Holiday Beauty Gift Guide

Spreading the gift of beauty is what I do all year long, but there’s just something about the holidays that makes me want to share even more. It’s always difficult pinning down the perfect gift for that hard to please friend, or for a really picky relative or even for your boss (if you so dare). So I’ve done the work of finding that perfect gift by navigating through the scores of beauty products out there to come up with a list of products that I think anyone on your gift-giving list would be thrilled to receive with this holiday beauty gift guide. And I don’t know about you, but any chance I get to peruse the cosmetics counters gets me all excited inside, so consider this your gift to me.Thank you.

If you’re not sure what to give, then make it easy on yourself and give a gift card from bluemercury (ranging from $25-$400). Check out my post Beauty Bar: Apothecary Heaven at bluemercury, to learn more about this apothecary/spa haven. You can rest-assured that whoever ends up with this gift, they (like I did) will come to learn that the shopping experience at this store is a true delight. Who knows, they may even decide to treat themselves to a spa service (thanks to you) to round out the day.

Since the economy’s still a little shakey, you’ll be happy to know that in my book, beauty knows no budget. There are plenty of affordable gifts out there that keep on giving, i.e. the Sonia Kashuk Purse Brush Set for just $12.99 (target.com)! This slim, silver case reads sexy and the fact that it holds four cometics brushes to get and keep you looking fabulous, takes it over the top for me. It fits in your purse and off you go. Bon Voyage. Another cheap thrill is J.R. Watkins Under the Mistletoe Multi Pack ($12.99, jrwatkins.com). I received a couple of these lip balms earlier this year and liked them instantly. They soothe my dry lips any time of the year. Stocking stuffer anyone?

A perennial favorite of mine is the Lancôme Holiday Juicy Tubes Gift Set ($39.50, macys.com). I usually buy my lip glosses one at a time (and if I’m feeling ambitious, two at a time). This set includes eight mini, really cool lip glosses that you can mix and match. What I’ve always liked about Lancome’s glosses is that they contain pailletes which are little glitter particles that make your lips shimmer even more than with gloss alone. The person who gets this gift from you may just shed a tear, so watch out. I think I’ll gift this to myself this year.

Now, we musn’t forget that we all want to look pretty for the many dinner parties of the season (and beyond) and to do so, giving the gift of Hocus Pocus MAC Face Kit ($45, nordtrsom.com) will go over very well. The bubbles on the package represent optimism which is what we should all strive for, but moreover, the two face powders and blush in this kit do the job of helping you look your very best for those sexy soirees you or the person you’re giving this to will be attending.

Packaging was the primary reason for my choosing the Harajuku Lovers Lil’ Angel Gift Set from Sephora ($57, sephora.com) for my holiday guide. From the cute design of the 1 oz. bottle of perfume to the .4 oz. solid perfume, this is a hot gift! Luckily, the burst of citrus scent with notes of violet and pear blossom passed with flying colors as well. L’il Angel is described as the compassionate one among her fellow Harajuku buddies. What a great back story to tell someone why you gave them this particular gift because you think of them in the same way.

Here are more tips to get that perfect, sexy holiday look:

Tip 1: Give your neckline attention. Since more skin than usual skin is exposed in cocktail dresses during the holiday season, use a large powder brush to apply bronzer or gold shimmer powder to your neck and décolleté. Welcome to the party sexy ladies!

Tip 2: Make glitter eyeshadow stick-proof by first applying cream eyeshadow (in a similar color to the glitter you’re applying) and then pat the glitter on with your finger or makeup sponge. Have a cotton swab nearby to get rid of the extras that fall on your face.

Tip 3: Metallic is a key trend for the holidays. Amp up your lip quotient with three lip shades from Lancôme’s Holiday Juicy Tubes Gift Set. Touched by Light, Grand Café Crème Brulée or Rose Quartz [from the set] are your go-to shades to start the holiday season off on the right foot. You can wear these glosses alone, mix them to create a new shade or dab over your favorite lipstick for an added shimmer-effect.

Hue Knew It? I did.