Currently | April 2018

It's been ages since I last wrote a 'Currently' post (like more than six months ago), so I thought it was about time I put a new one together and updated you on some of the things I've been doing and enjoying lately. Today, I'll fill you in on what I've been reading, watching, buying, making, loving and much more.

Shall we start with the books?

Reading

Since the last time I did one of these 'currently' posts, I've worked my way through the Me Before You series by Jojo Moyes, Me Before You, After You, and Still Me, which I absolutely adored (although, After You wasn't the best). I reread a little of Little Women, A Christmas Carol, and Carrie, and most recently finished How To Stop Time by Matt Haig, and Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon, both of which I really enjoyed. I've now moved on to A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge, the author of The Lie Tree, but I've only read a few chapters so far, so I couldn't tell you much about it yet, except that I'm hooked already. I'm really enjoying reading again at the moment, so if anyone's got any book recommendations, let me know in the comments! I read a bit of everything. 

Watching

I haven't watched many new films or TV shows lately as I just haven't been in the mood to concentrate on anything new- plus I've misplaced my Amazon Fire Stick remote so I haven't been watching Netflix in bed as much. I've mostly been enjoying The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Timeless, and Home and Away, and I've got in to watching The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie in the middle of the night because I haven't been sleeping well. I used to love both shows when I was a kid. (FYI, I watched reruns in the nineties; I wasn't alive when they were first out! I'm not that old!) I've also enjoyed watching Little Women (the BBC series), The Miniaturist, Suffragette, The Cloverfield Paradox, Belle, and re-watching The Theory of Everything and Beauty and the Beast (live action).

Listening
I'm currently obsessed with Fall Out Boy's new album, 'Mania', and have basically been playing it on repeat since it came out a couple of months ago. It's such a catchy album, and it's full of great tunes; I'm hooked on every single one. I particularly love 'Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)', and 'Bishops Knife Trick' and haven't been able to stop playing them this week. I also love Panic! at the Disco's new song 'Say Amen (Saturday Night)', (the music video for it is pretty epic, too) and I can't wait for their new album. It's like 2005 all over again!

Wreath-making

Lately, I've been getting handy with a glue gun, and have made a garden of felt flowers and leaves to add to the Spring wreaths I'm currently making. I've taught myself how to make felt roses, daffodils, tulips, pansies, and their leaves so far, and they've turned out surprisingly well, so I'm pretty darn proud of myself for it. Once I've embroidered faces on to the pansies, I should be ready to start putting the wreaths together... unless I decide I want to make yet another type of flower. in the meantime. I'm finding it really addictive. I've also been breaking out the pom pom makers, and have made a shed load of pastel-coloured pom poms for the Spring wreaths,



Making
In addition to making felt flowers and pom poms, I've also made some polka dot fabric hoop art using the loveliest pastel polka dot fat quarters, and wooden embroidery hoops from Hobbycraft. All I did was frame the fabrics tightly in the hoops, and blanket stitch some felt on to the backs to finish them. They're so quick and easy to make! I then turned the left over fabric in to bandannas for my dog, Rosie, and made her a few others as well. You can see her modelling the mint green one on Instagram here.

Stitching

I'm currently almost half way through a rainbow-coloured spectrum mandala cross stitch from The World In Stitches, and I'm really enjoying stitching with all of those colourful threads. Well, you know me and anything colourful! Moth to a flame. It's the same design as the spectral mandala I made last Summer (which you can see here), except the colours are reversed, with this one edged with red and the rainbow bleeding inwards to purple. The colours are so beautiful and cheerful, and I think it's going to look so pretty when it's finished. If you fancy giving the spectrum mandala cross stitch a go yourself, you can find it on The World in Stitches' Etsy shop here.

Painting

I haven't done a lot of painting lately as I've been too busy crafting, but I have bought a couple more Johanna Basford canvases to paint this Spring. I really need to get back in to it soon because I miss it.

Wanting

To own all the Lindy Bop dresses, Erstwilder brooches, Sophie Conran for Port Meirion Colour Pop crockery, and Too Faced's Life's a Festival make up collection.

Needing

Some new ballet pumps, sandals, ankle boots, clothes I can wear in the heat without melting, and to dye my hair. My roots are getting ridiculous, and the greys coming through are depressing me big time. There's no way I'm getting old already. No way at all. *Cries.*

Wishing

I could have a holiday, and go on some more concert adventures. I also wish my tachycardic heart would go back to normal already and let me sleep, and the back and joint pain would give me a break for a little while, but that's probably too much to ask.

Having
Blood tests, blood tests, blood tests, kidney scans, DEXA scans (bone density scans), yet another new anti-inflammatory drug that weakens the immune system... Don't worry, though, I'm fine! I'll try to do a proper health update to fill you in soon.

Buying

I've treated myself to a few new bits and bobs lately, including some Lindy Bop tea dresses, four Erstwilder Christmas brooches in the sale, some books, craft supplies, the Urban Decay Heavy Metals palette (oh, it's so pretty!), and a Cath Kidston Park Wildlife fox ring dish and fox and rabbit crockery.

Loving

The sunshine that has finally put in an appearance after a long dreary grey winter and given us the hottest April in something like seventy years. I've not been able to go out and enjoy it, sadly, but I'm appreciating the sunshine flooding through the windows, having some decent light for blog photos for a change, and the obligatory ice creams. (By the way, Haagen Daz's Vanilla Caramel Brownie ice cream is amazing)! It's helped to lift my mood, even if I have been melting in the heat. I'm not crazy about the heat, so I'm glad it's cooled down again this week

Missing
Rosie, who is away in the kennels this week while my parents are on holiday, as I haven't got the pain tolerance to look after her single-handedly for so long. I feel so guilty leaving her there when I'm home, but needs must. The house is far too quiet without her, though, and I don't like it. I can't wait to get her back this weekend.

Seeing
Fall Out Boy live at the O2 in London a few weeks ago. It was the third time I've seen them live, and they were phenomenal! I'd go as far as saying it was one of the best gigs I've ever seen! I wish I could go back and experience it all over again; it was over waaay too soon. If you'd like to read about it, I blogged about the experience here.

And that is basically what I've been up to lately in a nut shell.

What about you? What have you been enjoying lately?

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Currently | May 2017

Urban Decay Full Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette Review With Swatches

Colourful eye make up is one of my favourite vices in life, and it has been almost from the moment I began wearing make up aged eleven. While most people favour neutral shades like taupe, tan, and chocolate, I prefer and feel most comfortable wearing colourful make up, and love to wear the whole rainbow. Greens, yellows, purples... the more colourful the better!

So, naturally, when I first saw photos of the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette ahead of its release late last Autumn, my eyes almost popped out of their sockets with excitement. I knew I had to have it, so I stalked the Internet until it became available, and snapped one up the morning it went on sale. There was no way I was risking missing out on it by biding my time, especially as I'd missed out on the Spectrum palette the year before, no siree. I couldn't check out fast enough. I'm glad to say, when it arrived a few days later, the love was instantaneous, and we both lived happily ever after. I've been meaning to blog a review of the palette ever since, but for some reason it's taken until now to put finger to key. Better late than never, though, right?

So, the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette is Urban Decay's biggest, and most colourful eyeshadow palette yet, and it's the palette my rainbow-coloured dreams are made of. It features twenty-one eyeshadow shades covering the whole spectrum of the rainbow, from bold brights to matte white, bringing you all the colour options you could possibly need in one handy monochrome palette. It's quite simply a colour addict's dream.

The palette includes eighteen new shades, and three exclusives that have appeared in previous palettes, Alchemy from Vice 3, and Hatter and Metamorphosis from the Alice Through The Looking Glass palette, giving Urban Decay fans plenty of new shades to play with, and another chance to own some exclusives you may have missed out on first time around. I was so excited to see Hatter was included in Full Spectrum because I never managed to get my hands on the Looking Glass palette, but had been admiring that gorgeous vibrant green shadow from afar for ages; it's so beautiful and definitely one of my favourites of the twenty-one. Alchemy has become another firm favourite, so I'm happy to have a few recycled shades amongst the eighteen brand new colours. The eyeshadows also come in a variety of finishes, including mattes, shimmers, pearls, and metallics, and with so much variety, you're never going to run out of options with Full Spectrum.

The eyeshadows are conveniently arranged in a rainbow of ombré trios which are designed to be worn together for flawless results, so if you usually have difficulty pairing shadows together, you'll find colour-matching shades a breeze with this palette.

Of course, you aren't limited to wearing the same seven trios; you could wear a single shadow for a bold pop of colour, choose colours from one of the three colour groups, or mix and match to your heart's delight. You could even layer the white shadow under the other shades to make the colours even more vibrant! The possibilities are endless. Really, you're only limited by your imagination and willingness to experiment.

The shades included in the set are:

♥ Alchemy- a deep fuchsia satin.

♥ Gossip- a bright metallic pink with subtle floating pearl.

♥ Paranoia- a soft metallic blue-pink.

♥ Warning- a deep metallic copper.

♥ Seize- a bright metallic coral with subtle floating pearl.

♥ Jones- a metallic orange with subtle floating pearl.

♥ Midnight Blaze- a black matte with yellow-gold pearl.

♥ Calavera- a bright yellow matte with subtle floating pearl.

♥ Goldmine- a metallic yellow-gold.

♥ Hundred- a deep metallic forest-green.

♥ Hatter- a vibrant green with tonal micro-sparkle.

♥ Mean- a bright metallic lime green.

♥ Minx- a deep navy matte with floating tonal pearl.

♥ Blindsided- a bright teal blue matte with floating pearl.

♥ Metamorphosis- a vibrant periwinkle blue with micro-sparkle.

♥ Delirious- a deep plum matte with subtle floating pearl.

♥ Sketch- a metallic medium purple.

♥ Faded- a lavender with gold shimmer.

♥ Platonic- a black matte with iridescent glitter.

♥ Iced- an oyster silver with shimmer.

♥ Bump- a white matte.

I've swatched all twenty-one shades on the underside of my arm in palette order to show you how gorgeous, vibrant, and well pigmented they look on the skin.

Top Row

Middle Row

Bottom Row

It's difficult to choose favourites because they're all so beautiful, but right now I think I'm leaning towards Mean, Hatter, Goldmine, Gossip, and Seize. The shades are all to die for! Evidently, I love a good metallic. There isn't a shade I don't love in the palette, although Bump, the matte white, and Iced, the oyster silver, get a little lost on my super pale skin, and are best layered over other colours, or for highlighting the inner sockets.

Now, you may be looking at this palette feeling a little intimidated by all of that colour, but this palette really isn't as loud and as scary as it may look. Yes, it is a very colourful collection of eyeshadows, but only a handful of them are bold brights- the ones in the middle row- and they can be toned down with a blending brush, or used sparingly if you prefer. The shadows along the top are darker, smokey shades that could be a fun alternative to a black or navy smokey eye, and the eyeshadows in the bottom row are a little softer, and a little more subtle than those in the row above. You can create all kinds of look with this palette, and not just 'scary' rainbow bright ones; it's a surprisingly versatile palette. You can always start by experimenting with the softer and darker shades and work up to those striking brights once you're built up your confidence. For those of you who are already confident with colour, just you try to resist those brights! I promise you, it can't be done! This is the make up equivalent of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory!

Each eyeshadow in the palette is infused with Urban Decay's Pigment Infusion System, which is the propriety blend of ingredients which gives each Urban Decay eyeshadow its amazing velvety texture, rich colour, serious staying power, and blendability. It certainly delivers what it promises; the eyeshadows are highly pigmented with fantastic colour pay-off, so you only need to use a little product to get gorgeous, vibrant results that stand out on the skin and make your eyes pop. Most of the shades aren't quite as bold as those in the Electric palette, but they're still more vivid than most. The shadows have a wonderfully thick formula that really do feel like velvet on the skin, and as usual, the quality is amazing. There's none of that chalkiness you often get with colourful eyeshadows, with the exception of the white shadow 'Bump', which I find a little crumblier. 

I have to say, I'm so impressed with the results I get from these eyeshadows. They're vibrant, they blend so beautifully, and they even last a good eight or nine hours on my skin without sliding off and needing retouching- which is pretty darn impressive because I'm constantly overheated thanks to fibromyalgia, and most make up slides off my face when I overheat.

They also come off easily with both cleansing wipes and micellar water, although a couple of the brights, including Blindsided and Sketch, leave some staining on the skin that can take a day or so to fade. I'd advise wearing a good primer underneath, and perhaps avoiding these shades a couple of days before an important event or if you want to brave the world fresh-faced the next day.

Moving on to the packaging, the eyeshadows are packaged in a large, hard black plastic case with tonal spectrum-like lines running from left to right on the top and sides of the palette, with a statement rainbow faceted UD jewel embellishing the top. While the case is heavy and sturdy, I personally think it looks and feels rather cheap, and doesn't follow the same quality and tastefullness as other Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes. I know some beauty bloggers have been raving about how much they love it, but the packaging for Full Spectrum just doesn't wow me. It also scratches really easily, as you can see by all the tiny white dust-like marks around the branding.

Once I open the lid, however, my feelings warm again. The black of the palette really makes the colours of the eyeshadows pop, and being the colour addict that I am, I always get the urge to dive right in and paint my eyelids with all of those beautiful colours.

The palette's huge square mirror makes creating any look super easy and convenient. It's actually large enough to see your whole face in, which is fantastic, and quite unusual for an eyeshadow palette. Other make up brands take note; most of us want to see our whole faces when we're doing our make up! Put big mirrors like this one in your palettes, please!

Full Spectrum also comes with a full-sized, double-ended, crease and eyeshadow brush, which I expected to be a fantastic tool as Urban Decay's make up brushes are usually incredible, but unfortunately, I'm left disappointed. Neither the crease brush or the eyeshadow brush picks up or packs on much product; so it's pretty much useless for everything but blending. I have to use other brushes in my collection to get the results I'm looking for, which is a shame, but not really an issue for me as I own a good collection of good quality make up brushes already. Please don't let the brush put you off this palette, though; it's still worth it's weight in gold! The brush is the only thing I can really fault with this amazing palette!

All in all, I'm well and truly impressed with the Full Spectrum eyeshadow palette. The shades are all gorgeous and highly pigmented, the formula is wonderful, they've got serious staying power, and they look amazing on my eyelids. What more could a girl ask for? The eyeshadows are honestly some of the best, and most beautiful colourful eyeshadows I've ever used.

It's the ultimate colourful eyeshadow palette for anybody who loves colourful eye make up and for anybody who wants to start experimenting with it. There is so much you can get out of this palette, and those of you with amazing make up skills will be able to create the most wonderful, elaborate, vibrant looks with it. It's a colour junkie's dream! Sure, it's not for everybody, but if you love colourful make up, trust me; you need this palette in your life! Step aside from the Naked palettes and give Full Spectrum a try; I promise you won't regret it- I sure haven't!

Full Spectrum is available now from Urban Decay and all good department stores, priced at £43. Snap one up before it goes!

Are you a fan of colourful make up, or do you prefer to play it safe with neutrals?

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What's In My Holiday Make Up Bag?

A couple of weeks ago I shared a peek at the contents of my wash bag from my recent holiday to Cornwall, and it turned out to be one of the most popular posts I've blogged in a while, so I thought you might also like to see what I packed in my holiday make up bag. 

I love reading posts like this myself- probably because I'm just plain nosey- and I know a lot of people do, too, so I hope you enjoy rummaging through my make up bag with me.

I have a very large make up collection that fills two whole drawers (three if you count my nail polish drawer) so it was difficult choosing which products to pack for a week away, but in the end I packed light, and apart from a couple of eyeshadow palettes, I kept to the bare minimum. I filled my trusty Cath Kidston heart print make up case with the essentials, crammed in a few essential tools, and grabbed a couple of my favourite eyeshadow palettes to pack separately, and in to the suitcase they went. Simple as that.

Make up was probably the only thing I didn't over pack for my trip. I could've gone over board, but I was only going for a week, and I don't like to cake on the make up during the Summer because it just melts off my face in the heat. It's not a pretty sight. I prefer to skip the foundation or BB cream when it's hot, do my eyes, and just stick to a little concealer, blusher, and powder, and I'm good to go. If I want to push the boat out, I'll add in some primer and highlighter, but I try to let my skin breathe as much as possible, and let my freckles do the talking- especially in Cornwall where the lifestyle is so laid-back.

So, what did I pack in my holiday make up bag? 

Here's a list of the products I took:

1. B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful powder brush.

2. B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful blusher brush.

3. B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful eyeshadow brush.

4. Cath Kidston heart print make up case.

5. Urban Decay Vice 4 eyeshadow palette.

6. Tarte Opening Act Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara.

7. Maybelline The Colossal Go Extreme! Volum' waterproof mascara.

8. Rimmel BB Cream Matte 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting Super Make Up in Very Light.

9. Benefit Sun Beam golden bronze highlighter.

10. Urban Decay green eyeshadow in Kush.

11. Urban Decay Full Spectrum eyeshadow palette.

12. Models Own eyelash curlers.

13. The Body Shop Shimmer Waves blusher in Blush.

14. Stila All You Need Is Love cheek palette.

15. Rimmel Hide The Blemish Concealer in Ivory.

16. Lehcaresor Powdered Papers

17. Benefit The Porefessional PRO Balm.

18. Lush bronze liquid eyeliner in Happiness.

19. Bourjois Paris Healthy Balance Unifying Powder in Vanilla.

20. Paul & Joe blotting papers.

21. Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl waterproof eyeliners in Blue My Mind, Aquabat, Superblack, and a purple that I'm not sure of the name of because I've used that section of the pencil up.

22. Bourjois Paris Contour Clubbing Waterproof eyeliner in Blue Remix.

23. Rimmel London Soft Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Pure White.

24. Mont Bleu Slant Tip Tweezers with Swarovski Crystals.

25. B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful eyelash and brow comb,

As I'd predicted, I didn't end up using everything I'd brought with me, and I didn't wear a full face of make up every day. It never felt necessary, and I didn't always have the time or energy to put on my face, either. I played around with some colourful eye make up looks using my amazing Urban Decay Vice 4 and Full Spectrum palettes a couple of times (a review of the latter will be coming soon!), but for the majority of the week, I kept things simple and minimal. 

I even got by without a full set of make up brushes! I used some of my old faithful glittery sequined brushes from B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful; Lush's old sister make up company that unfortunately folded about seven or eight years ago- something I'm still so gutted about because they were amazing! I had to let go of the last of their make up years ago after it all expired, but I still can't give up these make up brushes, even though I have others in my collection now, and many of the sequins have fallen off. I love them! They still work like a dream, though, and helped me to create the perfect make up looks for my holiday.

It may not look like I packed a lot of make up for a week's holiday, but I had everything I needed for a week on the Cornish coast, and it all helped to give me that little extra confidence while I was out and about grabbing life with both hands.

So, that is what I packed in my holiday make up bag. What would you pack in yours?

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Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint Ultimate Shine Collection Review

It's been so long since I last wrote a proper beauty review, so I think it's about time I started bringing regular beauty posts back to the blog! I'm here to get the ball rolling again with a review of the Barry M Gelly Ultimate Shine Collection.

Barry M was one of the first nail polish brands I discovered when I first started getting in to make up at the age of eleven, and I often came home from shopping trips in to town with my mates with a new bottle or two to try out, usually along with some tape or CD singles (depending on the year), Impulse body sprays, and a bag of Pick 'n' Mix from Woolworths. Happy days!

A couple of decades have passed since then (man, I'm getting old!), but my love for Barry M nail paints sure hasn't. They've been one of my go-to drugstore nail polish brands for about twenty years, and have always been one of my all time favourite nail polish brands. I've almost always had at least a few Barry M nail paints in my nail polish collection at any given time. I've tried so many of the different varieties they've brought out over the years- classic nail paints, croc effect, sun-cured, crackle-effect, glitter, quick-dry, you name it. I always loved their classic range, but in recent years, I've developed a soft spot for their Gelly Hi-Shine nail paints, so naturally, I'd been coveting the Ultimate Shine Collection since I found out about it last year.

I finally treated myself to the set with some Argos vouchers a few weeks ago, when it was on promotion for just £14.99- an absolute steal!- and I've been loving the polishes so much, I've barely stopped wearing them since.

The Ultimate Shine Collection features eight of Barry M's full-sized 10ml Gelly Hi-Shine nail paints in a gorgeous selection of shades from classic red to smokey grey, and everything in between. It has enough choice to satisfy most people's nail polish needs, moods, and colour cravings, with bright colours for those who want to show some personality, and some softer, pastel and neutral shades that are likely to be work friendly as well as suitable for every day wear.

The eight shades included in the set are:

Dragonfruit- a pretty pastel pink with hidden shimmer.

Pink Punch- a vibrant fuchsia pink.

Pomegranate- a beautiful deep raspberry red.

Papaya- a soft orange-coral.

Greenberry- a bright, bold aqua green.

Blueberry- a soft pastel cornflower or forget-me-not blue.

Chai- a smokey medium-dark grey.

Almond- a dreamy pale, latte / taupe brown.

All eight colours are gorgeous and I personally think they're all really wearable, but I'm sure some colour-phobes will disagree with me on that one! I just naturally find most colours wearable. My favourites are probably Pomegranate and Greenberry, although Papaya and Pink Punch are rather beautiful, too.

The Gelly nail paints have been formulated to deliver a high shine, extra glossy finish in as little as one coat to give the look of a salon-quality gel manicure but without the price tag, commitment, or up keep they usually require. The name is a little misleading because they aren't actually gel nail polishes, but they do have a wonderfully thick, highly glossy finish that I suppose resembles a real gel manicure when painted neatly.

I find that the formula is thick and highly-pigmented, so a little goes a long way and you only need a little on the brush to coat each nail adequately. With long, wide brushes in each bottle, the polish generally glides on like a dream in one stroke, although one or two of them in this set are less than perfect and can give a textured, uneven finish instead of the smooth, glossy results I get from the rest of the set, so the quality of the brushes can be a bit hit or miss- but the majority of them are fine.

I personally recommend at least two coats for best results, particularly with the paler colours like Dragonfruit and Blueberry, which can come out a little streaky on the first coat, as pastel polishes often do, but for most of the shades, two coats is the most you'll need. 

As the formula is so thick, it can take a little longer than average for the nails to dry, and you need to wait until it's completely set before you apply another coat, or all you're going to get is a tacky mess when you draw the brush over the nail. Basically, if you think the nail feels dry and set, wait another five minutes before applying the next coat because it's probably not quite ready yet.

They aren't the best nail polishes to use if you're in a hurry, but I personally think the thick, glossy finish and vibrant nail colours are well worth waiting for when you have some time to spare.

As for durability, these polishes have a chip-resistant formula, and on average I get two to three days of wear from the Gelly paints before they begin to chip- which is pretty good for me, as most polishes I put on my fingernails tend to chip within a few hours. I haven't tried them with a top coat yet, though, so they could in theory last even longer with one. 

Separately, each Gelly nail paint retails for around £3.99, so the Ultimate Shine Collection is great value at £23.99- you basically get two of the eight polishes for free. The set has been on sale through Argos a few times lately, and I snagged mine for £14.99, so it could be worth keeping an eye on it to see if it goes on promo again soon before purchasing one full price. You can find it at Argos here.

I'm really pleased with the Ultimate Shine Collection. I love the hi-shine formula, the finish, the vibrant variety of colours, the length of time they remain chip-free, and the purse-friendly pricing. They're fantastic budget nail polishes that offer great quality results without breaking the bank, and who could ask for more than that?

Are you a fan of Barry M Nail Paints? What's your favourite shade or polish?

You might also like these reviews of Barry M Gelly Nail Paints

Barry M Gelly Blueberry and Blue Grape Nail Paint Reviews

Barry M Prickly Pear Nail Paint Review

Stila Clearance Make Up Haul

Stila, one of my favourite high-end beauty brands, has some fantastic make up products on sale on their UK website at the moment. 

With most sale items reduced to half price, I've been unable to resist temptation, and have snapped up quite a few bargains to put away for birthday and Christmas presents for my sisters and best friend. (By the way, if any of you three are reading this post, bugger off now or you'll spoil the surprise!) I've not bought anything for myself, but I thought I'd give you a quick peek at the different sets I picked up so you can see how beautiful the make up is and how great the bargains are.

I've squirrelled away eight sets over the last couple of months, and over the weekend I ordered a couple more lip gloss sets in different shades.

I bought two of the Sweet Kisses lip glaze trios, which include three very feminine, pink lip glazes in shades Glitter, Pink Sugar, and Ballet Kisses. They look perfect for summer time, and for anybody who isn't afraid of rocking a bit of colour. They're a bargain at just £6.50, reduced from £13.

Over the weekend I also purchased two different lip glaze sets- Kiss & Pout, and Read My Lips, which are a little cheaper at £6 each, but look equally lovely. 

Earlier in the year, I bought two convertible colour trio sets in Beauty In Bloom (top), and Blooming Bright (bottom). These are dual lip and cheek creams, and the packaging reminds me of Polly Pockets. They're currently out of stock, but they do keep reappearing, so it's worth checking back just in case. They were originally £13 (with a value of £22), and were on sale for £6.50.

Last week I picked up the In The Garden eyeshadow palette, with one of my sister's in mind. It features ten garden-inspired eyeshadows, and an exclusive black smudge stick with gold and green pearl. The shades look absolutely gorgeous, and I love that there's a mixture of natural earthy shadows, and a little bit of colour. The mirror looks quite handy, too. It was originally £25, but reduced to just £12.50.

I bought a couple of the In The Light eyeshadow palettes, which I think will go down really well with my best friend and my older sister whose birthdays are coming up in June. Like the In The Garden palette, it includes a full sized smudge stick and ten eyeshadows, which are ten of the prettiest neutral shades I've ever seen. It's the perfect every-day palette that could take you from day to night, and it looks like a good alternative to Urban Decay's Naked palette or Naked Basics. At just £12.50, down from £25, this one is definitely a bargain worth getting! I might need one for myself.

And last but not least, I snapped up the In The Love gift set which I will be giving to my bestie this Christmas. This stunning little set features twelve colour-rich matte, pearl and shimmer eyeshadows, a deluxe lip glaze in 'Apricot', and a deluxe-size Huge Extreme-Lash Mascara. The make up shades all look so gorgeous. The best part is, the palette has been designed to look like a love letter! When closed, the palette takes on the form of an envelope 'sealed' with gold-coloured sealing wax with a key design embossed in the centre, and it's easily one of the prettiest make up palettes I've ever seen. This little beauty will only set you back £15, which is a total steal since it retailed at £30 full price!

If you're thinking of ordering anything, you might be pleased to hear that Stila offer free standard delivery in the UK on their UK website, and orders usually make it through the letterbox in just 2-3 working days!

Will you be picking up anything from Stila's clearance sale?

Beauty Advent Calendar Round Up Christmas 2015

Over the last few years, beauty advent calendars have been taking the beauty world by storm, and this year there are more to choose from than ever before. So far I've seen 35, which is twice as many as I found last Christmas!

We can now count down the days 'til Christmas with make up, fragrances, and all manner of beauty products, instead of being limited to novelty chocolates, simple illustrations, and homemade calendars. I don't know about you, but I find the idea of pampering my way through 'til Christmas far more appealing!

In fact, I've already treated myself to a beauty calendar to enjoy this year, but not before I did a lot of window shopping online to see what my options were. After hours of browsing, I discovered 35 of them, and since finding them took a lot of effort, I've decided to share them all with you to make your life that little bit easier. Here you'll find all kinds of beauty calendars, ranging in price from a purse-friendly £5 to an indulgent £260, with links to as many as possible.

Jo Malone £260

Let's start with Jo Malone's fragrance advent calendar, which is one of the most expensive on the market. Inside are a variety of Jo Malone colognes and body cremes, which can all be worn alone, or layered up to create your own seasonal scents. At £260, it's not cheap, but counting down to Christmas will never be more indulgent!

Charlotte Tilbury The Book of Make Up Magic £150

One of this year's most luxurious calendars is Charlotte Tilbury's The Book of Make Up Magic. The 12 day calendar features 12 of her most popular make up and skin care products, including her magic night cream which hasn't even been released yet. At £150 it's a wonderfully indulgent gift for any beauty fan, and it's sure to make December feel extra special.

Liberty £149

If you really want to spoil yourself or a loved one this Christmas, then Liberty's advent calendar is worth checking out. It has a beautiful illustration of the Liberty building on the front, and opens up to reveal twenty-four drawers in a classic Liberty paisley print. Inside are deluxe samples and 11 full sized beauty products and candles from luxury brands like Eve Lom, Dr Sebagh, Diptyque, Surratt, and Davines. The contents are worth a staggering £400, making it the ultimate treat for the beauty obsessed.

Selfridges Cosmic Beauty Advent Calendar £95

Selfridges are back with another advent calendar this year, and if last year is anything to go by, it will be another best seller. It features 24 luxurious miniature treats from big name brands like Kiehls, Lancome, YSL, and Victor & Rolf, and is priced at £95.

Lancome £85

Luxury brand Lancome have joined the festivities this year, bringing out an advent calendar filled with 24 of their popular skin care, bath and body, and make up products. It retails for £85, and would be a wonderful treat for anybody with a love for luxury beauty products.

Kérastase £79.99

If you want to give your hair a treat this advent, Kérastase is the advent calendar for you! With 23 luxurious hair care travel sized treats, and 1 full sized iconic Elixir gift, your hair will look gorgeous as you count down the days to Christmas. Available now for £79.99.

Look Fantastic The Beauty Secret Advent Calendar £70

Look Fantastic is filled with luxury beauty products from a variety of brands to help you pamper your way through 'til Christmas. With a product value of £250, it's a steal at just £70!

The Body Shop '24 Happy Days': Green: £60 // Red £80

This year, The Body Shop have released two advent calendars to cater to two budgets (£60 and £80), which is something I haven't seen done before, but a concept I love. Both calendars are filled with a great variety of The Body Shop's bath and body, skin care, fragrance, and make up items, in a selection of their classic, new, and seasonal scents. They're sure to be a hit with any Body Shop fan. The red calendar is no longer available online, but you might still be able to find it in store.

I had a Body Shop advent calendar last year, which was almost identical to the green one, and I loved it! You can read my review of last year's calendar here, if you want to get a feel for it, I was planning on getting one again this year, but most of the products are the same, and it's £10 more expensive, so I went with a different one instead.

Clarins £60

Clarins have released their first advent calendar this year, filled with 24 of their best selling skin care and make up products to help you count down to Christmas in style. Available now for £60.

You Beauty £59.95

You Beauty's advent calendar was a best seller last Christmas, and this year's is set to be just as popular. It features 24 luxury beauty treats from brands like Ren, Burt's Bees, Cowshed, and Benefit, together worth a staggering £330!

Make Up Revolution Advent Calendar £50 (Currently £45)

Superdrug make up brand 'Make Up Revolution' have released their first beauty advent calendar this year, containing 25 full-sized cosmetics from nail polishes to lipsticks. It's priced at £50, although it's currently on offer at £45.

Lush 12 Days of Christmas £49.95

Technically, it isn't an advent calendar, but Lush have produced a gorgeous Christmas gift set called 12 Days of Christmas, which would be perfect to enjoy in the run up to Christmas. There are some great goodies from both the Christmas collection and their general selection, included in the set of 12, and it's so beautifully packaged, too.

Ciaté Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Advent Calendar £49

Ciaté have returned with another new Mini Mani Month nail polish advent calendars this year, which contains 17 mini paint pots, 3 mini nail treatments, 2 decorative nail toppers, 1 mini nail file, and 1 full sized paint pot in an exclusive shade. I had one of their calendars last year, and loved having a new Ciaté nail polish to try every day. They're fantastic quality, fast-drying, and so worth the price tag.

Cheeky Nail Polish Advent Calendar £49

Developed by the people behind Cowshed, the Cheeky advent calendar is made up of 24 long lasting, hi-shine nail polishes in a variety of beautiful shades. You can find it via John Lewis for £49.

L'Occitane £39

L'Occitane is one of my favourite beauty brands, so I was extremely excited when I found out they were bringing out a 24 day advent calendar this year, which I believe is their first 24 day-er. It includes 17 of their best selling beauty products, and 7 further Provencal gifts, including a cookie cutter and Christmas place cards. At £39 it's so well priced and I couldn't resist snapping one up for myself! I'll be giving you a little peek and my first impressions of it tomorrow, so check back tomorrow morning if you want to know more!

No7 25 Days of Beauty Wonders £38

As the name suggests, No7's 25 Days of Beauty Wonders calendar boasts 25 beauty treats instead of the usual 24, so you get to enjoy it right through 'til Christmas Day. Inside are 25 make up and skin care products, including 6 full sized items. It has a product value of £148, which is a brilliant bargain because it retails for just £38!

Salon Services £35

Online beauty retailer Salon Services have launched their own calendar this year, and inside are 24 mini hair and beauty treats from brands like OPI, TIGI, Lord and Berry, and Bed Head. Available now for £35.

Benefit Party Poppers 12 Day Calendar £34.50

Benefit have brought out a colourful 12 day advent calendar called 'Party Poppers', featuring 12 of their best-selling make up and skin care products in mini sizes. It has a value of £76.17, but retails for a very reasonable £34.50! It's currently sold out online, but you might still be able to find it in store.

Marks and Spencer £25

Marks and Spencer's advent calendar features 24 top-to-toe beauty products from many fantastic brands, including Stila, L'Occitane, Ren, and Burt's Bees. The contents are worth a staggering £200, but I hear it will be available for the bargain price of £25 if you spend over £25 on M&S beauty!

House of Fraser £20

House of Fraser's advent calendar includes 24 make up products from their own Colour Couture range, retailing at an affordable £20.

Less Popular Brands and Advent Calendars For Teens

Arran Aromatics Cherish £40

For fans of fragrances, Arran Aromatics' 'Cherish' advent calendar is sure to be a winner. Inside are 24 luxurious treats from candles to shower gels to pamper your way through 'til Christmas. It retails for £40, with a value of £60.

Essence Advent Calendar £25

Essence will be bringing out a beauty advent calendar containing 24 make up products, said to be available from Wilko stores this November. 

Tanya Burr Deck The Hauls £25

The Tanya Burr 'Deck the Hauls' is a 12 day advent calendar, featuring make up products and beauty tools. It's currently available from Superdrug for £25.

W7 Advent Calendar £22

W7's advent calendar contains 24 of their best selling cosmetic treats from nail polishes to lip glosses, and retails for a reasonable £22.

Mad Beauty Advent Calendar £20

The Mad Beauty calendar includes 24 make up products and tools, and is available from ASOS for £20.

The Bomb Cosmetics Advent Calendar £19.99

The Bomb Cosmetics has brought out its first advent calendar filled with a selection of its lovely soaps and bath bombs for just £19.99. If you love Lush, you might enjoy their products, too. 

Flutter Make Up Advent Calendar £12

Perfect for teens and tweens, the Flutter calendar includes 24 pieces of make up, and costs just £12-currently on promo for only £8 through Superdrug!

Sugar and Spice Nail Art Calendar £9.99

The Sugar and Spice nail art calendar is sure to be a hit with teens and tweens. Behind its 24 doors is everything needed to create fun, festive manicures, including nail polishes, glitter pots, and sequins.

Technics Cosmetic Advent Calendar £8.99

The Technics beauty advent calendar includes 24 cosmetics, for the bargain price of just £8.99.

Kiss Make Up Advent Calendar £5

If you really want to grab a bargain, the Wilko's Kiss make up advent calendar is the best bargain on the market at just £5. Inside are 24 nail art treats, from nail polishes and caviers, to stencils and nail art brushes.

American and German Beauty Advent Calendars

ULTA 12 Days of Beauty $16.00

ULTA's 12 Days of Beauty is a make up advent calendar, with a different make up item behind each window. It has a product value of $52 (about £33.76), but retails for a tiny $12 (about £7.79)!

QVC $79.96

While I haven't seen a British advent calendar from QVC this year, there is one available in America. Inside you'll find 24 mini beauty products from brands like Philosophy, Bare Minerals, Josie Maran, and IT Cosmetics, and it comes in at $79.96 (about £52.00).

Kiehl's €49.99

Kiehl's beauty advent calendar is filled with some of their best selling skin care, hair care, and bath and body products. I don't know if will be available in other countries, but it's currently available to buy from the German website 'Douglas' for €49.99.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Feline Advent Calendar

I've yet to find a link for this calendar, but I hear L'Oréal Paris's advent calendar will contain a collection of 23 Colour Riche nail polishes, and a Volume Million Lashes Feline Mascara. If you know where you can buy it, let me know!

And those are all of the beauty calendars I'm aware of! I hope you've found this list helpful.

Check back later in the week when I'll be blogging a round up of all the jewellery and candle advent candles I can find!

Have you bought a beauty advent calendar this year? Do you know of any other beauty advent calendars I've not included? Let me know in the comments below.