To say I love Christmas would be a huge understatement...I would actually go as far as saying that I'm in love with Christmas!
The decorations, the cheesy Christmas songs, wrapping presents (even buying wrapping paper), writing lists, late night shopping with the Christmas lights on and ofcourse present buying! (No dangley Christmas tree earrings though!).
I get pure enjoyment out of looking and buying gifts at Christmas for myself and others!
I also pride myself on getting people lovely gifts & not just cheap gift sets (which can sometimes be so tempting for the people that give me rubbish presents each year!)
So here is a little rundown of what brands do which gifts, best!
Natural & Organic Gifts
Now that I don't use any product containing Sulfates or any nasties I kind of class myself into the category of being all organic. I appreciate natural products and they just don't feel as cheap as other similar priced products! To me The Body Shop and Lush aren't all that natural but if you have someone in your family or a friend that loves that type of shop then I'm sure they will love any of these products -
Naked Bodycare & Good Things - Both brands are available in Boots (3 for 2 at Boots) & online. From Naked Bodycare the Coco de Mer Body Butter & Bath Soak are truly divine and just lovely. As are the big pots of intensive hair treatments...much better than Tresemme and the like!
From Good Things the wipes at £3.49 are actually really great also really loving the Strawberry & Cranberry Exfoliator, really fresh and natural.
These make perfect gifts in a set of three all nicely wrapped up for under £10!
Ecotools are another lovely brand - however the brushes range from £5 -£12 each. So the 6 piece brush set at £14.50 is really great value for money. I bought my own set from Tesco but you can also find it online or in Boots. It comes in a nice canvas brush roll and makes a great starter set or for anyone that loves makeup brushes.
Yes To Carrots are also a lovely brand with lots of nice giftsets available this Christmas - With sets for £10 at Asos.com .
Burts Bees always do lovely giftsets all year round for around £10 -£15 packed with lots of little mini products to try out! Debenhams always have a great selection as do large Boots store or online - here.
Also love anything by Melvita, Liz Earle and Korres.
To be honest gifts for teenagers is quite easy as so many products are aimed at them. However it can be so easy to get something too childish and them ending up hating it! So I am always one of those adults that annoyingly give someone elses child something abit to grown up for them - resulting in the teenage loving it and the parent hmm-ing about it.
Last year it was a Banksy graffiti book with afew unsavoury images!
But we are talking teenage girls here and I am sure they will get enough giftsets to last them all year, so it's always nice to make up your own giftset of products.
So for teens aged 12-14 brands such as - Soap & Glory, 17, Scarlett & Crimson and Beauty UK are good.
Anyone 15 + - I'd look at Barry M for nail polishes, Gosh, MUA, Girls Aloud eyelashes, Simple skincare.
If you are into giftsets -
Umberto Giannini and Toni & Guy do some lovely giftsets that come nicely boxed or with a makeup/travel bag.
Also Gosh, Girls Aloud & Accessorize have some lovely giftsets out this year.
Beauty Gifts for Her
(not to sure what happened to the pic)
This has to be the easiest category to buy for - however there is always a risk of buying someone something they already have, especially when it comes to women! So I try to chose new products that have been especially brought out for Christmas or nice giftsets that you can find online.
Some really lovely online giftsets include - Bourjois Vintage Eye Shadow Collection £9.20, OPI Mini Swiss Collection £12.15, Asos Exclusive Paul & Joe Skincare set £11.00 and Eve Lom Starter Collection £25.00.
As for individual brands - Barry M, Topshop, Benefit, Bourjois are all great!
Also some amazing quirky beauty related books for Christmas are - The Goddess Guide & The Goddess Experience (review here) by Gisele Scanlon both lovely books and so christmassy!
Gifts for the More Mature Lady
(I am ofcourse joking - I'm talking mum's,aunties and grans here!)
There really are some awful giftsets out there for the "older lady" around this time of year, 9 times out of ten containing talc and smelling of Lavender or "Woods of the Valley"! I don't think I could subject anyone to that.
Then all the other giftsets can seem abit to young - even the No7 ones. So it's always nice to make up your own or buy online.
No7 Skincare and cosmetics are perfect for simple little gifts - especially if you use your £5 free voucher!
Neal's Yard also do some lovely approciate giftsets ranging from £12 to £25.
REN at Space NK also have a lovely mini body set with four minis for £15.
For anyone on more of a budget Sanctuary Spa products are great and ofcourse are on 3 for 2 at Boots.
For more luxe products - Estee Lauder do some amazing illustrated powder compacts and L'Occitane do some lovely big giftsets and ofcourse there's Guerlain & Chanel for real indulgence!
Stocking Fillers
I think alot of websites mustn't know what a stocking is - as most of the suggestion wouldn't fit in any stocking I've seen. Stocking fillers are supposed to be small and on the cheap side.
Miniature perfumes are a must - however they can be abit tricky to find. Superdrug always stock quite afew next to there checkouts as do Bodycare and ofcourse Boots do the perfume giftsets (but they can be abit pricey).
Novelty lip balms are also a must - Asos always do quite afew, however there are lots of eBay sellers that stock US novelty lipbalms that are really cute and under £3.
Paul & Joe also do some lovely packaged Blotting Papers for only £3.50 and Bourjois have some lovely Limited Edition Pots on Asos for £5.85.
Really hope this post has been nice and helpful to read!
As some of you know I won't be posting for awhile due to moving house & other things, but I really will miss you all!
Fee xx