Top beauty gift sets for Christmas 2012

I love the holidays, for a lot of reasons, but one of the reasons is that you can get hold of really cool beauty gifts sets this time of year, either for yourself (my favorite!) or for others you know who might appreciate them. I often take the chance to buy gift sets, not only for others, but also for myself, since they are a great way to get to try brands and products you don't know well enough to buy full size, but are interested in somehow.

Here are my picks for the top beauty gift sets that I have seen so far for Christmas 2012:
The Nip+Fab 10 Years Younger in a Box

Maybe not something you appreciate when you're 20, but if you have passed 30, like me, you certainly do. The set includes a line filler, an anti ageing cream and something to fix dark under eye circles. Perfect!

The Benefit Porefect Radiance set

Includes Benefit's famous pore minimizing cream and an eye cream.

Cowshed set that makes you less grumpy. Because who doesn't need a cheer me up from time to time?

An invigorating Cowshed set, also something most people are in need of from time to time. Or maybe it's just me in the mornings?

A Bliss set with two products I haven't had a chance to try yet, even though I am a huge Bliss fan. Includes a body butter as well as a face wash.

A Bare Minerals starter kit, comes in several different colors, for different skin tones. A great way to get started if you are interested in their products, since you get a bit of everything!

I still haven't ordered any of these myself though, since I know a lot of the kits go on sale after the holidays. So if you don't really, really need anything for yourself, and none of the sets are super important to you, I would suggest trying to get them on sale after the holidays are over. But if you are buying some beauty gift sets for Christmas for someone else, there is no getting around the full price, I'm afraid...

Just shopped: Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

I have been thinking about getting a Clarisonic device for a long, long time now, but several things have been putting me off this:
- First of all the price, it seems a bit steep, since I got a similar device (non-branded) when the Clarisonic came out, which cost next to nothing, and it worked quite nicely, so I was thinking the Clarisonic can't possibly be much better than that one, and then it seems kind of crazy to pay so more more for basically the same product? (Please note, I am not saying the Clarisonic copies are just as good as the original, I can't, really, since I haven't even tried the original, this is just general musings from my part)
- Second of all, I couldn't quite understand which Clarisonic device would be the best specific needs, so I always kept putting buying one off because I wanted to do some more research.
- Third of all, while a lot of people seem really happy with their Clarisonics, not everyone is, if I read Clarisonic reviews, so I wasn't 100 % sure it's actually a good idea to use Clarisonic on skin that has problems to begin with.

So when I read reviews regarding the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System, which is significantly cheaper than any of the Clarisonic devices, and noticed that a lot of people really like this device, that is meant to thoroughly clean your skin, I decided it could be worth a try. I mean, if I am not happy with it, I can always get a Clarisonic later, right?

I got the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System on Ebay, for around $40, and will be reviewing it once I have had a chance to use it for a while, of course. I do believe you need to use products like these for a while before you see results, after all.

PS: If you are wondering what ever happened to the Clarisonic copy I got, I used it for a long time, but the brush got kind of dirty and I wouldn't find any replacement brushes, so I had to stop using it. I was happy with it otherwise.

Review: Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk

Well, actually this cleansing milk has an even longer full name. Because it's actually: Peaches and Clean 4-In-1 Wash-Off Deep Cleansing Milk. And I know I raved so much about a previous facial wash I tried from them (read all the raves here), but this cleansing milk might be even better!

Or I wouldn't say it's better, perhaps, but it is just as good as the Face Soap and Clarity that I tried a while ago, just very different, so it is really hard to compare the two. The Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk has a really nice and soft scent of peaches, which makes it kind of a calming product, while the Face Soap and Clarity is more energizing. So what I am doing now is I use the Peaches and Clean product in the evenings, when I am kind of sleepy anyway, and the Face Soap and Clarity in the morning, when anything that energizes me a bit is great.

I also think the Peaches and Clean milk is much less harsh than the Face Soap and Clarity, so I think it could work really well for anyone with a slightly sensitive skin. But at the same time, it cleans your skin really well, so it has really improved my skin, which is kind of blemish prone from time to time.

I do think Peaches and Clean cleans make up better than the Face Soap and Clarity, but I haven't actually tested that in any way, it's more a general feeling. But if you want your cleanser to really melt your make up away, this is one of the best options I have ever tried.

So basically, I can really, really recommend the Peaches and Clean cleanser, probably for all skin types. It is just that amazing of a product! But that said, the Face Soap and Clarity is absolutely amazing too. So I guess the best thing to do if you can't decide on one of them is to get both, and try for yourself.

Me? I will keep buying both, I kind of like having a morning product and an evening product, I've never had that before, since I always tended to use the same product during all times of the day.

Review: Maybelline Falsies mascara

I have had the same favorite mascara for years, the L'Extreme from Lancome:

But a while ago, I ran out of my L'Extreme, and could not find a new one anywhere where I was. So I was kind of forced to try a new mascara for the first time in years. And since I had just read a book by a beauty editor who recommended using several different mascaras together for a "false eyelashes" look (something I think can be quite nice during the evening, even though I am not a fan of it during the day), I decided something called "Falsies" could help me achieve that too, if I ever used it together with the L'Extreme.

And let's face it, I also liked the fact that Falsies is a Maybelline mascara, because I think they are the drug store brand that makes the best mascaras by far. I used to be a great fan of the Great Lash mascara for years, until I found L'Extreme, after all.

So after this rather lengthy introduction, how did the Falsies mascara measure up?
Well, first of all, I must mention that this mascara has a spoon brush, and it was actually my first time using a spoon brush, and I must say I don't love it. I prefer a regular brush, it's as simple as that. But I am pretty sure a lot of people actually like spoon brushes, so if you haven't tried it, please don't let me stop you, it's definitely worth trying, and if people like it or not is mostly a matter of personal taste.

I do think the spoon brush makes your lashes curl slightly though, which is pretty nice. (I personally do not have the time or energy to use an eye lash curler every day, so that a mascara brush can do that for me, is pretty awesome!)

Besides the brush, this mascara is surprisingly good as well. It doesn't clump at all, you get results pretty fast, so you don't have to add a lot of layers if you don't want to, and it does seem to lengthen your lashes pretty fast. I wouldn't say it makes the lashes thicker though, which is actually something I like too, but as far as length goes, it works really well!

So yeah, it's a good mascara, but it does have two big cons:
First of all, it's hard to remove. I am used to the L'Extreme, which is really easy to remove, so I guess I am spoiled that way, but it did kind of bug me.
Second of all, it does flake. Not immediately, but it does after a few hours. Another big no-no for me, so I will not be getting another Falsies mascara, but I am still glad I tried this, since I was actually really surprised to see how long a budget mascara could make my lashes look. And I do think that it's a great option for anyone focusing on more length, despite the cons, the results are that amazing!

Review: Fekkai Advance Technician Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I've been trying quite some hair care products lately, and 2 other products I tried were the Fekkai Advance Technician Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner. And like the Fekkai Advance Brilliant Glossing Conditioner, both this shampoo and this conditioner were quite nice, but not amazing.

They smell really nice, and they do make your hair a lot softer and less dry, which is one of the things I am currently looking for in both a shampoo and a good conditioner.
Both the shampoo and conditioner seem to be pretty concentrated as well, which means you don't need to use a lot of the product each time, making a bottle (even if it is the small kind, like the ones I got) last for quite some time. That's something I really like with all products, including shampoos and conditioners.

So I would definitely recommend both the shampoo and the conditioner, and I would also buy both of them again. But at the moment, I am looking for a real miracle product, and while these products are good, they are not anything out of the ordinary. So my hunt for something that can actually make my hair look like something amazing is still on, and I will of course update my readers once I've found it.

Review: Fekkai Advance Brilliant Glossing Conditioner

Lately, my hair has been in kind of bad shape, so I have been trying out a lot of different hair products, including conditioners and shampoos, in order to make my hair look more like I want it to. One of the conditioners I tried was the Brilliant Glossing Conditioner from Fekkai Advance, since it is supposed to both treat and strengthen your hair, and make it shiny and pretty. Since one of the issues I have with my hair is basically it being dull and really dry, it sounded like it could be really good for me.

And yes, this conditioner does seem to make my hair softer and less dry, but only temporarily. So I guess if you keep using it for a long time (something I have not had the chance to do yet), your hair could stay that way for longer, but that's not something I can testify to now at least.

The conditioner also smells great, which is really important to me, so I was pleased with it, and would probably get the Fekkai Advance Brilliant Glossing Conditioner again, but it wasn't a miracle product that did wonders for my hair in any way, so I think I will keep looking for more hair products for now. But it's definitely a good choice until I've found that miracle product! (if it even exists)

Review: The Body Shop Vanil Patchouli Lavender Hand Cream

Before I start telling you what I thought of the The Body Shop Vanil Patchouli Lavender Hand Cream I tried recently (after having it for a while, I got it as a present quite some time ago), I have to admit I am extremely demanding when it comes to hand creams. I basically look for a hand cream that absorbs really fast, since I hate the feeling of having to sit around for a long time before it sinks in. So lately, I have mostly been using the amazing Bliss Glamour Gloves, but since my hands got really, really dry a while ago, I felt I needed something more for a while, so I decided to get this cream out.

I should also add that I am normally quite the fan of The Body Shop, since I love their values and the fact that they don't test their products on animals. In fact, I used to wear only The Body Shop make up for years, and I still adore a lot of their products.

But sadly, the Vanil Patchouli Lavender Hand Cream was quite the dissapointment. The scent is actually not that bad, even though it is not quite my taste, probably because I am not a big fan of patchouli, it's just too heavy of a scent for me, I guess. But if you like the combination of vanilla, patchouli and lavender, you will probably like this scent a lot.
But the hand cream is really, really thick, which means it takes a really long time for it to sink in, which bothered me, and even after the hand cream sank in, it leaves a kind of greasy, unpleasant feeling on your hands.

So nope, I won't be repurchasing this hand cream, but if you are into really thick hand creams (not that I understand at all why anyone would be), this is probably a good choice for you. But I really can't find much good to say about it.

Just shopped

So, I have been shopping at ASOS again, where I always find new, cool products to try. The things I got this time (I just submitted the order in fact) were:
A shampoo from Anatomicals, a brand I adore (read why here and here, for instance):

A conditioner from the same brand

Blotting papers from Paul & Joe, because I have the matching pouch, so even though I don't really like their other beauty products (read more about why here), how bad could their blotting papers possibly be? And I've just discovered the advantages of actually having blotting papers, I can't believe it took me that long!

A Blonde Bombshell hair set from Tigi. Because I need some new hair products that actually work (my hair has been giving me a lot of trouble lately), and this seemed like the most suitable for me, out of all the Tigi ranges out there.

I will review all the products when I get them of course, promise!

Review: Decleor Hydra Floral eye gel-cream

As some of you may remember, I have been testing very many eye creams lately, and since they were all disappointing in some way (read why here, here, here or here for instance), I decided to try something different, namely an eye gel instead of an eye cream, since a big issue I had with most eye creams I tried was that they felt too heavy and greasy for me. (Maybe because I am still pretty young and do not have a lot of wrinkles and lines around my eyes yet?)
I figured a gel should be lighter, and therefore more what I was looking for, and one eye gel that I read good things about was the Decleor Hydra Floral eye gel-cream, as it is called, so I decided to get it.

And the first thing I have to say about this eye gel is that it is indeed more like what I wanted: not heavy at all, absorbs very fast and smells delightful, yet natural. I also like that the cream is supposed to do quite a few things:
Reduce appearance of dark circles around the eye
Relax the skin, as well as hydrate it
Protect against pollution
and
help you get rid of any pesky old lines or wrinkles.

Obviously, I can't really say if my skin is better protected against pollution after I started using the Decleor Hydra Floral eye gel-cream, but I can say this: the skin around my eyes look very fresh, less dry and I definitely look less tired. It also seems any small lines I have became less noticeable, but they are not completely gone. But maybe that's an unreasonable expectation to have anyway?

So this eye gel was really a nice surprise, and I would say it is definitely the best eye cream I have tried so far. But since this whole eye gel thing (as opposed to thicker eye creams) is so new to me, I think I should try some more gels before I decide if the Decleor gel for the eye area is actually the best one out there. But if you are reading this review to find out if the Decleor Hydra Floral eye gel-cream is worth getting, it definitely is!

Review: Soap & Glory Clear Here moisturizer for oily skin

Like you know if you have been reading this blog for a while, I have been trying several Soap & Glory beauty products lately, and since their cleansers, face masks, cleansing cloths and scrubs worked so well, I thought I might as well get a matching moisturizer to follow up with when I use them, for best results. So I went online and found a Soap & Glory moisturizer for oily and combination skin that had gotten great reviews: the Clear Here moisturizer, so I decided to get it.

And now that I have had a chance to try it, I am so happy I did! It smells really nice, like most Soap & Glory beauty products, but the scent is not as strong as on most of their other products, which means this moisturizer can easily be used every day if you want. And since it is intended for combination skin like mine, it doesn't clog the pores, which is great since I have never had such clean and pretty skin as after I started using the Soap & Glory line.

Another great thing about this moisturizer is that it is mattifying and also absorbs really fast, so you can easily put it on in the morning, shortly before applying make up, which is just wonderful. In my experience, all moisturizers aren't suitable for that, so I certainly appreciate one that is!

Despite all this, I am still not sure this is actually the best moisturizer I have ever tried, which is why I am still a bit reluctant to add this moisturizer to the Current faves list, but it is definitely one of the top contenders! I just feel like I haven't been using it for long enough to be able to say if it really is awesome in the long run too. So let me get back to you on that! But my first impressions are indeed great!

I also love that while Soap & Glory beauty products (including the Clear Here moisturizer) give you amazing results, they are still inexpensive. So that just goes to show you that you don't have to spend a fortune on skin care for it to really work!

So to sum up: I totally recommend the Soap & Glory Clear Here moisturizer to anyone with oily or combination skin! I didn't think it would work for me as well as it did, so it could really work for you too!

The only down side I can think of is the size of the tube, I guess, it is kind of small compared to most moisturizers I have bought lately. But on the other hand, you don't need to use a lot of it to moisturize your entire face, so maybe a tube will still last you a while, hard to say at this point.

Looking for some beauty inspiration?

Say, some new make up looks, new ways to style your hair or ideas for your nails to try? If so, I have a great tip for you, and that is to try We Heart It, this amazing network for photo sharing, where you can find really amazing looks. Here are some of my own favorite ones from the last few days, if you are interested in what I am "hearting", you can just head over to my profile here, to see that.

If any of my readers are active on We Heart It as well, just let me know, I would love to follow you too!