How To Give Better Gifts + A Giveaway Worth over €150 (ft. Urban Decay, Urban Outfitters, Primark and more)

Giving gifts can be tricky. I know a lot of people who hate it and genuinely buckle under the pressure of it. I've seen it damage relationships.

But that's not how things should be.

Gifting is one of my great joys in life. I love spending time, thinking and focusing on people I care about, one by one, and trying to find something that they will love. I don't always spend a lot of money and I don't always buy something at all. Hell, I don't even always get it entirely right but I do think that my gifts, generally, show people that I know them well and that I really thought about and considered them.

As so many struggle with finding the right thing, I thought I'd share some of my tips for getting better gifts, rather than giving specific gift ideas that might not apply at all.

1. Think about the person

I know, I know. This seems so obvious, right? But I don't mean think about them like: "Oh, she's a woman. All women like perfume, right?" (NOTE: Perfume/cologne is never a good idea unless you know the person's favourite scent) or "He likes Star Wars, I'll buy him this Chewbacca mug" (NOTE II: If someone is really a fanatic and they don't have a house full of mugs, this is, actually, a good idea. See below for more discussion on these two examples).

When I say "think about them", I mean think about conversations you've had. Think about things they've said they really wanted or things they keep meaning to get for themselves or little indulgences they can't justify. For example, my friend once bought me a fancy candle for my birthday and I was really touched by it. He'd been around when his girlfriend (my BFF) and I had been discussing our love for the candles and how we couldn't buy them regularly because they were too damn expensive and, when he was buying her one as a treat, he picked one up for me as well. Similarly, I've been talking about buying a hair curler for years, but never got around to it. This year, my sister bought me one for my birthday as a surprise and I was genuinely delighted when I opened it.


2. Do some recon

If you can't think of anything from conversations you've had, can't remember any childhood game they've mentioned or book they keep saying they want to read, go find out. Subtly probe for info or merely pay more attention when you hang out. Or ask people close to them who might know. I always check in with the aforementioned friend when buying for my bestie to make sure she doesn't have things or isn't getting them from someone else. Make use of your sources!


3. Practical gifts aren't boring

Remember the example about the perfume? It's a dangerous gift if you don't know what the person likes but, if you happen to know their favourite one and that they might be running out soon, it is a super useful and thoughtful gift! Similarly, if someone has been complaining that someone in work nicked their mug and you know that they love Chewie, get them that mug!

Practical gifts aren't boring. It is so nice to receive a pricey skincare item that you always repurchase or a new kettle if yours is dying slowly. It means the person pays attention to you, your life and woes, and it saves you having to do it! However, know your audience. You don't want to be one of those cliches that gives someone a vacuum and ends up out on their arse outside on Christmas day. Conversely, if someone has always wanted a Dyson (pricey feckers) and loves to vacuum, it might be the perfect gift. It always depends on the person!


4. Time is the best gift

I always say that getting things isn't always necessary. A voucher to go to the spa together or afternoon tea or the cinema or a gig is a lovely gift. It can be customised to their interests - if they're a foodie, have been dying for the release of a new film, love a band, need a day to relax etc - and it ensures that you get one-on-one, quality time together. Basically, it's two gifts in one!


5. Be sincere (+ always accompany gifts with hand-written notes)

Some of the best things that I have given and received have been the notes that came with things (extra points if they're handmade as well as handwritten). Loving words mean a lot and can be things of great comfort to have around for lonely nights or hard days. Shiny baubles don't do the same for us.

If you're really trying your best, that comes across to most people. Just really consider the person that you are giving a gift to, try and get them something they'd really like, and you'll be alright. It doesn't have to be big or expensive. Wrap it nicely, accompany it with heartfelt words and tell them that they matter to you...


Speaking of which, you guys really matter to me! And I wanted to do a giveaway to thank y'all for reading my stuff throughout the year. Normally, I do "12 Days of Giftmas" or "5 Golden Gifts" with multiple giveaways but my November this year was crazy and those things involve a lot of work. I usually liaise with brands for weeks and weeks and email back and forth loads in advance to organise it. And then there's the photographing, writing and promoting each of those posts and the running and regulating of each of the giveaways. I'm sorry for not being organised enough to do all of that this year but I didn't want to do nothing either. So, instead, I have this one giveaway but it's a good 'un!


Worth over €150, it includes:
A €50 Primark Voucher
A Clarins Beautiful Lip Essentials Gift Set
A Madison Makeup Contour Palette
An Urban Outfitters baseball cap (similar here)
An Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
A Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist
A Sleek Brow Kit (in the shade Light)
A Flormar Long Wearing Lipgloss (in the shade Backstage)
A mini Sumita Eye-liner Pencil (in the shade Black)
A pair of Pieces faux pearl stud earrings
A pair of Kurt Cobain style oval sunglasses (similar here)
A travel-size bottle of Oil Arganic dry oil from Tan Organic

























To win all of this, simply leave a comment on any of the social media posts promoting this article (Instagram & Facebook) before the 24th of December 2017. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on the 25th of December 2017 and the prize will be sent out shortly thereafter. Sadly, this is giveaway will only open to readers based in mind, so keep this in mind before entering. Good luck and happy holidays!

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12 Days of Giftmas - Viviscal ¦ Giveaway

On the third day of Giftmas my true love gave to me, voluminous hair that's plain to see...

This time around, the post is going to be short and sweet. I'm just discussing one product - though I utterly believe in the brand behind it as well. I have naturally fine and thin hair and I swear by Viviscal. I used their hair growth serum and shampoo and conditioner for around a year and  completely attribute the fact that hairdressers now don't classify my hair as thin to the use of their products. However, my hair remains somewhat fine, is naturally dead straight and has a tendency to have volume where I don't want it and none where I do...Le sigh. What I need is texture, volume and life.

Which is where today's 12 Days of Giftmas idea comes from. I know that there are many others with the same struggles as me when it comes to hair and I've found the solution (or one of them, anyway): Viviscal's new launch, their Volumising Hair Fibres (€20.00).

"But what, pray tell, might this 12 Days of Giftmas be?" you're probably asking.

If you didn't read yesterday's post about TanOrganic, let me explain it again!

The 12 Days of Giftmas is a project that occurred to me last week. An idea that I ambitiously decided to go through with very last minute - I must be a lunatic. It's a sort of advent calendar for me and my readers, a way of saying thank you for reading and rewarding you in a small way. For the first 12 days of December, I will be writing a post every day on a shop, brand or item that would make good gifts. This is instead of the long gift ideas posts I've done in the past and offers a more in-depth look at some amazing companies and things. To complement each post, I've also teamed up with these fantastic brands and will be giving something away each day! So, the 12 Days of Giftmas will give you some gift ideas and the potential to win something for a loved one (or yourself!).

When I first heard about this Viviscal launch a few weeks ago, I was intrigued. I then kind of forgot about it until I got the sample but once I tried it, I was hooked. The only problem was that it made me have the best hair day in ages, in a week of naturally good hair days. Why is this a problem? I'd just decided to change my hair and, as it happens every time I make such a decision, hair that looked in desperate need of a trim and change a couple weeks ago suddenly looks good, making me question everything.

Stupid first-world problems aside, it genuinely did make me have a fantastic hair day - even through horrendous rain.

The fibres are like a powder which comes in a little container that you shake over your head as if dusting a cake with icing sugar. You do so until it covers up sparseness, or just makes your hair look thicker, and then pat in gently.After thirty seconds, you'll notice a visible difference and a little hairspray will help lock it in for longer.

Considering that yesterday's post was about getting your best tan ever ahead of the party season (or giving it to someone else), today's is about party-ready hair, hair for those conscious of volume or sparseness or just giving a hair/beauty addict some new beauty technology to play around with.

If you want to win some Viviscal Hair Fibres to play with or give away, just enter my competition!

1. Sadly, I can only keep my giveaways open to Ireland this time around. I apologise to those who might disappointed but I have to keep the generous brands that I'm working with in mind!
2. The prize is one Viviscal Hair Fibres in Light Brown.
3. All you need to do is comment below here or on Facebook with who you'd give it to - or if you want it for yourself! However, you must be following me on at least one platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', Tumblr), let me know which one in the comment if it's not obvious!
4. Competition closes a week from now on the 10th of December 2015 at midnight Irish time.
5. Winners will be chosen at random.
6. I will then comment below the winner's comment and ask you to email my official blog email address.

And that's it! Good luck and see you again tomorrow for the next brand and giveaway!

(Thanks to Viviscal for working with me!)

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How I got my Dream Hair.

So, the last year or so has been pretty key to my skin, body and haircare education. And, as a result of all this new knowledge, all three are looking better than ever. Not being vain here, it's just that I can visibly see the results of taking care of myself. And it was about time that I started really. My skin can be a bit crazy and temperamental at times because hormones tend to wreck all my good work once a month. Goddammit. Hair and body, however, are much more dependable. My skin below the neck is consistently pretty hydrated and perfectly clear. And my hair is doing good things almost every single day at the moment. I genuinely think I've had about two bad hair days in over six months.

It's the hair I've wanted my entire life.

When I was little, my Mam kept mine and my sister's hair at bob length to keep it manageable so I've been growing it out since I was trusted to care for it myself. That means I've been willing it longer for over a decade now. During my teens I had whims where I cut it short, added different kinds of layers, shaved a section, dyed it etc. This interrupted the growth and what I really wanted - damn distractions. And my hair is naturally slow-growing and quite thin. Around three years ago, I stopped cutting it bar trims to keep it healthy and began growing out my layers. Now, it's the longest by far that it's ever been, all one length, thicker and less dead-straight. All the things I've always wanted. And while I salivate over pictures of lobs, I know I'm happiest with what I have now.

It's my Dream Hair. But how did I get here?

First of all, I've grown up enough to distinguish between whim and what I really want. It's good to have fun with your look but you can't put hair back a week later. I'm dedicated to growing out my hair just a wee bit more and then maintaining that. I'm at waist-length right now.

Secondly, I realised that less is more. My hair is pretty healthy as I don't style it or use a lot of products and I let it air-dry almost every time. But I used to over-wash. I'm super-paranoid about being smelly and staying clean so I shower every day without fail but I no longer wash my hair that often. Every two to three days is enough and some will say even this is too much but it's as much as I'm willing to go to. I also brush my hair less often. Brushing can break up your hair and also spreads the oils meant to rest on top of your head through the entirety. Now I only brush my hair after washing to get all the tangles out and that's it.

When I wash my hair, I use less product and only condition every second wash. I also stopped conditioning the roots and only work the product into the ends of my hair. The shampoo and conditioner I use are both by Argan Oil and I also run a little Oil Arganic from Tan Organic through my hair before brushing it out. These products are all highly affordable with the Argan Oil available in all good pharmacies from €1.50 and the Oil Arganic is €24.99 and lasts for ages.

Twice a month I use hair masks or treatments. My current favourite is Garnier's Ultimate Blends The Glow Replenisher. It's great for making your hair shiny and only needs to be left in for one minute before rinsing.

And to improve my rate of hair growth and its thickness, I've been using the Viviscal Hair and Scalp Serum. After almost a month of use, I can say I've genuinely noticed that my hair is fuller. It's applied as a couple of drops to the scalp and worked in morning and night to dry or wet hair.

Day to day, I do basically nothing with my hair. I wear it down most days and keep a band on my wrist to tie it back when it gets in my way. A quick running of my hands through it is enough to right it. I now have the hair I want and its also unbelievably low-maintenance. Win. Win.

So, are you happy with your hair? Any secret tips?