Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
A Beautiful World ‘Bee Gift Box’.
I was delighted to discover www.abeautifulworld.co.uk. I adore natural high quality skincare and this site seemed to have all my favourite brands under one hypothetical ‘roof’.
‘At abeautifulworld we appreciate that your skin can be tricky and sometimes overloading it with products can send it into a spin rather than sooth it. That’s why we’ve scoured the globe from California’s Sierra Mountains to a sheep farm hidden deep in New Zealand, in a bid to find high performance skincare that reflects the latest developments in organic and natural beauty technologies. Prepare to be amazed.’ (abeautifulworld)
I was amazed and you will be too. The site is very easily navigated and a pleasure to visit.
They have excellent gift sets recommended this Christmas which include the latest organic products and the latest technology in anti-aging skincare.
My favourite, although it was difficult to pick a favourite, would have to be the ‘Christmas Bee Box’.
This set retails at £45 and includes a Bee Venom face mask and eye serum. Bee Venom is known as a natural botox, and it is the ‘biggie’ in organic skincare this year. The venom stimulates collagen and elastin production and regenerates the skin like no other ingredient on the market.
I have read in magazines that the Duchess of Kent is a fan!
The Bee Venom eye serum left my skin instantly soft yet firmer and the feeling lasted well into the evening. Even under make-up, this continued to moisturise and worked well in reducing the fine lines that tend to appear as the day progresses. This one is definitely a keeper!
The face mask can be used and then removed after 15 minutes or left overnight. I left it on overnight and am now an addict! This facemask is absolutely amazing. My skin initially felt a little tingly, but in a good way. The next day my face felt super soft and moisturised BEFORE I put moisturiser on. I am completely converted to these products now and will be purchasing them in the future. I also cannot wait to try other products from www.abeautifulworld.co.uk
Use the code xmas10 and get 10% off and free UK shipping!
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Naked Fake It ‘Gotta Glow’ Gift Set.
Fake tan, my hubby can smell it ‘a mile off’ and hates it! I am lucky to have brown skin and ‘take the sun’ well, but at Christmas any glow from the summer is almost gone. We all need a bit of glow on our ‘white bits’ – its party season with lots of low cut dresses and short skirts floating about!
![Naked-Fake-It-Gotta-Glow-Gift-Set[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Naked-Fake-It-Gotta-Glow-Gift-Set1.jpg)
Naked Fake it will take care of your skin in more ways than one. This product is so impressive – a ‘natural’ fake tan, 97% natural to be exact! Silicone free and kind to skin, this is a lotion that will suit even sensitive skin. It is very easy to use and leaves skin super soft, enriched with shea and cocoa butter. You will be your usual summer bronzed goddess in no time – and without the usual horrible smell associated with other tanning products.
As for presentation, the Gotta Glow gift set is beautifully packaged and includes Glow It Up Self Tan Lotion and 100% natural Dust Me Mineral Shimmer Powder. This is the perfect gift for someone who likes to look good… naturally. As for this set, I’m keeping it all for myself!
RRP £14 available from www.nakedbodycare.co.uk and www.keepmeinspired.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Bacon Shaving Cream.
If you have yet to discover the Fowndry, have a look today.
‘Here we’ve assembled a collection of everything cool, quirky and cutting edge that’s happening in the world right now. Products, gifts, games, gadgets… our team has spent a lifetime scouring the Earth’s surface, from trade fairs to toy shops, fantasy bazaars to tech forums, in search of the most inventive, up-to-the-minute items’. (The Fowndry)
The site is super cool and trendy and the products really are iconic.
I adore the Bacon Shaving Cream:
‘Can you smell… manhood? Leave your chops smoother than a Teflon griddle and drive your lady friends wild with the powerful musk of Bacon Shaving Cream’ (The Fowndry)
I just can’t resist this smell. When my husband uses this shaving cream the smell lasts for hours after. He has now said he will use no other shaving cream as his skin would be fairly sensitive and prone to a rash after shaving. This super high quality cream leaves skin baby-soft and smooth with no irritation. Nicely packaged and excellent value at £12.99.
Visit www.thefowndry.com for further information and check out their array of products for gift inspiration.
Gift Reviews, Pampered Foods
Sainsburys Christmas Hampers.
Sainsbury’s have a gorgeous range of hampers in store which make shopping for Christmas gifts a ‘piece of cake’.
Have a browse if you have some last minute gifts to get. The hampers are well presented and there is a good variety.
The ‘Nordic’ hamper is beautiful, the gifts are arranged in a traditional style basket with ribbon detailing. Inside you will find a selection of foods complimenting each other very well.
Greek olives, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and flatbread come packaged with a luxury candle holder shaped as a house. This would make an excellent gift for mum’s or a special friend and excellent value at £25.
They also have a gorgeous ‘Taste the Difference Champagne Truffle Set’ which will definitely be on my ‘wish list’ this Christmas. RRP £15
Visit your local Sainsbury’s store or have a look online for further products from the Christmas range.
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Lego Darth Vader Alarm Clock
I would have classed this as a clock for boys but my daughter loves it! She couldn’t get to sleep at night and we eventually discovered this was because the clock in her room ‘ticked’ too loudly!
This Darth Vader alarm clock by Lego looks great. His legs and arms move fully so just like a mini figure. The clock is displayed in digital and lights up in red when you press on the helmet – this is great as my daughter knows what time it is when it is dark. Pressing the helmet also activates the snooze button. The alarm can be easily set and reset so this is perfect for children as it’s not too complicated.
The Lego Darth Vader Alarm Clock stands 9” tall so a really good item and a great gift for not a lot of money.
RRP £19.99 from Sainsbury’s.
‘Wake up with the dark side of the Force!’
Gift Reviews
Hertz Supercars.
It’s almost Christmas, have you all your shopping done or are you still struggling to find the ‘perfect’ gift?
Hertz may be able to help, and I believe they are definitely worth a look! If you are shopping for someone who enjoys fast cars and records every episode of Top Gear, why not give them a gift to smile about?
No, I do not mean re-mortgage your house and buy a supercar! The supercar range from Hertz is available to rent – how cool is that? Their latest addition is none other than Top Gear’s ‘Car of the Year’ the McLaren Spider.
‘0-60 in 2.8 seconds, this is the British Supercar to not only rival what Ferrari and Lamborghini can offer, but is widely regarded by some as being amongst the best cars on the planet. The 2013 upgrades include a fully functional I.R.I.S system and the already immensely fast 592 bhp turbo charged engine, which now pushes out 616 bhp. McLaren have also included a button to open the gull wing doors, so there’s no need to be a scientist to get into the car anymore. Even better, the remapped engine, power increase and improved suspension mean that new Spider drives better than ever.
Reaching up to a mighty 213 mph, complete with fold away roof and luxurious McLaren’s Special Ops Design extras, treat someone special to a taste of the millionaire lifestyle and one in a lifetime drive this Christmas’. (Hertz)
The retail price of this car is a whopping £225,000 and a day rental starts at £825. Gift vouchers are available from £50. However, you receive an extra 10% on your voucher when you book online.
Visit www.hertzsupercars.com for further information.
Gift Reviews
Griffin WoodTones
Griffin are pretty well known for their extensive range of iconic accessories for the home along with their exclusive WoodTones audio accessories. The WoodTone range has now been expanded to include over the ear headphones which are available to buy now, just in time for Christmas gift shopping!
These real wood headphones can be purchased in 3 forms, beech, sapele or walnut and each pair are unique. The wood also serves to add to the quality of the acoustic volume delivered through these headphones which can allow the user to listen at a lower volume, which is safer, and yet receive great sound. A ‘built-in’ control microphone enables the user to accept calls while listening to music.
The cable is detachable and the ear-cups fold flat for easy storage. This makes them an excellent choice for someone who travels as they pack away quite small.
We love these headphones, they look fab and come nicely boxed. They would make a superb Christmas gift.
For further information visit http://store.griffintechnology.co.uk/
RRP £79.99
Technical information:
- · 50 mm moving coil neodymium magnet drivers for powerful sound
- · Impedance: 32 ohms ± 15%
- · Sensitivity: 108 dB ± 3 dB
- · Frequency response: 20 to 20,000 Hz
- · Real leather headband cushion for premium comfort
- · In-line control mic works with Siri and many other voice control systems
- · Detachable 4 foot cable with 1/8″ (3.5 mm) plug ( Griffin )
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty, Homeware Reviews
Bauballs
These made me laugh – they were just what my Christmas tree needed and I have had so many comments on my ‘Bauballs’!
Orchid, the UK’s male cancer charity has produced these delightful tree ornaments shaped like testicles! They were designed to raise money for the charity which supports pioneering and life saving research and are part of Orchid’s Christmas testicular cancer awareness campaign.
Why not add a set of ‘Bauballs’ to your tree this Christmas and raise smiles and money for this super charity? They would also make for an excellent ‘Secret Santa’ gift or perfect as a cheeky gift for your friends.
‘Bauballs’ can be found at selected House of Fraser stores or online at www.checkyourbauballs.com (£5 each)
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Orla Kiely ‘Home’
Books, do you give any books at Christmas? I don’t mean children’s books, but adult books. I adore books and love reading in bed at night. A variety of books can be found in my bookcase from craft books to science fiction, anything goes!
I have not went down the road of a kindle as yet, there is just something about flicking through the pages of a book and using a traditional bookmark to keep your page when the book is put down.
![images[5] (2)](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/images5-2.jpg)
I plan to give a few books as gifts this Christmas, one if which is a book by the very famous Irish designer, Orla Kiely. Orla has a number of books but I have selected ‘Home’ as this book contains page after page of colourful illustrations taken of Orla’s work and has fabulous images of her home as well. This book is very hard to set down once you begin reading it!
![orla_kiely_new_york_a130312_6[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/orla_kiely_new_york_a130312_61.jpg)
The book itself is quite large – about A4 size and hard back – although the texture of the cover has a lovely ‘soft feel’ to it. The pictures are just so motivational, I have even spied mugs I have in my kitchen and my mum’s scarf among lots of other interesting articles and patterns that are now screaming to have a place on my Christmas ‘wish list’!
For further information vist www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Orla Kiely ‘Home’ RRP £30
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Dove Men + Care Trio Gift Pack.
This is a lovely little set from Dove to ensure your man stays clean and smells good. I have struggled with this for ages, and after 10 long years, mine will just about shower every day. Why are men the complete opposite to women? Every morning we smother ourselves in lotions and potions to fend off the years and smell delicious while the men in our lives get out of bed, shower, (on a good day) and go.
I feel there aren’t a lot of products out there specifically targeted at the male of the species, however this set is suited for the typical man, no faffing about with moisturiser or creams, just wash, spray and the job is done!
It comprises 150ml of Clean Care Antiperspirant deodorant, 250ml of Clean Comfort body and face wash and 250ml of Aqua Impact body and face wash.
The deodorant has a lovely fresh scent, (I think I’ll nab this one for myself)! The face and body wash is lovely and creamy, with a nice soft lather.
I have been using Dove products for years myself and am delighted with the new additions to the range for both men and women.
A perfect stocking filler for the man in your life.
Retails at £8.99.
Available from Boots, Asda, JS and Superdrug.