Holiday Gift Idea #4: Philosophy Presents The Perfect Winter Escape

Philosophy is known for their great skincare and bath products (their Purity cleanser is one of my all-time favorites), and The Winter Escape collection boasts some items that are no exception. Practically begging for use on a weekend trip to the ski lodge, this mini compilation kit features three wonderful "let's come in from the cold" products. I don't know about you, but I gravitate towards beauty items that smell yummy (particularly like chocolate!) - lip glosses, lotions, shower gels, shampoos, you name it!

Included in the set are a 4.0 oz Peppermint Hot Cocoa Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath, 0.5 oz Melting Marshmallow Cream Lip Shine, and a 2.0 oz Melting Marshmallow Cream Body Soufflé. I particularly like this collection because it features a lip balm along with the 3-in-1 shower product and lotion. It should be quite apparent, by now, that I simply cannot refuse a lip gloss. I won't even try anymore!

Philosophy has definitely hit the nail on the head when they recognized that a marriage of hot chocolate and marshmallows is a no-brainer. All that could possibly be missing from the mix is some whipped cream!

The Winter Escape kit retails for $25 and can be found at Sephora stores and online at http://www.sephora.com/.

Who knew beauty could be so delicious?

Holiday Gift Idea #3: Personalized Boutique Offers So Much More Than Bling

I'm back at you again with another post that I hope you might find helpful as you search for the perfect Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza presents for your loved ones. This gift idea is especially apt for those friends (or family members, obviously) with whom you have a close relationship and for whom you really want to get something with that personalized touch.

I stumbled upon PersonalizedBoutique.com, a fantastic website (a family-owned company, I might add) that offers a wide array of high quality and personalized jewelry pieces, when I was on the hunt for a name necklace (a la Carrie of Sex and the City) last spring. I have always wanted a signature necklace, even before Sarah Jessica Parker made the neck candy famous, but I was never able to find a quality piece. I was searching for something that wasn't too flimsy, a sturdy item that I would not have to worry might bend or break on me.

You could say I did my research before making my purchase. I spent at least a month checking the site, reading reviews, emailing back and forth with the owner of the company in order to decide the style that suited me best. What helped with my choice and made me extremely comfortable with the ordering process was the amazing (and when I say amazing, I really mean it!) customer service and individualized attention that I felt my questions were receiving. The testimonials also made me feel secure in my decision to purchase from this website. I'm always wary of online shopping. However, the way that I was handled was particularly reassuring. I could not have been happier.

PersonalizedBoutique.com, in addition to offering the traditional name plate necklaces, also has a large selection of other personalized items. From rings to bracelets and anklets to individual charms, this company has it all (and they are very receptive to any and all requests for personalized pieces that they don't currently offer!) Jewelry is offered in yellow gold as well as Sterling silver. Prices vary by piece, but the necklace I ordered was $175, which I thought was very reasonable considering the strength, quality, and construction of the 14k gold piece.

I know I just gave you a lot of information about my personal experience with the company, but I just want you to know how much I respect the way they work from start to finish (and I'm not just singing their praises willy nilly). I would not hesitate to order from them again.

I highly suggest that you scope out http://www.personalizedboutique.com/ if you are looking for that extra special way to bring a smile to a loved one's face this Holiday season.

Who doesn't love jewelry, right? ;-)

Holiday Gift Idea #2: Chanel Mini Glossimer Trio

I came across these really cute Mini Glossimer Trio sets from Chanel when I went to check out the beauty floor at SAKS a few weeks ago. I am a huge fan of these glosses (I have Mica and Coral Reef). They are super silky smooth, not sticky, and have a gorgeous shine to them. They vary in finish, but most I have seen seem to contain some shimmer (not chunky glitter, but rather a subtle sparkle). Others are a little frosty, while a few are cream formulas, completely devoid of any shimmer or sheen. The only thing I don't love about the Glossimers, I would have to say, would be the price tag. A regular full-size gloss goes for $27 (ouch!)

I have been eyeing some more of these babies, but have relegated them to my wish list because they are pretty pricey. Cue in the trios! Though they have been available previously, these gloss collections are only around for the holiday season. There are two different versions of the limited edition sets, two tonalities if you will. The first, Les Soleils, features some beautiful warm shades - Pin-Up, a beige peach, Coral Reef, a pink beige, and Glow, a bronze peach. The cool set, Les Roses, includes Magnifique, a sparkly pink, Glaze, a white pink, and Satinette, a pearl pink. I think this is the perfect way to give the gift of luscious lips (or if it's for yourself, a great way to get your feet wet and test out a few of Chanel's best-selling shades!) The packaging of the sets themselves look gorgeous, too (but we are talking Chanel, of course). Each comes housed in a black box, adorned with the traditional Chanel logo, within a larger gold package.

Any luxe lip gloss lovers in your lives? These sets retail for $50, and are available at SAKS stores and online at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/.

Kiss kiss!!

Get Ready To Shop!! The Urban Decay F+F Sale Is Back!!!

It's that time again! Urban Decay is holding their famous Friends and Family event! From November 9-20, receive 30% off on all purchases made at the Urban Decay website. To redeem the offer, enter the code FNFW1 at checkout.

Now is the perfect time to stock up on all of your Holiday gifts (for the make-up lovers you know, of course!) as well any items you have been eyeing for yourself. I would personally recommend the Book of Shadows Vol. 2 ;-)

Thoughts??

Holiday Gift Idea #1: Kirkland Signature Brush Set

With the Holidays rapidly approaching (Thanksgiving is only about three weeks away!), I have decided that, as I come across items that I think would make great gifts, I will dedicate specific posts to those items. I have already mentioned some great gift ideas (such as the uber-affordable LORAC set and the Tarte palette and kits), but I will now start highlighting products that I love, and think would make particularly fantastic presents, as "Holiday Gift Ideas."


So, this brings me to the first item on my list. Every Holiday season, Costco puts out their brush sets, their Kirkland Signature by Borghese multi-piece collections. Each year, the collections are a little bit different. For example, the brushes included may vary, the bristle color is not always the same, and the brush bags themselves are generally slightly different in style (some are zip-up, some are wrap-around with a snap closure) from season to season.


The Holiday '09 collection features 15 pieces. There are 8 full-size brushes - 3 face brushes and 5 eye brushes. The brushes fit neatly into a black quilted zip-up case. In addition, there is also a set of 4 mini travel-size brushes that come housed within their own matching brush case.


Full-Size Brushes:


Large Powder Brush
Flat-Top Bronzer Brush
Angled Foundation Brush
Eye Shadow Brush
Eye Blending Brush
Flat Eyeliner Brush
Eye Smudger
Brow Brush & Spooley Duo

Mini Brushes:

Travel-Size Powder Brush
Travel-Size Concealer Brush
Travel-Size Eye Blending Brush
Travel-Size Flat Eyeliner Brush

The collection also includes an eyelash curler with an extra rubber pad.

L-R: Large Powder Brush, Flat-Top Bronzer Brush, Angled Foundation Brush

L-R: Eye Shadow Brush, Eye Blending Brush, Flat Eyeliner Brush, Eye Smudger, Brow Brush & Spooley Duo

L-R: Travel-Size Powder Brush, Blending Brush, Concealer Brush, and Flat Eyeliner Brush

All of the brushes included are of very nice quality, super soft with substantial black handles. The bristles are black with white tips (note that the white of the bristles is just for "character;" unlike the MAC 187 brush, for instance, which features two different types of bristles). The set retails for $19.99, making for a very affordable gift.

The set is available at Costco locations and online at http://www.costco.com/.

Sweet 16 (+10): Birthday Fun With Friends...And NARS

Tuesday marked my 26th birthday. Though I'm not usually one to do anything too extravagant for birthdays, I decided to spend some of the late afternoon and evening in NYC. On the agenda was a stop at MAC Pro, a bit of a disappointment since the only thing set on my wishlist, the Lip Erase, was out of stock. All was not lost, though, as the Cupcake Stop , a mobile cupcake vendor, had their truck stationed about a block away from the MAC store. The policy is that you get a free cupcake of your choice on your birthday, so I opted for a scrumptious Red Velvet (see below for a photo from the website...I forgot to snap a picture of the little beauty before I inhaled it lol).

After a bit of solo time, I met up with my beauty "partner in crime" and adopted little sister, Adina of Krasey Beauty for some much needed (OK, so it wasn't really needed) beauty retail therapy. I'm not going to lie. I actually went into SAKS soley with the intention of purchasing a new foundation (I had been debating between NARS Sheer Glow and Armani Luminous Silk). Needless to say, I ended up with a few more items than I had planned (I got caught up in the loveliness at the NARS counter). Behold, the damage....

Sheer Glow Foundation in Mont Blanc

Concealer in Honey

Powder Foundation in Mont Blanc

Douceurs de Paris (Pleasures of Paris) Palette (limited edition)

From L-R, T-B: Nepal, Violetta, Demon Lover, Cordura, Abyssinia, Fez

Lip Laquer in Chelsea Girls

Botan Brush

After some lovely time with Adina, who always seems to have some "NARS-fluence" on me, I headed downtown to meet Aja, of Don't Forget the Lip Gloss, and Nancy, of The Informed Makeup Maven, for some dinner at Buddakan, a very hip and trendy Asian-inspired restaurant (one of my all-time favorite cuisines, I might add!) The food was yummy, the company even better.

It was a really great birthday. Not to sound cheesy (OK, here comes the cheese...), but honestly my most meaningful birthdays are those spent with friends and family. It's not about what I'm doing to celebrate, however, but it's about being with people whose time I value and with whom I can just let myself enjoy being in the moment. **I am through with the sappiness/seeming cliches now**

I will leave you all with some photos of the birthday cake my mom made me. It was (well, actually, it still is...leftovers abound!) a pumpkin spice layer cake with a cream cheese buttercream frosting. It was delicious!

LORAC Holiday Smoked Out Collection

LORAC is one brand that hasn't gotten proper love from me (a shame because I'm loving their products!), but I just couldn't pass this super collection by without sharing the details with you all! LORAC has introduced a great and affordable set for the Holidays that includes some make-up essentials that will no doubt have you set for the season's occasions. This kit, which retails for $18.50 (a steal!), is available exclusively at http://www.loraccosmetics.com/. Four products are contained within a cute black make-up bag - Starry Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trio (perfect to create a sexy, sultry smoky eye!), Midnight Sparkle Pencil, Cheek Stamp, and Lip Polish.

Really, how can you say no to this collection?!? The only bad part? It's only around for a limited time! So hurry on over to the LORAC website! This one is definitely "scoop up" worthy.