I’m kicking off the holiday season with my first Holiday Gift Guide! Today’s edit has a roundup of cozy gifts for the home. I’ve included a lot of my personal favorites to put on your radar. There are a few things I’ve bookmarked myself to keep an eye out for sales.
A cozy blanket or cashmere scarf are two things you can’t go wrong with (no matter how picky the person is!). Long time readers know I LIVE for our Barefoot Dreams. These are blankets we use all the time and I’m 100% obsessed. We love the classic CozyChic Throw Blanket the best for the softest option. I also really love the In the Wild Prints. I have the Everlane Cashmere Rib Beanie, Scarf and Throw on my radar for the season. I linked a few more cute options below!
Fuzzy slippers are on my wishlist this year. I have so many on my radar and bookmarked a ton of cute ones to keep an eye out for sales. I already ordered these mule slippers from Naked Cashmere and these from Sherpa Scuff ones from Madewell so far. I am hoping the others will be on sale for Black Friday/Cyber Monday – although I have to admit they are already in my online shopping carts. If you have tried any or have favorites please let me know in the comments.
The best cozy scents I’ve tried are Diptyque Santal or Le Labo Santal. I also think Byredo Bibliotheque is one of the most unique warm cozy scents I’ve ever smelled – it makes the prettiest luxe gift. For those who prefer room sprays both Andrew and I love the ones from Diptyque for the strongest throw. They come in a few variations and every single one is amazing. This year they launched a Best of Baies Trio set that has a mini Baies room spray.
For coffee lovers I have done a few highlights on my Instagram Stories (also saved in my Highlights under HOME if you want to see some demos). I’ve had the Nespresso Pixie from the day it launched and loved it for YEARS! A few years ago I stopped drinking espresso because it was too strong for me but I recently bought the Vertuo Next because it makes BOTH coffee and espresso. I 100% recommend it! Stores like Bloomingdale’s, Williams-Sonoma and even the Nespresso website have incredible deals during the holidays – this is the best time to buy one! (Currently on sale online at 30% off at the Nespresso website!).
A few other favorites I have include the Slip Silk hair ties, love the cute holiday set. They won’t pull or snag the hair. I also think Aesop makes lovely cozy home sets. I love their Resurrection Hand Wash Duo. I think The Seasoned Wayfarer Set is a really nice one to give as a gift. We’ve tried everything in the set which has a full size hand wash, mini room spray and deodorizing toilet drops (they work!).
Today I have a holiday gift guide featuring luxury splurges to treat a loved one or yourself! This one has a mix of different things I’ve loved this year. I have some accessory and fashion finds included.
The Chanel Fresh Body Cream has been a staple for me for years so when they launched a Gentle Oil Huile Douce* version I could not be more thrilled. It’s a gentle lightweight oil with a super light fresh scent to it and I’m 100% obsessed. It leaves the body smooth, hydrated and very soft. Their Hand Creams have also been a huge obsession of mine since they launch and I’ve collected every formula. I love the regular La Creme Main because it dries down to a velvety finish. This year they added the Le Lift La Creme Main and I find it is a lot more hydrating.
If you treat yourself to a lip balm, the best of the best is By Terry’s Baume de Rose. I love both the original Baume de Rose (pot version) and the stick + applicator option. I always keep one in my purse these days. It is heavily scented with a rose fragrance but it’s a nice one in my opinion! Other loves include the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm and of course Dior Addict Lip Glow. I’m so bummed that Bite is reformulating their Agave Lip Masks – but I have high hopes the new formula is going to be just as good.
For fashion finds I found mini bags were the way to go for me this year. I fell in love with the Tory Burch Perry Bombe Bag that Andrew bought for me for my birthday. It’s reviewed here and worn here. It’s quite tiny but I have 2 colors and use them all the time. I later bought the Gemini Link Mini version which has a bigger opening and I also loved that one all summer/fall. Since going with smaller bags I found I had to buy a smaller wallet. I had sold most of my bags and accessories in a few blog sales to make room for new things and realized I no longer had any card cases. I love the Gucci Card Case (I actually had it in a different pattern before) – it works for everything I need!
The sunglasses I get asked about the most are my Celine Round Sunglasses (worn here) and my brown or beige Raybans (brown ones worn here). I love them both. For me Rayban is a great line – I love the round style in the havana brown and dark brown too. Quality is great and they stay on the nose better than a lot of other brands for me.
The best sheet masks I’ve had in rotation this year are from 111Skin. If I had to use 2 sheet masks the rest of my life it would be the 111Skin Bio Cellulose or the Rose Gold Brightening. I scored a few of the sets on Black Friday for a killer deal. I would still pay full price to replenish. You can buy individual sheets if you don’t want to commit to the full box set. The Subzero De-Puffing Eye Mask is among my favorites for the under eye area. I’m contemplating the Energizing Bag Set for myself.
For a great mask set, I love this one from Fresh Beauty.
If you’ve had your eye on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Ghost Unlocked version I suggest you act fast. It’s sold out nearly everywhere but I was able to order it from Beautylish and it has also restocked at Hourglass. My review of last year’s Unlocked which looks the same as Ghost Unlocked here.
Last but not least I’ve fallen in love with APL and if you want to truly treat yourself I think these are 100% worth splurge. I’ve tried a few styles now and like the Techloom Breeze and Techloom Pro the best. I also love their Slides for wearing around the house or to the beach. I ordered some for Andrew and he’s even hooked! If you use this referral link you can save $20 off a purchase of $140 or more.
I’m doing another giveaway! One person will be selected via the widget below to win:
Away Mini Pink Suitcase (note this is a backup I have from last year’s variation) filled with minis including the Laura Mercier Glow Set, Laura Mercier Red Velvet Lip Liner, Glossier Balm dot Com Berry, Glossier Pro Tip Liner, NARS Rita Lipstick, NARS Mini Balm Duo, By Terry Mini Baume de Rose, By Terry Mini Rose Hand Cream, 1 Joanna Vargas Sheet Mask, Mini Bum Bum Cream.
Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. To enter simply use the widget and complete at least 1 of the steps. The more steps you complete the more entries you receive. Will run through 12/18/2019 and ends 11:45 PM EST. I’ll select a winner within 24 hours and email them. Winner must respond within 24 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Prizes ship within 1 week. Not sponsored or affiliated.
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.
The Chanel Holiday 2019 Les Ornements de Chanel collection has launched and it has some beautiful pieces I want to wear for the rest of the holiday season! The powder products have the prettiest embossed patterns that look like ornaments. Texture, quality, pigment and lasting power are impressive with all items. I have swatches of everything today plus some beauty looks featuring:
Eclat Magnetique de Chanel Illuminating Powder in Metal Peach
Up first is the new holiday highlighter Eclat Magnetique de Chanel Illuminating Powder in Metal Peach is one of the most sparkly intense highlighters I’ve tried from Chanel – but it does apply with a smooth sheen. It has a complex metallic peach champagne color that pulls a bit pinkish on my olive tan skin. If you’re lighter in skintone (ie lighter than a Chanel Beige 40) this will pull more peach rather than a paler sharp highlight like it does on me. It’s quite pigmented but blends easily. I had to be careful and use only a tiny bit on the brush. Even though it has a sparkly finish it’s very smooth and didn’t emphasize pores. Lasting power was excellent. I love the embossed pattern on the surface. I feel like Chanel is always really creative with the embossing!
Swatch comparisons below to other Chanel highlighters. The texture is creamier than the Poudre Lumiere which is harder/stiffer. It has a similar texture to the Le Signe du Lion formula.
The eye makeup is unique for a holiday look to me. It feels more like fall to me but if you’re tired of the warm/red/pink eye palettes that dominate the market, these are going to be a refreshing change. The Les 4 Ombres in Lumiere Et Opulence quad gives a smokey olive eye on me. Colors are ultra smooth and buttery. They all have some degree of shimmer and are easy to layer. Colors include a deep olive shimmer, a shimmery pale pink, shimmery light olive and shimmering brown plum. They swatch a lot prettier than they look in the pans! Lasting power is excellent and I feel like pigment is better than their usual quads.
The two Ombre Premieres for holiday in Grandeur (warm gold) and Poupre Brun (deep plum) are creamy to the touch which is new to me. Most of this formula seem more like powders. These have a slightly creamy soft feel and dry to a powder. Pigment is excellent and easy to blend. Colors aren’t my top picks but are nice to layer and mix with other colors.
The Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Khaki Intense was a hit for me. I love the deep khaki moss green look and I normally do not like olive shades on me. It’s a nice softer alternative to black. It glides on smoothly and lasts all day.
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Holiday Rouge Allure Shades
The Rouge Allure Lipsticks are all luminous creams for the season. They’re ultra creamy without any tugging (like some other shades pull). Every single color is beautiful and I think if you’re looking for a classic bold holiday lip, Chanel has it all sorted out for you. The coverage is full and they have a glossy shiny finish. Lasting power is excellent and they feel ultra smooth and hydrating on the lips without feeling heavy.
807 Rouge Delicieux is a rose pink
817 Rouge Splendide is a bright coral pink
827 Rouge Magnifique is a bright orange
837 Rouge Spectacuaire is a bold red
847 Rouge Majestuex is a bold plum
857 Rouge Noble is a deeper plum
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Holiday Rouge Coco Gloss
For gloss Chanel has two ultra pigmented reds in the Rouge Coco Gloss finish. These pack in a lot more pigment and coverage compared to many of the other glosses in this formula. They’re super shiny with a hydrating feel. 824 Rouge Carmin is a bold classic red, 826 Rouge Grenat is a deeper wine red. I truly appreciate that they launched reds that don’t turn fuchsia or bright pink on my lips.
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Holiday Le Vernis
For the nails I’ve been wearing the Chanel Le Vernis in Richness which is a deep red in the bottle but pulls to a deeper brown red on the nails. It’s the color I’ve been getting TONS of messages and DMs about because I’ve been wearing it on Instagram Stories. There is another deep olive green shade called Deepness which is an olive almost black color. Both are creams with excellent coverage. They apply smoothly and I prefer 2 coats.
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Overall some lovely pieces for the classic beauty lover. If you want something new but not too trendy to wear for the holiday season Chanel has lots of beautiful options. The Rouge Allure lipsticks are the stand outs to me. As a Chanel highlighter collector and lover I think Metal Peach is quite lovely if you apply with a light hand. For eyes I really love Khaki Intense for a deep smokey liner that isn’t as basic as your regular black or brown pencil.
Chanel has also launched all of their Holiday Beauty Sets, Skincare Sets and Fragrance Sets online. I’m still in the process of putting together holiday gift guides so I’m not sure which ones I will be reviewing but if are interested in any specific ones let me know and I’ll try to add them to my review list! In other Chanel newness though they’ve added some amazing pieces to their Sublimage Skincare Line which I’ve been testing and will review soon. I’ve also been using their new Les Exclusifs de Chanel Gentle Oil for Hair and Body and it’s the most amazing body oil I’ve ever tried. I’ve been a huge fan of the Body Cream for years so it’s no surprise that the oil is just as amazing!
You can find the Chanel holiday makeup collection out now. Available at Chanel.com and all Chanel counters. Have you checked out anything from the collection yet? What did you think?
By popular request I have my holiday gift guide with ideas for the girls who have everything. I’m “that person” in my circle of friends and family and most of the time people think I’m hard to shop for. It’s actually not the case at all! If you have someone in your life who seems like they have the latest and greatest of everything there are plenty of gift options you can pick from. Restock them on their favorite things they’ll for sure use up like sheet masks, lip balm, hand cream or dry shampoo. Sweet treats are a no-fail option and I’m going to list my favorites below. There are also lots of practical things you can buy like a cozy throw or something nice for the home.
Universal Gifts for Any Age and Skin Type
The top brands I think have the best and most universal to gift are L’Occitane, Molton Brown and Fresh Beauty. They have such a wide range of things to choose from. L’Occitane and Molton Brown make the best affordable stocking stuffers that won’t break the bank with plenty to pick from the $25 and under mark. They also have the luxury sets if you want to splurge. In my opinion Fresh makes the Best Face Mask Set for the holidays (also love this Rose Set) – it’s one of those things you don’t have to worry if someone says “I already have that” because you really can never have too many of these. I sent my brother a few masks and he has super sensitive skin but loves them. He told me, “I feel like a brand new person” after using one of the Black Tea masks. L’Occitane has the cutest hand creams and ornament sets. You can’t go wrong with Molton Brown’s hand wash, lotions or shower gels. They’re among the best!
Other sets I love for body and hands are from Kiehl’s, Le Labo and Chanel. There are a number of cute options this season. The Le Labo Hinoki scent is one of the most unique and best ones I’ve tried. We have their hand wash in one of our bathrooms and it’s always so nice to use. The best base and top coats I’ve tried are from Chanel so their Perfectly Polished Manicure Set is super luxe and chic for gifting.
I think the best bubble baths are the L’Occitane and Laura Mercier. The L’Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath is something I wish I could buy by the gallon. Laura Mercier makes some of the most sweet fancy bath soaks you can find. Other stand outs are from REN Skincare and anything from Susanne Kaufman (her hand cream is amazing!).
Best of Home Scents
All of my favorite candles for the holiday rounded up in this post here. Giving a beautiful candle set or a single luxury candle is a no-fail gift for the person who has everything. If you’re really dead set on gifting something they don’t have, there’s a pretty good chance they don’t have Byredo Chai because it’s new this season. There are also some pretty stunning candles by Overose Paris including a brand new purple wax candle (you’ll most likely have to order online because they’re a bit hard to find).
Cozy and Fun Gift Ideas
The best thing I’ve ever bought for the home was the Barefoot Dreams Throw last year. It was meant to be a gift but it was so plush and soft I kept it for myself. Andrew nearly fainted when I told him the price, but when I started sleeping with it at night he noticed how soft it was and tried to share it with me. The one I bought isn’t big enough for two so I bought him his own lol. We both love them, it regulates body temperature in the most perfect way ever so you’re just the right amount of cozy. If Barefoot Dreams isn’t within your budget UGG also makes some really amazing throws at lower price points. West Elm also has some super affordable throws (many are on sale!) that are chic and super soft. For things that are fun or practical, you can’t go wrong with simplehuman. Their soap dispenser is a must for hands-free application. It’s so useful in the kitchen! I plan on getting one for my mother-in-law. The Compact Mirror is also a really nice item I think would make an amazing gift.
For sweets the best holiday candies, hot chocolates and marshmallows are hands down from Williams-Sonoma. I used to work there many years ago while I was in grad school. The Peppermint Bark is for sure one of the best classic holiday treats. They have a lot of other options too if peppermint isn’t your thing. I’m also a huge fan of Sugarfina for cute candies.
Best in Skincare
There are so many great skincare sets to choose from! I might do a separate gift guide on the best skincare sets. I know it might seem overwhelming to pick one because everyone has different skin types. I’ve linked a few I think are great regardless of skin type. I still think the Drunk Elephant Big Reveal set I bought during the Sephora sale is one of the best finds this year (it’s online only). You can also never go wrong with a face mist or sheet masks – everyone I can think of can benefit from this!
Hair Styling Products
Last but not least you can’t go wrong with a mini dry shampoo or set of hair care products. Every single one of my friends loves dry shampoo and they’re always looking to try ANYTHING! A few that I’ve tried plus some great sets linked below. I also still really think the Aquis Hair towels are great!
I hope this roundup gives you lots of ideas for those who are hard to shop for! Maybe some ideas to hint for yourself too 🙂 I tried to include a little from every category because I know everyone has different tastes and favorites!
