Gifts for Him!

In the second installment of my perfect gifts guide we are going to talk about the boys, the mice and the men ;). Males of any age are notoriously difficult to buy for unless you are blessed with a guy that possesses a genuine passion for something... anything other than beer and 'insert appropriate sport here'. In my experience once a boy reaches the age of 13 he is interested in little but girls anyway...


Elemis Daily Men's Grooming Collection (£27 -10% at feelunique.com) - For the man who is a little tentative when it comes to skincare this set makes a perfect beginning to a routine. My very low maintanence bf has been testing this out for 2 weeks and has provided me with some valuable (albeit typically manly) feedback, though bless him for trying! He absolutely loved the skin soothe shave gel (and even asked me to get him some more!) as the foam is thick and firm it allows the blade to glide smoothly and gives a very close shave. The deep cleanse facial wash 'did a good job' and cleansed the skin without making it feel dry. The daily moisture boost was perfect for use after shaving and he found it lightweight and soothing, without being greasy or breaking him out. Overall he really enjoyed the set, and given that he normally rejects every product I attack him with... ahem.. let him try, I highly recommend it!

Armani Code Gift Set (£45) and Bleu de Chanel (£42). My two favourite men's fragrances for the season. The Armani code was purchased for the bf last year and is a great all rounder - a masculine contemporary fragrance with citrus and olive tree blossom that belnds into a slightly woody finish. Bleu de Chanel was a recent purchase that I just couldn't resist. This fragrance really reminds me of the original Abecrombie eau de toilette, but with a sophisticated twist. Incredibly sexy and fresh with notes of sandalwood, jasmine, citrus and incense it wears well and lasts through the day. The bf has given me great feedback and so have many of his female colleagues... perhaps one too many ;)?

Call Of Duty Black Ops (£39.99) - As much as I hate being woken every Saturday morning by the sounds of gunfire I can't deny the fact that pretty much every guy I know loves this game. Whether he has an X-box, PS3 or even a Wii the new COD will occupy him for hours ;). I usually use this time to blog, read or even have a little pamper so it's a win all around!

Ted Baker Shield Wool Winter Coat (£350) - If you want to really treat that special boy and keep him warm, while looking stylish this winter a coat would be a great purchase. The deep navy colour is flattering on any skin tone and does not look as harsh as black, or as 'tatty' as brown. Of course my choice had nothing to do with the doe-eyed male model, but you can't deny he looks gorgeous! The sharp lines and military inspired detailing keep this classic shape modern and sophisticated, while slimming the figure.. for the gentlemen who require a little streamlining ;).

FCUK Brown Leather Belt (£12.99 down from £30) - I always think it's a bit cheeky buying a present on sale, but hey, I won't tell if you don't. Every guy needs a smart belt and though it may not be a very exciting present it will be a useful one that he will probably wear every day!

 

Remington Groom Innovation Navigator All in One Kit (£29.99) - For the man who takes a little more care of himself this is an absolutely fantastic set to cover all his needs (some of which you may not want to know about... nose and ear trimmer anyone?). This kit includes the PG520 unit with up to 60 minutes of cordless usage (that's a whole hour of nose hair trimming!) as well as 5 attachment heads, a body hair trimmer, wide trimmer, fine trimmer, mini-foil shaver, nose & ear trimmer, 3 combs for different hair lengths (1 – 20 mm), charging stand, cleaning brush & oil bottle. Amazing value for so many tools, and you can be sure that he will find something he can use, or something you can convince him to use in the New Year ;)!

TIGI Bed Head for Men Matte Separation Workable Wax (£8.45) - We all know that guy at school, university, in the office that uses too much hair gel. The 90's are over boys, it's time to update your look! This pliable, matte wax will leave hair looking natural, sorry Westlife, and give it a secure hold without looking greasy or setting stiff and crunchy. If you no longer want sticky fingers after running your hands through his hair, sorry Ross from Friends, this may be the budget friendly hint.. umm... gift you are looking for!

I recently read the results of a poll that announced the gift most men want is that of experience, while girls prefer clothes, jewelry, cosmetics and other tangible items (go figure!). I completely agree with this, and even though it may take a little more organisation an 'experience' is a fantastic present. Of course you can chose something your man is already interested in (Super Car Driving, Golf), but I prefer to try something new such as learning a new skill (Cooking Lessons, Wine tasting, Clay Pigeon Shooting - went down a storm for the bf's bday!). Or why not try something unique such as Feeding Big Cats by Hand or a Flying Lesson?

I hope this gives you some ideas ladies! Good Luck and let me know if you have any recommendations :). xxx

Scarlett Johansson snapped by Annie Leibovitz at LA's famous Chateau Marmont. Annie Leibovitz will be showcasing her highly acclaimed exhibition 'A photographer's life 1990-2005' at Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art this month. What a amazing photo.

Pip Edwards. She is a Sydney socialite, famous for her hair, style and Vogue refers to her as "the Pip". She's a freelance stylist and designs accessories for sass and bide. Her ex is Dan Single from Ksubi, she has a three-year-old son and Djs as often as she can.

Refined!

Never thought the winter shadow could be so vivid and slender ~~
no bundle up if I don't have to!! ^^


hum.... I need to take a closer photo to show you Oscar de la Renta earrings.... 
they are huge and they are my ideal statement earrings supposed to be.

You know what's so great about living in west coast/California per se?
You can mix n' match all the clothes altogether all year round.... 
(Oh, no, I don't think I ever wear fur during summer just yet, that's for sure!!! lol.)

My ODJ.

1. Top:

Y-3 Charcoal quarter-sleeves turtle-neck

Lace blouse (bought at Anthro. )

et Vous rabbit fur vest (bought at Pairs 08')

2. Bottom:

Marni gabardine trousers 10' winter edition

3. Accessory:

Oscar de la Renta sapphire earrings

sapphire floral ring

Hermes ostrich belt w/ golden textured buckle

Ivory no-finger gloves w/ studs (you can buy them at shopattherapy.com)

Chanel 10' Rouge/orange 226 caviar reissue 

4. shose:

Christian Louboutin Bianca burgundy kid 140

That's a silly smile of me!~

I think I should find something in Vegas for my dearest darling~~ 

I shipped Christmas gifts to my parents back in Taipei and they told me that they are so happy to open those gifts!! ^^ (That made my day too!!)  

 

How about you, did you find something special for your loved one already?

xoxo Rachel

New CID Cosmetics i-gloss

I have used some New CID Cosmetics before and it's been hit and miss as a brand for me so far. However, I really like these i-gloss Light-Up Lip Glosses in Honeypot (shimmering beigey-pink shade with gold reflects) and Moonstone (a very pale pink with lilac reflects) which are £15.50 each.  Honeypot looks especially eye-catching in the packaging...

The i-gloss products feature a mirror on the side and small lights in the lid which automatically come on when you unscrew the lid.  This is a pretty nifty feature as you can apply your lipgloss anywhere, no matter how bad the lighting is!

This is handy to have on a night out when you go to the toilets, wash your hands but then it's not always easy to stand at the mirror with everyone jostling for position.  So you can step aside and still perfect your lip gloss at least! It would also be handy if you tend to apply your lipgloss in the car/taxi alot.  It's just a great party product to be honest and this time of year is full of opportunities to go out!

I love these two colours but I think I will get the most use out of Honeypot which is a warmer shade that makes your complexion look bright and healthy.  The consistency of these glosses is really nice, non-gritty and they stay put for a long time.  It's a lightweight gel formula with a really nice sponge applicator and I like the way it never feels sticky or gloopy on your lips.  Moonstone looks great over lipsticks like Mac Angel or YSL Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink.  Honeypot would look lovely over Estee Lauder Pure Colour lipstick in Vanilla or Mac Creme De Nude.

As I said, they are £15.50 each and you may think that's a little expensive for a gloss but when you consider that you are getting 6.2g of product, a light and a mirror, I think it's a reasonable deal (for reference, a MAC lipglass is £12 for 4.8g of product).

If you are interested in trying these glosses out, the website Francesco Group is offering this New CID Cosmetics i-gloss set containing 6 of the shades for only £20.40 OR you can get it as a free gift on the New CID Cosmetics website when you purchase any three products from the brand (you also get free shipping on all UK orders or free international shipping when you spend £50 or more).  This little set would be a great way of trying a few different shades. 

I decided to head into town yesterday and tackle all my Christmas shopping in one go. A clever idea?....er, that's a resounding no on that one. It was a nightmare! People pushing and shoving, bags cutting into your hands and I'm pretty sure I've permanently damaged the muscles in my left arm!ha ha. I did get a little distracted whilst out but I'm blaming that solely on my mum, who came along for the ride to help me spend my money (as if I need any assistance in that respect!).

While I was in New Look getting a present, I noticed some cute little brown suedette wedge boots which would make the perfect comfy everyday shoes for trudging around the place.  I have seen nicer, more expensive ones in Dune but I didn't want to spend a fortune on a pair of shoes when I had other presents to get.  Why do I always end up buying things for myself when I go Christmas shopping???  Have you ever done that thing where you get a present for a friend or relative, then you realise you like it too much to give it away and you end up keeping it for yourself and buying them something else? No? Me neither! (ahem.)

Anyways, I had mentioned that I would be on the lookout for some nice cushions for our two brown leather sofas and my mum suggested we go to BHS of all places.  I didn't hold out much hope of finding any nice cushions there but low and behold, I found some!  These long cushions with a sheeny beige and dark grey design on them caught my eye and also the dark grey ones with a flower pattern.  I knew they would be perfect in our livingroom so I got 3 of each.  They finish off the room nicely and they are really good quality too.  The long ones were £22 each and the square ones were £15 but because there was a sale on, we got all 6 for £88.50!  Bargain!

Also, we FINALLY got our acacia wood coffee table delivered after months of waiting for it.  I love how it's really natural and has knots and cracks in it.  It's really solid looking and fits in well with the style of our flat.  We only need a few more things to finish off the room.

I love interior design so I could look at pictures and brochures all day!

Paul and Joe Beaute - Symphony Holiday Collection

Paul and Joe has always been a brand I have admired - mainly for their beautiful packaging, so I was very excited a few weeks ago when I got the chance to learn all about their latest products!

My favourite items in the Holiday Collection is the Symphony Eye and Lip Colour set, which comes in a gorgeous clutch/makeup bag in the stunning pattern that runs all the way through the packaging of this collection. Inside is your choice of two colour palettes - Adagio (£30) for lovers of neutrals and Allegro (£24 -pictured below).

Both sets include a lovely little lip tint with rose detailing and five sheet music eyeshadows. Although they may seem small at first glance each one contains up to 30 applications. The shadows are quite pigmented and smooth. The delicate colours they come in would be easy to apply with your fingers, without fear of being too heavy, making them absolutely perfect for makeup on the go! I think this set would also make a lovely gift, if only for the adorable clutch ;).

The collection also features a pressed powder duo in a case of the same pattern (£14). The duo has both a matte powder for blotting and setting and a shimmering pearl powder crescent for highlighting.

 

The powder is finely milled and lightweight, perfect for that 3pm touch up ;). The shimmer is also very subtle and adds a lovely, natural sheen without being glittery. I have been swirling both together to create a matte look with a little bit of glow.

The Holiday collection also features five nail enamels (£9) - how cute is that packaging, it definitely stands out on my little nail polish shelf!

I was given Orchestral to try (far right) a deep navy with multicoloured specks of glitter. This is the perfect colour for this time of year - dark, but with dimension and character.

I would prefer this colour on shorter nails, but as I am a little overdue for gel infills I had to make do with the talons ;). The application was pretty smooth, building up to an opaque colour in two coats. As with most glitter polishes not as much glitter transfers to the nail as in the bottle, but with a little Seche Vite top coat the sparkles were still visible. Wear has been good with minimal chipping and tip wear (but as I have gels polishes wear better than on natural nails).

More information about Paul and Joe Beaute, including stockists is available here. Just a little heads up if you are looking for a bargain as ASOS are having a little sale on some P&J products (including the pressed powder duo) at the moment ;). 

Do you have any recommendations or favourites from Paul and Joe makeuo? Have you spotted anything from their holiday collection that you are lusting after? xxx