Best Beauty Christmas Crackers 2015

We've already taken a look at some of this year's best beauty advent calendars, but how about beauty Christmas crackers? I don't think we're the only ones that would rather find a nail polish or lipstick in our Christmas cracker than one of those weird metal puzzles and a questionable joke! They are definitely a nice way to add something special to your Christmas celebrations.

Much like the advent calendars they range in price, but they are typically very good value in terms of the amount of product you get for the RRP. So here are five of the best:


 
SANCTUARY SPA
This beautiful set contains: Cleansing Burst Body Wash 75ml, Silky Smooth Body Lotion 75ml, Green Lemon & Orange Blossom Body Wash 75ml, White Lily & Damask Rose Body Wash 75ml.
£10, www.boots.com

NAILS INC
Each of these crackers contains a full size nail polish and a NailKale Superfood base coat.
£38, www.nailsinc.com

CLARINS
Exclusive to Selfridges, these crackers contain a selection of Clarins favourites, including a Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Beauty Flash Balm and a miniature Rouge Eclat Lipstick.
£49, www.selfridges.com

BOOTS No7
You can always rely on Boots to help you out at Christmas. Not only do these crackers contain a lovely selection of lip and nail products, but they are currently part of Boots' 3 for 2 promotion.
£16, www.boots.com

CHAMPNEYS
Pamper yourself with this lovely selection of spa products! Includes: Citrus Blush Shower Gel, Summer dream Shower Gel, Citrus Blush Body Lotion and Heavenly Days Shower cream.
£10, www.champneys.com

Jen’s skincare routine – July 2014

In April, Kay shared the skincare routine that’s been keeping her looking fabulous. This month it's my turn to share the contents of my bathroom cabinet. (Actually, last month should have been my turn but the whole moving house thing really got in the way of the important stuff!)

I have to admit I put my skin through a lot. Yes I eat well and yes, I drink plenty of water, but I also drink a little too much alcohol and get nowhere near enough sleep. So while, like all good beauty junkies, I’m frequently trying new products, I decided to give my skin a break and subsequently I've been trying out this pretty stripped-back version of my skincare routine. It's actually working very well, so I guess sometimes you just need to go with the tried-and-tested and give your poor skin a break!

 

CLEANSER

Clarins Extra Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleanser, £25 for 100ml
I still absolutely love this cleanser, it’s so gentle yet effective – proof (if you should need it) that treating your skin gently really pays off! Trust me, harsh cleansers and scrubs really aren’t necessary and can be counter-productive. You can read my full review of this cleanser here.

REPURCHASE?
Most definitely! Really impressed with how long a bottle of this lasts though.
www.clarins.co.uk

MAKEUP REMOVER

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, £22 for 125ml
So this balm is technically another cleanser, but it removes eye makeup so effectively that I haven’t needed anything else. This is pretty impressive because, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I can be a bit heavy handed on the old eye makeup for a night out! You only need a very small amount and it effectively dissolves every trace of makeup (although prepare to look like a panda in the process, something that greatly amuses my husband). You can then just wipe it away with tissue or a face cloth. Personally I can work it right into my eyelashes without it stinging, which is a bonus. In fact, I think this stuff is worthy of a full review so I may have to write that soon. It is a little greasy so I do like to follow it with a proper cleanse.
REPURCHASE?
Yes! It is very effective and much more environmentally friendly than the makeup removers I used to use that required at least two cotton pads every night. 
www.clinique.co.uk

EXFOLIATOR/TONER

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner, £25 for 125ml
So this is a ‘two birds with one stone’ kind of product that acts as exfoliator and toner. I used to use Clinique’s Exfoliating Scrub, and still do if I feel my skin needs it, but on a regular basis I think it’s a bit harsh for skin as you move into your thirties and beyond. You just can’t abuse your skin like you used to and expect it to bounce back! So a chemical exfoliator does the job of removing dead skin and brightening without scrubbing it to death. You only need to use this twice a week (don’t go crazy with the chemical stuff!) but it does a great job of refreshing the skin and keeping it in top condition.
REPURCHASE?
Have done before and will again! 
www.clarins.co.uk

MASK

Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask, £10.50 for 100ml 
I first discovered this mask a couple of years back when I received a sachet of it in a Sanctuary gift set that Kay gave me one Christmas. I’ve been hooked ever since! It is a grey mask that heats up when you apply it to your face (don't ask me how) then cools as you let it work its magic. Apparently the heat opens up pores allowing the charcoal and clay to draw out impurities. I try and use this once a week in the evening but failing that, I always grab it when I feel my skin is on the brink of something bad (you know what I mean ladies, you can just tell when it’s about to give you grief) or simply looking a tad dull, and I always wake up the next day with healthier, happy-looking skin.
REPURCHASE?
I’m always up for trying other face masks but I inevitably come back to this one, it really is my favourite.
www.sanctuary.com

EYE CREAM

Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten dark Circles Eye Cream, £12.99 for 15ml
I’m going to be honest with you, I’m still getting through the Super Facialist by Una Brennan eye cream that I reviewed back in May. I wasn’t kidding when I said a little goes a long way! I’m determined to use it up as it is a nice moisturising eye cream and I hate waste, but as soon as it’s done I’ll be on the lookout for something new that actually helps with the dark circles. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
REPURCHASE? 
Nope, sorry Una.
www.superfacialist.co.uk

SERUM/OIL

The Body Shop Overnight Serum In Oil, £12 for 28ml
I read a lot of rave reviews a few month’s back when this serum first burst onto the scene, so I dutifully headed to The Body Shop to see what all the fuss was about. After applying it to my hand it absorbed quickly and my skin felt silky soft, so I decided to give it a go. When I went to pay, the shop assistant said it was the most impressed that he had been with a product in ten years! I assumed this praise was genuine as I had already decided to buy it, so I knew he wasn't simply trying to make a sale. I can’t say that it has transformed by skin into that of a 21 year old, but it is a really nice overnight serum that absorbs quickly and that makes my skin feel very soft.
REPURCHASE? 
Yes, unless I discover something else that excites me more.
www.thebodyshop.co.uk

MOISTURISER

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion, £17 for 50ml
No surprises here, I’m officially back in love with Clinique’s cult-classic moisturiser. It’s a great all-rounder that I genuinely feel my skin misses when I don’t use it. If you feel like you have been overloading your skin with high-tech products and it's starting to rebel, I thoroughly recommend giving this a try. You can read my full review here. However I do feel I should add something anti-ageing into the mix (again, I'm not getting any younger!) so if you know of a miracle night cream that will make me look like I’ve had eight hours sleep and am not suffering from yet another bad hangover then please do let me know.
REPURCHASE?

Yes!
www.clinique.co.uk

Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream

TYPE OF PRODUCT

Cream cleanser for skin challenged by a polluted urban environment.

THOUGHTS 

This cleanser was a gift and as a fan of Clarins skincare I was excited to try it. I’ve been using cleansing oils/balms in the evening for removing makeup but have been looking for a nice morning cleanser and was particularly interested in this one as it is specially designed for skin that is ‘challenged by a polluted urban environment.’ Anyone who spends a lot of time running around London will know what I mean! 

APPEARANCE AND PACKAGING

This is a white cream cleanser that is thick enough to feel like it is cleansing thoroughly but smoothes over the face easily. The packaging is sturdy and has a flip cap making it ideal to keep anywhere in the bathroom, even in the shower.

APPLICATION

Warm the cleanser between your palms then apply to the face and neck. You are then encouraged to use the Clarins cleansing method which involves quickly pressing down and then removing your hands – this sounds a bit odd but the suction-like motion thickens the cleanser and helps remove impurities. I then use a flannel to remove the remaining product. Read more about the Clarins cleansing method here. As you can see from the images below a little bit goes a long way.

THE VERDICT

This is such a beautiful cleanser. It is very effective at cleaning the skin and smells great thanks to the mango and shea butter. To really take advantage of the anti-pollution effects I’ve also been using it for a second cleanse in the evening after removing my make up with a cleansing balm. It is very appropriately named 'extra-comfort' as it leaves my skin so clean and soft that it almost feels like you don't need to moisturise!

For those of you who don't like a cleanser that needs to be washed off, I have read on the Clarins website that you can just remove the excess cleanser with a tissue like the old version, then follow with toner.

REPURCHASE?

I'll definitely be buying this again.

£25 for 100ml

www.clarins.co.uk