An introduction to Weleda.

Skincare posts are always a bit tricky, as everyone is different and what might work for me, might not work for other people. I do, however, love to test new products and recently I got the chance to try out a few numbers from Weleda, a brand I've always been familiar with, but never actually dipped my toe into. Here's a little roundup of the products I've been using lately.

First up is the Almond Soothing Facial Cream (£13.95)*, a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer that sinks in quickly, leaving the skin smooth and even. The consistency is fairly thick, but not so heavy that it does leave an oily residue on the skin. It does feel calming and soothing, but it's very basic and I wish it was more hydrating, as I notice some dryness creeping back on my cheeks and forehead through the day when I wear this.

Next up, the Pomegranate Firming Face Serum (£34.95)* was a huge let down for me. It caused a truly nasty breakout I'm still trying to recover from - shame on me for not checking out the ingredient list first, there's so much alcohol inside this serum, the fact that my face didn't fall off it's a miracle itself -. This is quite expensive but the formula doesn't live up to expectations - it leaves the skin dry and feeling tight, which is simply bad, especially as it's designed for more mature skins. Leave this one.

During the colder months I seem to go through lip balms like there's no tomorrow and stick balms like the Everon Lip Balm (£4.95)* are ideal to have in your handbag when you're out and about, especially on colder days. If you don't mind the rather heavy fragrance, this is a good option, moisturizing and really soothing for chapped lips.

I'm a huge fan of face oils so a product I really enjoyed trying out is the Wildrose 7 Day Beauty Treatment (£6.60)*, a regimen for stressed skin in 7 vials. The oil blend plumps and nourishes tired skin, leaving it looking healthy and more luminous. It takes a few minutes to sink in and offers the perfect excuse for a good face massage, which combined with the aroma really helps unwind at the end of the day. A good one for stressful periods

Another product I have a lot of love for is the Pomegranate Regenerating Body oil (£21.95)*, a lovely post-shower treatment to condition the skin and leave me relaxed and ready for bed. This smells so good - sweet and sour like ripe pomegranates, very Holiday appropriate - and the scent lingers on the skin for hours once you step out of the shower. I rub a few drops on damp skin, as it absorbs more easily if the skin is not completely dry, and I'm ready to slip into my pyjamas right away. A great winter staple, I definitely recommend it.

Have you tried Weleda?

*Press samples

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Christmas makeup medley - Drugstore edition.

Red and gold for Christmas - I know, groundbreaking. But you know what they say, if it ain't broken, don't fix it, right? To bring a little spice to an old and beloved classic, however, I thought I'd give my luxury products the day off and put together a full drugstore face for the party season instead. I just got my hands on a couple of drugstore goodies I couldn't wait to try and my stash is already packed with little budget gems that could give a run for their money to a few expensive picks. So, today I'm giving you the chance to rummage through my holiday makeup bag and see what I'm gonna wear for the big day. Here it goes.

Starting with the base, I'll definitely be reaching for the L'Oreal Infallible 24h Matte Foundation (£8.99), which is my absolute favourite when I need my foundation to stay put till bedtime. With it's dreamy formula and great coverage, it makes my skin look flawless but still very natural and never flat and dull. For a pop of lit-from-within glow, the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer (£9.99) - a great budget dupe for MAC's Strobe Lotion this one - is the most obvious choice, as it makes a lovely little duo with the Infallible foundation.
Finally, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£3.99) is the perfect number to cover everything from dark circles to redness and blemishes, and subtly illuminate the under-eye area. It's like a matte take on the Nars Radiant concealer, I love it.

For my cheeks I'm still completely in love with the Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso (£4.27). A must-have shade for fair skin tones, it's radiant and brightening, and the baked formula is just lovely to work with. The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder 01 (£13) is also back on rotation. It's matte, but it looks almost satin on the skin and gives subtle definition to the contours of the face with an healthy finish. It's my top bronzer for this time of the year.

To define my brows, I picked up the Bourjois Brow Natural Pen in Blonde (£6.99) on a whim during the Black Friday sales and I haven't used it yet, but the shade - a golden light brown - looks perfect for me and the nib draws super fine hair-like strokes, which is quite promising. I'll keep you posted on this one.

Eye makeup wise, I've decided to skip primer entirely and use the Bourjois Colorband 2-in-1 Eyeshadow & Liner in Beige Minimaliste (£5.99) instead, as it's waterproof and once it sets it won't budge - it lasts ages on my eyes and it's so easy to use and blend, and makes for a lovely base for any powder eyeshadow.
The Tanya Burr Hollywood Eye Palette (£6) is for sure the most festive appropriate palette in my stash - with three eyeshadows and one glitter topper it reminds me of the Charlotte Tilbury quads, and even if the quality isn't as good, these are absolutely amazing for the price. The combination of vanilla, light gold, rich brown and glittery bronze is pretty fool proof and perfect for simple day-to-day looks or for something more glamorous and party-ready.

Big, bold lashes add the finishing touch to the soft smokey look - I'm forever repurchasing the Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara (£10.99), it's almost impossible to remove but it keeps my lashes nice and curved for ages and it's blacker than black. And for a bit of extra drama I adore the Eyelure Fleur de Force Fleur Loves lashes (£5.25), which are the perfect 3/4 falsies for fluttery volume and a bit of lift at the outer corners.

At last, and I'm sure everyone saw it coming, I'll be slathering on the Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Standout (£7.99), which is one of my favourite reds of all time. It's matte but it glides on like a dream and is super pigmented. I find that it lasts forever on my lips but it's also really easy to touch up and I won't have to worry too much about it as I cheerfully stuff my face.

What will you be wearing on Christmas Day? Are you sticking with the classics or going for a different look?
Have a lovely Christmas everyone! Mwah!

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Dreaming of a LUSH Christmas.

Oh oh oh! It can't be Christmas without a good ol' trip to Lush, right? They do some of the cutest little gift sets and festive shopping for friends and family is just the perfect cover-up for some well deserved self gratification. I should warn you though, if you're anything like me you might barely have room to move in your bathroom after said trip, but the delicious lingering scent and the thought of all the amazing pampering sessions you're gonna have during the Holidays will make everything alright, I promise.

Some of my favourite Lush products of all time are Christmas limited editions and I always make sure to stock up on those for the months ahead. Snowcake Soap (£3.50) is one of my forever repurchases. I adore the yummy marzipan scent and it's so nourishing it really helps my hands stay soft and smooth during the colder months. My other staple is Yog Nog Soap (£3.50) - clearly I'm a sucker for anything that smells like dessert - which is just divine. With soya yoghurt and coconut oil, it's uber moisturizing and extra creamy, perfect to cleanse the skin without leaving it feeling dry. And do I need to mention the mouthwatering creme brulèe fragrance? Heavenly.

I'm not usually one for rose scented products, but I've been converted with Rose Jam Shower Gel (£4.95)*. To me, it smells like vanilla and sour candies with a very subtle flowery hint. It's a really relaxing and calming blend, perfect to take the edge off and de-stress before bed, and the warming scent lingers in my bathroom for hours afterwards.
Another great pick for any shower lover is Salt & Peppermint Bark Shower Scrub (£5.95)*. I haven't used a scrub bar in ages but this reminded me why I used to love them so much. It's a moisturizer and an exfoliator in one, with fine grains of salt to gently brush away dry patches, cocoa butter too soothe and nourish chapped skin, and a drop of peppermint oil that leaves a light clean scent on the skin.

When it comes to bath treats I usually make a beeline straight for the bubble bars and as soon as I saw it I knew The Magic of Christmas Reusable Bubble Bar (£5.95) had to come home with me. Isn't this the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen? This lovely little magic wand smells so festive, it's warm and cozy but also uplifting thanks to the cinnamon, clove and orange mix in it. I'm a bit sad to use this but I also can't wait to soak in many lovely golden baths.

Star Dust Bath Bomb (£2.95)* sadly lasted only one bath but it was certainly worth it - loved the star-shaped confettis! -. Vanilla and Rosewood oil set the bases for a very relaxing bath but the bergamot oil adds a little citrus kick to the mix. Definitely one to use if you need to re-charge your batteries after a long day of Christmas shopping.

Another favourite that always finds a way into my basket is So White Bath Bomb (£3.65). I'm not entirely sure if this is a Christmas exclusive but the crunchy apple scent is simply perfect for the Holiday season and never fails to put a huge smile on my face as it fizzles away in the tube, turning the water pastel pink.

Finally, Santa's Belly Shower Jelly (£3.95) has to be my favourite product of the lineup. I adore the deep red colour shot through with little stars, it's super festive, but what really sold me on this one is the gorgeous apple cyder frangrance. It's such a happy scent, a good one if you're feeling a bit under the weather, I'm kind of obsessed with it.
If sour apple is not something that tickles your fancy, I highly recommend Snowman Shower Jelly (£3.95)*, a cute little snowman that smells like carrots and it's infused with Sicilian lemon and bergamot oils to cleanse and energize. Adorable.

Have you tried anything from Lush lately?

*Press samples

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November favourites.

Picking up my favourites for the month has been quite challenging this time - I've been testing out a few new things in November and while I've found some nice numbers that will definitely pop up on the blog in the near future, not many have become month long-staples in my routine. There were, however, a handful of products I couldn't get enough of and they're absolutely fab and worthy of some very high praise.

It's that time of the year when my skin gets more and more dry and sensitive and the only way to stop my face from falling off is to pile on all the moisture I can and pray for the best. To bring immediate relief to my thirsty skin I've been reaching everyday for the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist (£18), a lovely spray on-moisturizer, infused with hyaluronic acid, black oat extract and a bunch of vitamins. This stuff is fantastic for my parched complexion that instantly feels more supple and quenched. It's happy skin in a bottle, I'll never be without it.

The Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask (£44) is a long-time favourite of mine that has become a weekly staple for me lately. Every time my skin looks dull and lackluster or feels irritated and congested, I slap on a good helping of this dreamy product and leave it to work its magic. I love it because it does literally everything you might want from a mask, it cleanses and refines my pores, lightly exfoliates and brightens my skin, and feels truly moisturizing and calming. It's an absolute skin saviour.

With Lush Salted Coconut Hand Scrub (£7.95) has been love at first use. It's a gentle scrub, perfect to tend to dry hands this time of the year, as it leaves them soft and nourished. Then there's the scent. Rich and coconut-y but with a twist of lemon juice and sea salt that lift the whole mix. So delicious and long-lasting on the skin, I adore it.

The first makeup pick is quite predictable as I've been chatting about it non-stop - speaking of, have you entered my Holiday giveaway yet? -. I really can't fault the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (£30), it's such a pretty highlighter, soft to the touch and easy to blend. It's one of the most pigmented luminizers I've ever tried, so if you're after some serious strobing this one is for you, otherwise a light hand and a fan brush are your best friends.

At last, apparently my lipstick collection wasn't already big enough as I felt the need to add another vampy shade to my stash. S. is the worst enabler and as soon as I saw it on her, I knew Chanel Rouge Allure in Rouge Noir (£26) had to be mine. Of course we have very different skin tones, but Rouge Noir is that kind of shade - a super chic deep wine with a satin finish - that seems to flatter all and is simply stunning on my pale skin. Me love.

What beauty products did you love in November?

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Giveaway: Becca glow on the go.

Now, my love for travel sizes and value sets is no secret! I'm always on the hunt for cute kits and new products to try and the Becca Glow on the go set is just my most cherished find at the minute. I'm a huge fan of Becca and their Shimmering Skin Perfectors, and this set includes a miniature size of my current favourite hue, Opal, both in liquid and pressed form. The creamy version is simply amazing, easy to blend and incredibly versatile, as you can either wear it underneath or over your base or even mix it with your foundation for a gorgeous dewy look. On the other hand, I've only used the pressed offering a few times, but I can already tell why everyone praises it so much. It's a soft rose-golden champagne that really packs a punch and will suit many different skin tones. It's the kind of highligther that can be seen from space if you go all out in the evening, but with the right brush and a light hand it can also be sheered out for the day. I love it!

As the Holiday season is well and truly upon us, it seemed fitting that I gave one of you the chance to try these amazing products and rock your glowy skin during the festivities.

You can enter no matter where you are in the world via the Rafflecopter form below - don't forget to give a quick read through the T&Cs. Be sure to follow Strawberry Makeup bag on Bloglovin and leave a comment down here, telling me what's your must have beauty product for winter. Everything else is optional but as usual much appreciated.
The giveaway will run for two weeks to end on December 15th midnight GMT+1 and the winner will be contacted in the following 48 hours. I'll try my best to deliver this as quickly as possible and allow you to enjoy your prize during the Holiday season.

Whether you read every post or this is your first time visiting, thanks so much for reading my blog, it means the world to me. I'll keep my fingers crossed and wish you all good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Che io letteralmente impazzisca per taglie da viaggio e mini set non è certo un segreto. Sono sempre alla ricerca di piccoli kit, adorabili e perfetti per provare nuovi prodotti, ed il Becca Glow on the go set è solo l'ultimo tesoro che ho scovato. Sono una grande fan del makeup di Becca ed in particolare degli Shimmering Skin Perfectors, e questo set contiene due mini taglie della mia tonalità preferita del momento, Opal, in forma liquida ed in cialda pressata. La versione cremosa è semplicemente favolosa, facile da sfumare ed incredibilmente versatile, dato che si può indossare sia sotto sia sopra la base e persino mischiare al fondotinta per un meraviglioso tocco di luce con un effetto quasi bagnato. D'altra parte, la versione in polvere non è da meno e sebbene l'abbia provata solo una manciata di volte, già capisco perché tutti impazziscano per questo prodotto. E' una polvere color champagne che tende leggermente all'oro rosa, dalla pigmentazione intensa ed adatta ad un ampia varietà di incarnati. E' il tipo di illuminante che si vede dallo spazio, perfetto per la sera, ma con il pennello giusto ed una mano leggera si presta anche ad un'applicazione più sheer ed all'uso quotidiano. Lo amo!

Visto che oggi inizia ufficialmente il conto alla rovescia per Natale, ho pensato che fosse l'occasione perfetta per dare ad uno di voi la possibilità di provare questi prodotti meravigliosi e sfoggiare una pelle luminosa da svenimento durante le Feste.

Potete partecipare al giveaway, indipendentemente da dove vi trovate nel mondo, tramite il form di Rafflecopter qui sopra - non dimenticate di dare un'occhiata alla sezione Termini&Condizioni. Condizioni obbligatorie per la partecipazione sono seguire Strawberry Makeup bag su Bloglovin e commentare questo post dicendomi qual è il vostro prodotto skincare o makeup must have per l'inverno. Tutto il resto è opzionale ma come sempre molto apprezzato.

Il giveaway terminerà a mezzanotte di martedì 15 Dicembre ed il vincitore sarà selezionato e contattato nelle 48 ore seguenti. Cercherò di spedire il premio il più in fretta possibile così che possiate godervelo già durante le Feste.

Che siate lettori fedeli o che sia la prima volta che passate di qui, grazie infinite per aver letto il mio blog. Significa tantissimo per me. Incrocio le dita ed auguro a tutti buona fortuna!