Here we are, just over two weeks away from Christmas and showcasing my last gift guide. This mightn't be the last you see of gift recommendations. I am definitely sharing book suggestions over here for instance. Today though it's all about the beauty loves. I've mainly gone for products I already use and love, or ones I have gifted or will be gifting this year. The great thing with beauty is there's so much choice nowadays so it's a lot easier to choose something people will love...

Stella+Gemma Makeup Bag, not pictured: When in doubt, makeup bag it out. In seriousness, to a beauty lover, I don't think a snazzy new makeup bag will be sneered at. Even better, you could load it with some of their favourite minis, or a product you love and think they should try. Presents within presents are the best.

NARS The Veil Cheek Palette: Here we have an early Christmas present to myself, which now I've photographed and kept pristine, I can start using it. Huzzah! Self celebrations aside, this palette is beautiful. Combining a bronzer, blush and highlighter, it's slim and reasonably compact. The powders certainly pack a punch in the pigment stakes and it truly is a thing of beauty.

This Works Sleep Tight: I've gifted products from the Sleep range x This Works before and they are always well received. This set was packaged in an ornate, cardboard bauble and contains two miniatures of the Pillow Spray as well as the Stress Check, Breathe In. I usually take these away traveling with me but also keep them by my bed and the calming lavender scent helps to bring a sense of ambience before sleep. That and despite not really liking the smell of lavender, I cannot deny its calming effect. A++ would recommend. 

Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge: You all know by now of my love for Lisa Eldridge and all her talent+brilliance. I couldn't not include her coffee table book, crammed with everything beauty history and so many wonderful anecdotes. It is beautifully presented and written and makes for fascinating reading. I've been dipping in and out of it all year but I will be picking this up to read on my Summer break.

Preciosity Ombre Blackstar x By Terry: I don't own this set, I wish and it is a spendy option but would make an absolutely exquisite gift for someone. Containing three of the Ombre Blackstars, including Misty Rock and Bronze Moon it really is stunning. These eyeshadows are like nothing else and they are the most long-lasting formulas around. 

Go-To Sweet Sleeps*: Zoe Foster Blake, queen of all things awesome has bundled some of her brilliant, peachy-decorated products into sets for us to nab this festive season. This set is my pick; combining a makeup bag (yass), the Face Case (DOUBLE YASS, also mini musings here. I love this though), Super Handy (lives on my work desk, parties on my work desk) and Lips (keeping that pout in check). All in all it's a good time and sweet dreams are made of these.

Stila Written In The Stars Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow Set: This set is sold out online and I am not one hundred per cent sure if Mecca will be getting more in. I know it definitely wasn't around in Mecca Maxima Auckland last week but I could be wrong so do not quote me there. This set of what have easily been some of the most sought after eyeshadows this year is bound to be well received. I've gifted these to people but if you don't want to split them up and again want to treat a sparkle lover, I am sure they will love it. 

Kenzo World Fragrance*: You probably remember that crazy but brilliant advert for this fragrance. If not, YouTube it now. I realise it's not a particularly festive fragrance but it's pretty fail-safe, I think at least. Fresh with a hint of floral and fruitiness, it's the perfect Summer scent. I also love Gabrielle x Chanel and have spritzed+liked the idea of Orange Bitters Cologne x Jo Malone London. 

-What beauty gifts are on your radar for Christmas?

*PR Sample

September has slipped away like that *clicks fingers*. It's been quite the month for lack of a better word. September saw many things; housesitting, goodbyes, a newfound love for diary writing and an appreciation for the return of flowers and more hours of sunshine. This month's favourites selection is a bit of everything; music, perfume, literature and of course some beauty to round it all out...

Kenzo World EDP*: Fragrance has definitely been something I've been drifting between during September. This new scent from Kenzo is one I keep coming back to. Floral, light and rather lovely if I do say so myself. That gorgeous eye shaped bottle is difficult to resist too.

Ring Cone x Claybird Ceramics: Isn't this exquisite? I've been eyeing up ring cones for a while, usually online and haven't wanted to buy one. Simply because the idea of one arriving in the post, crushed to smithereens by less than gentle post staff crossed my mind one time too many. Anyway, this month Claybird Ceramics had a pop-up stall inside Ponsonby Central and given this combined many of my favourite things; dots, gold, navy, it would have been rude to ignore it. I don't know what to say other than it is beautiful and it keeps my rings in one place. 

Mecca Max The Illuminati Shadow in Showbiz: Glittery, cream shadows are my weakness. That's no secret around these parts. I decided to give Mecca Max's own brand ones a go to see how they deliver. They definitely do not disappoint. What I will say though is because these go from a cream to a powder finish quite quickly you do have to be quite fast applying them. That being said, it's the kind of formula that is easy to apply and layer on top of. Showbiz is a coppery, rose gold piece of perfection. I reach for it several times a week now when I'm deciding what makeup to wear.

Stardust Sunglasses x Glassons: I've only just discovered the name of these sunnies and I love it. I don't usually go into Glassons but I wanted some cheap eyewear I can just throw on when I go out on my breaks and vice versa. I like that they're a bit oversized, have a slight yellow-y tint to the lens so everything looks a bit more sunny and make me feel cooler than I am when I wear them. They also give me John Lennon vibes too which I am never going to complain about.

Drying Lotion x Mario Badescu: Apologies for the lack of links here, blame my Internet for being temperamental. This truly is a hero product and I am so glad Kylie Jenner bought it to my attention. During her year of realising stuff if I remember correctly. Thank you KJ and Snapchat. Anyway, this solution, which you apply to a cotton bud and then on to blemishes works wonders. Seriously, it renders most pesky blemishes invisible in twelve hours. I've had to use it a couple of times to banish more planet-like ones but I can't complain when it gets rid of them so easily. Absolute lifesaver if you want to get rid of zits without popping them. Gross but true.

Conversations With Friends** by Sally Rooney: First things first, this is a debut novel by a twenty-something. I'm not sure why that blows my mind so much. The story of Bobbi and Frances, two 21 year olds on the verge of graduating University. Frances is an aspiring writer and Bobbi is her former lover and best friend. The two are profiled by renowned writer Melissa and introduced to her actor husband Nick and a world of adult sophistication and ideals. As the title would suggest, the book centres around conversation. The intimate intricacies, the symbolism in the silence, the way in which lingering on a phrase or talking point can communicate so much. All of the characters are flawed, mistake-makers and discovering their destiny and in turn themselves. It's such compelling reading and I've loved being absorbed in its pages on my train trips this month. 

Something To Tell You x Haim: It took me a long time to listen to Haim properly but now I am fully on the bandwagon. Their latest album reminds me of parties and evenings with friends. Going through all the motions, the changing patterns of the light as candlelight flickers in swirling shadows on the walls, the deep and meaningful banter. It's just a brilliant listening fest all round really. 

-What have you loved during September?

*PR Sample

**Review Copy

Groundbreaking. Meryl Streep voice. Miranda Priestley style Prada bag drop on the intern's desk. Okay, Devil Wears Prada references aside, a changing of the seasons naturally calls for a change in scent. Out goes the musky, deeper notes in favour of something lighter and fresher. We are certainly spoilt for choice at the moment, with many of these fragrances releasing within the last month or so. Here's my pick of some of the new and exciting fragrances to add to your wishlist/pay day treat session. 

Girl of Now* x Elie Saab: Elie Saab has absolutely nailed what I love in a Spring fragrance. Fruity, with a hint of floral and deeper base notes, courtesy of tonka bean and almond milk. It is definitely a scent that packs a punch but it is very different to anything I have spritzed before and I am smitten. I'm not going to lie, the design for this bottle and its corresponding packaging have totally won me over as well. Can you blame me? Just look at the pictures here.

Gabrielle x Chanel:  Chanel is a design house responsible for many icons, from the quilted 2.55 through to their instantly recognisable perfume bottle designs and imagery. Last year they bought us a lighter, more youthful take on Chanel No. 5, L’Eau and this year they have Gabrielle, named for the brand’s founder. I spritzed this on counter when it released a couple of weeks back and it is exquisite. You can read up on the backstory of this one here. I really liked it on first spritz, it reminded me of a lighter, fresher take on Mademoiselle. I'd need to spritz it again though because I can't remember much beyond that. Reasons to not go fragrance researching at the end of a long day, #1. 

Kenzo World*: This is another fragrance that has totally won me over. I have a bit of a thing for eye motifs, ever since I had an evil eye bracelet given to me that I wore until it literally snapped off and ceramic eye beads went everywhere. Anyway, you may well be familiar with this advert which did the rounds when it first dropped. I think it's played on tv here too. Anyway, the fragrance itself is floral yet light. Are you noticing a theme here? With top notes of peony (my favourite), middle notes of jasmine and then base notes of ambroxan it is intoxicatingly wondrous and captivating.

Dolce & Gabbana The One*: The One is by no means a new fragrance but this lighter, fresher interpretation looks set to win over a new generation of fans. I love the campaign imagery featuring Emilia Clarke. D&G's original The One fragrance is so classic and nostalgic for me as one of my friends favours it as their scent of choice. Lily, lychee and musk are just some of the standout notes. I'm sure some people might class this as an evening scent but I like to wear it whenever. It's incredibly long-wearing too. As I write this at night I can still catch hints of the fragrance on me, after spritzing it in the early hours of this morning. 

-Have you tried any new fragrances lately?

*PR Samples but all love of sweet, decadent scent spritzes are my own