Christmas Gift Guide: The Stocking Filler Edition

Although everyone loves a big extravagant present, the stocking fillers should definitely not be overlooked. I love getting people a few little presents as I often think these can be more specifically catered to the person than a big set with various things inside. These gifts would also all be great as Secret Santa gifts or smaller gifts if you have a lot of people to buy for and want something lovely without the huge price tag! 

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ASOS ~ Retox Pamper Pack ~ £7.50

Firstly, this Retox Pamper Pack from ASOS... This is the perfect gift for any girl who loves a good pampering session, it'd be especially great for them to use on boxing day or new years day when hungover! It includes a hair mask, a foot cream, a face mask and eye pads so it really covers all areas and is a great value, unique gift for a brilliant price!

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ASOS ~ Beauty On Cloud Nine Embroidered Eye Mask ~ £8.50

A cute eye mask for this nights when you're finding it difficult to sleep could be the perfect stocking filler for a lot of people. For girly girls, this pink polka dot one from Cloud Nine is lovely, the bow detail makes it super pretty and their products are always really well-made which is a bonus for only £8.50. 

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Body Shop ~ Vanilla Brulee Bath Sprinkles ~ £7

These bath salts from the Body Shop are a brilliant product for anyone who loves baths and taking some me-time which is extra nice over the festive period. The smell of these bath salts is absolutely incredible- I urge everyone to go smell it next time you're near a Body Shop store, you will not be disappointed!

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Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm ~ £9.50

Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm has been a much-talked about cult beauty product for a long time. All girls (and even some boys) who are into beauty and skincare would really appreciate this product and the quality has been backed-up by numerous reviews. I'd love to receive this, this year!

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Lush Bath Melt ~ The Melting Snowman ~ £2.25

No Christmas stocking is complete without a Lush product! This Melting Snowman is the perfect cute Christmas themed gift and I think all women would appreciate this one as it's so cute and so lovely and kind to even the most sensitive skin. Another one that's perfect for the post-Christmas pamper!

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Yankee Candle Small Jar ~ Salted Caramel ~ £7.99

Yankee Candle is my ultimate favourite candle brand, mostly because they have such a wide range of scents that there's something for everyone, for every season and for every occasion! The small jars come in at around £7.99 depending on where you purchase them from which I think is really reasonable for the quality of the product and they also would look super cute in your stocking. This Salted Caramel scent is particularly divine! 

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L'occitane ~ Cherry Blossom Petal-Soft Hand Cream ~ £14

This L'occitane hand cream is the most expensive product in this guide and at £14 it might be too high for some peoples 'stocking filler' budget. I included it anyway as hand creams are such a great gift to receive in the winter months when the weather wreaks havoc on your skin and this would still be perfect for a Secret Santa or for a family member or friend as their main present and it's too pretty and lovely not to mention!

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Hotel Chocolat ~ 12 Portly Penguins ~ £7

All genders and all ages, I'm pretty sure that 99% of the population get excited by the gift of chocolate! What could be better than luxury chocolate in your stocking in the shape of PENGUINS!? So cute and so yummy, I love these kind of gifts to bulk up a stocking. 

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Topshop ~ Mini Lip Bullet Pyramid ~ £5

These Christmas decoration type stocking fillers are adorable and mini products in general are great Christmas gifts as it gives the receiver the chance to try out something new. These Topshop lip bullets are high quality, long-lasting and super pigmented so most beauty addicts would appreciate one of these. They come in a few colours as well so you'll hopefully be able to find one to suit any skin tone and style.

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Topshop ~ Faux Fur Earmuffs ~ £12

Last, but certainly not least, it's these gorgeous fluffy Topshop ear muffs. Ear muffs are a great novelty way of keeping yourself warm and cosy this time of year whilst still looking fashionable and festive. The peachy coloured faux fur of these ones is particularly nice and they feel SO soft in real life. I'm in love!

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So there you have my pick of 10 of the best Christmas stocking fillers/smaller presents for this year. I seriously love all of these products and would love to receive any of them, as I'm sure plenty of others would too!

What is your dream stocking filler this year?

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Shakira x

The Review: Diptyque ~ Feuille Lavande

Today I thought I'd do something a little different and talk about a candle that I've fallen in love with. I've been a candle obsessive pretty much forever but since coming to University I've come to really appreciate how lovely and homely a candle can make a dingy student room feel. Now that I'm in my final year, I actually have a very lovely flat but I think however cute your home is, nothing can make it feel even more homely than a luxury candle burning in the background. 

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Diptyque are known for being one of the best luxury candle brands on the market at the moment so I was super excited to try out one of their products. I chose the smallest size as they are quite expensive and I'd never had one before so it was a bit of a risk. The scent I chose is called 'Feuille Lavande' and it is BEAUTIFUL! This size RRPs for £20 on Space NK which is rather pricey for the small size but the quality of the product is unbelievable.

It's essentially lavender scented and the aroma from this tiny candle fills my whole flat within 5 minutes of lighting it. It burns perfectly level and has lasted a surprising amount of time for its size. It gives the whole room the most beautiful relaxing ambience and would be great for anyone who likes herbal remedies to help them sleep better. Although it's quite pricey to buy for yourself it's great as an indulgent treat and would also make a lovely luxury gift for women of any age, and some men I'm sure!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this scent and I would repurchase, although not often as it is a rather luxurious product to buy yourself! I can't wait to try more scents from Diptyque now! 

What are your favourite luxury candle brands? 

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Shakira x

5 Festive Nail Polishes...

In this post, I'm going to be talking about my 5 favourite nail polishes that are all perfect for the festive season! Please excuse the slight mess of some of these nail polish bottles, I had a   pink nail polish explosion in my nail drawer and some of them just cannot be cleaned!
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First up is Dark Knight by Topshop Nails. It's a dark blue with a mixture of lighter blue, silver, and darker blue sparkles! It applies really opaque in two coats which I think is great for a glitter polish and the quality and lasting time are also pretty impressive. I love the sparkly midnight blue for winter as it reminds me of the dark starry nights!

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Next up is one of my favourites of all time- Pink Silver Glitter by Barry M. As the name would suggest, it's a pink polish with bits of pink and silver glitter running through it. The quality is nice and it's fairly opaque and buildable, although it chips fairly quickly as most Barry M nail paints do. 

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Burgundy Kiss by Maybelline Colour Show is definitely the most chic option of the bunch. It's a really dark red that looks almost black in some lights. It's very vampy and sultry but still very wintery and festive as it has a lovely hint of red. This one lasts brilliantly on the nails and is opaque in just one coat so is definitely a great one to choose. 

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Back to the glittery options next with Red Glitter by Barry M. This is probably the most typically festive of all my picks as nothing could be more Christmassy than red glitter! It applies and lasts exactly the same as the pink Barry M nail paint and is definitely worth buying for a super seasonal nail to get you into the festive spirit!

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Lastly, it's the only high-end option in this list. Trafalgar Red from By Terry Nail Laque is the most beautiful true red I have ever come across. It's super festive as red always is on the nails and also a very chic and classic tone. It's opaque in one coat and it last so long on the nails before chipping and is a dream to apply, definitely worth spending the extra money for a little indulgence!

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I'm currently wearing the By Terry Nail Laque on most of my nails with one accent nail on each hand which has the Barry M Red Glitter on it. Such a cute festive combination which I'm loving wearing this month!

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What are your favourite nail picks for this time of year? I'd love to try out something new!

Shakira x

Christmas Gift Guide: The High Street Fashion Edit

Welcome to my high street fashion Christmas gift guide! Let's get straight to the good bit...

Carrie Feather Strappy Heeled Sandal (Black) ~ Missguided ~ £29.99

These Missguided heels are the perfect cute present! The black fluff on the toe makes them so playful, fun and high-fashion whilst the sleek and minimal base style with the simple straps and stiletto heel make them still seem very classy. At under £30 I think these heels are SUCH a great bargain and I think most girls who love something a little different in the fashion stakes would love to receive these! 

Trim Belted Camel Skirt ~ Mango ~ £39.99

Next up, I just had to include this gorgeous camel toned skirt from Mango. Mango have some gorgeous clothes lately so they're definitely one to check out if you're looking for some style inspiration. The camel colour of this skirt is so on trend and the A-line shape and fit are perfect for the current trends. This skirt would suit women and girls of all ages so is a brilliant timeless fashion gift!

Sheepskin Vest (Ecru) ~ Zara ~ £39.99

For me, it's not a fashion gift guide without a faux fur gilet in the mix! This Autumn/Winter so far has been all about the faux fur, and gilets especially, for me, I already have a beautiful Topshop black gilet so I've decided to put a cream one in this guide for something a little different. This Zara one is stunning and the quality is incredible too! Online it's only in 'Ecru' (the shade pictured above) however, in store I've seen it in black and brown too so definitely check out your nearest store if the cream isn't your favourite. 

Black Leather Look Tube Pants ~ River Island ~ £40

River Island isn't one of my favourite shops for my personal style, however, I was wandering past it the other day and these gorgeous black leather look tube pants really caught my attention. I love leather pants but find they're very difficult to pull off and can be rather uncomfortable. I feel these are easier to wear than many more tailored trouser-style offerings so think these would be a great gift for any fashion-obsessed girl as they're such a wardrobe staple. 

Feather Hem Slip Dress (White) ~ Topshop ~ £55

I can guarantee that anyone who is an avid reader of bloggers will have seen this dress a million times over, but I'm obsessed with it and couldn't resist putting it into my guide! I think this is the perfect party dress for the festive season, white is always one of my favourite colours to wear and the fur trim makes it festive without being too in your face. Definitely the Christmas party dress of 2014. 

Black Sequin Mini Skirt ~ Mango ~ £59.99

Following on from the theme of the festive party season... You can't have a festive party without someone wearing full sequins! This black sequin skirt is a more laid-back offering than a full sequin outfit and as the sequins are black and the skirt isn't too tight fitting, I think it could look uber chic and stylish. It would also be a perfect Christmas gift as no one can deny the allure of sequins at Christmas time!

All Over Frilly Jumper (Black) ~ Topshop ~ £65

Moving on from the party pieces, this black frilly Topshop jumper is perfect for a girl who has a more laid-back style or is just more in the market for every-day clothes. I love the frill detailing on what would otherwise be a plain black jumper, it's really unusual to see on the high street and makes the jumper so girly and cute. The quality of this is also amazing and it feels so super soft and cosy.

Belted Wrap Front Jumpsuit (Red) ~ Warehouse ~ £70

This Warehouse jumpsuit is another festive season party classic! I think the draped style of the neckline and waist could flatter so many different body types and it's a little more covered-up than the dresses and skirts I've included so it would be great for those freezing nights out. The red colour is also so festive! I think this would be such a luxurious and indulgent gift as the quality and finish is so high, it's really beautiful. 

Knit Cape with Sleeves (Ecru) ~ Zara ~ £79.99

I couldn't finish this gift guide without including some sort of cape. Cape's have been everyone this Autumn and Winter and I can totally see why, they look so classic and lovely over almost any outfit and this cream Zara one would go with everything. The quality of Zara clothes is unbeaten on the high street in my opinion, so I think that this would be a beautiful Christmas present to receive. I'm so in love with it!

Whistles Jumper with Roll Neck in Textured Marl ~ Whistles/ASOS ~ £95

Lastly, and most expensively, is this Whistles jumper. Whistles is one of the highest quality outfitters on the UK high street too and their clothes are very minimal and very classic but the luxurious materials and finish make them look so high-end and well worth the high price tag if you can afford to splurge! This jumper is beautiful, luxurious and indulgent; everything a Christmas gift should be!

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I really hope you've enjoyed this fashion gift guide and that it's either given you a good idea for someone else, or for yourself! Let me know if you have any recommendations of good quality high street stores as I'm currently compiling my own Christmas wish list!

Shakira Jasmin x