What I Got For Christmas 2016!

I honestly cannot believe Christmas has already come and gone, I hope that you all had an amazing day spent with family and friends and I hope that you all got everything that you wanted. Due to popular request I am going to be doing the annual, What I Got For Christmas blog post.

There are some people that don't celebrate Christmas and certain people can be very sensitive to these kind of posts so I just want to say, I am incredibly grateful to everyone that bought me a gift. Their generosity was very much appreciated and this post isn't me trying to brag, it was simply requested and personally, these are some of my favourite kinds of posts. I know just how lucky I am to have the friends and family I have and yes my parents did go very overboard but I don't want to have to hide anything, so here you go.

My parents did get me quite a bit so I feel super lucky to have a bunch of new stuff to play with. Firstly they got me a huge gift box filled with a bunch of little things, majority being books. If you saw my Christmas Wishlist post (linked at the end) then you will know that I had asked for a lot of books mainly because I didn't have that many to read and so now I am fully supplied for the new year. Without going into too much detail they got me Anne Frank's diary, Wonder, We Were Liars, To Kill A Mocking Bird, Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Looking For Alaska, Fangirl and all seven of The Vampire Diaries Books. They also got me a beauty book which is the Bobbie Brown Makeup Manual which I am super excited to read and hopefully it will improve my makeup skills.

They got me a few jewelry bits, a Cancer necklace from Topshop because I love my star sign and it is something personal to me and a duo choker set from Next which I am super excited to wear.

They also got me a few Zoella Beauty bits, they got me two reed diffusers, Hey Roomie and Lazy Days (which I am already using) because I wanted some new diffusers for my room. Another Zoella bit was the card holder which I was really surprised by because I didn't ask for it but I am sure I am going to use this a ton.

They also got me a new compact Tangle Teezer because I needed one for my bag and for when I travel so I don't damage the bristles of my other one, and the design of this one is so super cute. When they ordered this, they also got some sample so I am going to give them a go.

My mum and dad then got me this little heart shaped plaque with "I love you to the moon and back" which I thought was super cute and it will look super cute in my room.

Onto the more makeup and beauty bits, which I mostly asked for because my mum is a bit clueless when it comes to makeup, but she did do really well. Starting off with fragrances, she got me the Victoria Secret Bombshell perfume which I am so obsessed with, even though I only wanted the 50ml she got me the 100ml which she really didn't have to but I am so grateful that I finally have it. I have been crushing on the perfume for so long and I am so happy to finally own it. A perfume I didn't ask for but one my mum did really well on was the Calvin Klein In 2 U Her Perfume which is so beautiful and smells even better, I am super impressed with this and with my mum because it would not be something I would have chose, but I love it. The final fragrance thing was the Zoella Beauty Secret Scenta gift set, which basically comes with all four of her body mists but in mini form which is super cute. I really wanted to try out her new gingerbread scent and the Let's Spritz spray is my all time favourite so this set is perfect.

Without going into too much detail about the makeup, my mum and dad got me some makeup brushes, the duo fibre set from Real Techniques, the bold metals set from Real Techniques and some Morphe eye brushes I picked out. I am super happy with all of these as I was not expecting to get them. For actual makeup, they got me seven Makeup Geek eye shadows (which I will do a post on soon), a Beauty Bay makeup bag which came with the shadows, LA Girl highlighter, LA Girl eyeliner, LA Girl Pro Concealer and the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer. I am super happy with all of these products and I cannot wait to use them all.

Finally my mum and dad got me a Kenneth Cole makeup bag and it is super cool because it comes with three compartments and it will just be super useful for travelling, so I am super excited to use it. 

I'm sure my family is not the only family that buy each other underwear every year for Christmas and birthdays but yeah I actually really enjoy getting new underwear for Christmas so I thought I would briefly mention it. They got me two Pink sports bras which I love because I wear sports bras most of the time because they are so much more comfortable.

They then got me two Calvin Klein Bralette and Brief sets, a black one and a white one. The white set is part of the classics range but the black one, I think, is a newer range but I love them both and Calvin Klein do my favourite underwear so I am super happy to have some more.

My parents then got me  some proper bras and pants from Boux Avenue which was really nice of them because they are a lot more luxuorious then what I am use to but they are super beautiful. I didn't include them in this picture because I didn't want people to get offended.

Finally they got me some trainers socks, long socks and fluffy socks, which I asked for because I always get holes in my socks and I just love having new ones so I am super grateful for these.

These next few things, I am so grateful to have because I know how luxurious they are but they are some Calvin Klein clothes. The first thing is this grey racer back vest because I saw this on Asos and I thought it would be great for the gym. It is super comfy and it will look great over a sports bra.

The next thing I was definitely not expecting because I know how expensive they are but my mum knows just how badly I wanted one. It is a Calvin Klein jumper, and yes I know these are super expensive but I know how much wear I am going to get out of it. This one is the black one but it almost has a slight tie dye effect to it which is super cool and a bit different to the classic ones.

Final thing was a pair of leggings but you won't be able to tell from the photo but they have some layered detailing on the thighs. My parents and I saw these a while ago and they actually went back and got them because they are such amazing quality and they are the most comfortable par of leggings I own. I think that these would also be a great alternative over jeans.

Next few things are classic gifts my parents get me every year. They got me some slippers which are super cute. I am not too sure what animal they are but I think they are super cute and super comfy too.

They then got me some pyjamas, a sleep shirt which I love because they are so comfy and just a set of top and bottoms pyjamas. They are all super comfy and cosy so I am super happy to have some more sleepwear.

I then got this super cute hat and snood which apparently my dad picked out but it is super adorable, especially the hat. I have been looking at a few pom pom hats which have two pom pom on, to act like ears, but I am so glad to finally have one. The snood is also super warm and it will be great for school because it is not overly big which is what I need.

Another few things my mum and dad picked out from Pink were a grey pair of leggings but I am sort of obsessed with these because I always wear black ones so this is a great different colour option. They are also super comfy and I am sure I will be wearing these to the gym a lot.

They then got me a jumper, which I own way too many of, but this one is dark grey and blue, with lace up detailing which is super different to anything else I own and I am sure this will soon become my favourite jumper.

Finally from Pink, they got my this white, black and pink tote bag, which they didn't know I have wanted for so long and so I am so happy that they got me one. I think that this will be great to take to school or the gym and I think I will get great use out of this.

A few more gym/lounge pieces from my mum and dad. They got me a tracksuit set from Topshop which is black and gold and says "Lady Garden" on both pieces, but the difference with this set is that it raises awareness and supports the Gynecological cancer fund, which I think is super important and so I asked for this. I am so happy to own this and they are so comfy and great to wear around the house.

Some gym pieces they got me were a plain white vest from Boohoo, which I asked for because I am in need of some really basic gym pieces that will go with my more colourful pieces. This vest actually has a cross over back which I didn't know but it is really nice.

They then got me two Nike pieces, one of which I didn't include in the picture because I was wearing them but they are just a plain black pair of leggings with the Nike swoosh along the calf and I wanted a new pair of black leggings for dance so I am super happy with these. The other Nike piece was this bright blue, racer back vest which I am totally in love with. The colour is so beautiful and I can see myself wearing this a lot to the gym. 

This next piece was totally unexpected, but it is one of my favourite presents and I am totally in love with it. It is this grey coat from Zara and it is so super beautiful. It falls right above my knee and it is the comfiest, most cosy coat ever. I also love the fur hood because it is super soft and looks great on. The photo doesn't really do it justice but I am sure you will see it in some up coming photos.

Last clothing piece from my parents was this super simple Jack Wills t-shirt. I have never owned anything from Jack Wills before and I am so happy to finally have something from there. This t-shirt is super soft and comfy but I love how simple it is, and I am sure I am going to wear this a ton.

This year I actually made it very clear to my parents that I didn't want any shoes but they ended up buying me two pairs. My mum knows I wanted white converse but I wasn't too bothered anymore because I had other shoes I liked just as much but she bought me them anyway. I think I am going to wear them a bunch in spring and summer, and since they are white they are going to go with anything.

They then also got me a new pair of gym shoes, which I did want but I wanted to buy myself but that again didn't stop the two of them from buying some. Anyway, these are the Nike Juvenates in this beautiful maroon colour which I am totally in love with. These shoes are so comfy and they fit my feet perfectly so I am super grateful to have some new gym shoes.

A gift I was definitely not expecting was a pair of Beats wireless headphones which I am so obsessed with. I have wanted wireless headphones for a super long time but I always thought that I would have to buy them myself. I never mentioned them to my mum but she and my dad actually bought me some. They are in a beautiful coral shade and they are an absolute dream. I can tell I am going to use these so much when I walk the dogs, go the gym or in school.

Another random present they got me was an epilator because I sort of wanted to see whether the were any good and since my razor was dying on me I wanted to give this a go. I haven't tried it yet so I will let you know once I do but I am super happy they got it for me.

Final few things my parents bought me included this super cool gadget. It is called an Ottlite and it is basically a table lamp but is that a usb charger in the back which I can now charge my phone through, it also has a colour change base, three light settings and a flexible neck so I can change it's position. My parents know I read a lot in bed but I have to keep my main light on just to read but now I can use this. It is honestly so cool and just perfect and I would have never thought to buy this but I am so happy to own one.

The final things my parents bought me I don't have a picture of but it is a £15 Netflix voucher which I am saving for when PLL comes out next year so I can watch it. They also got me The Vamps concert tickets which I am so excited about because their concerts are some of my favourites and I love them so much. They got me two tickets so I can take someone with me and I am super grateful for this.

Next few things are from my grandad. He got me another pyjama set but the bottoms were in the wrong size so my mum has to take them back but the top was in the right size, and it is the softest jumper ever. I can tell I am going to wear this all the time. He also got me some fluffy socks which I love because I always need them.

The final thing he got me was the Soap and Glory, The Whole Glam Lot gift set, which I am so grateful for. It comes with a bunch of Soap and Glory's beauty products and I am really looking forward to trying them all out.

My brother and his girlfriend then got me this Jack Wills hoodie, which I am so obsessed with. It is a super cosy fit and it is all fleece lined on the inside. I can tell I am going to wear this loads as it is so comfy and a basic staple for me.

My auntie, uncle and cousins then gave me money but with that they gave my this super cute Ted Baker gift set which came with a nail polish and tinted lip balm, both in a really beautiful deep red colour. I can't wait to wear both of these and I am so grateful for everything they gave me.

My friend at school (shoutout to Bella) got me a Jeffree Star lipstick which I am kind of in love with. She really didn't have to get me this but I am so in love with it and I am so grateful for it. She got it in Celebrity Skin which is a very grey/ nude shade which is very different for me but I cannot wait to wear it. She also got me a mini Yankee Candle in Shea Butter but I was burning it at the point I was taking this photo.

In my form we did Secret Santa and my best friend Sophie had me and since she was already buying me a main present she just got me some Celebrations, which I have already ate but they were super nice so thank you to Sophie and Bella for my gifts.

You might have already seen but I did a blog post on this which I will link at the end, but my two best friends Penny and Sophie got me this Too Faced Sweetheart Blush which I am love with and super grateful for. If you want to know more about it and my thoughts then you can check out the post.

I am so so so grateful for everything, what did you get for Christmas?

Grace xx

Posts Mentioned:

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/day-18-early-christmas-present-first.html

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/day-8-christmas-wishlist-2016.html

Day 24: The Body Shop Advent Calendar Review!

I wanted to end the last day of Blogmas on a bit of a high, so I wanted to share with you all of the amazing beauty bits I got in my beauty Advent calendar.

Day 23: Festive Day In The Life!

Can you believe that there is only one more day left of Blogmas? I can't. A post I have been wanting to do for a while is a Day in The Life post, just to give

Day 22: Places I Would Love To Be During Christmas!

As much as I love Christmas in the comfort of my own home, I would love to spend it somewhere else, one day. I thought I would share with you a few places that I think would be amazing to spend Christmas at.

Day 21: Most Wanted Palette Of The Year? Review & Swatches!

If you have never heard of the Morphe 35O eye shadow, you must have been living under a rock because this palettes taken the makeup world by storm. Once I had seen the palette, I knew I needed it so thankfully it came back into stock on Beauty Bay

Day 20: New Obsession!

I feel like it takes a lot for me to become obsessed with a fashion piece, but I am head over heels in love with this hoodie.

Day 19: Glam Party Makeup Look!

I mean I can't help it, I just love writing makeup tutorials. I know I have already done one (will link it in case you haven't read it) but I have so many different looks I want to do and different products I want to share with you. This one is a little more glam

Day 18: Early Christmas Present, First Impressions!

Since there is only a week left of Blogmas, I am starting to get a little stuck for ideas, so I would love it if you commented some requests down below. Anyway, today I wanted to share with you what my two closest friends bought me for Christmas.

Day 17: A Week In Lips!

I have seen a few bloggers do this post, when they share each lip product they have worn for each day in the week so I thought I would do my take on it. My lip products tend to stay very neutral but I do change the product and formula so I hope it doesn't get too repetitive.

Sunday - Charlotte Tilbury Amazing Grace Lipstick

I love this lipstick as most of you know, I have done a full review of this on my blog so I will leave the link to that at the end of this post. This is a beautiful dark pink and it has a matte finish. I find that it looks beautiful with a neutral eye and a fresh face, which isn't something I wear very often but when I do it looks lovely.

Monday - Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Chocolate Milkshake

One of my favourite lip products of the year, this is a beautiful orange nude shade and it is like a liquid lipstick except it is not matte which I love. Matte lips are nice for every now and again, but since it is winter I don't want to risk drying my lips out too much so this was perfect. The formula is amazing, it feels like you are wearing nothing, it's super lightweight and the pigment is great, the only thing that sort of bugs me is the applicator, but I can manage it because it is such a great product.

Tuesday - Benefit Benebalm

I wasn't really feeling makeup this day so a tinted lip balm was the way to go, I love this lip balm. It has got a tint to festiveness to it because it is red. This keeps my lips super moisturized and it gives them a nice glossy look to them.

Wednesday - Mac Lipstick in Velvet Teddy

An absolute classic, I love this lipstick, it has definitely been my go to at the moment. With it being matte, I don't wear it too often but it goes with every makeup look and the colour is perfect. Since I am quite pale at the moment it looks like a nice dark brown/plum and it just looks great.

Thursday - Benefit Benetint

Another kind-of red lip, I actually use lip tints all the time just to give my lips that little tint of colour. This one is my favourite as it is a nice red but it is not too bold which I like. Sometimes I will put a lip balm on top of it, but I didn't on this particular day because I was happy with the way it looked.

Friday - L'Oreal Dazzle Lip Gloss in Sparkle Shower

This lip gloss is so beautiful to look at in the tube and even more beautiful on the lips. Saying that, I sort of learned that it looks better with a lip colour on underneath just because this gloss is clear, but never mind. On it's own it is just a clear gloss but with reflects of pink in it. This makes my lips look so glossy and juicy, I love it.

Saturday - GSpot Cosmetics Lip Liner in Enlightened

I actually got this from the clothes show, which I did also do a blog post on which I will link at the end of thi because I did pick up some bargains, but carrying on, I had never heard of this brand before until then, so I was quite excited to try it. This is a beautiful brown shade, it is quite dark but I only put on a thin layer and blended it to make it less harsh. Not going to lie, he formula isn't anything spectacular but it is good, nice pigment, lasts long and does the job, so I cannot complain.

What is you favourite lip product?

Grace xx

Posts mentioned:

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/my-first-luxury-makeup-purchase.html

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/day-11-clothes-show-2016-haul.html

Day 16: The Christmas Tag!

I was a bit stuck for ideas on what to do today, so I thought I would do a Christmas tag so you can get to know a little bit more about my Christmas experience?

What is your favourite Christmas movie/s?

Home Alone all the way, it is so clever and amazing, I can't watch it without laughing. It never fails to get me in the festive spirit.

Do you open your present on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning every year, my family and I sort of have a routine so that is nice. We open our presents in the morning and then play with them during the afternoon. I like to spend Christmas Eve giving presents to my more distant family.

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

I actually got my first phone for Christmas one year, and I was so grateful, I cried. The same year my brother got a gold chain necklace which he wanted for so long and I remember just sitting there with my brother and both of us crying because we were so grateful and happy.

Favourite festive food?

Pigs in blankets, they are so good. I try to sneak in a cheeky roast turkey throughout the year but it does just taste better on Christmas day. I love them with salt and stuffing, I just love them they are amazing.

Favourite Christmas gift?

I honestly cannot pick one, obviously at the time when I got my first phone I was so happy so I would have to say that present, just because I loved it with all of my life, it was like my own child.

Favourite Christmas scent?

I love love love snow fairy from Lush, I don't feel as though it is that Christmassy because it is quite sweet but I love it anyway. The scent does remind me of Christmas though because I only use it at around this time of year. It is so sweet in scent, a little like bubblegum at the formulation itself is beautiful, it stinks out my whole bathroom and skin but I love it so it is okay.

Do you have any Christmas eve traditions?

Not really, but every year me and my brother drive around and deliver the presents to all of my aunties, uncles and cousins.

What tops your tree?

Nothing actually because we don't decorate our tree anymore. Our tree has built in lights and the branches are not long enough for baubles so we don't actually decorate our tree. There is nothing on top of our tree apart from lights sadly, but we did take that sacrifice after getting dogs.

As a kid what was the one crazy gift you always asked for but never received?

I honestly can't think of one, I was very lucky enough as a kid to get most things I asked for so there was nothing that crazy I wanted but never got.

What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Just spending time with my family is enough for me, I love my family and I feel like it is one of the only days during the year when we actually spend the whole day together which is just really nice to do.

Leave your answers to the questions in the comments or send me the link to your Christmas tag.

Grace xx

Day 15: Quick and Simple Evening Makeup Look!

I love doing these sort of posts because I love trying out different makeup looks that I can later share with all of you. Today I wanted to do a quick makeup look but not make it super natural and I came up with this.

I am not going to include my base in this post, because I feel like you all have a good idea on what it will include, but if you are new, you can look at some of my previous makeup looks and get an idea from that.

For face powders I decided to skip blush and start sculpting straight away. My favourite contour powder is the ABH Fawn powder, I will just take this on a flat contour brush and apply it in the hollows of my cheek, my forehead, chin and nose. I will then bronze with another ABH powder but this one is in Hervana. It is a little warmer so I prefer it for bronzing. I will apply this on a duo fibre brush on my cheeks, temples, nose and neck. For highlighter I am going in with my favourite, the Mary Loo-Manizer which is just beautiful, I will apply this on a tulip shaped brush on my cheekbones, cupids bow and nose. This just helps to accentuate those features and it also makes the makeup look, look a little more intense.

For eyebrows, I wanted something soft but something that would still give me that defined approach. I have really been loving the Freedom Duo powder and I will just use the lighter shade through the front of my eyebrow and then the second shade through the end of my brow, where I want it a little harsher. Then I will just set it with some clear brow gel, just to ensure nothing moves.

Keeping the eyes simple, I am priming them with the NYX jumbo eye pencil in Milk, this will just help the eye shadow last longer. Then using the Tanya Burr Hollywood Eye Shadow palette I will use the white shade just to set the cream we just put in place, the dark brown in the crease, the copper/gold shade on the lid and the lighter gold in the inner corner. This is quite an easy eye look but by adding that gold on the lid, it will make it a little more night appropriate and dressy looking. On the lower lash line I will then just take the dark brown we used in the crease and just blend on my lower lash line . If you want, at this point you can use some black liner to add some more definition but I just went in with mascara. Today's choice is the Max Factor Xperience Volume Mascara in Black. This will just open up my eyes and complete the look.

Finally with lips I am going to fill them in with this lip liner from GSpot cosmetics and it is in the shade kiss, which is a beautiful dark nude shade. I will put this all over the lips to give it some colour, but then I will go over with a gloss. My favourite gloss is the L'Oreal Dazzle Gloss in Sparkle Shower, it is very intense and it gives you that "wet" lip look.

What's your go to makeup look for the evening?

Grace xx

Day 14: Current Top 5 Fashion Favourites!

Fashion I feel like is something I don't talk about enough on my blog so here is one for you fashion lovers. At the start of this week I did a current beauty favourites which I will link at the end of this post, just in case you missed it, but today I thought I would talk about fashion. 

I have had this checkered scarf for a year now and I absolutely love it, it is from Primark and it cost around £7 which is just mad. It is massive and it keeps me so super warm, I also love the fact that this particular one is reversible but I much prefer the checkered side as it is a little more colourful over the houndstooth side which is a bit plain. I feel like a scarf like this is a staple for winter because it doesn't just keep you warm, it goes with every outfit and just adds a little something to the look.

A grandad shirt is my new favourite piece in my wardrobe. This one is from H&M and I am just in love with it. They had lots of colours but I love the off-white and dark grey checkered on, it is also super oversized so it is very comfortable to wear. I love wearing this with black jeans or leggings and a piece like this is super easy to dress up or down.

I have been in need for a good knitted jumper this year and I just fell in love with this one. It is from Miss Selfridge and I am just in love with the colour. I have really been liking the burnt orange colour, it is so appropriate for this time of year and I feel as though it has been really on trend. The quality of this is lovely and it has definitely helped keeping me warm this month.

One thing that I just find essential for me in winter is a denim skirt. A piece like this, I find, looks so flattering on and it goes with everything. I usually wear this for night occasions but it is super easy to dress down too. Not going to lie this, I have a few denim skirts but my black one from New Look is my favourite. 

My friend Penny told me I needed a pair of these in my life, and she was totally right. How I have gone my whole life without buying a pair of fleece lined leggings from Primark until now, will always be a mystery. If you don't own a pair of these, you need to! They are the warmest, most comfiest clothing piece I own, they are super stretchy and high waisted which I love and they are only £6, can you believe it!

What is your current favourite clothing piece?

Grace xx

Posts mentioned:

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/day-12-current-top-5-beauty-favourites.html

Day 13: Non-Beauty Stocking Fillers Under £15

I know that I have done a few gift guides already but you all seem to be enjoying them so I thought I would do some more. If you have missed out on my previous ones then they will be linked at the end of this post so feel free to go and give them a read. Anyway today I wanted to share with you some non-beauty related gift ideas, and they are all under £15 which I think is great.

Asos Bag (£15) - I think this is so cute, and it is such a great value for money as well. This would be great for any fashion lover this Christmas. I do think they had a few different colours available so you can pick the colour depending on the person it's for.

Jack Wills Water Bottle (£8) - I think this is a great gift and most people would love it. They could be a very sporty person and need a water bottle for the gym, or they could be a school student who always forgets to drink (me). Jack Wills water bottles come in loads of designs, they are very simple and they would make a great gift.

Phone Case Stickers (£12.99) - I found these on the Topshop website when I was browsing and I just thought that they were a great alternative from phone cases. They are like stickers that you can easily just put on your phone case and they come in lots of colours so you can suit it to the person your buying for.

Happy Jackson Candle (£9.95) - Most people love a good candle and I thought that this one in particular look really nice and different. Obviously you could go for a classic Yankee Candle but I think something a little different may be nicer. It's entirely up to you though but candles are a great gift in general.

Birthstone Key Ring (£9.00) - This is a super cute and personal gift idea. The key ring design is the same throughout but depending on the month you were born in you can buy it with the right birthstone. I am a ruby (July) so I would have the one with the ruby inside, and I think a gift like this is very thoughtful, but make sure that you are positive on their birthday month because it would be awkward if you got it wrong.

Countdown Game (£7.99) - This would be great for the competitive person in your life, or someone who just loves a good game. Countdown was one of my favourite programs and I feel like lots of people loved it but I think it is great that they have turned it into a game that you can do at home with your family and friends.

Cloud Light (£20) - I just thought this was super cute so I had to include it. I know lots of people that have a secret obsession for all tings cute or aesthetic so this would be great for someone like that. This is very reasonably price and I think someone out there would love this as a gift. *Currently out of stock*

Pom Pom Hat (£8) - Who doesn't love a good old pom pom hat around this time of the year, I know I do. There are so many different designs and retailers you could buy one from and any of them will do but I thought this one from Asos was very simple and cute.

Starbucks Set (£8.50) - I love a good Starbucks and so do most people so I feel like, if you are stuck for ideas then this is one that would work for most people. It comes with a christmassy mug and one of their large gold coins so it is a great value for money and a very versatile one too.

What do you like the look of in this post?

Grace xx

Posts mentioned:

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/day-2-secret-santa-gift-guide-under-5.html

http://gracexkate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/day-10-beauty-stocking-filler-under-15.html

Day 12: Current Top 5 Beauty Favourites!

A bit of a random post today, but I just wanted to share with you some products I have been living for recently, even though I will probably do a favourites post at some point near the end of the month I am just in the mood to write a currently loving post. There will also be a fashion edition coming at the end of the week so you can all look forward to that.

Marc Jacobs Daisy - I have no idea which daisy perfume this is because I can never keep up with how many different versions they have but this perfume is beautiful. Most of my scents are very summery so I have been looking for a scent to wear around this time of the year, and this one is perfect. It is very sophisticated and sexy, but it is not too sweet or fruity which I like. I think this is a great all year round scent and it is what I have been wearing a lot recently.

Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Cream - I think I am actually going to include this skincare range in my monthly favourites because I have been loving it that much but I can't help myself. I use this as a night cream, and it is so good. It has really helped to hydrate my skin throughout these colder months. I also wanted to include this because I know a lot of my readers are actually cruelty free when it comes to beauty products and so I wanted to test out some skincare which is just as good as brands like Simple and Nivea but ones that are cruelty free so the products can suit everyone that way.

Mac Lipstick in Velvet Teddy - I know this kind of contradicts what I have just said about cruelty free beauty products and everything but I can't help how good this lipstick is. Velvet Teddy is such a beautiful shade and it is perfect for this time of year, it is a dark nude and it has a matte finish. I love this lipstick because it looks different every time I wear it. When I am more pale it looks like a dark brown/ purple but when I am more tanned it looks like a nude.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - This cream is everything! There are so many uses for this cream, you can use it as a lip balm, mix it with your moisturizer for extra hydration, burns, cuticle oil, literally anything. I love this as a lip balm though. Recently my lips have been so super dry and this is the only thing that will make them nice and super soft. It is a bit of a pricey product but it is totally worth it.

Leighton Denny Nail Polish in Raspberry Affair - At this time of year, I live for plum nails and this formula is insane. I actually got this in this months edition of Elle magazine but I know you can buy them online. This formula is super opaque and it lasts so long on my nails without chipping, they are just as good as my Barry M ones they just come with a steeper price tag. I have loads of nail polishes in this plum colour but currently this one has been my favourite.

What have you been loving recently?

Grace xx

Day 11: Clothes Show 2016 Haul!

This time last week I was actually at the clothes show. If you are not from the UK you might not know what the clothes show is. It is basically a fashion show and lots of brands go and set up stalls to help promote their brand, some are more popular then others and there is a great range of fashion, beauty and food. This was actually my first time going the clothes show so as you can imagine, I bought a lot, so I thought I would share it with you.

I am not going to go through each and everything because this post would take forever to both read and write so I am just going to be brief but feel free to comment anything you want an in depth review on.

I was actually lucky enough to get premium tickets thanks to my mum, so that meant we both got a free goody bag which was super generous of them. Since my mum is not one for beauty bits and pieces, I actually get two of everything which is super cool. In the bag you get things like food and drink, to haircare to skincare to books, just a mix of everything. Great brands were included as well, like Barry M, Tony & Guy, Aquafresh, Compeed, Teapigs, 7th Heaven. In the bag they even gave you tampons and sanitary towels which I thought was a bit strange but I guess they've got your back.

Next up, we went past a stand called Melody-Claire and their brand is all about hair removal. The staff there, were so lovely and they actually did a demonstration on my arm about their hair removing tool, and it actually works. Since the starter kit was only £10 so my mum and I had no reason to say no. I am actually thinking of doing a review of this very soon on my blog so let me know if that is something you would like to see.

Glamour had a bargain goody bag going on, it was £9 and you get a free one year membership, and a goody bag filled with products. They had a range of brands like Revlon, OGX, Charles Worthington, Elemis, St Tropez and there was full sized products mixed with deluxe samples sizes and all for under £10. The queue for the bag was massive and I was very lucky to get my hands on it but it was totally worth the queuing.

From what I have heard, Barry M are a very loyal brand to the clothes show and every year they do a goody bag with great savings. This year they did a goody bag for £10 and the value of it was way above £10. You got 6 nail polishes, 4 lip products, face palette, nail art pen and a makeup bag. I really liked this because you got a range of different colours and formulas in the nail polishes and lip products, which usually I would not pick up myself but I actually think I will get a lot of use out of them. This bag gives you a great opportunity to try out products from the brand that you wouldn't have picked up otherwise.

This one was a bit of a random goody bag but it was only £9 which I could not resist. It came with a mixture of different brands like L'Oreal, Max Factor and OPI and most of them were actually full sizes as well which I think is great. It mainly included makeup like mascara, lip liners, eye liner but you did get a few nail bits too.

Next up is the Bomb Cosmetics. My secret Santa actually wanted bath bombs so I thought I would pick them up while they were on a bit of a discount. It was 5 bath bombs for £10 which I thought was a very reasonable price so I bought 5 and they also gave me a 10% off code I can use online as well. I got a few Christmassy bath bombs and a few of their normal ones but they all smell amazing!

Finally the only bit of clothing I bought. I actually wasn't too impressed with the clothes, if I found anything nice it would be really overpriced and everything affordable was really bad quality or not nice looking. Saying that I did find this nice cropped jumper for only £10 and they had a bunch of colours and designs but I liked the grey one which said "Normal people scare me" which I just thought was really cute. Sadly it only came in one size, but it fits, I just wish it was a little oversized, but I will still wear it and for £10 I couldn't really complain.

Have you ever been to the Clothes Show?
Grace xx