WHAT TO BUY FOR A TEENAGE GIRL

* PR Sample

I'm not one for writing gift guide posts, generally as it depends on the situation, the person, and the budget. But this year, as I am a teenage girl myself literally hitting 16 years a couple of days ago, I thought I could perhaps a few of you out that are struggling for a friend or relative.

I think for most of us, when you struggle on what to buy, or need a little filler present, we all opt for the body spray. I don't know why, but I know it's always my backup option. I got sent this set of So...?! Body Spray Set* and if you needed you could split the range, or even just do it as the set.

Sticking with fragrance, I also received the Britney Spears Fantasy EDP 30ml* which is the perfect scent for someone my age. It's rather sweet, but also is balanced out by a slight musk and really is just a youthful scent that I'm sure so many girls would love. For body, most people I know adore Soap & Glory, and so buying a Righteous Butter would be a nice gift perhaps alongside some other minis, as a sweet pampering gift.

For those that are wanting something a little more high end, I 100% recommend an Urban Decay Naked Palette. I have Naked 2, but any would be perfect. I personally would opt for 1 or 2 as they are more neutral rather than the pink tones in 3, as it is a little safer and those two suit most eye colours. Another makeup item is the Maybelline Baby Lips. I don't use these too often, but the amount of people I see at school using these is unreal, so if they happen not to own them already, you have a perfect stocking filler.

For the girl that doesn't particularly like makeup nor beauty, I would suggest buying The Wet Brush*. Mine is in a cute mustache print, and I've had this for such a long time and use it daily. It honestly is the best brush I've ever used and even the girls furthest from beauty lovers would appreciate it.

These House of Holland Polka Dot Nails would also appeal to a nail fanatic. If you don't want the glue aspect, pick up some Elegant Touch Adhesive Tabs, as they just make the process as little less damaging and longer lasting if I say so myself. These are 3D, monochrome and stiletto shaped; I would be pretty bloody pleased to receive these myself.

Finally, this Trim Brow and Lash Set*. If your mates are eyebrow obsessed like mine are, this would be a great present. You get a mirror, a spoolie, some scissors and tweezers in a travel pouch - and only costs you about a fiver. I know a lot of girls that would appreciate this present a LOT.

Hopefully I gave some ideas, and if you have any more please do leave them in the comments!

A FESTIVE GLITTER POLISH

I think it's safe to say that as the Christmas and party season comes around, almost everyone loves a good glitter manicure, whether all over, an accent nail, tips, or a gradient effect, it's just something we all crave.

I found this one from Essence from the Special Effect Topper range for a couple of pounds in the shade Circus Confetti. You get a variety of small round glitter and slightly larger hex glitter in an array of colours, basically like rainbow glitter housed in a clear base. This looks amazing layered over coloured polish, as well as nude and white, and also on it's own layered up for a full on glitter nail (a few coats gets it almost opaque).

As it is quite a heavy glitter, the drying time is a little longer than usual, but a fast drying top coat will get you though it (I'm loving the Ciaté Speed Coat), and I can't get over how sparkly and festive it looks. It even managed to catch the eye of the science teacher whilst he was in the midst of talking as it was that sheeny and reflective!

Definitely one to try if you are looking for a budget rainbow glitter rather than splurging on the likes of OPI.

FESTIVE SEASON

It has begun again. The first of December marks my true excitement for Christmas (although my present shopping did begin beforehand as I have rather busy collection of weekends coming up). I thought I would just put together a little post together on what I'm doing this year present wise and how I'm wrapping.

Between my close-knit group of friends we have organised a Secret Santa so we don't have to buy each other a separate present as budgets are low this year (I don't really know why but we all seem to be a bit short on money), so we are each getting a £20 present instead rather than lots of little bits. Of course, some of the girls slipped up and gave it away meaning a few of us 'cryptic' gals could suss out who has who, but I'm still excited to see what we all buy for each other. That means I have more money to spend on family, as some of my other friends and I just promised each other chocolate and so we wouldn't have to spend much more either.

As for wrapping, I decided to go for what I was going to do last year (but Mum got ahead of the game and had already purchased various rolls of printed paper). The idea is to wrap everything in brown paper then decorate it with bakers twine, bows, ribbon and elastic cord, and so on, to make it really customised. I've gone for a red, gold, green theme and managed to get most of my supplies in Wilkinson and Home Bargains to save some pennies. I think buying presents is my favourite part and seeing others open them, and I'm really pleased with my finds this year.

If you celebrate Christmas, how are you planning things this year?

REVLON GIRLY NAIL POLISH

Ever since I got into the whole world of nail polish, I was always intrigued by the Revlon Nail Polish in Girly, a jelly base, alongside an array of coloured glitter. I never got my hands on it, but when it was in a set with two Charlie body sprays for £4 in the sales, I literally jumped for joy.

So basically, this is a sheer pink base, which is accompanied with  blue, purple, pale pink, and a tiny, tiny hint of gold, rusty small glitter. It took me a good few coats to get this opaque which is a little annoying (we are looking at the 3+ mark here), so that is generally my only complaint.

Other than that, I love this, and I hope to wear it more often when I can be bothered with slapping on the coats, and maybe it'll open a new door for me to these jelly and glitter kind of nail polishes, because honestly, they do really interest me.

 

WHAT I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS 2013 | BEAUTY

Cliche blogger introductory paragraph, but I'll put it short and sweet. I'm NOT bragging, and am extremely grateful for absolutely everything you see here (I also got other non-beauty bits too, but they aren't being featured here, and some of the things didn't get into this photo haha).

So, first with the bath and body items. I got the Soap and Glory Relaxstation set, which basically, I have just been smelling for the past 3 days, and I may be a little addicted. From my little sister, I got the Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter which is the thickest, most nourishing body butter you ever did see, and it literally smells like someone crushed up a peach and put it in this pot - love. On the same front I got the Burt's Bees Essential Kit which contains a cleanser, hand salve, body lotion, foot cream and a lip balm (which I was most excited about).

Onto makeup. So, I was lucky enough to receive MAC Woodwinked, coming in at my first every MAC eye shadow, and the colour is just simply be-a-utiful, a golden, bronzey colour which just pairs nicely with my brown eyes - yay! I got the Smashbox It's Your Prime Set which contains 3 primers; the famous Photofinish Foundation Primer, the new Hydrating Undereye Primer and also the Photofinish Lid Primer all of which at first impressions are great.
 I also got the Real Techniques Stippling Brush which I have wanted for ages for light foundation application and cream brush, and I am loving it. The Soap and Glory Girl-O-Whirl was a total surprise to me, which my mum had picked out when it was on the star offer in Boots (you chose very well mum!), and it has an array of products in it which I have been lusting after for ages now. I also got 2 No7 sets, one of which being the one with 2 brushes, and 3 shadows which you saw in my wishlist post, and another with a compact mirror and case, in it, both being from my Nan and Granddad. 

The Origins Mask Marvels Set turned up under the tree, so I am excited to trail (and review of course) 3 fabulous masks from Origins , 2 of which have gained a cult-status in the beauty world.

Finally onto fragrances. I got the Body Shop White Musk Smokey Rose Fragrance Mist which is a lovely, slightly lighter version of the original EDP, but still smells just as good as it. I also got this adorable set of 4 of the Ted Baker Women scents in a set called Heaven Scent which are so feminine, but not too overpowering, and the packaging on top of that receives an A* from me. 

So those were the majority of the beauty based gifts that I got this year, and I can assure you, the money I received was well spent buying more beauty (and some fashion) bargains in the Boxing Day sales... oops. 

 

THE BEAUTY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

Possible a little blogger cliche, today is the day in which I share some of the beauty picks on my Christmas Wishlist this year. Although, there are a few other bits on the list, and I would never expect to receive everything I asked for, but these are some which I thought I could share with you as the possibilities that I could be lucky enough to see under my tree.

Skin & Body 

Being a slight bit of an Origins fangirl I thought Christmas would be the prime time to get started with the brand. The face masks had always intrigued me, and so this Origins Mask Marvels Set was written straight on my Christmas list. You get 3 75ml face masks (the Drink Up Intensive 10 minute mask, Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and Clear Improvement Mask) for £25. The value for money is what got me, with the 50ml masks being £11 individually anyway.

Another body set is the Soap and Glory Relaxstation Set which has again, an amazing value for money. This one comes in a £20, with a few full sizes, a few minis, a hair turban towel, and also a 'loofah' if that is what they are called? I must say also Clean on Me shower gel is a firm favourite of mine so a full size shall be well loved.

I guess this links into skin, which is MAC Fix+. I recenty watched a video where ViviannaDoesMakeup talked about stippling this on with a brush to take away any powder-cakeyness, and it drew me in right away.

Makeup

The Smashbox It's Your Prime Set has been catching my eye for a few months now. The thought of an under-eye primer makes me very excited, and I am an eyeshadow base junkie so that'll be used a lot. And then to top it all off you get the Photofinish Primer which has gained a bit of a cult-status by quite a few bloggers this year.

This Benefit Hot 2 Trot Set looks pretty darn good. You get a full size Bella Bamba box blush, alongside what I would call a deluxe mini of the Cha Cha Tint stain for lips and cheeks. Rolling in at the price of the blush alone, this isn't all that bad of a deal.

Finally for makeup we have the No7 The Eye Collection which in all honesty, I purely wanted for the Eye Blend and Contour Brush, but for less than double the price of the brush you get 3 shadows and a pencil smudgy brush in there as well, which is totally bargainous. 

Fragrance

Whenever I walk past The Body Shop all that pops into my mind is the thought of the White Musk Smoky Rose Fragrance which smells incredible. I cannot explain scents, so I won't try, but if this was to be under my tree I would be very, very happy. 


As I said, I am grateful for anything I receive as gifts from anyone, and the same goes for this year. 

What's on your wishlist?

 

 

PRIMARK'S FAIR-ISLE CHRISTMAS JUMPER

As cliché as it is, I had to do a post on this years pick of the Primark Christmas Jumpers. This isn't a full on 'reindeer with a flashing nose and 3D antlers' offering, instead this is much more subtle, and I would class it more of a winter jumper, than just for a few weeks of festiveness. And I tell you what, I blimmin' love this.

This one was £14, so not bad for a high-street option, opposed to the likes of Topshop, H&M etc. etc. I must admit, this was a little itchy on the inside the first time I wore it, but I got used to it in under half an hour, and wasn't anything unbearable anyway.

There's something about the pattern that I find really classic about the design, but I'm not sure what. This was definitely the best jumper I have seen in Primark personally, and at school the other day we wore Christmas Jumpers for charity, and a lot of people were matching me!

It appears to be quite a popular jumper, and I will most certainly be getting a lot of wear out of this in the upcoming weeks - and maybe even on the 25th itself...