Liberty’s Ultimate Beauty Gift comes around during my birthday week, so as a beauty addict, I generally dive right in, you can see my review of last years gift here. This year I did hesitate…because it has to be said there is an element of sameness, which was a bit disappointing. The edit that they have in the Ultimate Beauty Gift in my opinion does not reflect the diverse range of products that they retail.
Did I buy Ultimate Beauty Gift – yes, mainly as I was planning to get some P50 and the Bobbi Brown stick foundation anyway… but I do have some thoughts on how it could be improved for next year. Aurelia is newly stocked by Liberty, it would have been great if they could have provided something for the bag, Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Dr Perricone, Anne Seminon are some of the brand that I love in the store that don’t participate. And why aren’t more fragrance and candle brands involved? I know that brands have to agree to take part, but still… if you are a brand that is retailed at Liberty’s and you don’t have a sample in the Ultimate Beauty Gift, please consider it – after all, it is my birthday!!! Thanks.
So, here is a quick look at this bumper GWP.
Aesop Classic Shampoo – it has some hair loving ingredients so I’m hoping that I like it as much as the Body Balm that I got last year’s Ultimate Beauty Gift :o)
Chantacaille Faux Cils Mascara – I love trying new mascaras’s and I am all about length so this should be a good one. I think a GWP of this size, could handle more then one mascara and it is great to see a different product from Chantacaille in the promotion :o)
Cowshed Restoring handcream – Cowshed to good handcreams – in fact, there was a CowShed handcream in the last GWP, which I liked – have a look at my review here, BUT, the range has other so many other products. It would have been nice if there was another product to try :o/
Decleor Gradual Glow – last year, it was System Corps, this year it is the tanning version of System Corp. Decleor is a brand I love. It would have been amazing to have a sample of Prolegene Lift or one of the aromessences or the toner or… anyway… I’m going to try this to see if it works on me. (Yes really) :o/
Dermalogica – Special Cleansing Gel – I am always on the look out for a cleanser, but this one has Sodium Laurel Sulphate in it which I know irritates my skin, so this will be gifted to someone that I know loves this range :o(
Diptyque Fig – I am a huge fan of Diptyque candles (who isn’t) and am always happy to see them in a promotion. I enjoyed the Mimosa candle I got last year, and I am sure that I will like Fig. There is quite a large candle range at Liberty’s it would be good to see another candle range in the gift :o)
ESPA fitness body oil – I love ESPA’s body oils, check my review of the restorative body oil here. Last year ESPA provided a body lotion so it is lovely to see a different product from the range :o))
Eve Lom Cleanser – Lovely to see this range in the GWP and this is a good size of the iconic cleanser (yes despite the mineral oil). I hope the range continues to take part in this promotion. Have a look at my review here :o/
Malin and Goetz Grapefuit Cleanser – This cleanser was in last years GWP. Have a look at my review here – I found it stripping on my skin. As with Cowshed, there is more then facewash in this range, it would have been nice to have a different item from the GWP :o(
Hourglass Opaque Rouge lipgloss – I’m very excited about the colour of this lipgloss, it is very on trend for AW/13/14. Hourglass provided the mascara in last year’s gift so again it is good to see them providing a different product this year :o))
Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser – This exact item was in last years GWP. It is not a terrible product but it would have been good to see a different product from this range :o/
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – I don’t use primers but this has rave reviews so I am very interested to try this :o)
Margaret Dabbs buffer – Since transforming my nails with Renunail I have been wearing less polish so I am in need of a buffer :o)
Aromatherapy Associates Muscle Gel – I will try this out after a session at the gym. What? I go to the gym…. occasionally!! :o)
NARS Orgasm Illuminator – I have the blush, and it is a great highlight in powder form so I am interested to try this. NARS were not part of the gift last year so it is a welcome addition :o)
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist – Now that I have my own, I can stop borrowing my sister’s! Lovely to see this brand in the GWP :o))
Phillip Kingsly Elasticizer – another new addition to the GWP and hero product in the Phillip Kingsley range, I am interested to see how it deals with my locs :o))
QMS Medicosmetics Lift-o-Firm – good to see a different product from this range. I did not get on with the handcream in last years gift, but am always happy to try a firming body cream. Lets see how it deals with my jelly belly :o)
Ren Rose Otto Body Wash – Rose is not my favourite fragrance for bath and body products, Rose Otto is a hero from the range so I am going to try it :o)
Liberty Rose Body Wash – Liberty have included a full size product from their range. It is a real shame that there is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate in this product. Fingers crossed the formulation will be changed soon :o(
Shu Uemura Under Base Mousse – it claims to even out skintone, reduce the look of pore and provide sun protection – but only if you are beige. It would be really good if Liberty’s could ensure that all the products in the GWP were inclusive to all skintones or that if they want to provide some shade specific options that they provide shades for everyone. That said, I am glad to see Shu Uemura in mix, perhaps they can supply some eyelashes next year! :o(
Trish McEvoy Blackberry and Vanilla Musk – I have smelt this fragrance a few times when hanging around the Trish McEvoy concession. Great to see an Eau de Parfum in the GWP – I am interested to see how it wears on the skin. Last year this brand provided a lip gloss so it is good to see a different product from the range :o)
The washbag is ginormous. Larger then my tablet, but the benefit of this is that every single product fits in the bag!! :o)
So there you have it
- Two products that are exactly the same as last year,
- One beige product,
- One tanning product and
- Three with ingredients that my skin does not like.
Overall it is a good bag, I’m pleased with it and cant wait to try the products. Look out for reviews on the blog over the next few months.