Tag: Spongelle Coconut Verbena Hand Cream

Holiday Gift Guide #1: Self Care Edition!

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Hey friends!

It’s crazy to believe with how long 2020 has felt, but the holidays are finally just around the corner! That’s right — we’ve finally almost made it. While it does feel a little bit like we’re crawling our way to the end of the year, it’s going to be December before we even know it and it’s best to be prepared. This year has already been stressful enough — don’t cause yourself to stress more over buying gifts and last minute shopping.

Holiday shopping is probably going to be looking a little different this year as, sadly, its going to be 100% online. While I’ve transitioned to doing more of my Christmas shopping online the past few years already, it’s kind nice to stop by the mall or local shop at least once — you know, just for the good holiday vibes. However, with COVID cases picking up, it’s looking like I’ll be doing my shopping 100% online this year. Which is fine — I can get my annual dose of holiday cheer elsewhere, after all — although I’ve been trying to get it all done before December hits, so I can ensure it all arrives on time.

Basically, this year has been rough for all of us — so I’m hoping that by bringing back my Holiday Gift Guide, I’ll be able to help alleviate all of your holiday stress. That way you can get back to enjoying the holidays — rather than fearing them! This year, I’m going to be doing a four-part series: Self Care, Skincare, Lifestyle and Makeup! Be sure to stay tuned each Sunday for the next segment of the series. Hopefully, by the end of it, all of you will have plenty of gift ideas safely purchase online from the comfort of your own home!

And on the topic of stress — we’ve all definitely been dealing with more of it than average this year. As such, I decided to make my first segment focus on Self-Care gift ideas! Whether you’re looking to throw together a little self-care basket for someone in your life, need a few stocking stuffers or one great gift — there’s something on this list for everyone in your life (or even just yourself! I won’t tell).

Bath Salts by Rocky Mountain Soap Co.

There’s nothing quite like a nice, long soak after a tough day (or week…or year). These bath salts come loaded up with all kinds of aromatherapy to help soothe and refresh your body. Not only are these a great gift for pretty much anyone in your life, but you can also get more than one use out of them, unlike bath bombs (at a much better price as well). Plus, they’re made with 100% natural ingredients, cruelty free, vegan, and made in Canada!

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at Indigo!

Candles from Indigo

Who doesn’t love a good candle? Not only do candles smell AMAZING and help create a great atmosphere — they also double as some lovely decor. Candles are another great gift that just about anyone would appreciate receiving. I personally buy all my candles from Indigo — they have an amazing variety of candles in every scent, colour, and size you could ever want. However, some of my personal favourites have been their Himalayan Salt candle and Voluspa’s Honey Lavender candle!

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out a selection of candles online at Indigo!

Diffuser Oils by Saje

Buying a Saje diffuser was one of the best choices I made for myself in 2020. If you’re looking to REALLY splurge on a gift for someone special in your life, I’d totally recommend getting them a Saje diffuser if they don’t have one already (personally, I have the Aroma Om and I’m obsessed with it). However, for anyone else in your life who already has a diffuser, Saje or otherwise, gifting them a couple of oils is always a great gift since they’re going to get good use out of them. It’s hard to go wrong with any scent from Saje, but my personal faves are Into The Trees and Goddess.

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at Saje!

Body Lotion by Deew

I absolutely adore this body lotion. It’s loaded up with all sorts of essential oils, vitamins and hydrating ingredients and leaves my skin feeling flawless after I use it. As well, this lotion features Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil in it’s formulation, making it great for when you need a little calm in your life. This lotion makes a pretty solid gift for just about anyone, as it isn’t too thick, absorbs into the skin quickly and is just all around a high-quality product. Plus, on top of everything else, the scent is relaxing AF without being overwhelming.

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at Indigo!

Pedicure Set by Voesh New York

As many of you may remember, I received this Pedicure in a Box set in my latest FabFitFun box. It’s really a great gift for anyone who’s missing going for regular mani-pedis, or anyone who’s been having a rough year and could really use a full-send at home spa night in the name of self-care. This four-step at home pedi comes complete with a salt soak, scrub, foot mask and massage butter and left my feet feeling AMAZING. 10/10, would recommend as a gift for just about anyone.

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at VOESH New York!

Hand Cream by Spongelle

Hand cream seems like a somewhat generic gift, but it’s kind of a godsend in 2020. Considering how much more frequently we’ve all been washing our hands (and probably will keep doing long after this pandemic has ended) and winter’s frequently dry weather, having a solid hand cream is kind of a must. I received this cream in my FabFitFun Summer 2020 box, and it’s honestly so worth it. It smells amazing (without having too strong of a scent) and is super-hydrating without being heavy.

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at Spongelle!

Cuticle Oil by Cuccio

This was actually something I bought for myself a while back, but didn’t use regularly until recently. My nails have been something I’ve always been self-conscious about — growing up, I constantly bit my nails (and still do in high-stress times in my life). My cuticles have always been rough, but I’ve never taken much care of them. However, I’ve been getting really into nail care lately — it’s not like we can just go for manicures right now, after all — and this oil has literally transformed my cuticles. My nails actually look kind of great lately, which I probably wouldn’t have believed I was capable of without the help of an aesthetician at the beginning of this year. No matter if the person you’re looking to gift for is into nail care or manicures, this product is really low maintenance and legitimately transforms your hands.

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at Amazon!

Lip Sleeping Mask by Laneige

This was a recent purchase that I’ve made and have become totally obsessed with. There’s really no worse feeling than chapped lips — it’s a small grievance that can really become a huge annoyance. I first tried this product as a little free sample from Sephora, but instantly fell in love with from the first use. This lip treatment is thick without being heavy and mega-hydrating and softening. Seriously — it’ll transform your lips overnight. This really will make a great gift for anyone in your life who hates chapped lips and is looking for a permanent solution to their woes.

Sound like the perfect gift? Check out this product online at Sephora!

I hope you guys have enjoyed this list — holiday shopping can be tough when you’re in need of ideas, so I hope you all got a little inspo from reading! Stay tuned this weekend for a gift guide full of Skincare gifts — from masks, to toners and everything in between! I’ve made an effort to make all the products I’ll be sharing this year good for most skin types, so that the list can be used universally for any skincare lovers in your life.

As always, I hope you’re all doing well and staying safe! Even though this year has been different (to say the least), I hope that all of you who celebrate holidays in December are still finding ways to bring around good vibes. It’s tough when a lot of what makes this time of year special is spending it with others, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy this time of year in 2020 — it’s just going to be a little different this time around! What are some ways you guys are staying festive this upcoming holiday season? Drop a comment below to share with others so we can all enjoy this December to the fullest!

Much love,

Meredith

My Summer 2020 FabFitFun Unboxing!

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Hey y’all!

So, I wanted to start of my saying I’m sorry for just kind of disappearing off the face of the earth for the last few weeks. June has been a pretty rough month for me overall — I’ve had a lot going on in my life, plus I’ve had two rounds of wisdom teeth extractions to recover from. So this is my little apology for not sharing a post last weekend with no explanation. I had something 95% ready but it wasn’t quite there yet, and I just needed to take some time off to recover. I’d rather hold off on posting than post something that feels unfinished, but I never really got around to explaining WHY I just disappeared there for a bit — so know you all know. But good news — all my wisdom teeth are FINALLY gone and we are back in business!

And it couldn’t be more perfect timing either, since it’s officially my favourite time of the season — FabFitFun time! Sadly, FabFitFun cancelled their affiliate program at the end of the spring season, but since I love these boxes so much I still wanted to share what I received anyway! These boxes really are like the best little gift to myself, and I always get so excited to receive them at the start of each season.

FabFitFun always is the best at anticipating exactly what people are needing in their lives, and I always find that my box has a great mix of things I’ve been needing, things I want but wouldn’t buy myself normally, and some unexpected items I never even knew I wanted or needed at all! Furthermore, they’ve introduced me to SO many of my favourite products and brands — such as Ouai, Tula, Murad, and so many more. However, they really seem to have outdone themselves this time around — this box really does seem to have some of the best, most interesting, and high quality products they’ve shared in a while. Not only that, but the value for your money with this box is insane, as it ranges from $225 to $477 USD in value depending on the items you receive, which is fantastic value considering each box is only $50 USD.

But enough about all that — let’s get into what I received in this season’s box!

L*Space Tie-Dye Towel

Okay, I am OBSESSED with this towel!!! For someone who lives right by the beach and literally goes all the time, I’ve actually never had a cute beach towel before. Not only is this clearly high quality, but it’s just adorable to look at, too! It’s so on-trend with the whole 2020 tie-dye aesthetic, plus it’s blue, which is my favourite colour. I can’t wait to hit the beach and local parks with this cute towel for some quality social-distancing outdoor time!

Michael Kors Bedford Travel Passport Wallet

As soon as I saw that this was an option to receive in my summer box, I knew I had to have it. As someone who flies a lot, being able to stay organized in the airport is a must — I can be a bit of a scatterbrain, so it’s important to me to have everything in one place while in the airport so I don’t lose track of items. I’ve wanted a passport wallet for this exact reason for a while now — and having an uber-stylish and super cute Michael Kors wallet just makes it so much better! Unfortunately, I don’t really have any plans to fly soon — but this just gets me even more excited for my next trip, wherever it may be!

Toms Sydney Sunglasses

I won’t lie, I had no idea Toms made sunglasses until I picked out this item for my box. I actually had to google it to double check that it was the same Toms as the shoe company, which was definitely a bit of a surprise. However, these sunglasses are actually crazy high-quality, you can really tell they’re sturdy and well made. Plus, the cute cat-eye shape is so bold and perfect for my face shape. Sunglasses are one of my favourite accessories, so I can’t wait to give these ones a go!

Silked Satin Pillowcase

I’m all for silk and satin pillowcases — they’re fantastic, and it’s kind of hard to go back once you’ve tried them. They’re so much better for both your face and hair, since they’re super gentle don’t tug as much overnight. I have one set of satin pillowcases from Amazon that have held up pretty well over the years, but I still have to switch between them and my cotton ones in between washes. This little pillow cover is fantastic, since not only will it mean I never have to sleep directly on my cotton pillowcases again — but also, this satin sleeve will be perfect for travelling, so I can take it with me everywhere I go. I’ve already been using it the last few nights, and it feels absolutely heavenly — I’m obsessed.

The Lyfestyle Co. Beach Mist

I was super curious about this product when I received it, as I’ve never seen a spritz-on after-sun product before. However, I’ve already gotten a chance to give this stuff a go as I, unfortunately, burn super easily (yes, even living as far North as I do.). It feels fantastic, and unlike a lot of after-sun care items, isn’t the slightest bit greasy or sticky. As soon as you spray it on and rub it in, it was like it was never there (except for the cooling effect and the scent). So far, I’m loving this stuff — and I know that I’m going to get good use of it this summer since I’m as prone to sunburns as I am (sigh).

Makeup Drop Hybrid Makeup Applicator

This product could not have come at a more perfect time, as I was just about to go out and buy a new Beauty Blender. I’m so curious to test out the silicone applicator pad, as I’ve basically never used anything to apply foundation except for a sponge or a brush. I’ve heard great things though, so I’m really excited to give this a go! Who knows, it may just become my new fave way to apply my makeup.

Spongelle Coconut Verbena Hand Cream

I feel like hand cream would usually be a bit of an odd choice for a summer box, but in the times of Coronavirus — super necessary. I’ve been going through hand cream like never before with all the hand-washing I’ve been doing, since there’s absolutely nothing I hate more than the feeling of dry hands (except for chapped lips — THOSE really are the worst). This stuff smells fantastic, too — it’s coconut scented, but it’s super light and creamy (instead of heavy or super-sweet). Hand cream is never a bad idea — but especially not now, with constant hand-washing and sanitizing to keep ourselves and others safe.

Winky Lux Uni-Brow Universal Brow Pencil

I haven’t gotten the chance to try this one out yet — but I’m certainly very intrigued by it. A friend of mine also received this in her box and loved it, so I’m hopeful it’ll work well. The idea of a universal brow pencil seems a little weird to me, since makeup isn’t often one size fits all. However, I will say that it does have a pretty good, neutral brown colour that would probably work for most people — so I’m super interested to try it out for myself and see how it goes!

Add-On: Summer & Rose Snakeskin Tote

When I saw this, I knew I had to grab it for myself. I don’t really have a lot of good, large bags to carry things around in — all of my purses are tiny and hardly hold more than my phone and a small wallet. This purse is super cute, but also large enough to fit just about anything I need — plus, it has a magnet at the top to help keep it shut, which is great because one of my biggest pet peeves are large purses that have no way to fasten them shut. I know I’m going to be getting a lot of use out of this purse, and it’s super cute — so basically, it was the perfect little extra gift to myself.

If any of you received this season’s box, I’d love to hear all about what items you got this time around and what you’ve been loving most! I’m personally already so in love with the products I’ve received. Everything I’ve used so far I’ve absolutely loved, and I can’t wait to try the rest of it out once I’m done recovering from my wisdom tooth surgery. One of my favourite things about FabFitFun is how it always feels like a little gift to yourself, with all the items it offers and the little surprises. It really was the perfect pick-me-up in the middle of a rough month.

Sooooo, once again, I really do want to apologize for disappearing — I feel like I’ve been having to do it a lot this year, since 2020’s definitely been a bit of a roller coaster. This time though, I’m really hoping it’ll be the last — I’ve finished up getting my wisdom teeth out, and now, barring any surprises, all I have to do is find a job and return my life to feeling a little more normal. I don’t want to jinx it, because with how this year has been, who knows what’s coming next — but with any luck, I should be able to keep sharing new content with you all regularly! I love sharing my thoughts with you guys — without my little blogging community, I don’t even know what I’d do with my time, so fingers crossed things are able to run a little more smoothly from here on out!

Much love,

Meredith