Beauty and Bentley

One of my gifts for Christmas was this little trio of products from Laura Geller, it contains the Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in the shade Gilded Honey, Easy Illuminating Stick also in the shade Gilded Honey and the Spackle Tinted Make-Up Primer in the shade Champagne. This set is still currently available on the Beauty Bay website (at a reduced price) but as it was a Christmas gift set I doubt it'll be around much longer, I decided to write up a review regardless because you can buy the full-size version of these products all year round.

The star attraction of this gift set and the product I had wanted to try for the longest time is, of course, the Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator so that's what my focus is going to be on in this review but I will include my initial thoughts on the other products also.

Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator - Gilded Honey

I was so excited to try out this highlighter, I had heard amazing things and wanted to pick this up for the longest time. Initially, when I opened this I thought it looked a bit too gold and I was worried it might show up a shade too dark for my skintone, this made me worry that I wouldn't like this highlighter but I was so wrong. When you apply this with a brush to the tops of the cheekbones it gives a beautiful intense glow that doesn't show up as a strong gold, you can apply this very lightly and buff away for a soft finish or build it up to really give some impact. This doesn't look chunky or glittery and I have fallen in love, once I've used up this little mini I definitely want to purchase the full-size.

Easy Illuminating Stick - Gilded Honey

This is a super big chunky highlighting stick that comes in the same beautiful shade as the powder highlight, it has a thick balmy texture that blends nicely into the skin. I'm still experimenting with this product as the first time I tried it out I felt like it disrupted my foundation slightly so currently, I am applying it before foundation then layering the Baked Gelato on top which seems to be working nicely. I think this would be really lovely to use on the body in the summer or on nights out as it's quick and easy to use and gives a really lovely dewy finish, it does have a slightly more glittery finish than the Baked Gelato. I like this product and as I mentioned I am still experimenting with the best way to use it but currently, I don't think I would repurchase the full size.

Spackle Tinted Make-Up Primer - Champagne

I had heard good things about the Spackle primer so this was another product I was looking forward to trying out even though I have been wondering more recently if primer really does do anything for my skin and the longevity of my make-up (but that debate is for another post perhaps). I have used this a fair few times and it has a lovely light moisturising feel on the skin, I would prefer it to be colourless, the champagne shade has fine glittery particles that show up on the skin which I don't know if I'm keen on. Once make-up is applied on top I don't notice the glitter anymore which is nice and make-up goes on smoothly but as I already mentioned I'm not convinced it does anything to increase the wear time of my make-up. I did try it out on half of my face to see if this made the differences more visible but I still don't think this does much.

This is my first experience trying out any of Laura Geller's products and so far I'm pretty happy, I can definitely see the Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator becoming an essential in my make-up collection and I'm enjoying using the other products in this little kit.

Swatch nearest the top is the stick, middle shade is the gelato swirl and at the bottom I blended a little of the primer.

What are your favourite primers, do you think they really work?

Today I am reviewing the budget-friendly concealer that every beauty addict is talking about, the Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer. This is a brand new product that has quickly been compared to the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer by various YouTubers and bloggers, now I am yet to buy the Tarte concealer so I won't be doing a comparison post I will simply be reviewing this like any other concealer.

Claims

The concealer for everyone. 18 shades ranging from fair to deep, in cool, neutral and warm undertones. Lightweight yet full coverage concealer to cover blemishes, even skintone, and counteract dark circles, with a matte finish that won't settle or accentuate fine lines and pores. Long wearing intense pigment that can also be used to contour and add definition.

Packaging and Price

This concealer comes in a pretty rose gold bottle with a large doe foot applicator which makes undereye concealing very quick and easy. The main downside is that this only contains 3.4ml of product which is less than most of my other concealers but this does cost just £4 which is an amazing price so even if you do need to buy it more often it will still most likely cost less than most other concealers. 

Review

I picked up this concealer in the shade C3 as this was the only shade left in my local store that would work for my skintone, this shade is really nice and works great but I will try out some other shades and see if I can get a more perfect match and I would also like to pick up a darker shade to use as a cream contour. The texture initially looks quite thick but this applies very smoothly and doesn't feel heavy or cakey. One of the things I really love about this concealer is how easily it blends into the skin, this and the large applicator make applying this concealer feel effortless. The pigmentation is really impressive especially considering the price, this easily covers my dark circles and gives my undereye a brightened appearance. I also use this to cover any spots and blemishes and it works great. This does seem to set in place so I would avoid waiting around before blending, other than that this is a good quality concealer that's easy to use. This does crease under my eyes throughout the day but most concealers do this on me and it doesn't look terrible but I think it is worth mentioning, other than that it lasts well. While I have been testing this out I have had a really bad cold so I can also confirm that this concealer can be reapplied around the nose throughout the day and it doesn't go patchy or look weird. Overall I think this is a great concealer and definitely a new favourite for me, I can't comment on how it compares to Shape Tape but I have a feeling it is being slightly overhyped because although I think its amazing for the price I didn't feel like it was life-changing. Either way, I think this is an amazing new launch from Makeup Revolution and I will be repurchasing this in the future and trying out new shades for sure! If you are considering purchasing this product I doubt you will be disappointed

What are your current favourite concealers?

Here it is, my first empties post of the year! Since my last empties post, I have collected up all the products I have finished using and today I'm giving you a brief review of these products and letting you all know if I would buy them again.

Alpha H Liquid Gold 

This is a resurfacing and firming treatment for the treatment of wrinkles and sun damage, it claims to give you a brighter clearer complexion. This product has reached cult status in the beauty community and although it costs around £33.50 it is a high-quality skincare product. This may not be suitable for anyone with very sensitive skin but for the rest of us, this treatment will give your skin a boost overnight leaving you feeling refreshed and smooth. I really like this product and I have a new sample size of the limited edition Rose Liquid Gold which will hopefully be just as good.

Collection Eyebrow Definer (3 Blonde)
This is a nice ash tone retractable eyebrow pencil that is easy to use and ideal for those with dark blonde to light brown hair. This pencil is very soft with a waxy consistency which makes it very quick and easy to use but it is more difficult to get very fine or precise lines. I do like this pencil for days when I'm feeling lazy and don't need to make my brows look too perfect, it just gives me a fuller slightly more defined look and considering you can pick this up for only £2.78 I think this is worth it and I have actually picked up a second one of these.

Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum
I picked this up a while ago and have finally used it up, this is a nice serum that's very reasonably priced at only £3.99. Although I think this is nice I don't think it's spectacular, I think it would be ideal for someone who already has good skin and just wants a boost of extra hydration or for someone just trying out serums for the first time but if you take your skincare seriously or have specific skincare concerns I just don't think this does enough. I don't think this is bad but I probably won't repurchase it.

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye Concealer
I have talked about this before in other empties posts so if you have read any of those you will know I love this. This is a great concealer that brightens the undereye and conceals without looking cakey, I use this so often that I'm almost done with another one of these and I will definitely repurchase this in the future but I also want to try out some other budget-friendly concealers this year so perhaps I'll find a new favourite. (I have just purchased the Makeup Revolution concealer so keep your eyes peeled for a review coming up soon)

L'Oreal Brow Artist Xpert
This is another retractable eyebrow pencil although this one has a triangular tip. I didn't particularly like this pencil, I used it up because it wasn't bad but I personally just don't love the triangular shape, I much prefer a fine tip brow pencil. If you are a fan of this shape of eyebrow pencil then you may like this but for me, I won't be repurchasing it because I like other pencils more. 

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
This is a beautiful foundation with medium-buildable coverage and a lovely natural finish. This foundation lasts well throughout the day and doesn't feel thick or cakey, I would say it's a great all-rounder. I have a full review of this foundation which you can read here. I really liked this foundation but it didn't quite live up to my favourite, Estee Lauder Double Wear, so I'm not 100% sure if I'll be buying it again but it is a great foundation.

Simple Micellar Water

I've talked about this a few times on my blog and I've obviously repurchased it repeatedly for a reason. Micellar waters, in general, are great because they remove make-up so quickly and easily and this one from Simple is perfect because it's reasonably priced and you can often pick it up on some kind of offer from Superdrug.

There we have it, a little look at the products I have used up from last year, what products have you been using and loving in January?

These first few months of the year can be tricky, most of us have overspent over the festive period on Christmas gifts and nights out and now we have to struggle to make it to payday. One of my goals for this year is to increase my savings and if I want to get off to a good start then I need to find a way to cut back and spend more carefully. This is a post to share my tips and tricks on cutting back on spending, allowing you to save more money and survive January.

Plan Your Meals -  Sit down every week/month before you go shopping and decide on what meals you plan to have and create a shopping list. It's so easy to get carried away when food shopping and pick up extra items you don't need that's why I always like to have a list and know exactly what meals I plan to cook. Planning your meals also allows you to choose cost-effective options meals that can be cooked in batches and frozen for the next week. If you want to take things a step further you can go online first and shop around for the best deals from your local stores (this would only be worthwhile if you make a significant saving as you will also need to factor in additional travel costs etc.) another option would be to check the weekly deals from your chosen supermarket and create meals that use ingredients on offer.

Avoid Doing Things That Encourage You To Spend Money - I know if go out to do a bit of window shopping I'll definitely buy something, even if it's something small or maybe just something to eat I will inevitably end up spending some money....so what's the solution? Don't put myself in that position. I'm not saying stay at home and do nothing but give more thought to what causes you to spend money if you're bored and want to get out of the house for a bit avoid going to the places that encourage you to spend money and find ways to treat yourself that don't cost money. You could spend the day pampering yourself, stay in and play board games or have a movie marathon.

Be Careful Of January Sales - If you decide to hop online and check out the sales, be careful! Seeing something with money off often makes you feel like you like you need to get it....I mean the deal is too good to miss......right? Well, this only really applies if it's something you actually need, my suggestion would be if you decide to check out the sales write a list of anything you need and don't but anything extra that catches your eye.  

Start Spending Intentionally - If you want to change the way you spend money then you need to start thinking about every purchase and spend intentionally. Before each purchase take a few minutes to consider can I afford this? Do I need this? Do I have something similar? Can I find it cheaper elsewhere? This is a good habit to create to limit how often you buy things that only give you short-term happiness, keep your money for your long-term goals and things that are genuinely valuable to you.

Can You Pay For It In Full - If you don't have the money to pay for something outright then do you really need to buy it? I'm not saying you should never take anything out on credit but if you find yourself putting things on your credit card a little too often or you rely on it after Christmas then, quite simply it's time to stop! If you don't have the money to buy something then there's a good chance you don't need it.

Don't Buy Immediately  - If you find something you really want to buy, write it down, take a picture, note it on your phone then do nothing. After a week/month go back over the items you wanted to buy and see if you still want them. It's easy to get caught up in the marketing in products, everything is designed to draw you in and make you feel like it's an essential but often when you take a step back and wait a while you realise it's not as important as you once thought. Another idea is to list all the items that you want to but and at the end of the month pick the one item you want most.

Use Cash -  I have a terrible habit of using my bank card without regularly checking my bank account and the next thing I know I've overspent when you use a bank/credit card it doesn't feel like you are really spending money because you aren't physically handing over the cash and that can quickly add up and be costly. I suggest, if you also have this problem, taking the amount of money you want to spend during the week from the bank and keeping it in your purse. Every time you make a purchase you will have to hand over real money and be able to see what you are spending and how much cash it's leaving you with. 

No Spend Days - My final tip is to challenge yourself to have no spend days, it's exactly as it sounds you try not to spend any money for a day then see how many times you can do this in a month. I speak about this in another post on how to save money on a budget which I will link here.

My additional tip is to get yourself a budget planner to help you organise/keep track of your finances, I have my own that's available to purchase from my Etsy shop, I'd love it if you checked it out!

There have been many times I've browsed the beauty department in Primark and wondered if the false nails were any good or a total waste of money.....you can probably tell by now where this post is going.....before Christmas I finally decided to give them a try and write up a quick review.

I've looked at the nails many times before and always thought they looked really pretty but with many of them costing only £1 I figured they must be poor quality but given that Primark has really improved their game in the beauty department recently my curiosity got the better of me and I picked up two different styles.

The first set were matte squareletto shaped nails in the shade Cashmere (purple/grey shade) which cost £1 and the second set were pointed in the shade Cool Cashmere (light grey) and these unbelievably were on sale for 50p. I actually prefer the look of the squareletto nails but I decided to try out the pointed ones first (just in case it was a total disaster and I ruined them). 

In each pack, you get 24 nails in different sizes so you can get the best fit possible, you also get a small tube of nail glue which I honestly expected to be the worst part about these nails. 

Before applying the nails I laid out each one in order of size, each nail has a number underneath so you can use the same numbers on each hand. Next, I picked out the numbers that best fit each nail and set them aside before putting the remaining nails back in their ziplock bag. Then I used some nail polish remover to make sure my own nails were free from any old nail polish or oils and pushed back my cuticles. Then I cut the top off the nail glue and applied a small amount to each artificial nail before pressing them down onto my own nails....and....voila you're done!

I was really surprised at how quickly and easily these stuck down, I thought the glue would be poor quality and the nails wouldn't stick well but I was very wrong! They only took seconds to dry down and be sealed strongly in place and I'm surprised at how good they look. You could probably get these to look even better and fit perfectly if you filed them down before applying but I'm just too lazy for that and I didn't feel it was needed. You will need to file down the very tops of the pointed nails to give a smooth finish and avoid them catching on things. I put these on at night and have worn them for 2 days since (I wore them for 3/4 days in total before removing them) and none have shown signs of coming loose or falling off and during that time I have been fairly rough on them and I've been in a hot bath which I thought for sure would loosen the glue. These are obviously not going to last as long or be as strong as acrylic nails but I think these are perfect for someone like myself who would like to wear them at the weekend but need short nails for working my retail job during the week. I'm also impressed by the selection Primark offers there are so many different styles, shapes and colours to choose from.

Overall, I'm really impressed with these artificial nails and I can't wait to try out the other set on my next night out. I think these look really good and the price point is amazing I don't think I would try out any other more expensive artificial nails as these do a great job for a fraction of the price. Primark, really are producing some amazing stuff right now particularly in the beauty department!

Have you tried out any of the Primark nails, what did you think?  

It's a new year and this is when we take time to think about what we want to achieve in the next 12 months and today I'm doing exactly that, I'm sitting down and sharing my goals for the year ahead. The hope is that this time next year I'll sit down to create new goals and will have achieved all if not most of the things on my list. I'm not a fan of new years resolutions and haven't made any for many years but I like the idea of having something to visualise and an idea of the direction I want my life to go in for the year ahead. 

Life Goals

1. Move Out - I've lived at home with my mum all my life and have dreamed of moving out for a long time but I'm hoping that this is the year I can finally make it happen.

2. Improve My Cooking Skills - I've always been such a fussy eater but as I get older I'm trying out more things and definitely enjoy more foods than I did as a child. During 2017 I had started cooking more healthy homemade meals and this is something I really want to continue with, I want to improve my cooking skills and eat healthier in general.

3. Save, Save, Save  - Over the last few years I have paid more attention to my spending and made a genuine effort to put some money aside for savings, this year I want to continue with this and I think a good goal is to save £1000 before the end of December.

Blogging Goals  

1. Upgrade Equipment - This year my most important goal is to improve my blogging and start really taking it seriously and the first thing I want to do is improve my equipment. I want to purchase a camera and a good lens to go along with it as well as lighting equipment and different materials to use as backdrops and staging in photographs.

2. Create a Dedicated Blogging Space  - This one is dependant on my other goal to move out, the hope is we will move into a 2 bedroom home where I can have the spare bedroom dedicated to all things beauty and blogging.....I get particularly excited about the prospect of having my own dressing room/office/chill out space.

3. Start Earning an Income -  My long-term goal dream is to earn a full-time income from blogging, I don't think this will happen this year but I would love to start heading in that direction by the end of 2018. I currently work part-time and it would be incredible if by the end of this year I was earning enough money to create a full-time wage between my current job and blogging (I just want to mention that I love blogging and even if  I don't make a penny I will continue to blog for as long as it continues to make me happy)

So there you have it, a rough guide to all the things I would like to achieve this year, I haven't made them too specific because I want them to be attainable but I think this is a good starting point and I'm excited to see what 2018 has in store for us all.

Happy New Year!

Let me know what your goals are for the year!

Okay, Christmas has come and gone and I have finally unboxed every item in my Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar so today I'm sharing everything I got and my first impressions of the products I've tried out. I also had last years calendar so I thought I'd give a little comparison from the last two years and let you know if I think it's worth it. This advent calendar costs £35 but you are only eligible to buy it if you spend £35 in store first (on beauty, fashion or homeware).

Rosie for Autograph Amazing Radiance Body Glow
This is a really pretty glowy cream that adds a bronzy sheen with fine glitter particles. It smells good and perfect to apply over a tan on a night out. This tube contains 50ml of product which I think is a generous amount and it's also cruelty-free which is nice. A full size (120ml) tube costs £12.50.

Gatineau Melatogenine AOX Probiotics Advanced Rejuvenating Cream
I've only tried this out a couple of times but this does feel luxurious on the skin, it's a nice rich cream that doesn't feel heavy. It has a traditional face cream scent and claims to target deep wrinkles and sagging skin. I received a 15ml tube and this retails for £86 for a 50ml jar so even though you do only get a small amount of this product to try I think it's a nice product to have included as the full size is so expensive.

Rodial Dragons Blood Sculpting Gel
This is one of the products I have been using most from the advent calendar, it's a nice light hydrating gel that sinks into the skin quickly and feels really nice. I don't know if I'm just imagining it but I do think my skin looks plumper and more defined and I really like this product so far. This is also 15ml and the full-size product contains 50ml and costs £85.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
This was in the previous advent calendar and it's amazing, a bit out of my price range but it smells great and melts away all make-up leaving your skin soft and clean. This is a really nice product and once again is a 15ml sample size and the full size is £59 for 200ml.


Look Good Feel Better Sculpting Sponge
This is a nice big sponge with different shaped edges which could be used for different application and finishing techniques. This doesn't feel as soft as my Real Techniques sponge but it does a good job at blending out foundation and concealer. The sharp edge would be good for contouring and baking. This sponge is obviously full size and it costs £7.50 which I think is very reasonable.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (Perla)
This is a beautiful shade, it applies smoothly and evenly with lots of pigmentation. This dries down to a matte finish but still feels comfortable on the lips. I really like this product and I think they picked a really nice wearable shade that most people could wear. This lipstick contains 1.5ml of product and the full size contains 3ml and retails for £16.

Formula Innovate Radiance Reveal Peel
This is an unusual product that you apply to dry skin and massage before rinsing off and revealing freshly exfoliated skin. I've tried this a few times and I really like it, after using this my skin feels so soft and refreshed. This is definitely one of the products I will consider repurchasing in the future, I got a 15ml tube and the full size contains 50ml and costs £17.50.

Leighton Denny Nail Polish (Star Dust)
This is a super sparkly silver nail polish with little flecks of blue/green/purple glitter. This is really pretty I've worn this once and it looked great but the only thing I will say is it won't last very long because it is quite thick so it will peel quickly but if you only need to wear it for a night then it will look beautiful. This is another full-size product that costs £12

Nails Inc Gel One Coat (Molten Star)
This is a really nice festive gold shade which I wouldn't pick out for everyday wear but it's perfect for this time of year. This applies really nicely and evenly, I've used Nails Inc products before and they are really nice quality. Once again this is full size and it would cost £13.


Pixi Lip Lift Max (Honey Sheen)
I've worn this lipgloss a few times now and it's very pretty, it's a soft pinky shade with very fine gold shimmer particles. This is great for wearing on its own or layering over a nude lipstick. This is a perfect consistency, it doesn't feel thick or goopy and it has a slightly minty/tingly lip plumping feel. This contains 1g, the full-size contains 2.7g and costs £12.

Percy and Reed Session Hold Hairspray
This is a handy little hairspray that's perfect for popping into your handbag, it has good hold but can feel a little bit crispy. I don't have a huge amount to say about this product, it's a nice hairspray but nothing super special. This is a mini but you can buy it on the Marks and Spencer website, for 50ml it costs £5.

Korres Wild Rose Advanced Repair Sleeping Facial
I have only tried this out once so I haven't got any major opinions on it but what I can say is it smells great and melts into the skin. It claims to be boosted with wild rose oil, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid for softer, smoother, more radiant skin by morning. This contains 16ml of product and the full-size jar contains 40ml and costs £26

Shay & Blue Blood Oranges Perfume
Last years advent calendar had one of these in a different scent and I must say I prefer this one, as the name suggests this smells like oranges. Top Note - Immediate fresh bursts of blood orange segments and juice. Heart Note - At the core of this fragrance lies a well-balanced note of hot napa leather that is sensual and intense. Base Note - A few hours into the dry-down discover sultry and passionate musk with charred woods and amber. This contains 10ml of product which you can buy and it costs £25.


Alpha-H Liquid Gold Rose
This is another product I received last year but in the original formula, this is a liquid exfoliant that resurfaces the skin during the night. The original is a cult favourite and this limited edition version is a more moisturising formula with aromatic botanicals. This is a really nice product that should be used every other night at most, I feel it's slightly stickier than the original and it definitely has a botanical scent. This is a 50ml bottle and the full-size has 100ml for £37.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara
Next, we have some mascara, this claims to give drama and curl but I don't think this gives much drama. This is a nice everyday mascara that gives some curl and length but it majorly lacks in volume. This is a nice mascara but I don't love it (there was actually another mascara in the calendar that I prefer). This tube contains 4ml of product and the full-size contains 8ml for £19.

Autograph Hydrating Confidence Boost Primer
I have tried this out a few times now and it feels nice and hydrating on the skin and it sinks in quickly which I like. I'm never really convinced that primer makes my make-up last any longer but I do think this gives a nice base for skin feeling a bit dehydrated. This contains 15ml of product and the full-size tube contains 30ml and costs £12.50.

Pur Correcting Primer Illuminate and Glow
This primer I have only tried once and like the other, I don't know that it actually increases the wear time of my foundation but it does add a glow. This add a nice sheen to the skin and feels very moisturising, once applied it can feel a tiny bit greasy but that passes and you are left with some slight tackiness that is a good base for foundation. This also contains 15ml of product and the full-size contains 30ml and retails for £24.

Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream
I haven't tried this out yet but I think it's the same, if not very similar to a product from last year. This smells lovely and if it is the same as last years product is a really nice night cream that gives you soft fresh looking skin. This contains 15ml of product and the full-size tube contains 50ml for £22.


Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion
I have tried this out a few times and it seems like a nice body lotion but I think you need to use this regularly to see results. The scent is quite unusual but I don't think it's anything too offensive, it does feel very slightly sticky once applied but again this isn't a major issue and I will continue to use this lotion and see if it helps my dry skin. You get 50ml in the calendar and the full-size tube contains 100ml and retails for £14.50.

Nuxe Precious Scented Shower Oil
I've only tried this out once but it made a good first impression, it smells lovely and doesn't leave your skin looking glittery. I was a little worried this would be greasy as it is a shower oil but it just feels like a moisturising shower gel, it doesn't leave any residue and as I already said the shimmer doesn't appear to stick to the skin. You get 30ml and the full-size contains 100ml and costs £6.

Diego Dalla Palma Ciglione Mascara
This is the second mascara in the advent calendar and I much prefer this one over the Eyeko one. This mascara gives my lashes lots of volume and length, it lasts well throughout the day and so far I'm enjoying using it. This is a full-size tube and it costs £17.50.

Filorga Meso-Mask
This mask claims to enhance the skin by improving luminosity and radiance while treating wrinkles and erasing signs of fatigue. I've tried this out twice and it feels really nice and my skin looks good afterwards, I will need to use it a little longer before I can comment on all of the claims but it smells good and is nice to use. This is a 15ml tube and the full-size jar contains 50ml and costs £40.

Balance Me Rose Otto Face Oil
This oil comes in a glass roller ball bottle which is nice for travelling but I do prefer a dropper bottle (which you would get if you purchase the full-size product). This is a lovely rich oil that feels luxurious and smells great, I have used this a few times at night and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. You get 10ml of product and the full-size contains 30ml and costs £32.


Ren Instant Firming Beauty Shot
I really like to use this 'shot' before the Rodial Sculping Gel to really lift my skin. This product has a gel-serum texture and melts into the skin almost instantly and it really does feel firming and tightening, so far I'm really enjoying this little beauty shot and it's great that you only need a few drops. This is a 10ml tube and the full-size bottle contains 30ml for £36.

Make-up Bag
The final item was a beautiful make-up bag that fits all of your goodies from the advent calendar inside. It is white with 'My favourite things....' quote in gold across the front and pink polka dots. This is really nice if you want to keep everything from the calendar together or just for updating your current make-up bag, it's very pretty and good quality. I couldn't find this on the website so I think it might be exclusive to the advent calendar.

So there you have it, that's all the items I received in this year's Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar, obviously, if you are interested in buying any of these items they can be found on the Marks and Spencers website. If I compare this to last year's calendar I would have to say I found it lacking in the hair care department, last year I got a hair treatment, a hair oil and balm.....this year only included hairspray. I would have prefered if one of the mascaras were removed and a hair mask/treatment was included. Regardless, I still think this calendar is worth the money and so far I'm really enjoying all of the products I received. I will continue to update you on all of the items and will probably write up full reviews on the products I love/hate.


Did any of you try out a beauty advent calendar this past Christmas, what did you think? Was it worth it?