Shopping My Stash | The Festive Edit

Since Christmas is just around the corner (quite literally! How quick does time fly?!), I decided to have a little route through my makeup drawers the other day in search of some festive makeup inspiration.  As I'm on a bit of a budget this year and haven't really got an excuse to splurge on a selection of new products - I thought it would be perfect timing for my first ever 'shopping my stash' themed post. I always love reading these on other blogs but I've never done one myself.  As a fickle bunch, us bloggers do have a tendency to forget about the fabulous goodies we already own in favour of treating ourselves to a new little luxury or two (guilty as charged)...but sometimes, it's much better to re-discover old favourites.  As a family, we always go out for dinner and drinks on Christmas Day.  It's basically a fabulous excuse to get done up like a dog's dinner and for me, a good time to experiment a little bit with my makeup - if ever you're going to break the rules and get away with the smokey eye/bright red lip combo (with a dash of extra glitter for good measure) it's on Christmas Day! Here's what I picked out...

First up is a blogger classic, Mac's Cranberry. I love this shade in the autumn/winter and it's just perfect for this time of year.  It puts a nice little twist on a classic smokey eye and is surprisingly easy to wear - it looks lovely on the centre of the lid if you're not brave enough to go full-on with it.  I also picked out Urban Decay's 'Zodiac' - a beautiful shimmery deep forest green.  I've only ever worn this once on New Year's Eve last year but it looked absolutely stunning and I'm determined to make it work again for me this year.  The shimmer is perfect for creating a festive themed smokey eye and the consistency is simply divine.  Urban Decay always get it right when it comes to texture and this shade in particular is so soft, creamy and pigmented. I adore it. I reckon I might wear this Christmas Day...

I also picked out a smokey eye favourite - Nars Mekong.  This stuff is seriously rich and I reserve it purely for nights out and special occasions simply because it can be a little too much at times - but I adore it nonetheless.   It's a beautiful deep brown shade with tiny flecks of gold running through it. It looks gorgeous worn on it's own, blended out and concentrated on the lid - it gives your eyes so much definition and it's such a good shade for creating a more sultry look.  It's probably the most pigmented, richest brown shade I own. Last up, my favourite gold is Look Beauty's Shade 13 'Luxe' Eyeshadow.  I spoke about this in a recent post here if you want to read up about why I love it so much, but it's one of my faves.  It's akin to a pressed pigment in my opinion as it's so rich and creamy - it gives your lids an almost foiled look.

Next, I headed straight for the statement red lipsticks. I have a couple of favourites that I always use around this time of year - some happen to be drugstore cheapys (MUA Shade 1 is a winner) but when it comes to Christmas, I always feel a little more inspired to reach for some of my more luxurious lippies. The festive season calls for a bit of luxe, doesn't it?!  Mac's MAC Red has to be my ultimate pillar box red.  It's a fairly neutral, cherry sort of shade and the satin finish provides opaque colour without being overly drying.  It featured in my Mac Lipstick Collection post here, and also in my Top 5 Autumn/Winter Reds post - it's very well loved.  I also fell head over heels for Bobbi Brown's 'Old Hollywood' last year.  It certainly lives up to it's name and simply screams glamour.  It's a little more bright in tone than MAC Red - I wouldn't say it's orange toned but it's definitely a little more warm - it looks beautiful both day or night.  The creamy formula applies like a dream and provides full colour pay off. The packaging is also perfect for the season - the weighty gold bullet and satisfying 'clicky' lid is right up my street. I wore it in this post if you want to see more of it.

Swatches L-R // Look 'Shade 13' // Mac 'Cranberry' // UD 'Zodiac' // Nars 'Mekong' // Mac 'MAC Red' // Bobbi Brown 'Old Hollywood' 

Lastly, I picked out a couple of Barry M polishes that I always make a beeline for around this time of year.  'Raspberry' is a gorgeous deep maroon shade with a super glossy finish - I've been wearing this non-stop just recently.  Glitter polishes are also a bit of a guilty pleasure when it gets to Christmas time and Barry M's Gold Glitter is a stunner.  I'm not the biggest fan of the full-on glittered nails look if I'm honest so I tend to paint my nails with a red colour first, and then concentrate the glitter towards the base or the tip of my nails to create a more subtle gradient finish.

Which products have you got lined up for Christmas Day?

Merry Christmas to Me... | Ted Baker 'Lips Made For Kissing' Set

I've done it. I've caved into Boots' 3 for 2 offer on Christmas Gifts and bought one for myself. *slap wrist Bethers!*.  It wasn't intentional, I promise.  But I was lured in by the pretty little tin and the fabulous selection of lip crayons and just had to pop it into my basket.  I like to think of it as my little present to myself for being such a good Christmas shopper and getting everything sorted early this year.  It's fine to treat yourself now and again, right?  I love Boots' Christmas section - they have so many amazing gifts and I'm always tempted every year.  This is the first year in a good 5 years that I won't be working in the shopping centre where I live - I always used to pop through Boots on my way to work and grab a bargain the day that they reduced their Christmas Gifts (I used to nab myself a Soap & Glory box set at 8:15 in the morning before everyone else piled in and fought their way to the tills...I used to get the best bargains without any need for pushing or shoving) But this year, I doubt I'll be up at the crack of dawn to nab myself some 50% off treats - so I figured I'd just treat myself now to avoid disappointment.  Fully justified purchase.

Ted Baker always do lovely gift sets.  Their packaging is always spot on and I'm a sucker for anything in a tin. It was meant to be really, wasn't it? As soon as I saw the 4 different lip shades I knew I had to have it.  There isn't a single shade I wouldn't wear.  I wasn't expecting much in the pigmentation stakes but after swatching, I have to say I'm so impressed.  They're so soft and creamy and don't require building up at all. What you see is more or less what you get!  They're also really moisturising - they feel lightweight and soft on the lips - being ever so slightly glossy in appearance without feeling heavy or slippy. The perfect consistency for a lip crayon.  Sadly, they don't have names - but I'm sure that's just a beauty blogger preference! The middle 2 shades have to be my faves - the deep berry colour is just a beauty (as you may know I'm obsessed with anything slightly dark and berry-ish right now!) and the mid-pink shade is perfect for everyday wear.  They're easy to apply, easy to twist up and they glide across the lips like a dream!

Honestly - I couldn't recommend this little set enough.  For £15.00 (that's less that £4 per crayon!) it's such a good bargain - considering that similar products on the market retail for around the £8-9 mark for a singular product and often aren't as pigmented. You even get a pretty little tin too! I'm fully aware I will probably see this tin reduced by more than half price as soon as January rolls around but I just wasn't prepared to take that risk - it's definitely going to be one that flys off the shelves pretty sharpishly in my opinion! You can find the 'Lips Made for Kissing' set online here, or take a look at the other 3 for 2 gift options from Boots here. I can't wait until everything's reduced so I can grab a few more gift sets! I have my eyes on a few Champneys goodies and a few No.7 sets but I shall try my luck and wait until they're all on sale now. Fingers crossed I manage to find some more beauty gems...

Have you treated yourself to anything this Christmas? Do you have you eye on any Boots bargains?!

A Festive Cuppa | Teapigs 'Spiced Winter Red Tea' (& 20% off!)

Teapigs | Spiced Winter Red Tea | £4.49* for 15 bags | Link

Yep.  I just hung a tea bag from a Christmas tree.  Something I never thought I'd do but blogging doesn't half make you do some weird things.  If it isn't hanging tea bags from random decorative ornaments, it's swatches half-way up your arm or trying to balance a selection of products in your 'claw hand'... Moving on - bit of a different post from me today.  Sorry to the loyal coffee fans out there - or those of you who simply don't drink tea, but I love a good cuppa. I must admit I'm a bit of a tea belly. I have one every morning when I'm doing my makeup and it's something I reach for when I'm in need of a bit of a perk up.  I can't say I'm the most adventurous with my tea - it's usually just milk, no sugar (more on the 'builders' side than weak and pale...let's get specific here...) with the odd green tea thrown in for good measure when I fancy a bit of a detox.  So when the lovely people at Teapigs asked if I fancied trying some of their festive tea - I was quite intrigued to say the least.  I'm a sucker for a Christmas drink - something about the cold weather and twinkly lights has me reaching for the kettle like a crazy tea lady. So, as soon as this adorable little box arrived in the post, I whacked the kettle on and settled into the sofa almost straight away. But what did I reckon?

First off - the 'Spiced Winter Red Tea' is like Christmas in a mug. No word of a lie. Just as it says on the box, it really is 'log fires, happy cats and old movies on the telly'. It's the smell of wintery comfort! As soon as you pop the boiling water in, the cinnamon, orange and warming spices hit your nostrils and the water turns a beautiful deep shade of maroon.  You simply pop a tea bag in and let it infuse for about 3 minutes.  I don't pop any milk in because I quite like it as it is - but the box comes with little hints and tips to make your own latte - it even recommends a teeny bit of brandy if you're feeling particularly festive!  I thought it would be too strong for me at first - the smell when it's infusing is undeniably quite strong. But once you sip it, it's actually quite a gentle, soft taste with just a hint of spice. I love the fact that there are tiny bits of the leaves left in the mug after you remove the bag.  They really have captured everything about the festive season in a teabag.

It's not something I'd usually review on my blog, but I couldn't resist! I'd definitely recommend having a look at the Teapigs website if you're a bit of a tea belly like myself. They have some fab flavours to try - the 'popcorn' tea sounds like a winner to me! Definitely a place to go to if you fancy a little tea treat.  Their whole company ethos is really lovely and all of their packaging is beautifully designed (geeky graphic design-y side of me coming out to play there...apologies!) They also use whole leaves in their tea bags - meaning that none of the flavour is lost through being overly processed or chopped.  I'll definitely be trying some more of their tea in future - if you know someone who is a fellow tea-fan then it's worth having a look at their website here.  They have a little Christmas gift shop on there at the moment if you're after a last minute stocking filler! A little selection would make a lovely gift! (not hinting at all)... 

I currently have a little discount code for you all which is valid until the end of December - so still plenty of time left to give Teapigs a try! For 20% off (excludes cheeky deals, mix & match and match kits) simply enter 'XMAS13' at the checkout :) 

Have you tried Teapigs?  What's your favourite festive hot drink?

Festive Bath Soaks | Organic Surge & Conscious Skincare

I'm partial to a bath treat or two.  Especially near Christmas.  When the weather gets colder and the nights grow darker, there's nothing that de-stresses me more than a nice, hot bath and a lovely bath soak to sink in to.  I prefer oils and soaks compared to bubble baths - I find them much more fragrant and relaxing and I like the fact that they tend to be softer and more gentle on the skin.  I usually pop into Lush and treat myself to a festive bath bomb or two, but having sensitive skin, I find that something with a little more moisture works much better for me.  Enter these 2 new additions to my 'run up to Christmas' bathtime regime... I defy you not to crave a bath after reading this!

Organic Surge | Spiced Lily Foaming Bath | £5.99* | Link

I have to say, after trying a variety of their products the past couple of months, I really do love Organic Surge.  If you haven't tried them but fancy a little beauty/skin care treat then I really do recommend them. As soon as I saw the name of this bath soak - I knew it would be just my cup of tea.  The 'Spiced Lily' foaming bath soak has a lovely, festive aroma.  It's warming, relaxing and wintery without being too spicy or strong, and it fills the bathroom with a sweet smelling fragrance as soon as you pop it under the running water.  It creates a lovely layer of foam on the top of the water and feels gentle and soft on the skin - just what I look for in a bath soak.  It contains essential oils to de-stress and 'revive the body and mind' and contains aloe vera to help soothe the skin. The fact that it contains no synthetic colouring, fragrances or parabens and is free from chemical nasties means it is so gentle on even the most sensitive of skin. I really love this little soak - for £5.99 it really is worth the money and I'd definitely purchase another.  It's worth keeping your eyes peeled on Organic Surge's website - they often have little offers on and they have a gorgeous selection of products. Definitely worth a look if you haven't already!

Conscious Skincare | Grapefruit, Lemon and Cedarwood Bathsoak | £15.99* | Link

Ok. So the fragrance of this little soak isn't entirely 'festive' - but lets just take a moment to admire the reindeer packaging, shall we? Conscious Skincare really do know how to package a product and make it special, don't they?! I previously reviewed one of their fabulous body butters (link), and was really excited to try out their other signature scent - 'grapefruit, lemon and cedarwood'.  This bath soak is most definitely very relaxing - but with a little citrus kick! It's definitely one to use when you need a bit of uplifting - something to use when you've lost your mojo and need it back! It fills the room with a lovely, sweet scent which lingers on the skin long after you've stepped from the tub. At £15.99, it isn't the cheapest bath soak, but it's a really nice one to opt for if, like me, you're a fan of bathtime treats and fancy trying something completely different. It would also make a lovely Christmas gift. I explained in my previous post about the company and what they have to offer, so if you're a fan of natural products, hop on over and have a read here.

What bath products are you loving on the run-up to Christmas? Let me know your faves fellow bath fans!