Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide

I was so sure I was over Christmas Gift Guides but the truth is I enjoy reading them and enjoy writing them even more. There are so many exciting gift sets out there and I could not resist sharing some of my favourite beauty picks. Right let's get started...

Verso Skincare //Link 
Verso Skincare is one of my favourite skincare brands and I have a review here. The great thing is that they are effective and contain Retinol 8 which offers all the benefits of Retinol (and more) while being suitable for many skin types without causing irritation which is commonly seen with many Retinol products. The perfect gift set which any skincare enthusiast will absolutely love as a gift is the Verso Star Serum Suite* which contains some of Verso's Bestsellers including: The Antioxidant Tumeric Booster*(£79), Super Facial Serum (£100)* and the Hydration Serum with Niacinamide* (£79) .


If you want to save some money, I will highly recommend joining the MMCL Pro family where you get as least 30% discount on Verso skincare products which goes a mighty long way. MMCL Pro is open to students, makeup artists, beauty enthusiasts, bloggers, etc. You can join here and check here for the registration requirements.


The Verso Enzyme Peel* (£80) is a perfect all rounder gift because it will work for many skin types. It contains AHAs and PHAs and it is excellent in gently but effectively exfoliating the skin. I absolutely love it and try to use it at least once a week.

Cult51 //Link 
Cult 51 is another skincare care brand I love because they deliver above and beyond expectations.  I am still very much in love with my Cult51 Day Cream(£100), Cult51 Night Cream (£100)* and Cult51 Immediate Effect Serum*(£95). They now do great bundles which are value for money if you were looking to spoil a loved one. They will make amazing gifts for Mothers, Aunties and even friends who approaching their 30s. Of course, anyone can use these products but I personally think they will suit people from their 30's (both male and female). I know this is not skincare but Cult51 also have the Luxurious Gardenia Scented Candle*(£35) which will be perfect as a gift for a loved one who has just moved homes. It is such a beautiful candle and burns well with no tunnelling.




Omorovicza //Link
If anyone told me I'd enjoy an introductory beauty set so much, I won't believe them but that's exactly how I have felt about the Omorovicza Christmas Introductory Set (£65). I am sure everyone must have heard about Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist and that's what drew me to this set because it contains a generous amount of the mist in it. This set has pretty much a complete skincare routine and that's why I love it. Inside you get the Queen of Hungary Mist (30ml), Balancing Moisturiser or Elemental Emulsion (30ml), Thermal Cleansing Balm (15ml), Deep Cleansing Mask (15ml) and Cleansing Foam (30ml). It's such an amazing set and I will highly recommend it as a great gift for anyone who is looking to try out the Omorovicza brand.



Pixi Beauty //Link 
I am such a big fan of Pixi Beauty particularly their Glow Tonics which I have used for many years and made countless repurchases. They are a major game changer and I am so glad that they have expanded their Glow Tonics to include the Rose Glow Tonic and the Retinol Tonic. The great thing is that they come in such lovely and affordable gift sets (minis) which go for £10 each. You can even buy the Trio for £20 over here at ASOS which is amazing. They will make great stocking fillers and even proper gifts. The great part is there is no need to wrap them too much as they already come in a nice festive gift packaging. I picked up the Retinol Glow Tonic and Rose Glow Tonic Festive Gift Set from Harvey Nichols but I believe you can also find it from other retailers.

FOREO //Link 
It will be a crime not to mention FOREO in this Christmas Gift Guide because they are one of my favourite skincare device brand. I use at least one FOREO product everyday and none of my skincare routines can ever be complete without them. The only product I have not tried yet is the FOREO UFO and it is already on my wish list. I will highly recommend at least trying the FOREO Luna Mini (£119)* or Luna Play (£29). They provide such value for money and I have actually purchased some for my sister and Mum. They have some great gift sets as well so they will make perfect gifts for this season.




Urban Decay Cherry Palette (£42) //Link (currently £35.70 in John Lewis)
I never wanted to pick this palette up because I am still very much in love with the Naked Heat Palette and still believe it is the best palette Urban Decay have ever made.  The Urban Decay Cherry Palette is a great A/W palette and fits so well with the festive season. I could resist no longer when I was at the airport and had a chance to properly swatch it. The best part was it was in Duty Free so I saved some coins. Honestly, the gift sets in Duty Free are so tempting and I try my best to just pick up something that I really need. I think the Naked Cherry Palette will make a great gift for any beauty enthusiast and it comes in such great packaging. If you do find yourself going through Duty Free, I will suggest picking it up there or when there are discounts such as in John Lewis right now.

Touch in Sol Metallist Collection //Link 
Touch in Sol is one of the brands that I have fallen hard for and I am so impressed with all the products I have tried. You can read my review about them over here. I love that they are not resting on their oars as they launch really great new products. I love the packaging, the quality of their products and how affordable they are. For Christmas Gifts, they can work as regular gifts or stocking fillers. I highly recommend checking their Metallist Collection especially their Liquid Foil and Glitter Shadow Duos* (£20), Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo* (£20) and the Metallist High Shine Bouncy Cream Shadow Palette (£34). If I did not have them, they will be one of the products on my Christmas Wish List. The No Poreblem range is also amazing and it works great for many skin types.





I recently tried out their Pretty Filter Waterful Glow Cream* which seriously gives your skin the much needed hydration it needs especially with the current season. I love that it works both as skincare and makeup. If you love dewy skin and makeup, I will highly recommend adding it to your wish list or getting it as a gift for that loved one who adores dewy skin.





Hourglass Ambient Palette //Link 
I have always loved Hourglass products because they are such great quality and very unique. I got the very first Hourglass Ambient Palette as a gift from my husband a few years ago and I still absolutely adore it. This year, I saw that they were launching the Ambient Palette (Unlocked)//£69 and I was in love because I knew it will be perfect for my skintone. I was so delighted I finally got my hands on it and I think it is the best Ambient Palette they have made ever (in my opinion). I am so glad they launched two versions (Unlocked and Volume 4) which is such a brilliant move as it suits many skin tones.




While I was waiting for the Unlocked Palette to make its way over to me, I got the Ambient  Lighting Blush Palette (£60) which I have always had my eye on. I know I don't need to say this but Hourglass packaging is just so luxurious. I can't think of anyone unwrapping these palettes as gifts and not being over the moon.




Fenty Beauty//Link 
I love Fenty Beauty so much and whenever I check my Harvey Nichols Rewards App and see how much I have spent on Fenty Beauty since 2017, I actually can't believe it. I don't think I have spent as much on a single brand ever but I will do it all over because all the products I have purchased are amazing. I already have a proper review of my first ever Fenty Beauty Haul over here if you want to have a read.



For their Holiday collection (Chill Owt), I only picked up the Frost Bunny Metallic Eye and Lip Crayon Set (£30) and I can't get over it. It was love at first swatch. The other products in the collection are great but I only want to buy products I will use regularly. For your wish list or as a gift guide, I will highly recommend trying out the Stunna Lip Paints// £19 (they recently added four new shades which are stunning) and The Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette (£42).




OUAI Haircare and Fragrance //Link  
OUAI is another brand that has not rested on their oars for one second at all. They have expanded and diversified which I absolutely love and I am hoping they continue this way. I also have a a few posts about OUAI here.  This year, I got to try their OUAI Scalp and Body Scrub* (£32) which smells so heavenly. I use it more on my body than my hair but either ways, it just feels so soothing and relaxing and I love that the fragrance gently lingers on my skin. For their holiday collection, they have several gift sets which are affordable and offer great value for your coins. I have the Swing Both OUAI Gift Set (£40)* which contains the OUAI Texturizing Hair Spray and OUAI Hair Oil.  I was filled with so much delight to see that there is an XL OUAI Hair Oil in it because that's one of my favourite OUAI Haircare product. I also love the OUAI Leave-in Conditioner * (£22) and my natural hair (Afro) loves so much. I will highly recommend checking out the great gift sets OUAI has.



I saved one of my favourite purchases for last and it is none other than the OUAI Fragrances. The first time I tried OUAI Haircare, I just wished there was a matching fragrance to the products and I know many people felt the same way. I am so glad Jen Atkin listened to everyone because we can finally smell like our favourite OUAI haircare products. There are 4 fragrances in total- North Bondi, Mercer Street, Rue St Honore and Melrose Place. I picked up North Bondi (£46) and Mercer Street (£46) because they are my favourite scents and I have not stopped using them. I will write a separate review at some point. Basically, if you want to try them out, this is the best time to purchase them (maybe as a gift for a loved one but I am keeping both of mine) because I hear they are limited edition. You can purchase them in-store at Selfridges and online at OUAI website and Cult Beauty.




I hope you enjoyed this year's Christmas Gift Guide even though it is slightly late. These are some of my favourite products and I know I'd be delighted if I received them as gifts. I hope this Christmas Gift Guide serves both as a guide and a wish list for boxing day if you want to get a discount. What product would you want to try?
*Gifted PR product + Affiliate Links uses, read my full disclaimer here

Black Friday 2018 Deals

I love Black Friday deals especially when brands give a reasonable discount and I have my eyes on some products. Without much ado, I have outlined some great Black Friday deals below and I love that Black Friday means you can make some savings while doing your Christmas Gifting. Just a disclaimer, some of them are affiliate links and I will indicate which ones are with an (*). Affiliate links basically means the blog earns a small fraction of the sale if you buy through the link at no extra cost to you the buyer. Let's roll....

Touch in Sol London (via MMCL Pro) // Link
I am super excited that Touch in Sol London is having such a great Black Friday deal and I have to say they are one of my favourite Korean Beauty brands in the market right now. This offer is only accessible via the MMCL Pro website. For Black Friday, Touch in Sol London has 30% off all products using code "SOLSALE30" + you get a full size Metallist Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo or Metallist Liquid Foil & Glitter Duo as GWP when your purchase any two Touch in Sol products (available while stock lasts). The offer ends 23:59 on 26th November 2018 and is not available to MMCL Pro Members.


The Ordinary // Link* 
I know The Ordinary has been a controversial brand but it does not take away from the fact that their products are quite effective. I think things are getting much better now which is great. Let's just say I just have an insatiable thirst for all The Ordinary products and I have repurchased countless times because they are affordable and effective which is a rare combination these days in the skincare world. DECIEM as a whole is offering products on sale for at least 60% off which is amazing and I am so glad that some products from The Ordinary are included. This promotion runs from 22nd November 2018 until 26th November 2018. Many products have already flown off their shelves and are out of stock now but there are still some great products available. Each product on offer is limited to 2 per customer.



Cult 51 // Link 
I always love Cult 51 Black Friday deals because they are quite reasonable. Last year, I was able to repurchase some of my favourite products using their discount. This year, they are offering a 25% discount on all their products except the gift sets which are already discounted. I will highly recommend checking out the Cult 51 Day Cream and Cult 51 Night Cream. If you just want to try their products and not get the full size, you can always get their mini sizes which are also discounted to about £30. The code to us is "FRIDAY25" and this offer runs from today till midnight on Monday 26th November 2018.

Mo Mineral Makeup UK // Link 

One of my favourite natural makeup brands is Mo Mineral Makeup and I have repurchased their amazing Brow Powder quite a few times. Their products suit many skin tones including women of colour which is always a plus. For Black Friday, they are offering Buy ONE get another 50% OFF off everything on their site (excluding the samples). The offer ends Sunday 25th November 2018 so you need to hurry if you are interested. No code is required as it is added automatically. They always listen to their customers and have extended this offer. I know they are also offering free shipping all through November which is an added bonus so get shopping. 

Murad Skincare // Link
Murad Skincare products are so amazing because they do what they promise. I have tried a handful of their products and I still love using them especially the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser and the City Shield Age Defense range. They are offering 25% off site wide + 6 samples at checkout using code "BLACKFRIDAY" and offer ends 10am 27th November 2018 (some exclusions apply). I think that's a pretty good offer!!


FOREO // Link *
FOREO is definitely one of my favourite beauty tech brands and I have enjoyed all the products I have tried from the brand. I don't think any day has passed in the past few years where I have not used at least one FOREO beauty product and I just feel like my skin is never clean unless I use my FOREO Luna. They are offering up to 30% on some FOREO products (Luna, Luna Mini, ISSA and ISSA Mini, etc)  except the FOREO UFO and UFO Mini which are discounted to 25% which is still impressive. The offer runs from 23rd November 2018 till 30th November 2018. I am so tempted by the UFO mini!!


Selfridges // Link *
I tend to pop into Selfridges usually to window shop/feed my eyes and I end up buying beauty products. When they have discounts, I absolutely love it because they carry some of my favourite brands. I have had one hiccup with them in all the many years I have shopped with them which is impressive. Everyone knows that their Beauty Hall is to die for and such a dangerous place to go to if you are an ardent beauty lover. They are offering at least 20% discount using the code "SELFCCE" at check out however it is the standard 10% for Beauty products, Toys and Technology but it is better than nothing.  As expected there are some exceptions which you can find here. 


Cult Beauty //Link *
Cult Beauty is definitely one of my favourite online retailer mainly because they sell great products, offer discounts quite often and have free delivery for orders over £15. I usually purchase The Ordinary, Beauty Blender, Pixi and many more products from there. I love that they have now expanded their offering and I may or may not have made two very cheeky orders using their Black Friday discount. You get 15% discount if you spend £20 or over using code "BLACKOUT15", 20% discount if you spend £100 or more using the code "BLACKOUT20" and 25% discount if you spend £250 or more using the code "BLACKOUT25". 



Molton Brown //Link *
I love Molton Brown products and I think they make one of the best body products ever. I always wait for their Black Friday sales because that's the best time to stock up. They are offering a mouthwatering 25% off every purchase from now till 26th November 2018. No code is required as it is already applied on the products. Of course there are some exclusions to this discount which include their advent calendars, luxury fragrances, etc.  



Oskia Skincare // Link *
I have not tried a lot of products from Oskia but I love all the ones I have tried including the Renaissance Cleansing Gel. For Black Friday sales, they are offering 25% discount on all full size products using the code "BRIGHT18" and 100% of profits go to Women for Women International which I think is such a great thing to do.

Liberty London // Link *
I only started shopping more on Liberty this year and I have to say their offering and service is impeccable. When I lived in London, I always popped in to see what was available and I was always mesmerized with everything in there especially their prints. Now that I have moved away from London, I just go on their website and I have got some great deals on there including my Hourglass Ambient Palette (Unlocked). They are offering up to 30% and up to 15% on Beauty both online and in-store. The offer runs from 22nd November 2018 to 26th November 2018. Happy Shopping!!

Net-a-Porter // Link *
Net-a-Porter is my usual beauty destination when I need to purchase any beauty product that is sold out everywhere. They just seem to have a great way of retaining their stock which is amazing. They are offering up to 25% off from 20th November 2018. You do need to have an account on there for the discount to be applied.


Debenhams // Link *
I have shopped in Debenhams for ages and I will continue shopping there because they have great products and consistently offer amazing discounts. They are offering up to 15% discount on Beauty  and up to 40% on some other selected items. 

 Beauty Bay// Link*
They are offering up to 30% off site wide which is so good because they have some great brands that are difficult to get your hands on especially within the UK. Whenever there is an US brand I love and want to get without shipping from the US, Beauty Bay is my first port of call.



Space NK // Link*
Whenever I just want to pamper myself, I just pop onto the Space NK website and check out what's available. The Space NK Sales (especially during the festive season) is one of my favourites and the products always fly off the self. This year they are offering quite great offers which will be live on the 23rd November 2018.

Harvey Nichols// Link*
I was so delighted to see that Harvey Nichols are offering a 10% off discount off  Beauty products(including Fenty Beauty which always seems to be excluded from their usual offers) and up to 35% off in other departments. I am very delighted and I cannot wait!!  The offer is available online and in-store and will end on Monday 26th November 2018 (in-store) and 10am on Tuesday 27th November 2018 online.

ASOS*//Link
Who does not love ASOS especially for their frequent discount and easy delivery? When I was a student, I always ordered from ASOS and even quite a few years after I still order from them. I love how they have expanded their beauty offerings and included some great brands including MAC. They are offering a 20% discount sitewide from 22nd November- 26th November 2018 using the code "HELLO20"

*Affiliate links used in this post however more than half of the products shown were purchased by me.