Benefit Cosmetics Ultra Plush Lip Glosses in Coralista and Hoola Review

The concept behind Benefit Cosmetics's Ultra Plush Lip Glosses are that they match Benefit Cosmetics's best selling box blushes and bronzer- clever right? 

Although these lip glosses look bright when you squeeze the tubes they are actually sheer lip glosses. When they are applied to the lips they look like clear lip glosses with a slight tint. Hoola looks like it will be as brown as Benefit's Hoola Bronzer in the tube but in fact is a soft nude shade with micro glitter. I don't mind this as nude is probably more flattering. Coralista looks like it's gonna pack a punch of bright coral but gives a peachy-orange natural looking tint to the lips. Unlike Hoola there isn't any glitter in Coralista. If you apply one layer of these lip glosses it will look like a clear gloss with a slight tint. But if you apply one thick layer it will look more opaque but it can look uneven and the pigment can start to bleed. It's best to apply these lip glosses in light layers for more coverage and colour.

The formula is not sticky and feels smooth on the lips. They have a fruity taste to them, Coralista tastes just like nectarines. They both smell fruity too but sightly plastic. They will transfer onto cups and glasses a little but most of the gloss will remain on your lips. The Hoola Ultra Plush lip gloss survives drinking and snacking and lasts around 2 hours. Coralista wears for around 1 and a half hours and while it lasts through drinking, fares less well when snacking. They don't last through a meal so you will have to reapply afterwards.

As I mentioned earlier the branding on the tubes matches Benefit Cosmetic's boxed blushes. The semi transparent tubes show you how much product you have and the slanted tip is more hygienic than using a doe foot applicator. However I think I'd prefer a doe foot applicator because it will give you more control over how much to apply to get an opaque colour. The lip glosses above are sample sized 6.5 ml, while the normal full size is 15 ml, more than double in size and sold for £15. The amount is fairly generous compared to MAC Cosmetics lip glosses, but MAC probably has more pigment in their glosses.

I think that Benefit's idea of producing a collection of lip glosses to match and complement their blushers is genius! However I think that the lip gloss formula should be improved so that they are much more pigmented on the lips as well as in the tube. What they are good for is when you want to top your lipstick with a layer of gloss. Overall I'm a bit disappointed about these lip glosses because you can get a clear lip gloss or a tinted one much cheaper.  I don't think the quality matches the high price tag.

Benefit Cosmetic Ultra Plush Lip Gloss is £15 available at Benefit Cosmetic UK website here.

If you have tried Benefit'S Ultra Plush Lip Glosses what did you think of them?

Disappointing Beauty Products #8

The Body Shop Peach Body Butter. 
I love peach scented products and The Body Shop's body butters, so what can go wrong? Well at first this is a lovely peach scent and very earthy. It smells very natural and realistic but after 10 seconds it starts to smell rancid and very chemically. As far as moisturising goes it's actually fairly good but not as much as the mango one.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter
I liked the smell of this in the shop but once I took it home to use it smelt like men's deodorant (think Lynx) and it's heavily perfumed. The texture is slightly heavier than The Body Shop Peach body butter and leaves skin tacky as it takes longer to sink in. I am going to pass this onto my mum who likes shea butter and hopefully she'll get more use out of this.

The Body Shop Pomegranate Lip Balm
I really don't like the smell or taste of this it's like artificial sweets and wax not pomegranate at all. It also makes my lips tingle a little bit which I didn't really like.  It does have a nice red tint though. 

Biorderma Sensibio Micellar Water Sample Size 

I wanted to love this so much as it's such a cult product and now it's in the UK, its affordable. I chose the Sensibio for sensitive skin but when I used it it felt like it was burning my skin. I must be allergic to one of the ingredients. 

Burt's Bees Beeswax and Banana Hand Cream
This smells like the fake banana antibiotics they give to children but much more pungent. The beeswax acts like a waterproof protective layer that locks the moisture in. However I couldn't use this because the smell was just too overpowering. However my mum didn't mind the smell and found this to be good for her skin, moisturising as well as locking in moisture. However even if you like bananas I'd still try and smell it first before buying it. Nonetheless this is a best selling product at Holland & Barrett and they literally keep the jars under lock and key! 

Downtown Calvin Klein Sample Sized

I was given a sample of this and I expected this to be like other Calvin Klein scents that are fresh and not very sweet, but this is actually too sweet and spicy for me. The violet leaf and gardenia give it a very strong, sweet floral scent. The opening notes are supposedly fruity, with lemon, pear and plum. However I can't smell the pear or plum and the lemon goes away within 3 seconds. The strong floral smell takes over both the top and middle notes. After that it turns a little spicy with the pink pepper, neuroli oil and incense, which I don't really appreciate but I guess it gives the perfume more depth. Then a strong woody scent takes over, I like a subtle woody smell but the combination of Texas cedar and vetiver is too much for me. This has been discontinued but they are still selling it on Fragrance Direct.   

Beauty Blender Liquid Cleanser Sample sized
I  finally caved in and bought a beauty blender and the beauty blender soap along with it, as I thought the two products would work well together. I had the choice of a liquid or soap bar, but the liquid soap had more positive reviews so I went with that. However it was the same or worse that using washing up liquid. The first time I used this was with Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light. I had a feeling that Double Wear would be trickier to remove with soap, water and washing up liquid but that's why I bought this. I tried different methods to try and get the beauty blender clean. At first I applied the soap to the stains and massaged it in. Then I soaked it in water with this soap for 10 minutes. The water changed colour a little but the sponge looked the same. Since I was about to go out of the house I left this to soak for 4 and a half hours. When I returned the beauty blender looked exactly the same and just as dirty. I also used this to clean my makeup brushes and it cleaned most of my brushes well (brushes that I had used for powder and gel eye liner) but I found it hard to wash my foundation brush. To be fair the foundation brush was covered in  EL Doublewear light and it was a dense brush. I'm really disappointed because this soap was made for beauty blenders and their original purpose is to use it with foundation. They should have tested the beauty blender soaps with long wearing foundations such as Estee Lauder foundation. I'm glad I got a sample size and didn't buy the full sized bottle. Apparently Dr Bronner's soap is much better so I'll be trying that. 

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them? What has been your latest most disappointing product? 

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina & Baca Review

Despite being such a cult favourite I was reluctant to go near Stila's Stay all Day Liquid Lipsticks for a long time. This was down to a bad experience with Stila's other lip products (namely Stila It Gloss Shimmer which was such a sickening sweet scent of vanilla it made me gag whenever I wore it) and the notorious reputation Patina had for being so drying according to reviews on Makeupalley.  

Well, the devil on my shoulder that pursued me down the beauty aisles of Marks and Spencer was right. I'm in love! This is in a completely different league and smells and tastes like buttercream or vanilla cupcakes. It actually can be kinda addictive. The formula surprised me as it's thinner than Jeffree Star's formula and dare I say it a little oily. It does take awhile to dry and on the lips it feels lightweight because the formula is thin. It is initially a little drying as most liquid to matte lipsticks can be, but after a while it settles down. I haven't had to exfoliate my lips to wear these. 

What most impressed me was that for the Patina shade there was practically zero transfer on cups and glasses and no transfer while eating a banana (a feat which hasn't happened to me before.) It is pretty much budge proof for 8 hours + even if you're drinking. However it will come off if you're eating a meal that contains oil e.g burgers etc. The shade does look darker on the lips when it's fully dried compared to when I swatched it on my hands. When wet it looks like nice mid pink Kylie Jenner look lipstick but dries down a pinky mauve. On my yellow toned olive skin this has a grey undertone. I'm glad I bought this as I don't have anything like this in my current collection. 

Bacca is in the new Stila Liquid lipstick packaging. It is a dark raspberry colour and it actually tastes like raspberries and buttercream. While Bacca is a matte vampy colour  it doesn't look too gothic. This liquid to matte lipstick is initially a little drying but then it calms down. The formula seems to be thinner than Patina and not at all oily. While it looks patchy in  the swatch it doesn't apply patchily at all. Bacca does transfer a little onto cups and glasses, though most of the lipstick stays on. However eating a meal is a lot trickier and I found that this lipstick can move over and away from the lip line and transfer, but generally it fades from the middle.  Dark colours require more maintenance but luckily this can be topped up (after a meal) and look fine and even. If you don't eat then this will look good even 6 hours after applying. 

Priced at £16 and available from the Stila website (UK) & Marks and Spencer 

REN Skincare Review

The ethos behind REN is 'clean skincare' meaning that ingredients come from '100% plant and mineral derived actives and are free from skin unfriendly synthetic ingredients.' Every product has a logo on the back stating that the there are no parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, petroleum, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colours, T.EA, D.E.A, silicones and PEGs in their products. 

REN skincare is a company that is able to invest in the newest or hard sought ingredients and technology. However I think this is sort of their Achilles heel. They aim towards 'simple' and 'pure' skincare while throwing in random fruit and plant extracts and essential oils for the sake of fragrance, but which are likely to cause irritation, counteracting the other good ingredients in the formula. There is also some debate about whether the ingredients they purposely exclude such as mineral oil are actually that bad and REN have been accused of green washing.  I personally haven't experienced any bad reactions to REN's products. The packaging is kept simple and white- clean like their skincare and unisex. I have been trialing these travel sized products but the full sized versions come in tubes with a push up bag inside them. REN is also against animal testing.

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser  Full Size 150ml  £16 for all skin types
The cleanser comes with a small wash cloth/ flannel measuring 8" x 8." I have been using this for over a month. REN claims that this cleanser will decongest and gently exfoliate the skin and remove all make-up. 'Skin will be refreshed, radiant and smoothed, without dryness or tightness.'  Both the rosa damascena and vitamin P soothe the skin. You are supposed to massage the cleanser onto dry skin and then use a hot cloth to remove it.  It does remove eye makeup but I think the Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk (below) cleans my face slightly better. My skin didn't feel dry or tight while using this. But apart from using a flannel it didn't exfoliate my skin much.

The Evercalm range is aimed at those with sensitive skin. These samples lasted just over 2 weeks

Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk  Full size 150ml £17
This cleanser 'gently removes dirt, pollution and make up, leaving skin purified, calm and soothed.' It also claims to minimise the feelings of sensitivity and combat premature ageing. Calendula and omega 3 and 7 reduce inflammation and soothe the skin. The fennel seed extract de-stresses the skin by neutralising harmful pollution particles while protecting against the oxidative damage that causes premature ageing.

Although REN describes this as a 'cleansing milk' the texture is thicker and creamy like a lotion rather than runny milk. The directions tells you to rub the cleanser between your hands and then massage the product onto the face and finally rinse off with water or remove with cotton wool. I preferred to rinse with water in case it left a film over the skin. I didn't really understand why they suggest you rub the product between your palms because it felt like the product disappeared between my hands and so I ended up using more.  The mandarin peel oil makes the cleanser smell fresh and citrusy and the extracts of chamomile, fennel and rosemary gives it essential oil scent. I mainly used this as an evening cleanser before bed. If I was wearing makeup I followed up with a micellar wet wipe afterwards, just in case I still had makeup or dirt on my face and the wipe often looked clean showing that all the dirt had been washed away. I didn't use this to remove my eye makeup because I'm a little wary of using products with essential oils on my eyes. Since this is only sample size I can't really make a comment on whether it has reduced my skin's irritation and sensitivity level in the long term.

Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream Full size 50ml  £29
This moisturiser aims to keep your skin 'optimally hydrated, calmed, soothed.' REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream shares many ingredients of the cleansing milk (and smells very similar) but with added Bisabolol to sooth and reduce redness. The 'Global protection complex'  is potent blend of bio extracts that fights free radicals and oxidants to protect the skin from UV damage and premature ageing.

This day cream not as rich as an intensive moisturiser but more hydrating than a light summer moisturiser, it's between the two and perfect for the transition of seasons. It is gentle and soothing and didn't sting my cheeks like some moisturisers can. I didn't see any difference in terms of redness on my cheeks but so far it hasn't caused any break outs. It's perfectly fine to apply makeup on top and you don't have to wait very long for it to sink in. Ren claim that over time this moisturiser will train your skin to be less sensitive but as this is only a sample size I can't comment as to whether it reduced my skin's sensitivity in the long run.

Evercalm Anti Redness Serum  Full Size 30ml £29  my sample lasted 1 week
This serum claims to improve sensitive skin, hyper pigmentation, redness and reduce signs of aging. Milk polypeptide and Prebiotic Oligosaccharides strengthen the skin barrier, protecting the skin against toxins and environmental aggressors. To target aging, Sirtuin activators promote the natural repair of skin cells and Antileukine helps to reduce damage caused by U.V. radiation. The tyrosinase Inhibitor reduces the appearance of hyper-pigmentation. It also contains super moisturising hydrauronic acid.

I have red patches around my nose and cheeks and after using this every morning for a week I found that my red patches were fading to pink and the red areas on my cheeks were significantly reduced! This is the first serum I've used and I did not expect it to make such a difference! Now I've finished the sample up my cheeks still look less red so it wasn't just a temporary thing. REN also claim that after 3 weeks your skin will be less sensitive. Since my sample only lasted a week I couldn't test this out, but my main concern were my red patches rather than calming the skin. I also don't have any lines on my face so I couldn't notice a difference there but I would advise against using it around the eyes because of the arnica flower extract. Due to the lactic acid and bitter orange extract in this serum that can make skin photosensitive and prone to pigmentation you should follow this up with sunscreen, even when it's not sunny. The only negative points are that it takes around 12-15 minutes to truly sink in which is annoying and I'm not keen on the smell.

The Vita Mineral Range concentrates on moisturising skin. 

REN Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream (Day Cream) 
Full Size (50ml) £29 My sample lasted 1 week
REN Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream seems to have the longest name ever!
However I can see why they called it that because of the vitamins, mineral ingredients and antioxidants that all aim to keep skin toned, radiant and youthful. Vitamin A boosts cell renewal and retains moisture. Vitamin P decongests and soothes the skin. Tocotrienols (a Vitamin E sub group), protects the skin against UV damage, preventing the skin from premature ageing and protecting against free radicals. Trace mineral elements Copper, Magnesium and Zinc boosts radiance and collagen.

Although it's not part of the Rosa Centrafolia line this smells fairly strongly of rose water, so if  you don't like rose scented cosmetics this is one to avoid!  It is lightweight with a mid level of moisture but it is more moisturising than the REN Evercalm Global Protection Day cream. It didn't sting my cheeks or break me out but it didn't really decongest my skin either. Regarding anti aging claims I can't really comment on this because this is only a sample size and I would need to test it for longer and I don't have any lines yet. However I think this would be good for fine lines caused by dehydrated skin. It does give a dewy finish to skin making it look healthy, fresh and glowing.It is moisturising enough to use after a bath and shower when your skin needs it the most.

Which products are worth purchasing?
Personally I would buy the Evercalm Cleansing Milk again and Evercalm anti redness serum in full size. I would also use the  REN Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream. REN also have gift sets which are good value for money the REN Stop Being So Sensitive  Kit (£15) and the Evercalm Gift Set (£35.)

What arr your experiences with REN Skincare? Let me know if you have any favourites below.

Blogging Break & 8 TV shows I'm loving!

My long absence from this blog is due to a long bout of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) which I suffer from occasionally. It restricts what I can do with my hands so I have become a bit of a Netflix addict instead! Here are four shows I'd recommend watching.

I loved Ingobernable, a thriller about Mexico's first lady and president, it reminded me a bit of the show '24' especially the last two episodes that had a countdown timer. Disillusioned with the lack of progress that her husband, President Diego promised Mexico, Emilia wants to divorce him. After a violent argument, Diego falls off the balcony and lands on top of a car. But an autopsy reveals that it was a bullet to the head that actually killed the President not the fall. Emilia is now on the run until she can prove that she didn't kill her husband and find the identity of the real murderer. It's a Spanish Netflix original drama (with English subtitles) starring Kate del Castillo and they've confirmed that there will be a second series, hurrah!

I also enjoyed watching Cable Girls/ Las Chicas del Cable. Set in my favourite era of the 1920's the show is about four women from different backgrounds- small town Marga, upper class Carlota, working mother Angeles and Alba who are all recently hired as operators for a Madrid Telecommunications company.  The show begins with Alba who is the main character. She and her friend Gimena dream of starting new lives in Argentina. They begin to steal from lavish parties to finance their new lives. But an argument with Gimena's lover Pedro ends up with both Gimena and Pedro being shot and killed with Pedro's gun. Alba is accused of double murder by the police, but a corrupt police man offers to let her go if she robs a safe at the Madrid telephone company. Using the alias 'Lidia' she flirts with a manager to get a job there. However she runs into trouble when she meets Francisco, the company director and son-in-law of the owner. Francisco feels there is something familiar about her.  The show is dubbed in American English.

Netflix also dropped season 5 of Orange is the New Black, a show based on Piper Kerman's real life experiences in Danbury women's minimum-security prison. Middle class, law abiding Piper has an adoring fiance called Larry, but her past finally catches up with her. Years ago she transported drug money for her ex-girlfriend  and suddenly finds herself sentenced for year and a half behind bars. Season 5 is a lot darker as it covers the prison riot. It was a good season both plot-wise and the acting, although Piper's character did annoy me sometimes.

Finally I loved watching the seventh and final season of Pretty Little Liars which is based on Sara Shepard's loonng series of books. It all began with Alison Dilaurentis, a mean high school girl who went missing. With Alison gone the friendship group consisting of Emily, Hanna, Aria and Spencer fell apart. Until they received anonymous bullying texts from a person called A who blackmailed each of them. The bullying from the many 'A's revealed across the seasons has only made the group stronger.  I've absolutely loved the show, the mysteries, romance and fashion. I'm so sad it's over!

Usually costume dramas air in the autumn in the UK, and I love watching them on a cosy night in with a hot chocolate, blanket and fluffy slippers. But the BBC have spoilt me with two dramas to watch through the summer. Versailles came back for a second series where we saw Louis XIV engaging in war with Portugal and plagued by suspicious poisonings in his court. The Versailles palace is definitely somewhere I'd like to visit someday - it looks incredibly beautiful! The show is also available on the BBC iplayer or itunes here.

Poldark is set in Cornwall in the late 18th century and revolves around the Poldark family. It is based on the novels written by Winston Graham. We follow the rifts that divide the two branches of families, their fortune in the mines and the hardships they each face. It begins with Ross Poldark returning from the American War of Independence to his Cornish copper mines. When he arrives home, he finds his father dead, his estate in ruins, and his old sweetheart Elizabeth engaged to his cousin Francis. He rescues a young woman, Demelza, from being beaten up and takes her on as a kitchen maid. She later becomes his wife. Ross attempts to help the village by gaining control of the mines sought after by his rival, the greedy and arrogant George Warleggan. While most people see Ross Poldark (Aiden Turner) as the hot brooding topless heartthrob I actually prefer Doctor Dwight Eyns (Luke Norris.) Available on BBC1 Sunday 9pm or  Itunes here

I would definitely recommend watching Clique (available on BBC iplayer here) It tells the story of two childhood best friends- extrovert, impulsive, fun loving Georgia and quieter, slightly shyer Holly. They start Edinburgh University together and are studying business. Renowned lecturer Jude McDermid has founded the exclusive Solasta Women's Initiative, helping women in business. It's a competitive position and Georgia suddenly finds herself accepted into the group. Holly is left out and has FOMO issues. Holly is also haunted by disturbing scenes from her past. When Georgia suddenly behaves erratically, she is worried. Wanting to help her friend, Holly digs deeper and manages to infiltrate the group. At first she sees the glamourous parties attended by powerful and famous business men and women. But when she discovers a darker side she is determined to save Georgia by exposing it.

The Handmaids Tale Channel 4 / Hulu
This show is based on Margret Atwood's dystopian novel. The government of the United States of America has been overthrown and replaced by the totalitarian Republic of Gilead. To tackle low fertility rates handmaids are allocated to ruling elite couples who have trouble conceiving. The main character Offred is a handmaid to Commander 'Fred' and his wife Serena Joy. Every month Offred has to participate in a ritualised rape with the commander in order to conceive for the couple. The life of a handmaid is completely restricted, their movements are curtailed and freedom of speech gone, instead they are forced to stick to a set script of Christian phrases. Ominously Gilead’s secret police force 'The Eyes' are always watching everyone. In flashbacks we see June's (Offred's) previous life with her husband and child. We also get a glimpse of  the events that have led to the Gilead regime. Women's rights were gradually eroded due to temporary anti-terrorism laws that became permanent. Laws banned women from working and owning property or even a bank account. Atwood used examples of female oppression and totalitarian regimes past and present as her inspiration. These terrible events were not imagined but had happened in one society or another. Since I haven't read the book I'm curious to see what happens next even though it's a kinda bleak and a hard watch at times. The acting is superb though especially from  Elizabeth Moss who plays Offred. The Handmaid's Tale is available on Channel4 Sunday 9pm or Hulu.

Tell me what TV shows do you recommend watching? 

Valentines Day Gift Guide

l always thought that personalised valentine marshmallows from Boomf would make a great valentines present. Download photos from Facebook, Instagram or your photo roll and Boomf will print them on a box of marshmallows for you! You can also create your own designs or chose from ones provided. They come in vanilla or strawberry and are gluten free although they're not suitable for vegetarians, best of all they are only 24 Kcal! Boomf also have free world wide shipping!


Also I've fallen in love with the couples watch stand as i'm someone who often loses things and this gift is both practical as well as romantic. I also think having a watch engraved is pretty romantic too. I found these valentine couple socks which are so cute! They also come in black and white and have socks for same sex partners as well!

Fragrance is another great valentine's gift. I've chosen these two fragrances because Boss Bottled won the Editor's choice at the GQ Magazine's 2017 Grooming Awards while Mr Burberry made The Daily Telegraph's best fragrances hit-list Alternatively a bottle of their (or your) favourite aftershave /cologne would go down well too. I also love the cute and witty 'You stole my heart but I'll let you keep it' mug and the couple mason glass is made for Instagram!

You cab spend Valentines day reminiscing about the cool things from your childhood with the build your own retro box, choose a DVD, a mug and fill with retro pick n mix sweets. They have a choice of 57 DVDs (mostly from 80's and 90's) and 24 pick n mix sweets and 38 mug designs. If that doesn't rock your world Funky Hampers have a build your own sweet box and hamper.

I also came across this We Met Here Jigsaw and hadn't seen anything like it before. You type in the address of where you met your partner and they send you a jigsaw in a presentation box with a personalised message. The centre of the puzzle is heart shaped and eight pieces are letters that spell I Love You. Another thoughtful present would be a digital photo frame that displays your favourite pictures and reminds you of your favourite memories together.

 1. Box of 9 Marshmallows with Photos   £15 Boomf
2. Personalised Kissing Couple Socks £12  Sparks Clothing at Not On The High Street
3. Couples Watch Stand With Ring Dish £36 Mijmoj Design at Not On The High Street 
4. Mr Burberry EDT 50ml £48 Debenhams Boss Bottled EDT 100ml £47.95 Fragrance Direct
5, Personalised 'You Stole My Heart Mug £10  Hope and Halcyon at Not On The High Street
6. Build Your Own Retro Box (DVD, Mug, Sweets)  £19.99 Funky Hampers
7. We Met Here Postcode Jigsaw £24.95  PrezzyBox 
8. Couples Personalised Mason Jar £9.56  Sophie Victoria Joy at Not on the High Street
9. Bush Digital Photo Frame 7 inch £34.99 Argos

My Top 15 Favourite Christmas Songs

Nowadays I tend to prefer older songs, traditional carols or songs that aren't played so much because so many of them get overplayed to the point where you get sick of listening to them! To hear the songs click the title link or the play button on the video.

1.  Do they know it's Christmas Band Aid 1984

This is a pop classic that I haven't got tired of listening to- I love it so much! I like both versions of the song but I think I prefer the original version the best. Maybe it's because I'm more familiar with it, but it was a big moment in music history and managed to raise so much money for such a good cause.

Performed by Bono, Adam Clayton, Paul Collins, Sting, Duran Duran, Boomtown Rats, 

Bananarama, Spandau Ballet, Status Quo, Kool & the Gang, Culture Club, George Michael, Heaven 17, Paul Weller, Paul Young and Marilyn.

                                           Do They Know It's Christmas Band Aid 2014
Performed by One Direction, Ed Sheeran,  Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sandé, Elbow (Guy Garvey), Dan Smith (Bastille), Angelique Kidjo, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Bono, Seal, Ellie Goulding, Sinead O’Connor and Olly Murs.

                                                      

  2.  Carol of The Bells

 I just love this song but I have no idea how people sing it without getting out of breath! The rounds give this song depth and it's gorgeous to listen to. One of the traditional versions I love is sung by Libera here and Ciorelli's version below. A lovely instrumental version is played by The Piano Guys  12 Cellos here . The instrumental version below by Lindsey Stirling is beautiful, the violin reminds me of Vanessa Mae meets Irish folk and gentle bells. 

                                               

                                               


                                                3. Let it Snow Frank Sinatra
To me, Christmas means Frank Sinatra and I'll always love the original song more than any cover. It's such a jolly song. It was written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in California during a heat wave as they tried to imagine being somewhere cooler!

 

                                       

4. O Come, O come Emanuel Enya 

Such a haunting rendition, it's so beautiful.   

 

5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman 

This is a recent love- I wasn't aware of this carol despite it cropping up in films, TV shows and ads. I love the melody.

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6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Kelly Clarkson

This used to be my number one favourite Christmas song and I still like it a lot. It was first sung by Judy Garland in the film Meet Me in St Louis. The actual scene is quite depressing as the family are hiding from the Nazis. However I like this song because it's not played so often and so it feels more special. 

                                                 7.  Holy Jolly Christmas Michael Buble
I'm not a big Michael Buble fan but he does do Christmas covers well. I love this song because I can imagine being in a department store in New York, Christmas shopping in the 1950's while it's snowing outside. (Though I'm aware that Burt Ives released the original is in the 60's not the '50's.)

  

8. Pie Jesu- Andrew Lloyd Webber: Sarah Brightman, Placido Domingo & Paul Miles Kingston

I think listening to this song is one of my earliest memories. It made the UK Top 10 Chart for 4 weeks in April 1985. I  remember being given a cassette tape of this and listening to it over Christmas as a child. It I loved it but I remember being really surprised that some parts were sung by a boy. Andrew Lloyd Webber composed this after reading in the New York Times about a Cambodian boy who was forced to murder his mutilated sister or be executed himself. He had also just learnt that the journalist who had interviewed him a few weeks earlier had died during the IRA conflict. He used writing music as a way to cope with and express his grief. Webber dedicated it to his father who passed away in 1982.  I also remember watching Charlotte Church singing this on TV as well. 

 

 

                                        9. Walking in the Air- Aled Jones

Released in 1982 this remains a Christmas classic: it conveys the magic and excitement of Christmas. The song is beautiful and the animation is still spellbinding to watch. I remember being really proud of myself when I was able to play this on my recorder as a kid! 

                                              10. Driving Home for Christmas Chris Rea

This is just such a chilled out Christmas song. It was inspired by the time when Chris's wife was driving him home from London to Middlesbrough in her Austin Mini (because it was cheaper to drive than travel by train.) They were stuck in heavy traffic when he said "Driving Home for Christmas" is a "car version of a carol." The song was used in Christmas adverts for Iceland supermarket in 1997, 1998 and in 2011 covered by Stacey Solomon.

11. Silent night G4

Silent was one of my favourite carols as a kid. Although I never watched the 2004 X Factor, I heard G4 on the radio in 2006 singing this song and it sounds so beautiful.

                                              

                         

                                    12.  Rockin Around the Christmas Tree Brenda Lee
I love this song it's upbeat and I can imagine being at a 1950's Christmas cocktail party! It has a 50's rock n roll vibe. Unbelievably Brenda Lee was just 13 when she recorded the song in 1958 in the U.S! The single returned to the Billboard Hot 100 chart on Boxing Day 2015, eventually reaching No. 30 in January 2016 two weeks later.

                             13. It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year Andy Williams 
Another Christmas classic.When I listen to this song I imagine shopping in a boutique department store in New York-I'm not sure why though!

    

                                           14. Christmas Time To Me Jordin Sparks

 I watched this film last Christmas without seeing the original film 'The Best Man' but that didn't matter as I still enjoyed the film. The running time is about 2 hours and afterwards you really feel like you know the characters inside out. The film has sad, poignant moments and also fun scenes such as when the men put on a dance show. The only American Idol I've watched was the one with Jordin Sparks and her voice is incredible. This is a fun, upbeat pop song that sounds similar to Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas.'

                                              15.  RUN-DMC - Christmas In Hollis
Another song that I've only recently heard, probably because it never entered the UK charts and I never realised that it was used in both the 2014 Argos ad and Nissan's 2015 Christmas ad. Originally it was included on A very Merry Christmas Album by various artists in 1987. The track samples Clarence Carter's 1968 holiday song "Back Door Santa," as well as "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bells" and "Joy to the World." It reached number 78 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2000, 13 years after it was first released. The title refers to Hollis, the neighbourhood in Queens where the members of Run-D.M.C. grew up. The song has featured in the films Die Hard (where driver listens to it in the limo), The Night Before and Less than Zero and many TV shows. I like it because it's fun.

                        What are your favourite Christmas Songs? Please let me know.