M&S Beauty Advent Calendar Final Update

Here we are with the third and final M&S Beauty Advent calendar update. I'm already missing opening the boxes each morning. Between this year and last, the M&S calendar has definitely established itself as one of my Christmas traditions. 
Contents from the 20th-25th: PUR Correcting Primer  Leighton Denny Mini Crystal Nail File - I think Leighton Denny is such a good brand for all nail products. I absolutely love my Renovate Kit from last years advent calendar (which is still going strong) and the clear top coat from the Summer Box. Filorga Time-Filler - This is one that my mum really likes. A face lift in a cream. Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream Shay & Blue Perfume - This little treat came in box 25 and I think they kept one of the best until last. Its such a pretty bottle and gorgeous smell. It is £30 for 30ml on the M&S website so a 10ml mini is pretty generous. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - I've wanted to try this lip balm for ages as its supposed to be the very best. 
Unlike previous years, I've actually not had a massive Christmas comedown this year. Usually I get to about 9pm on Christmas night and feel really deflated because its all over. This year though I feel like its more of a festive season that one day, and I'm enjoying being cosy, eating lots of chocolates and relaxing well beyond Christmas day. I'm beginning to think about my new year's resolutions but I can so far only come up with 'Don't go on my phone before I go to sleep'. I want some that are ambitious but also achievable. What are yours?
Edit: I'm a big silly - I've included the Filorga Time-Filler twice in my posts and forgotten the Studio 10 Miracle Effect Priming Serum. Please accept my humblest apologies for this rookie mistake.

Life Lately

Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone! After building up to Christmas for so long (I had the Christmas CD playing in my car in October) its hard to believe its finally here. The excitement was so real when I recieved my first few presents a couple of days ago. I love trying to guess what could be inside the parcels! I also watched The Santa Clause 3 yesterday which left me feeling very Christmassy. I love how the adults are just as, if not more, excited than the kids to be at the North Pole. I'd be jumping up and down with joy too! 

I was looking through my old instagram/ updatey posts a couple of nights ago and it was so interesting to see what I was doing a few years ago. I thought I'd do a new one to show you the nice Christmas pictures and ridiculous amounts of unhealthy (but delicious) foods which I've snapped lately.

From left to right and down:

there is a fab Christmas market in George Square for the first time ever and its so festive and cheery! | Frasers on Buchanan Street have lit up their whole building - its so pretty | my manager bought me this cupcake to have at lunch one day. It was lovely but I got in quite a mess because it was so tall| Costa festive hot chocolates are my FAVE - this year I've had the black forest (not as good as previous years), the toasted marshmallow (yum) and the mint (also yum)! | cute decorations I have hanging from my wardrobe | my first Christmas card this year, some Santa ornaments and a M&S Christmas candle | I've put fairy lights and tinsel round my mirror - love! | Frasers again | Tiger is excellent for these cute small decorations for only £1 or two | does anyone remember this laughing lady on MSN messenger?! | high fat, high satisfaction dinner of mac & cheese & chips before seeing Fantastic Beasts in the cinema | a Lush bath bomb | eye makeup inspo | I absolutely love Dirty Dancing and this twentieth anniversary soundtrack accidentally found its way into my Amazon basket when I was ordering my uni books for next semester | new shoes for work only £7 from H&M | Aldi's answer to Dominoes pizza - stuffed crust pizza for only £2.49 - don't mind if I do | they said these new £5 notes were unrippable - | everyone loves a snapchat filter!

Right now I can hear the rain pelting off the windows  - I'm so glad I'm indoors and all cosy. I hope you all have an absolutely fantastic Christmas! Let me know in the comments what you've been up to lately.

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar Update 2

Time for another update on what surprises have been in my M&S Beauty Advent Calendar over the last few days. These are the contents from the 10th to the 19th. So far, I'm really impressed with the variety: there's hair products, makeup, creams and now even a makeup brush.
Products since my last post: Rituals The Ritual of Sakuka Emma Hardy Moringa Cleansing Balm: I've heard lots of good things about Emma Hardy so I'm really glad that one of her products is included! NUXE Huile Protigieuse Oil: This was one of my favourite products from the M&S Summer Beauty Box so I'm excited they've included it again and in a bigger size. You can read my review of it here. Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: This too was in either the Summer Beauty box or last year's advent calendar and has sat in my drawer ever since. It seems like a product that requires a lot of effort because you need to apply to sections and leave in a cap before shampooing. Look Good Feel Better Mini Powder Brush Nails Inc Gel Polish in Piccadilly Court Percy & Reed Wonder Balm: This seems like a hair product I could get on board with as, from what I gather from the directions, you apply it like a mousse and it makes your usual styling and styling products work wonders. I'm really not sure about the smell though.  Rosie for Autograph Lip Glossy in Super Model Shine: I have been admiring the Rosie for Autograph makeup line since it launched but couldn't justify the price - now I can finally try it! I'm in love with the rose gold packaging. 
I'm going to be so sad when advent is over because I won't be waking up to this calendar everyday. My actual chocolate advent calendar has been totally side-lined. I had to eat five day's worth today - poor me (!)
P.S. A heads up for M&S fans: they've already reduced their Christmas wrapping paper, crackers, cards, etc. to half price!

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar Update 1

One of the things I was most looking forward to at Christmas time this year was the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar. My mum bought one last year before I even know they were a thing and we opened alternate doors ever morning. I absolutely loved it and discovered some of my now favourite products. I am always surprised at the amazing brands stocked in M&S from Nails Inc to Pixi to Burts Bees. So, come September this year (yes- September) I was tweeting Marks & Spencer asking for a release date for this year's edition to make sure I got my hands on one. They were £35 when you spent £35 on beauty/ clothing/ home. I think they're totally worth £35 because all the products are good brands and generous sizes. You can get some Christmas shopping with the £35 you have to spend instore too (or, ahem, buy full sized products of last years contents). I know its sold out online but the last time I was in my local store there were still plenty so there might still be time to get one. My mum and I are sharing it again this year because some products suit her better and vice versa. And its the time of year to share. I thought I'd do a little round up of the contents at the end of each week to share the excitement. 

Products so far:

Alpha H Liquid Gold: A product that I'd never think to buy but will probably end up being fab (like the NUXE oil from the summer box)

Ultrasun Face SPF 30: This also came in the M&S summer box. Its good for sensitive skin like mine though it won't be needed for a good few months.

Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil

Eyeko Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner: I have wanted to try this brand for so long so and I wear liquid eyeliner everyday so this will be a product for me.

Filorga Time Filler

Rodial X-Treme Acid Rush Peel: I'm excited to see what this product is like as I haven't used anything like it before. I can't help but think of Sam in SATC when she has a facial peel when I read the name though (yikes!)

Autograph Nail Polish in Cranberry: This was today's treat. Its an absolutely gorgeous dark pink with gold iridescence. This one will definitely be mine when we split the contents as my mum doesn't wear nail polish - yes!

Pixi Brow Tamer: I'm glad that the Pixi product is from their makeup range. I fell in love with the Glow Tonic in last year's calendar so I'm expecting good things from this.

BeeLovely Hand Cream

Also featured in the picture is my M&S Christmas scented candle which is delicious.

Hope you have a lovely, festive weekend. I've already decorated my room and I'll be wearing my Christmas jumpers to work.