ed Hardy his-and-hers fragrance collection, because for once both fragrances are actually really nice!! The new range was inspired by Christian Audigier, the man responsible for the Von Dutch phenomenon, and created in homage to the famous Don Ed Hardy – the ‘godfather of the modern tattoo’. I'm not going to lie, I am not really an Ed Hardy fan (a bit chav for me!) but I really like both fragrances especially the male fragrance which is 'manly' according to boyfriend when I asked him for a description!! According to Ed Hardy the fragrances are sexy, fresh, modern, with a pinch of edge, a twist of cool and a stamp of individuality. I also like the cool tiger design on the male fragrance, which will make a cool Christmas present for your man.

What do you think - has anyone else tried the fragrances?

No7 Christmas Limited Edition Highlighting Palette

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend, I am off to a friend's party tonight so thought I would share with you my latest party 'must-have'. I am a big fan of Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks but can't normally afford the price tag but instead have found a great alternative in No7 Christmas Limited Edition Highlighting Palette (£13). Apparently last year's version sold-out quickly and I can see why. The palette contains a gorgeous, shimmering metallic gold which is designed to sculpt and define your best features.

It is really visible on your skin, even after an evening out dancing and looks great if you apply on your shoulders as well. Just make sure you don't over-do it though and apply carefully as a little bit goes a long way so you could end up looking a bit like a Christmas decoration!! If you spend over £22 you get a free gift as well, so perfect when Christmas shopping :)

What do you think - has anyone else tried this?

Bourjois limited edition collection - Rendez-vous á Paris

Bourjois have launched a gorgeous limited edition collection called Rendez-vous á Paris, which consists of eight best-selling Little Round Pot Eyeshadows, and Blushers. The cute designs are by Parisian Illustrator Nathalie Lété and each pot has its own unique design celebrating famous Parisian landmarks. These gems are exclusive to ASOS.com and cost from £6.85 - click here to buy yours!

I love the texture and bronze shade of the Ambre d'Or but I must admit I was sold on the cute packaging.. how shallow am I?! Let me know if you have tried any of these out. I am looking forward to visiting the Bourjois stand at the Clothes Show next week as well for some bargains...:-)

My new Giles Deacon scarf!

Sorry for the lack of posts have been really busy at work :-( I promise to write a proper post tomorrow - I have been reviewing some lovely Lancôme products for the past few weeks so have got loads to write about!

Also my lovely Caramel Bunny Giles Deacon scarf arrived from the Nibbles Boutique, which I have worn every day so far! I love the unique pattern & how it brightens up any outfit!

Here is a photo of my scarf when it arrived! What do you think?

bareMinerals has a new home .....

...here in Selfridges, London! Sadly I was unable to make the launch of the new boutique in London as I don't live there but was sent a lovely lipgloss to try out and review!

If you don't know much about bareMinerals, here is a bit more information. I am a massive fan of their foundation (like many fellow bloggers are!) as they only use the finest quality ingredients to give you everything you want without any harsh chemicals your skin doesn’t need. The bareMinerals formula represents the ideal mix of makeup and skincare, problem-solving cosmetics that perfect and pamper the complexion.

I tried out the Buxom Lip Polish (£16.50) in Candi. The pout-perfecting Buxom naturally creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips. Infused with 100% pure bareMinerals, it gives a luminous shine with no sticky or tacky feeling. Tingly, cooling sensation reminds you that lips are getting an immediate increase in fullness... hmmm a bit too tingly for my liking! I like the sheer colour that it gives you, but it tastes remarkably like fudge?! I think that's what it is like - has anyone else tried it!

Anyway all your London ladies pop down to Selfridges and let me know what you think of the new boutique!

For a more detailed review on the bareMinerals foundation range, check out this great review by the lovely Zoe.

Neutrogena Deep Moisture review

As a sufferer of dry skin, I LOVE Neutrogena's new intensive moisturising range, Deep Moisture. As you probably know I hate winter so much and live for the summer and have to moisturise constantly during the winter. I have been religiously testing out the Deep Moisture range the past few weeks and am loving it. I also like Garnier's Hydralock, which is similar but not as moisturising.

The Deep Moisture range promises to keep dry skin soft and supple for 24 hours after just one application, thanks to a new formula which allows the thick, fast-absorbing cream to penetrate through 10 layers of skin. Wow I didn't even realise I had ten layers of skin! The new range includes Deep Moisture body lotion for dry skin, Deep Moisture body lotion for sensitive skin and Deep Moisture Comfort Balm which can also be used on your face. My favourite is the body lotion which smells amazing and when applied is absorbed really easily, which is so important for me when buying a moisturiser!

So get down to your nearest drugstore and stock up for winter!!

Bulldog Anti-Ageing moisturiser for men

My boyfriend has been trying out the new latest addition to the Bulldog range, which is an Anti-Ageing moisturiser (£10.49)! My first comment is my boyfriend was totally unaware that he was using an anti-ageing product, so for all you ladies out there that are concerned about their man's skin you can subtly buy this for them! Here is a little bit more about the new moisturiser... it is dermatologically tested and has a non-greasy formula designed to target wrinkles and fine lines. It contains natural ingredients including tannic acid from oak apple, botanical silicon from millet seed, vitamin E and a unique blend of five essential oils, which combine to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and deliver younger looking skin in four weeks.

Both me and my boyfriend love Bulldog products, as they contain totally natural ingredients and are not tested on animals. The new moisturiser doesn't disappoint and smells lovely and you also don't need to use much so it will last a long time. My boyfriend also said it helped stop his skin get dry throughout the day. With regards to younger looking skin, I suggest using for at least eight weeks or longer to get proper results as it is unclear now if it actually works.

Who else is a fan of Bulldog products and would your man use anti-ageing products?!

My favourite blonde shampoos!

I thought I would write a quick piece about my favourite shampoos for blonde hair. I am always on the look out for new shampoos for blonde hair that make my highlights really shiny & keep my hair smooth.. hmm big ask!

My ultimate favourite is still the Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Blonde shampoo that you can only get in Germany, not the UK (WHY WHY WHY?!) but have discovered three new favourites over the past few months to suit all budgets!

Low price

L’Oreal Paris Highlights Shampoo (£2.45)

What is says on the bottle

L’Oreal Paris have created a shampoo that provides targeted care for highlighted hair. With a new formula enriched with Royal Jelly and Brighteners, highlights are illuminated and the hair is left nourished and smoothed. The honey scented formula instantly delivers targeted care to damaged or dried out areas. It nourishes highlights to transform their surface for a rich and smooth feel.

What I say

I really like this shampoo and think it is a bargain for £2.45 as it leaves my hair lovely and soft. Plus I like how shiny and sleek it makes my hair, which other blonde shampoos don’t. I will keep using this shampoo mixed in with more expensive brands to look after my highlights.

Mid price

Lee Stafford Bleach Blonde Shampoo (£5.49)

What is says on the bottle

Lee Stafford Bleach Blonde Shampoo leaves hair looking and feeling super charged. With Pro-Blonde complex of panthenol, chamomile and moringa seed extract, otherwise known as Miracle Tree (a multi-tasking ingredient that helps keep hair squeaky clean, whilst encouraging natural shine to truly glow), this shampoo contains 21st century colour protection, that helps to stop that annoying fade caused by styling , sunlight and the damage caused by UV. Warning - This is a toning shampoo so you may find you need a break in-between washing to stop over toning.

What I say

I think this shampoo is great for use in the summer as it contains protection against UV rays so stops your highlights fading. It’s a bit too much to use every time I wash my hair, so favour this one when I am on holiday and in the sun!

High price

Joico Color Endure Violet Shampoo (£12.95)

What is says on the bottle

Want to protect the vibrancy and longevity of your colour treated blonde hair, without disturbing or losing your hair’s colour molecules? Well, Joico’s Color Endure Violet Shampoo, will do just that using its Multi-Spectrum Defense Complex. Return the gleam to your golden hair Joico Color Endure Violet Shampoo. This colour-maintenance shampoo will ensure your hair colour lasts longer; and your hair will become softer, more manageable and stronger. It will gently cleanses while protecting the vibrancy and longevity of your colour treated hair.

What I say

I love this shampoo, which justifies the high price tag. Joico’s products are a big favourite of mine as they really look after your hair and leave it SO soft it’s amazing! My highlights have definitely lasted longer and look super shiny too so a thumbs up from me!

So there you go… let me know what all you blondies think out there!!

Amazing Elemis Christmas sets!

Ok I know it is slightly early to be talking about Christmas presents BUT all the adverts are out in force now & the cold weather has made it feel ever so christmassy! I thought I would write about my favourite gift idea so far - the fabulous Christmas sets from Elemis that actually work out at fantastic value, saving £44 with this Perfect Radiance Kit (£45). Inside the kit you get:

Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, 200ml

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner, 200ml

Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream, 50ml

Elemis Maximum Replenish Night Cream, 20ml

My favourite item is the lovely Soothing Apricot Toner (£19) which also doubles-up as a refreshing facial spray! It is alcohol-free so really soothing and helps leave your skin clean and radiant - a worthy investment as the bottle is huge so will last ages. I love apricot product so much!

What do you think - who else likes the Elemis gift sets?

My weekend!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend, sorry for the lack of blogging I had my boyfriend's parents over staying with us from Germany so had to entertain! We went to Winchester to see some lovely fireworks with my friends, which was really good fun - loved the fireworks (see my photo above!) It was quite cold, so was glad of my lovely new Giles Deacon bunny scarf and Blistex Lip Massage to look after my exposed bits!! If you suffer from dry lips in the winter, I recommend trying this lip cream, as it actually massages your lips getting rid of rough bits and keeps them moisturised with shea butter and aloe vera. Plus it tastes good too so definitely try it out!

I have received several 'lovely blog' awards from Panda Does Make-up, Clearly Beautiful and Make-up Princess so thanks very much guys much appreciated!

So I have nominated seven other blogs for awards:

Amy from Amy Antoinette

Zoe from Zoella

Charlotte from Lipglossiping

British Beauty Blogger

Beauty Scribblings of J

Lolipop26

Laura from A Daisy Chain Dream

The Rules:

1. Add the logo to your blog.

2. Link to the person from whom you received this award

3. Nominate 7 or more blogs

4. Leave a message on their blog, letting them know they are "One Lovely Blog"!

Amazing Wonderbra competition - win tickets to the Ultimate Strapless Party!

With invitations flooding in…the search for the ultimate strapless dress…the man you’ve had your eye on for months….it can mean only one thing – the Christmas party season has arrived!

Wonderbra is literally on hand with their most wanted Ultimate Strapless bra. Its hand shaped support will give you ultimate oomph so there’s no need to worry about it letting you down - it’s been made to stay up as long as you do!

Not only is Wonderbra giving 40 lucky girls and a friend the chance to get their hands on an Ultimate Strapless bra, they're also offering the chance to win exclusive tickets to the 'Ultimate Strapless Party', hosted at Soho’s ‘Punk’ nightclub on November 26^th, an exclusive party venue and celeb hangout.

Invite only, the party will be the ultimate girls night out with our lovely friends at ASOS putting on a catwalk show, giving you an exclusive insight in to the hottest trends this Christmas. Kirsty Drury, top stylist to the likes of Kylie, Claudia Schiffer and Cat Deeley will also be on hand to share her top tips to ensure you’re looking your best under the mistletoe this year.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets EXCLUSIVE TO MY BLOG enter at http://www.ultimatestrapless.co.uk/party - Good Luck!