I have a small group of girlfriends who all exchange presents with each other for Christmas. Our only guideline is that gifts should be something that you wouldn’t normally buy for yourself… something a little bit special. Initially, this meant luxurious handmade soaps in leopard print wrapping, a beautiful glittery makeup bag, or cashmere wrist warmers. After many years (because my friends are not right in the head!) ‘something you wouldn’t normally buy for yourself’ morphed into ‘something you wouldn’t buy for yourself because it is insane.’ Gifts became surreal. Things like pewter egg cups with duck feet, pot holders in rude shapes, and my personal favourite, Pedro, the salt-and-pepper-shaker-carrying donkey. Don’t get me wrong, I truly LOVE Pedro (my tasteful minimalist husband is less enthusiastic), but our gifting became about trying to out-do the previous year’s level of nuts. Eventually (thank heavens) common sense prevailed. We decided to rein ourselves in, dial down the surreal factor, and give USEFUL gifts to each other. We decided to keep the focus on beauty products, and only on products that we personally use and love, not just something we’ve read about. As you know, I am crazy about beauty products, so this is easy for me.
This year, my girlfriends are getting the following:
They are all getting this magnificently scented candle. It has a wide wooden wick that crackles as it burns like a tiny fireplace. I’m not giving them each a different one. This amber and incense one is my favourite in the range, so they’re all having it because I’m bossy like that. Actually, they always like the candles I burn at home, so I know they will appreciate this warm spicy one.
One of my friends who has the same fair colouring as I do, will find that this NYX Golden Hour eyeshadow palette works as well on her as it does on me. NYX is one of my favourite cruelty-free and budget-friendly brands. This very wearable range of warm brown eyeshadows is my absolute favourite palette right now. There’s not a bad one in the bunch, nothing too light or too dark. The best-selling liquid liner and mascara that come with it are a bonus.
My other friend is obsessed with her skin (sounds familiar!) so she’s getting Glam Glow’s Forget the Filter set along with her candle. The award-winning Instamud treatment was created specifically for actors to get their skin camera ready in 60 seconds. It isn’t really a mud, more of a purple cream that foams and plumps. It really does make your skin look amazing. Whack a dab of the moisturising illuminator (just the right amount of illumination, no chunky sparkles, and the vanilla orange scent is heavenly) on top and skin is ready for makeup and a closeup. Unlike me, my girlfriend hates going to salons and having people touch her face, so this will give her similar results at home.
One of the friends has amazing hands and nails (like, hand model perfect) so this range of Skinnydip polishes will be a great gift for her. These colours aren’t the usual ones she wears, but they’re also not so crazy as to be unwearable. The gold glitter is particularly beautiful over dark polishes. The pale iridescent one is one of my favourites when my own nails are quite short (I’m wearing it right this moment). Skinnydip is a great brand that has had local and/or organic ingredients and no animal testing as part of its DNA from the beginning. I like supporting ethical brands, so giving them as gifts and introducing them to my friends is the best way to put my money where my mouth (and heart) is.
I found all four of these gifts at Boots. They have a vast range of gifts for any woman on your list, you’re truly spoiled for choice on their site. Of course they have things for men too, I just haven’t got that far yet! As much as I enjoy gifts like Pedro the donkey, it is a relief to be in my sweet spot of giving the perfect beauty and skincare products to my girlfriends.
This post is in conjunction with Boots but all thoughts are my own.
30 Comments
Lazy Daisy Jones
November 27, 2018 at 11:00 AMHi Lisa
Lovely post! I’m guessing at who is who and if I know any of those you have described !!!
Love Glam glow too,
Have a super week
Ashley x
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 12:14 PMHaha, you may well be able to figure out one or two! Isn’t Glam Glow just ridiculous?! Thanks Ashley, you too xx
Michelle
November 27, 2018 at 1:04 PMWow all from Boots? You could’ve knocked me down with a feather at that reveal!
I like candles but I love nail varnish and those colours are gorge.
Your friends sound fun, I wanna be in your gang?
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 1:10 PMYep, their beauty gifts are especially fantastic, I find. You’re in the gang any time you like, lovely lady! I think you’d really like these nail polishes too (as would Lulu!). The lavender one is really pretty on… unusual but not too weird. xxx
whatlizzyloves
November 27, 2018 at 2:21 PMSuch a lovely post Lisa. Gorgeous choices. My girlfriends and I do Secret Santa. We each choose something for £10. This ranges from the absolutely ridiculous to the utterly fabulous. As you know, I have been very impressed with Boots this season too- something for everyone xxx
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 4:27 PMThank you Liz! I know you would love every single one of these items; the palette would be superb on you, in case you’re in need of one! I want to know what you girls get each other this year! xx
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 4:29 PMThank you Liz! I know you would love every single one of these items; the palette would be superb on you, in case you’re in need of one! I want to know what you and your friends get each other this year! xx
Nancy
November 27, 2018 at 3:48 PMI wished we had a Boots over here. These are very nice presents. I’m a minimalistic too, so I don’t want to receive anything for in my house! But it could be fun to unwrap!
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 4:24 PMTheir gift section is always very good (even booze!) but this year they’ve really outdone themselves. Yeah, decor presents are always tricky, but Pedro has a special place in my heart 🙂 xx
LA CONTESSA
November 27, 2018 at 4:01 PMI only know and LOVE the NYX brand and I too ONLY wear browns!May have to treat myself!THANKS for the recommendations!!!!!
BANKSY CARD is in THE MAIL as of SUNDAY!
XO
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 4:22 PMOH FANTASTIC, thank you Elizabeth! I can’t wait to see it. This palette is the best palette I’ve ever EVER used. Every colour is a cracker. If you like browns, you’ll love it, I know. xx
1010parkplace
November 27, 2018 at 5:39 PMNYX… I didn’t know this brand, but it’s perfect for one of my girlfriends! Thanks so much! Your donkey salt and pepper shaker holder reminds me of a coiled rattlesnake salt and pepper shakers I received from a “white elephant” Christmas exchange with neighbors when I lived at the ranch. They were a little creepy, especially since I shot a couple of live rattlesnakes. They’re a problem in the Texas Hill Country. xoxox, Brenda
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 8:40 PMNYX is an American brand, so you should have no trouble finding it, Brenda. It is sort of like the new and improved Wet n’ Wild, if you know that one.
Oh my, I much prefer Pedro to a coiled rattlesnake salt and pepper shaker, that is for sure!! xx
stylishatsixty
November 27, 2018 at 7:02 PMThe candle looks a lovely gift – I will pop into a store to check it out. Some lovely gift ideas there. Thank you
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 8:38 PMYou’re so welcome! My local Boots has a huge range of the candles. There is a ‘Linen’ scent which is also lovely, some fruity ones which I wasn’t crazy about, and some beautiful woody/spicy ones like the one I have. xx
No Fear of Fashion
November 28, 2018 at 11:14 AMI can imagine that the gifts of the previous years have led to many, many laughs. They served a good cause. But I can understand, you might want to throw it away after the laugh as it is too hideous. And that is not sustainable.
I think your friends will love their presents. As you know I am not at all into make-up, skin care etc. Abnormal, I know. And we don’t do Christmas presents either. Dull around here.
Greetje
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 8:37 PMMany of the previous years gifts were too rude to post about! They did make for some mirthful gift openings, but it is MUCH nicer to get things we’ll actually use and enjoy now. I feel like you can never go wrong with candles in a good non-controversial scent. I didn’t know you didn’t do Christmas presents?! xx
No Fear of Fashion
November 28, 2018 at 8:44 PMMy darling husband has quite a few youth issues. Didn’t get along with hi parents from a very early age (11). So he never wanted to celebrate anything, no birthday, no Sinterklaas and no Christmas. As he never wanted having to say Thank you. That is still in his system and spoils it for everybody. So we don’t do gifts. It is what it is. I get spoiled all year round, no big loss.
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 9:50 PMWith your shopping, I don’t think you have any room for Christmas gifts too! xx
Tracy Patil
November 28, 2018 at 12:25 PMGreat post, especially love that candle!! xx
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 8:33 PMThey’re not expensive and they’re in my local Boots as well as online. Definitely give them a whirl, they’re fabulous and fun! xx
Samantha Blair
November 28, 2018 at 12:26 PMI’d be chuffed with any of these gifts, especially the beautiful candle… but Pedro made my heart melt a little.
He is extra special.
XXX
Samantha
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 8:33 PMPedro is a real charmer; the ladies all love him. Men, not so much. The candle everyone loves though! xx
melissa williams
November 28, 2018 at 4:49 PMThe candle, the candle, the candle. I must have the candle. It crackles like a tiny fireplace?? WHAAAAT? Must have. Also- how can you possibly have a minimalist husband? . Your friends are getting some lovely gifts and that sounds like a really fun time! Thanks for sharing! Off to find a crackling candle. 😉
~Melissa xx
Lisa
November 28, 2018 at 8:32 PMI know, the decor arguments are real in our house with his need for minimalism and my need for colour. We almost filed for divorce over ONE TINY WALL of wallpaper (just kidding. sort of). Keep me posted on your crackling candle situation! xx
Suzy Turner
November 29, 2018 at 11:36 AMI just love Pedro LOL!! I bet you had a right laugh buying gifts like that before common sense prevailed, Lisa!! What fun! These alternatives from Boots look fab though. I do love visiting Boots when I’m back in the UK. I shall have to look out for all these lovelies.
Hugs
Suzy xxx
Lisa
December 3, 2018 at 3:36 PMPedro is a bit of a scene-stealer, toddlers to grown ups love the old geezer. We did have a laugh out-shocking each other, but now it is a pleasure to have things we’ll actually use and not put in a closet! xx
This Main Line Life
November 29, 2018 at 4:11 PMThat’s a really fun idea. Love Pedro!
x, Julie | This Main line Life
Lisa
December 3, 2018 at 3:34 PMHe’s pretty charming, isn’t he!? xx
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