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Beauty Gifting 411: Our Favorite Holiday Sets (As heard on the Michael Yo SiriusXM show)

The best holiday beauty gifts

I had the best time sharing our top holiday beauty picks on Michael Yo’s SiriusXM show today. Here’s a quick breakdown of tips and sets to have on your radar, that makes gifting stress-free and most importantly FUN! Here are the questions Michael asked and links to the products mentioned (with a few added bonus products in the mix). I attempted to stay under $50 for all my picks.

Our Favorite “It’s Winter, I have Dry Skin” Skincare Sets on a Budget.

To overly simplify moisturizers, there are two types of people, ones who like cream moisturizers (your standard cream formula), and ones that like gel moisturizers (that’s more of a watery gel texture). If the person you’re shopping for has more oily skin then they will generally opt for a gel moisturizers. Don’t worry if you don’t know their skin type or texture preference, I picked universal favorites for both categories that are almost-all skin type friendly!

Our picks for winter skincare regimens that includes a hydrating cream moisturizer:

Our picks for winter skincare regimen sets that includes a hydrating gel moisturizer: 

OTHER WINTER FAVORITES: The Mario Badescu facial sprays linked to below are such a deal and an amazing pick me up when your skin is feeling dry, tired and needs a pick me up. Dr. Jart Ceramide is perfect if you’re super dry and their Cicapair collection is for anyone that gets red. LaNeige lip sleep mask is another amazing pick and has an epic cult following. Their new Sleep Mask kit includes some limited edition flavors we rarely see and for only $28 for the whole set, it’s a steal. Lastly we LOVE Drunk Elephant, we went over budget with this set but it includes their Babyfacial which is our favorite! Lastly, Aquaphor or as I like to call it Aqua-for-all, makes a great stocking stuffer. You can use it for everything winter chapped skin and lips. It’s also great on cuticles, dry patches… While I don’t recommend it as a moisturizer, it is an awesome barrier if you’re combating wind, especially while skiing/snowboarding and can be used over your moisturizer/SPF when you need a shield. 

Our Beauty Lover Picks

You can’t go wrong with any of the NARS holiday gifts. Their palettes to makeup sets have the coolest packaging. Our favorite no-brainer pick is the NARS Orgasm Infatuation Palette ($42, $62 value) featuring their top selling Orgasm blush, Laguna Bronzer and the new Orgasm Highlighter, also the Infatuation Palette is great if you’re into blush. Other favorites include Becca highlighters (our must-have is Becca Mini Macaroon set featuring 4 mini highlighters). The ‘It Palette’ of the season is the Urban Decay’s NAKED Cherry palette. We’re also partial to Benefit Cosmetics Sweeten Up, Buttercup! Makeup Set ($39, $109 value) featuring our favorite mascara, brow gel, bronzer and primer from the brand. There isn’t a shortage of It Cosmetics holiday that isn’t on my list, but their brushes are a great pick for any beauty lover, also the BeautyBlender makes a great stocking stuffer — you literally can’t have enough. Milk Makeup also has the cutest mini’s! Their Meet the Fam set is epic, so is the fact that they collaborated with Wu-Tang on a lipstick collaboration (although that may be lost on some of you) makes us so happy! 

Hostess Gifts

Whether it’s a hostess gift, Secret Santa or little something something for someone in the office you don’t know well enough to guess their favorite beauty products, candles, hand cream sets, pretty lip balms and liquid soap + moisturizer sets are always a safe bet. Basically anything that’s practical but also pretty that bonus they can re-gift if the don’t it it or use to stage a beautiful bathroom for guests to admire you can’t go wrong with. Plus they

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Unexpected Holiday Guide For Everyone On Your List!

malin-goetz-rum-candle-compartes-chocolate-mycharge

Happy almost holidays everyone! If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift, I have searched internet, visited the gift shows and found some amazing, unusual food, tech and happy gifts to help you find something original and fun — and more importantly something that everyone on your list will love.

Gourmand Gifts

gormond-gift-guide

  1. Maille Maison Fondee En 1747 Gourmet Truffle Gifts
  2. Carry On Cocktail Kit ($24)
  3. TheWand by Pure Wine ($24.99/8 pack)
  4. Malin+Goetz Dark Rum Candle ($52)
  5. Compartes Chocolate Bar ($9.95)
  6. Drop Bottle ($40)

Oprah turned me onto the joy of food themed gifts (she includes has quite a few recommendations in her ‘Oprah’s Favorite Things‘ issue, you can shop her list HERE. This inspired me to pick some food themed gifts that are great for all different types of foodies and boozers. Maille makes so many distinguished condiments, from savory mustards (rosemary mustard anyone?) to designer vinegar, and Gourmet Truffle Gifts all wrapped in exquisite packaging, that make a great gift for the sophisticated chefs on your list. For the boozers that like to fly The Carry On Cocktail has everything you need to make a cocktail (i in bloody Mary, Moscow Mule, Gin & Tonic, Champagne), just add alcohol, they supply the rest. For the red wine lover, there’s TheWand, which lets you enjoy any bottle without the side effects.

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8 Holiday Eyeshadow Palettes that are Rocking My World

best-holiday-eyeshadow-palettes

Between the holidays and New Years, this is the best time of the year to play with new makeup and eyeshadow palettes. I can’t seem to stop buying and trying new palettes — they are all so pretty! Here are some of my current favorites:

TOO FACED La Petite Maison, $39 ($153 value) – TOO FACED really out did themselves this year on their holiday gift sets. The packaging opens to a Parisian chambre (with views of the Eiffel Tower) and reveals a 12 shade eyeshadow palette and deluxe size of their bestselling Better Than Sex mascara. The palette is lightweight, purse friendly and the perfect mix of matte and sparkles to take you from day to night.

Urban Decay Vice4 ($60) – While we may play it safe for the majority of our makeup looks, it’s always fun to have one palette in your arsenal that pushes the limits and packs a range of bright colors for when you’re feeling more adventurous. This palette features 20 iconic shades from their collection ranging in finishes from buttery-smooth mattes and shimmering metallics to shades laced with micro-glitter. It’s a party in a palette! 

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9 Foolproof Hostess Gifts

hostess-gifts

If you’re hitting the holiday parties hard this weekend, don’t forget the gift. Baking or a bottle of wine is always a classy move but for something a little extra or as an add on here’s what’s on the list.

1. Your Tea America The Wellness Gift Box ($13.95) – No matter your mood, Your Tea’s Wellness Box has a go-to remedy: teas for the mind, body and soul. For the wellness guru this set includes the brand’s signature Happy Tea, Antioxidant Tea, Sleep Tea, and Energy Tea.

2. L’Occitane Advent Calendar ($49) – 24 days of gifts, 17 travel size L’Occitane products. PLUS! gift tags, a star shaped pastry cutter, nail file, bow tree hanging decoration, place cards, stickers, sachet of stars and holiday gift box! Oh what fun… it will be to open.

3. Slip for Beauty Sleep, ‘Slipsilk’ Pure Silk Sleep Mask ($39) – Sleeping on Christmas Eve just got easier with the most indulgent sleep mask from Slip for Beauty Sleep. The mask, alike to a pillow for your eyes, is the perfect pair for their pure silk pollowcases, which has luxe anti-aging, anti-sleep crease, anti-bed head “technology”.

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DIY Gifting Done Right


Disclaimer: Thank you to Target for sponsoring this post!

Target-holiday-sets

When it comes to holiday gifting, I love adding a personal touch to everything I give. As can be expected, everyone gets beauty gifts galore from me. To make every gift a bit more special and personalized, I love to break apart my gift sets, add in some stocking stuffers, and customize each gift in some fun wrappings. Holiday sets are a great way to get an awesome value on products, so it’s a great time to stock up. I partnered with Target to raid their beauty aisle and pick my favorite gift sets and packaging to create four awesome gifts for my friends.

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Our Favorite Holiday Skincare Sets

best-skincare-setsThere’s little I geek out over more then skincare sets and these are the best of the best! The holidays are the best time to stock up on on your favorite brands since a lot of the best sellers usually land in their gift sets at great value. I also love when brands put an assortment of their top sellers in travel size since it’s a great way to try all the products you read about without the hefty price tag.

1. Clarisonic Mia 2 Keith Haring Skin Cleansing Set ($149) –  This isn’t your average Clarisonic Mia, it’s the Clarisonic Mia 2 limited edition Keith Haring Love design. If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, one that collaborates with the Keith Haring Foundation is the way to go. 

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Men’s Grooming Holiday Gift Guide

mens-holiday-picks

When it comes to taking care of their skin, guys can be clueless. Which is why the holidays are the perfect time to give him a little extra nudge. Whether he’s at skincare 101 or has a full fledge routine, we have something for every level of skincare connoisseur.

1. Dollar Shave Club (starting at $1/month + $2 shipping and handling) – Great for the practical man who loves a good shave, sign your man (dad, brother… friend!) up for a membership to the Dollar Shave Club. It’s the gift that keeps giving where every month a fresh razor arrives at their doorstep.  They also offer an assortment of grooming products that can be added in for an additional cost. They also offer gift packages starting at $35 for a 4 month subscription (which includes a 4X razor and 30z Shave Butter or product of his choice).

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The Perfect Stocking Stuffers Under $35

best-holiday-stocking-stuffers

There’s nothing quite like a little beauty surprise in your stocking and this holiday here are some full-proof stocking stuffer ideas all under $30. They also make for a great secret santa gift!

1. Burt’s Bees Fruitmix Beeswax Bounty ($5) – Perfect for that kiss under the mistletoe, Burt’s Bees Fruitmix Beeswax Bounty contains 4 tubes of original Beeswax Lip Balm. Their compact size is the perfect fit for not only stocking stuffing but also holiday clutches.

2. Fresh Lip Treatment (Fig Pictured, $22.50) – The Fresh Lip Treatment does double duty: soothes chapped winter lips while leaving a pearlescent wine tint, offering sheer coverage or buildable color. Holiday parties here you come!

3. Tarte Dressed to the Nines Lipsurgence Lip Creme Gift Set ($34/$126 Value) – This Tarte Dressed to the Nines Lipsurgence Lip Creme Gift Set is a great value containing nine shades of Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Cremes in a variety of shades. Perfectly packed in three sets of three lippies, you can break the gift apart to create three gifts or pucker up and try every shade out.

4. Lorac Matte Pro Mini Palette ($25/$45 value)- Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, this PRO artistry palette is packed with 8 shadows in all the Lorac matte shades. The shadows are ultra-pigmented to perform wet or dry so they can be used to shade, shadow, line and definethat holiday sparkle in that woman in your life’s eye.

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Check out our feature in All You Magazine!

All You Magazine holiday 2015 lara eurdolian

It’s finally out! Right before leaving for Europe I shot a really cute spread with All You magazine on Affordable Holiday Party Style for Every Occasion. The issue is on newsstands now, and you can preview the article on AllYou.com.

Outfit details:

Jumpsuit, Worthington, $80, sizes 4–18; jcp.com.
Skinny belt, $15, sizes S–XL; chadwicks.com.
Star cuff, $30; avmaxnyc.com.
Classic crystal stud cuff, $24, and spiked open-ended cuff, $45; sterlingforever.com.
Cherie heels, $89, sizes 6–11; ninashoes.com.

14 Last Minute Must-Have Holiday Skincare Sets

holiday skincare sets

The count down is on if you’re looking for the perfect gift for any of the beauties on your list, let me personally recommend any of the below:

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