lush stardust gift set

LUSH STARDUST GIFT SET - LIMITED CHRISTMAS EDITON
Lush gift sets are another gift I think you cant go wrong with - every set has something unique and handmade, and you can usually smell the present in it's wrapping under the tree before you've even opened it. I received the Stardust gift set this year and it. is. a. dream. It smells absolutely delicious, each product is so pretty and to top it off, it comes in a pink glittery star shaped box!

The box contains:
❤ Snow Globe soap - designed to look like a shaken up snow globe, made with lemongrass and citrus.
❤ Magic Wand - a reusable bubble bar version of the Snow Fairy shower gel. You wave your wand in your bath water and set it aside once you're happy with the amount of bubbles.
❤ Snow Fairy shower gel - the best shower gel in the world with a scent of pear drops and candy floss.
❤ Shimmy Shimmy - a glitter bar made with Cocoa and Shea butter. You can use this to highlight various areas of the body for nights out.
❤ Candy Mountain - a pink and green bubble bar for your bath that smells delicious!
❤ Party Popper - a bath bomb complete with popping candy and confetti, made with honeydew and melon soap.

I couldn't be happier with this gift! I've yet to use any of the products, partly because they're so pretty I just want to keep them. I'm going to use Party Popper later this evening while I get ready for NYE, I may even use Shimmy Shimmy for a little New Years glitter! I wish they sold this set all year round, it's so lovely, I'll be stocking up next year!

Which Lush products do you swear by? Have you tried any of their limited edition Christmas sets?

soap & glory leap of face gift set

SOAP & GLORY LEAP OF FACE - £20 @ BOOTS

Let's face it, you cant go wrong with a Soap & Glory gift set for Christmas can you? I received three this year and each time I was (quite literally) like a kid on Christmas morning. Leap of Face is one I spotted in Boots and really liked the look of so I was very pleased to see Santa had dropped it off for me on Christmas Day. 

The set includes Peaches & Clean deep cleansing milk, For Daily Youth 6-in-1 moisture lotion, Mighty Mouth hydrating lip balm plus a buffing mitt and headband. Out of all the products I'll probably use the Mighty Mouth the most because I always use a lip balm, plus this one is super glossy and likely to live in my handbag. I'm eager to try the For Daily Youth moisturiser also, I've heard great things about this product and how it gives your skin a lovely glow. The face buffer is something I'm a little apprehensive about as if I use anything too rough on my face, even an exfoliator, I break out. Overall I think this a nice little kit with some useful products in, I'll be interested to see which products I decide to repurchase! 

Did you get any Soap & Glory sets for Christmas? What products have caught your eye?

photo diary #15

OVERDUE FOR A FRINGE TRIM ❤ FESTIVE SNACKS ❤ CLASSIC RED CHRISTMAS NAILS ❤ ORIGINAL SOURCE WINTER EDITION ❤ CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ❤ TOO MUCH PRESENT WRAPPING! ❤ MORNING GIGGLES ❤ NEVER SITS STILL FOR PHOTOS TOGETHER ❤ COCKTAILS AT MY FAVORITE MEXICAN ❤ CURRENTLY LISTENING TO  ❤ LITTLE BEAUTY PURCHASES ❤ BOYFRIEND SURPRISED ME WITH A 5* HOLIDAY, STILL IN SHOCK! ❤ LEAVING SANTA & HIS REINDEERS SOME TREATS ❤ BEAUTIFUL MULBERRY BAG FROM MY IN LAWS ❤ PRINCESS' FIRST CHRISTMAS ❤ SANTA CLAUS REALLY DID COME TO TOWN ❤ LOVELY GIFTS ❤ CHRISTMAS DAY DRESS ❤ PASTEL PINK WITH ROSE GOLD STUDS & HAIR RIBBONS ❤ MAMA & BABA PERFUMES ❤ PIZZA & JAMES ARTHUR, PERFECTO ❤


Hello lovlies, I hope you've all had an amazing Christmas and were well and truly spoilt! I'm so sad now that it's over, but at least new years is still scarily just around the corner.

We had a lovely first family Christmas, Mitch even dressed up as Santa Christmas morning and Daisy wouldn't stop giggling! It was nice to be able to spend time with my parents, in laws and the rest of the family as we barely have time to see anyone these days, there was 18 of us for Christmas dinner! I'm planning a post on my Christmas gifts because a lot of them were beauty and I thought it might be nice if you're a nosy parker like I am to have a little look at them with a mini review. I received some really thoughtful and lovely gifts, I was completely shocked when my boyfriend surprised myself and Daisy with a holiday already booked for next year - I haven't been abroad in almost six years and I'm so, so thankful and excited! But my favourite thing was watching Daisy and Mitch open their presents, I'm already planning for next year!

Well, I'm going to continue eating all of the Christmas chocolate before I start my 'new years diet' (the way I see it, if I eat it all now there's none to tempt me once the diet starts?) and watch The Incredibles with D and Mitch, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Much love, H x

illamasqua alter ego mystery selection box

ILLAMASQUA ALTER EGO MYSTERY SELECTION BOX -  £38 @ (EXCLUSIVE TO) DEBENHAMS

Walking through Debenhams I spotted a brand new wall of products being displayed and amongst the magnificent display I spotted the Illamasqua logo, I picked up the Alter Ego Mystery Selection box and practically run to the till point, the products are collectively worth over £90 but with the box being sold at £38 and my staff discount on top I literally could not say no. 

 The box contains six full size products, including Collide nail polish and Electrum Liquid Metal, and the rest are a mystery - clue's in the name! Of course, Illamasqua are a very unique, 'outside the box' brand so I was slightly apprehensive as to what weird and wonderful colours I would discover, however I was pleasantly surprised. I recieved: 

❤ Powder shadow - Angst: cranberry red with a matte finish 

❤ Powder blush - Kiss: dusky pink

❤ Lipstick - Trash: molten gold, shimmer finish 

❤ Intense lipgloss - Succubus: blood red

❤ Nail polish - Collide: neon pink

❤ Liquid Metail - Electrum: antique gold

Yes, the eyeshadow and lipstick would be perhaps a little too much for everyday use, but they are such pretty colours and I cant wait to use them when creating a more creative look for a client or on myself. I adore the Kiss blusher, it's a gorgeous shade and I've been wearing it everyday since I bought the box. The intense lipgloss is also a wonderful product, I very , very rarely wear gloss but this was so highly pigmented and such a perfect shade of red that I wore it Christmas Day for the traditional Christmas red lip and teamed it when Electrum on my eyes. The polish is a pretty shade, I wasn't too thrilled with it, mainly because I feel as though I have enough nail products and perhaps a liquid liner would have suited the box better? However it's still a nice product and I'm sure I'll use it in the future. 

I've seen other reviews on these boxes and I think it's a little like Deal Or No Deal you pretty much have to pick up a box and pray you get lucky! Overall I'd say I'm 80% happy with the products I received  it makes an excellent gift and is a lovely little slice of Illamasqua pie in a box.

merry christmas

Merry Christmas to all my beautfiful followers, and anybody else who reads this post! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas day and Santa is very generous to you all this year :) H x

my year - 2012

This year has been the most life changing so far, without a doubt! Obviously the main reason being on January 27th Daisy-Rose was born and my whole world changed, for the better. It's been a great year, I'm celebrating my third Christmas with my boyfriend, Mitchell and this year it's as a family, I've had some wonderful times with my GG - best girls for ten years now! And I've finally began the path to my dream career! I also went to the Harry Potter studio tour which, after the day Little D was born was my favourite day ever! This year has made me realise how important family, true friends and sleep is! I've learnt a lot and I've changed a lot, I'm ending this year feeling happier than I thought I could ever be thanks to my wonderful little family. I'm hoping 2013 will treat me as kindly.

 I hope you've all had a wonderful year, love and hugs, H x