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If, like me, you are met with a wall of silence, whenever you ask for gift suggestions from family, you will no doubt be at the point of giving up. It’s somewhat of a tradition in my household to leave shopping to the last minute, but for shoppers like myself, I like to have a plan. The last thing I want, is to be stuck in a queue, behind an enraged mother, clambering to get the last One Direction doll. So here is a small selection of gift suggestions, which I believe will be ideal, for various members of your family. Santa has enough of his plate this year (mince pies probably) so lets help him out and do our bit. We all want to be on the ‘nice’ list after all:
E.L.F 100pc Festive Marble Eye shadow Palette (£15.00)
One of my most coveted brands out there for affordable make up is E.L.F. They provide products to such a high specification at such an affordable rate, without most importantly slipping on quality. With such a variety of products available it’s very easy to get engrossed on the site and keep slipping more and more into your basket. This is an ideal gift for a sister or even your mother. With a concise palette of colours ranging from seductive nudes to festive brights, this really is a staple palette, for the festive season. The colour payoff is sublime and packs onto the lid to provide a pixel perfect finish. To ensure the shadow stays in place, use in conjunction with the Glitter Eye Primer, also produced by E.L.F. I struggle to get from one week to the next without seeing some form of offer on the site, ranging from 50% off to free shipping. This is a company I absolutely adore and I truly believe they provide amazing products and really look after their customers. For amazing value and truly desirable essentials, then head over to E.L.F, you will be sure to get the most out of your money this Christmas
Vita Liberata Capture the Light Illuminateur (£18.00)
The Capture the Light collection consists of illuminating skin finishes, that provide a flush of light and dewiness to the skin. Perfect for highlighting areas of the face such as the bridge of the nose and brow, this really is a versatile product. It’s widely accepted that BB creams are the best way to achieve a flawless skin base, without being too cakey, however after using this product I have to say it’s far superior to a BB cream. When used as a base for the whole skin it leaves a dewy glow and corrects any open pores and fine lines. An ideal gift for someone with mature skin, as it will add a boost of light to the skins surface and give a more youthful glow. This can also be applied over the top of the Vita Liberata tanning products to give a bronzy finish to the skin, perfect for standing out at all those Christmas parties. There are 5 shades to choose from to achieve a wide range of required results. A little tip is to mix a small amount of pigment eye shadow with this product to create a cream eye shadow or a cream blush, to work onto the high points of the cheeks. This has the added bonus of an SPF 25, however please do take into consideration you skin type if using this as a protective barrier. I absolutely adore this product and can quite easily say it’s the most diverse range available for anyone serious about achieving healthy looking skin.
4711 Original Eau De Cologne 50ml (£11.49)
One of the longest standing colognes in the market has to be 4711. A uniquely unisex fragrance it has a subtle scent and high citrus notes. One of my all-time favourite scents has to be CK one due to how light and fresh it smells. Having used 4711 I have to say I have been swayed. I believe in desirable product packaging and this doesn’t disappoint, with it antiquated glass bottle. A little strong at first this really works into a soft fragrance due to the warmth of the wearer’s skin. If you’re looking for a fragrance that will suit most then this is the one for you. I would also be inclined to use this after a shower as it doesn’t have heavy notes to make the smell too masculine. It does wear off after a couple of hours but once re-applied it really builds the fragrance up. A fragrance well established for over 200 years this clever formulation has a positive effect on the body and mind.
Nutra Nail Gel Perfect: 5 minute gel-colour (£14.99)
This is ideal as a stocking filler for anyone serious about nail beauty. The ultra-clever technology, means the varnish sets in 5 minutes, without the dreaded smudges or chips, which occasionally happens, with lower quality grade products. UV or LED lights are often used by nail technicians to set the varnish, but with this you simply apply the activator as a base and then the colour on top. The results are to a salon specification, without the additional expense. Ranging in a multitude of shades, there is quite literally one for everyone. Within 5 minutes of application you will have the glossiest, most patent nails, with a supremely rich colour. Alongside the varnish and activator you are also provided with a brush cleaner, to ensure you don’t get contamination between the products. The colour I tried was the Sugar Plum, a devilishly deep purple tone, perfect for the festive season. I haven’t seen colours this rich since I first started investing in Chanel Varnishes. I have to say that Gel perfect are far more supreme, as the end result is extremely hard wearing and representative of a high quality salon finish. In conjunction with the varnish is the no-mess express polish remover. A gentle formulation containing lanolin and aloe, it work as to not only remove the unwanted product, but conditions the nails at the same time.
Mark Hill Big Night Out : Supersize me volume spray (£5.99)
‘Life’s too short for flat hair’ a sentiment I and Mark Hill share and also the slogan on this Volumising spray. Mark really does provide a truly unique range of affordable and durable products and this is no exception. Whether you want to create a fierce mane of hair or you simply have fine hair that needs a boost, then this is the ideal gift for you. Packed with root boosting ingredients you can be sure to rely on this so give your locks the prowess quality. This is best used into damp or towel dried hair and then the hair can be blow dried to further increase the full effect. The pump doesn’t deposit much product, which really allows you to tailor the amount you use, to suit how big you want your volume. Another key feature of this product is you can also re-add volume back into your style. The morning after and the dreaded walk of shame is a thing of the past, simply add a touch to your roots and your back on top. My gift tip is to buy a few more additional items from the range and create a super deluxe kit for any budding stylist or just someone fanatic about great hair. I found this product tremendously easy to use and the cherry coke smelling fragrance was a delight.
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