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Beauty Vixen

The holiday season is here, and with that comes the gift-buying season. I think we all have many people we need to buy gifts for this year, and it can be a bit daunting. So I have decided to showcase a few items that I really am enjoying as gifts this year.
Tea Runners Christmas Gift Subscription*
If you know me, you know I love tea. Tea Runners offers a fantastic subscription service that delivers four unique teas monthly. It's perfect as a self-love gift, but they also have Christmas Gift Subscriptions where the recipient can choose their preferred teas.

On Christmas morning, the recipient receives a notification along with a note from the sender and the option to select their preferred box: Original Teabox, Black Teabox (a selection of 4 different teas), Herbal Teabox (all herbal, rooibos, peppermints, honeybush, chamomile teas), or Pure Teabox (this is just straight teas no flavours or blends in it).

Each box includes four different types of tea tailored to the theme, that they get to fully customize, with 20-30 grams of tea per pouch,  providing enough tea for 30-40 cups. The box also comes with a pack of 10 filters. The receiver can customize their delivery schedule, pause or skip shipments, and even change their address. Making it great for anyone who may not drink tea as fast as me.
The sender can choose to send 1 box ($29), 3 boxes($79), 4 boxes ($104), 6 boxes ($149), or even 12 ($288) boxes subscription. I just ordered a box of their Pure Teabox for my mother-in-law for Christmas morning since she lives in the Yukon and we can't see her on Christmas morning.

I think this is such a great gift! I really love Tea Runners' quality and their unique seasonal varieties. You can check out a review I did in 2022 here.
Quo Holiday Gifts
Quo always has great beauty gift ideas. I love how they always seem to have the best trendy ideas. From their Crackers that have lip gloss in them, to brush sets at a great price, they always have great gifts.
This year I could not resist their Reusable Forehead and Under-Eye Pad Set ($28). It comes with a reusable forehead mask and a set of reusable eye masks. As well as a mini rose quartz roller and a mini eye massager. All in a tin to store it.
I also grabbed their Hand Cream Collection ($15), which has 5 different scented versions of their hand cream. It has Shea Butter, Vanilla, Dragon Fruit, Avocado and Blueberry. I think these make great gifts as a set, but also broken up into little stocking stuffers or add-ons is really nice, and at $3 a cream, a great price.
Dr Teal's Holiday Collection Tin Set ($19.99)
Every year I pick myself up a Dr. Teal's gift set. This year I got this cute trio set. It has three of its best-selling scents in a mini Epsom Salt Soak and Mini Foaming Bath. It is a great break-apart gift, but also a great way to try out 3 different scents for just $19.99. 
This year features Relax & Relief (eucalyptus and spearmint), Melatonin (lavender and melatonin) and Soothe 7 Sleep (lavender), all wrapped up in a reusable tin. 
There are also since-scented sets for $9.99 out there, but I think this is a much better value.
Charlotte Tilbury Mini Iconic Hollywood Lipstick Trio Set ($44)
I love good lipstick, and this might be my favourite little set in a while. It features 3 of Charlotte Tilbury's lipsticks, in a mini size. Now I find most sets with minis from her brand have Pillow Talk or some variation of it, so it was really nice to find this set that did not have Pillow Talk in it, mainly because I have more than one already. 
The set has 3 1.5 g Mini lipsticks, Matte Revolution Hydrating Lipstick in Hollywood Vixen (classic, bright blue-red), K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine Lipstick in 90s Pink (warm rosewood pink), and K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine Lipstick in Icon Baby (warm nude baby pink).
All three shades look great, I love the retro Hollywood glam look they are going for. Hollywood Vixen is just stunning and the main reason I got the set.
Clarins Iconic Lip Oils Collection ($84) 
I love Clarins' lip oil, they are great for dry cold winter months. This set is the perfect gift to give to someone who also loves the brand, lip oils or just likes to treat themselves. 
The set has two full-size and two mini of Clarins iconic lip oils.  Honey and Pitaya in full size (7 ml) and Raspberry and Strawberry in mini size (1.4 ml).

It is a great value set because $40.
Byoma Barrier Boosting Heroes Set  ($30)
BYOMA is a great brand that really focuses on boosting the skin barrier. I have tried a few products and have had great success so far. 

They have a holiday set which features five of their products and a bag. For the price, this is a great way to introduce someone to the brand at a bargain price. 
The Kit Includes 15ml Hydrating Serum, 15ml Gel Cream, 15ml Rich Cream, 5ml Eye Gel, 20ml Jelly Cleanser, and a bag. I picked mine up at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Masque Bar Pretty Animalz Merry Masking Set ($10)
Masque Bar makes great masks, and their Pretty Animalz line is quite popular. 
This set has four winter-themed animal masks, Moose, Polar Bear, Reindeer, and Penguin. 
This set is great for any sheet mask lover in your life. I am personally going to break the setup in so that I can give some to each of my nieces, I know they are going to love them.
Wet n Wild Hello Kitty Collection
Wet n Wild has a bunch of adorable Hello Kitty items out right now to celebrate her 50th anniversary. 
There are so many great items out there, Hello Kitty-shaped mirrors, a mascara and lash curler set, but I picked up the Hello Kitty Brush Set ($25) and a Hello Kitty Ombre Blush ($12).
I know my nieces love Hello Kitty and so do many adults. Wet n Wild consistently had fantastic brushes at a great value. I figured they would make a great gift for anyone who is looking for brushes in their lives. Also, the blush was just too cute to pass up.
Dove Pepper Mint Bark Products
I saw a display for Dove's new limited edition holiday scents and fell in love with the Pepper Mint Bark. Available in Body wash, hand wash and body scrub, I picked up all three.
It smells like what the holiday peppermint bark ice cream would smell like if you turned it into a body product.
There is also a sugar cookie sprinkle version, but as a mint and chocolate lover, I picked the peppermint up. Think they would make great stocking stuffers. My only wish is that they made a body lotion or body butter because I am in love.

There is my gift guide for 2024. I personally think I picked out some good things, many of which I am honestly keeping for myself, which is how much I like the items. I do think they will make great gifts. Happy Holidays!
* denotes a product was sent for review. All the other products were bought with my own money. Some links are affiliate links, where I could earn a small commission from a sale. I appreciate your support.
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 December 2023 came and went, it was another fast but incredibly emotional one for me.

Rich and Me on Xmas Day

As I mentioned in the last few roundups, I would be leaving my job of 26 years that I had since grade 12, at the end of the holiday season. Well, that happened in December.  It was a lot. A lot of emotions and feels to say the least. I said goodbye to so many wonderful people and pets. Clients I had known since I was 17, those that I have known less time, people I consider my friends, and of course their adorable and sweet pets. 

Bradley's last day of work. He's retired now.

I got some sweet going aways presents mixed in with Christmas presents. I realized over the years I get a lot of gifts and sweets from both co-workers, people at the vet clinic my work is inside (not technically co-workers, but I consider them that) and clients. I also realize this is the last year I am going to get soooo many gifts to open on Christmas day. It was all very bitter sweet. I am keeping all the cards I got (which I usually do anyways).

Rich and me on my last day of work

Outside of all of that, The hubs and I went for a few meals. I have started to take photos of him while he looks at the menu (and more recently when the food comes), it is a little joke. Hopefully I will make collages in the future for posts of the menu and the food.

We went out for my Brother's birthday at La Palette. It is a lovely French restaurant on Queen West in Toronto, that I recommend checking out.

Rich and I also went to Jack Astor's to get some wings on my last day of work. We were tired but he wanted to take my mind of things (and probably stop me from crying, wings will do that).

what I ate at Rosemary & Thyme

The next morning we went to a brunch spot near us called Rosemary & Thyme. It is in a little strip mall and is always packed. Always. Last time I got the cinnamon roll pancakes, but this time I wanted something more savoury and got their 3 egss meal (it had bacon, sausage, potatoes, toast). It was tasty and a nice way to once again, keep my mind off things.

Christmas table at my aunt's

We did Christmas at my aunts on Christmas day. This is always fantastic. We got there early so Rich could use his pro culinary skills and do a lot of the cooking.

We did boxing day at Rich's Sister's home. We got to see nieces and nephews. It was a nice visit.

Finally we did my family's Fam Jam Christmas on the 30th. This is really sibling's xmas. All of us get together and I get to see my cute nieces and nephew run around and have a blast. I made foccatia to bring.

stew

Finally New Year's Eve we went for lunch at Il Fortinos. I had a great stew (which was extra good because it was cold out) and then rang in the new year at home. we watched a movie and some yummy food. I picked up at a seafood store some salmon and escargot to eat. We also got a bottle of champagne to ring in the new year with.

My mother came back from the US for the holidays, she brought me some Trader Joe's goodies, as well as an Ulta order I did. Wet n Wild had an Ulta exclusive holiday collection that featured foxes. I got quite a bit of it. We also went to the Lisa Cosmetics Warehouse sale. I didn't get much but I did get a bottle of 4711. 

In other not interesting things that happened, our upstairs toilet broke, which wasn't fun. Tiles came up too. So we have to divulge a plan to tackle replacing the tiles before putting the toilet back in. We learned vinyl tile doesn't really exist anymore and we can get peel and stick. We don't really want that, it needs to be a bit more durable. So, we are contemplating what to do next. We did pick up a new toilet though.
my toilet flange 
So that was the end of the year for me. I am looking forward to a new exciting year filled with new adventures and totally different carrier path for me. Online school should be exciting. 
Bradley reluctant to go on a walk in the cold

Wishing you all the best for the new year!

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Mary Kay has launched a some new permeant and limited edition items for the winter time.  I am pretty excited about them, so let's take a look.

Reusable Facial Pads (Limited Edition) / Set of 10 / $18

Reusable pads have quickly become an 'it' item. I have wanted to get some for a long time, but unfortunately due to the lockdowns this year I haven't been able to source some out. Mary Kay has answered my call and I now have a set to call my own.

This set contains 10 bamboo reusable pads and a bag for washing them.

I really love using them micellar water, eye makeup remover and toners. They are exceptionally soft and I find they wash up really well too.
Satin Hands Pampering Set is my all time favourite Mary Kay product, so whenever Mary Kay launches something in the line I get really excited. This season they launched two, so naturally I am incredibly excited.

Satin Hands Shea Hand Soap / $10

Hand Soap! Mary Kay has added hand soap to their Satin Hands line up! This is probably the most sought after product of 2020 so having more is never a bad thing.

Let's be honest, washing our hands as much as we have been can be hard on our hands, which is why this hand wash is so good. It cleans but also contains Shea butter to help stop your hands from drying out. This formula is fragrance free so it is even more gentle and less irritating.

I find that half a pump is more than enough to wash your hands. The lather is quite rich but loose and rinses easily. There is no fragrance to it but my hands smell mildy of a clean scent after which I can only assume is the shea butter in the formula. 

Satin Hands Shea Hand Sanitizer / $8

You probably could guess hand sanitizer would be the other product added to the Satin Hands line. You know it is 2020 when people are stoked about hand sanitizer. I of course am one of those people.

This one is fragrance free, with Aloe Vera and Shea Butter to help hydrate your skin, and 75% ethanol alcohol to kill 99.9% of bacteria. What I really love is that it is a spray, which makes it easy to use on the go and even something I can put onto objects in a pinch. It also is non sticky!!!!

I end up using two spritz per hand to get them covered, but I really like how easy having a spray is to use. I don't find it burns my hands, I also find that my hands don't dry out too much when using it and it smells unscented but nice.

TimeWise Replenishing Serum C+E / $58

This is an update on the TimeWise Replenishing Serum C, it now has vitamin E in it as well as C. It is alight serum that contains anti-oxidants that help fight oxidative stress. 

It light on the skin and absorbs quickly. It even shows a dosage line on it so you know how many uses you've used as well as how many you have left, which is fantastic.

Micellar Water / $20

Who doesn't love a good Micellar water? Mary Kay's eye makeup remover is one of the best around so for them to add a Micellar to their lineup just makes sense. I find it does a fantastic job removing my makeup while not agitating my skin. I have been using the reusable rounds with it and have found the results really great.

Illuminea Extrait de Parfum / $70

This is Mary Kay's latest luxury perfume, with 20% concentration of fragrance oils it is their longest lasting fragrance. Extrait De Parfum in case you were wondering is the strongest concentration of perfume oils out there, even stronger than eau de parfum, so it is pretty long lasting.

It's top notes are Mandarin, Quince, Pink Pepper and Morning Dew. Middle notes are Red Apricot, Orange Blossom, Scarlet Peony, Water Lotus and Honeysuckle. Finally the bottom notes are Florentine Iris Absolute, Violet Leaves, Cashmere Woods, Vanilla and White Moss. Overall it is a complex and well rounded scent that is floral and warm all at the same time.

Illuminea Body Soufflé (Limited Edition)/ $30

This cream features the same gorgeous scent as the Extrait d Parfum. It is cream has shea butter in it and has whipped in texture so it isn't heavy but does a great job of moisturizing the skin.
So there you go, some new products for the winter from Mary Kay. I am really enjoying all of it but think the hand wash, reusable pads and micellar water are the true standouts to me. I really also love the hand sanitizer. 
*This post features PR samples, all views and opinions are my own.
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About Me

Jill Oliver-Fox is a Toronto based beauty blogger with a love for beauty, food, and pets. She began the blog in 2009 and hasn't stopped since. To read more about Jill and the Blog, click here.

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