last-minute holiday gift ideas...

as you may know, i love gift sets. they can be given as a way to introduce your recipient to a line of products they might not be familiar with, or feature their fave products. they can also be divided up among several different people, making them more cost-effective {always a good thing for the wallet, right?}

the fabulous LORAC Bejeweled Gloss set is a fabulous gift idea for your gloss-loving pal. it would also be splendid to gift one lippie paired with something you know she'll also love {movie tickets, itunes card, that book she has been dying to read}, then wrap it up with gorgeous ribbon or box {be creative!} and watch her face light up with delight over the gift and your thoughtfulness...so fun!



Stila Holiday Dream in Full Color Palette offers endless awe-inspiring color combinations. with 29 shadows, 7 cheek colors, the best-selling Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray, this palette perfect for the gal who has much to do and places to be seen. a step-by-step 16-page artistry lookbook is included to show you how to apply each eye shadow shade to create numerous looks for everything from a day of running errands or grabbing lunch with friends, to a night out on the town or special occasion soiree.



Fresh Brown Sugar Affair combines luxury and nourishing products to pamper for a gorgeous at-home spa experience. the original Brown Sugar Body Polish and Brown Sugar Body Cream are included and will guarantee an end result of radiant, soft, hydrated skin; to give lips a pampering experience anytime, you'll also find Sugar Passion Tinted Lip Treatment spf 15 {love!}, a universal, buildable-shade of red looks stunning on all lips.



for the nail polish fanatic, any of the shades from Dr's Remedy Jolly & Joy nail polish collection would be fabulous. this unique collection of shades includes Revive ruby red, Serene silver glitter, Resolution red glitter, Essential emerald and Passion purple; all are gorgeous, perfect for this season and seasons to come.

holiday gift idea: Borghese Gardens Tuscan Candle Set

if you're still considering gift ideas, candles always make a most lovely gift in my opinion. they create calm, serene feelings and really, who doesn't love a good candle? this Borghese Gardens Tuscan Candle Set includes three beautiful scented candles:

Lavender {so soothing, yet refreshing}...
Tuscan Herbs {earthy and rich}, and...
Clementine {vibrant and energizing}

all three candles are inspired by the lush italian countryside, perfect for anyone on your gift-giving list; they're handmade with only the purest plant aromas, essential oils and natural beeswax, which creates a warmer glow and a longer burn.

visit borghese.com for more info, and find them at your local bloomingdale's or lord & taylor department store! :)

product sent to me by brand pr

holiday gift idea: Harajuku Lovers Jingle G

looking for the cutest gift or stocking stuffer? i'm in love with Jingle G, the latest, adorable fragrance from the Harajuku Lovers range.

all dressed up in a super cute and sparkly santa suit, Jingle G features a built-in hook, making her the perfect holiday ornament for years to come. the scent itself is oh-so fab ~ fruity notes like tangerine and white star, along with floral accents of jasmine, honeysuckle and gardenia, finished with the perfect touch of yummy vanilla and cedarwood, make this fragrance unique and fun. :)

visit your local Sephora or sephora.com for more info about this limited-edition gem!

product sent to me for review/feature consideration; pic taken by me :)

Laura Mercier Holiday 2011

Laura Mercier's holiday 2011 collection is gorgeous!

really, could we expect anything less?

take a look at these fabulous gems, perfect to gift to any special makeup-loving gal on your holiday list....


Mini Lip Glace Set includes posh and portable shades in Rose {red pink}, Blush {medium rose brown}, After Hours {soft peachy-pink shimmer}, Sparkling {nude beige shimmer} and Quartz {rich sienna with a hint of red}...fabulous for any occasion.

The Luxe Colour Portfolio {first pic, at top} is packaged oh-so-beautifully in a faux snakeskin organizer and features a collection of 12 new, exclusive and top-selling eye color shades, plus 3 mini professional brushes. a great options for home or travel.

bath & body candles are available in Tarte au Citron, Creme Brulee and Warm Roasted Chestnut {pictured ~ smells beyond delicious!} and would make a splendid hostess gift!

other goodies in the collection include a Travel Brush Set {4 double-ended brushes + full size finishing brush}, Kohl Eye Pencil Set, bath & body duo sets {in Creme Brulee or Tarte au Citron scents} and trio sets {includes a Souffle Body Creme, exfoliating scrub and soothing honey bath in scents of Almond Coconut Milk, Creme Brulee, and Fresh Fig}; other palettes include a Book of Nudes {featuring 8 classically neutral eye shades, 1 universal-flattering black-brown Tightline Cake Eye Liner and 3 sun-kissed Creme Veil shades for face and cheeks}, Luxe Eye Portfolio {12 eye colors, plus 3 brushes}, and Petite Eye Colour Trio {available in Smoky Neutrals, Smoky Mauves or Smoky Taupes}.

Laura Mercier holiday 2011 is available now on counter at nordstrom, sephora and saks -- visit lauramercier.com for more info.

happy shopping!

pics taken by me :)

holiday gift idea: ghd Dazzle Gift Set

some beauty-related gifts might only be used a few times, perhaps more, a month by your recipient, but i have a feeling that if you gifted this set to your bff, glamorous sister or yourself, it would definitely get used multiple times a week.



the gift i am referring to is the ghd Dazzle Gift Set. this travel-friendly duo (includes a ghd Professional 1" Styler and a black travel Hair Dryer) comes in an adorable and sparkly heat-resistant case, and is, in a word, incredible.



ghd's rounded barrel styler (yes, it's ceramic) heats up to its maximum temperature in seconds (i counted 20) and boasts the ability to help hair retain moisture and hair color, as well as create the sleekest tresses, most fantastic curls, twists and flips. after using it for the past two weeks, i can tell you it really does what it says! straight, curls, waves, touch-ups-- my hair is finished even faster and looks healthy and shiny even more so than when i use my other flat iron.



the black travel hair dryer is petite, but works just as well as a full-size dryer thanks to its 1875 watts of power. it's the perfect companion to the styler, not to mention the folding handle makes it perfect for travel.

needless to say, both items work incredibly well and my other tools are probably sad they haven't been used since.

find this limited edition set at Sephora!

xo
products featured sent to me for review consideration.

American Eagle Rhinestone and Chain Bracelet

while browsing for holiday gifts, i discovered this Rhinestone and Chain bracelet from American Eagle Outfitters. i'm hoping this will be liked (and worn) by my hardest-to-buy-for-because-she-is-the-complete-opposite-of-me friend. this little cutie has a row of clear rhinestones, a row of dark rhinestones and a bronze chain link-- it's sparkly (love!), but still casual enough to be worn with jeans (her basic unform). :)

visit ae.com for more info.

xo

Total Beauty: 12 Ways to Spoil Yourself

the holiday season is in full swing, and as if my life weren't busy enough, i also now have to shop for gifts! shopping for them is fun, but one thing i love about shopping for others is the opportunity to discover goodies i could gift to myself (you do that, too, right?).

check out this list Total Beauty created featuring some fabulous, splurge-worthy gifts that you just might want to give yourself this year.

12 Ways to Spoil Yourself This Season

Sure it's the season of giving, but it's not a total crime to be selfish every now and then, right?

This is a TotalBeauty.com Beauty products article Check out the luxurious items you should consider wrapping up for yourself with a "From Santa" tag. See products

xo

holiday gift idea: Smashbox The Gold List Kit

have you started shopping for your holiday gifts yet? it's hard to believe, but it's time to at least start making your list. here's an idea from one of my favorite brands, Smashbox. valued at a little more than $100, you can gift the makeup lover on your list to The Gold List kit for just around $50.

love it!



this gorgeous kit includes travel-friendly sizes of Fusion Soft Lights in Baked Starburst (use the shades individually on eyes or blended together as a bronzer), Photo Finish Luminzing Foundation Primer (gives skin a pretty glow), O-Gloss Gold (creates a perfect rosy-pink lip shade with a gold shimmer) and Photo Op Under Eye Brightener (keeps eyes looking bright and pretty) all in a gold metallic cosmetic case.

p.s., with each purchase from the Smashbox WISH collection, the brand will donate $1 from every purchase, up to $25,000, to Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that grants the wish of life by providing medical care, life-saving research and ongoing education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries.

pick up this limited-edition set only at Sephora!

xo
set featured sent to me for review consideration. pics taken by me :)

Father's Day Gift Ideas

father's day is around the corner, and if you're like me, you're a bit on edge since you have no idea what to get for the dad in your life.

in my case it's my husband.

the dear man is fabulous but has a terrible habit of buying things for himself as the year goes on, making not only holidays like father's day practically impossible to shop for, but other major events like his birthday and christmas.

so here's my "gift guide" for you (with the hope it will spark some inspiration for myself). take a look...



for the dad who always puts his best foot forward:



get him a Sockscription through blacksocks.com so he'll never be without great-looking socks. you'll save him the trouble of shopping (because most men hate to do it, LOL), and save yourself the oh-so-boring trip of having to shop for socks. it works like this: you choose the socks you know your dad would like, figure out how often you want them sent, then, lo and behold, your dad can have calf socks, knee socks, athletic socks, ski socks or cashmere silk socks -– all great quality, all manufactured in italy-– conveniently delivered to his doorstep in regular intervals.


for the trendy dad:




a new scent will be appreciated by the dad who likes to change up his look and stay on trend. housed in an edgy, flask-shaped silver bottle, Express has created Honor, a great smelling new fragrance. capturing a downtown edge and big-city cool, this watery, fresh and aromatic scent blends energizing top notes of fresh water accord, peppermint and basil. at the heart is grapefruit, fig and green ivy, and dries down to a base of musk, vetiver and a hint of vanilla.



for the music-loving dad:



any dad who loves music will appreciate receiving a DJ Hero game kit. i myself would have bought this for dear hubby, but he beat me to it 3 weeks ago (grrr...). the kit includes the turntable and game disc full of entertaining songs and really good instruction. i love that it has a super easy option, so even kids can get into the fun-- when their dad lets them, LOL!



for the techie dad:



he more than likely has many items that need charging everyday, so why not help him out with this fab Bluelounge Refresh Charging Station? it can charge up to three items and accommodates iPods, iPhones, Blackberries, or Bluetooth headsets, not to mention many other personal electronics.


what do you plan to get the dad in your life for father's day?

xo

Fragrance Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

mother's day is literally days away. if you are thinkning of an aromatic gift, here are some ideas for the mom in your life:




the fashionista mom:
if she's a fashion-forward mom, you may want to consider Balenciaga Paris Eau De Parfum. this delicate floral embodies french mystery, balancing style and luxury.




the garden-loving mom:
don't waste your money on flowers-- they'll only wilt and die. instead, give her a bouquet of Chloe Eau De Fleurs. the trio of scents pays homage to the essences of lavender, nasturtium and neroli.






the gourmand mom:
give her a Parisian retreat that includes a "taste" of Marc Jacobs Patisserie Splash Collection. the scents are available in Apple, Pomegranate, and Biscotto; each limited-edition scent will leave taste buds craving more.




the classic mom:
if your mom, or the mom in your life, is the epitome of elegance, Chloe Eau De Toilette is a fabulous choice. the timeless scent boasts notes of crisp mandarin orange zest and fresh freesia.


xo

Holiday Gift Idea: Nordstrom Fragrance Atomizer

practical items make great gifts but let's face it, they can sometimes come off as dull. thankfully, Nordstrom's Jeweled Fragrance Atomizer is anything but. this travel-friendly goodie is ideal for the glitzy gal on-the go who never wants to be without her favorite scent.

a fabulous and yet still very practical gift-- i wouldn't mind finding this in my stocking (hint, hint, wink, wink,). :)

xo

Holiday Gift Idea: Sonia Kashuk Beauty Junkie Cosmetic Bag

if you have a friend or family member who loves makeup, but you don't want to risk buying her something she already has, gift her with this fabulous (and affordable) Beauty Junkie Cosmetic Bag from Sonia Kashuk.



this super-cute cosmetic bag looks like a shimmery oversized clutch and opens up to have removable compartments that will keep her must-have products within reach. be warned that this bag is so incredibly fab, you might be tempted to keep it. don't be selfish. just buy two! :)

Sonia Kashuk Beauty Junkie Cosmetic Bag can be found in Target stores nationwide and online at target.com for a limited time.

xo

Holiday 2009: NARS Gift Sets

Nars is celebrating the holidays with red-hot packaged gifts that boast a variety of products. these are definitely on my wishlist! check these out:




15th Anniversary Palettes

Nars is including two palettes to celebrate 15 years of color innovation. Everlasting Love contains intense eye hues to create the perfect smoky eye and Wild at Heart (pictured at top) features bold lip shades for a deeply pigmented pout.






Plein Etè Mini Multiple Set

this exclusive set of mini Multiples contains three best-selling shades.






Drop Dead Gorgeous Mini Nail Kit

gift your nail polish fanatic pal with this cute set. it also makes a great gift in any stocking; includes four glamorously festive shades: Arabesque, Chinatown, Candy Darling and Saratoga




D. Lovely Lip Gloss Duo Set

with four smaller versions of the brand's best-selling Duo Lip Gloss, this set is a variety of shades that can be mixed and matched: Misbehave/All Night Long, Pillow Talk/Sandpiper, Orgasm/Chihuahua, and Greek Holiday/Stolen Kisses.

The Holiday 2009 gift sets and palettes are currently available at narscosmetics.com and the Plein Etè Mini Multiple Set is available exclusively at Sephora.


xo
info courtesy of Nars Cosmetics