UK Black Friday beauty and fashion deals and discount codes

If you're not in the market for a new TV, it can seem like Black Friday is a bit of a bore, but no - since it's become a 'thing' in the UK over the past couple of years, loads of stores and brands are getting in on the action, it's not just electricals - there are fashion and beauty bargains to be had! 

Christmas gift ideas: NEOM Organics Perfect Peace scented candle

Ahhhhhhhhh mmmmmmmm.   That's my main main thought right now as I'm sitting here typing this with NEOM's Perfect Peace flickering away on the other side of the room.  NEOM candles truly have some of the most relaxing scents of any candle I've ever tried, and burning one is a wonderful treat.  

Christmas gift ideas: Beanies flavoured coffees review and giveaway

There's always that one person on your list that's just so hard to buy for isn't there?  The person who's got everything and gives you absolutely no help with what to get them for Christmas - I'm not like that, I have a list as long as my leg which I start up in August, but hey maybe I'm just super greedy decisive.  Anyway if your person who has everything and needs nothing likes coffee, I might have just the thing to sneak into their stocking this year.  

Beauty: My first Makeup Revolution haul

If you've not heard of Makeup Revolution before, prepare for a Makeup Revelation!  It's got to be the most exciting thing that's happened in budget-friendly makeup this year.  Literally out of nowhere Makeup Revolution has appeared online and in Superdrug stores with an enormous range covering just about every product you can think of, and they keep adding to it with fresh launches on what seems like a weekly basis.  It's amazing and slightly overwhelming, so I thought I'd start off by showing you where I started with the brand when I hauled myself a few bits to try out back in the summer.  I do have some more Makeup Revolution products now (so, *spoiler* I liked these!), but I'll save those to chat about in another post.

Skincare: Switch to Witch skincare range and giveaway

Today I'm having a total blast from my skincare past with Witch and their #switchtowitch campaign.  That iconic Witch blemish stick reminds me of being about 13 years old and being obsessed with the Spice Girls and Smash Hits magazine!  Witch's packaging and line has changed a lot since then, but that little blue stick is still going strong.  I have one to giveaway together with two of Witch's newer releases, so read on if you fancy switching to Witch and keeping your skin clear throughout the winter.

Christmas gift ideas: The Body Shop glazed apple Christmas range

The Body Shop are really knocking it out of the park right now.  Not only have they got some gorgeous Christmas ranges, but they also keep tempting me with amazing offers like 40% off, £25 off when you spend £50, free gifts and all sorts.  You don't even have to hunt around for the deals - they helpfully pop the latest codes up right on their home page!  There's a distinct possibility that everyone I know is going to be getting a Body Shop gift from me this Christmas, and my favourite contender from all the ranges so far, is the juicy glazed apple.  

Christmas beauty: My Selfridges Christmas wish list

Next weekend I'm off on a festive girlie shopping trip, and the first place we plan to hit up is Selfridges.  I'm not sure if it's those famous window displays, the seemingly never ending beauty halls, or the lure of high end luxury goods I can barely afford to touch, but Selfridges has me super excited for Christmas shopping.  I can guess we'll be spending more time than is healthy in the beauty hall swatching, sniffing and swooning, so it's best to go in with a plan.  These beauty treasures are at the top of my list for closer inspection...

Christmas beauty: Benefit sweet shoppe gift sets for 2014

Christmas is one of the best time of year to be a beauty addict - some brands bring out gift sets which are amazing value compared to their usual lines of singular products, and Benefit is one of them.  I remember in my mid-teens Benefit was the first semi-high end brand which caught my eye, and every year I'd have some of their gift sets at the top of my Christmas list.  Fast forward more years than I'd like to admit, and I'm still their Christmas offerings are still amazing - these are my top picks for this year.

Skincare: The new anti-ageing skincare range from TEN

You may have heard of TEN before if you're a mummy, as TEN started out with a boutique mother and baby skincare range, but this new range is focused on anti-ageing.  

My autumn / winter bath-time pampering routine

Those cold, dark nights are drawing in, and long gone are the refreshing showers of sticky summer days.  I could insert a little moan here about cold weather and lack of daylight, but actually I love autumn and winter, plus any excuse for a long hot bath and pampering session and I'm there, with a blanket!  So this is my slightly indulgent, but super relaxing and comforting autumn / winter pamper routine...

Christmas gift ideas: Men's fragrance - Hugo Boss Bottled and Bvlgari Man Extreme

My boyfriend hates spending money on aftershave.  To him all the nice ones seem expensive, and if there were a Tesco value aftershave out there (maybe there is? don't tell him!) he'd probably make do with that.  However, he's more than happy to wear a really nice aftershave if he gets it as a gift.  I want him to smell good, so I get him aftershave for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's etc.  I guess it's a win / win situation.

Beauty: October 2014 favourites

I'm a bit late with my October favourites this month, and I've realised that I didn't really have any eye favourites, as for the whole month I had lash extensions, so I couldn't really wear eye liner, shadow or mascara.  The lashes are off now, but I really loved the look, so my Lara Lashes are my first favourite for the month.

Nails: NYK1 Secrets Nailac at home professional gel polish system review

For ages I'd wondered how I could try a proper gel manicure at home like the ones you'd pay about £30 for at a salon.  I've only had Shellac professionally done once, and I think the girl was new as the finish was really bad and led to the gel peeling off within a few days!  I like to think that I'm pretty good at doing my own nails, so I thought I'd be able to master the technique at home, if I knew what all of the steps were and all the equipment / products.  NYK1 Secrets offers exactly what I was looking for - professional quality kits with everything you need to achieve a long lasting, shiny and strong manicure at home.

Skincare: Nivea smooth nourishing hand cream and blueberry blush lip butter review

Hand cream and lip balm are such absolute cold weather necessities, so these little treats from Nivea couldn't have arrived at a better time.  The weather tricked us throughout most of October, lulling us into a false sense of snugly security - I didn't even wear my coat until November arrived, and then a couple of days in and bang, it's freezing!  Time to whip out the cold weather skincare essentials!

Christmas beauty: NARS Christmas gift sets 2014 - Virtual Domination blush palette and Digital World lip pencil coffret

There are many things I love about the lead up to Christmas, but one of the best has to be the multitude of amazing beauty deals, limited editions and gift sets tempting me around every corner.  One launch I always have my greedy beady eye on is the NARS holiday gift sets.  This year's offering has not disappointed me, and I've already snapped up two of the kits for under my tree.  

The Library of Fragrance single note blendable scents review

I love wearing perfume - it's always the last step in my routine each morning after doing my makeup and getting dressed, and I don't feel myself without it.  I'm not really one for having a signature scent - I have some favourite perfumes, but I also like picking different scents from my collection depending on the occasion, time of year, my mood etc.  The Library of Fragrance, which has just launched in the UK, is a concept which really appeals to me - you can actually create your own perfume by mixing and matching the single note scents to switch things up depending on what you fancy at any given time.  There are over 100 fragrances to choose from, so everyone's personal perfume tastes are catered for too! 

Nails: Sensationail deluxe gel starter kit review

I'm always moaning that no matter which nail polish I try, it never lasts much more than a day on me before I get chips, so if there's anything which promises longer wear, I'm up for trying it!  Sensationail is a system that combines the quality of a salon gel manicure finish, with the ease and speed of an at home manicure, and it promises to last up to two weeks!

Nails: Beautybay The Collection festive nail polishes

Beautybay's own brand products - Beautybay the collection - are really expanding, and I'm pleased to see that they've brought out some festive additions to their great value nail polish range.

Christmas Beauty: Beauty Christmas Crackers 2014

Following on from my post on this year's beauty advent calendars, I've spotted that a fair few brands are also offering Christmas cracker sets filled with makeup and bathing goodies.  I've seen lots of brands putting gift sets into single cracker shaped packaging, but these are all sets of crackers which you can actually pull across the dinner table, minus the naff hats and silly jokes...