Win Christmas This Year With These Beauty-Centric Gift Ideas

Countless online publications and blogs are using the term “last-minute shopping,” but truth be told, most folks I know (myself included) are only now beginning to tick off all the names on their lists. After all, most of us already feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day – and with pressing work and family responsibilities, procrastination when it comes to holiday shopping is almost inevitable. So don’t listen to all those folks who are unwittingly raising your anxiety levels by insinuating that you have no time left to nab some sure-to-please holiday gifts. Instead, take a deep breath, release any holiday-related stress, and keep your eyes on the prize: finding a gift that will make that special someone smile. On that note, here are some beauty gifts that will make eyes sparkle with excitement.

InstaNatural Vitamin C Skin Trio, $30. Available at InstaNatural.com

People may always remind you to take vitamin C to fend off a cold and boost your immune system, but did you know that, when applied topically, vitamin C can completely reinvigorate your skin? Vitamin C has been shown to brighten the skin’s tone, help to diminish the appearance of dark spots (hence leading to a more even-toned complexion), and to protect the skin from environmental aggressors that could result in premature aging signs. Moreover, vitamin C stimulates collagen production, so it can help you achieve bouncier, more supple, youthful-looking skin.

The InstaNatural Vitamin C Skin Trio, then, harnesses the power of vitamin C and combines it with: ferulic acid, a powerful antioxidant found in the cell walls of certain plants (among them apple and orange seeds, as well as rice and oats) that enhances the efficacy of vitamin C and lend sit greater stability; vitamin B3 (or niacinamide), which has long been heralded for its ability to combat hyperpigmentation; hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its weight in moisture and instantly plumps the skin and smooths fine lines; and botanical extracts such as licorice extract, coconut water, carrot seed oil, jojoba seed oil, and more.

The kit includes a 30-Day supply of the Vitamin C Cleanser, Vitamin C Serum and Vitamin C Moisturizer. All three products are stellar in their own way. The Vitamin C cleanser refreshes the complexion and clears up any dirt and bacteria without the use of harsh sulfates and surfactants, instead relying on the soothing powers of aloe juice and chamomile, the clarifying benefits of willow bark extract and grapefruit peel oil, the exfoliating prowess of lactic acid, and the moisturizing benefits of sugar cane extract and coconut water. The serum, meanwhile, is an anti-aging and brightening powerhouse packed with carrot seed oil (a great source of beta-carotene that the skin converts into vitamin A which, in turn, promotes cellular turnover), algae extract, argan oil, grapefruit peel oil, licorice extract, apricot kernel oil and more. Last but not least, the Vitamin C Moisturizer softens and smooths the skin with shea butter, jojoba oil, safflower seed oil, and aloe extract, while keeping skin clear and acne-free thanks to natural antiseptics like rosemary oil and toning grapefruit peel oil.

CAI All That Glitters Deluxe Glitter Eyeshadow Collection in Mermaid, $7.99. Available at Target.com

‘Tis the season for all things shiny and bright — and that, of course, should include eyelids! The shades in the CAI All That Glitters eyeshadow palette deliver the festive sparkle we all crave during the holiday season, and they have an almost gel-like texture that allows your eyeshadow brush (or your finger) to pick up a great deal of richly-pigmented product without the messiness we associate with loose glitters. At the center of the All That Glitters palette in Mermaid (shown above), you’ll find an exquisite aquamarine hue befitting of Ariel herself (see below, at bottom) and, directly to its left, you’ll spot another striking hue: a purple shade packed with magenta-toned sparkle.

All 15 shades in the palette are mesmerizing — from the punchy fuchsia to the ethereal, moody lilac; the galactic silver; and the iridescent light pink. Take a look at a few of the shades below:

See? This palette will speak to both the raver kid with the glow sticks inside of us and the unicorn-loving, tiara-wearing, twirling little girl of our childhood years. Sparkle on!

SheaMoisture Multi-Masking Kit, $9.99. Available at Target.com and Target stores

By now, you’ve likely heard about the wonders of multi-masking: a buzz word for the practice of using different masks on different areas of the face so as to address the need of every particular region. If, for instance, your cheeks look a little dull and you want to add a healthy ruddy color, you might use a brightening mask along that region. If, meanwhile, you’ve got an oily T-zone and want to balance out sebum production in that area and eliminate any blackheads or blemishes, you might use a pore-minimizing, oil-fighting, anti-acne mask on that zone.  After all, just like there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all skincare regimen, the truth is most of us have different concerns related to specific areas of our complexions and rarely do we find a one-size-fits-all mask that addresses every little gripe or concern. If, then, you want to give multi-masking a whirl or let a special lady in your life treat herself to her own relaxing spa day at home, pick up SheaMoisture’s Multi-Masking Kit.

This ultra-affordable boxed set contains 5 masks, each in its own individual packet. There are 2 packets of the African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask, which is ideal for blemish-prone skin as it contains African Black Soap (which is made in regions like Ghana using the ash of  locally harvested  plants like cocoa pods and plantain skins, which are then infused with natural oils including shea butter oil). This unique ingredient manages to draw out any dirt and congestion lurking inside pores, treat and prevent blemishes without irritating the skin, and balance oil production. The other 3 masks in the set are the Raw Shea Butter Hydrating Mud Mask, an ultra-hydrating and skin-softening treatment containing fatty acid-rich shea butter and avocado oil; the Coconut & Hibiscus Radiance Mud Mask which gently hydrates the skin with coconut oil, brightens the skin and evens skin tone with Songyi mushroom extract and which, because of the hibiscus extract in the formula, contains AHAs that promote exfoliation to reveal a more radiant complexion; and the Kukui Nut Oil & Grapeseed Oils Youth-Infusing Mud Mask, which rejuvenates the skin with the vitamins A, C, and E derived from its two namesake ingredients while moisturizing the skin with olive leaf extract and avocado oil.

Whatever the skin concern, one of these packets will address it — it’s the beauty equivalent of a first-aid kit!

Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette, $49. Available at UrbanDecay.com, ULTA.com, and ULTA stores.

How many times can Urban Decay revolutionize what we think of as neutral eyeshadow shades? Apparently, the answer is “countless” because, with every new addition to its famed collection of Naked palettes, Urban Decay colors further and further outside the lines, moving way beyond the taupe and sand shades we associate with the term “neutral” and, in the process, showing us just how versatile other unforeseen colors can be. Its latest release, the Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette will help you create tempting eye looks that feel slightly forbidden and, hence, all the more alluring.

The crimson-toned compact is adorned with a row of metallic cherries and, once you open the palette, you can feast your eyes on 12 completely new shades that range from a wispy ivory to a deep  brownish plum and incorporate matte, metallic and satin finishes.

Ready to take a bite of this cherry? Well, let’s start looking at some swatches! Below you’ll find swatches of the first four shades: Hot Spot, a matte ivory hue; Caution, a matte light beige with neutral undertones; Bang Bang, a shimmering, almost seashell-worthy pink with gold shift and iridescent micro-sparkle; and Feelz, a soft dusty rose color with a matte finish.

Next, let’s move on to some deeper, more full-bodied hues: Juicy, a warm peach hue with a satin finish; Turn On, a metallic rose gold shade with subtle tonal shimmer; Ambitious, a metallic rose copper with magenta shimmer; and Bing, a deep mauve hue with a matte shade.

Last but not least, here are the last four shades: Devilish, a matte reddish plum shade reminiscent of dried cherries; Young Love, a stunning metallic cranberry shade that makes my heart go pitter-patter; Drunk Dial, a burgundy-tinged deep bronze shade with a metallic finish; and Privacy, a dark, plummy brown hue with a matte finish.

The mauve, plum, and burgundy shades are deliciously on-trend, and the metallic colors add just the right amount of razzle-dazzle for any holiday look. Who wouldn’t want to pop this cherry?

bioClarity Garden Glow Mini Set, $34.95. Available at bioClarity.com

We’ve heard about all the healing powers of different plant extracts, but did you know that there’s a form of chlorophyll that can transform your skin and make it look lit-from-within? Floralux, the aforementioned form of chlorophyll (the green pigments found in plants that play a crucial role in photosynthesis), is the signature ingredient powering all of bioClarity’s products. The Garden Glow Mini Set is the perfect gift for clean beauty lovers and frequent travelers since it includes four products in TSA-approved sizes — all tucked inside a canvas pouch. The products in the set are as follows: a 1 oz. Cleanse, a refreshing face wash that contains soothing cucumber and chamomile along with antioxidant-packed green tea; a 0.75 oz. Clarifying Masque, a treatment that purifies the skin and keeps breakouts at bay with ingredients like tea tree and aloe, while also tightening and toning the complexion; a 0.5 fl oz. Restore, a gel moisturizer that contains witch hazel water, a natural antiseptic, as well as brightening licorice root extract and niacinamide; and a 1 oz. Hydrate, a lightweight moisturizer containing hydrating argan, olive, and jojoba oil, as well as ceramides to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, licorice root to even skin tone, and shea butter to soften and smooth the skin.

Featuring garden-plucked ingredients and free of parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and gluten, these skincare products are a reminder of the wonders of nature — and of how a greener beauty routine can make you feel like as beautiful as a wildflower.