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.