My Christmas Present: the edit

This past Christmas, Cristina has come up with the idea of creating a ‘boxed’ present for the three of us: we would each have a box that the other two ladies would fill up with small bits and such, in order to avoid spending sooooo much money as we usually do.

It also involved minimal packaging and no Christmas wrapping paper, as per Cristina’s new waste-less phase that you can read all about here.

While we did stick to small bits that would fit in the boxes, we did not really stick or set a budget – which only meant I went insane in terms of $$$ (aka. I did not check how much I was spending) and the two ladies went into despair as they both though they were not spending enough for mine. Oh, dear.

So to show off what My Christmas Present contained, and to prove to them the present was not only huge, but also loved, we will start with what mine contained. I am hoping to complete the Christmas saga by the end of this month, before it gets too…Christmassy again?!

{This post contains *affiliate links*, to keep this blog alive at no extra cost to you!}

In no particular order of love, adoration and dismay, see below with links for purchase, if I can find any:

• Dr Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum, here. I have been eyeing this one serum, and even the rest of the stuff from Dr Jart for like ever, but the price tag has always put me slightly off. Have not tried it yet, so feedback on this one soon;
• Eclectic Eccentricity Fall-Ing For You Lapel Brooches in Gold Plate, here. They look absolutely beautiful on the top pockets of my navy wool coat from H&M, and I love how the gold just pops off the navy blue;
• Eclectic Eccentricity Neith Labradorite Moon Phase Necklace, here. So this one has been a favorite of mine lately, with both the look of it and the meaning: labradorite is said to ‘bring out the best in people, temper the negative side of our personality and protect against the negativity and misfortunes of this world’ – I say new fave necklace;
• Eclectic Eccentricity The Land That Time Forgot Dinosaur Necklace in Triceratops, here. Another one for my love of Dinosaurs, the little lava rock behind my Triceratops is such a cute addition to the whole thing, plus gold & black just go so well together and on anything;
• ThisWorks Sleep Balm. As an alternative to my beloved Lush Sleepy Body Cream, I will be using it mainly for traveling, but have not tried it just yet;
• Alice Scott Crazy Plant Lady Enamel Pin, here.
• John Lewis Moonstone Studs, here. These have been worn since day 1, and they are just so cute and finely-looking, I fell in love straight away;
• Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum, here. So, to start with the bad news: Fred picked the wrong scent, and to end with the good news, I still love it and has become easily one of my favorite perfumes ever;
• The Body Shop Moringa Milk Body Lotion, here. Have not used this one yet, but Moringa is possibly my favorite range from The Body Shop, so keep your eyes peeled for feedback on this;
• The Body Shop Seaweed Oil Balancing Toner, here. I have started using it after Christmas, and it smells divine, plus it really works on my skin with the oil and dirt from a long day around town. It’s definitely going to be purchased again – that is once my toner collection is gone down to nil?!;
• The Body Shop Mint Mattifying Face Mist, here. Have been using this on and off – have actually used more my Herbivore one instead…ops! Will see how it goes;
• Lime Crime Matte Velveteens in Red Velvet, here. I have a new-found love for red lippies, and this one is to die for: vegan, cruelty-free, matte and absolutely RED, it’s quickly become a favorite, and will need to get onto more colors soon…;
• Oliver Bonas Cat Velvet Pink Pocket Mirror, no link available. Cutest little bit of mirror, sits in my bag day in, day out;
• Oliver Bonas Cat Velvet Blue Sleeping Mask, no link available. Have not used it yet…;
• Beauty Pro Hand & Foot Renewal Set, here. Sits in a HUUUUGE pile of masks I have been dying to try, but never made an effort to, yay to me;
• Aesop Elemental Facial Barrier Cream, here. Still sealed, have got SO MANY MOISTURISERS;
• Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, here. I have to start this one by saying how much I hated hand creams, as I always found they left my hands sticky – which I hate. The secret was…? Letting it dry. As you can see, not the most patient person, this cream has saved my hands from the cold and has them smell divine, what more could I want?;
• Flamingo Paper Clips, here. For the #bulletjournal freak in me;
• Foamie Sponge + Shower Care Beauty in Fruity, here. As we are hoarders, I have a lot to go through before I will put my hands on this particular one, but the scratchy label outside on the packet gives out a scent I already feel like biting into it…ops!;
• Leaders Amazonian Acai Revitalising Mask, here. Used it, nothing major in my opinion;
• Fenella Smith Toucan and Palm Print Clutch Bag, here. My new ‘period & drugs’ pouch, hides my #beyouperiod patches and just looks too pretty to be real;
• Botanical Lab Willow Bark Pore Minimiser, here. Have not tried it yet, but read very different opinions and use methods so slightly confused?;
• Neal’s Yard English Lavender Bath & Shower Gel, here. So I love this one, but Fred did use my first bottle within days of opening it…hence the present;
• Burt’s Bees Matte Lipstick in Scarlet Soaked, here. This one has got all the good intentions, packaging is recyclable, the actual colour it’s great and it’s vegan+cruelty free, BUT it does not last on my lips, I have to reapply within minutes of applying it and it bothers me to no end;
• Miss Patisserie Bath Slab in Dusk Rose , here. Not tried it yet, smells insane though through the packet;
• Herbivore Hydrate and Glow Mini Natural Skincare Collection, here. Have been using the face mist as it’s made with rose water, yet to try the rest of the set.

ALSO – but not pictured:

• 2 x Frith Street Tattoo Vouchers, from here. I am currently trying to find something I want to get with those two…and it’s proving veeeeery difficult.
• Working Week Pencils, no longer available. Sarcasm on a pencil? Definitely my kind of thing, and the sister knows well, of course.
• ‘Who Needs Boys With This Many Books and Cats‘ Enamel Pin by PunkyPins, from here. YES YES YES – I love all the pins from PunkyPins and this was definitely a favourite.
• ‘The Book of Forgotten Authors‘ by Christopher Fowler, from here*. Have not started it yet, but more on books on a different post.  

How about you – how was your Christmas and how were your presents? Any products from my list you tried and loved? Want to hear from you all!

Find Cristina’s present here.