Holiday Gift Guide: My 10 Favorite Beauty Lovers Gift Sets

The beauty lover.  We all have that person on our holiday gift list.  The one that you always see with a Sephora bag, makeup done to the nines, and raving about the new Urban Decay palette.  She knows her own style and can easily spot a pair of brows done with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade in a crowded hall.

Beauty lovers can sometimes be the most difficult to shop for.  While on the one hand they are always seeking the next great product, each individual has different skin and makeup needs. You aren't going to want to purchase a radiant primer for someone that prefers a completely matte complexion.

Instead of purchasing several individual products, stick to those amazing gift box sets you will be seeing in every store now thru the beginning of next year.  Without a doubt these are the best buys for your money.  It may seem impersonal, or that you just picked up the first thing you saw when you entered the store, but trust me: your beauty lover is going to love it.

Even better: your beauty lover will know that if what you purchase her does not fit her needs, Sephora always accepts returns and exchanges, even if the product has already been opened.  Basically, you have given her a gift card to Sephora to purchase whatever she would like.

Too Faced Le Grand Chateau

This one I wanted to place first because, let's be honest, this thing is so adorable it makes me giddy.  This little chateau opens up to reveal three separate palettes with a total of 18 eye shadows, two blushes, one bronzer, and a mini Better Than Sex mascara.  EVERY beauty lover will find this set irresistible.

Origins Let Us Glow

Origins is, hands down, one of my favorite skincare brands.  This set features all of my favorites, including the GinZing refreshing skin cleanser, Original Skin Renewal Serum with Willowherb, GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer, and GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream.

Fresh Skincare Affair

Every products I have tried from Fresh has been more amazing than the last.  I use the Fresh Soy Face Cleaner on a daily basis and it has transformed my skin from dull and acne-prone to bright and healthy.  This set comes with the Soy Face Cleanser, Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, Seabury Moisturizing Face Oil, Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream, and Sugar Avdanced Therapy Lip Treatment.

Clinique Holiday Helpers

Clinique was one of the first beauty brands I ever fully trusted.  I have been using their Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for a long time and cannot imagine using anything else for my sensitive skin.  This set features the Skinny Stick in Slimming Black, High Impact Mascara in Black, All About Eyes, Turnaround Revitalizing Treatment Oil, Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, Chubby Stick Lip Balm in Heaping Hazelnut, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, and Take The Day Off Makeup Remover.

Sephora Collection Glitter Happy Brush Set

While the price for this set may be a little high, these elegant brushes in a limited edition rose gold color will be something you show off with pride on your beauty vanity.  This set comes with a  rose gold glitter brush stand and the rose gold metal brushes include a blush brush, pointed foundation brush, blending brush, pointed concealer brush, shadow brush, and lip brush.

Becca Glow On The Go

Becca is known for its beautiful shimmering skin perfectors, and Opal has been one of its bestsellers.  This set comes with a deluxe size Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opral and Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal Spotlight Wand.

 Tory Burch Mini Duo

I have been in love with Tory Burch fragrances for quite some time now.  This set comes with two minis of Tory Burch Eau de Parfum, her signature scent, and Tory Burch Absolu Eau de Parfum, her brand new scent.

Ciate London Mini Mani Month

Sure, this set is "supposed" to be used to count down the holiday season, but the fact that is comes with 24 nail polishes makes it a sweet gift even after the holidays are over.  Includes a nail strengthener treatment, nail illuminator treatment, and an overnight nail mask treatment.

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Studded Kiss Lip Set

Kat Von D is one of my favorite makeup brands to date.  Everything product she put out is pefection, from her lipsticks to her contour kits to her eyeshadows.  This set includes seven mini lip colors and a full size limited edition shade called Gold Blodded, a red with gold shimmer.

 Buxom Don't Miss A Beat Full-On Lip Polish Collection


Buxom was one of the first high end lip brands I ever tried at Sephora, and I was instantly hooked.  This set features six lip-plumping polishes in sheer and shimmering shades.

 

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Black and Gold Glam Smokey Cat Eye Makeup Tutorial

This black and gold smokey cat eye has been one of my favorite Fall looks that I have created.  This look is dark, smokey, and alluring.  I feel like I have been creating a lot of light, bright, and holiday-inspired looks lately.  I wanted to change it up and go with something fierce.

The Face

Primer, Foundation and Concealer

1. I moisturize my face with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and my under eye area with Clinique Moisture Surge.

2. I prime my skin with NYX Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer and prime my under eye area with ELF Studio Hydrating Under Eye Primer.

3. Using a Beauty Blender, I apply a mixture of Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in Soft Tan and Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 49 to my entire face.

4. To highlight and conceal I use Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer in Light Warm in a V-shape beneath my eyes, in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin, and on my eye lids.

Set and Highlight

1. To set everything I take the Real Techniques Setting Brush and place a mixture of the highlight shades Lucid and Lyric from the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette and place a generous amount over the areas that I highlighted with concealer.

2. I also add a generous amount to my jaw directly below my contour line.  I allow the extra powder to sit on my skin for a few minutes to "bake" before brushing off with a Morphe Brushes G23 Soft Fan Brush.

Contour and Highlight

1. With the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush I take the contour shade Sombre from the Kat Von D palette and contour beneath my cheekbones, underneath my jaw bone, along the hairline on my forehead, down my temples, and alone the parallel sides of the bridge of my nose.

2. After blending I apply the middle blush shade in the Morphe Brushes 9B Blush Palette, a shimmery beige peach, using a BH Cosmetics blush brush.

3. Using the same fan brush as earlier, I then apply Jaclyn Hill and Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones, my forehead just above my brows, and the bridge of my nose.

Brows

1. I shape my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Ebony.

2. I fill it in with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Dark Brown.

3. I set it into place with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel.

The Eyes

Transition Shade

1. I take the shade Deep Skin by Morphe Brushes, a satin soft gold peach, with a fluffy blending brush into the crease of my eye and start blending upward.  This is going to be our transition shade.  

2. Above this I place a second transition shade, Peach Smoothie by Makeup Geek, a soft matte peach beige, to blend out the transition even more.

Crease and Lid

1. Using the Lorac Pro Palette I then apply Taupe directly into my crease with a smalltapered blending brush using windshield wiper motions.

2. I reapply this color a couple times to build the color, making sure it blends into my transition shade but stays directly within the crease.

3. Using a flat shadow brush I take the color Gold from the Lorac Pro Palette , a bright shimmer gold, and press it onto the center of my eye lid.

4. Once the color is as vibrant as I want it to be, I then go back in with a blending brush and just make sure the crease is evenly blended into the gold and there are no harsh lines.  I then go back in to the gold and add just a touch more color to the center of my lid.

Outer Corner

1. I use the color Black, a matte jet black, from the Lorac Pro Palette to define my outer corner.  I apply this directly to the outer third of my eye lid in the shape of a sideways "V" to smoke out the look.

2. While I make sure to concentrate the color only to this area, I take it up into my crease and down into my lower lash line ever so slightly so as to enhance the smokey effect.

Liner and Wing

1. I take a small angled brush to draw on my eye liner using the NYX Gel Liner in Jet Black.  I get as close to the lash line as possible and press down on the lid to create a black line.

2. I wing this out when I reach the outer corner of my eye and continue it until I reach the end of where I have place the black eyeshadow.

Highlight and Lower Lash Line

1. I use the shade Shimma Shimma by Makeup Geek, a metallic champagne, to highlight the inner tear duct with a fluffy blending brush, and a small flatshadow brush to highlight my brow bone just below my eyebrow.

2. I take the color Taupe again and glide it below my bottom lash line using a small eye defining brush, making sure to blend into the outer corner of my eye to give the entire look a rounded out smokey eye.

3. To add even more smokiness I go over this color with Black and connect the bottom lash line to the outer corner.

Mascara and False Lashes

1. I apply Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara to my lashes.

2. For my falsies I choose Eylure London Lengthening Lashes No. 35 and apply them using the Vegas Nay by Eylure London Lash Glue.

The Lips

For this look I wanted a bold, statement lip, but not one that would overpower the smokey eye.

1. I line and fill in my lips with ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in Trap, a dusty grey beige.

2.  I apply a small amount of Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Pure Hollywood , a pink beige, to the center of my pout.

3. I blend this color outward using my ring finger until both liquid lipsticks are completely blended together.

4. I set the entire makeup look with Mario Badescu Facial Spray.

Let Me Know!

Are you into the "smokey" makeup looks for fall/winter right now?  What are your favorite colors to use when creating a smokey eye look?

 

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Reader Showcase: Send Me Your Blogs!

Hello My Awesome Readers!

I have decided to start a Reader Showcase!  *Que the gold confetti and falling rose petals*  This will be held four times a year for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter (kind of like fashion week).  The first one up is, of course, Winter!

The first Winter Reader Showcase will be posted in early January 2016.

The goal is to feature some of the best and most inspiring blog posts that fall into the categories of makeup, beauty, cosmetics, and style.  Let everyone see what creative ideas you have come up with!

Every blog post shared will be fully credited and include featured pictures, a direct link to the post, and up to two social media account links.

How to Submit Your Blog Post

• Submissions can be sent to contact@ashleyelizabethbeauty.com.
• Please include "Reader Showcase Submission" in the email subject.
• Please include your name, your blog's name, and a link to the post you would like to be considered.
• If you would like social media accounts to be mentioned, please include links for 1-2 accounts.
• Only submit a post that has been posted between September-November.

I am looking for 15-20 awesome blog posts!

All submissions will hear from me by early January if they have been chosen to be featured.

I cannot wait to connect with YOU and to showcase your amazing blog and all of your hard work!

 

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