RETAIL THERAPY! Gifts for mum on Mothers day!

This Sunday is mothers day, and I can tell you all, since my mum is a little bit internet-challenged, that I got my mum some travel essentials and made a little pack for her to take overseas when she goes away the following Friday. I also bought her Urban Decay's Naked2 palette, but I'm not sure it's going to arrive in time for mothers day.

Whilst I was trying to decide what to get for my mum, I did lots of research into some easy retail giftpacks that are available right now to buy for mums everywhere, and I really couldn't choose between about 10 different things, which is why I decided to go more specific to her immediate needs.

I figured I couldn't let all of that research go to waste, so why not share the most epic awesome giftpacks that I loved with you guys to give you some ideas for your mums (or even for yourself...whether you're a mum or not!).

First up is Burt's Bees. Burt’s Bee’s Head to Toe Kit is filled with products to naturally cleanse, nourish and nurture the skin. The Head to Toe kit contains Naturally Nourishing Milk and Honey Body Lotion (25g), Fabulously Fresh Peppermint and Rosemary Body Wash (50mL), Hand Salve (8.5g), Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream (20g), Coconut Foot Cream (20g) and Beeswax Lip Balm (4.25g). RRP $24.95

You can find this at David Jones, Harrisons Pharmacies, Kleins Perfumery, Terry White Chemists and selected retail outlets

Now... if you choose to buy this pack from David Jones, you can score yourself a freebie, too. Choose from either of these bonus packs when you spend $29.95 on Burt's Bees products, so pick up the pack for mum, and a lip balm for yourself, and you're there. Choose from Cleansing Towelettes, or Hand cream, both with the cute polkadot beauty bag.


Next up, we have the amazing Renew range from Innoxa in the limited edition tin, which i've reviewed HERE. I can't speak highly enough of this range of skincare products, and at $49.95 for the entire basic range, it's so, so affordable. You can find it at David Jones, Myer, Priceline, Terry White Chemists, My Chemist, Chemist Warehouse and leading pharmacies nationally.

OPI have a really cute Mothers Day pack this year. Grab It, Bag It and Let’s Go is a pamper pack that is exclusive to Myer and David Jones. Ideal for mothers who don’t get pamper time to themselves, it comes complete with a vibrant girlie pink shade, OPI’s Kiss Me On The Tulips and a traditional shade of red, OPI’s Red Lights Ahead…Where?. Both lacquers are neatly packed in a stylish cream and red cosmetic bag. At $29.95, it's a really affordable gift for your mum.

I'm really loving the offering from Natio, mainly because the bag is so gorgeously pink and floral. Rise & Bloom gift pack includes an Aromatherapy Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser, Aromatherapy Rosewater and Chamomile Gentle Skin Toner and Aromatherapy Daily Protection Face Moisturiser SPF 15. You can get this one for $29.95 from Myer, David Jones and selected pharmacies.


MOR have quite a few packs this year, and I particularly like this Duet scented with Lychee. My Lychee Lover Duet features a collection of MOR Shea Butter enriched Hand Cream and triple-milled soapette to leave skin pampered with a lingering scent. Available at Myer, David Jones, gift boutiques and pharmacies or at the MOR E-Boutique http://www.morcosmetics.com for $19.95

Something else I loved from OPI was the Mod about OPI gift set, $39.95.  Mod About OPI is a manicure DIY pack that is exclusive to David Jones. The Mod About OPI is ideal for mothers who like to spend time on their nails. The pack comes complete with a pastel pink nail lacquer, Mod About OPI (15ml), OPI’s 240 Grit Edge Nail File the award-winning Avoplex to Go Cuticle Oil (7.5ml) and Avoplex High Intensity Nail Cream (50ml), all stowed in an OPI tote bag.

 Last, but certainly not least, I picked this up and -almost- bought it for myself today, or for my mum, I couldn't decide. I may still go back into the store and pick one up, because it's a great pack at a great price. VS Sassoon Desired Styling Set includes a lightweight but powerful 2000-watt hairdryer equipped with a concentrator nozzle, diffuser and a round thermal styling brush. It is packaged in a soft, patent overnight bag. The bag is really, really cute, and at $36.95, you really can't go wrong. You can find this pack at leading department stores and electrical appliance outlets nationally.

So that's just a few of my favourite packs for mothers day this year. Go check them out for yourselves, I'm sure you'll find something awesome for your mum. I hope this helped to give you some ideas.

Christmas is almost here! Last minute gifts under $35!

 It's that crazy time of year again. The last minute rush to find that one present you forgot about, or the relative that was particularly difficult to find something for. Maybe, like me, you're trying to save money for something big (like an overseas trip next year!!!) and you need to keep the cost down a bit.

I thought I'd put together some last minute deals for you under $35 that you can find in pretty much any mall.

First we have 2 great gift packs from So...? fragrances. There's the So...? Superstar City Chic gift set at $14.95 and the So...? Rock'n'Roll In love Rock me set at $19.95. Both sets include a full size fragrance and coordinating products in the same range.

So...? fragrances have been around forever. I remember buying their scents in my teens and the fact that they are still producing quality scents at affordable prices is commendable.

You can get your hands on these, and other, So...? gift sets at Priceline, Big W and Pharmacies nationally.










Next we have Taylor of London Creamy Vanilla Orchid 5 pc gist set at $29.95. This one is amazing value, when you consider that usually the EDT by itself is $19.95. For the extra $10, you also get Hand and nail cream, body scrub, shower gel and body lotion; perfect for layering that gorgeous fragrance.
You can get this one at Priceline and selected pharmacies.

Next up, we have Puretopia, one of my favourite skin care brands. They've put together some skincare sets for us, and they are absolutely gorgeous. The packaging alone is beautiful, then add to that the amazing quality of Puretopia's products and you've got yourself a winner. Get yourself down to Priceline, Big W or selected pharmacies and choose one for yourself.

The Rejuvenate set is $34.95 and includes Pert and Plump ip filling and smoothing lip cream, Eye Rescue refreshing and detoxifying massing roller, and Pure Nutrition Essential Facial Serum. A real treat for your face.

The Holiday treats set is $24.95 and it includes my favourite Puretopia product, Glowingly Smooth Exfoliating and Renewing body scrub, Wake Up Invigorating and Moisturising body wash, and Soft and Smooth Hydrating and skin plumping body lotion.

Last but certainly not least, for the nail lovers, there's this awesome little crackle effects gift pack from Polished London. At $17.99 from selected pharmacies, this is the "Joy" set, which includes a red polish and 2 different crackle finishes to top it off in holiday style.

Keep an eye out for these gift packs while you're out, pick up a really gorgeous, really nicely priced pack for someone you care about and maybe even one for yourself while you're at it.

Christmas wish list: New release packs for great beauty gifts.

I received an email yesterday featuring some new release gift packs especially for christmas, so I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you guys to maybe help make your christmas shopping easier for all those lovely ladies in your lives.

These little gems are all gorgeous, completely affordable, and would make any beauty-oriented diva super happy this christmas!

endota-about town pack Price: $40

The endota-about town pack includes lavender & Alpine pepper hand cream (20mL), cinnamon & honey lip balm (15mL), nail paint in Williamstown (12mL) and a nail file and orange stick.

endota skincare starter pack Price: $50

The endota skincare starter pack includes fig n sugar cleanser (20mL), aloe & jojoba face scrub (20mL), rosehip & myrrh face mask (20mL), bush honey & macadamia skin drink (20mL), cinnamon & honey lip balm (15mL) and a headband.

Manicare French Manicure Collection Price: $19.95

Packed in a stylish red leather zip pouch, the French Manicure Collection comes with the manicure essentials. The collection includes French White, French Pink and French Finish polishes, a Miracle Shiner buffer and shiner, 10 Tip Tapes and a Cuticle Pusher

MOR East of Eden Price: $49.95

MOR East of Eden includes Emporium Triple-Milled Soap (200g), Hand Cream (100mL) and Little Luxuries Perfume Oil (9mL) in Lychee Flower. The products come presented in a stylish cosmetics bag. (available from mid October)

MOR Sealed with a Kiss Price: $12.95

MOR Sealed with a Kiss encases a Cassis Noir Lip Macaron in a collectable MOR bauble. (available from mid October)

Puretopia Rejuvenate Treatment Set Price: $34.95

This set includes Pure Nutrition Essential Face Serum (20mL), Pert & Plump Lip Cream (10mL) and am Eye Rescue Massaging Roller (15mL).

 Endota packs available at www.endota.com.au, Endota spas, and David Jones.
MOR packs available at Myer, David Jones, gift boutiques, select retailers and pharmacies or at the MOR E-Boutique http://www.morcosmetics.com
Puretopia available Nationally across Australia in Terry White, Priceline, Discount Drug Stores, Pharmore Pharmacies, Malouf Pharmacies, Big W and selected pharmacies
Manicare packs available at Priceline, Myer, Target, K-Mart, Big W and leading pharmacies.