Penhaligon's of London: The Perfect Christmas Gift

I was very excited earlier this week to be allowed to open a Christmas gift from my brother early (as I'm going to be in France for Christmas).

He got me the most beautiful set of miniature fragrances that I have ever laid my eyes upon, from the sartorial English perfumery, Penhaligon's of London.

Firstly, check out that packaging. It is one of the most beautiful boxes I've ever seen and I love love love the gold tassel on the front. The design is inspired by the glittering traditions of the London theatre scene. The front depicts the chaos that goes on behind the scenes, while the back and sides host charming illustrations of refined London theatre goers. Definitely a keepsake that I plan to hold on to for years to come.

Inside, there are five 5ml bottles of a selection of their wonderful scents: Artemisia, Gardenia, Lily of the Valley, Malabah and Ellenisia. All of the fragrances are very classic and made from the finest ingredients. My favourite is Artemesia: "both floral and fruity with a beautifully sensual powdery dry down. Caramel soft, sweet, powdery and silky."

The little vials that they come in are simply exquisite, I have them lined up on my dressing table and cannot stop admiring how pretty and ladylike they are. Definitely going to hold on to those too after the perfume has ran out.

I think that this is a great Christmas gift to give to somebody; any lady would be delighted to unwrap this beautiful set on the big day. And with five scents to choose from, it would be impossible not to fall in love with at least one of them.

Penhaligon's is one of the oldest perfume houses in England and has a very interesting history. Their website is well worth a little look and they have the most romantic descriptions of scents ever written.

November Favourites

I know this is a little late, but I had a bit of a hectic weekend and this is the first chance I've had to share some of my recent favourites with you. So I'll just jump right in, in no particular order here are the products I've been enjoying most throughout November:

BalanceMe Wonder Eye Cream

Since receiving this in my Glossybox I've become totally obsessed with eye cream. I really enjoyed using this one, it soothes tired eyes, sinks in quickly, leaves the delicate eye area feeling soft and moisturised and helps to reduce puffiness. I've managed to use up the entire tube already. I bought a Soap & Glory one to replace it, but I must say I prefer the BalanceMe Wonder Eye Cream.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

What have I been doing without this for all these years?! Since purchasing as part of a set from Boots, I've used it every single day to apply my foundation. It has completely replaced my MAC 187 stippling brush. I love that it has synthetic bristles so it's much easier to maintain. It's really dense and gives a really flawless finish to foundation.

Guerlain Meteorite Perles

Some of you may have seen this in my Winter Wishlist and then shortly after in my November Haul. I had been lusting after these beautiful pearls for a long long time and I am so happy that they lived up to my extremely high expectations when I finally got them. I swirl my Real Techniques powder brush inside the wonderfully ornate pot and then brush it onto my face after foundation and concealer. It sets my foundation and makes my skin look randiant and healthy, without being shiny or having an obvious shimmer. The only downside is the smell, which is of parma violets - not really my cup of tea.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin

I've been a big fan of Urban Decay's Primer Potion for a while, it really does prolong the life of your eyeshadow and helps it look flawless all day long. Previously I've always worn the original shade (Nude) which dries invisibly. However, the last time I was at a UD counter I was feeling a little more adventurous and opted for the shade Sin, which is a very pretty champagne shimmer. It turned out to be a good decision as I've used it every single day since, sometimes under eyeshadows and often just alone. As I like to sweep my lid with champagney colours and then use darker colours in the crease and outer corners, this really is ideal for me. And there is no denying its lasting power.

Rimmel Lip Butter in Creme Brûlée

I couldn't leave this bad boy out of my favourites. It's a great alternative for lipsticks in winter, when lips become dryer and require more hydration. It's quite sheer and easy to wear, but still gives a flattering nude colour and keeps lips feeling soft in the freezing temperatures we've all been enduring.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

An oldie but a goldie. This has saved my lips since the winter descended upon us. I apply a thick layer at night and wake up with supple lips ready to face another bitterly cold day.

Bumble & Bumble Texture Hair Undressing Creme

This is doing the rounds on a lot blogs at the moment and as usual I bought into the hype and had to see for myself. I bought the smaller size to test the waters, but I'm ready to commit to the larger size already, it really is that good. I rub a small amount of this between my palms and work into the roots whilst hair is damp, then blow dry as usual. It give my hair volume and that kind of 'slept in' look, which I love. The best thing about this product in my eyes is that it doesn't leave your hair feeling crispy. Bumble & Bumble delivers again.

So that's it for my November favourites, hope you enjoyed this post. I'd love to hear what products you guys have been loving recently, and if you have any questions/suggestions/tips please comment below.

XXX

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Moisturiser

Longest name in the world. I included this product in my November Haul. I was on the lookout for a new oil-free moisturiser and this one caught my eye in Boots, and at only £4.99 I couldn't walk away.

I love the scent of this moisturiser, it's so grapefruity (the clue's in the name). If you don't like heavily scented face products then this probably isn't for you as it is rather pungent. However, I find it really refreshing and just what I need to perk me up in the morning.

The moisturiser itself is great for me as I have slightly oily skin so don't want to use anything too rich. The formula is light and sinks in quickly, making it perfect to wear under makeup. A lot of moisturisers I've tried have caused me to break out, but I've been using this one everyday for a while now and am happy to report that this isn't one of them. The packaging states that the moisturiser contains 'Microclear' technology, which apparently helps to keep skin nice and clear and free from blemishes. I must say my skin is currently in the best condition that it's been in for a long time, which could be partly down to this.

All in all, I have no complaints about this product: it hydrates my skin, smells divine, sinks in easily, is quick & nice to use, and most importantly hasn't broken me out. At £4.99 it's definitely something that I'd be happy to repurchase and recommend to anyone who is prone to blemishes and looking for a light moisturiser that won't clog up their pores.

Rediscoveries

In an attempt to use up all those products that I've had hanging around my dressing table for months, some even years, I've rediscovered some old favourites and completely fallen in love all over again with things I'd completely discarded and forgotten all about.

Bobbi Brown Blush in Pale Pink (£18)

So old, they've now completed changed the packaging to a square design with a flip-up lid. This was the first Bobbi Brown purchase I ever made and a firm favourite throughout my late teens (I'm now 22). Somehow it got replaced as my blush collection grew. I used it less and less in favour of trying new purchases, and eventually it was pushed aside and completely forgotten about. When I stumbled across this again I was over the moon. It just looks so inviting - the brightest pale pink you can imagine, it literally leaps from its case. The formula is wonderful, it glides on evenly and it's super pigmented and you only need the tiniest amount. Since I rediscovered this little beauty I've been applying it to the apples of my cheeks most days and absolutely loving the result. It gives you that fresh, 'just came in from the cold' glow. I'll never neglect this beautiful blush again.

Topshop Highlighter in Sunbeam (£10)

I have an extensive collection of highlighters to say the least. My favourite has been Soft & Gentle by MAC for a while, but before I discovered what is now my holy grail, this was my go-to cheekbone illuminator. It has millions of shimmer particles and the golden colour looks amazing, especially on tanned skin. It isn't the most subtle of highlighters so I reserve it mostly for nights out, but I am really glad I found this again.

Chanel Vitalumière Foundation (£29)

I put this foundation to one side when I decided to switch to using oil-free only bases. That was until recently when I read somewhere that Chanel Vitalumière does in fact have an oil-free formula. I dug it back out and put it on the very next day. I hadn't used it for a while and forgot how much I liked it in the first place. It blends really well on my skin, leaves a flawless matte finish and lasts all day - what more can you ask from a foundation? I'm now really keen to try the Vitalumière Aqua.

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (£20)

Ever faithful to my Rimmel Lash Accelerator, I don't mix up mascaras very often. But I got a sample of this (which came in the cutest little tube) from a Chanel counter a few weeks ago. I tried it and liked it, but then completely forgot about it. For the last few days I've been using it in conjuction with my Rimmel mascara, and loving the result. It's super black and makes my lashes look really dramatic. It stays put all day, although it can be a bit tricky to take off. I'm definitely going to purchase a full size of this the next opportunity I get.

Benefit Benetint (£24.50)

When I was younger I used to apply this to my cheeks, but when I got more into makeup I started to prefer powder blushers. However, recently I've been using this exclusively for my lips. I find it easier to wear than lipstick, not drying at all, and can be used sparsely for a subtle daytime look, or built up for a dramatic red lip for night time. I'm really glad I kept hold of this, especially as red lips are all the rage this season.

L'Oréal Elnett Heat Protect Styling Spray

I picked this up in my November haul and have been using it for a week or two now, and I must say I really do like it.

L'Oréal have created three different variations of this heat protecting styling spray: Volume (the one which I'm currently using), straight and waves. They claim to protect hair from heat styling up to 230 degrees, which is excellent if like me you're conscious about the damage that the hairdryer, straighteners and curling tongs must be doing.

It also claims to lock in your hairstyle for three days. I usually wash my hair every other day anyway, but even by the second day I don't think my style was exactly 'locked in' from using this. It did stay put longer than usual and I didn't feel the need to use quite as much hairspray as I would usually, but three days really is pushing it.

You spray the product onto damp hair before styling as usual. Initially you can really feel it in your wet hair, feels kind of like you've put loads of hairspray in. I was sceptical on my first use to say the least. But once hair is dry the sticky feeling completely vanishes and you're left with silky voluptuous locks.

I was really impressed with the volume that this gave to my hair, as I've found that most volumizing products don't live up to their promises. But after using this my hair was bigger than usual and I didn't feel the need to undergo the tedious backcombing that I'm so used to doing.

It's great value for money, the usual price is £5.99, but is currently on an introductory offer in Boots for just £3.99, and you get a whopping 170ml for your money. I also really like the packaging and the scent, which is light and fruity and fresh. I'm sure this spray will become a staple in my haircare routine.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

I received a sample of this in a magazine earlier this month (I think it was Elle, but I'm not 100% sure on that). I added it to my collection of samples to try out, and got round to using it last week. The next day I found myself in Boots purchasing the full-size tube. I am completely blown away by this product, going as far as to say this is the best primer that I've ever used.

It's a clear gel-like substance and a pea sized amount applied to your face after moisturising leaves your skin ultra smooth and velvety. It felt so nice when I tried it I couldn't help but stroke my face! It creates the perfect base to put foundation on top of; makeup just glides on after this.

The formula is oil-free (perfect for me as I'm trying to only use oil-free products at the moment because they don't seem to make me break out). It mattifies the skin so I think it's important to properly moisturise before hand to keep skin hydrated, although I haven't found it particularly drying so far.

It claims to extend makeup wear, and I can confirm this. The ultimate test for the lasting power of my makeup is when I go on my all to frequent marathon shopping trips. Today was one of those days. I applied this in the morning before my foundation, then took to the shops. I was out of the house for a total of seven hours and the weather was dreadful, windy and rainy. I'm pleased to say my makeup looks just as fresh now as when I left this morning and I'm putting that down to the primer.

I would really recommend this primer, particularly for those with oily or combination skin. It costs £25 for 30ml which is kind of expensive, but you don't need to use a lot so hopefully a tube will last a while. If you just want to try it out, a travel size 12ml tube is available for £12.50.

All Time Favourite Eyelahes

I live for false eyelashes. I've got better recently, but I went through a phase (I say phase, we're talking three years) of wearing them every single day. You'll be pleased to hear I've cut back, number one because I don't think wearing them that often can be that good for your own lashes never mind your eyes, number two because that is one expensive habit I can tell you.

Nevertheless I still love them and wear them whenever I'm going somewhere nice.

With my vast experience in pretty much every brand of false eyelash out there, I've managed to whittle it down to my two holy grails - one for a daytime look and one for the night time.

The Daytime Eyelashes

Ardell Demi Wispies (£5.49)

I really like these for daytime because they're subtle and I think they look really pretty and will pretty much look good on anyone. The words flirty and flutter spring to mind, and wispy funnily enough. The band is transparent which means you don't have to wear them with a tonne of black eyeliner. The band is also very flexible making them really easy and quick to apply. They're relatively cheap, costing £5.49 in Boots, who also often have offers like 3 for 2 across the Ardell range. For any bargain hunters, if you buy them in bulk on eBay you can literally get them pennies.

The Night Time Eyelashes

Nails Inc Get Gorgeous Strip Lahes (£6.50)

I love love love these eyelashes, they're super thick and full so they just make your eyes stand out so much and generally look amazing. They don't flick out at the ends; the longest lashes are in the middle which apparently makes eyes appear wider. They create a rather dramatic look so I usually reserve these for nights out (although they're have been days when I've been feeling glam). The band is quite stiff and I wouldn't recommend them for a novice because they can be a bit tricky to apply. But once you have them on you're all good to go. You can pick these up at most Nails Inc counters, or Superdrug's own brand 'Girls With Attitude' do an identical set that cost around £1 less.