You know that old, unused mascara (or five) you have taking up space in your medicine cabinet/junk drawer/make up bag? Mine is a waterproof for sad occasions and swimming that I really never actually use (and you know you’re supposed to chuck them after three months anyway…) Well starting Friday Clinique is doing a Mascara Swap at Boots.

Take in your old mascara (any brand) between 29 October and 16 November and you’ll get your choice of deluxe mascara samples free!

You can choose from High Impact Mascara and High Lengths Masacra. One per customer while supplies last.

Through 16th February Boots is offering a series of fantastic deals on everyday baby essentials in stores and online.

Here are a few of the products on offer:

- 3 for 2 on Huggies and Pampers Wipes 4 packs
- 2 for £18 on Pampers Jumbo Packs
- Half price on Pampers Easy Up Carry Packs
- 2 for £10 on Cow & Gate Growing Up Milk

Through 17th December, the Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide will be available for only £62.50 (was £159.99) at Boots.

The Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide uses a remote wireless display that tells the user when they’re brushing too hard, when to switch sides and how long to brush for.

I’m told this toothbrush has been proven to give the user naturally brighter teeth in just 21 days!

This week only , through 3rd December, Boots has two special offers on.

First, the No7 Protect & Perfect Skincare Collection is on sale for only £60 (worth £120). The set contains the best of the N^o7 Protect & Perfect range, including the N^o7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum (30ml) that has been independently proven to restore the skin’s structure, visibly improving deep lines and wrinkles by up to 50% with regular use. My mum loves this stuff!

The N^o7 Protect & Perfect Skincare Collection also contains: N^o7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream (50ml), N^o7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream (50ml), N^o7Protect & Perfect Hand Cream (75ml), N^o7 Protect & Perfect Eye Cream (15ml), N^o7 Protect & Perfect Moisturising Body Serum (200ml), N^o7 Protect & Perfect Lip Care (10ml)

The Remington Shine Therapy Dryer is also on sale for £23.99 (half off the usual price £48.75). The 200W dryer features ionic conditioning and comes with two Shine Therapy cartridges containing a blend of shine enhancing moisturisers and Avocado Oil – rich in vitamins A, E and D – to create healthier-looking hair.

PLUS if you’re an Advantage Card holder you’ll earn four points for every pound you spend at Boots.

The two offers are available in larger Boots stores and online at boots.com.

On the lookout for a new blow dryer or straightener? You’re in luck as Sassoon has several promotions on through the end of the year. Read on for the deets:

October

• Silky Dryer is £9.99, RRP £14.99 (Boots)

November

• Ultra Lite is £29.99, RRP £49.99 (Argos)
• Gold Straightener, is £24.99, RRP £49.99 (Exclusive to Boots)

December

• Ultra Lite is £29.99, RRP £49.99 (Argos)
• Gold Straightener, is £24.99, RRP £49.99 (Exclusive to Boots)
• S Curl is £19.99, RRP £29.99 (Argos)
• Solutions Dryer is £34.99, RRP £44.99 (Boots and Argos)
• Solutions Straightener is £49.99, RRP £69.99 (Boots and Argos)
• Extreme Diffuser is £19.99, RRP £29.99 (Argos)

For product information, for the new Sassoon Solutions range visit www.sassoon-solutions.co.uk and for the Sassoon S curl visit www.sassoon-electricals.co.uk

Last week I was minding my own business, doing a quick shop at Waitrose (I know, its not budget but I love it and its nearest to my office!) and I walked straight into a WALL of Christmas candy and treats. That was September. Now that its officially October, EVERY store is in on the game. This weekend I took pictures at Boots and House of Fraser (see main snap) to document the Beginning of Christmas until I got bored with taking pictures.

It’s a fact, the Christmas retail season starts earlier every year. Possibly the worst culprit, Tesco, came under fire (well, if not fire, at least speculation about Santa’s potential anger) for selling traditional mince pies with an October expiration date. But I’m curious, is there a good reason? Do the shops make more money selling mince pies four months early? And does anyone decorate their tree in October, making it worthwhile to devote substantial space to Christmas ornaments before we’ve even thought about Halloween? Anyway, if you’ve got a strategy for saving money on Christmas that involves starting at August Bank Holiday, I’d love to hear it!

Waitrose wall of Christmas

Boots Christmas Spirit

Boots’ 3 for 2 skincare deal is back! Buy any three products from the following lines–including the fabulous No7 line–and get the cheapest product free.

Skin Care – Your Everyday Skin Care Routine

• Olay
• L’Oréal
• Garnier
• Nivea
• Soap & Glory

Teen Skin – For A Clean and Worry-free Complexion

• Clearasil
• Neutrogena Visibly Clear
• Clean & Clear

Beauty Boutique – Something Special from Some of our Niche Brands

• Burt’s Bees
• Caudalie
• Bliss
• Decléor

Exclusively at Boots – Only Available on Boots.com and Your Nearest Boots Store

• Good Skin Labs
• No7
• Time Delay
• Tea Tree and Witch Hazel