MY ULTIMATE 2018 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE.

The annual Manchester Christmas Light Switch-On took place last Saturday evening and this event, together with the fact that the eagerly anticipated Christmas markets have just opened is, and I really can’t deny this, making me extremely excited about the upcoming festivities.

I mean, I know it’s still super early, but as soon as these things begin to happen and all the Christmas lights and decorations begin to appear, I just can’t help but get a few butterflies in my tummy!

It’s no secret that I absolutely love this time of year and so it kind of goes without saying that when it comes to Christmas, I like to be as prepared as possible. I like to plan and purchase all my presents at least eight weeks in advance and it’s usually around this time that I start scouring Pinterest for decoration inspiration.

Our First Christmas In Our House Last Year 💜

At this point, you are fully free to call me ‘Mrs Christmas’. I’m totally okay with that.

Anyway, for this blog post, I thought I would share my festive spirit with you all and give you a little much-needed Christmas gift-spiration.

I’ve divided this post into two sections ‘Christmas Gifts For Him’ and ‘Christmas Gifts For Her’, and you know what? If I do say so myself, I think I’ve done a pretty good job!

So, without any further ado, let’s get to it!

Christmas Gifts For Her

I just adore shopping for all the lovely ladies in my life and so writing up this ‘gifts for her’ section was really enjoyable.

Here are my top Christmas gifts for the ladies this year…

1. Lee Stafford Rainbow Shine Waver

I was gifted this incredible hair styling gadget by the amazing team at NBPR and Lee Stafford a few weeks back, and I’ve been obsessed with it since the very first time I put it to use.

The perfect tool for creating both tight and loose curls alike, this curling wand is just as effective as it is pretty.

I love the rainbow-effect wand and the fact that this is so easy to use really appeals to me.

I love it, and I’m sure you will, too!

2. Lee Stafford Argan Oil Straighteners

Another must-have from the hair styling experts at Lee Stafford, these argan oil infused hair straighteners promise to make those tresses super sleek and shiny, all whilst protecting the hair from heat damage.

3. Magnitone London BareFaced 2

As my regular readers will know, I could go on about how obsessed I am with this beauty tool forever.

The Magnitone BareFaced 2 has completely reinvented my skincare routine and already, after just a few weeks, I have already noticed an enormous improvement in both the appearance & overall texture of my skin. So, if you’ve got a friend or family member whose skincare obsessed & constantly on the lookout for new things they can try, then this is the perfect present for them. I honestly can’t recommend it enough!

I recently reviewed the Magnitone BareFaced 2, so if you'd like more info on this device, be sure to check out my post 'Why You Need The Magnitone London BareFaced 2 Cleansing & Toning Brush.'

4. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

Having just bought this for myself and absolutely loving it, there was just no way I could create a Christmas gift guide without giving it a mention.

The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser is perfect for giving the skin an instant boost of radiance without the need for foundation. Of course, be wary of who you are buying for with this one, as someone who isn’t entirely happy or confident with their skin may prefer a foundation instead. But, if, like me, they prefer lighter formulas with a nice dewy finish, then this stuff is ideal.

5. Tancream

You guys know just how much I love my fake tan and my latest faux glow discovery comes in the form of a gorgeous cream formula that I just can’t get enough of.

Tancream retails at just over £40 so admittedly, it isn’t the cheapest of tans, but believe me, when you see the results, you’ll totally understand the price!

This tan is ideal for anyone who loves having bronzed, beautiful skin without the risk of any dangerous sun exposure. In fact, this tan is actually studded with SPF 50 to shield the skin from the sun and protect from its rays.

So, for any fake tan worshipper like myself, this stuff makes for the ideal gift. If you'd like to read my full review of Tancream, head over to my post 'Why You Need To Try Tancream.'

5. Faith Ankle Boots

I picked up these pointed toe ankle boots from Faith in Debenhams last week and I’m absolutely obsessed! 

The pointed toe adds an instant ‘high fashion’ look to any outfit, making this cute pair the ideal Christmas present for any style-loving lady.

6. NEEK Organics Lipsticks

If you ask me, a new lipstick at Christmas time is just an absolute must, and right now, I just can’t get enough of the gorgeous NEEK Organics vegan lipsticks. 

These lippies are amazing - so nourishing and softening on the lips, and the colours are simply beautiful. 

NEEK Organics have a whole host of shades to choose from, but I’m particularly loving these two nudes!

If you'd like to check out my full NEEK Organics Lipstick review, then head over to my post 'What I Think Of The Neek Cosmetics Vegan Lipsticks.'

7. Magnitone Well Heeled Express Pedicure System

Give your friend or family member the gift of gorgeous looking feet this Christmas with the amazing Magnitone Pedicure System. 

This fabulous, easy-to-use device targets hardened and dry skin, shaving away the ‘bad stuff’ and leaving you with soft, smooth, supermodel-like feet. Perfect! 

8. Palmer’s Goodies

You guys know just how much I love Palmer’s and having done my research, I know that pretty much everybody else on the planet does, too! 

The fabulous team at Fuel PR recently sent me a gorgeous new batch of Palmer’s goodies and when I opened up the box, it literally did feel like Christmas had come early. So, I simply had to feature their goodies in this list! 

I’m particularly loving the Palmer’s lip balms right now as they’re so nourishing and softening in this bitter autumn/winter weather.

9. Luxury Designer Handbag

If you’re not particularly on any kind of budget or you simply feel like splurging the cash on someone you love, then why not treat them to a gorgeous new designer handbag? 

I love luxury handbags and right now, there are so many beautiful ones to choose from! 

Some of my favourite brands include Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Aspinal Of London. So, if you’re looking for a little bag-spiration, then make sure you check these out!

Christmas Gifts For Him

1. Black Leopard Skincare

I don’t know about you, but I always find men that teeny little bit more difficult to buy for at Christmas than I do women. However, when I wrote down this list of ideas, I was actually amazed at how many cool gift suggestions popped into my head. 

Anyway, the first thing on this list I am going to suggest is skincare - more specifically, Black Leopard skincare. 

The lovely team at Fuel PR recently gifted me a selection of Black Leopard skincare products for men, and having tried and tested them out on my hubby-to-be, Marc, I can confirm that these goodies most certainly get the thumbs up. 

Marc usually shies away from skincare products, but he loved the packaging of the Black Leopard stuff, and he also enjoyed the ‘manly’ scent, too! But, most importantly, he was really impressed with how fresh his skin looked afterwards.

2. Mulberry Card Holder

Men love a little luxury just as much is women do, so if you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas, why not buy him something a bit lavish? 

This gorgeous Mulberry card holder costs £125 and it’s one of those things that he will keep forever. 

Marc was actually gifted this by his work colleagues a couple of years back, and he still absolutely loves it.

3. Ralph Lauren Bomber Jacket

If he loves to dress smart-casual, then this Ralph Lauren bomber jacket is bound to get s big thumbs up! 

I bought Marc this jacket for his birthday back in September, and whenever he wears it, he always gets tons of compliments (which obviously, makes me very happy!) 

Ralph Lauren goods are always of such a high quality and they wash really well, too. I also love the fact that their stuff is so timeless. They don’t follow any specific trends - they simply make great clothes and accessories that always look fab.

3. Beer Chalice

Sometimes, you just can’t go wrong with a good old novelty gift set, so if you’re really, really confused and have no idea what to get him, feel free to opt for something simple - like a beer chalice! 

A fail-safe pressie, branded beer chalices always get the seal of approval we’re after & they’re always going to get used a lot, too. Winner, winner!

4. Football Tickets Or An Experience Day

Give him the gift of an amazing memory by booking him some football tickets or an amazing unique experience. 

If he doesn’t really follow sport but he’s into his cars, why not look into booking a race car driving experience? I’ve heard great things and it’s something he’d never think to book for himself.

5. Chocolate Hamper

Let’s face it, who doesn’t love chocolate?! At Christmas time in particular, chocolate is just completely impossible to resist, so, you know what I say? Give into temptation! 

There’s nothing wrong with a little treat during the festive season and right now, there are tons of incredible chocolate hampers to choose from. 

I’m a particularly big fan of Hotel Chocolat. Their hampers are just so luxurious and their chocolate really is completely second-to-none. I always treat my friends and family members to some of their goodies, and they always go down really well.

5. Designer Sunglasses

A few years back, I bought Marc a pair of personalised Ray Ban Clubmaster sunglasses for Christmas, and I’ll honestly never forget how chuffed he was when he opened them up. 

Designer sunglasses are such a lovely thing to own and again, something I think that many of us probably wouldn’t think to just go out and treat ourselves to. So, they make for an amazing present idea. 

For guys, I really do think that Ray Ban are just an absolute fail-safe, but Tom Ford, Burberry & Armani do some amazing styles, too.

What will you be buying for your loved ones this year? I’d love to hear all your present ideas, so be sure to drop a comment below & share! 

In the meantime, I hope you all loved this blog post just as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I can’t wait to share more with you very soon! 

Lots of love,

Grace x