Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Mum
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.
Lancome launches Vibrating Mascara Primer + more beauty news
Lancome Launches Oscillation Powerbooster Vibrating Mascara Primer
After Oscillation, a vibrating mascara, Lancome has now launched Oscillation Powerbooster, a vibrating mascara primer.
The vibrating power primer is said to enhance lash thickness, density and appearance of length so that naturally occurring lash growth is more visible. The primer retails at a whoppings $39 and it’s available exclusively from Nordstrom.
Are you gonna check this out? I’m curious to try it but the high price tag has really put me off!
Nars Vintage 2009 Nail Polish
Nars has re-released some discounted nail polishes shades. They’re limited edition, so get yours while you can. The collection includes:
- Blue Lagoon: iridescent powder blue
- ChaChaCha: semi-sheer tangerine with gold reflections
- Hunger: hot orange red
- Tallulah: rich grape
- Zizi: clear with peach and gold glitter
Kiehl’s Recyling Program
Kiehl’s has just launched their new Recycle and Be Rewarded! program. When you run out of one of the company’s products, just take it to their nearest shop.
Not only you’ll be recycling, but you’ll also be given a reward card. They’ll put a stamp on it for each container you return. When you get to three, you’ll get a free Lip Balm #1. When you reach five, you can pick any item from the Official Kiehl’s Travel Collection. And once you returned 10, you get any $25 or less product of your choosing (excluding Flagship Exclusive Items or charitable ones) for free!
Inside Gwen Stefani makeup bag
Singer Gwen Stefani has a fashion line called L.A.M.B. and last month she launched her Harajuku Lovers fragrances. Here is what’s inside her makeup bag:
PANTENE PRO-V STYLE SHEER VOLUME HAISPRAY ($3.99)
Keeps your perfect style, lifting fine hair for added volume and body. Provides structure to even the hardest-to-hold volume style. Gives your hair healthy-looking shine. Great volume all day..
HARAJUKU LOVERS FRAGRANCES in G, Lil’ Angel, Music, Love and Baby (1oz $45)
Inspired by the electric street scene of the Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo, the Harajuku Lovers collection captures the lyrics and iconography from Gwen Stefani’s albums.
Love: Sensuous floral. Pink peonies, delicate paperwhites, rose and sensuous musk.
Music: Delicate floral. Sparkling clementine, sweet pea + honeysuckle and creamy vanilla.
Lil’ Angel: Fruity floral. Juicy raspberry, lush pear blossom and warm hinoki woods.
Baby: Powdery musk. Sparkling bergamot, tiare flower + jasmine petals and soft white musk.
G: Modern gourmand. Fresh coconut, jasmine + magnolia and sexy woods.
Gwen says: “Each bottle is a replica of one of my backup dancers – who I miss so much now that we’re not on tour! I wanted Baby to have a baby-powder scent and G to be fruit.”
MAC LIPSTICK in Russian Red ($14)
Russian red is matte. Pigment rich with intense colour pay-off. No-shine, all matte finish. Gwen says that her husband, Gavin Rossdale, loves her in red lipstick and she still just wants to impress him.
MAC CREAM COLOUR BASE in Fawntastic ($16.50)
Cream Colour can be used on eyes, lips, cheeks or body. Versatile and multi-purpose, Cream Colour can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over foundation, moisturizer or powder.
KIEHL’S ESSENCE OIL in Cucumber (1/8 fl. oz. $16)
This highly concentrated oil is available in various scents. Gwen loves the cucumber one. She says: “I lean toward scented oils that are sweet – like cucumber, coconut, pear. Musky scents are too serious.”
Inside Halle Berry makeup bag
Ex-model Halle Berry is now one of Hollywood’s most famous actresses. She was the first black American woman to win an Oscar in 2002, for Monster Ball. She is also a spokesperson for Revlon. Here are her fave beauty products:
KIEHL’S LIP BALM No. 1 ($6.50)
It helps relieve chapped or cracked lips and protect lips from the drying effects of wind and cold weather. Halle says it keeps her lips moist without adding too much shine.
REVLON FABULASH MASCARA ($9.00)
This mascara has a brush that combines short bristles to thicken lashes and long bristles to separate without clumps.
MIXED CHICKS LEAVE IN CONDITIONER ($16.99)
It conditions as it smooths the follicle. It blocks frizz and tames naturally curly hair.
KINARA LACTIC ACID HYDRATING SERUM ($70.00)
Recommended for all skin types (except the very sensitive or very dry), reduces the appearance of fine line and wrinkles and rejuvenates damaged skin. Halle says that her oily skin stays moisturized but doesn’t feel greasy.
REVLON CREME GLOSS ($9.99)
It has the coverage of a lipstick with the shine of a lipgloss. Halle uses this in Wine Anytime.
OLE HENRIKSEN HERBAL DAY CREAM SPF15 ($35.00)
Designed especially for city living, this lightweight moisturizer that protects from the sun rays and doesn’t feel greasy.
OLE HENRIKSEN TRUTH SERUM COLLAGEN BOOSTER ($48.00)
It contains Vitamin C to help smooth out lines and wrinkles while preventing further damage, anti-oxidants to fight off environment aggressors and moisture-binding ingredients to hydrate and keep your skin nourished and protected.
KIEHL’S CREME DE CORPS ($9.00)
This rich cream nourishes skin, making if soft. It is especially good for extremely dry or flaking skin.
Holiday Gift Guide 2008: Stocking Stuffers
Looking for a “little extra” to give to your loved ones? Here are some great stocking stuffers ideas, all under $10:
Lush Mr Butterball Bath Bomb. ($3.95) This soothing bath bomb, shaped like a snowman, melts pieces of cocoa butter into the bathwater to moisturize and soften your body.
Barry M Dazzle Dusts (£4.50/$6.72) are available in more than 60 shades. They’re highly pearlised and can be applied bright or subtle.
NYX Round Lipstick ($3.50) has a velvety texture and rich color. It also moisturizes lips.
Rosebud Salve ($6) is a multi-purpose lip balm that soothes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and soothes the sting of minor burns.
Wet’n'Wild Mega Eyes Eyeshadow Trios ($2.99) are available in lots of different color combinations and are very pigmented.
Jesse’s Girl Shimmering Pearls Eye Dusts ($3.99) are available in 21 shades, all very pigmented.
Eyeko Fat Balm (£5/$7.46) is a lip and cheek balm tint with light reflecting particles and added moisture.
Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 ($6.50) relieves chapped or cracked lips and helps protect them from the drying effects of cold weather.
E.L.F. Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 ($1) is available in 8 super shiny shades.
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear ($2.79) is available in 30 shades. It dries fast and lasts long.