Keep It Pretty With These Holiday Gift Ideas For Makeup & Beauty Lovers
If you’ve already decorated your holiday tree, adorned your yard with inflatable reindeer and snowmen, and displayed your advent calendar in anticipation of the start of December, then you’re well aware of the short amount of time left to complete your holiday shopping. But don’t let holiday stress get the best of you! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be offering tons of (hopefully) helpful gift ideas for everyone on your list.
Today, we’re focusing on a few sure-to-please trinkets for beauty and makeup lovers — from seductive fragrances to lip scrubs in festive seasonal flavors, eco-friendly makeup removal tools, and time-saving hair styling tools.
Keep reading for more details and stay tuned for more fun gift ideas!
Narciso Rouge NARCISO Eau de Parfum Rouge, $197. Available at Bloomingdales.com and NarcisoRodriguezParfums.com
Bill Blass famously said, “when in doubt, wear red.” And, after smelling the new NARCISO Eau de Parfum Rouge, I feel like it’s safe to use that same line of thought for fragrance and say, “When in doubt, wear Narciso Rouge.” Like its NARCISO EDP predecessors, this new addition to the fragrance family features a heart of sensual musk, but this core note is married with top notes of Bulgarian rose and iris that endow the scent with an incandescent, confident, seductive, passionate, impulsive quality. The red bottle conveys passion, ardor, longing, and temptation — all feelings and sentiments that are evoked by this fragrance. Base notes of vivid amber, vetiver, black and white cedar and creamy tonka reinforce the fragrance’s darker sensuality, creating a harmony of notes that’s intoxicating, addictive, and exhilarating.
Sara Happ Sugar & Shine Holiday Gift Set, $38. Available at SaraHapp.com
You know LL Cool J’s signature lip-licking move? If not, I implore you to look up his “Doin’ It” music video on YouTube, like, right now. Well, you’ll be tempted to do the same to your own pout when you apply the yummy new Hot Cocoa and Pink Marshmallow lip scrubs flavors in this perky Sara Happ holiday set. And don’t be surprised if the flavors make you want to slip on some cozy PJs, put on a Christmas classic like Love Actually, and sip on your own cup of hot chocolate!
If you’re familiar with Sara Happ’s lip scrubs, then you know they manage to get rid of any flakiness and dryness without being overly harsh or abrasive, exfoliating in the gentlest way thanks to a combination of smooth, skin-polishing sugar grains and hydrating, skin-softening essential oils like jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, rice bran oil, and grape seed oil. Previously housed in jars with screw-top lids, Happ’s masterful lip scrubs are now available in handy squeezable tubes that, in addition to being more portable, are also way more hygienic. As if these yummy lip scrubs weren’t enough, this set also featured a tube of Happ’s ultra-hydrating One Luxe Whipped Vanilla Lip Gloss so that, after scrubbing your pout, you can leave it softer, supple, and shiny.
Urban Decay Elements Eyeshadow Palette, $52. Available at UrbanDecay.com
All things astrology-inspired have been trending in the beauty and fashion milieus in recent months, and yet the idea of the Four Elements dates back to 330-340 BC, when Plato and Aristotle created this framework to classify different substances and forms of energy. The new Urban Decay Elements Eyeshadow Palette manages to draw upon both the logical reasoning that informed ancient Greek philosophy and the more intuitive understanding embraced by astrologers, energy healers, and psychics. The mystical-flavored palette, then, contains 19 never-before-seen shades in holographic, matte, and molten metallic finishes — all inspired by the elements: Air, Earth, Fire and Water. Eighteen of the shades orbit around Luna (which means “moon” in Spanish), a white shimmer with iridescent micro-sparkle. Among the shades you’d associate with Earth, for instance, you’ll find shadows like Elemental, a sienna hue with a matte finish; Earthbound, a captivating forest green with tonal micro-shimmer; and Fool’s Gold, a metallic shade that will remind you of an unrefined raw gold nugget. Some of the shades related to Water, meanwhile, include Sapphire Dream, a bright deep cobalt blue with a metallic finish and a touch of aqua shimmer, and Heavy Water, a captivating metallic teal. The Air element is represented via hues like Electric Air, a pinkish silver with iridescent micro glitter, and Dream Weaver, a bright pink matte. And the Fire element is conveyed through shades like Fire Starter, a deep red with gold micro shimmer, and Volcanic, a fiery metallic bronze.
I love the wispy, ethereal vibe of shades like Silver Burn, Fortune Teller, and Electric Air — particularly when juxtaposed against the intensity of brighter hues like Ego, a metallic lilac-toned pink, and Hex Remedy, an iridescent amethyst purple.
The orb-shaped compact, with its starry backdrop, completes the out-of-this-world effect, reminding us all that the universe is mysterious and infinitely beautiful — just like these shadows.
Kopari Beauty Flawless Face Kit, $32. Available at ULTA.com and KopariBeauty.com
It may be hot cocoa season but, when it comes yo beauty, we’re loco for coco year-round. Kopari Beauty shares our passion for coconuts, which is why it’s mastered the art of formulating top-notch, vegan, cruelty-free, paraben- and sulfate-free beauty products that incorporate 100% pure organic coconut oil sustainably sourced from small family farms in the Philippines. This holiday season, we’re going coconutty over the Kopari Beauty Flawless Face Kit, which incorporates three products to keep your complexion clean, hydrated, smooth, youthful and dewy: a 2 oz. Coconut Cleansing Oil, 2 oz. Coconut Rose Toner, and 1 oz. Coconut Face Cream.
The Coconut Cleansing Oil not only completely removes makeup and dirt, but it does so without stripping your skin of moisture. In addition to coconut oil, the cleanser contains hydrating rice oil, antioxidant-rich green tea oil to protect skin from free radicals and slow collagen breakdown, lavender flower extract to soothe the skin and prevent blemishes, and camellia seed oil to moisturize and soothe the skin. The second step in this skin care regimen involves spritzing on the Coconut Rose Toner, an alcohol-free mist that helps to restore the skin’s natural pH balance, hydrating the skin with rice oil and camellia seed oil, tightening pores and warding off blemishes with witch hazel, and refreshing and soothing the skin with rose and lavender extracts. To complete your regimen, you can apply the Coconut Face Cream, which contains soothing organic aloe extract, nourishing and hydrating shea butter, skin-tightening and collagen-boosting coffee leaf extract, antioxidant-rich cranberry extract to protect skin from environmental stressors, and shea tris to slow collagen breakdown and strengthen elasticity.
Think of this as a passport to a tropical Christmas — well, at least inside one’s bathroom!
Take My Face Off Mitty Mini Poinsettia Gift Set, $55. Available at TakeMyFaceOff.com
You may think makeup wipes are the epitome of convenience, but they’re actually a highway to problematic skin. First, the often contain chemicals that can irritate the skin, leading to inflammation and breakouts. Second, they rarely ever fully remove makeup — much less properly cleanse the skin. Third, rubbing them vigorously on your eyes to remove stubborn mascara and eyeliner can lead to redness, swelling, and even premature wrinkles. But that’s not all! Makeup wipes are also wreaking havoc on our ecosystem. You may think they’re simply pre-moistened sheets of cotton, but most wipes are actually fabricated using a combination of materials including polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood pulp, and rayon fibers. Since many of these substances are not biodegradable, makeup wipes often end up clogging sewers and lurking in landfills for years at a time as they slooooowly break down. For all these reasons, it’s time to come up with alternate solutions for removing makeup.
I’m personally loving Take My Face Off’s The Makeup Mitty, a reusable, teardrop-shaped makeup remover with an opening along the back that allows you to slip it over your fingers and wear as a mitt. Sewn in LA using ultra-soft Korean polyester, this makeup remover has a rounded shape for larger areas of the face and a pointed end for more precise areas like below the eyes or along the edges of the nose.
If there’s an eco-conscious makeup lover on your shopping list, treat her to the Mini Mitty Poinsettia Gift Set, which features six white Mitty Minis arranged in a circular shape so as to resemble flower petals, then placed over a large red cardboard tree ornament to add the requisite red of the poinsettia plant, and finally secured with a sparkling silver-toned snowflake lapel pin to add a festive and cheerful touch. Not only will this look adorable as a tree ornament, but it will represent a move towards a greener lifestyle — and who can’t appreciate that?
IT Cosmetics Make A Night Of IT! Brush Set, $48. Available at ULTA.com
Think of IT Cosmetics’ makeup brushes as Mercedes-Benz Maybachs in a sea of Kia Rios. The difference, however, is that IT Cosmetics brushes don’t carry a hefty price tag — in fact, they’re quite affordable, which is always a welcome surprise. Each dense brush head features soft, cruelty-free bristles that help you create an airbrushed affect, plus they don’t lose their shape or start shedding everywhere — even with continued use. Any makeup lover, then, will love adding this brush set to her collection. The 5-piece set includes full-size foundation, blush, eyeshadow, smudger and crease makeup brushes with crystal-encrusted handles that capture the magic of the holiday season, plus they come with an edgy and fashion-forward envelope clutch that can be used to store brushes or to sass up any outfit.
InStyler AIRLESS Blowout Revolving Styler, $125. Available at ULTA.com
I’ll admit that, no matter how much I think I’ve mastered the art of blow-drying my hair, it never looks as bouncy, shiny, or smooth as it does when I visit a salon or blowout bar. Luckily, the InStyler AIRLESS Blowout Revolving Styler has made it possible for me to achieve salon-like results at home — all without having to hold a blow dryer on one hand and a round brush in the other, struggling not to drop either. See, this phenomenal tool is designed to be used on dry hair, making it ideal for folks like me who truly detest blow-drying their strands or who, also like me, tend to shower at night and want to leave the styling for the morning hours.
Here’s how it works: the 1″ barrel spins at 150 revolutions per minute so as to deliver maximum straightening power while gliding through each section of hair, and the tourmaline ceramic heated plate on the opposite end is surrounded by a bristle pod with natural and ionic bear bristles that reduce frizz and maximize shine. Together, these two sides simulate the effect of heat styling hair using a rounded brush, so that strands are left smooth and straight but they still have a great deal of body and bounce. Moreover, the InStyler AIRLESS doesn’t damage hair in the way that so many other tools do since, due to its high speed, the revolving barrel generates the kinetic heat needed to style strands, and yet it does so without having to make any static and prolonged contact with strands (as would happen with a traditional flat iron.
The Better Skin Co. Zit Survival Kit, $36. Available at Riley Rose stores and RileyRose.com
Recently, my dad asked me, “Remember when you were a teenager and you got your first pimple? You thought the world was going to end!” And I looked at him and, with a deadpan expression, responded, “Dad, I still feel that way whenever I break out.” He laughed riotously at my quip, but we both knew I wasn’t kidding — at least, not completely. There’s nothing like the sight of a red, angry-looking, raised, volcano-like mound on your chin or forehead to send you spiraling into the stormy seas of self-consciousness. So, if like me, you want to confront breakouts with the ruthlessness of a Lannister army in GoT, you’ll want to arm yourself with The Better Skin Co.’s Zit Survival Kit, available exclusively at Riley Rose.
The kit includes the brand new Zit No More Kleanse and Zit No More Klarify moisturizer, as well as the beloved Zit No More spot treatment. Designed for daily use, the Zit No More Kleanse is a cleansing gel formulated with the following ingredients: salicylic acid to exfoliate the uppermost layers of skin cells and to decongest pores and eliminate acne-causing debris and bacteria; tea trea oil, a natural anti-inflammatory that helps to reduce redness and swelling; and kombucha, a fermented black tea that’s rich in probiotics that help to balance the skin microbiome, thereby ensuring clearer skin. The Zit No More Klarify, meanwhile, is a non-comedogenic, lightweight gel-cream that gently hydrates the skin and calms any existing irritation with the help of tea tree oil and Canadian willowherb while also maintaining skin congestion-free and preventing breakouts thanks to the salicylic acid, witch hazel, and kombucha in the formula. To complete the skin trio, there’s the Zit No More, a spot treatment that comes in a handy rollerball, goes on completely clear, and significantly reduces pimple size in a matter of hours thanks to its potent bland of salicylic acid and soothing tea tree, rose hip, and rosewood oils.
Good things really do come in threes!
