first impressions

Review: Full Panda Gift Sets Part 1

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Full Panda Sets title image. Behind the text box is a photo of the three sets in their boxes

The next few posts will be things I bought in the sales, mainly in Boots. I wasn’t sure whether to do these posts or not but I went into a few of my local Boots and every set I’m posting about was in at least one of them so I thought I would as you might be able to find them in your local store even if they’re sold out online.

I actually bought these sets just before Christmas, so now they’re half price. I’m not normally one to go for celebrity collaborations, but I dis like the look of the Claudia Winkleman Full Panda range she did with Boots. I’m hoping these will be an all year range but I have a feeling they may be Christmas only. I wanted to try everything but I got three to start with (there will be a couple more sets in a few days). I got the Add to Basket… set which has three eyeshadow sticks, All Week Long which has three lipsticks in it, and The Must Have Kit which has a bit of everything for a full face look in her style.

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First Impressions: No7 Best Face Forward Gift Set

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Best Face Forward gift set title image. Behind the text box is a photo of the box of the gift set with their photo of the products inside

I’ve always loved No7 skin care, it just seems to work for my skin, but it seems so expensive to get a full sized version of the ones I want to try, so when I saw that they had their Best Face Forward Set, with eleven products in and quite a lot of them skincare, down at £39 I had to get it. As I’m writing this it’s still on offer so hopefully it’ll be available either in a store near you or online. Even if it isn’t, at the full price of £80 it’s a good deal compared to getting them individually which shows how much of a discount you get on offer.

Everything in the set is focused on your face, as the name suggests, with makeup, masks and general skin care products. They’re all full sized, though I don’t think you can buy the sheet mask individually, and a few of them are ones I know I love and had wanted to repurchase. This is basically a first impressions of the others as I know this won’t be around for long so wanted to get it up quickly but still tried everything. Also I will probably do reviews of almost everything in this box at some time, so any in particular you’re interested in please leave a comment and I’ll try to do that one early in the list.

Unfortunately, as I am writing this, the website is down ready for them to put it back up for the sale. I will add the links afterwards as I’m sure most of these, if not all, are permanent products so I’ll add the links then.

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Blogmas 2019, Days 12 – 15

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I hate being ill, I know everyone says that and it’s probably pointless saying it, but it always seems to happen when there are fun things happening. I’m used to having to cancel because f various health issues, but for some reason when it’s a virus or something that’s going round I find it more annoying. It seems like this year there’s even more going round than normal.

Anyway, basically I’ve spent the past week on antibiotics feeling sorry for myself so the past few days have been trying to watch Christmassy movies and listen to songs and get back into the Christmas spirit. It’s kind of working, definitely going to be trying to watch at least one Christmas movie a day in the lead up to Christmas as I have so many on my to watch list. Do you guys have any favourites you watch every year? Any less well known ones you love and would recommend? I love finding new holiday movies to watch.

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Blogmas 2019, Days 8-11: Where is December Going?

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How is it already over a week into December? It feels like everything is happening at once and the last minute panic for the presents I haven’t got yet is kicking in. I felt so organised this year as well. Probably doesn’t help that I’m ill and all the family gatherings seem to be happening now so I’m sort of only half there all the time. I’m hoping the antibiotics kick in before this weekend for the big family meal as we don’t get to see each other very often.

I love family get togethers, or catching up with friends, seeing people you don’t see for most of the year and catching up with their lives. The best ones are when it doesn’t feel like a year ago you last talked. Though it feels like there’s less family get together as I get older, I guess that happens naturally anyway as everyone starts their own families and new traditions, but it does feel weird sometimes. Do you guys have family meals and meet ups this time of year, or catching up with friends you hardly ever see?

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Blogmas 2019 Days 5-7: Christmas Markets

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I haven’t really been to many Christmas markets, probably only two before this one, but there was a Christmas market fair turning on the lights thing today in the local town so we went and had a wander round. I did end up buying some food, everything always looks so good I could ave bought way more, and I kind of wish I’d bought some of the tombola tickets, but it a definitely worth a wander round for an hour or so.

Do any of you go to Christmas fairs or markets? I tend to find with bigger ones you have so many stalls with exactly the same things being sold but this one was local companies, mainly food, with a few handmade crafts and drink stalls. Wasn’t the most Christmassy weather to wander round in but it was fun and getting there early, quite a bit before thee lights were turned on, was a good idea. Will definitely be going back next year if we’re around and they do it.

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Blogmas 2019 Day 4:

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Had a meeting today and realised it’s only three weeks until Christmas. I mean, I knew it would be soon because it’s December but at the same time it feels like it shouldn’t be that soon. Does anyone else feel like that? I’m not sure I’m that organised this year, I haven’t decorated completely, haven’t got my Christmas card list written and haven’t bought any Christmas presents for a while. It all started so well too. Oh well, looks like it’ll be panic buying at the last minute again.

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Blogmas 2019 Day 3: My DIY Flocked Tree

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I mentioned this yesterday but I wanted to post a photo and I was wondering if anyone has done the whole DIY flocked tree with fake snow thing? I would say it was a success, except for the amount I thought I needed, but know it takes longer than I expect to dry. Last night it was still wet and wiped off easily, today it’s all crumbly and only comes off in pieces. Have any of you tried this? Is there a knack to it or is it just spray it on and leave it?

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Blogmas 2019 Day 1: All the Advent Calemdars

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How is it already December? I’m not sure where 2019 has gone, doesn’t feel that long ago I was doing Blogmas last year! Anyway, I’m going to give it another go and try to post daily, or almost daily as I’m probably going to catch up with my days after I’ve been away rather than opening the days early like in the past, it never seemed to work that well.

I may have gone a bit overboard when it comes to advent calendars this year. The most I’ve had in the past was three, this year I have six! Only one will really have a review each day as the others I think are exclusive to the advent calendars, but they are still available. I have a feeling a couple of them will be for some time so if half way through you like what you see it might be worth picking them up on sale, they’re already reduced!

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First Impressions: Limited Edition Smashbox Cosmic Party Kit

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The Smashbox Cosmic Party Kit title image. Behind the text box is a photo of the gift set unopened, showing the products in a red box with dots and star doodles on it in white

It’s November so it’s OK to talk about Christmas now right? I’ve started on the Christmas shopping and all the gifts are appearing in stores. I’m not sure if this is going to be a thing that comes out every year but last Christmas I bought a Smashbox set that’s sort of a taster set with a mix of travel sizes and full sizes of some of their best selling products and a full size Cover Shot palette. This year it’s the Cosmic Party Kit and cost £30 but contains over £90 worth of products. It says limited edition and I think it’s a limited number available rather than meaning just limited to Christmas.

I love sets like this that contain full sized products so you can tell exactly what it would be worth and you basically get some of the products for free. In this one a Cover Shot palette would cost £25 so if that’s the product you’re most interested in you get the rest for £5. The Cover Shot palette this time is the Major Metals one so it’s all metallic. The other products included are full sized Full Exposure Mascara, Always On Gel Liner in Fishnet (black) and Gloss Angeles Lip Gloss in 72 & Honey alongside a travel sized tube of their Photo Finish Primer.

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