Christmas Gift Guide 2022: Engravers Guild of London Personalised Gin Glasses review

To round off Christmas Gift Guide week, I have a special feature on Engravers Guild whose last orders for Christmas delivery can be made on 18th December. This one is perfect for all you last-minute online shoppers who are still looking for that unique gift!

Engravers Guild of London can add a sophisticated personalised message to a wide range of high-quality items so that you can create your own bespoke gift. From hip flasks, photo frames, and personalised gin glasses to perfumes, handbags, and jewellery, you'll find something for everyone thanks to their extensive online shop. Quality is at the forefront of what they do, and you'll find gifts at various price points from under £40 to over £200 to suit everyone's budgets this Christmas.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to receive one of their personalised gin glasses to share with you all so that you can see what they specialise in. The Dartington El Classico Gin Glass is a large balloon gin glass that's made by Dartington Crystal. It has a fashionable on-trend thin stem, but it's not too thin if you catch my drift so it looks elegant but I don't live in fear of breaking it!

The complimentary engraving offers up to four lines of text (max 22 characters per line) and you can choose between three fonts. If you want something different, you also have the option to get in touch directly with the Engravers Guild of London for an entirely bespoke engraving and they will reply in less than 90 minutes during working hours.

Purchase yours from engraversguild.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide 2022: FOSS Candles - Icelandic Christmas & Icelandic Café Gift Sets review #ShopSmall

 

What's that you say, a second candle feature in this year's gift guide?! Well, who can blame me - candles just scream Christmas and I wanted to throw a special spotlight on this small company called FOSS Candles.

FOSS is an interesting indie brand as it's been created by a half-British, half-Icelandic couple from Lancaster. Their natural, vegan-friendly, soy wax candles are handmade in their studio and inspired by the nature and beauty of Iceland. In fact, 'foss' means waterfall in Icelandic, and these beautifully scented candles will transport you to the wild wonders of the land of ice and fire. 

I have truly fallen in love with FOSS as I adore Iceland - it really doesn't get any more Christmassy does it?! They have lots of scents to choose from, however, these two gift sets below are just perfect for the festive season.

FOSS Icelandic Christmas Gift Set (£18.95)

Comprising of three 60ml mini candles, FOSS' Icelandic Christmas Gift showcases their most popular seasonal scents so that you can fill your home with the most Christmassy vibes possible. Each candle has a burn time of around 10 hours so it's a good value-for-money option too.

Jólagõgg is the name for Icelandic mulled wine and this candle is bursting full of juicy Berries, uplifting Orange, and warming Festive Spices. It's a proper hug-in-a-mug type of fragrance to keep you cozy on a cold winter's night. 

Jólataré means Christmas Tree in Icelandic so you can expect notes of the freshest Pine and Nordic Spruce. If you love revitalizing outdoorsy scents, this is the one for you.

Jól is the name for Christmas in Icelandic and this candle is basically that! It's the most traditional festive scent of Christmas Spices with an exquisite blend of Orange, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove & Nutmeg.

FOSS Icelandic Café Gift Set (£22.95)

Coffee culture is a big part of the Icelandic lifestyle and Reykjavik is home to some of the cosiest cafés and bakeries that you'll ever find. Naturally, I was drawn to the Icelandic Café Gift Set as I love sweet & coffee scents, and of course, it didn't disappoint!

This duo has larger 120ml candles which boast a burn time of 24 hours each. Bakarí is a delicious fragrance of sweet Honey blended with Cinnamon and spiced Vanilla - it smells just like cinnamon rolls which you'll find freshly baked in abundance in Icelandic bakeries. Kaffi is a classic Coffee & Vanilla scent that's instantly comforting - it's hard to pick a favourite here!

FOSS Lava Melt Samples (£1 each)

I was pleased to see that FOSS offer some of their bestselling candle scents as soy wax melts as well and they have a handy try-before-you-buy sample range. For just £1, you can pick up one 5g soy wax melt which has a burn time of around 6-8 hours. It was difficult to not want to fill my basket with one of every scent, however, I opted for just five in the end, including one Jól melt for a friend.

The other four are Valhalla (smoky Whiskey, Orange and spicy Black Pepper), Norðurljós (the Icelandic word for Northern Lights - Lavender, Eucalyptus and Pomelo), Blóm (Wild Fig, Cassis & Tomato Leaf), and Víðsýni (Icelandic for panoramic vista - an interesting blend of Coconut Leaf, Orange, Ginger, and White Tea).

Shop the full range at fosscandles.com

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Christmas Gift Guide 2022: Liz Earle Purify & Refresh Skincare Edit review (exclusive to Boots)

 

Looking for a luxury & cruelty-free skincare gift that delivers some serious savings? Liz Earle's Purify & Refresh Skincare Edit is a bargain at just £34 (worth £85!), and with a saving of £51, you might want to treat yourself to one at the same time as doing your Christmas shopping. We won't tell anyone...

Exclusive to Boots, this six-piece gift set is one of the best value-for-money offerings that I've seen this year from a major retailer. Not only does it contain nearly everything that you need for a full skincare routine (it's only missing a moisturiser), but if you're a Liz Earle devotee, then you can save yourself some cash by purchasing this set and stocking up on your skincare faves.

So what's inside the Liz Earle Purify & Refresh Skincare Edit? Here's a handy overview.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser & 2 Pure Cotton Cloths (full size)

The original hot cloth cleanser and still regarded as one of the best multi-purpose cleansers on the market, Cleanse & Polish is a thick and creamy number that removes all traces of daily dirt, impurities, and makeup including waterproof formulas and long-wearing foundations. I've used it on and off for many years and always like to have one in my skincare stash. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (full size) 

A brilliant alcohol-free toner, Instant Skin Tonic has a lovely gentle formula with extracts of Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Cucumber, Calendula and Vitamin E. It helps to soothe, hydrate, and brighten, so it's perfect for the colder winter months to keep your skin looking healthy and happy.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator (travel size)

Use once or twice a week for smoother skin, the Gentle Face Exfoliator does what it says on the tube. I really like this for helping to unclog stubborn blackheads on my nose.

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion (travel size)

Typically, I personally only tend to use Eyebright during the summer when I have hay fever as it works so well at soothing my irritated eyes. However, it's also very useful for daily use to relieve tired eyes, particularly in the mornings if you have puffy eyes that need some TLC.

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Clay Mask (full size)

Completing this edit is a full-size Deep Cleansing Clay Mask which is fantastic for oily and combination skin types like mine (but not suitable for sensitive skin). Featuring natural ingredients such as Manuka Honey, Green Clay, Propolis, and Aloe Vera, this thick clay mask draws out impurities within minutes, leaving your complexion looking clearer after just one use.

As an extra bonus, there's a voucher where you can get 750 Advantage Card Points when you spend £40 on Liz Earle at Boots. This is the equivalent of £7.50!

Liz Earle Purify & Refresh Skincare Edit retails for £34 and is exclusive to Boots whilst stocks last

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Christmas Gift Guide 2022: Gift Wild Organic Cotton Wash & Shopping Bags review #ShopSmall

 

Shop small this Christmas with Gift Wild; an independent family and friends-run business which creates wonderful, unique eco-friendly cards and gifts that help to support conservation projects.

With 10% of all sales donated to conservation charities, Gift Wild is a feel-good business to make your ethical and sustainable purchases from this year. Whether you're looking for Art Prints, Cards, Cushions, Bags, or Notebooks, these nature-inspired gifts are a thoughtful gift for the receipent and the environment. Orders are sent without any plastic packaging to further help the planet which is always brilliant to see.    

I was delighted when Katy, the founder of Gift Wild, got in touch to ask if I'd be interested in including some of her products in my Christmas Gift Guide and she very kindly let me choose the two following gifts to feature.

Gift Wild Narwhal Washbag* (£17.99, link)

I always feel that toiletry and washbags are well received by fellow beauty and travel lovers, the latter of which sparks a little adventure as you can wonder where the receipent may take your gift on their next travels! Gift Wild have a lovely range of eco-friendly washbags which are made from organic, sustainably sourced and fair trade cotton. An intricate Narwhal illustration (original artwork by Penny Smallshire) adorns the front of the bag, whilst a gold-coloured zip finishes it off beautifully. Inside, the bag is kept simple and plain, with plenty of room for all of the essentials. 

Gift Wild Swift Bird Shopping Bag* (£19.99)

One of the most practical gifts is a good old shopping bag and you can never have too many of these to make sure that you're never tempted to pick up a plastic bag ever again! As seen in BBC Wildlife, this beautiful Swift Bird Shopping Bag features a large art print of two swifts by Penny Smallshire and would make a brilliant gift for an avid bird watcher; in fact 10% of the sale goes straight to the RSPB. This bag is an oversized A4 size with a thick, sturdy handle, so there's lots of space for your groceries, books or bird watching kit.

Like the washbag above, Gift Wild's Shopping Bags are made from the same organic, sustainably sourced and fairtrade cotton so they are excellent quality and are a far better option for the environment. 

Sign up to Gift Wild to get 20% off your first order and there's free shipping when you spend over £30. Shop the full range of gifts at giftwild.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide 2022: NEOM The Winter Wellbeing Wonders Candle Trio review

 

Candles are an instant way to bring new festive scents, light, and joy into someone's home, so it's no surprise to see them at the top of many people's Christmas wishlists! Treat a loved one to this gorgeous Winter Wellbeing Wonders Candle Trio from NEOM Organics for a luxury gift option this year.

NEOM always outdo themselves when it comes to their festive ranges, and its 2022 Christmas candles collection boasts a brand new fragrance, plus two returning fan favourites that are guaranteed to delight old and new customers!

You can purchase their Christmas candles in three different sizes so you'll find one to suit your gifting budget with prices starting from £18. For those who are looking for an extra special luxury treat, you can't go wrong with The Winter Wellbeing Wonders Candle Trio. Not only is this gift beautifully presented, but inside you'll find three travel-size 75g candles so that your recipient can experience the full range of exclusive NEOM Christmas scents.

Made from 100% natural ingredients, these hand-poured candles feature a clean-burning vegetable-based wax blend and 100% natural fragrance for the utmost purity in home fragrance.

Let's unbox this beauty, shall we?

Christmas Wish (75g)

Bursting with the fragrance of 13 pure essential oils, Christmas Wish is a wonderfully comforting scent with strong notes of fruity Mandarin, sweet Tonka Bean, and spicy Cinnamon. Designed to help you relax and unwind, it brings a moment of calm and peace to the often stressful festive season - which I'm guessing is everyone's Christmas wish!

Perfect Peace (75g)

Perfect Peace is what I would describe as a very classic and traditional Christmas-scented candle. With a sparkling and uplifting blend of 25 pure essential oils, it's a complex fragrance that includes refreshing Pine, aromatic Myrrh, and zesty Lime Peel. Breathe in this gorgeous scent and let all your troubles melt away.

Cosy Nights (75g)

My personal favourite from this trio is Cosy Nights and this truly is the ultimate 'snuggly' feeling candle to light when it's cold and dark outside and you want to create that ideal hygge-esque atmosphere at home. With a range of sophisticated pure essential oils which include Sandalwood, Frankincense and Nutmeg, it's sure to be a real crowd-pleaser when you have guests over.

NEOM The Winter Wellbeing Wonders Candle Trio (£45) is available from neomorganics.com

Have you bought any candle gifts this year?

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Introducing: Inclusev - Add Aqua Collection - Powdered Shampoo, Facewash, Bodywash & Handwash review #WaterlessBeauty

 

Waterless beauty has been a big trend this year and shows no signs of abating. These sustainable toiletries are the latest must-have for eco-conscious bathrooms and are fantastic for traveling with as they circumvent all of those tricky liquid rules.

Launched only in 2021, Inclusev is a new British brand to the eco-beauty market with all of its 100% natural, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly products made in London. With a company mission to change the beauty industry 'one product at a time', Inclusev has created an Add Aqua Collection of concentrated powder formulas that eliminate waste and use fewer emissions to ship due to their wonderfully lightweight nature. For example, just one 50g Inclusev bottle replaces four bottles of 50g liquid product, and with clean, natural and organic ingredients, you can be sure there are no nasties or toxins present.

How To Use

Using Inclusev's Add Aqua Collection couldn't be easier; simply wet your hands/face/body, sprinkle a little of the powder into your palm, massage into your skin for 30 seconds and then rinse and pat dry. The powder transforms into a light foam once in contact with water.

I've had the pleasure of testing out the collection over the past month and I'm so surprised by how much product I still have left in the bottles - they definitely do last a long time!

Inclusev Powdered Handwash* (25g, £11)

Available in two scents, I've been enjoying using the Coriander, Lemongrass & Tea Tree Oil Powdered Handwash as the natural fragrance is so uplifting and refreshing. Initially, I thought it would be a bit of a faff to use considering how often I wash my hands at home, but actually, it wasn't a bother at all. Shaking the powder into my palms and adding a little water, gave me the feeling that I was spending more time washing my hands than I normally would, and thus, I felt my hands were much cleaner as a result.

Inclusev Powdered Bodywash* (25g, £11)

Also available in two scents, the Powdered Bodywash in Lemon, Lime & Rosemary was a delight to use and provided a far more luxurious pampering experience than I had originally imagined it would. I think the ritual of adding water to the powder and then massaging it into your skin, gives off such strong feel-good vibes that you begin to appreciate your daily shower a lot more.

Inclusev Powdered Shampoo* (25g, £12)

If you've been struggling to find a natural shampoo that works for you, this Powdered Shampoo may be the answer you've been looking for. Featuring extracts of Amla and Nettle, this shampoo uses powdered Coconut Milk and Kaolin Clay to deep cleanse your hair, removing daily dirt and pollution. Willow Bark, Clove, Grapefruit, Orange, and Ylang Ylang are also added to further protect, nourish and balance the scalp, whilst the light foam texture is easy to rinse out. Highly recommended!

Inclusev Powdered Facewash* (25g, £12)

To round off the collection, there's a Powdered Facewash which is available in two scents; I tried out the Lemon & Spearmint one and felt that it suited my oily/combination skin pretty well. The powdered base of Coconut Milk and Kaolin Clay is infused with Rosehip, Orris Root, Hibiscus Flower, and Willow Bark, to gently cleanse and exfoliate without stripping the skin of its natural oils. I wouldn't personally use this as my everyday cleanser as it would be too much exfoliation for me, but I'd definitely include it in my skincare routine as a once-a-week treatment instead.

Shop the Add Aqua Collection at inclusevcosmetics.com

Have you tried any powdered/waterless beauty products?

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Refillable Beauty: Proverb Skincare Refillable Body Wash review

Did you know that the average British household gets through 24 bottles of body wash every year? If you think about how many families there are in the UK, that figure adds up to millions of plastic bottles! Thankfully, it's now easier than ever to find eco-friendly refillable options.

'Refillable beauty' has been one of the big consumer trends recently with more and more brands developing refillable versions of their best-selling products to help consumers cut down on their plastic waste. One such natural brand that's leading the way is Proverb Skincare which offers refillable deodorants, body washes, and a 'minimal waste' line of skincare to boot.

I was kindly sent one of their refillable Body Washes to test out, and the scent is to die for!

Proverb Skincare Wild Mint & Eucalyptus Body Wash Refill* (250ml, from £8, link)

Made in England, Proverb prides itself on its namesake which means 'statements of truth'. In a world of greenwashing, Proverb promises no patronising marketing with their mission to create products that positively impact their customers and the planet, whilst pushing for change in how the beauty industry uses packaging. 

Case in point, their Body Wash Refills are made from a unique paper composition that you can compost at home where it fully biodegrades within 26 weeks at ambient temperatures. With no soil ecotoxicity, the refillable pouch basically reduces down to just water, CO2 and biomass, thus helping to create more healthy soil (something which the planet is severely lacking in!).  

The Body Wash itself is 100% vegan, natural and cruelty-free. Free from a long list of nasties including parabens, sulphates, silicones, artificial fragrances and mineral oils/petroleums, the Body Washes are available in four enticing scents and I absolutely love the fresh and uplifting fragrance of Wild Mint & Eucalyptus; the perfect scent to help wake you up first thing in the morning!

You can purchase the refills for £10 for a one-off purchase, or subscribe and save for £8. If you don't have a bottle with a pump at home, you can also purchase a Proverb branded 'keep' Bottle for £5, available in on-trend neutral grey and white to suit your bathroom decor. 

Shop online at proverbskin.com

Are you cutting down on your bathroom plastic waste?

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Beauty Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

It's time for another Beauty Empties round-up where I share the products I've recently used up and say which ones I'll be repurchasing again. Well, you guys know the drill by now! Let's jump straight in.

Moi Vert Liquid Soap in Lemongrass* (reviewed here)

There's always a liquid Castille-type soap of some kind in my bathroom and I love their amazing multipurpose qualities. From hand-washing to cleaning makeup brushes (and floors!), they are a concentrated and natural way to clean pretty much everything so a little goes a long way. I enjoyed the fresh Lemongrass scent of this one in particular. Repurchase? Definitely.

Evolve Organic Beauty Micellar Water* (reviewed here)

I tend to wear a lot of waterproof eyeliner and mascara so a high-quality micellar water is a must-have. Evolve's version is 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and doesn't cause any irritation. It simply feels like a gentle, but effective, water that removes all traces of makeup. The glass bottle is also a good option for those who are looking to reduce their plastic waste. Repurchase? Yes.

Absolute Aromas Soothe Epsom Salts* (reviewed here)

Another bathroom essential, I always have a bag or two of Epsom Salts somewhere! These magnesium-rich salts work like magic on tired and aching muscles; the perfect remedy post-workout or simply to help you relax after a long day. Absolute Aromas have a lovely range with some gorgeous scents including this Soothe blend. Repurchase? Yes.

Butterwhips Warmly Relaxing Body Butter* (reviewed here)

Only recently reviewed, I've fallen so much in love with this luxuriously thick and heavenly whipped body butter that I haven't been using anything else. With 97% organic ingredients, this cruelty-free beauty is plastic-free and delicately scented with bergamot and lavender essential oils for a relaxing natural fragrance. Repurchase? On my list!

Holistica Balance Crystal Mist

I'm pretty sure that this came into my life via a wellness / natural beauty box of some kind? It's a fab toner spritz with lots of calming properties, making it ideal for red or irritated skin. Repurchase? I believe it's discontinued :(

Haruharu Wonder Honey Green Aqua Bomb Cream

I need to cut the tube in half to properly finish this off but I thought I'd sneak it into this Empties post as it's 99% done. This is a great daily moisturiser from a cruelty-free Korean brand, that's super hydrating and has a nice plumping effect. For a tenner, it's amazing value for money, although the ingredients are not 100% natural. Repurchase? I've gone back to using Skin & Me for now, but I may pick this up again in the future.

Balance Me Flash Cleanse Micellar Water (travel size)

This was good to try from a beauty box, but I prefer the Evolve Micellar Water above as it's more effective. I felt like I needed to use a lot of this product to properly remove my makeup. Repurchase? No.

Nourish Balance Nutritious Peptide Serum* (travel size)

A gorgeous balancing serum for combination skin that works a treat and helps to reduce the appearance of large pores. I was very sad to come to this end of this travel size bottle! Repurchase? Definitely.

Bloomtown Botanicals The Meadow Infused Oil Roll On*

I'm a huge fan of Bloomtown Botanicals and their range of Infused Oil Roll-Ons are some of the best in the aromatheraphy beauty world. They're also an absolute steal at just £6 and last forever. The Meadow is the brand's sleep and relax blend, so it's lovely and calming to apply to your pulse points before going to bed. Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (travel size)

Whilst this is a beautiful nourishing night cream, it's a little too rich and heavy for my combination skin unfortunately, so I ended up using the rest of it as a hand cream. If you have dry skin though, be sure to check it out! Repurchase? Sadly not for me.

Marcelle Curling & Lenghtening Mascara (travel size)

From a beauty box, I'm not sure this brand is available in the UK, but this is a really good mascara that holds a curl well and doesn't smudge or flake. Repurchase? If I can find it!

What beauty products have you used up recently?

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