Gift Guide

The Three Most Covetable Holiday Gift Sets at Sephora (in my opinion)

bblogger, Blog, Holiday, Makeup

Too Faced’s The Sweet Smell of Christmas Lipstick Collection

Too Faced’s The Sweet Smell of Christmas Lipstick Collection. $25.

I am a huge fan of Too Faced lipsticks, anything holiday scented, and can we talk about this packaging? It’s adorable as is the Gingerbread Spice Eyeshadow Palette. I’m loving the whole holiday lineup by Too Faced this year. The formula is the Melted Matte and the shades are totally wearable not only for the holidays but all year. Love it. I’ll definitely be gifting myself this set!

Too Faced holiday 2018 Gingerbread Spice Eyeshadow Palette and Melted Mate lipsticks photo by Trend Mood.

Of course I’d love the palette too but I can’t justify the price. I’ll probably buy it anyway! 🙄

Sephora Favorites Holiday Perfume Sampler

Sephora Favorites Holiday Perfume Sampler. $65

I’ve been getting so into perfume lately which is a passion I’ve had for a while but which faded in recent years. For some reason, it has been reignited, and I blame youtube and free samples from Ulta. I’m really into warm and sweet scents and vanilla, coffee, woodsy, and feminine notes. Occasionally I like natural fragrances like fruity coconut or apricot and also floral if it’s tasteful. It all depends on my mood.

I’m into Black Opium by YSL right now and looking for more wearable everyday fragrances. I know I already love Marc Jacob’s Daisy, so that fits the bill. I can’t wait to try Kat Von D’s Saint and Sinner and Nest’s Black Tulip. love that you get to try 15 perfumes and redeem the voucher you get in the set for a full size of your favorite. What a genius idea! I can’t wait to try them all. I’ll most definitely be buying this for myself and other perfume lovers.

Drunk Elephant Agent Ellie Day Kit

Agent Ellie Day Kit by Drunk Elephant. Image from drunkelephant.com.

Considering all the rave reviews Drunk Elephant gets, I feel like there’s no reason not to try their products. I just watched a video by Wayne Goss where he describes the amazing turnaround his skin had after a troubling period of breakouts.

Image from Sephora.com.

My skin is very sensitive and I’ve been meaning to try these products, some of which are already on their way to me. This is such an amazing value I’m definitely getting it anyhow, as Drunk Elephant products are pretty pricey on their own.

What holiday gift sets and products are you eyeing at Sephora and hope to buy yourself or receive this holiday season?

🎄❣️💄

Blogmas: Gifts That Don’t Suck for Every Makeup / Beauty Junkie in your Life & Every Budget + Mini Holiday Rant

bblogger, blogmas, Christmas, Gift, Gift Guide, Uncategorized

It seems we’re nearing the madness-induced period of December when shoppers willingly wait in never ending lines and wear themselves thin trying to find the perfect gift for everyone.

They’ll brave fights for parking spots in jam packed parking lots (I’m talking to you Los Angelenos), and that’s not to mention decorating, wrapping gifts, sending Christmas or other holiday cards, and attending holiday themed events all while holding down a job.

Image from southbrucetourism.org.

For some, the holidays signify the added pressure of hosting elaborate dinners and special gatherings. That means slaving over a stove and baking a menagerie of treats for a hungry and demanding load of customers who don’t pay, their own families. Though supposedly the holidays stand for merriment, warmth, and rejoicing, they can be downright stressful. 

Image from Minnesotamonthly.com.

This is not such a high price to pay when you see the smiles on your family member’s faces however, especially the little crew. Some in contrast,  keep it low key and the holidays might be a quiet dinner between two. I kind of envy these types.

Perhaps the hardest part is indeed finding those perfect gifts for those particular people in your life who have everything, are hard to read, or maybe are themselves particular. I will be doing separate gift guides for spouses/S.O.s and pretty much every person in your life if my schedule allows. You may have already read my foolproof gift guide for your coworkers. Hope you enjoy this one and it helps you get through your gift list. I personally researched each product and/or brand to make sure it was highly requested, highly rated, and have used many of these myself.

Here are my suggestions for every makkeup/beauty junkie in your life:

Over $100

Mia 1 Skin Cleansing System by Clarisonic. $129.

Hands down, the Mia Clarisonic system is widely approved as the best skin cleansing system. Beauty guru Tati aka Glam Life Guru swears by it. It seems to be effective indeed as bet skin is constantly glowing from within. Any makeup/beauty lover and his or her pores will thank you.

$75-100

That Bling Set 7 Piece Limited Edition Brush Set by Morphe $99

Bling on the makeup junkies! Any one of them will obsess over this gorgeous brush set by Morphe. Well respected and touted by the beauty community, especially for their brushes and eyeshadows, it’s no secret why. Morphe makes incredible products at insanely great prices. If you don’t feel like dropping a Benjamin on this makeup fiend, consider these options below.

$60-70

Tarte’s limited edition 

treasure box collector’s set.$59

This set is a luxury quality version of the makeup set of every little girl’s dreams. I remember getting “kid’s” makeup sets for Christmas that smelled like fruity candy and plastic and I loved it. I would love this even more. With a palette full of pigmented intensely creamy shadows, effective blushes and bronzers to sculpt out the cheeks, a limited edition lipstick, and the other goodies in the set you can literally create an infinite array of looks all year round.


$30-50

Morphe’s 39A Dare to Create Eyeshadow Palette. $32.

This incredible palette offers limitless possibilities when it comes to makeup looks. Anyone eyeshadow obsessed will happily get a lot of use out of this palette.

Fenty Beauty by Rhianna Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette. $39.

Any makeup lover knows Fenty came out with an amazing beauty line and has eyed this palette up and down. Everyone has enough mattes in their collection so these fourteen shimmery metallic shades are the perfect complement. It’s perfect for creating out of our galaxy holiday looks. 

$20-30

Too Faced is My Life Set (Online Only). $25.

These Too Faced favorites are tried and true by makeup lovers everywhere. Any Too Faced fan, avid beauty guru, beginner, or someone wanting to get into higher end beauty would welcome this set into their collection. 

Colourpops’s All I See is Magic Pressed Shadow Palette. $20.

There aren’t enough good things to say about Colourpop IMO. They are affordable, cruelty free, their products are unique and amazing, pigmentation and blendability is insane…I could go on. 

$10-$15Edit

Edit

Wet n Wild’s Limited Edition Beauty Blockbuster Set. $9.99

 

Wet n Wild’s MegaGlo Highlighting Palette. $14.99.

If your makeup loving friend does not own either of the above products, believe me, you are about to make him or her very happy. Everything in the blockbuster set and the highlighting products set has rave reviews for good reason. Killer price and amazing performance is basically unbeatable IMO. Wet n Wild kills the drugstore beauty game.

I hope this list helps a little to cross some names off your list!

Though it goes without saying that love makeup and fashion I think it’s important to remind myself about why we even celebrate Christmas. If you celebrate Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or even if you don’t really believe in anything, we can all agree that we all need a little love and loving your neighbor as yourself never hurt anyone.

For Christians, the birth of Jesus is supposed to be celebrated, but we often clutch material ideals so closely and hold societal norms in such high regard that this becomes blurred over the years. 

It’s easy to forget. I think doing a good deed or two this holiday season might be just what I need.

Thanks for reading, love you all!

🎅❄️🎁❤️

Comprehensive Gift Guide Continued

Uncategorized

My favorite part of the holdiays is honestly holiday baking. Chocolate + peppermint = heaven. 🍫🍬🎄 I’m literally obsessed with Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship.

8. The techie. This year’s tech wathes are so cool, likable, and wearable, you don’t even have to be technologically inclined or even like fitness to like them.

They’re sophisticated, sleek, and smart. My favorite this year, the Misfit Ray in rose gold, pictured above measures distance traveled, steps taken, calories burned, and even sleep cycles. Wouldn’t it be fun to really find out how well you’re sleeping? They’ll make a great gift for any bonafide techie on your list, and could be a great option for fitness freaks too.

9. The parents. I think the goal of gift giving when it comes to family should be making your loved ones’ lives a little happier and showing you care, not out doing one another or seeing who spent the most. That defies the purpose of the season. 

Pay close attention to what your parents need to update and what they’re neglecting. Has Mom been using the same wallet for years? Could Dad’s coat use an upgrade?

A timeless quality wallet or other useful gift is an easy way to show you care.

 10. Teenagers. Teenagers are some of the toughest people to figure out when it comes to gifts, and to appease in general. Remember you were one, and how picky you were? Maybe you only wanted money or specific things? Even though today’s teenagers may be more exposed to technology and the adult workd world than ever, some things remain the same. Teens still love music, makeup, and fashion.

The elegant rose gold Beats by Dre.

Like us, teens still want to impress their friends too. Beats by Dre, a teen’s first high quality palette, or some Nike or other shoes of their preference would be well received.

I would like to remind you even though you’ve heard it before, I’m sure, that gifts should not be at the at the center of your holiday celebration. At the end of the night, it won’t be the presents that will be most remembered, but the quality of time you shared with your loved ones and the memories you made. Make your celebrations count & don’t stress!

More gift ideas to come! I hope you’re enjoying this series. Thanks for reading. Love you all!

Maggie

🎄😊🎁

A Comprehensive Guide to Holiday Gift Giving (for Everyone On your List)

Christmas, Food, Gift, Gift Guide, Holiday, Makeup, Party, Present, Uncategorized
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Too Faced’s Merry Macarons palette, only available at Ulta. Isn’t it swoon worthy? Perfect for any makeup addict in your life (and me).

As many of you have probably gathered after past holiday seasons, it’s never too early to start thinking about buying your Christmas/holiday presents. Nobody likes a long line, angry coupon ladies, not finding the right size, being perplexed by what to get some of the people on your list, etc. Trust me, I know from working in retail.

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Michael Kors’ Access Bradshaw Rose Gold Tone Smartwatch; A gorgeous & elegant unisex watch for any refined techie.

To hopefully help you on your gift-giving journey this year and make the whole process a little more filled with cheer, as it should be, I’ve compiled a list of my top picks this for every kind of person in our lives. Here we go! 😊🎁🎄

1. Best friend; Sometimes the people closest to you are the hardest ones to buy presents for. The advantage; you know them well. The disadvantage; there’s an inherently greater expectation to get the perfect gift. My tip; pick something you both love to do, and give them something that will enable you to do it together. Are you coffee junkies?

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A DIY cold brew coffee kit would be an awesome gift. So would a personal espresso machine or a year subscription for a monthly dose of gourmet coffee.

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This “coffee sock” cold brew kit can be found on Thrivemarket.com for 10.95

Do you both need some TLC? Get them a gift certificate to your favorite spa. Do you love music? Get them some concert tickets.

2. The makeup lover. There are so many good options for this person. Any makeup junkie knows NYX has some of the best drugstore-brand makeup period. Their soft matte lip creams are beyond good. This lovely box below would be welcomed heartily in any girl’s makeup collection.

nyx-soft-matte-lip-cream-vault

These are tried, tested, and makeup vlogger approved. I’ve used this product too, and I love it all around. Desi Perkins, one of my favorites, just included them in her holiday gift/gifts for yourself haul.

The formula of this lipstick is perfect for when you want a matte lip, but don’t want a super drying finish. My lips are constantly dry, so it’s perfect for me.

3. The cook. Who’s the cook in your life? Your grandma? Yourself? Your boyfriend? Either way, this gift is perfect for the holidays for any home baker.

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This adorable apple pie kit comes with all you need to make a delectable apple pie, and was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. Find it on Kerbersfarms.com

The kit comes with an all natural pie filling, crust mix, a genuine Pyrex glass pie plate, a kitchen towel, an instruction booklet, and a sustainable wooden crate.

4. The boyfriend/husband/significant other. This is probably the hardest gift to give. Sometimes you know the person’s taste perfectly, but there’s always that ounce of doubt. Especially when the person is picky. You can just never know for sure. I highly suggest making wish lists and trading them. You can never go wrong because no matter what, it’s something he/she actually wants/will use.

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A heart-warming scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life”, one of my favorite holiday movies.

5. The mother in law or father in law. My top recommendation in buying a gift for this person is first, get to know this person a little bit. I know sometimes this isn’t an easy prospect, but trust me, it’ll any family time when you’re expected to interact with this person/people easier.

6. The sophisticated fashion addict. For me, this is the easiest one. I can be assured that pretty much anything I want, will probably sit well with any fashion addict. When it comes to picky or sophisticated fashionistas, finding out who their favorite designer is would be a good start. A candle by their favorite designer would be a lovely gift.

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This candle is described as a feminine and sophisticated scent. At $65, it’s a little pricey, so pick someone who appreciates the finer things in life to give it to 😉

The candle’s scent is described as “…leathery violet with vibrant woody notes.” on NeimanMarcus.com, where you can purchase it.

7. The bargain hunter. This is a tough one. I definitely find out their favorite go-to store is for bargains and get them a gift card there. Normally, I’m against gift cards since they’re a bit impersonal, but I think in this case it works.