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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BH Cosmetics Pop Art Color Extreme Palette

When I first saw the Pop Art Color Extreme Palette on BH Cosmetic's website, I knew I had to have it.  Instantly, it reminded me of a much more affordable alternative to the Anastasia Beverly Hill's Artist Palette.  While the ABH palette has only 12 bright shades, the BH Cosmetics palette has twice as many that are just as pigmented and versitile in creating makeup looks.  Even better: the BH Cosmetics palette is half the price.

Creativity comes into play when working with a palette like this.  I love to use the "pop" shades for highlighting and emphasizing specific areas of the eye, such as the inner tear duct, the thick corner of winged eyeliner, or beneath the lower lash line.

The rules are meant to be broken when it comes to an artistic color palette.  You can create a bright pink cut crease with shimmery orange tear duct highlight, or shimmering periwinkle purple over black winged eyeliner.  The choices of what to accent are limitless.

The Pop Art palette has a combination of neutrals to balance a look and hot neons to spice it up.  BH describes it as "multi-use," meaning you can use it anywhere on the face, eyes and body.  This type of use would be perfect for creating entire face and neck Halloween or special effects makeup designs. 

The texture of the shadows are soft and easy to blend.  My favorites are the soft sparking brown, which could be a dupe for ABH Artist Palette's Baby I'm A Star, the bright shimmering Barbie pink, and cool shimmering mint green.  There is an even balance of light and dark shades and I'm sure I'll find myself reaching for this palette throughout the year.

Overall review: colorful, fun, and an excellent value.  Anyone that enjoys makeup and creating a variety of makeup looks will love this palette.

Let Me Know!

Are you a fan of palettes like this with out-of-the box neon eyeshadow shades?  Do you know of any other dupes or comparisons?

 
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Smokey Gunmetal Grey Makeup Tutorial

As the weather grows colder and the days get shorter, my looks go from bright and vivid to dark and neutral.  I am in love with greys and taupes right now.  They are hands-down my go-to shades during the fall and winter.  This smokey gunmetal grey makeup look is edgy, complete with a nude lip and spiky false lashes (because who can't use a pair of spiky lashes in their life?).

Next month, in anticipation of the holiday season, I plan on featuring more warm-tone makeup looks.  Oranges, cranberries, and light browns have been calling my name!  I am ready for some red lips and sparkling eyelids, so prepare yourselves.  

In other exciting news: this was the very LAST makeup tutorial I photographed with my iPhone 6.  My amazing Uncle and Godfather was inspired to invest in my blog and business and sent me a Canon Rebel T5, complete with every accessory I could ever ask for.  I'm so excited to take my blog to the next level in terms of photography and appearance.  It was truly an exciting blessing.

 
 The Face

Starting with the basics: I moisturize my face with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and my under eye area with ELF Eye Illuminating Cream.  I prime my skin with Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance and prime my under eye area with ELF Hydrating Under Eye Primer.  Using a Beauty Blender, I apply Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 29 to my entire face.  To highlight and conceal I use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla 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.

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.  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.

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.  After blending I apply Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Blush in Score using the blush brush from the BH Cosmetics Party Girl Brush Set.  

Using the same fan brush as earlier, I then apply the first shade of pale white highlighter from the Carli Bybel by BH Cosmetics Palette to the tops of my cheekbones, my forehead just above my brows, and the bridge of my nose.

I shape my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony, fill it in with the ABH Brow Powder in Medium Brown, and set it into place with the ABH Clear Brow Gel.

The Eyes

 I take the color ES13 (Deep Skin) by Morphe Brushes, a 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.

 Using the Lorac Pro palette I then apply Taupe directly into my crease with a small tapered blending brush using windshield wiper motions.  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.

Using a flat shadow brush I take the color Slate from the Lorac Pro palette, a deep shimmer grey, and press it onto the center of my eye lid.  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 and the outer V are evenly blended into the grey and there are no harsh lines.  I then go back in to the copper and add just a touch more color to the center of my lid.  

I use the color Sable, a dark red-brown, 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. 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.

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.  I wing this out when I reach the outer corner of my eye.

I then use the color Champagne, a frosted nude, from the Lorac Pro palette to highlight the inner tear duct with a fluffy blending brush, and a small flat shadow brush to highlight my brow bone just below my eyebrow.

Finally, 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.  To add some dimension and soften any harshness I go over the bottom of this color with our original transition color.

I apply Benefit Roller Lash mascara to my lashes.  For my falsies I choose Eylure London Definition Lashes No. 126 and apply them using the Vegas Nay by Eylure Lash Glue.

The Lips

I wanted to keep the lips simple, nude and glossy for this heavy eye look.  I used Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Nude Eclipse to both line and fill in my lips.

Let Me Know!

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

Products Used

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream

 ELF Illuminating Eye Cream
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance 
ELF Studio Hydrating Under Eye Primer
Beauty Blender
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation Light 49
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette
Real Techniques Setting Brush
Real Techniques Sculpting Brush
Morphe Brushes G23 Soft Fan Brush
Urban Decay Afterglow Blush Score 
Carli Bybel by BH Cosmetics Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Ebony
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Medium Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Lorac Pro Palette
Morphe Brushes Eyeshadow ES13
NYX Gel Liner Jet Black
BH Cosmetics Party Girl Brush Set
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara
Eylure London Lashes No. 126

Vegas Nay by Eylure London Lash Glue

Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer Nude Eclipse
Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray
Love Struck Mint Green Teardrop Earrings

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Top 5 Favorite ColourPop Ulta Matte Lip

ColourPop has recently become one of my favorite cosmetics brands.  Their lip and eyeshadow shades are intensely pigmented, high quality, and very affordable.  I will emphasize that last point again: they are insanely affordable.  I hope to try and review their blushes, highlighters and bronzers soon as well, and of course their soon to be released creme gel liners and pencil liners.

How It Stacks Up To Others

ColourPop's Ultra Matte Lip shades are a great alternative to the higher end liquid lipstick brands, such as Kat Von D or Anastasia Beverly Hills.  The ColourPop formula can be thin, runny and is much more drying and less creamy than the KVD or ABH liquid lipsticks, but overall the color payoff is amazing and you cannot be the price at only $6.00 a pop.

Consistency and Texture

I do notice that the initial color coat can be inconsistent in texture and I have to apply two coats in order to achieve a nicely even overall color.  However, layering this on too thick will make it look cakey, so I only put a second coat overtop the areas that look streaky.   Still, it is honestly not an inconvenience at all when you see the beautiful final color result that literally POPS off your lips.

The applicator is soft and allows for the product to glide over my lips, while the end of the applicator has a tapered tip that is perfect for lining my lips.  More often that not, I usually do not line my lips beforehand with a lip liner.  Rather,  I find that the applicator tip provides the same precise and clean lines that a lip liner does.

Long Lasting

Once you've applied the product to your lips, do not expect it to go anywhere easily anytime soon.  After drying for about ten minutes the life expectancy is a good several hours.  Boyfriend-approved as it will not transfer onto anything, including lips, even if you try.  

Because this Ulta Matte formula is, in fact, ULTRA matte, make sure to exfoliate and hydrate your lips before applying.  If you don't it will seep into every unflattering crack and crevice.

If you love matte lipsticks that are hydrating, these will not be the ones for you.  If you do love a more drying formula that is completely matte on your lips then these were made for you.  Oil does tend to break down the product, which means the color will diminish when eating something oil-based or using makeup remover oil at the end of the day.

My Favorites 

Donut 

This bright peach, while perhaps slightly "too bright" for those deep autumn makeup looks, is still a beautiful pink-peach that can lend some brilliance to any type of look.  I recently wore this while attending a fundraising brunch, paired with a long sleeve empire waist navy blue maxi dress, and recieved many compliments.  The key to wearing a color like this during the colder weather is to pair it with a contrasting color, such as the way I did with the dark navy blue dress.

Kapow 

This deep grey taupe is the perfect compliment to any neutral fall makeup look.  This is often sold out on ColourPop's website and for good reason: pair this lip with any cool tone makeup look for one amazing combo. 

Investigator 

One of ColourPop's new fall colors, this peachy nude turns into a deep, cool tone peachy-pink when it dries.  This shade screams Autumn and can be paired with any warm tone or cool tone makeup look.

Limbo 

This chocolate brown is sumptuous and dark.  It takes some coordinating to pair off a dark lip like this, but do it right and it will be fierce.  I plan on using this color in several upcoming makeup looks heading into the holiday season.

Trap 

On trend, this "greige," or dusty grey beige, has purple undertones and seriously impresses.  I've worn this out on several occasions and have gotten compliments on it every time.  This is one of those shades that has all the right undertones, therefore complimenting many different skin tones.

I Want To Know...

Have you tried any of ColourPop's products?  Have you tried the Ultra Matte Lips?
 

 

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