Beauty gift ideas

I am not going to mention the C word. But it's November and today I soaked the fruit for my cake ready to bake it tomorrow. It's coming. I'm sorry but it is and if, like me, you simply feel exhausted at the thought, allow me to cheer you up with some beauty gift ideas. They can be for you after all.

The NARS Man Ray collection. I need none of it and probably wouldn't use it but look. Look at this and tell me you don't want it.

This limited edition Chanel nail polish makes my pulse race. It's basically British Racing Green. Divine.

I want this hand cream. I want to hold it and love it for the rest of my life.

 Sparkly red or gold nail varnish by the best in the business. Yes please.

The Dyptique holiday candles are always something to get excited about although I have found my perfect Dyptique candles now, having tried pretty much all of them. This one for the living room, and this one for my study (since you ask). But these are beautiful.

I bought a beauty box (yes, I am obsessed with beauty boxes) and this came in it (full-size) plus many other things that made it SUCH good value. Get into beauty boxes, they are amazing. Anyway, this serum is annoyingly good. It feels like you are putting water on your face.

I bought this tinted lip salve a few months ago and it's so good. I take it everywhere and it comes in three shades.

Early doors. I'll be back with more ideas in the coming weeks.

While I am here, I would like to recommend Dynasty on Netflix, it's trash TV of the highest order but the clothes and make-up are to die for.

New Spring make-up goodies

Today the sun was out and it was warm (ish). I went out without a coat. YES! Spring is in the air. I am still on my spending-ban but let me show you some of the lovely products I would totally consider if I could.

First up, YSL joy:

Lancome Blush and Highlighter cushion:

 Bobbi Brown Art Stick:

I don't know if this is new to Chanel but this nail colour is called Espadrilles.

It's enough to make you want to book a holiday and pack nothing but bikinis and nail polish!

Nail colour of the week

We continue to enjoy the Christmas nail varnish gift bonanza with this perfect red. My sister bought me this and it's a total winner.

It is the red to end all reds. I have tried so many red nail colours and find myself sick of them after a day or two. But this is perfection. I find myself yearning for it when I have another colour on my nails. It's a perfect, shiny red. As always with YSL, it's a doddle to put on. If you only have one red nail varnish, then make it this one.

Christmas shopping

If you've not completed your shopping yet or you want a treat for yourself (entirely understandable) then here are my thoughts.

First up, my beloved Bobbi Brown. Someone please buy a city palette. They are beyond divine. I want all of them but if forced to choose, I'd pick London:

I also have loved the Bobbi Luxe lipstick this year. One of the few lippies I've found that don't dry my lips.

Nail polish - always a winner. OPI has a new Breakfast at Tiffany's collection. I admit to not being a fan of the film but it's iconic, no arguments from me there. I especially like this colour: Can't Read Without My Lipstick:

I also want YSL Rouge Pop Art. I've said it before but I like to repeat myself, YSL nail varnish is the easiest to apply for a perfect home manicure.

New perfume? Yes, always. I am taken with Jo Loves in Pomelo. Gorgeous bottle and as delightful as you would expect it to be.

I also want to try the Byredo Unnamed. Exactly what it sounds like, it has no name, you make your own up.

I don't think anyone would be disappointed in a Charlotte Tilbury palette. The Rebel makes my heart race with those gorgeous greens.

After all the parties and family get togethers, there is nothing better than a bubble bath and there are no finer oils than Aromatherapy Associates. All of them are wonderful but Relax does the job. Expensive but a little goes a long way.

You'll need a scented candle too. I adore Diptyque, you can't go wrong with this brand and it's always a treat to receive a candle. The Menthe Verte is refreshing and clears the head.

I shall be back with a specific skin care Christmas guide soon.

Nail polish of the summer

I just returned from Lisbon and that meant going through duty-free and that meant buying a new nail polish. Of course. I've had my eye on this one for a while. Bleu Majorelle. It's the same blue that you see at the Marjorelle gardens in Marrakech.

Ever since I went there, I've been obsessed with the blue.

It's perfect. I am pleased to report the nail polish is exactly the same shade and I cannot stop admiring my hands.

This is the perfect summer nail colour and I'm sorry to say that you need it in your life. It's the usual YSL dream consistency, the most cack handed can apply it flawlessly. I think I now need the yellow polish too. It never ends.

Palette love

A beautiful make-up palette is an item of joy. They are not that practical because you never use everything in one but they are so pretty. 

Here are three that I covet. The YSL one is just beyond fabulous, look at those kisses!

First up, Bobbi Brown.

 YSL heaven.

NARS eyes.

They are an indulgence so therefore perfect to add to your Christmas list I'd say. It's eleven weeks away...

Prepping for the yacht

Darlings, tomorrow I fly off to the Med to spend a week on a yacht. You have no idea how much I love typing that sentence. We are sailing round Ibiza, lounging, drinking cocktails and sunbathing. I cannot wait.

A serious sunning holiday requires prep to avoid the first day, oh my god my skin is white, scaly and scary, blues. I have been prepping for about a month now. Truth be told, I never stop prepping for summer. I adore summer, it's totally my season. I don't ever want to feel caught out by it. So I exfoliate all year round, I have pedicures throughout winter on the basis that it's grim enough and my feet may as well look pretty to me as I bathe, and I moisturise religiously.

But that's not enough when the prospect of wearing swimwear is staring down the barrel at you. So I bought this:

It's a Korean Magic Peeling mitt. Read about it (and then buy one) here. No messy scrubs necessary, just scrub away with this in the shower and smooth skin is yours. It is actually magic. I love it and it's £4. It was sold out for weeks so when it finally came back in stock I bought two. I am considering buying more (they don't last forever) so I am stocked up.

I've been laying on the Kiehls Creme De Corps which is the best body moisturiser I've ever used. And I have been applying my trusty Clarins self tan gel every other day.

I really rate this. Of all the self tans, it's the easiest to use, it gives a very natural colour and it only slightly smells. I invested in a St Tropez tanning mitt which has been the best fiver I've spent for some time. Why I didn't get one of these years ago, I shall never know.

Last week I bought Olay's Everyday Sunshine after Sali Hughes recommended it and I now have a light glow on my face. This is a bargain product, non-greasy, no biscuit smell and very subtle.

Today I has a Shellac manicure in a neon orange which I am very pleased with. It's all shiny and fabulous. I had a pedicure in the week in my new YSL colour I told you about.

I am exhausted, I totally need this holiday. It's hard work being fabulous isn't it? My husband has simply packed 11 t-shirts, two pairs of shorts, trunks and a fishing rod. I am definitely coming back as a man in my next life.

A Saturday shop

I met an old friend for a spot of lunch and shopping yesterday. She loves make-up counters almost as much as I do. We had a very pleasant time in Richmond House of Fraser and I treated myself to two new pretties.

There is always the perfect eyeliner out there and I may have found it. Dior Pro Liner. Look at the shape of it. It glides on like a dream (on the back of my hand) and it's the perfect green. I tried to resist, I really did but I wanted it.

I did my nails on Friday with one of my YSL colours and remembered why I like it so much. It's such a doddle to apply. Summer is here and a new bright colour is important to survival, I am sure you'll all agree, so I splashed out on this lovely coral.

I managed to resist a new Diptyque candle in SpaceNK so actually I saved money.

Christmas beauty gifts

Yes it is December already. Yes, it's too early to put up your tree. No, it's not too early to start shopping for gifts. I'd be happy with any of these on Christmas morning.

Aromatherapy Associates are truly beautiful bath oils. I've only ever had one bottle of their oil and I still dream about it. Unfortunately CoverBoy took a shine to it as well so it didn't last long. This Lavender and Peppermint one sounds divine.

Clarins facial oils are a staple for me, especially in the winter. Pop this on before you go to sleep and wake up with plumped up, soft skin.

Their Tonic bath and shower concentrate is also a firm favourite. It smells like the essence of Clarins and I always take it travelling to pep me up.

2015 is going to be the year of Aesop for me. I am dying to try this serum.

I love all things Origins. Gloomaway is perfect for dark January mornings.

Jo Malone is always a treat and I can never resist a scented candle. Pine and Eucalyptus is the scent of Christmas. This one is ridiculously priced but I covet. Hard. You can buy a smaller one for £40.

My Christmas candle this year is from Diptyque and it is heavenly, filling my living room with the scent of pine needles.

My love of Chanel Exclusifs is bottomless. I adore Bois des Iles but I am currently having a moment with No18. They are a luxury but you will never tire of seeing this on your dressing table. So chic!

Charlotte Tilbury is the launch of the year. I've not tried any of it but I hear rave reviews. I have issues with the look of this range, it's too blingy for my tastes however I can never resist an eyeshadow palette and The Sophisticate looks like the perfect office colours.

I also think this make-up bag is cute.

I bought this YSL nail varnish in France not realising it has a grained effect. It's a gorgeous colour and the grainy thing is weird, I must admit it's not quite my thing but I think those more into nail art would love it. Perfect gift for a teenager.

Molecule 01 is the perfume that is unique to everyone. I adore it and always get compliments when I wear it (I've just finished my bottle - hint hint).

Finally, I am currently rediscovering the absolute joy of the heated roller. Pop a few in for 5 minutes and you have instant glamour. I've been using heated rollers for over 30 years and upgraded my ancient ones a few years ago. Look at these ones though! Who could resist?! And they are a bargain.

Happy shopping!

A walk through my perfume hall of fame

Regular readers will know that I am partial to perfume. I'd give up many beauty products before perfume. It defines you, it cheers you up, it makes a grey day a great day and it's just so much fun. Why have one bottle when you can have 10? That's my motto. It got me to thinking of my journey through perfume. I've always loved it right from wafts of it coming from my mother as she kissed me goodnight.

My first perfume was everyone's first perfume. Anais Anais.

I've not smelt it for years but it's not offensive at all. A rather pretty scent and perfect for teenage girls.

Of course I also had The Body Shop's White Musk. Again, a rite of passage. Smelling this now always transports me back to secondary school.

My first grown up perfume was YSL's Rive Gauche. My mum must have bought me this. 

The packaging is marvellous. I thought I was the height of sophistication wearing this and let's face it, I was! It's still a lovely scent although I can never go back to perfumes, too many memories and makes me feel like I've regressed.

Being an 80s kid, obviously I had some Poison. This is much maligned, it's a lovely perfume as long as you don't drown yourself in it and wear it at night.

Then I discovered Calvin Klein. I was obsessed with Eternity.

I don't know why I loved this so much since I think it's pretty vile now. This reminds me of first and second year at uni. Along with this horror.

Escape, a truly awful perfume. My mother refused to let me in the car if I was wearing it! Then I found my first true love of a scent, the one that felt like me.

Dune is heavenly. I think this is when I really felt the power of a great perfume. People would tell me how wonderful I smelt when I wore this. Random men would stop me in bars and compliment me on my perfume. I can honestly say it was like an Impulse advert without the flowers. I wish I had never stopped wearing it because I can't go back. I feel all wrong wearing it now. But this defined my early 20s and I adored it.

The 90s were very much the Dolce and Gabbana decade and for my first proper job (in advertising), I wore this.

Nobody said to me, "honey, a little much for the office, no?" I must have asphyxiated everyone around me. I loved it though and the my colleagues were largely horrible so who cares? My mother must have hated this on me because I remember her buying me this.

Which is a nice perfume but a little dull for Chanel. I wore it but it never felt like me.

My husband (except he wasn't at the time) got me this and I knew he was a keeper.

It's simply lovely.

I think it was around this time I bought the perfume book that changed my perfume life. And I discovered Guerlain. Mitsouko is my go to perfume for when I mean business.

Mitsouko is suitable for any mood, any day, any season. It's perfection.

The day I realised Chanel's Les Exclusif range was a special one. So many to choose from, all so wonderful. Bois Des Iles was my wedding day perfume and I probably would pick it as my desert island scent.

So chic.

Sometimes you need a nice fresh scent and my go to for this is Jo Malone's Grapefruit. It doesn't last but it's oh so refreshing and zesty.

Dries Van Noten is a real grown up perfume. It's not for every day but it is totally divine and perfect for striding around in heels, owning the world.

Tom Ford perfumes are such a luxury. I find most of them a bit much, too cloying. But this little baby is heavenly. Wear it and feel like you are on the Amalfi coast even if you're commuting on the 7.02 from Hemel Hempstead.

And finally (because I could do this all day and I have to get on with my Sunday), I leave you with the most famous of them all. I think you have to feel like you've really grown up to wear this. I only came to it last year but it's beautiful. Coco, I salute you.