Gucci Guilty Stud Limited Edition Fragrance

Hi Lovelies,

I fell in love with Gucci perfumes when I purchased a miniature gift pack of 4 Gucci fragrances from Dubai Duty Free. These fragrances were so beautiful! The original Gucci Guilty has been a favorite of mine. It is a warm yet striking oriental floral with hedonism at it's heart.

This time I was lucky enough to come across Gucci Guilty Stud Limited Edition eau de toilette 50 ml which has an amazingly sexy bottle. With its intertwined Gucci logo and covered with more than 400 metal studs (in Gold for Her and Gunmetal for) this velvety, feminine scent just became more sophisticated and irresistible. The bottle combines metal and glass to give it a modern, chic look. This limited edition packaging was created to celebrate Gucci's signature mix of rock and glamour and is no doubt a collectible item. It can just lay there on your vanity table and shine like a big chuck of pure gold.

The aura..

The fragrance is powerful - as I would like to describe it. It is sexy, daring and made for a woman who shatters expectations. I love the warmth of this fragrance which makes it so seductive. This rich, floral-oriental fragrance opens with a burst of citrus with the first spray. Alluring notes of lilac and patchouli mingle with voluptuous hints of amber for a velvety scent that is unmistakably feminine. Overall I see this fragrance as young, stylish and eminently wearable - a daring sense of sexiness and sensuality that captures the essence of Gucci.

Initially, I thought I would keep my Gucci Guilty Stud Limited Edition for formal occasions only, keeping in mind its bold characteristics. But then the day I officially took it out of its packaging (Christmas, just the right occasion) and sprayed the first spray it never went back in the hiding. Instead, it is now my companion and travels with me everywhere in my handbag. I wear it to work, to shopping, to movies, to gym! It gives me that feminine confidence and surely makes me stand out of the crowd along with loads of compliments.

Have you given Gucci fragrances a try? 

Which one is your favorite?

Available ONLINE

Selfridges | £ 53.00 £ 47.70 (on sale!)

Boots | Gucci Miniature Gift Set Exclusive to Boots £ 23.33 or 2333 points

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"Joy To The World" | Merry Christmas!

Dear Everyone,

Two thousand years ago the world was touched by a miracle..

Praying the same gentle miracle of faith,

blesses you and your loved ones.

Wishing you the magic of dreaming & believing..

at Christmas & always!

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Tree 2014!

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My #Christmas Nails | Maybelline's Crushed Candy & Gold's Night Out

Hi lovelies,

My Christmas look is absolutely incomplete without pretty nails. I am so bored of pale, frosty shades of white, silver, blues etc. I need the brightest, the most glitter-bomb kind of shades that lift my spirit in this extremely frosty weather! But then I want it to be economical as well. I don't want it to be heavy on my wallet. My search ended at the Maybelline's counter where I found exactly the kind of shades I was looking for. Instead of one, I picked two very pretty shades.

Crushed Candy 180

Gold's Night Out 815

Crushed Candy is a beautiful pink from Maybelline's Color Show range that will remind you of Barbie and everything girly. It's a delicious, hot pink with a good amount of fuchsia and violet shimmer. It requires at least 3 coats to make itself stand out. It is one of my favorites pink nail polishes ever. The second nail polish Gold's Night Out is from Maybelline's Color Show Sequins range. It's a mixture of regular gold glitter, holographic gold glitter and very tiny specs of gritty gold glitter. The combination is beautiful and comparatively really easy to apply. This polish is a sparkle-bomb! This is one of the best party nail polishes ever! 

I created a cuter version by gliter-fying only one finger to create a balance. 

What do you think? 

Available ONLINE

Boots | £ 2.99 or 299 points

Superdrug | £ 2.99

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My Favorite Beauty Gift Sets of the Season!

With the Season's festivities at it's peak, I could not resist creating a list of my 7 favorite beauty gift sets of the season. Let me know which one is your favorite beauty fragrance set this season.

1. Absolutely essential and utterly irresistible is the GUERLAIN La Petite Robe Noire Original Gift Set eau de toilette 50ml £ 66. Guerlain invites you to it's fairytale universe to discover an enchanted Christmas tree whose every decoration is a wink to the Maison's symbol. 

2. Sensuous, intense & addictive ELIE SAABS Le Perfum Intense Gift Set £ 60 opens with a burst of Orange Blossoms. The heart gives way to Ylang Ylang, enhanced by the nearly narcotic sensuality of Rose Amber.  In the base notes, Patchouli & Amber Accord are full of bewitching, sensuous accents. 

3. Free spirited & irreverent  BURBERRY Brit Rhythm for Women eau de toilette 90ml Set £ 69 is a blend of contradictions. British Lavender, Pink Peppercorn & Neroli combine with an intoxicating Orange Blossom heart. The smoked pink juice is feminine & effortlessly sensuous.   

4. BVLGARI Mon Jasmin xmas set £ 51 is a precious & exquisite eau de toilette revelaing note of fresh & delicate Jesmine. Sparkling top notes blend with addictive green almonds. The heart of the fragrance is an infusion of tender jasmine flower with precious wood & sensuous white musk in the dry down.

5. Inspired by the trench coat & its heritage of British design & craftsmanship, My Burberry eau de parfum £ 95 by Burberry captures the fragrance of a London garden after rain. The scent is a contemporary British grand floral & features a delicate heart of rose, woven with an unexpected touch of geranium leaf.

6. Enchant her with a duo of sheer pleasures with this Pleasures Captivating Duet £ 36 eau de parfum spray & body lotion gift set by Estee Lauder. The limited-time collection includes these favorites in an exclusive gift box providing a surrounding scent of fresh flowers after the rain, tingling with the rare essence of exotic Baie Rose.

7. Last but not the least, my favorite Estee Lauder Modern Muse eau de parfum 50ml £ 62 captures your style, your confidence, your creative spirit. An alluring contrast of sparkling florals & sleek sensual woods. The luminous texture of two contrasting of two extractions of Jasmine Sambic with dewy Citrus fruits combine to achieve a multi-faceted unforgettable sensation. Two patchouli essence are wrapped in the creamiest of Madagascan Vanilla, rich Amber Wood & soft Musk.

Which one would you purchase?

Available ONLINE

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'Winterize' Your Nails with Julep

Hi Lovelies,

Nails are a MUST if you want to look your best this holiday season. With so much hustle and bustle going on and so many options to look into when it comes to nails, you might need a bit of an advice on what to do and which options to explore. Want to make your hands look super gorgeous? First, start your nail care regime right away with these Julep* easy-to-do DIY steps.

 Crystal Nail File // Vanish Cuticle Softener & Remover // Cuticle Pusher 

Oxygen Nail Treatment // Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum 

Done with that? Let's move on to the second step, the more exciting one. If I have to choose from the range of beautiful nail polishes I would definitely pick Julep Birthstone Collection 2014 from the Holiday 2014 Collection. Are you looking for more reasons to love the gorgeous glitter of birthstones? Great news is that these 12-pieces per box nail polishes double the charms just like the stones that inspired them. Not just that, all of these beautiful shades are powered by breathable Oxygen Technology to keep your nails healthy. 

 Julep Birthstone Collection 2014

Julep Birthstone Collection 2014

From Betty (Garnet for January) to Savannah (Blue Topaz for December) these gorgeous shade will leave you mesmerized for the entire holiday season this year. And then there is MY birthstone too Julie (Pink Tourmaline for October). To be honest, it is so hard to just pick and choose one from the  Julep Birthstone Collection 2014 range and call it my favorite. I also appreciate how vast the color palette is from blue to red to green. The best part is - this collection makes a perfect holiday present as well which does not need any wrapping paper. It comes in a ready-to-gift box with a paper vellum insert that introduces the entire collection. So go ahead! Shop this perfect gift this season for your friends, your girl, wifey or mom!

Julie from Julep Birthstone Collection 2014 

How have you winterized your nails this festive season?

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My #NextmasWishlist!

My absolute favorite season of the year is here!

Christmas season is on full bloom. A wonderful time for families and friends to get together and take some time off from the routine. My blogger friends are going crazy with their wishlists which inspired, rather forced me to create my own. This season I wanted to kick-start my Christmas wishlist with NEXT hence the #NextmasWishlist! I was actually invited by Next to create a wishlist and I just couldn't wait to get started. The official website of NEXT is loaded with Christmas sparkle and everything festive. It is so hard to choose just a few things. The decorations and gift ideas are adorable! My #NextmasWishlist this year seems more inclined towards Christmas decor this year. So here are my top 10 picks from NEXT.

1. The Sequin Gingerbread Christmas Sweater Top £ 26 is as cute as a button. To be honest I do not own a Christmas jumper but this one is beautiful. I love the blue color and the sequin gingerbread in the middle for that Christmas-y feel. 2. Lit Mink Crystal Effect Star £ 16 is a super cute crystal star wreath which I think is another great idea if you are looking for a different wreath than a traditional one. 3. Another decoration item that caught my attention is the Lit Hanging Basket £ 45. It is faux floral with led lights both great for indoor or outdoor decoration. 4. I can definitely make good use of this bumper Set of 50 Tree Decorations £ 15 which includes a selection of baubles, pine cone and felt decorations along with a beautiful tree topper. 5. I'm in desperate need of ankle boots at the moment and  these Block Heel Platform Ankle Boots £ 65 with 9.5 cm heel look super cool! 

 6. The Gold Sequin Wrap Skirt £ 42 looks perfect for the season when wore with a white shirt. 7. This Lit Gold Ivy Garland £ 25 with warm LEDs is your perfect fireplace decoration. 8. None of my wishlists are complete without a fragrance. Instead of going for other brands I usually go for my pick this time is the Just Pink Bumper Gift £ 20 set. It's a fresh, green floral fragrance with soft fruits and pink blossoms. The gift set includes an EDP, body wash, body lotion, bath essence and a body spirtz. 9. There is nothing that makes you feel warmer in the festive winter season than a lantern. This beautiful Bark Lantern £ 14 is my favorite Christmas decoration. 10. Last but not the least, getting in bed with this Brushed Cotton Woven Check Bed Set £ 35 - £ 65 will surely make me dream of Santa! I love the reindeer motifs on the bed sheet and pillows along with check pattern duvet in a lightly brushed fabric which gives it a soft, warm and cosy feel. 

So what do you think of my #NextmasWishlist?

Have you created your Christmas wishlist yet?

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Bourjois Paris | Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara

Hello lovelies!

It was time for me to replace my old mascara which was apparently drying out. I think I have tried almost all of the drugstore brands when it comes to mascaras. Some I would say did not work out so well, others were amazing to my eyelashes. Since I am always the curious one, this time again I looked for a mascara and a brand I had not tried before. Bourjois is one brand my friend kept suggesting me to go for hence when I reached the counter I took my time to explore the range of mascaras (which is apparently a huge range) to shortlist one that fulfilled my needs - black, loads of volume, non-smudging and easy to take off. My pick - Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara. 

The Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara comes in a black packaging with 'Volume Clubbing' written in club-style gold shade giving it that glamorous nighttime makeup feel. Twist the top and you have a wand which is straight with a good workable length, at least for me. Too long and too short are hard to handle and you might need to be extra careful throughout the application so that you don't end up smudging your eyelashes or have the product on your skin. Though I have been a big fan of the curved mascara brushes (maybeline Colossal eyes) this one is a normal straight brush with an average thickness. But hey the brush gets more technical. It looks like a regular brush with bristles all over but when you look closely it is double sided. This means that the bristles are only on either sides of the brush keeping the center as it is which turns out to be the product reservoir. Hence once you apply the mascara you get a lot of (controlled) product on your eyelashes which gives you that extreme volume, perfect for nights out. The formula is also enriched with Vinyl which ensures a look that wont budge at night.

My experience with the Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara is going great. It the kind of mascara which caters my needs. I'm always on the go and cannot spend too much time on makeup due to my busy routine. I need something which is hassle-free and makes my work easier. Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara is so easy to use. I curl my eyelashes and apply a single coat which is good to make my eyelashes stand out, second coat makes my eyelashes look thick with great volume and I'm done. No smudging whatsoever provided you know how to apply a mascara properly. If you do not you will smudge even if you try an expensive high end mascara.

I actually purchased this mascara as a pack which came with a complimentary Bourjois Kohl and Contour Ultra Black Eye Pencil. I think I made a wise decision since I cannot live without a kohl pencil and would need it anyways once I run out of my current kohl pencil. If I have to choose one makeup product I could keep on a deserted island, it would definitely be a kohl pencil - period. This eye pencil is enriched with pure pigments and allows for an intense result from the very first stroke. The pencil is soft and bendable to work both on inner and outer rims of the eyes. Since I like my Kohl pencil to be soft yet intense in color (which it is) Bourjois Kohl and Contour Ultra Black Eye Pencil turns out to be a good option. However, if you love trying different shades in eye pencils then go for rest of the six available shades.

Coming back to Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara from Bourjois, this is definitely a good drug store mascara if you are looking for economical options. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new option in the mascara range. I am planning to either repurchase it or try another one from the Bourjois range of mascaras.

What are your favorite products from Bourjois?

Available ONLINE
Boots  ||  Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara £7.99 or 799 points
            Bourjois Kohl & Contour Eye Pencil £4.99 or 499 points 

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Dior Addict Eau de Toilette | My New Fragrance

Hi Lovelies,

During summer this year my most favorite summer fragrance has been, yes you guessed it right Chanel Chance Eau de Tendre. It is the perfect fruity-floral fragrance and a better version of the original. However, when autumn sets in I prefer warmer, woody-floral fragrances with hints of vanilla and sandalwood. When I had to finally step out and find a new fall fragrance Dior Addict Eau de Toilette was love at first sight. The House of Dior has always fired dreams. Dreams of women and their beauty, their pleasures and their freedom. Dior Addict Eau de Toilette is part of Dior's line of luminous and sensual fragrances revealing a subtle sense of freshness and sensuality. It is the reinterpretation of the original Addict which was launched back in 2002. I love the new packaging. The bottle has become nobler, affirming the sophisticated charm of Dior. It is more graphic, light and transparent than before and is displayed as a beautiful object. The new design has a sleek and feminine feel to it.

Out of the three fragrances in this line I chose Dior Addict Eau de Toilette as I found it most appealing of them all. It smells divine! The fragrance is intuitively beautiful and freely seductive. I prefer testing perfumes on myself around the wrist rather than on a paper. I personally think perfume sprayed on the skin gives you the best results. I usually spray on my wrist, go around for a while and sniff from time to time. This gives me time to experience the fragrance and decide if I should go for the purchase or not. When I did the same with Dior Addict Eau de Toilette I was mesmerized. I would be lying if I say I did not know at that time that this was exactly the fragrance I would go for - for fall season.

When it comes to notes, the harmony of Sicilian Mandarin, Jasmine Sambac, Tunisian Neroli, Sandalwood with a hint of Vanilla is timeless. Top note is Sicilian Mandarin which grows in Mediterranean but Sicily is where the best Mandarins are to be found. This adds a fruity touch to the fragrance. Heart notes is the luminous Jasmine Sambac Absolute which is an eminently Dior flower. Rich and faceted, it is a symbol of soft femininity. Indian Jasmine Absolute brings a mix of strength, delicateness and character to this fragrance. Base notes are Sandalwood with a hint of Vanilla. Sandalwood is one of the most sought after centuries old variety in the world. Sandalwood essence a sensual, subtle woody base and personally I believe I haven't come across a more sophisticated woody-floral fragrance than Dior Addict.

Dior Addict Eau de Toilette is a charming feminine fragrance which is light and fresh which can be worn both during the day and at night time. I absolutely love the woody charm of Sandalwood infused with Jasmine Sambac that delicately lingers on leaving behind a hint of vanilla. This is one fragrance that I instantly fell in love with and cannot recommend it enough. It would make a perfect gift for your best friend and mom. Next time you go for a perfume hunt, do give this one a try.

Love at first sight..

Available ONLINE

Selfridges  ||  50ml  £55.00  ::  100ml  £79.00

Boots  ||  50ml £55.00 or 5,500 points  ::  100ml  £78.50 or 7,850 points

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Stila 'In The Light' Palette Review

Hi lovelies,

This has to be one of my most awaited posts. While I was in a phase to decide whether I should buy any one of the Naked palettes or the Stila In The Light palette I was really confused. While I really like the Naked palettes, when it came down to choosing just one (was it even fair?) out of the two I went for the Stila palette. But why? While I personally think Urban Decay Naked palettes are gorgeous and have a total of 12 eye shadows (along with the applicator brush) as compared to Stila In The Light palette which has a total of 10 eye shadows (but hey it has a beautiful eye liner too) I just believe the Naked palettes are not worth the hype (do you agree?) Moreover, I personally believe not all the shades in the Naked palettes are workable for me. I am someone who would prefer more matte, neutral eye shadows than shimmery, metallic ones and In The Light palette seemed to be the better option, hence the decision.

So - I recently purchased Stila In The Light eye shadow palette given that it had been on top of my eye shadow palette list for the longest time. Stila is a brand I am not too familiar with, I haven't used any other products from this brand which makes this palette my first purchase. When I looked into Stila's profile it appeared to be 'a carefree, whimsical cosmetic brand that is as fun as a fantasy, as individual as a signature and as inspiring as a dream'. The palette comes in a pinkish-brown cardboard packaging which I initially thought was not too practical until I actually held it in my hand. Not only are the eye shadows fitted nicely in the packaging it is very light weight! I can keep it in my hang bag without the extra weight. The packaging also makes it easy for those who are on the go and would prefer to carry less (light!). When you open the palette, the lid of which is loosely attached with a magnet to protect the eye shadows, you also get a nice, wide mirror.

This palette is a beautiful collection of Stila's award winning eye shadows in wearable neutral shades. There is a total of 10 eye shadows with a combination of matte and shimmer finish with 6 shimmery shades and 4 matte ones. Both cool and warm undertones therefore there is something for everyone in this palette. All the eye shadows are beautiful but the best part is the combination of these which can be used to transform any daytime look using the neutral eye shadows to a glamorous night time look using the gorgeous shimmer ones. You would not believe me until you look at this palette for yourself. The eye shadows are so smooth to work with and would glide easily on your eyes especially the shimmer eye shadows which  are essentially more pigmented than the matte ones. I love the soft texture of Luster and Night Sky. Upon application there is zero sparkle on my cheeks and no fall outs which is such a plus point. I also like the fact that the shimmer shades are non-frosty and non-metallic, two type that I never really preferred. Let's talk about the individual shades.

Bare I believe is the perfect base color, anything light might look chalky and unnatural. Kitten is Stila's cult favorite a beautiful champagne shade with a hint of pink. It can work beautifully as a highlighter. Bliss is a rosy neutral for the crease. Sunset is a beautiful copper eye shadow which is more towards the pinkish tone. Sandstone is a gorgeous matte cocoa brown which goes with every eye color and works great in the outer corner of the eyes. Bubbly is a beautiful, soft, dreamy pale golden highlighter which brightens up the eyelids nicely. Gilded Gold is a golden bronze shimmer shade. Luster is a dark brown shade which has a matte finish to it but has a beautiful understated gold shimmer in it as well. I never thought I would like Night Sky but it is a gorgeous grey blue that can be worn alone or layered with brown for a more muted blue. Ebony is your traditional matte black great for smokey eyes or setting your eyeliner. 

Clockwise
Bubbly | Glided Gold    //    Bliss | Sunset     //    Sandstone | Ebony    //    Bare | Kitten    //    Luster | Night Sky

Not only this, the palette also includes an exclusive Chocolate Brown Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Damsel and an 8-page look book with details of how-to tips like Midnight Dream to Smokey Luster. So there you have a beautiful palette with a wide range of shades to work with along with an eyeliner. The pan size is pretty generous and great value for money. I cannot be more content with this purchase. I am absolutely in love with this palette and cannot recommend you enough.

♥ Have you tried any of the Stile 'In The' palettes?

-----------------------------------------------------------
Available online at £ 25.00 / US $ 39 

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Best Beauty Advent Calenders 2014

Hello Lovelies!

Fall is here in full bloom, the air crisp and nights chilly. We love lighting scented candles up in the evening for that extra cosy feeling and coffee is always a delight. While we enjoy trees turning their leaves to majestic colors of rust, yellow, brilliant red and all kinds of shades of brown one thing is for sure, it is time to start thinking about Christmas! While the tradition of advent calenders and countdown to anticipate Christmas is not new, from paper calenders to chocolate to winter magic, all of these wonderful counters make the Christmas festivities even more enchanting. We all need to start somewhere so I thought, being a beauty and lifestyle blogger that I would start by shortlisting the best Beauty Advent Calenders for this year. I really cannot decide which one is the best as all of the below are such a treat but maybe I would go for the Selfridges Enchanted Christmas one. Almost all of these brands released advent calenders last season which were a massive hits with all being sold out hence the competition. 

Which one would you pick? 

Benefit Cosmetics | £ 60

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The Benefit Cosmetics advent calender is back and this time it is a candy-coated countdown. It is packed with mini me's of the brand's best sellers and beauty accessories. So adorable! 

Available at benefitcosmetics.co.uk and debenhams.com from 16th October. 

The Body Shop | £ 50

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Countdown to Christmas in skin-loving style with The Best of The Body Shop Advent Calender. This extra special treat features a beauty surprise behind every door. Not only this, every calender and specifically selected gift sold, a donation goes to the charity War Child enabling a child in war affected country to attend a class.
Available now. 

Selfridges | £ 85

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Forget chocolate! The best selling Selfridges beauty advent calender is back this year filled with 24 luxurious miniature treats to guarantee a beauty filled festive season and definitely a must-have for all beauty fans. The 2014 calender features a spell book design evoking Selfridges Enchanted Christmas theme.
Available now.

Jo Malone | £ 250

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The most expensive beauty advent calender yet and bursting with little luxuries, the Jo Malone beauty advent calender is pure indulgence. Behind each door of the brand's Georgia townhouse you'll find the likes of colognes and body creams that would leave you feeling like a million dollar all year round.
Available at Harrods from 20th October & nationwide in UK from 10th November. 

Ciate | £ 49

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Step into the splendour of holiday season with this coloured filled countdown. Be swept away with extravagant 24 piece mini nail collection hidden behind each window of this fairy tale worthy gift set. Ciate's Mini Mani Manor advent calender includes 17 of Ciate's most popular shades including Mistress, Amazing Gracie and Cupcake Queen, five exclusive textured polishes, one exclusive full size Paint Pot and one set of festive nail transfer. Step inside the wonderful Mini Mani Manor and start your Christmas with Ciate!
Available now.

Liberty | £ 149

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Think NARS to Diptyque, Dermalogica to Laura Mercier, front of this luxury advent calender depicts the iconic London department store while inside the drawers house luxury beauty treats for you. 

Available in store and at liberty.co.uk from November. 

L'Occitane | £ 45

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Well it's not 24 but 13 Pampering Treats from Provence. Why? In Provence, it is a holiday tradition to have 13 desserts on a holiday table. Before or after Christmas this is a luxurious way to celebrate the season. Expect the ultimate in L'Occitane loveliness, sensual fragrances, body and skincare surprise are pure presents in their own right. 

Available at loccitane.co.uk from 3rd November. 

NO 7 | £ 35

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Worth a whopping £ 130, this gift of 25 pressies is packed with skincare and makeup must-haves for the festivities. This also include so of the big sellers including the iconic Protect & Perfect Intense Day Cream.

Available on Boots store and online from 29th October.

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