Holiday Gift Sets: Wander Beauty

I have tried a lot of Wander Beauty products and there are quite a few I really like. Pictured above are some of the favorites in my collection. The Staycation mask is really good for hydration (no surprise there) and is something I turn to routinely in the wintertime. If you are interested in a more fulsome review, it featured on a Face mask Friday post a while back and you can read about it here. The Do Not Disturb Overnight Repair Concentrate was a part of my Skincare routine from July 2nd – September 3rd, 2021And I liked it enough to pick up a second one. In fact I pulled it out of my skin care drawer because I need to rotate a night mask into my current routine and I will be adding this in. The baggage claim Eye masks are long term faves and this, my last set, will be slipped into my travel bag before i leave for Thanksgiving and reordered once I return.

In fact the Baggage Claim Under Eye Masks feature in several of Wander Beauty’s Holiday sets this year. Which isn’t surprising since they are really nice eye masks and because they travel really well. This year Wander Beauty has the Eye masks in Festive Fuchsia for a limited time. ($26 for a pack of 6)

Wander Beauty also offers a 24 piece variety pack ($75) this set includes not only the Limited Edition Festive Fuchsia Baggage Claim Masks but the original gold and the rose gold sets as well.

Whatever color you use they all are fabulous. they are light weight and stay in place well so if you want to put them on while getting things done around the house they are easy to wear and you don’t have to worry about them slipping. Last year my mother and each wore a set while wrapping Christmas gifts. And then after got dressed for the holiday gathering. (where we handed out the presents we just wrapped, timing slipped a little last year).

They are great for a pre makeup ritual and they really help to depuff the eyes which is why they are onw of the products I keep around for allergy season. Actually during allergy season i like to put them on and then while they sit I will lightly roll over them with a jade roller. It pushes more of the serum in and the coolness of the stone is also beneficial to allergic eyes. So for me the larger pack is always a good idea. I like the way they feel and I love that they don’t leave any sticky residue on the skin when you peel them off.

The eye masks also feature this year in the Wander X Tenoverten Mask and Mani Set ($46). With this set you get six of the original gold Baggage Claim under eye masks and three nail polishes from TenoverTen. The colors are R&R (Soft Pink), First Class (Metallic Gold) and Soirée (Berry). I have tried the Ten over Ten top coat called Outlast. It is designed to make the polish chip resistant and I found it to be a really good quality top coat. i have never actually tried any of their nail polishes before. If they work as good as the top coat then I would consider this a very good deal. Each of their nail polishes retails for $12 on their own and the masks are a $26 value so you you get over $60 worth of product for the price.

I think that is one of the things that I really like about Holiday Bundles in general. You can get long time favorite products, try new things and get a great deal into the bargain.

Of course not all of the Holiday Bundles from Wander Beauty are about the under eye masks. (I just go through so many of them that I gravitate there first). One of the sets that really interests me this year is the Skincare essentials set. it is a Duo of the Drift Away Cleanser and the Dive in Moisturizer. I have never tried either product actually. I know I love the Do Not Disturb Overnight treatment so I am pretty sure the Dive In moisturizer would work well for me too, but if I am honest I am most interested in trying out the Drift Away Cleanser. It is a gel to foam cleanser that is supposed to provide the effect of a double cleanse without stripping the skin.

You know I love a double cleanse. And the few cleansers I have tried that have been gel to foam or cream to foam have been transitions I really like because the initial form (gel or cream) really lets me see where i put the cleanser so i can make sure i have in fact covered my whole face and am washing everything. I know that sounds a little strange, but I am not at my best first thing in the morning and the visual cue is helpful. I’m better after coffee, but still I like the transformative cleansers. I’m actually using a cream to foam cleanser at the moment.

Which I suppose it just long way round to say that I like this bundle.

They also have non skin care bundles this holiday season. Two of them caught my eye. The first is the Double Date Mini Lip and Cheek Set ($25). There are six mini lip and cheek products which is all of their lip and cheek shades plus the new release Spring Fling. I love this set for several reasons. One I would get to try every shade Wander Beauty has of the Lip and Cheek Creams. That right there is a bonus. i mean how often do you get to try out an entire lines worth of shades in one set?

Also I have really been liking cream blushes lately. the ones I like give me a great deal of control with blending and pigmentation level. (Of course the ones i don’t like provide a degree of angst, but that is the way with every product). I have been eying the Wander Beauty Double Date Creams for a while trying to decide which color suits me. And the ones that don’t work as Blushes on me look like they would be fab as lip products. And I will never say no to lip products. there is also something aesthetically appealing about the clear plastic rounds. Youi can see the product at a glance so you can quickly pick the shade you want and honestly they just look attractive. Plus, you know I already wanted to try them. Sort of a no brainer that I’d like it.

Of course you can’t forget the mascara. I have to say I am amused by this next bundle. It is the Eye-tinerary mascara Duo ($35). I have tried both mascaras and liked them both. They are just both good products. Personally I like the Unlashed a little bit more. I like the curved wand and if I had to pick i will generally go for volume over lengthening in a mascara. If I can get both great, but if not I will lean towards volume. So of course I go for the Unlashed which is a volumizing mascara. My cousin on the other hand loves length and absolutely adores the Mile High Club Mascara. Unsurprisingly, it has great lengthening properties.

So we predictably disagree on which mascara is the best. I know as far as serious debates go it doesn’t hold a candle to anything but when others get into more heated arguments about far more important (and family damaging) disagreements the debate between length and volume has served to break up the tension.(And when it doesn’t works there always the Smurfs Vs. Snorks debate to fall back on for diffusing tempers, admittedly that debate might show my age a bit). Regardless, I find it amusing to see both mascaras in the same bundle. I also think it is a great deal as both are in fact really good mascaras.

If you just want to try the Wander Beauty Mascaras without committing to a full sized tube they also have a trio of mini mascaras ($35) It has both the Unlashed and the Mile High Club as well as the Upgraded Lashes thickening Mascara. I have not tried that one so I can’t speak to it, but the other two are fantastic.

There are other Holiday sets available this year from Wander Beauty and honesty they all look well worth the price. these are just the ones that caught my eye. If you are looking to try items from the brand, stock up on favorites or seek out gifts for the skin care or makeup loving family member, there are several items on the Wander Beauty Holiday Sets page well worth looking into.

Holiday Gift Sets: Tatcha Skincare

It should come as no surprise that Tatcha Skincare made my list of Holiday sets to look out for this year. I have tried a lot of their products at this point, some of them in the full sized (and on repeat purchase) and some oly in the travel sizes. Since each order from the brand comes with several samples, I actually have almost a full skin care regimen’s worth of samples to use as well. I will end up doing a foil packet skin care day soon actually so i can clear some of them out and decide what I want to purchase in the full size.

My favorite product is of course the Silk Canvas Balm primer. It is makeup with a heavy skincare element and it is one of my favorite products. what I really like about the brand is that in addition to the regular sized products and the samples they give out with orders, you can purchase travel sized deluxe Minis. hat I tend to do is to try something out with the foil packet and then order the deluxe mini so I have more than a day’s worth of product to try out. It not only lets me know for certain if the product will work for my skin but it is also a great way to build your own travel set. While I do have a set of travel kits posts for December, I am mentioning this here because of the first of Tatcha’s Holiday Bundles.

It is the Create your own Gift set option. You choose three of their deluxe minis and you receive a free Cotton Makeup bag to go with them (while supplies last). The items start at $12 and go up, depending on what you choose. while there are a couple of items in the $65 range, most of the items are in the $20-28 range. There are three lip items in this list, both the original and plum Kissu Lip Masks and the Camillia Gold Spun Lip Balm. All three of these are full sized items. The items range from the lip products to serums, moisturizers and even their primers are included on the list. Since the three items are your choice you can lean towards the makeup side with primer, powder and one of the lip products or go into the skincare realm with a cleanser serum and moisturizer. Or you can mix and match, personally I think this is a great way to try items from the brand or to introduce someone you love to some excellent skin care.

If you are looking for full sized items, then Tatcha has you covered. There are many gift sets to choose from. Just choose your skin care type (or the type for the person you are gifting) and go. There is the Plump and Dewy Trio, the Smooth and Clarified Trio, or the Calming and soothing Trio.

Looking for more?

The Hydration set included a variety of the different moisturizers in deluxe mini sizes so you can try them all and see which one is right for you, or you could go for the Protect and prime which not only has both the balm and liquid primers but also the Tatcha Sunscreen and water cream moisturizer. While there are bundles large and small you could go all out and go for the Ultimate Skincare journey with the Tabi Trunk Case.

I have to admit that while I really love all of the skincare items in the kit, I also really like the case as well. I have a weakness for bags. I have occasionally purchased gift sets just because I liked the bag that came with them. This case is fantastic and it is filled with fantastic items. It really is an ultimate skincare lover’s gift.

Holiday Shopping Guide: Molton Brown

I know the holidays always seem to come faster and faster each year. Typically I like spreading my holidays out, however before the holiday, comes the shopping for the holiday. For me, my family is scattered pretty much around the globe at this point. So some gifts I pick up, wrap and get the chance to deliver in person while others I order, wrap, and then pack up to ship back out to other destinations. It means that I try to get my shopping done as early as possible. Adding in that everyone has supply chain issues these days and shipping is often delayed, it makes shopping a little early a good idea.

So if you are shopping now or planning your Black Friday/Cyber Monday holiday domination, I thought I’d go into a few of my favorite brands and take a look at some of this year’s holiday offerings.

Molton Brown is a long term favorite of mine. And while There will no doubt be ,more Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals, currently they have a 25% off site wide (T&C apply) sale going on for those looking to stock up early. For a long time I simply ordered their Rhubarb and Rose body wash and didn’t bother branching out into the other scents. Then I received a couple of travel sized scented body washes in subscription boxes and liked them so much that I had to try a variety of scents.

One of my favorite things to get is the Stocking Stuffer Collection (usually $50, currently $37.50). I tend to pick this one up every year actually. I admit I usually keep one, but the rest of them I parcel out into various stockings. It works out really well because some family members like heavily spiced items, others like fruity scents, some like florals and others are citrus fanatics.

So the sampler stocking stuffer set is really handy.

I also generally pick up at least one of the holiday baubles because it never fails that after I have finally thought i picked up every item I need on my list there is always one Secret Santa or family friend gift that I some how forgot.

And given how much help so many people have been this year with my mother’s surgery, I will be picking up a bunch of these as extra holiday thank yous this year. The Holiday Baubles are usually $15 for one and are currently $11.25. While I will be getting a few of the individually packaged ones I will probably also get several of the three pack holiday sets (usually $49 for three but currently $30). My plan for those is to just have a basket and let people choose the scent they like best.

One thing I love about Molton Brown is that while they put their regular scents of shower gel and body lotion sets out for the holidays, they also have special holiday scents available. This year they have Merry Berries and Mimosa, vintage with elderflower (which might not be strictly a holiday scent but as my dad used to make elderflower wine and always brought out a bottle around the holidays, I always associate with the holiday scents), Jubilant Pine and Patchouli, and Festive Frankincense and allspice.

You can pick up sets that have just the holiday scents, such as the trio of bath gels to the right, or you can go for your favorite scents. If you are looking for something that is slightly floral but has a sweet tart scent to it, then I would suggest the Rose and Rhubarb. If you like something with a bit more of a clean fresh scent than I would lean more towards the Costal Cypress and Sea Fennel. Currently the one I am absolutely loving right now is the Heavenly Gingerlily. It is slightly spicy with a slightly floral note. And like all of Molton Brown’s products, foams beautifully and rinses away cleanly while leaving beautifully soft skin behind.

As always they did release an advent calendar this year but alas it is currently out of stock. I am hoping they will bring it back by the time Black Friday rolls around. I believe that is what they did last year. I remember seeing it was sold out, then on Black Friday got a notice that it was back in stock and by Saturday afternoon when I went to see about purchasing it, it was out of stock again. As it looks like a great way to try a variety of their products I can see why it is so popular.

For me, I love the brand and the products. I also love that while I have several people on my Christmas list who have sensitive skin, no one has ever had any problems with any of the Molton Brown products. I do have two relatives who are very scent sensitive so they tend to get bath time gifts from another company because of the scents (Molton Brown is quite potent in the scent department), but the formulas are great for all skin types. In addition to stocking stuffers and making sure everyone has a little holiday scented fun at bath time, I like the fact that Molton Brown’s products are always nice gifts but not to personal to give to work acquaintances at Secret Santa Gatherings, or your mother’s church friends who made sure she got to doctor’s appointments on time. They are just nice all round gifts and this time of year is a great time to stock up on them, whether it is for a gift or just yourself. I can already tell you, there is at least one Heavenly Gingerlily product heading into my own shower in the near future.

The Eight Saints Discovery Kit

They say that persistence pays off and occasionally that is true. For the past few months there have been several commercials that appear to be stalking me.

The first and longest running has been the Dior Sauvage commercial. I love many products from Dior, but I did try a sample of this and I am fairly certain I am allergic. I have nearly sneezed my head off the entire time i was wearing it. (which was longer than I thought because even after a thorough shower and scrub down I could still smell traces)

Geico and Capitol One are repeat offenders as well although neither make me sneeze.

Then there were the three that got me. The first was the Maybelline Perfector 4-in-1 Glow which i am currently testing out and the other two were skincare discovery kits from brands I have never tried. One was a trio from Bubble Skincare, which I will try after this, and then there was the twelve piece discovery kit that I will start rolling in tonight.

Have no fear, while tomorrow’s Skincare line up will feature the products I used over the past few weeks almost all of the bottles are empty or close to empty now. I actually finished a couple this morning which is why i will start this trial tonight and ease the products in one at a time over the weekend as my current products run out.

I found this Discovery Kit from Eight Saints interesting for a number of reasons. The first is because it was a brand I had not heard of. The second was because it has a full twelve products that compromise both a full day time and night time routine. Only the toner is used for both day and night use, the other products have their designated time.

Also I love that it comes with a recommended order of use list. While the card has one side that tells you wat each product does and lets you know that you are free to play around with the order to suit your needs, if you are new to skincare, the other side of the card has a recommended order of use.

Since skincare can be very daunting when you move beyond the basics of wash the face and maybe add a moisturizer, I think that this is a great addition to the kit.

The Discovery Kit costs $10 and has free shipping. It also comes with a $20 off your first order over $50. The non mini sizes range from around $25 – $60 in cost although they do have a selection of minis that are proceed in the $12-$16 range so if you tried something in the kit you liked but weren’t quite sure if you wanted a full size you could try it for longer without committing to the full size. I am a huge fan of mini and travel sizes especially when I am trying new things. They also really help put when traveling. (Its also why I tend to stock up on holiday mini kits in general at this time of year. Fabulous for travel and usually with holiday appropriate scents at this time of year.

this kit I purchased however so that I could try a range of products from a skincare brand that i knew nothing about. according to their about page, they narrow their products down to eight ingredients and are responsibly sourced and produced in small batches.

There is enough product for a week (maybe two) of use in the discovery kit which should be enough to let me know if I want to know more. I will also be looking more into the brand as I use the products. so next week’s line up will be more brand focused than usual. To be honest it has been a really long time since I have had a brand focused skincare line up and I am kind of looking forward to it. I’m also weirdly excited to be trying out items from a new to me brand.

but this post is about the kit itself. And while you two get the 12 sample sizes, they come wrapped in bubble wrap inside of a reusable bubble wrap pouch. It is a plastic zip top bag where the bubble wrap is sandwiched between the inner and outer sleeves of the bag. I love the look of it and as it is completely plastic next time i travel with a liquid foundation or any other liquid makeup product i am putting it in this. (I had a lip oil leak on my last trip.) these bags are so easy to rinse out when something like that happens.

Over all I am very impressed with the kit. It comes with the full range of products for a full day and night time routine. It has a card clearly explaining what each product is supposed to target and it lists the suggested order of use for someone who is new to multi product skincare. Add in the sustainability factor and I am really hoping that these products work out well. But as to that only time (and use) will tell. For now I can say I am very pleased with this discovery kit purchase. Let’ the Eight Saints test begin!

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