The best of the beauty advent calendars

It's coming up to that time of the year…advent! As a kid I used to love having a chocolate advent calendar to open every day. These days I'm more into beauty advent calendars than chocolate ones so I decided to put together a post about the best of the bunch. Hopefully you can pick one of for yourself if they haven't already sold out!

I have to admit, the only beauty calendar I've ever had is one of the Ciate ones. I'd love to have one of the Benefit ones or one of the highstreet beauty ones though. Let's hope I can get my hands on one before December 1.

Primark beauty advent calendar - £15
I keep spotting this in store and I always pick it up and put it back. I guess this is the most bargainous advent calendar on the market at the moment at a mere £15. It contains a selection of Primark beauty goodies including nail polishes and manicure accessories. It's a really great option if you're on a budget. There's also a jewellery version full of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more.

Tesco Advent Calendar - £50
From what I can see this is the only beauty advent calendar from any of the supermarkets. Tesco has really upped their game this year when it comes to all things beauty. While £50 is a tad on the expensive side, it is totally worth it as you actually get £125 worth of gifts inside throughout December. Brands include Nip & Fab, Tanya Burr and Baylis & Harding.

Elemis - £59.50
This is probably the most luxurious calendar out there, full of beautiful Elemis treats. This one is only actually for 12 days so can be used in the run up to or even after Christmas. It might be a good idea to use the treats in the 12 days following Christmas as a bit of a treat for the skin after all that food and chocolate. The calendar contains some of Elemis' most well-known products including the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules.

Benefit Candy Coated Countdown - £60
Unfortunately I believe the Benefit advent calendar is sold out but if you do happen to get your hands on it somehow then you're in for a whole host of Benefit goodies including the POREfessional, BADgal lash, Fake up, Posie tint and a few cute bits and pieces such as a hair band, funky paperclips and a doodle pad. At £60 this is probably one of the most expensive out there and I'm not surprised it's already sold out as they are always so popular.

No7 Beauty Calendar - £35
I've seen this one in Boots stores quite regularly. Although it is sold out online I think you might find the odd one or two still available in stores. I really wish I had picked this up when I saw it as I love No7 skincare so this is right up my street.

This is actually the first time No7 has brought out a calendar and they've done such a great job. The goodies inside total £135 so you're really getting your money's worth here.

Ciate Mini Mani Manor - £49
The Ciate advent calendars are always one of my faves. Last year I picked up the calendar at The Clothes Show for a mere £10 and I absolutely loved opening the door every day to find a cute mini polish. Ciate is a great brand and its polishes are really great quality and you'll be treated to a full size version on the big day.

What beauty advent calendars will you be opening this year? Let me know in the comments.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette Golder Sugar

Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette Golder Sugar - £6*





Yet another gorgeous parcel from Makeup Revolution arrived last week and I couldn't wait to rip into it and see what I had been sent. The Ultra Blush Palette Golder Sugar really stood out amongst everything I was sent, just because the blushes are so absolutely beautiful. I almost didn't want to swatch them for fear of ruining the marbled effect but hey, it's got to be done!

Although Makeup Revolution is a bit of a budget brand, I really think its products are right up there with the big hitters on the highstreet. You don't see a palette this gorgeous from the likes of L'Oreal/Maybelline etc. The brand is on top form and the palette itself looks so much more expensive than £6. It is such a bargain and would make a fab Christmas gift or stocking filler.

The palette itself is full of the most amazing collection of bronzers, merged blushers, a baked bronzer and 2 merged baked highlighters. Wow. They all come in a super gorgeous marbled pattern and are lovely and soft to apply. They're very subtle once on the skin and have a hint of shimmer.

I just can't get over how gorgeous this palette is. It's such a shame I don't get dressed up very often because this is perfect for the party season.

Have you tried the new Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette Golder Sugar? What did you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.


*This palette was gifted to me and I have given my honest opinions on it.

Introducing: Wild About Beauty

Wild About Beauty*




Eyeshadows in Heather, Jody and Fern - £13*

Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Colour SPF15 in Bobbie - £15*


Wild About Beauty Kajal Pencil Duo in Maeve - £14.50*
Wild About Beauty Eyeshadow Pencil Duo in Penny - £14.50*



Now I don't know about you but until recently I hadn't heard of the Wild About Beauty brand. I'm really kicking myself over the fact I hadn't discovered it earlier but I suppose late is better than never.

I was recently contacted and asked if I'd like to try the new autumn collection and after having a quick look online I said 'absolutely yes' and awaited a lovely parcel. The parcel included way more than I was expecting if I'm honest so I was really happy and was really impressed with the products on first opening them.

The range itself is 'infused with skin-loving botanicals' and created by Louise Redknapp (ex Eternal singer and TV presenter/personality) & make-up artist Kim Jacob. Usually with celebrity ranges they can be a bit tacky but I actually really like all of the packaging in the new autumn collection. I particularly like the deep purple brand colour.

The new autumn collection is absolutely perfect for the season, full of deep plums, nudes, golds and greens. All very autumnal. The eyeshadows in particular stood out to me. I love the bug imprint and the Heather shade in particular is gorgeous, a lovely purple shimmery shade.

The eyeshadow pencil duo is another gorgeous plum shade, which I can't wait to try. Purple is great for adding to a smokey eye and makes a bit of a change from your usual browns/greys and blacks.

As you can tell I am loving this new collection. The prices are a little on the more expensive side but they're not ridiculous. I'm not sure whether they are just sold online or in stores but if they were/are in stores I'd say you'd probably find them in deparment stores instead of the likes of Boots and Superdrugs.

I'll hopefully be dedicating some future posts to a few of the products so you can get a better idea of how they last and look when applied so keep an eye out for those. I just wanted to get a little introduction to the brand going first incase you hadn't heard of it before. Now you can have a little look at it yourself and maybe give some of the products a try.

Have you tried anything from Wild About Beauty? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.


*These products were sent to me to feature on the blog and I have given my honest opinion on them.

The Sunday Catch Up #42

Hello again! After a two week break (oops!), the Sunday catch up posts are back. I'm not quite sure why I didn't post for two weeks, but I wasn't really into it anymore and I wasn't taking many pictures of things or doing anything particularly interesting so I thought I would leave it until I actually had something to write about.

This morning I woke up with a terribly sore throat, which is pretty annoying. The one thing I can't stand about having a cold is the sore throat, it's just so irritating. Vince has actually been ill all week. I thought it might be developing into flu but I think he's on the mend now that he's passed the germs to me. Anyway, to help myself feel a bit better I took a little trip to Boots and actually ended up spending about £25, oops again.

I spent the morning on the sofa in my PJs watching Youtube videos and I watched Vivianna does Makeup's new video about what's in the likes of Boots and Superdrug at the moment and it just gave me the urge to shop so I got showered and dressed and headed out. Weirdly I actually found quite a few things - I think it really helps when you know the exact product you're looking for and while watching Anna's video I actually made a few notes of the things I wanted so I was able to go into the shop and pick up exactly what I needed. Luckily all of the cosmetics were on 3 for 2, woohoo!

I am going to spend the rest of the day getting some blog photos done if the light stays ok. I really need to stop wasting the weekends because the light disappears so quickly so my chances of getting some good photos are very slim. I actually have tomorrow off work so hopefully I'll get some more photos done then as well. I have quite a stack of products backing up so really need to get a move on and get planning some posts. I actually bought a wall planner/calendar yesterday ready for the New Year and to help with planning all of my posts. The next step is to sort the spare room and get myself a desk!

How have you been spending your weekend?

Catch up on the past two week's posts:

Faking a good night's sleep

Flossy Style Cervo Black Houndstooth Plimsolls

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo Uplifting Volume

Makeup Revolution 'The One' Blush Sticks

Faking a good night's sleep

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Neroli Firming Illuminate Eye Cream - £7.99*
Bioderma Sensibio Eye Contour Gel - £14*



Recently I haven't been sleeping very well. I don't know what it is but the other week I was awake until 4am and then the following week up until 1.30am. I'm not sure what's going on but lack of sleep equals bags under the eyes and that means I'm on a bit of a mission to at least fake a good night's sleep.

Thankfully no one has said anything about me looking tired at all and I'm putting that down to these two eye products, which I've been testing out recently. It could be that people are just too polite but I'd like to think it's down to the products. I was sent them both at the same time so I thought I'd try one on each eye and see how I got on.

The Neroli Firming Illuminate Eye Cream is the more budget friendly of the two creams. It's quite a thin cream, almost serum like, but it sinks in within seconds and leaves the skin round the eye area feeling really freshed and brightened. It also includes Hyaluronic Acid and Shea Butter, making it intensely moisturising.

The Bioderma Sensibio Eye Contour Gel is the more expensive of the two creams. It seems a lot thicker but still applies beautifully and sinks in like a dream. It's also great for sensitive skin like mine and aims to reduce puffiness and decongest the delicate eye area.

If I'm really honest these eye creams are just as good as one another. They have definitely helped in the quest to faking a good night's sleep. The Bioderma eye cream might be more suited to those working in the busy city thanks to its decongesting skills and the Una Brennan one might be better for anyone that's seeing a few fine lines appear, but overally they both do a brilliant job of making me look awake and half human so for that alone I'd definitely recommend giving one, or both, a try.

Have you tried either of these eye creams? Which eye cream are you loving at the moment?


*These products were sent to be for review purposes and I have given my honest opinion on them.

Flossy Style Cervo Black Houndstooth Plimsolls

Flossy Style Cervo Black Houndstooth Plimsolls - £24.95*




If there was ever the perfect pair of shoes to photograph, these are definitely them. I actually received these slip on plimsolls after winning a giveaway. I couldn't actually believe my luck if I'm honest, I never win anything.

Anyway, they recently arrived along with the monochrome nail shades and can of Batiste. I've never heard of the brand before but after checking out their website I'm actually reasonably impressed. From the giveaway picture I thought these would be much more skater shoe/VANS-like but they're actually really soft slip ons, almost feeling like slippers!

They're super duper comfortable as well. I'm loving these style of slip on shoes for this time of year, I think they're the perfect transitional shoe, especially when it's too hot for thick socks and boots but too cold for ballet pumps and sandals. They're quite true to size as well, which is great. I requested a size four but started worrying because my other slip on shoes come out quite big so I thought I'd need a three, luckily they fit perfectly and I'd definitely recommend checking out the brand - there's so many different colours, patterns and even styles to choose from. Definitely a new fave!

Have you tried Flossy shoes? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.


*The products featured in this post were won in a giveaway and I have given my honest review on them.

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo Uplifting Volume

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo Uplifting Volume - £1.99

I'm sure I've mentioned before that in the past I haven't been a huge fan of dry shampoos. However, I recently discovered a powder dry shampoo from Lush, which I really loved, but having it in powder form is a bit messy and inconvenient sometimes so I was looking for an alternative that would be just as good.

While I was shopping recently I spotted a whole new range of dry shampoos from lots of different brands. It seems to be something all of the hair brands have ventured into recently but it was the Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo Uplifting Volume that really stood out to me on the shelf, mainly because of it's bright, colourful packaging and the bargain price tag of £1.99.

It's a cute little bottle, perfect for popping in your handbag or travel bag if you need it on the move or into a backpack if you're off to a festival. It also has a lovely clean and fresh fragrance with a hint of citrus, which I absolutely love. There's also a pink version, which is rose scented and is just as lovely.

When I sprayed this on my unwashed hair it didn't leave it feeling sticky like many other dry shampoos do. It also didn't leave a residue or leave my hair with a grey tinge. What I really like about this dry shampoo is that is also acts as a product to add volume and after spraying this all over, it gave my roots some really great volume for the majority of the day. It left my hair feeling bigger and bouncier than usual so I'm really loving it at the moment. For £1.99 you can't go wrong with this and I would definitely recommend you check it out if, like me, you've always been wary of dry shampoos. I think I am officially converted now.

Have you tried the Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo Uplifting Volume yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Makeup Revolution 'The One' Blush Sticks

Makeup Revolution 'The One' Blush Sticks - £5 each*



From left to right: Matte Rush, Dream, Malibu & Pink




From left to right: Sheer Dream, Pink, Rush & Malibu

I can't get over the amount of new releases Makeup Revolution have been making recently. There seems to be a new parcel that drops through my letterbox every week, not that I'm complaining. Far from it. I'm really enjoying seeing all of the new products and reading everyone's thoughts on them. It's also great seeing the brand go from strength to strength.

The new 'The One' blush sticks are said to be dupes for the NARS Multiple, which I have to admit, is not something I've tried so I can't really compare but I know which one my purse would prefer. The Makeup Revolution blush sticks come in at just £5 each, which is so reasonable. You could buy six different colours for the price of one of the NARS Multiples. Wow.

The range is made up of four sheer and four matte shades so there's pretty much something for every occasion. The lightest nude colours are perfect for highlighting, while the pinks will add a lovely hint of colour. The brown/bronze shades can be used to contour too. Each shade is lovely and creamy and pigmented and they're all super blendable.

While I probably wouldn't use the darker/bronze shades the nude and pink shades are definitely for me. My particular favourite is Dream, which is a super soft pink colour, perfect for highlighting. I also think Pink compliments it perfectly.

There was a teeny niggle that I had with these products and that was that when I opened them up the blushes seemed to be stuck within the lids. I'm not sure if this was just mine but it was a bit of a faff getting them out and putting them back into the tubes. As you can see it was a bit of a messy business to do so as well. The lids are also a bit tricky to get on without digging into the blush as they don't (at least mine don't) twist all the way down and there's a little bit of product still sticking out of the top.

That couldn't possibly put me off though and I'd really recommend the range to anyone, even to people like me who aren't too confident with things like blushers. As I mentioned, there's a shade for pretty much every occasion, whether it's day time or party time. I'll definitely be making a few of the shades part of my everyday make-up bag.

Have you tried any of the new blush sticks from Makeup Revolution? Let me know your thoughts on them in the comments.


*These items were gifted to me by the brand and I have given an honest review.

Makeup Revolution Palette giveaway

Something a bit different today as I thought I would host a little giveaway! Over the past few months Makeup Revolution have sent me many, many goodies and I thought I would share some of these with you by hosting this giveaway.

I've not been asked to host this by the brand, I just thought it might be something nice to do and a good way to clear my stash a little bit. I am giving away the I Heart Passion palette, the I Heart Sin palette, the Makeup Geek palette, the Eyes Like Angels palette and the You're Gorgeous palette. The giveaway is UK only and finishes on November 10, just follow the rules in the form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway