Festive beauty booty (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Festive beauty booty

7:00am Saturday 28th November 2009

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Spoil your special someone this Christmas with a beauty stocking filler.

It seems the modern day woman's Christmas wish lists are pushing the beauty boundaries.

More than a third of people would happily give a cosmetic treatment for a gift and 54% would love to receive one, according to a recent survey by www.thegoodsurgeonguide.co.uk.

But if you prefer to pop a traditional present under the tree - minus the nip tuck - look no further than our Christmas beauty bonanza to put a smile on your recipient's face.

Time to deck the halls (and dressing tables) with beauty goodies.

The cosmetics junkie She's one step ahead of this season's make-up trends, has smokey eye shading techniques down to a fine art, and always looks like she's just stepped out of a L'Oreal ad. Make your cosmetics gift the star performer in her beauty kit.

Try: Benefit Glitz Glam & Gloss six-shade lip gloss set, £19.50, (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk); Guerlain limited edition Eclat Imperial Sublime Radiant Body Powder, £47.50 (01932 233887); Nails Inc limited edition Charm Nail Polishes, £15 each (3 available - Half Moon with Snowflake charm, Duke Street with Mitten charm and Hoxton Square with Gingerbread Man charm) (www.nailsinc.com); Technic Adorn & Adore Complete Face Palette, £6.99 (www.lovethymakeup.com).

The spa addict Her idea of bliss is booking into a health spa to while away the hours with a non-stop timetable of manis, pedis, massages and steam rooms. Equip her with the get-gorgeous goodies to set up an at-home spa - and don't forget the 'do not disturb' sign for the bathroom.

Try: Elemis Spa Body Secrets box set, £58, with Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt and Bath & Shower Cream, Skin Nourishing Milk Bath, Exotic Lime & Ginger Salt Glow (www.elemis.com); Aromatherapy Associates Limited Edition Precious Oils, £12, in Frankincense, Myrrh, Clementine & Ginger (020 8569 7030/www.aromatherapyassociates.com); Activity Superstore Relaxing Spa Day, £79 (online only www.boots.com); N-Spa Professional Spa Minis set, £7 (ASDA).

The designer diva Forget anonymous brands, this little lady only does designer, darling. Think high fashion and super-luxe products so she can turn her bathroom cabinet and dressing room table into a catwalk-style display of products.

Try: Marc Jacobs Lola Solid Perfume Flower Ring, £30 (nationwide from Dec 1); Moschino Glamour gift box, £30, with Eau de Parfum 30ml and Silky Body Lotion (01273 408800); Chloe Perfumed Bath Soap, £25 (nationwide); Lulu Guinness Icon Print Vanity Case, £50 (www.asos.com).

The pampered princess This is one woman who doesn't know the meaning of dry skin. Her extensive maintenance routines ensure her skin is always super-soft and smelling sweet. Indulge her non-stop penchant for pampering with luxurious bathroom beauties.

Try: This Works Lips Cracker, £8 (www.thisworks.com); Philosophy The Winter Escape gift set, £20, with Melting Marshmallow Cream Body Souffle, Peppermint Hot Cocoa High-Foaming 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath, Melting Marshmallow Lip Shine (0870 990 8452); Lush Christmas Star six-set bath ballistics gift box, £19.95 (01202 668 545/www.lush.co.uk); Baylis & Harding sequin Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit Body Wash, £2.99 (Morrisons).

The Mr Vain You regularly engage in bathroom battles and have to schedule in me-time for the mirror. Make him the man of the moment on Christmas morning with plush products he'll be proud to display on his side of the bathroom shelf.

Try: Jo Malone Men's Grooming Starter Set, £32, (0870 034 2411/www.jomalone.co.uk); ckIN2U For Him Limited Edition Metallic Bottle, £35 (nationwide); Boots No7 For Men Travel Gift Set, £18 (Boots); Crabtree & Evelyn Sienna Luxury Shave Cream, £14.50 (www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk).

:: Tried & tested Thermal Diffuser Teeth Whitening, £475, London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry (020 7722 1235/www.londoncosmeticdentistry.co.uk) Want to know the secret behind Jedward's grins and Stacey Solomon's bright smile? All the X Factor contestants started their makeover for TV stardom at the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry. Co-founder of the practice, Dr Mervyn Druian, uses a new whitening system with a 'Thermal Diffuser'. Having mentioned a previous painful experience with laser whitening, I was assured the thermal technique was fast, effective and pain-free. In fact, the only uncomfortable part is wearing a mouth guard and not talking while Dr Mervyn works his tooth fairy magic with the diffuser. Because my teeth were an already white-ish 'A2' on the chart, they underwent just two 10 minute cycles to take me up a level to an 'A1', however, more discoloured or stained teeth may require four or five cycles. My teeth looked markedly whiter and brighter after just 30 minutes and I was told they may whiten further over a 24-hour period. Mild sensitivity followed until the next morning but I woke up rewarded with a gleaming smile even a toothpaste model would be envious of.

:: Buy it now Go back to the 1980s with Elizabeth Arden's new limited edition collectable Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, £17 (Boots).

:: Recessionista alert TK Maxx have cleared the aisles for their biggest ever delivery of designer fragrances. Prices start from £9.99 (RRP£20) to £29.99 (RRP£50). Visit www.tkmaxx.com.

Beauty bulletin :: Chemical reaction The average British woman spritzes, sprays, and slathers on more than 500 chemicals every day. A standard beauty regime can result in a woman carrying a staggering 515 chemicals on her body, according to a new survey by Bionsen deodorants. More than a third of women were unaware of the key ingredients in their toiletries, with just 9% being in the know. Health and beauty retailer Holland & Barrett have recently announced they are banning any beauty products containing chemical parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). Visit www.hollandandbarrett.com.

:: Stateside shopping If you haven't had the chance to jet over to Bloomingdales or Macy's for transatlantic Christmas shopping, check out the next best thing to New York. US-Unlocked is the savvy girl's answer to shopping in America where you can shop for your favourite U.S. beauty brands and have them delivered to your doorstep. For best offers or to bag products unavailable in the UK click and shop at www.usunlocked.com.

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