The Luxe List

Getting presents for friends and family can be the definition of stressful. I never want to get anything too boring or too predictable, but at the same time, I want my gifts to be something that they’re going to love. So, when Amazon got in touch to share some of their handmade-options for present ideas, I couldn’t wait to see what was available.

Everything is better with a little personalisation – which is why I just love my new cheeseboard. Big enough to hold a variety of cheeses, crackers and fruit – it makes such a gorgeous centrepiece for entertaining, and I can see this being pulled out year after year.

It’s also the perfect size for sharing, without seeing too big, meaning I’ll get to pull this out pretty regularly. The iron handles feels sturdy, and it looks absolutely adorable too! Not only would this make a gorgeous Christmas present, but a great wedding or new home gift too!

This Christmas I’ll also be enjoying my drinks in my rather adorable personalised wine glass. Another great gift (especially for those awkward people like Secret Santa recipients or co-workers) the glasses are etched with a name of your choice – so there will be no mix ups over the dinner table, and no one can steal a slug of your wine either!

Amazon Handmade has a fabulous selection of gifts in a range of budgets, and there is still time to order before the big day!

Over the past couple of years, Clean Reserve has pretty much become my go-to for everyday fragrance. I just love how beautiful and clean each of the scents are, and the mix of notes like Oud and Amber, which can sometimes feel like a little too much on me, are incredibly wearable in Clean Reserve’s hands.

As if the scents weren’t glorious enough, the brand has travel-sized versions, which are perfect for slotting into makeup bags for on-the-go top ups. Available in four of the brand’s most loved scents (Rain, Blonde Rose, Warm Cotton and Sueded Oud) they can be layered to create a bespoke scent, or worn on their own for an elegantly simple fragrance.

Clean Reserve’s Raid scent, as you might imagine, is a beautifully clean, aquatic scent. It’s fresh, and incredibly clean smelling, so I just love to wear it during the day. It feels almost unisex in it’s mix of salt and water notes. The cute size, isn’t only incredibly practical, but it also makes for a perfect stocking filler or secret santa gift!

Clean Reserve Rain is priced from £20 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Without a doubt, Drunk Elephant has be 2018’s most talked-about beauty brands. It feels like it took forever to head over from America, so being able to see and play around with the products in-store now, feels like a godsend.  I’ve got a rather long list of products I’m dreaming of trying (the Baby Facial sounds divine) but I’m trying to work through my stash of masks, so I ended up picking up one of the brand’s Lippe Balms.

Packaged in an adorable chunky little stick, the balm is scentless and flavourless, but it’s perfect for beating winter dryness. The formula is loaded with antioxidants, including green tea leaf and vitamin C, and there is a mix of avocado, mongongo, cranberry and marula oils with sea fern algae and peptides for maximum hydration. I love how easy it is to use, and it makes the perfect base for lipsticks too.

Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm is priced at £15 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Last week, a rather large box appeared out the blue, and inside was a rather wonderful surprise. Space NK had very kindly sent over one of their incredible advent calendars. This year, it feels like there has been a real push on seriously luxe calendars, and I think Space NK’s offering tops them all. Coming packaged in a chic purple box, you’ve got 25 beauty gifts which can see you right through until Christmas.

Inside, as you’d expect – each of the products come individually packaged, in gorgeous gold, plum and emerald boxes. I love the deco styling – and mix of box sizes makes for a rather exciting start to the mornings.

The mix of products inside the calendar is wonderfully balanced between skincare, makeup and luxury goodies, meaning each morning you’re going to get a wonderful surprised. The month kicked off with a mini Space NK Shimmering Spice candle, which smells pretty much exactly of Christmas,  I opened up a random selection of four days to see what’s in store, and I was not disappointed!

With brands like Christophe Robin and Sunday Riley, the calendar is filled with products and brands I’ve been absolutely dying to try. Although I’ve packaged them all back up in their respective boxes, I am counting down the days until I get to crack open the Luna Oil, the Cover FX Glitter Drops (perfect for Christmas) and the Oribe Mystify Spray. The contents have a total worth of over £600, and there isn’t a product int he lineup which you wouldn’t be absolutely thrilled with, and it’s going to make my run-up to Christmas far more glamorous!

If you’re interested to find out what’s inside – I’ll be sharing each morning’s goodies on Instagram !

• The Space NK Advent Calendar contains:
• • Chantecaille – Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask (10ml)
• • Christophe Robin – Volumizing Paste (75ml)
• • Cover Fx – Glitter Drops (15ml)
• • Darphin – Hydraskin Light (30ml)
• • Dr Dennis Gross – Extra Strength Peel (5 pack)
• • De Mamiel – Cleansing Dew (20ml)
• • Drunk Elephant – Marula Oil (8ml)
• • Eve Lom – Cleanser (20ml)
• • Goldfaden MD – Bright Eyes (15ml)
• • Hourglass – Veil Powder (2g)
• • IGK – Rich Kid (50ml)
• • Kevyn Aucoin – Lipgloss in Sunlight (5g)
• • Lipstick Queen – Medieval Mini (1.5g)
• • Malin + Goetz – Dark Rum Votive (67g)
• • Nars – Mini Laguna/Orgasm (2.5g)
• • Odacite – Vital Glow (5ml)
• • Omorovizca – Queen of Hungary Mist (30ml)
• • Oribe – Mystify Spray (50ml)
• • Ouai – Wave Spray (30ml)
• • Patchology – Weekend Trio (3x28ml)
• • Space NK – Shimmering Spice Candle (35g)
• • Sunday Riley – Luna (15ml)
• • Tan Luxe – The Face (10ml)
• • Tata Harper – Regenerating Cleanser (50ml)
• • Votary – Toning Serum (50ml)

Space NK’s Advent Calendar is priced at £250 and is available here.

At this time of year, it can feel like I’m never not in front of a screen. Work is incredibly busy in the run-up to Christmas, and coupled with a serious schedule of events and nights out, it can leave looking and feeling a little worn out. To try and keep tired-looking eyes at bay, I’ve been turning to It Cosmetics’ Confidence in an Eye Cream. It’s a brand I’ve only recently become familiar with, and I’ve only ever played around with their makeup, so I was curious to try their skincare.

Packaged in a dinky little jar, Confidence in an Eye Cream has some big claims – it says it can brighten, repair and transform eyes. As someone who wants to combat puffiness and dryness, and keep fine lines at bay, it seems like a no-brainer. Normally I tend to only use eye creams at night – I don’t like skin looking greasy or oily under makeup, but since this one has a gentle apricot tint, it’s perfect for brightening the area up during the day.

The cream itself is incredibly rich- it’s probably thicker than any eye cream I’ve used before, but what’s so impressive, is how quickly it sinks in. Within a minute or two, skin feels hydrated and nourished, rather than sticky or greasy, and it feels almost velvety soft.

After my regular moisturising, I tap a little of the Confidence in an Eye Cream under my eyes, and let it sink in/ Then I carry on with my base and concealer as normal. On days where I’ve used It Cosmetics, my makeup stays crease-free, and I feel like I need less concealer, and look more awake overall. In the evenings, I work the cream in with my rose quartz guy sha, for ultimate cooling and de-puffing. It’s an absolutely gorgeous little cream, and I don’t think I’d be without it now!

It Cosmetics’ Confidence in an Eye Cream is priced at £30 and is available here (UK) and here (US)