Christmas Gift Guide 2017: The Last Minute Edit (Online & Highstreet)

Still on the hunt for some Christmas Gifts and Stocking Fillers? Forgot someone's Secret Santa? It's not too late! Here's my handy Last Minute Edit filled with beauty treats and featuring a wide range of brands and stockists.

 MasqueBAR Pretty Animalz Reindeer Calming Sheet Mask* (£4, link) & iN.gredients Cream Masks* (£3 each, link)

For a super cute stocking filler, MasqueBAR have released a range of festive Animalz Sheet Masks which feature the animal printed onto the mask itself for the ultimate Christmas skincare selfie! Each one has a different purpose and this Reindeer mask is perfect for hydrating and soothing. Available online from ASOS or from your local House Of Fraser. Also available from ASOS are the festive-themed face masks from MasqueBAR's iN.gredients range which include the delicious Hot Cocoa (hydrating), Candy Cane (purifying), and Egg Nog (anti-ageing). These are all cream masks that smell exactly like their names!

 Skin79 Golden Snail 24k Hydro Gel Mask* (£5.90, link) & Venetian Carnival Shiny Star Mask* (£3.90, link)

If you're looking for a sheet mask stocking filler that's more luxurious, cult Korean brand Skin79 have a massive range of different masks for all skin types and concerns. Two of my favourites are the Golden Snail 24k Hydro Gel Mask which is fantastic for anti-ageing and extra radiance, and the Venetian Carnival Shiny Star Mask that's a great pre-party mask for a gorgeous hydrating glow. Both available online from HQ Hair. 

 KISS Looks So Natural Iconic Lashes* (£4.99, link), Lash Couture Strip Lash Adhesive* (£4.99, link), Kiss Gel Fantasy Nails* (£6.99, link) & imPRESS Press-On Manicure* (£7.99, link)

Popping into Superdrug or Boots? Head straight to the KISS stand and pick up some of their beautiful lashes and nail kits. I love their Looks So Natural Lashes for a pretty, fluttery, easy-to-wear style and a tube of their Lash Couture Strip Lash Adhesive would make a fab stocking filler for any girlie girl who is always wearing fake lashes! Their Gel Fantasy and imPRESS nail kits are also a must-buy for DIY mani-fans with lots of shades and styles to choose from.

 Brushworks HD Midi Sponge Set* (£9.99, link) & HD Oval Brush Set* (£12, link)

Makeup accessories and tools are huge Christmas gifts this year and Brushworks have something for everyone. Their HD Midi Sponge Set contains four high-quality, latex-free blending sponges that can be used with a variety of liquid and cream based products, whilst the HD Oval Brush Set is a brilliant affordable dupe of the popular Artis brushes that have dominated Youtube tutorials this year. Best of all? These sets and much more are currently in the 3 for 2 offer online at Feel Unique - win win!

 MUA Matte Supreme & Cashmere Collective Eyeshadow Palettes* (£8 each, link)

Eyeshadow palettes are also insanely popular this year and MUA's latest 25 Shade Eyeshadow Palettes are a budget-friendly way to gift the makeup lover in your life with a whole bunch of new colours! There are several colourways to choose from, but my personal favourites are Matte Supreme (this really is the ultimate neutral matte palette) and Cashmere Collective (a selection of beautiful matte and shimmery, neutral and smokey shades). Available online from MUA direct and Superdrug. 

Joan Collins I Am Woman Eau De Parfum* (12ml, £15, link) & Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré* (£15, link)

Some stocking filler ideas that I think mums/aunties/older female relatives and friends will enjoy, include Joan Collins' popular I Am Woman fragrance (a classic feminine scent with citrusy top notes layered over a woody and musky base with hints of floral), and the French skincare guru's favourite, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, which is an ultra-rich multi-purpose cream that's perfect for Winter and currently available in a ready-to-gift, Limited Edition Paris design.

 Know Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner* and No Dark Shadows Complexion Enhancer* (£12.50 each, link) & Carmex Skinny Dip Limited Edition Lip Balm* (£3.95, link)

Your local Lloyds Chemist might not be the first place that you think of when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, but my local one is a great place to find some beauty bargains from bestselling brands. If your local stocks Know Cosmetics, look out for the No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner (a clear lip liner that can be used with any lipstick) and No Dark Shadows Complexion Enhancer (a cheeky YSL Touche Eclat dupe that provides more coverage for pesky dark circles). 

If you need a cutesy little stocking filler for a teen or young daughter, I think they'd love the new Limited Edition Carmex collab with Skinny Dip which has been given a festive twist with a yummy Sugar Plum flavour, and it features a unicorn! Available from Superdrug.

 Superdrug Studio London Metal Hair Accessories* (£2.99 each, link)

Also from Superdrug, you'll find these new, on-trend metal hair accessories from their Studio London range which make brilliant stocking fillers, especially if you have teens or young girls to buy for. Plus they're in the current buy one, get the second half-price offer on Superdrug hair essentials so now's the time to stock up! 

Clipper Snore & Peace Gift Caddy* (£10, link)

Tea lovers will adore this beautifully presented and reusable Gift Caddy that contains Clipper's bestselling Snore & Peace blend in 30 enveloped tea bags. This relaxing infusion of Chamomile, Lemon Balm and Lavender will help to send your recipient off to the land of nod so that they can get a restful night's sleep during the busy festive season. Certified organic by the Soil Association and available from Amazon.

US ONLY! Image Skincare Forever Young Gift Set* (link)

Lastly, as I've had some requests from a few of my American followers for gift recommendations, I wanted to include the Forever Young Gift Set from Image Skincare. Available in the US only, this set contains a great travel-size selection from Image's Vital C range (Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Anti-Ageing Serum, Repair Creme and Moisturiser), alongside a gorgeous Silk Eye Mask designed by DANNIJO. 

What last minute Christmas gifts are you buying this year?

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Budget Beauty: Two New MUA (Makeup Academy) Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palettes To Buy This Autumn - Twilight Delight and Au Naturel - Review & Swatches

The weather has certainly turned Autumnal here in the UK, so I think it's the perfect time for me to share these two new eyeshadow palettes from MUA (Makeup Academy) which launched just last month.

MUA (Makeup Academy) have become the go-to, budget friendly, cruelty-free makeup brand for savvy shoppers and students alike. I literally would have killed for a brand like this to have been around when I was at college, as it would have given me so many more options than just Barry M or the Natural Collection range from Boots! MUA basically stock everything your makeup bag could ever desire and the prices are cheap as chips.

Admittedly though, like many budget brands, their products are sometimes a little hit or miss in places, but one area that they particularly excel in are eyeshadow palettes, so I was thrilled to hear that they had recently launched some brand new 15 shade eyeshadow palettes in six different colourways - oh yes! I've managed to get my hands on two of them to give you an idea of what's on offer from MUA.

 MUA (Makeup Academy) Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palette in Twilight Delight* (£5, link)

These Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palettes come in cheap and cheerful no-frills plastic packaging, but they feel relatively sturdy and they're compact enough to pop into your makeup bag without it taking up loads of room. The clear lids allow you to find the shade/s that you're looking for immediately and the vast majority of the shadows feel soft and silky to the touch. A few are a little chalky, especially the paler mattes, but the overall quality is fantastic and they all blend easily.

Twilight Delight is a beautiful autumnal palette with a mix of neutrals and some stunning copper and purple shades, alongside a couple of smoky grey tones. The shimmery shades really stand out in this one, and I would recommend using a good quality primer underneath to make them 'pop' even more. I did experience a bit of creasing and a little fading with some of the colours, but when used with an eyeshadow primer, they are a worthy addition to any makeup junkie's stash, and a great starting point for anyone new to eyeshadow who wants a range of shades to experiment with.

Swatches! MUA (Makeup Academy) Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palette in Twilight Delight

 MUA (Makeup Academy) Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palette in Au Naturel* (£5, link)

The second palette that I have is one that I'm sure will appeal to everyone who loves a good neutral colourway! Au Naturel is 15 shades of wanton neutral loving and contains a range of both shimmer and 'high pearl' (mega shimmery) colours. At first glance, I thought some of the paler shades were mattes, but they actually have a teeny tiny amount of fine shimmer running through them if you look closely enough. All of these shades were highly pigmented and silky smooth, with the exception of the pale nude fourth colour which is a little dry and chalky.

The rest though, are simply stunning with varying tones of browns, coppers, bronzes, nudes and golds all represented in one convenient palette. Like Twilight Delight though, I do feel that these shadows definitely benefit from having an eyeshadow primer underneath them to stop any creasing if you have oily lids, but I'm still blown away by the quality for a palette that costs just a fiver! 

Swatches! MUA (Makeup Academy) Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palette in Au Naturel

MUA Pro 15 Shade Eyeshadow Palettes are available from Superdrug (both in stores nationwide and online), and you can shop the full range at muastore.co.uk

Are you a fan of MUA?

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Budget Dupe: MUA Luxe Enchanted Eyeshadow Palette - Review & Swatches

It's been a while since an eyeshadow palette caused me my jaw to drop, but one look at this MUA Luxe palette and I was smitten!

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Budget Beauty: 3 Great Brow Products From The Highstreet

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Budget Beauty: MUA Luxe Inked Lip Stains - Review & Swatches (Full Collection)

Happy National Lipstick Day! Oh yes, such a thing does appear to exist so to celebrate NLD, I'm bringing you a special feature on MUA Luxe's brand new Inked Lip Stains, which really are 110% kissproof.

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Budget Beauty: MUA (Makeup Academy) Makeup Brushes & Professional Brush Cleanser review

For those on a budget or if you're new to the world of makeup, MUA offer a vast range of purse friendly products, including these makeup brushes which are well worth looking into.

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Beauty Tips: 5 Ways To Keep Your Face Looking Matte & Flawless This Summer

Summer is officially here (hooray!) and the weather is slowly but surely heating up. Keep your makeup looking flawless with one or two of these mattifying heroes, and you'll look picture perfect in all of your holiday snaps.

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Budget Beauty Review: MUA Pro Base Eye Primer vs ELF Essentials Eyelid Primer in Sheer

Having used up my beloved Urban Decay Primer Potion back in January, I decided it was time for me to try out some of the more affordable budget options to see how they compared. 

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Q&A with SFX MUA Gaynor / Secondskin

A friend of mine is in a gothic punk rock band called Lesbian Bed Death and they recently shot a video for their new single, Soul Sucker.  As I've always been fascinated with the world of SFX (Special Effects) make-up,  I had a quick chat with Gaynor who was the SFX MUA on the shoot.   She spoke to me about how she got to working in the industry, why she does it and tips for budding SFX MUAs.  Post below contains faux gory imagery! 

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Tag: How Much is My Face Worth?

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MUA Heaven and Earth eyeshadow palette

Superdrug recently had free postage on its online orders, so I decided to add this to my basket and check out with some surplus Paypal funds. If you follow any beauty related blogs, you'll no doubt have seen this touted as the 'poor man's version of the Urban Decay's Naked Palette'. It's the Make Up Academy £4 equivalent, eyeshadow palette in Heaven and Earth. Verdict? I think it's OK, not as amazing as some people have made out it is, but not terrible either. The eyeshadows are fine with a primer, but some of the darker shades disappeared on me after a couple of hours and needed a touch up. I think the lighter shades are the best in this palette and look great when used for highlighting. Will it be replacing my Naked palette? Hell no!

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