Fun Beauty Stocking Stuffers!!

Want to get your daughter, mother, cousin, friend, co-worker a fun beauty stocking stuffer, but don't know what's out there? There is a great deal of fun, limited edition options available during the holiday season. Take advantage of these great sets and prices for others - but don't forget to get a little something for yourself!

Below I listed a few ideas with prices, all available at Sephora - so you don't have to go nuts running around this holiday season!


For: The Makeup Lover!
Lorac Bejeweled Day & Night Jewelry Box ($415 value for only $56!)
This embellished jewelry box features two high-shine lip glosses, a bronzing powder, two eyeliners in brown and black, and two versatile eye shadow palettes for both day and night!

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For: The Fragrance Obsessed!

Sephora Favorites Deluxe Fragrance Sampler ($96 value only $50!)



This set of 12 fragrance samples includes a voucher for a full-size bottle, making it a perfect present when you're not sure what to choose! Its box opens to reveal a range of Sephora's bestselling women's fragrances that can be sampled right away. It's like having the fragrance department located in your own bedroom! 

For: The Traveler!
Laura Mercier The Book of Nudes ($93 value only $48!)
This collection includes subtle & sophisticated colors. The mirrored palette's colors will enhance eyes, face, and cheeks for a naturally flawless look. Create the perfect nude eye with shadows ranging from soft Buff to deep Granite, while lining and defining the lashline with Ground Espresso Tightline Cake Eye Liner. Finish the look with a trio of sheer shades for face and cheeks to give skin a natural, "no-makeup" glow.



For: A Happy Body!
Soap & Glory You Cube ($32 value only $25!)
This set is packed with the brand's essential bath and body products in tote sizes. The cube includes their shea butter and aloe vera Original Formula Righteous Butter Body Butter, Hand Food™ Hand Cream, and Clean On Me™ Shower Gel. Also has a loofah to complete the body cleansing experience!

*There are so many holiday gift sets available, you will find something for everyone on your list! Sephora Online always has great limited edition sets from all your top brands. Check out their website for great finds and shop online - will save you on gas and time on line in the store!

Want to look older? Didn't think so! Makeup tips to keep you looking young!

While watching the Today Show on NBC this morning, they had a small segment about makeup mistakes that can make you look older than you actually are. Who would want to do that? No one! So let me share some tips with you to make sure you are keeping yourself up-to-date and young (but not too young!)

1. Moisturizing!
How funny! Just last week I wrote a blog about face moisturizing for the winter months! It is a common mistake, but just because your face isn't itchy or feels dry, or even if you think you have too much oil - you MUST MUST MUST hydrate that skin! No matter what you think, without moisturizing your makeup will not go on as smoothly, and your skin will seem to age quicker. Also, many people think of foundation as "makeup". It is actually an additional protective layer for the skin. You don't have to use a heavy foundation to get the skin protection benefits you need. Using a pressed powder over your moisturizer will protect, as well as feel light and natural on the skin. Many powders are made with SPF for added sun protection - which is a must!
I love Estee Lauder's Double Wear Pressed Powder ($32). It glides on smooth and is great for oily and dry skin tones, as long as you are properly cleansed and moisturized first.

 

2. Dark Lip Liner with Light Lipstick is a No-No!

I don't know how many times magazines, and makeup artists and even friends, need to tell people that dark lip liner adds years to your look. Great for Halloween! Not great for everyday! As seen below, Pamela Anderson is one of the Queen's of using dark lip liner and nude lipstick! However the photo on the right as her with just nude lips. Even though they aren't the greatest photos of her, you can see how a subtle change to the lips can change the look.
My favorite combination for nude lips is MAC Whirl lip liner ($14), Hug Me lipstick ($14.50) and Bare Necessity Dazzleglass ($18.50). The photo of Jene Luciani below has her wearing that MAC combination. It's flawless and enhances any look on any skin tone!

3. Using Foundation as Bronzer = Clown Face
Many people think that by purchasing their foundation a shade or two darker, they won't have to apply bronzer, so therefore it will save them a step in the morning. Wrong! If your foundation leaves a visible line where the product ends and your skin begins, it is not the right color, and shouldn't be purchased (see left photo below). Foundation needs to match your skin tone so that you have a canvas for the rest of your makeup. If your base color is off, the rest of your face is going to be off. Say bye to you and hello to clown makeup (see C. Aguilera below). Heavy makeup ages your look, and who wants that? Not me!
Department stores let you sample products before you purchase, so use that to your advantage! It's not a scam to make you spend money (well, maybe alittle), but the company's have samples so you can see how their product feels and works before you purchase it. Some department store lighting is horrible - in that case, put the product on and take a mirror and walk to a window, or door and see how it looks in the natural light. Or, ask the company if you can take a sample home to try, that way you can use the product in your own environment and try it with your own products. Take advantage of what is offered to you so you receive the best results!

*Bonus - Not Cleansing Your Face Properly
I know this is not a makeup tip, however it is a tip, and you should read it carefully! When I was working for MAC, during my orientation, the instructor had said that every time you didn't wash your face before going to sleep, the skin on your face ages 7 days. Seven days??!! That is a crazy fact! If you don't wash your face before bed for a week, your face ages over a month!! Eekk!
Using a cream based cleanser is my favorite kind because it cleanses and hydrates at the same time, leaving your face soft afterwards, not dry and rough. However if the choice is a makeup remover wipe or not cleansing your face, the wipe will do! When it comes to cleansers, I don't feel it's necessary to break the bank. This is the type of product that you can purchase at a drugstore and it will work just as well.
Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser ($10) works extremely well with dry, normal and oily skin tones. Cleansing your face daily helps with breakouts and keeps your skin in tip-top shape! For those days when your about to fall on your face from exhaustion, I love my Oil of Olay Daily Facial Wipes. Just add water to create a creamy facial cloth that will wipe the day away (around $12).
Both available at your local drugstore, Walmart, and Target.

Two Gift Sets that are Great for the Woman Who has Everything! (and yourself!)

Just because its Holiday time, doesn't mean you can't purchase a few gifts for yourself! This is the time of year when "Limited Edition" is slapped all over product packaging! Many of the limited items are very similar to the brand's regular products. However, there are brands that give you a great deal on their products!

Below are two limited editions that everyone should check out:

The Book of Nudes, Laura Mercier ($48)
Available at Sephora, this neutral, but fantastic, palette can be used with any skin tone. Working with the colors to create a natural look, or a smokey eye look, this palette gives you the tools to go with your imagination. It includes lip and cheek colors, which makes it perfect for travel. This is a fantastic deal for yourself and someone else!

Make it Perfect Brush Kit, MAC ($49.50)

Brushes are the key to a perfect makeup application. If you have great brushes, even if you can't apply makeup well, it makes a huge difference in the outcome. So get rid of those icky sponge brushes that come in compact - they carry bacteria - yuck!

I absolutely LOVE my MAC brushes. I have had my same set for over eight years, and they are still going strong! I clean them regularly and keep them in a good environment (not too hot, not humid), which is important. When you spend $20-$50 per brush, you want them to last you as long as possible. MAC brushes do all of that and beyond - which is why this set is on my list today!

Only at Holiday time, does MAC sell a brush set.  Each year they create three separate sets - each including specific essentials for eyes and face.

Below I have shown you the "Essentials" Kit. It includes a face powder brush, a liquid foundation/moisturizer brush, and three eye brushes. Separately these brushes would be around $100. What is also great about their brush sets is that the handles are shortened. Therefore they fit perfectly in the makeup bag that comes with the set (or your own). Nothing beats great brushes; and this set, as well as the other two available, are worth purchasing! 

*I will be posting a few great gift sets every week - so keep checking back for more great deals*