Glowing this Holiday Season with Liberty London
This year instead of having that naughty bit of chocolate (my guilty pleasure) every morning to count down the days until Christmas, I opted for the Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar. A full month of starting each day with a new beauty product to try and test… a beauty lover’s dream! Now I know that there was likely no way that I would love all 25 products, so before I dig into my top 10, I’d first like to showcase what I didn’t like and what I did to ensure the least amount of waste possible.
The presentation of the advent calendar itself is stunning, for Jasmine it was almost life size! We loved starting every morning during the holiday season together pulling out the newest product. I believe in #lessismore and the importance of not buying beauty products that are just going to gather dust on the shelf, a lesson I’d like to pass on to Jasmine! Even the box itself I can reuse for next year and fill with little treats for Jasmine to enjoy! With products I didn’t love, like the FRANK BODY lip balm which unfortunately contains lanolin, something I am allergic to, I gifted to a friend. Another good way to make the most of products that are not being used is to donate to charity. Last year I enjoyed preparing a care package of an array on beauty products I received in event goodie bags or gifted to me and I couldn’t use to the Whitechapel Mission who donate to the homeless. It’s all about sharing the love with others less fortunate, especially when those products might ordinarily go to waste. Now that we’ve covered ways to be more conscious, lets dive into the highlights of the advent calendar that were tried and tested by yours truly.
1. Susanne Kaufmann Oil Bath for the Senses - The perfect relaxing bath oil after a strenuous day on the slopes (not complaining, I got to spend 4 whole days on the slopes thanks to my sweet husband’s decision to opt-out and watch Jasmine instead). The mix of ylang ylang, patchouli and lavender oils is truly divine and also hydrates parched winter skin to keep skin GLOWING!
2. Votary Super Seed Facial Oil - This was a delightful surprise as it is one product I have been always meaning to try but was never out of my other serums to justify spending on a full-sized bottle. I love that it’s a plant-based remedy with a whopping 22 seed oils packed in it. I used it on a plane while traveling this holiday season and it was perfectly nourishing for my post-flight GLOW!
3. Le Labo TONKA 25 - Wow oh wow, this perfume is so fruity and spicy! It’s on the masculine side in comparison to the normal fragrances I go for but really refreshing. It was fun to take it on my ski trip and enjoy this new scent instead of lugging my large bottles of usual perfume.
4. Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist - I personally believe that you can never get enough of this mist, the perfect wake up call, on flight freshener and a must-have handbag product. It’s not your average mist either with orange blossom, rose and sage waters to truly deliver deep minerals and hydration to the skin. The formula was inspired by the world’s first recorded perfume. Again, I just can’t get enough of this incredible mist!
5. Hair by Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo - The name of this product says it all and it was quite the life-saver while I was traveling. The scent is incredible and when I’m feeling lazy with washing my hair, but a night out is on the calendar, this is the perfect savior that refreshes and volumizes all at once.
6. REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm - I love an overnight cream, so much so that I have a collection at the side of my bed and just enjoy the magic of night products while we sleep. I love this brand overall and readily use their toner as part of my daily routine. This product is an incredible balm-to-oil product upon contact with the skin and works to deeply hydrate while you sleep. The perfect addition to your winter skin routine!
7. Herbivore Botanicals Orchid Youth-Preserving Facial Oil - This was another perfect in-flight product for me. I used this during my long haul flight to Dubai. Truly the ultimate GLOW booster and a great way to give my face a little massage before trying to sleep on the night flight (mouse made that impossible) but at least I arrived with my glow ON!
8. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Botanical Cream Deodorant - I suffer from a hair follicle skin condition that can lead to horribly painful cysts under my armpits that can only go away with strong antibiotics or use aluminum-free deodorant, so this was a product after my own heart. This is a must-try in my opinion as it is natural and keeps you refreshed for a long time. Win, win, win!
9. Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Translucent Setting Powder - I used this powder on top of my concealer and tinted moisturizer to set my makeup especially when I know I will be running around with Mouse and getting hot and bothered. This was the perfect travel-sized number to throw in my makeup bag for on the go touch-ups.
10. Byredo Rinse-Free Hand Wash - As a mummy, this was a dream to test as it was the easiest hand wash for a mummy on the GLOW, no need for water, just a quick smudge of cream and your hands feel refreshed. This non-greasy lotion gets rid of bacteria and dirt while leaving a sweet fragrance behind.
Overall, I will definitely invest in another advent calendar for next year, its a great chance to try new products for a fraction of the cost (this advent calendar was worth over £610!). Most of these products I’ve heard of but have just gone past in the beauty hall so it was nice to trial them and understand how amazing they truly are! Now the only question remains…which beauty advent calendar to get next year?!
Which beauty advent calendar always catches your eye? Any recommendations for which to try in December 2020? Drop me a note in the comments below or at stephanie.abri@icloud.com.
XO Steph
