Since starting my blog this year, the post that I have been most looking forward to writing is a Christmas gift guide.  I love Christmas, and I love surprising people with presents that I know they will love, so this is my ideal blog post! I know that choosing gifts can sometimes be really difficult, so I thought it might be useful if I share with you, my top picks for Christmas gifts this year.  Plus,  it’s a great excuse for me to browse all of my favourite shops and find gorgeous things to recommend to you :).  I am well aware that a gift guide isn’t much use to anyone come mid December, so this year, I have had to get my Christmas hat on a bit earlier than usual.  All in the name of the blog! You are welcome! Lol

I have broken this gift guide into a number of different categories to try and make it so as there is something for everyone.  Within each category I have tried to include a number of different products which cater for a range of budgets.  Hopefully there is something for everyone 🙂

This week focuses on the girls (because of course we are the most important) so if you spot something you like you can encourage the men in your life to read my blog post as a subtle hint lol.  That said, we can’t forget about the men, so I have managed to convince Dan to give me his recommendations for a men’s Christmas gift guide, which is coming next week! 🙂

There is a lot to get through this week, so lets get started………..

Skincare

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (100g)- £47 (link)

This Emma Hardie cleansing balm is one that I have used for years (my sisters and mum have all used it too).  It is a beautiful gentle cleansing balm that melts makeup of your face, smells divine and makes your skin feel squeaky clean, yet completely nourished.  It is packed full of beautiful ingredients such as orange, neroli, jasmine and rose, so for any skincare lover I think this is such a gorgeous gift.  It suits so many skin types, making it a safe bet.  It also comes with a cleansing cloth, which I love to use to cleanse my face with.  This cleanser makes me thoroughly enjoy washing my face, plus it also doubles as a therapeutic mask which can be used before taking a bath.  Just massage it all over your face and the steam of the bath will open up your pores encouraging the gorgeous oils to penetrate your skin and lock in moisture.  It feels like such an indulgent treat. I know I will use this one for many years to come.  Despite trying numerous other cleansers, this is one that I always go back to time after time.  It’s a true favourite and I think anyone would be happy to find this under their tree 🙂

Pixi – Skin Duo (Glow Tonic 250m, & Peel and Polish 80m) – £32 (link)

Pixi is one of those reliable (and affordable) brands, and their Pixi Glow Tonic is a cult product that I have been using and loving for years.  This year Pixi have really upped their game and they have come out with a massive selection of new and exciting products.  One of their Christmas gift sets includes a full size of the Glow Tonic and their Peel and Polish for £32 which is SUCH a good deal.  To buy these separately it would cost £44 pounds so you are saving £12 by buying the set.  These are the perfect combination of products for boosting skin radiance and improving texture.  I don’t think anyone would be disappointed with this gift! It’s a steal!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir (30ml) £12 (link)

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is definitely one of those beauty products that you wouldn’t really buy for yourself (because it is quite expensive, for what is essentially, fancy water in a bottle) so it makes a really lovely gift.  It is basically a facial mist but it feels absolutely AMAZING on your skin.  It has a really addictive minty scent and it is so incredibly refreshing!! I like to use it in 2 ways: after cleansing instead of using a toner, and sometimes as a setting spray after doing my makeup.  The full size is quite expensive but the mini one is pretty good value and is a great way to try it before investing in the full size.  This is honestly such a treat for your skin, and the mini one would also make for the perfect stocking filler :).

Beauty

Holistic Silk Anti Aging Rejuvenating Gift Set – £110 (link)

This is by far the most luxurious (and unnecessary, I know) beauty gift in my guide.  This is a gift for an absolute beauty queen and you will either totally understand this gift or you will think it is ridiculous! I personally love it, but I would never ever buy it for myself because it is so extra and almost shameful.  However, I would be beyond ecstatic to receive this as a gift.  It is a silk pillowcase and silk eye mask.  The eye mask is filled with lavender and the description states it is “to lull you to sleep and help sustain a deep peaceful slumber, while the rejuvenating ‘anti-aging’ silk pillowcases are beautifully smooth and reported to slow down the onset of fine lines and wrinkles.  If that doesn’t scream luxury then I don’t know what does?!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit (Volume 3) – £69 (link)

Hourglass is by far one of my favourite high-end makeup brands.   I have loved everything that I have tried from the brand, but for me, their ambient lighting powders and blushes take the lead.  I use the powders every single day! They are so soft and smooth and make my skin look really healthy and dewy.  It is also the only powder I have ever used that doesn’t cake up under my eye. I LOVE it! Hourglass is quite an expensive brand, so to receive this palette which contains a beautiful selection of their best products is such a lovely Christmas treat for any beauty junkie.

Nuxe My Dream Set (50ml, 30ml, 15g) – £20 (Link)

Nuxe is an amazing French skincare brand, known for very high quality and luxurious products, and they have created this amazing gift set for SUCH a good price.  The set includes their award winning Reve de Miel lip balm, which is one of my absolute favourites (as featured in an earlier blog post – here), and their Reve de Miel hand and nail cream.  The lip balm and hand cream contain anti-bacterial honey and shea butter, which intensely nourishes dry and chapped lips and hands. In the set you also get another cult beauty product; their Huile Prodigieuse which is a luxurious dry oil that can be used to nourish your face, body and hair.  I absolutely love multi-use products and this is one of the best I have tried.  The oil contains a blend of six of the most beautiful skin-restorative plant oils, such as sweet almond, macadamia and camellia.  This oil smells amazing and absorbs so quickly into the skin without leaving a sticky feel.  I cannot say enough good things about these products and I can’t believe that you can get all three for £20!! The oil on its own costs £17 and for just three pound more you are getting the hand cream and a full size of the lip balm which on its own costs £9.50.  This is such a great deal and I think it is a gorgeous Christmas gift.

Body Care

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Body Crème – £52 (link)

You can never go wrong with a Jo Malone product at Christmas Time.  There is nothing quite like opening up a present and seeing that classic cream and black packaging.  I just screams BINGO! Lol.  For winter time, I think a gift of body crème is so luxurious, especially as everyone has drier skin in the winter months.  Pomegranate Noir is one of my favourite winter scents with its spicy and woody undertones.  The body crème contains oils of jojoba seed, cocoa seed and sweet almond which help to hydrate and nourish you skin.  On top of feeling super soft you will also smell amazing!  Who wouldn’t want that?! 🙂

Sanctuary Ultimate Indulgence Set – £25 (link)

Sanctuary is one of my absolute favourite high street body care brands.  Their products are amazing and their signature scent is to die for.  This is a brand that I have been using on and off for as long as I can remember.  Their Christmas gift sets are always such good value and come in gorgeous packaging.  I think they make for a perfect gift and are a very safe choice.  This one contains all full size products including

• Foaming Body Soak (250ml)
• Body Butter (300ml)
• Body Wash (250ml)
• Hand Cream (75ml)

Boots are also doing a 3 for 2 Christmas Mix and Match offer, making these even better value if you need to buy more than one!

Ted Baker Soap Petals – £10 (link)

Am I the only one who has just discovered soap petals? When I came across these I thought they were the cutest thing I’d ever seen. A single petal can be used as hand soap, or you can scatter a handful of petals under warm running water for a bubbly bath.  When applied to wet skin they lather up.  How cool! These blush pink Ted Baker ones contain aromas of jasmine, neroli, patchouli, sandalwood and musk and they come in a really pretty glass jar with a rose gold lid.  I think this is such a gorgeous idea for a gift yet its really affordable.  I’d love to find this in my stocking.

Homeware

Candelabra Home White Marble Cheese Plate with Knife – $95 (link)

I have been looking for something like this marble cheese plate for absolutely ages and I was so excited to finally find the perfect one! I think this is absolutely stunning, and anyone who enjoys hosting in their home would really appreciate this.  This marble board has gold metallic edging which I think is so beautiful.  It also comes with a gold and silver cheese knife and a black suede pouch for storage.  In addition to using this for a cheese board (or any other kind of party food) I think this would look gorgeous as a display plate for perfume or jewellery.  There are so many ways I would want to use this. It would look gorgeous in any home!

Anthropologie Mimira French Press – $58 (link)

For any coffee lover who hasn’t jumped on the Nespresso bandwagon this year, I think this Mimira French press from Anthropologie would make such a beautiful gift.  I absolutely love the colours in this and the gold detail makes it look so chic and elegant.  Anthropologie collaborated with the ceramicists Lindsay Emery to create the watercolour inspired French press, which makes it that bit more special and the perfect Christmas gift.

Anthropologie Gold Monogram Mug – £10 (link)

I absolutely love anything that is monogramed and I also happen to love pretty cups, so I consider this Anthropologie monogram mug to be the perfect present lol.  Anthropologie take these out every year and I always seem to miss the boat on them! 🙁 If you know someone who would like them, grab one quickly before they go!!

Fashion / Accessories

Burberry Classic Check Cashmere Scarf – £350 (link)

So this is by far the most luxurious item in this gift guide, but I really wanted to include the Burberry Classic Check Cashmere Scarf.  These are definitely an investment fashion piece, but one that I honestly believe is worth the money as it is something you will have forever.  If you break it down to cost per wear it really helps to justify the price lol.  Just think how many times you will wear this in a lifetime!  The classic check scarf is of course gorgeous in itself and goes with everything, but they also do it in a range of different colours and patterns which is extra special.  I was lucky enough to receive one as a gift a few years ago and it’s the classic scarf but with large navy polka dots on it and I LOVE it.  Burberry also add your initials to your scarf in your choice of colour for free which I think is such a lovely touch.  Mine has a small CB on it, and given my love for all thinks personalised, this was by far one of the best gifts I have ever received.  It is 100% cashmere and feels so so soft.  I love getting this out every winter to go back to home and I know I will wear this for the rest of my life.

Astrid & Miyu New Tricks Star Stud Earrings – £49 (link)

You can’t go wrong with jewellery as a Christmas gift and I think these little gold stars by Astrid & Miyu are just perfect.  Who doesn’t like a simple god stud earring and there is something very festive about stars.  I think these are gorgeous and there is a matching necklace and bracelet too if you would prefer to mix and match.

Zara Velvet Handbag With Shimmer – £29 (link)

2017 has definitely been the year of velvet and I am hopeful that that will continue into next year too.  I for one am a big fan!  This burgundy velvet handbag from Zara is the PERFECT festive bag and I would be thrilled if I received this as a Christmas gift.  It has everything that is on trend right now; velvet, pompoms, gold hardware and sparkles.  I love everything about this bag and I think it would be perfect for any time of the day and night.  At £29 this is such a bargain!

Techy Bits

HP Sprocket Photo Printer – £119 (link)

Due to advancements in technology, we all have phones that basically have professional cameras built into them, and therefore the days of taking a photo on a camera and getting it developed into a physical photograph that you can pin on the fridge are long gone.  Instead, we have camera rolls on our phones that are full of hundreds of pointless photos like selfies and god knows what other random things, and because our phones go everywhere with us these days we rarely feel the need to make actual prints.  However, occasionally there will be a photo or two that you really love so much that you would like a hard copy of it and for that, the HP Sprocket Photo Printer is the answer.  The Sprocket is basically a compact printer which you can throw in your bag and it creates 2 x 3 inch photos directly from your phone – how very clever! I love the idea of this and it is a quick and easy way of bringing back the old school photo :).

Happy Plugs Ear Piece Wireless Headphones – £79.99 (link)

Continuing on the advancements in technology theme, a lot of new phones no longer have a headphone jack.  Given that Apple have released not one but two new phones this year, it is inevitable that wireless headphones are about to become a lot more popular! It is very difficult to find good wireless headphones (that aren’t super ugly) so I was very happy when I came across these ones by Happy Plugs.  They are wireless, white and rose gold – what more is there to say?!

Anthropologie Chrysalis Portable Power Charger – $30 (link)

Speaking about new phones, because these days we use them for pretty much everything we do, I find that I am constantly running out of battery and it always happens when I am out and about.  I feel as though portable power chargers are more necessary than ever.  I am obsessed with the design of this Chrysalis portable charger form Anthropologie.  It combines functionality and style, and I’m all about that!

Stocking Fillers

Anthropologie Candlefish Ceramic Candle – £24 (link)

I don’t think you can go wrong by gifting a candle at Christmas time.  Who doesn’t love a good candle, and this ceramic one by Anthropologie is so gorgeous.  The packaging is beautiful with the patterned ceramic jar finished off with a gorgeous gold lid.  I really appreciate nice packaging on candles and I think this one would be a beautiful Christmas gift.  It is also made out of soy wax so will bun really well and has a 60 hour burn time.  The perfect stocking filler!

Oliver Bonas Velvet Cosmetic Bags – £15 and £20 (links – pink / navy)

Going back to the velvet theme, how stunning are these navy and pink velvet cosmetic bags from Oliver Bonas!! I personally think you can never have enough cosmetic bags, and these ones are like a work of art.  They are so beautiful.  I think they look so much more expensive than they are and would be the perfect travel cosmetic bag.  They would also look gorgeous sitting on your dressing table, storing your everyday makeup. I LOVE these!

The Little book of Hacks by Yumi Saku – £10 (link)

I don’t think any stocking is complete without a book and this Little Book of Hacks by Yumi Saku is the perfect one.  It contains a range of useful and unexpected tips for looking and feeling better, improving your home life and creating fun DIY projects that can brighten your living space.  This sounds right up my street and I’d love to find it in my stocking this year :).

Anthropologie Budding Monogram Ornament  – £10 (link)

Another monogram item which caught my eye this year is this budding monogram ornament from Anthropologie.  I think this would be a gorgeous stocking filler.  Every year that the person you buy it for, brings it out to hang on their tree, it would remind them of the person who bought it for them.  Stocking fillers that have a little personal touch are so meaningful and I love that 🙂

That’s it for my Christmas gift guide for 2017.  I hope this is useful to anyone who is looking for gift ideas for their mother, daughter, niece, wife, sister, girlfriend, grandmother or aunt lol.

Don’t forget to check next week’s post for ideas for the men 🙂