Christmas is almost here, and if you haven’t already, it’s time to find a present for one of the most special people in your life: your mom. Whether she is a makeup addict or a beauty minimalist that only has 5 minutes to get ready in the morning, you can’t go wrong by choosing a set full of pampering treats or a nice palette with natural shades, like the ones below. And they are all affordable too!

Caudalie Spa in a Bag ($30.00) contains a Shower Gel, a Crushed Cabernet Scrub, a Hand and Nail Cream and a Nourishing Body Lotion. Packaged in a reusable bag, these body treatments will give your mom a fantastic pampering experience at home.

Laura Mercier Eye Book ($45.00) is a Sephora-exclsuive palette that contains two eyeshadow quads, two eyeliners and a mini double-ended Eye Colour/Flat Eye Liner Brush to create endless looks perfect for both day and night time.

Kiehl’s Neutral & Cool Lip Gloss Trio ($29.00) features three sheer shades (Pink Rider, Icy Everest and Mahvelous Mauve) to give lips a soft look.

Philosophy Holiday Cookbook ($35.00) includes 6 recipe-inspired shampoo, shower gel & bubble baths scented of red velvet cake, cinnamon buns, spicy pear cobbler, pumpkin spice muffin, gingerbread and double rich hot cocoa!

Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum Eye Palette ($40.00) features 4 shades ranging from nudes to plum for a perfect day-to-night look. The palette also contains a dual mini eyeshadow/eyeliner brush.

Bath & Body Works Ready To Pamper Warm Vanilla Sugar ($25.00) is a nice little basket full of pampering treats: Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Fragrance Mist, Anti-Bacterial Hand Cream and a gauze sponge.

L’Occitane Hands Celebration Set ($25.00) contains a Lavender Hand Cream, a Shea Butter Hand Cream and a Shea Vanilla Hand Cream to achieve beautiful, soft and moisturized hands.

Clinique Star Favourites ($36.00) it’s a nice set that contains the brand’s most popular makeup and skincare products: All About Eyes eye cream, Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips, Dual ended High Impact Mascara/ High Impact Curling Mascara, 6 Shades Compact Eye Shadow Palette, Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Air Kiss, all packaged in a pretty pink bag.

Ole Henriksen Worship Your Body ($24.00) features everything your mom needs for an at home pampering experience. The set includes Lavender Body Oil, Natural Hair Wash With Sea Kelp, Natural Hair Hydrator With Orchid Flower, Clarifying Body Wash, Body Sleek, Muscle Comfort and Loofah Body Scrub. In addition, the kit features a CD of tranquil music like that heard at the Ole Henriksen spa.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Deluxe Gift Set ($39.50) offers an uplifting experience thanks to the green tea that energizes both body and spirit. The set includes Green Tea Scent Spray, Green Tea Energizing Bath & Shower Gel, Green Tea Refreshing Body Lotion and Green Tea Scent Spray Replica.

Brooke Shield’s career began as a model when she was a child. She then went on to star in numerous movies and TV shows including The Blue Lagoon and Nip/Tuck. The actress is currently starring in Lipstick Jungle and is a spokesperson for Coppertone. Here are here fave beauty products:

CREME DE LA MER MOISTURIZING CREAM ($220)
A moistiìurizer that reduces the appearances of fine lines and wrinkles, soothes skin and heals dryness. Brooke uses this every night and says: “I like the thickness and richness of La Mer, and a small jar lasts at least a year.”

KERASTASE BAIN CHROMA RICHE ($32.00)
Hair is cleansed and protected from external aggressions and feels moisturized and supple to the touch with added softness and shine.
Brooke says that she sometimes has to wash her hair everyday and this shampoo keeps it from drying out.

ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT-HOUR LIP PROTECTANT STICK SPF 15 ($17.00)
Moisturizes, softens and smooths lips as well as protecting them from UV exposure.

GUERLAIN LE 2 DE GUERLAIN MASCARA ($35.00)
This mascara has two brushes: the first one lengthens, curves and separates, while the second miniature wand is designed for the inner and outer corners to reach and grab the smaller eyelashes.

FRESH FIG APRICOT EAU DE PARFUM ($75.00)
A rich fruity, floral fragrance with notes of Turkish Apricot, Peach Skin, Lychee, Fig Leaf, Petitgrain, Dandelion, Green Tea, Musk, Marine Notes. Brooke loves this because it isn’too  tsweet and she can wear it day and night.

Christmas is almost here. If you still don’t know what to give to your mum, here are a few ideas, all under $50.

Philosophy Hope, Purity, Grace (48$) set contains the famous hope in a jar moisturizer, which has anti-ageing properties, purity made simple high-foaming daily cleanser and amazing grace perfumed shampoo, bath & shower gel.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Vintage Edition. ($25) The Elizabeth Arden classic that smooths, soothes, heals and protects dry skin is now available in a vintage package inspired by the 50′s era.

Clarins Instant Beauty Eye Treats ($46.50) contains Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, a primer that smooths and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Instant Light Perfecting Touch to conceal dark circles and imperfections, and Wonder Volume Mascara.

L’Occitane Hand Creams Trio. ($24) The set includes Rose, Honey & Lemon and Cherry Blossom Hand Creams.

Bath & Body Works The Season’s Best ($39.50) includes Body Lotion and Body Splash, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath, a travel candle and Moisture-Rich Bar Soap. Available in Moonlight Path and Sweet Pea.

Earth Therapeutics Foot Doctor Pedicure Kit ($18.74) includes a 4-piece Professional Grade Pedicure Set, Tea Tree Oil Foot Repair Balm, Pumice Stick and aTea Tree Oil Cooling Foot Scrub.

Lorac Croc Palette ($35) contains four shadow shades in Moonstone (soft champagne), Serenity (peachy champagne bronze), Garnet (bronze), Suede (chocolate) and a soft, natural blush in Soul (burnished rose).

Bare Escentuals 100% Natural LipColor Palette ($28) contain 8 srich, all-natural lip colors. It comes with a mini lip brush.

Lancome Color Design Holiday Eye Palette ($45) includes six limited edition eyeshadows.

Bobbi Brown Basics Eye Palette ($45) features four shadows that flatter all complexions: an allover base shade, two shades for the lower lid and crease, and a liner shade. Includes a dual-ended Mini Eye Shadow/Eye Liner Brush.

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole is currently busy promoting the band’s new album, Out Of Control. She is also a judge on UK TV show The X Factor. Here are her fave beauty products:

FAKE BAKE ORIGINAL SELF TANNING LOTION (£24.95)
Fake Bake Original Self-Tan Lotion’s gives your skin a natural looking tan that compliments your skin tone. Cheryl loves it so much she has even got bandmate Sarah Harding to use it too.

EYLURE NATURALITIES VOLUME PLUS No. 100 (£4.95)
These false eyelashes are thick and give fullness and length to natural lashes. Cheryl is a huge fan of Eylure lashes and says she often uses them when performing as they give a really glamorous look.

TIGI S FACTOR SMOOTHING SHAMPOO, SMOOTHING CONDITIONER and SERIOUS CONDITIONER (£13.30, £14.30 and £14.30)
S-factor Smoothing Shampoo smooths your hair and leaves it sleek and shiny.
S-Factor Smoothing Conditioner creates soft and sleek locks with fantastic shine.
S-factor Serious Conditioner has a creamy formula that deeply penetrates hair and smoothes split hands, while adding luxtre.

JANE IREDALE SUPER-SHAPE ME BROW KIT (£49.95)
This kit contains everything you need for the perfect brow: two powders to mix for your exact shade, a wax to hold brows in place, a lid primer to conceal any redness, two brushes for the ultimate application and miniature tweezers.

ORIGINS SPOT REMOVER (£10)
This remover contains Salicylic Acid to speed healing and reduce redness.

NARS THE MULTIPLE in Orgasm (£27)
A multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. It blends effortlessly to provide sheer all-over color and creates a glowing complexion.

LA PRAIRE SKIN CAVIAR CONCEALER FOUNDATION SPF 15 (£104)
Unique duet of luxurious foundation with a colour-coordinated concealer tucked in the cap. It provides a weightless, full coverage.

LANCOME JUICY TUBES LIP GLOSS (£13.50)
This lipgloss provides a transparent shine with a hint of shimmering colour for a glamorous lacquered effect. Cheryl’s fave shade is Melon.

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8-HOUR CREAM (£20)
Cheryl is a fan of this Elizabeth Arden classic that soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked, dry skin. It also soothes roughness, redness and minor skin irritations.

Beautiful actress Rachel Bilson is best known for her role as Summer Roberts in The O.C. She has also just launched her fashion line, Edie Rose, in collaboration with DKNY. Here are her fave beauty products:

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM ($17)
The skincare classic that soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked, dry skin. Soothes roughness, redness and minor skin irritations. Rachel loves this because it gives her skin a dewy look. She also never flies without it.

PAULA DORF CHEEK COLOUR ($20)
Gives you a soft translucent natural glow with extraordinary staying power.

WET N WILD EYELINER ($1)
This silky soft formula goes on smooth. Available in bold, vibrant colors, won’t smudge. Rachel said: “wet n wild eyeliner: it only costs $1 and it is the best”.

BENEFIT DANDELION (28$)
Dust on our soft, pink, perk-me-up powder for instant radiance and a youthful appearance. It’s the perfect shade of pink that brightens everyone’s complexion without looking powdery or chalky.

BOURJOIS VOLUME GLAMOUR ULTRA BLACK MASCARA ($13.50)
This mascara gives lashes the blackest black treatment with mineral pigments that provide truly intense color while the full roller brush adds volume.

BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER BRICK in Bronze (38$)
This shimmering, brush-on powder creates a deep, bronzy glow.

Victoria Beckham is a style icon. She and her husband David are releasing 2 new perfumes, Signature for Him and Signature for Her, in September. Here’s Victoria must have beauty products:

ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT HOUR CREAM ($17)
It soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked, dry skin. Soothes roughness, redness and minor skin irritations. Victoria swears by this cream and her husband David likes it too. Victoria says they share all their beauty products.

STILA LIP GLAZE ($22)
Stila’s most popular has a delicious scent and the large pen guarantees to keep your lips glossier longer.

YSL TOUCHE ECLAT ($38.50)
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat adds highlights, refreshes your makeup and brightens your complexion. Helps revives skin’s natural glow by capturing and reflecting light.

PRESCRIPTIVES TRACELESS SKIN RESPONSIVE TINT SPF 8 ($32.50)
This foundation keeps skin looking natural, in any light. A smooth, undetectable finish with the light-adjusting powers of Prescriptives moisture-filled tint. Soft vision prisms optically airbrush skin, diminishing the look of lines, pores and wrinkles. SPF 8 provides added protection from the sun.

DERMALOGICA MULTIVITAMIN POWER RECOVERY MASQUE ($42)
Contains antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and botanicals that dramatically reduce the inflammation and redness associated with stress, prematurely-aging skin.

THE BODY SHOP COCOA BODY BUTTER ($10)
Rich, intensive cream with a lush coconut scent that moisturizes for up to 24 hours. Victoria and David love The Body Shops Body Butters and have been using them for years.

BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER WASH EYESHADOW ($20)
This sheer powder is lightly pearlised to softly illuminate lids.

BOBBI BROWN LASH GLAMOUR LENGTHENING MASCARA ($22)
An innovative, waterproof formula for dramatic lashes. It super-lengthens, defines and curls to provide the ultimate false-eyelash look.

Name: Flawless Finish Radiant Moisture
Brand: Elizabeth Arden
Size: 30ml
Price: 29€

From the packaging:
- Medium coverage. Luminous finish.
- This moisture rich makeup infused with vitamins and botanicals keeps skin comfortable all day. Light diffusing particles diminish imperfections and gives skin a radiant glow. SPF 8 protects from the sun.

What I liked:
- easy application
- skin looks smooth
- silky feeling
- pump dispenser
- has SPF

What I didn’t like:
- the packaging
- the smell
- rubs off on clothes

Flawless Finish Radiant Moisture is available in 11 shades. I purchased Cream, which is very fair, although it is slighter darker than my skin color.

Application is very easy and the pump dispenser provides just the right amount of product you need, so it will last for a long time.

The result is very good too. It looks smooth and dewy and my skin feels silky. It also has a little shimmer in it. The coverage is light but is enough to even out the skin tone and hide minor imperfections. It also doesn’t feel heavy. However if you have oily skin or need a heavy coverage, this product is not for you.

The staying power is quite good, the product lasts for hours, although you would need to reapply it again for the evening if you’re going out.

I also like the fact that it contains SPF, so that my skin is protected from the sun, especially now in the summer.

I don’t like the glass bottle though. I’m quite clumsy and I’m always afraid that I’m gonna drop it and it will break. Although I have to say that the glass is pretty thick. I’m also concerned about travelling with it as I don’t know how it will fare packed in a luggage.

Another thing I do not like is the smell. I usually prefer make up and skincare to be fragrance-free, but this product does not smell good.

Unfortunately this product does rub off on clothes.

The active ingredient in this foundation is octinoxata (octyl methoxycinnamate), which is used as a sunscreen. It contains both natural ingredients like aloe, chamomile, ginkoa biloba and green tea as well as some chemicals like parabens, which are widely used synthetic preservatives.

Summary:
Overall, I like this foundation. It is light but has enough coverage to even out the skin tone, feels silky and looks radiant. It also contains SPF, which is always a plus for me. The product is quite expensive although the bottle will last for a long time, so it’s not that bad. Unfortunately it rubs off on clothes and doesn’t smell good.

Rating: 4/5