gift ideas Archives - Megan Taylor

FESTIVE MAKE UP GIFTS FOR THEM & YOU

I love love love receiving new make up at Christmas and I find eye shadow palettes are allow going to be a winner. You may not like every single colour in a palette but if there is a wacky colour in there, Christmas is the time to make use of it. I have chosen these festive palettes from some of my favourite make up brands so therefore I know they are good quality, have great pigment and know that you’ll love them too 🙂

MAKE ME UP

Oh how I adore make up and eye shadow palettes are my absolute favourite. I’m like a magpie to the colours. I love the opportunity to try out colours that I wouldn’t necessarily buy as a single unit. I also love that in the lead up to Christmas I get a bit braver with my make up, my eyeliner gets longer and thicker, my shadows get sparklier and my contouring gets quite frankly epic!

I had always wanted to try Stila because everyone I know raves about it. Until this palette arrived through my door I had never tried the brand. Well, what can I say, the packaging is fabulous! The pigmentation is strong! The colours are gorgeous! Highly recommend these gift sets for a make up fan this Christmas.
Stila Blue Realm Palette
Stila Blue Pink Harmony Lip Duo

Code 8 is relatively new of just a few years and they have taken the make up world by storm. Their ethos is to be pretty simple with your make up application and that you don’t need to spend hours applying, well, I could spend hours simply admiring the products alone 😉 . Everything is so sleek, luxurious and most importantly works incredibly well. This Code 8 Party Essentials Selection is absolutely dreamy and a fabulous introduction to the brand for those who may not have tried them before. If you were to buy one introductory item from Code 8 I would have to advise it be this hydrating lip colour in the colour ‘Off Broadway‘. I have been using this lipstick a minimum of 3 times a week for a year now and it isn’t even half finished. It is the perfect everyday lippie that you can apply without a mirror.

I have been using Mina products for about 2 years now and their eyeliner and pigmented eyeshadows are fabulous! They have this stunning eye shadow palette available this Christmas and it is literally your go to for any cool girl you need to gift a present for. Mina – Glam Rock Eyeshadow Palette. Filled with wearable colours and few brave ones too.

VEGAN BRUSHES

Call me naive but up until 4 years ago I thought ALL make up brushes were synthetic. It wasn’t until one day on a photoshoot I said to the make up artist that I thought one brush was far more scratchier than another and she said it was because it was made from horse hair. I was absolutely shocked, I had just assumed that it would be both gross and expensive to use animal hair in a make up brush that goes on your face but apparently it is pretty common. Ever since that moment I have been actively trying to seek out and only use non-animal hair brushes. Here are three brands creating fabulous animal free brushes and championing the fact there simply is no need to use animal hair to create a decent make up brush!

These So Eco brushes are divine. This is the Face Brush Kit and the Round Foundation Brush is going to be my new everyday foundation application brush. It has the perfect rounded tapered end to get your concealer up under the lower lashes. I also love that this gift set comes with a handy travel pouch.

Look Good Feel Better have a wonderful ethos behind the brand and have been going for 25 years now. LGFB supports and helps boost the physical and emotional wellbeing of patients that are sadly having to endure cancer treatment with an annual donation of at least £20,000. The Makeover Brush Set is filled with all the brushes you need, a powder blush brush, stippling brush (fave!), tapered blending brush and a precision rounded brush to get into those more intricate areas of the face.

The Brush works Complete Face Set has make up brushes suitable for powder, liquid and pressed make up. They look so different from any other brushes out there so make a great stand out present. I had no idea until I read the back of the box that there is even a make up brush pouch hidden in the back!

Which items will you be keeping for yourself?

Valentines Gift Ideas For Him

Valentine’s Day is creeping up and even though some people believe it is simple a commercial farce, I personally adore the day. Even when I was younger and didn’t have a boyfriend I still loved the day. My mum would always buy everyone in my family heart shaped chocolates and everything just seemed rosier. What can I say, I just love love! Liam and I don’t always spend loads on each other every Valentine’s Day yet some years we will buy each other a proper present like we would at Christmas and each others birthdays. It kind of depends on how we are feeling financially that year. We sometimes plan to spend our money on a trip instead of a tangible present but we always give each other a card. I have drawn up a big Valentines gift guide full of ideas for him.

BOOKS

A book is a great present idea for the man in your life, however long you have been together. There are loads of funny Ladybird books around at the moment which are easy to buy for even the shortest of relationships. There are lots of coffee table books for every hobby out there. I love the latest Mr Porter book as an idea for the more fashion conscious gents.

ELECTRICS

All the men I know get very excited by a new bit of gadgetry (honestly, so do I). The best picks for mens gadgets actually cost quite a lot but I have picked some affordable and slightly less affordable but wonderful products.

FASHION

Not all men are into fashion. In fact, unless my mum buys clothes for my brother and dad I am pretty sure they wouldn’t even own a pair of boxers! Yet, some men are really into fashion and I love this as you can easily buy a posh white tee or something that any guy would want and need.

BEAUTY

Not many men buy beauty products for themselves but as the love of their lives it is your duty to make them smell fresh, mostly for yourself. Scents are the hardest thing to buy because this is so personal. I, myself have a perfume that I would say is my signature scent and I know a lot of other people that feel this way so it would be a waste of money for someone to buy me perfume.

LETS HAVE FUN

There are so many ways to have fun for Valentine’s day. I love to spend a day/evening at home and make an at home champagne fuelled tea party. Check out these cheap date ideas. If you fancy venturing out then a cinema date at an Everyman cinema with dinner and cocktails is a lovely treat. Liam and I love to go to new cocktail bars around London. I planned out a lovely date night in Soho, London. here.

Date Night Box Unboxing

How long has it been since you and your partner had a proper date…without your phones? For Liam and I as freelancers we do not stop working. My mum even said to us the other day that we need to chill out! When Date Night sent me a box through the post I was overwhelmed and excited. One of the first things it says in the box is to turn off your phones. Date Night is a subscription box yet you can also gift it and but it one off therefore not tying you in to anything. I think it would be the perfect gift to send to a friend who has just had a child and may be feeling all kinds of exhaustion and possibly needs a little couple time with her partner.

The Opening

The box is quite big so when I received the package through the post I was as excited as a child on Christmas morning. The first thing that I noticed once I opened the box was the sheer amount of goodies that came in the box. The box by the way is gorgeous. It is a big classy black box with a magnetic closure…I will definitely be reusing the box. The cards within the box which describe and guide you through what to do and also personalised. There in big bold stylised letters were mine and Liam’s names, it is little touches like this which make it all the more wonderful. There is also a card which is specific to each box which has a quote scrawled on in Pinterest style writing which is calling out to be framed. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to frame quotes and put them above my desk.

The Goodies

Our box was focused around a spa experience and was full of lovely products which included handmade chocolates and a divine rose petal bath bomb. All of the products were wrapped in black and each package was labelled with a number to match to its corresponding envelope which helped guide you through the romantic evening. A couple of my favourite products within the box…
Yuyo Tea
This tea smells incredibly intense and strong and tastes delicious, it works a treat to help perk you up for your date night. The heady scents of garden mint essential oils are probably the reason why I am in love. Yuyo tea is the brainchild of a lovely couple who have been inspired by their travels across the Caribbean seas.
Chilly B Soap
This rose petal bath bomb is the perfect accompaniment to a romantic bath. The petal delicately float across your bath and surround you with the gorgeous scent of roses. Best of all these bath balls are hand made ensuring your bath is natural and chemical free.

If you are stuck for a present idea this Christmas and like my friends and I do couples Secret Santa then this is 110% theDate Night boxes are a perfect present idea.
Subscribe to Date Night or buy a box here.

Watch me unbox my Date Night box here:

Valentine’s Gift Ideas

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.
What better time to buy yourself something cute, lovely, heart inspired, or simply some alcohol to celebrate with?
…or you could show this to your other half as inspiration for what to buy you.
I have compiled some gorgeous and affordable Valentine’s inspired gifts from jewellery to biscuits.
Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

♡

NECKLACES

Accessorize XO necklace £4
Topshop heart necklace £12

I adore these necklaces because I am lovine gold accessories at the moment.
They are super cheap yet cute and sparkly and can be worn with anything.
You can buy so many gorgeous expensive necklaces which look very similar to these cheap ones so why not buy both and wear them together?

♡

HOMEY

Silent Pool Gin £35.00
Love mugs £20.00
Cookie Art London cookies £12.50

I have put these mugs up on my website before on my
‘What I Got For Christmas’ blog post and noticed a fair few of you bought them.
Why not buy these yummy biscuits to pop on the side of your mug and
fill the mug with a gin cocktail a la Prohibition styley in the mug?
Perfect Valentine’s Day nosh.

♡

ACCESSORISE

Topshop Heart umbrella £12
Ban.do Make up bag £12
Skinny Dip heart phone case £12

With these affordable gifts you could treat yourself to some lovely heart accessories to get in the romantic mood.
I adore Skinny Dip phone cases because they are really cute and eye catching.

♡

RED HOT

Topshop lipstick £8.00
Heart clutch £8.00

For your Valentines date night why not match your lips to your handbag?
A red lipstick is always hard to find. This Topshop one is striking and matches the clutch perfectly.

♡

Have you got any Valentine’s present ideas I have missed? Maybe a new car?

{Featured Image-Miss Dior-Pinterest}