Today’s Holiday Gift Guide features cute beauty stocking stuffers! I’m rounding up some cute beauty finds for makeup, skincare, hair care and more. Minis are my weakness in general. I usually buy hair care in a mini form first if I can find it, that way I can try before committing to the more expensive larger sizes.
Makeup Minis
Two of my most-used eyeshadow palettes this year are minis including the Natasha Denona Mini Nude Palette (swatched here) and the NARS Mini Wanted Palette (review here). I love the NARS full size Wanted option as well, it’s my favorite one to date. I’m contemplating a back up before it’s gone forever because I truly love the colors so much. I’m the biggest sucker for lip minis too and the Fenty Glossy Posse is the best lip gloss purchase I made this year (swatches here).
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Fragrance and Body
If you know your friends really well you can’t go wrong getting them minis of their favorite fragrance! If you know they love to try new perfumes but don’t know what scent to get them the holiday season offers the best sampler sets. If scent isn’t their thing body care is a great option. I love First Aid Beauty face creams for the body (they’re multi-taskers). Hand creams are also a great no-brainer. Love the options from L’Occitane, Laura Mercier and Kiehl’s this year.
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Lip Balms
Everyone needs lip balm! I love the sets this time of year. In particular Fresh has amazing gift options at multiple price points and size variations. I’m a huge fan of the NARS Afterglow formula. They made Mini Blush + Balm Sets in Orgasm, Torrid and Dolce Vita exclusive to Sephora. The colors are now available in Full Size in their Afterglow Collection which I’ll be reviewing soon.
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Skincare Sets
Some cute stocking stuffer sized sets I’ve found linked below.
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Hair Care & Accessories
Another great grab-and-go kind of gift is dry shampoo, hair texturizer, sampler sized sets and more. There are options at every price point. I really can’t emphasize enough how much I love the Slip Scrunchies. This has been a tough year for my hair with the color treatments and it’s never been more prone to breakage. The scrunchies are life savers for me!
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Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? Any good finds for yourself or others that you’re really excited about?
Continuing my Holiday Gift Guide series and rounding up some gift ideas for the home. If you have any favorites to add please let me know. I know everyone’s home decor style is different and unique but here are some gifts I think anyone would love to receive.
My absolute favorite things I’ve ever bought for our home are the Barefoot Dreams blankets. I’ve bought both the Classic Cozy Chic Throw and the Ribbed Option and both are amazing. They are hands down the softest and warmest throws we own. Even our fur babies love them. There is no better cozy feeling than to snuggle up in one on the couch at the end of the day and have some hot chocolate or ice cream while watching a good TV show. I’ve been tempted by one of their cardigans but haven’t tried one yet. Instead I bought two more blankets this season to give as gifts.
Candles are the easiest thing to gift during the holiday season for me. Nest makes the best affordable options and they have seriously strong throw (this trio set is $44). The Nest Holiday candle is lovely this time of year. My personal favorites of course are Diptyque Baies and Cire Trudon Ernesto. If I had to pick 2 scents to burn the rest of my life, those two would be it! Byredo Tree House would be a close third. The Cire Trudon Christmas launches come in the most beautiful holiday jars. They are quite the splurge but hands down THE best of the best.
If burning candles aren’t an option, room sprays or diffusers are good alternatives. I still think candles have more throw with the fragrance lingering longer, but I really like Aesop and Diptyque. Aesop has the cutest States of Being Set with three mini room sprays which I am absolutely obsessed with. We also love the Melodist Set for the home, I think it would make a great gift for anyone.
For mirrors I get so many questions about the Riki Skinny vs Simplehuman options. Even after reading my Favorite Makeup Mirror post, some of you are still undecided. I truly think they are both great brands. My recommendation depends on how important the magnification option is for you. If you find it essential go with the Simplehuman Round options. The magnification detail and clarity is truly phenomenal and extremely good. However this makes it hard to see your entire face at a glance. If you’re more like me and like to see the whole face while doing makeup, then opt for the Riki Skinny or splurge on the Simplehuman Sensor Wide Pro. The angled panels in the wide Simplehuman mirror make things so much easier like doing your brows or contouring the side of your face.
I think fuzzy slippers always make for the cutest gifts. I love the look of these ones from Madewell. Right now I’ve been living in my APL Slides (I own them in so many colors it’s a little embarrassing). They’re so comfortable and perfect for Florida weather but I’m looking for something that covers the whole foot. We’ve had some cold bursts here in the 50s so my toes need something more cozy! If you have any favorites please let me know!
Some more favorites linked below. I think there are so many nice cozy throw options especially this time of year, but the Barefoot Dreams is hands down the best.
A few more gift guides coming soon over the weekend as I know the shipping cutoff deadlines are approaching for Christmas! Will be rounding up some more for ideas and inspiration.
I cannot believe Christmas is almost here! Today I’m doing my first holiday gift guide of the year featuring the Best Beauty Sets $50 + Under. I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some of my favorites in case you’re still doing some holiday shopping whether it’s for friends, family or to treat yourself. Nordstrom is truly the best one-stop shop for me. I can find something for everyone on my list. They make it really easy to navigate their Holiday Gift Shop by recipient or price point. I often use the filter Gifts Under $25, Gifts Under $50 and Gifts Under $100. There are tons of options to pick from.
Fresh Beauty Picks
Here are my top picks for any beauty lover. Options included even for the girls who have everything or the picky ones too! Up first are some finds from Fresh Beauty. They make my favorite shower gel and their lip balms are great options for anyone. No matter what age, skin type, skin tone – everyone can use a little extra care for their lips. Their tinted Sugar Lip Balms come in some super cute sets.
Top left is the Fresh Enchanted Essentials Travel Soy Face Cleanser and Sugar Lip Treatment Set ($19.50). I find this a unisex option (my brother loves the Soy Face Cleanser). Bottom left is the Charmed Lip Trio with the Fresh Sugar Caramel Lip Balm ($29) which smells amazing. I almost want to keep this one for myself. On the right is the cutest Sealed With Sugar Travel Size Set ($48). It has 6 minis and almost looks like an ornament! Quick note that some of the sets are marked down from the regular pricing.
MAC Makeup Sets + Holiday Collection
I’m so thrilled to find that MAC has tons of gift options under the $50 price point. I bought the Starlit Lip Bag Set in the neutral color option for myself as it has a full size liner in Dervish, lipstick in Aspiring Star and lipglass Among the Stars for a value price. There is a red option too which looks gorgeous! The Lucky Stars Lipstick Kit has 3 miniature sized lipsticks in a zipped pouch. The neutral kit (shown in the top corner) has A Star In Your Name, Once Upon the Stars and Jar of Stars (all new colors). The individual Holiday Collection items come packaged in a festive clear star packaging which makes for great stocking stuffers. They have limited-edition colors of Lipglass, Lipstick, Eyeliner and Opalescent Powder to name a few.
Fun Luxury Gifts
I’m a huge fan of Slip Silk Scrunchies ($39) and think they make for a cute simple kind of gift. I’m never without these – I keep some in my purse and in our car for whenever I need to reach for one to tie my hair up. They also make such beautiful Silk Sleeping Eye Masks ($50) I have a couple of these and love them.
Hand creams are another great universally great gift option. For the person who loves sweet scents the Laura Mercier Tres Riche Travel Hand and Body Cream ($38) is the ultimate treat. L’Occitane also makes a great Holiday Trio ($29) this season and if you have someone who needs something unscented, I highly recommend Kiehl’s. They have a cute Smooth Skin Delights Travel Trio ($35) with one unscented and two scented. You can split them up in stocking stuffers or keep one for yourself!
Hair Care Loves
When it comes to hair care I feel like for shampoo and conditioner it really depends on hair type to pick something as a gift. Styling products are easier to gift because virtually every single girl friend I have is obsessed with dry shampoo, volumizers or texturizers. Bumble and Bumble has some really affordable options including the Reign, Dear Duo ($20) and the More the Merrier Trio ($33). I have the full size thickening shampoo and conditioner on my wishlist to buy when I finish up some bottles. Oribe also makes some great options. I’ve gifted the Dry Texturizing Spray ($22 to $46) numerous times in the full size and travel size option.
NARS Holiday Makeup Sets
I usually feel like NARS is often at the higher luxury price points but am always thrilled when they launch value sets or minis to gift. The All Access Powermatte Lip Pigment Set ($45) has 3 full sized options with American Woman (one of my favorite rose long-wear lip colors), Fly Robin Fly and Funkytown in a bright red sequins zip pouch. For those who want to try minis before committing to full size products, the Past Curfew Travel Size Mascara and Eyeliner Set ($20) is a great stocking stuffer option to try for yourself. For lips/cheeks it doesn’t more classic than their Dolce Vita color and the Travel Size Dolce Vita Cracker Set ($24) is super cute. I’m a huge fan of the Afterglow Lip Balm and they still have the Afterglow Mini Lip Balm Duo ($22) available which I still use on a weekly basis because I bought backups!
That wraps up some of my favorite finds for Holiday Beauty Gifts $50 and Under! There are tons of options for men’s grooming, fragrance, skin care and more at Nordstrom. I hope this gave you some ideas if you’re looking for gift ideas!
Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.
I have a Victoria Beckham Beauty haul to share today! Everything looked so beautiful in a polished yet effortless kind of way and I was really curious to see what they looked like in person. This is the first time I’ve tried anything from a Victoria Beckham Beauty line. Past launches with Estee Lauder always sold out so fast, I felt like I blinked and everything was gone. Her current collection can be found on her website Victoria Beckham Beauty and also at Violet Grey.
I ordered directly from her website and everything arrived relatively fast for standard shipping. Products came in a white drawstring bag and everything was well packed/protected. I have on item in the haul that I’m not reviewing yet which is her Cell Rejuvenating Moisturizer because I need more time to test. First impressions are positive from me but more on this later.
Lip Definer
Her Lip Definers were the products that interested me the most. I ordered Shades 01, 02, 03 and 04. They’re smooth full coverage lip pencils in shades designed to enhance the natural lip color. They’re described as waterproof and I found them very opaque and long-wearing. Colors I bought and some lip pairings I’ve tried:
01 is a pale peach (designed for fair to light lip tones)
When I used these pencils alone to line and fill the lips the result was too opaque, dark and rich for my skin tone. But this is the case with most lip pencils. The best way to wear these is as a lip pencil to outline and define the outer edges of the lip and pair with a lipstick or gloss. I am still experimenting with the combinations but overall I think the colors are really beautiful and easy to wear.
Comparison swatches to MAC Lip Pencils in Whirl, Stripdown, Boldy Bare, Dervish, Chanel Lip Definer in Nude, Pat McGrath Permagel Lip Pencil in Contour, Done Undone, Suburbia, Bare Rose, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk and Marc Jacobs Poutliner in Primrose
Bitten Lip Tint
I have mixed feelings about the Bitten Lip Tint. It has a berry tint that looks beautiful on the lips but being a stain that is semi sheer – one coat was a bit streaky. Two coats evens out better. It’s non drying and has a very slight sheen to it. Once on the lips it stains the lips purple. As it faded it left an unflattering purply brown look on my lips but it did last a very very long time. It’s a gel tint with a sponge tip applicator – however there is no room inside for any air flow in or out of the tube so when I put the sponge back into the tube to close it, the air from the inside popped the top insert out. It was easy to push back in so its not a deal breaker.
Satin Kajal Liner
The Satin Kajal Liners come in 3 colors and I tried Bronze which is more of a golden brass shimmer rather than a bronze to me and Black which is a true black. They’re ultra soft and pigmented. There’s a sponge tip on one end to smoke out the color. When applied along the top lashes it blended beautifully and it stayed put all day. However I tried it on the bottom of the eyes and it smudged on me. I think they’re nice to try but if you absolutely need something long wearing I think the Sisley Phyto Khol Eyeliners are far superior.
Lid Luster
The concept of the Lid Lusters appealed to me but only one of the colors looked like something I could see myself wearing. They’re pressed pigments with lots of sparkle and pearl and they blend beautifully! Mink is a sparkling ultra shimmery deep silver taupe with brown tones. It applied a lot cooler-toned than I anticipated but is still really lovely. I think the formula is better than Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows and those are among my favorites. I do wish they had more colors to pick from. Hopefully they will expand the line. They glide on so easily and I had no fall out issues with the sparkles.
Natasha Denona Biba Palette Eyeshadows + Victoria Beckham Lid Luster in Mink + Satin Kajal in Black
Swatch comparisons to Hourglass Scattered Light Shadows (review here and here), Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Intense Moonlight, By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon (review here)
Look wearing Lid Luster in Mink and Lip Liner 03:
Overall thoughts are that I think she has a beautiful beauty line to start. I would have loved to see some coordinating lip sheers or lipsticks to go with the lip pencils with the initial launch. I think the Lid Luster formula is really phenomenal and I hope she expands the color range!
You can find her current collection can be found on her website Victoria Beckham Beauty and also at Violet Grey. Have you tried anything yet? What did you think?
Holiday season is here and it’s this time of year that I’m all about the glow. So many of you loved the glowing holiday makeup looks from past seasons so I’ve put together some new ones for more ideas and inspiration! As a lover of all things glowy I’m thrilled to partner with By Terry to give you a closer look at their new Starlight Rose CC Serum and Starlight Rose CC Powder. Both products are beautiful for that natural glow from within kind of effect.
CC Serums
For me the best way to add a natural glow is to start with a good base. I like mixing in liquid luminizers into foundation to add some radiance and color to my look. I also sometimes will use a shimmery fluid and apply all over on top of moisturizer but under foundation for a healthy glow. The key is to find something that has the perfect amount of shimmer with a lightweight feel so if you layer it with your skincare and foundation, it adds glow without being too heavy. The By Terry CC Serums are perfect because they they have a fluid lightweight texture and nice velvety dry down so it lasts all day and looks like skin but better.
Her classic Brightening CC Serum is a glowing base that comes in four color options to add radiance and color correct the skin in the most natural way possible. I’ve used these for years and although quite a splurge a bottle lasts me a very long time. This time of year I love Sunny Flash which adds warmth and glow to my skin. I either mix it in with foundation or use it as a subtle bronzer. It brightens up the skin to give it some life!
Each year she has a special limited-edition color of her CC Serum and this year’s is Starlight Rose. This is a soft rose with subtle gold shimmers infused to brighten the skin. It contains rosehip butter which helps the skin regeneration process and hydrates as well. It’s sheer when blended but is easy to build up with fingers on the cheekbones. I like using this as a primer under foundation. It’s truly stunning and if you splurge on one fluid luminizer this season, I think this is the best option.
CC Powder
To add more glow as a highlight the Starlight Rose CC Powder has three colors pressed into a beautiful mirrored compact. The colors have a soft radiant shimmer to them with what By Terry calls “soft focus micro spheres” to blur skin and smooth lines. I find it adds a really pretty highlight to the cheekbones or anywhere you want added highlights. There’s a glittery overspray to add a festive quality to it. Underneath you’ll find three finely milled pressed shimmering powders that make the skin glow.
Below Left: with overspray, Right: powder underneath
Longwear Ombre Blackstar
To brighten or define the eyes the Ombre Blackstar has been a long-time favorite. These are among the longest lasting cream shadow sticks I’ve tried. Bronze Moon has been a staple for as long as I can remember loving makeup! It was one of my first By Terry purchases when I discovered the brand. (Also available as a mini in this Starlight Rose Best of Set which I think is super cute.) Blond Opal is the perfect highlighting color. For the lids either Misty Rock (shimmering purple) or Frozen Quartz (lighter shimmering cool rose) are gorgeous picks. I love Black Pearl for a smokey eye and the color also doubles as a liner if you use a detail brush to smoke out the lash lines. I like these for on-the-go options because they’re easy to apply and blend with fingers or intensify your look to take it from day to night.
An everyday look I’ve been loving and what I’m wearing in this post:
I’ve found my perfect Holiday Glow with By Terry – overall lots to love with the Starlight collection. I think the Starlight Rose Glow Booster CC Serum is the perfect luminizer to add an all over sheer glow to the face without being too shimmery. It makes the skin look radiant and blends in beautifully.
You can find all the By Terry products featured online at Byterry.com.
Many thanks to By Terry for partnering to sponsor this post. Gifted items include the Starlight Rose CC Serum, CC Powder, Sunny Flash CC Serum, Ombre Blackstar in Blond Opal and Misty Rock, Nude Expert Foundation, Lip Expert Shines.
Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel Tweed Pink ($48 for 5.5 g/0.19 oz) is back for a limited time! Chanel Beauty has relaunched one of their classic soft pink blushes embossed with their iconic tweed pattern available exclusively on their website Chanel.com. In addition for a limited time Chanel is offering Beauty Look Book readers a special promotion. Any fragrance and beauty order on Chanel.com with code REVITALIZE will receive (while supplies last) a complimentary deluxe sample of Sublimage Creme.
The Les Tissages de Chanel Tweed Pink has been launched in the past a few times. I love this formula of blush for the delicate soft wash it gives the skin. This year’s is a bit deeper in pink with more pigment compared to the older ones I have although the color is very close. On my medium olive skin (I wear Chanel B40 or 50) it shows up for a soft baby pink flush. It has a beautiful sheen to it. There’s a lovely overspray but underneath is a mix of pale pink and medium rose pink infused with tiny silver bits of shimmer. On the skin it looks naturally radiant with just the perfect amount of glow.
Overall a solid A+ for a pretty easy to wear pink blush with the Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink. I’m a huge fan of the formula, especially the color Tweed Beige (reviewed here) which is still available I even bought a backup because it’s the perfect neutral highlighting beige blush for me.
You can find the Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink available at Chanel.com. Also while supplies last any fragrance and beauty order on Chanel.com with code REVITALIZE will receive a complimentary deluxe sample of Sublimage Creme (5 g).
Rounding up the Best Cyber Monday Beauty Deals for 2019! I already bought a few things over the weekend from 111Skin, Byredo, Sol de Janeiro and Diptyque which I’m pretty excited about. Also eyeing some sale picks from Reformation and Fresh Beauty as well.
Beauty Sales and Deals
111Skin – any order $250+ will receive a travel kit of choice
Anastasia Beverly Hills – Cyber Monday savings 10% off orders $75+, 20% off orders $150+, 25% off orders $250+ and bundles marked down for palettes, lipsticks and more
Bare Minerals – 30% off + free standard shipping with code CYBERSALE, through 12/2
Beautyblender – Mystery bag 7-piece set save $88 off kit with code SURPRISE19, limit 5 per customer
Benefit Cosmetics – Take 25% off everything and free shipping with code FUNDAY, valid through 12/3
Bite Beauty – 75% off sitewide, on 12/2 only choose between 2 gift sets with any $40+ order, while supplies last, use code WARM or SOFT, while supplies last
Bloomingdale’s – Cyber Savings on regular and sale price items 12/1 to 12/3:
Take 25% off regular and sale price items labeled CYBER TAKE 25% OFF, and take 50% off clearance items labeled CYBER TAKE 50% OFF
Take 15% off when you spend $100+ on almost all beauty, qualifying items marked, discount applied in bag
Briogeo – 20% off sitewide with code HOLIDAY, ends 12/2
Bumble and Bumble – Receive a free 6-piece set with bag when you spend $60+
Byredo – receive a free 70 g candle with any order above $75 (selection available at checkout, one per order, while stock lasts through 12/2)
By Terry – Up to 70% off select products including Nude-Expert Foundation, Glow-Expert and more
Chanel – Special Cyber Monday launch bringing back the Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink! Plus a special promo for Beauty Look Book readers – starting 12/2/2019 any Fragrance & Beauty order on Chanel.com will receive a complimentary deluxe sample of Sublimage Crème (5 g/0.17 oz) by entering code REVITALIZE at checkout (while supplies last)
Charlotte Tilbury – Cyber Monday sale with 40% off select bundles, blush sets, palettes
Diptyque – Limited-edition Black Friday launch in their iconic Baies candle with special design and black wax, limited run while supplies last from 11/29 to 12/2, also receive a mini candle duo (35g) and Lucky Charms ornament set on order $150+ with code CHARMS while supplies last (closer look at the candle here)
Elemis – Top 5 at 35% off plus 30% off sitewide with code CYBER19
EM Cosmetics – 20% off most items (some exclusions apply including Merch, Magic Hour Collection, Serum Blush), no promo code needed
Farmacy Beauty – 20% off all orders or 30% off orders $120+ with code CYBER, runs through end of 12/2
First Aid Beauty – 30% Off orders with code HOLIYAY, valid through 12/2, offer excludes all Skincare Kits, Limited Edition Holiday Kits, New Arrivals and Sale Items
Foreo – Cyber Week Deals up to 50% off UFO, Luna Mini 2, Sheet Masks and more
Fresh Beauty – Take 20% off entire purchase through 12/2, automatically applied at checkout
Giorgio Armani Beauty – 20% off with code CYBER20, step up gift with purchase offers available as well
Glamglow – 30% off sitewide plus free sheet mask, no code needed, step up gift included with order $49+
Glossier – 20% off everything and save up to 35% off sets, ends midnight 12/2
Hourglass Cosmetics – Holiday event savings 11/29 through 12/2, no code needed
Kerastase – Cyber Savings 20% off plus an Extensioniste Thermique Mini and free shipping with any order with code CYBM19 at checkout, valid through 12/4
Kiehl’s – Give more save more event with code JINGLE, valid through 12/2, excludes gift sets
$10 off purchases $50+
$20 off purchases $80+
$35 off purchases $115+
Also receive a free travel size Ultra Facial Cream + holiday pouch with code CYBER, valid 12/2 only
Omorovicza – Save 30% on skincare, receive a 4-piece gift with any purchase $200 or more, no code needed, runs through 12/4 (exclusions apply on their T&C page)
Oribe – 20% off Liter Sized bottles with code LITERS, ends 12/2
Shu Uemura Art of Hair – Take 20% off all orders, free shipping and an Essence Absolue Scented Candle with code CYMON19 at checkout, valid through 12/4
Saks Fifth Avenue – $50 off every $200 you spend (up to $500 in savings) with code CYBER19SF, ends 12/2, also take 15% off beauty purchases with code CYBER, ends 12/2
Shopbop – Buy More Save More event, up to 25% off full-price items and up to 75% off sale items, runs through 12/2
15% off orders $200+ with code MORE19
20% off orders $500+ with code MORE19
25% off orders $800+ with code MORE19
Simplehuman – Top 10 Sale, save up to 25% off their top ten best sellers through 12/2
Splendid – 40% off everything, no exclusions with code THANKS40, runs through 12/4
