My favourite time of year is when I go home for Christmas. Last year I spent approximately half a day packed like a sardine in the busiest train I’ve ever seen making my way to the depths of the Welsh borders, but it was absolutely worth it. As soon as I walk into my parents’ house I’m filled with festive cheer and (sometimes, if my Mum is having a rare day of baking – she will kill me for saying that – sorry Mum) the smell of homemade mince pies. The days in the run up to Christmas Day are spent doing last minute shopping (although you will be pleased to know I’ve now completed the bulk of mine and can rest easy once more after my panic stricken blogs last week) and relaxing in the calm before the storm. We have a family tradition of going out for a special meal on Christmas Eve, before coming home and each being allowed to open one present each.

Christmas Day itself is always a joy and ours is never filled with sleeping or lazing around. We open presents, have a late brunch, go for a long walk, then always go to a family member’s (this is on rotation) for a party in the evening after a day of wonderful food, drink and merriment for… even MORE food, drink and (a lot of) merriment. This also means our present giving and receiving is spread out throughout the course of the day so we avoid the inevitable anticlimax at 8am when the first round is over. Honestly, (no really) I prefer giving gifts to receiving them – this year’s John Lewis ad is very apt for me. I pride myself on putting a lot of thought into my presents, and this year I really think I’ve come up trumps with the selection of goodies I shall be bestowing on my loved ones. Hopefully they won’t read this afterwards and be thoroughly disappointed.

This is not to say I haven’t put my orders in too. My wish list is pretty varied and has built up over the course of a couple of months, but is composed of a really lovely selection of bits and pieces. I have to admit it is make up/cosmetic based (superficial perhaps but I can’t get enough), interjected with the obligatory books and DVDs to make me feel like I’m a more well-rounded person. There are a couple of Sanctuary products in particular I have my beady eye on – the Ultimate Facial Box and the Fragrance Diffusers - now that I have my own flat I feel like I need to ask for grown up gifts too, and you know you’re an adult when you’re given fragrances for the home! I’m also eyeing up a number of items of clothing, including a gorgeous leather jacket, some black heeled Chelsea boots and anything burgundy. As always I’ve issued my usual – and generally ignored – NO CHOCOLATE disclaimer, yet year upon year I find myself wading through mountains of Green & Black’s and Cadbury. Why can’t I be given this selection box instead?! What is a girl to do…?

Until next time!

x

Get there a little early

To enjoy your day spa gift certificate, it’s a good idea to leave plenty of time before your appointment. As well as allowing for the possibility of queues, this also means that you have time to fill out any forms that may be required and, most importantly of all, relax before your treatment.

Leave your baggage behind

While many spas have locker facilities, for your own peace of mind it is generally better not to take any valuables with you if you can help it.  If you must bring it with you be sure to turn your phone off, too; not only will it stop you relaxing but it may also disturb other people.

Therapist preferences

Some spas have both male and female therapists, so if you have a preference it’s best to mention it when you book.  Regardless of gender, however, all therapists are trained in proper draping techniques and will respect your boundaries at all times.

What to wear

Considering that you’ll likely be spending most of your spa visit in a bath robe, something that is comfortable and easy to change in and out of is recommended.

If you intend to use saunas, hot tubs, baths or similar then a swimsuit is also advisable (just make sure to shower off before any other treatments).

Additionally while it’s better for you to undress for full body treatments such as massages, you don’t have to; your comfort is key.

I’ve learnt you have to be careful when looking for beauty gifts for pregnant mothers due to the prevalence of parabens and other ingredients in some products. However, our mum to be range is completely SLS and paraben free, as well as being both hypo-allergenic and midwife approved.

With this in mind, here are some great gifts for pregnant women; after all, a happy mum means a happy baby!

Maternity beauty products

Relax

Bath time was always my favourite opportunity for a bit of relaxation while I was expecting.  We have a selection of special mum to be bath products which are perfectly suited for helping you to unwind while in the tub. The Mum to Be Pure Pamper Bag contains everything you need in order to feel cared for top to toe both before and after baby arrives.

Care

A mother to be’s skin needs special care in order to keep it in tip top condition.  I used The Sanctuary’s Mum to be Bounce Back Firming Cream, which helps to rejuvenate skin and maintain its elasticity as well as combat stretch marks and tone up problem areas such as the tummy, bust and arms.

Protect

One of my biggest concerns (and one that I share with a lot of expectant mothers) was stretch marks, so I was thrilled with The Sanctuary’s Mum to Be Stretch Mark Oil.

Helping to reduce the appearance of stretch marks in addition to leaving skin smooth, moisturised and supple, it was a beauty cabinet staple both before and after pregnancy!

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With my favourite day of the year rapidly approaching and my window of opportunity to buy gifts for my loved ones disappearing equally quickly, I’m really starting to feel the pressure. Not that I’m complaining as it’s no secret I adore Christmas shopping – but for the first time ever it’s almost December and I haven’t bought a sausage yet (not a literal sausage, no one will be receiving one of those from me). Usually November sets in and I’m ready to go, but this year I seem to be flagging. Having looked at my diary I have deduced that I have exactly ZERO free weekends before Christmas itself, so I’ve taken it upon myself to book a day of annual leave in a couple of weeks (sneakily coinciding it with the day after my work Christmas party – an entirely strategic choice, I assure you) to hit the London shops.

In the meantime though I’ve started on some online shopping and have been making lists for all of the people who will be lucky enough to receive presents. I must say I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the abundance of gorgeous gifts out there this year – so much so I’ve been putting a lot of them on my own wish list that has been circulated to my nearest and dearest. I always think that buying ready selected gift sets is a wise move, not only because you usually make a bit of a financial saving but also because they’re so well put together and usually packaged beautifully – not to mention they do tend to save a bit of valuable time! I find myself drawn to presents that people wouldn’t usually buy for themselves, so this usually means something a little bit special or luxurious instead of lots of little bits and pieces that have been thrown together. The Pamper Hamper Ultimate Indulgence set  would make a fantastic stand alone present, whilst the Facial in a Box is a lovely idea for bringing a bit of spa therapy into someone’s own home. With a Mum who is an avid candle collector (you don’t even want to know how many were in our house when we last counted), I’ve spotted the Classic Fragranced Candle which will no doubt be sneaking it’s way into her stocking.

Aside from the Sanctuary’s offerings – which I must note are very helpfully 3 for 2! – my ever growing list of potential gifts includes a number of fragrance gift sets (I’m a firm believer that every girl should have her signature scent – Agent Provocateur is currently my fave but is so hard to track down!); the YSL Beauty Icon set (inclusive of my saving grace Touche Eclat – this needs to find a space in everyone’s make up bag); pretty much every item in the NARS Holiday 2011 collection; an array of Diptyque candles (candles once again – can you sense the theme here?); some beautiful Astley Clarke pieces … I won’t bore you with the rest of these extensive lists – and in reality they are broken down by person and assigned into categories (yes, I’m extremely sad but I prefer the word ORGANISED) – but I’ll finish by saying Benefit, Clinique and Jo Malone also have their usual reliable offerings too which is always a huge relief to me when I have a ‘don’t know what to buy’ moment – in other words, if my lists fail.

My own requests this year range from MAC goodies to a book on economics (no, really), but proudly taking number one spot on my ultimate Christmas wish list (and it shall remain there until the glorious day when one of these beauties finds it’s way onto my arm) is the one and only Mulberry Bayswater – preferably in the shade Chocolate but who am I to be fussy? In fact I’d probably sever an arm just to carry one of these on the other. I need one in my life and will not stop until I have convinced Father Christmas I’ve been a good enough girl to receive one. In fact, Santa if you’re reading this … pleeeeeeeeeease… ?

Beauty Gift Ideas

I like to put together a few of the travel sized items and bundle them into lovely baskets with ribbon and festive decoration.  That way, my friends get to try a wider selection of products and it’s got a personal touch too.  I love crafts and have been indulging in “Kirstie’s Homemade Home” on C4 and have some ideas up my sleeve for adding decorative touches to the baskets I put together this year!

Us-Time

A friend of mine has the most romantic husband I’ve ever heard of.  For their anniversary this year he whisked her away to their favourite restaurant, then onto her favourite West End show, followed by an overnight stay in the capital.

However, it was the little touches that made it so special.  He’d bought her favourite candles from the Sanctuary and decorated the bathroom with them – now that’s thoughtful!

Spa Day Gift Cards

The ultimate in pampering luxury, experience days for women are an incredibly popular gift option all year round, offering traditional beauty treatments such as facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and more.

Some spas, The Sanctuary included, also have fine dining facilities so you can while away a complete day in the serene surroundings.

And if you missed my earlier post, just to remind you we’re currently offering a 15% saving on all Christmas Gift Card purchases.

There’s something for everyone – no matter what your budget.

We would normally club together to buy a gift for whoever’s birthday it was on that particular month, but this year we’ve decided to each treat ourselves with a spa day gift in London and have a day of pampering all together.

We all took the day off work on a Friday last month and headed to the Sanctuary’s Covent Garden Spa to have our chosen treatments.  It was a fantastic day, finished off with a few drinks and some dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Five of us had facials, with the Oxygen & Collagen treatment being most popular and the Tailored Prescription Facial coming in a close second.  I don’t think any of us managed to stay awake, peacefully drifting off to sleep for some much needed R&R while the therapists worked their magic on us!

I often use the Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil at home and thought to myself during my treatment that I must try to apply it more like a therapist would and less hurried!

Massages

One of our group was pregnant and so chose a massage specifically tailored to the mum-to-be.  She commented this was possibly one of the best gifts for pregnant women.  As with many women, the pregnancy was making her feel particularly tired, so a day of pampering was just what the doctor ordered.

Sleep Retreat

We are planning on getting a spa day gift for next year too and have our sights set on a ground-breaking treatment that encourages deep, meditative relaxation. The therapist informed us that during the treatment you lie on a special bed which has low frequency sound waves (this causing a gentle vibration) running through it in order to gently relax both mind and body.

It is claimed this treatment, along with the accompanying meditation journey, will leave us feeling refreshed and tension free – sounds good to me!

Roll on next year!

Spa days for pregnant women are one of the best ways to achieve this. Great for both during and after pregnancy, I’ve listed some of our top treatments and products to help mums and mums-to-be enjoy some “me time!”

Full body pregnancy massage

Massages are great for soothing away those pregnancy aches and pains, especially when performed by one of our expert therapists.

However, if you can’t make it to the spa for a full body pregnancy massage, I’d highly recommend our Mum to Be Stretch Mark Oil to use at home. This is one of our most popular products for use both before and after pregnancy – it’s also free from parabens and is midwife approved.

Pedicures

Swollen, uncomfortable legs and feet are a really common pregnancy complaint, which explains why foot treatments are so sought after with mums to be.

It’s a nice idea to give the pregnant lady in your life a foot rub or even a full-on pedicure if you’re feeling adventurous! If not, we can take care of that for you in one of our spas!

The dreaded stretch marks!

The “gold dust” beauty treatments for pregnant women are those that focus on the prevention and reduction of stretch marks.

As well as the aforementioned stretch mark oil, we’d also recommend the Mum to Be Bounce Back Firming Cream. This helps to rejuvenate the skin, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Quick to apply and quick to dry – a must when you only have a small window to work with during baby’s nap time!

So if you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas you can’t go far wrong with a spa day gift– trust me. Whether it’s for your mum, sister, wife or any other special lady in your life, a day spent at one of our Sanctuary Spas is bound to be appreciated.

In case you’re wondering what you get for your buck, I’ve put together a brief overview of the type of treatments you could enjoy with our spa gift experiences so you know what you – or the lucky recipient – could look forward to!

Facials

The Sanctuary offers a number of unique facial treatments geared towards dealing with everything from dull, dry skin to wrinkles.

Our expert therapists can assess exactly what your skin needs before treating it with a prescription facial or deliver a more focused treatment of your choosing.

• Tip: For a facial pick-me-up in between professional treatments, try one of our facial products. I love the 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask.

Massages

A personal favourite of mine, The Sanctuary Spa has massage treatments to suit everyone.

Arguably the most anticipated part of many pamper days our skilled massage therapists excel at making you leave the spa with a spring in your step.

Just a few of the massages on offer include:

• A relaxing aromatherapy massage
• A soothing muscle melt
• A calming cocooning body wrap.

Manicures & Pedicures

A classic beauty treatment, you can get anything from an express polish to a luxury pedicure complete with leg and foot massage. Great for a treat in December in preparation for the Christmas parties that are starting to fill our diaries!

We’re going to let you into a little secret to achieve this look – and it’s not hard or expensive to do!  It’s all about getting your hands on a great body butter and slathering it on as part of your regular beauty regime!  Simple!

Most celebs aren’t born with glowing skin; we’ve all seen the ‘pre-stylist’ shots! There’s a lot of time and effort spent on getting that polished, red-carpet-ready look!

So, what to look for in a good body butter

To get the optimum results, you should look for a body butter rich in nourishing shea butter to ensure your skin gets an intensive moisture boost, leaving skin soft and silky.

How to use body butter

You’ll get the best results from your body butter if applied to clean, warm skin, so straight after the bath or shower is ideal.  Always start from the feet and move upwards towards the heart.

Now all you need to do is choose your favourite body butter from our selection of indulgent creams; one for each day of the week perhaps?

Cocooning Body Butter

Body Butter

Mum to Be Collagen Boosting Body Butter

Age Repair Body Butter

Many women, even those with the aforementioned skin concerns, can achieve the skin they desire. They just need a few handy additions to their bathroom cabinet!

First, start with a good night’s sleep, drink lots of water, eat a well-balanced diet and, of course, exercise. Even walking just 30 minutes a day (at a brisk pace) will help improve your skin. When you sweat, many of the toxins that cause your skin to appear dull, wrinkled and blemished are flushed out. However, there is more you can do to help your skin shine.

Here are a few of our fantastic skin care products for women, which can help you get that glamorous Hollywood glow:

New! Exfoliating Pore Refiner Deep Cleanse Facial: This exciting new product gently exfoliates and clarifies your skin while minimising the appearance of pores; perfect for those of us with more oily or acne-prone skin.

Fresh Face Purifying Wash: A great skin care product for sensitive skin, this facial wash is gentle and moisturising, helping brighten your skin and leaving it feeling soft and smooth.

Sanctuary Body Scrub: Because we want beautiful skin on our bodies as well as our faces, this popular body scrub features natural pumice to help your skin feel refreshed, awake and look naturally glowing.

If you’re looking for some great Christmas gifts or a way to refresh your appearance naturally, these are definitely among the best skin care products in the world. When used regularly they can help you look and feel even more gorgeous than you already are.