Boots Christmas Gifts

I love the Boots Christmas catalog!

 Every year, I'm so excited and I can't wait to grab my copy when It comes out, at the beginning of October.

I usually take advantage of the Christmas Events to collect the most points possible and get some stocking fillers for friends and family. I think these sets are fantastic: great value for money, the 3x2 offer is unbelievably good and very nice brands!

Typically, I also end up treating myself - these are my 2012 picks :)

Umberto Giannini Beauty Secrets in a Bag

Firstly, I fell in love with the bag (dah!) - then I was pleasantly surprise with the content too: no styling products (that I don't really use much) but 4 treatment items.

This set targets hydration and, not having particular issues with my hair, I usually go for moisturizing products anyway.

The bag is pretty heavy - you don't get tiny samples in here but I would classify them as full size bottles:

1 shampoo (250ml), 1 conditioner (250ml), 1 mask (200ml) and 1 leave-in conditioner (200ml).

I have only tried one product from Umberto Giannini before - the Sleek & Chic Easy Straight Blow Dry Spray - and I was so impressed that it's one of my favourite hair product ever... so I have high hopes for this items as well.

The bag will also come in handy: it has a zip compartment inside that will be perfect to store small jewellery and rings whilst travelling.

Ted Baker The Name On Everyone's Lips

Again, the packaging is a beauty! I mean, look at this tin: it's not some floppy piece of cardboard but it will last forever, love the design and it also got a cute ballet shoes print inside.

I really like lip pencils/crayons/chubbysticks... however you wanna call them (Ted Baker calls them pens!) and I was attracted by the colours in this set, too.

At first, the colours may look quite 'ordinary' but I actually couldn't find any dupes in my current collection.

The shades don't have names so I will just call them 1,2,3,4 - left to right - for the sake of this post.

Shades 1 & 3 are the most interesting to me... they are quite bright pinks, with 1 being corally, too.

Shades 2 & 4 instead, I was mostly worried about because I don't suit purples on my lips... I was pleasantly surprise as they are very wearable and flattering.

top to bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4

All of them have a great colour pay off and they are very glossy on the lips. I find they last 4/5 hours on me, getting a bit dry and loosing the shine but leaving the pigmentation behind.

Only criticism is the packaging: the actual crayons don't feel properly attached inside and a bit wobbly, in fact shade 4 is already broken after 1 use.

To be honest, I can't be bothered to return it and exchange it and I managed to push it back inside; I reckon I can still use them with a lip brush, if they all happen to have the same issue, in the future.

For the price, tho... I can't recommend them enough!

Have you got your eyes set on any gift from Boots?

x