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 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!

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.”

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.

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.

We all have special men in our lives: fathers, brothers, boyfriends, husband, friends. But if you’re still wondering what to get them for Christmas, here are a few beauty-related ideas. And they are all under $50!

Lab Series Skincare For Men Daily Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 15 Gift Set ($37.50) makes skin smooth and healthy looking. The kit includes Daily Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 15, a travel-size Maximum Comfort Shave Cream, and Multi-Action Face Wash.

The Art Of Shaving Starter Kit (38$) contains everything a man needs to achieve a close and comfortable shave and is perfect for travelling as well. It includes Pre-Shave Oil, Shaving Cream, After-Shave Balm and a Genuine Badger Shaving Brush.

Kiehl’s Men’s ReFueling Kit ($40.50) contains Facial Fuel SPF 15 Sunscreen Energizing Moisture Treatment, Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream and Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash.

Sharps Usual Suspects Gift Set ($27) includes a trial-sized lineup of soap, fragrance-free deodorant, shave gel, after-shave gel, 2-in-1 conditioning shampoo and hair sculpting paste.

Anthony Logistics For Men Good To Go Kit ($35) includes Glycolic Facial Cleanser, Pre Shave Oil, Shave Cream, After Shave Repair, Lip Balm SPF15 and Hand Cream.

Estée Lauder His Favorites Gift Set ($29.50) includes four travel size Cologne Sprays: Lauder Beyond Paradise Men, Lauder Pleasures For Men, Lauder For Men and Lauder Intuition For Men.

Jack Black Jet Set Travel Set ($32) is a kit of travel-size facial care products for men. It includes Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser, Face Buff Energizing Scrub, Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather and Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20.

Ralph Lauren Men Holiday Coffret ($49.50) contains 5 mini-sized classic fragrances by Ralph Lauren: Explorer, Double Black, Polo, Polo Blue and Polo Sport.

Clinique The Luxury Shave ($31) includes M Shave Aloe Gel, Face Scrub and Post-Shave Healer Beard Control Formula.

Jean Paul Gaultier Monsieur Discovery Kit ($20) includes a Face Wash, a Shaving Cream and a Moisture Balm.

The holidays are approaching fast, so I thought it would be a good idea to compile a gift guide to help you with gift ideas for your loved ones. And with the economy in such a bad state right now, all the gift I’ll show you are under $50.
So, here are a few gift ideas for your gal pals:

Cargo Holiday Nights Collection ($25) contains an eyeshadow quad, blush, eye pencil in silver and face & body sparkle to create the perfect look for a festive party.

Ulta 65 Piece Blockbuster ($18.74) includes 63 cosmetic pieces and applicators. It is available in three colors: black, white and pink.

Marilyn Wardrobe Box (£7.83/ $11.75) includes shimmering hand and body lotion, soap and candle. All the items contain vanilla sugar essentials.

MAC Little Darlings 5 Lipglass And Lustreglass Set ($29.50). These little darling sets  are available in three versions: pink, coral and neutral. Each of them contains 5 mini-sized lip colors.

Kiehl’s Perennial Favourites ($39) is a set that contains their classic and travel-ready products: Creme de Corps, Lip Balm #1, Ultra Facial Moisturizer and Amino Acid Shampoo.

Barry M Deluxe Eyeshadow Kit (£9.95/$14.69) includes 9 beautiful pressed eyeshadows in a variety of shades to compliment any look. It comes with a brush and a mirror.

Beauty From The Earth Naughty Or Nice Gift Sets ($35) are the perfect present for any mineral makeup lover. You can choose between two sets, Naughty or Nice, each of them containing 7 multipurpose minerals.

Philosophy Party Girl ($35) contains pomegranate bubbly exfoliating shower, shimmer body lotion and lip shine in a white cosmetic bag.

Anatomicals I Will Survive Kit (The 21st Century Non-Disco Mix) (£9.79/$14.69) includes everything you need to survive a party: breath freshner, revitalising gel eye mask, a concealer stick, a brightening face cream and a headache relieving temple balm.

Pop Beauty Hello Gorgeous (48$) contains 10 lipglosses, 6 cheeks shades, 36 eyeshades and 2 duo applicator. Once the makeup’s over, you can use the box as a jewelry box.

Gorgeous actress Jessica Alba is a spokesperson for Revlon. Here are her must have beauty buys:

REVLON CUSTOM CREATIONS FOUNDATION SPF15 ($13.99)
Innovative bottle offers five shade settings, making it easy to fine-tune your foundation shade for the perfect match. Simply turn the dial to adjust shade from lighter to darker. Lightweight formula blends seamlessly into skin for a naturally flawless look. Available in a range of skin tones from light to deep.

PRESCRIPTIVES SUPER FLIGHT CREAM ($35) and FIGHT MIST ($20)
Super Flight Cream Instant Help for Dehydrated Skin revives climate-drained skin. Natural Plant Extracts stimulate skin’s natural bio-rhythms to restore a natural glow. Rosemary and Sage protect skin from free radical damage.
Flight Mist Refresher For Dehydrated Skin instantly drenches tired skin with Sodium Hyaluronate. Awakens, energizes and boosts skin’s natural metabolism to restore a dewy glow. Green Tea, Cucumber and Aloe soften, soothe and refresh.
Jessica says: “They make me feel refreshed and hydrated, not sick and flaky.”

OLE HENRIKSEN PURIFYING EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER ($25)
Soothing, oil-free extract infused wipes dissolve even the most stubborn eye make-up without irritation. The delicate eye area is left feeling soft, supple & hydrated.

DIOR DIORSHOW MASCARA ($24)
Lengthens, thickens and curves eyelashes.

KIEHL’S LIP GLOSS in French Rose ($14.50)
This non-sticky gloss hydrates lips and restores their suppleness as antioxidants help preserve a healthy appearance.

JOHNSON’S BABY OIL ($5.49)
Use to soothe and relieve dry, rough patches, leaves skin glowing and baby soft. Jessica uses a pea-sized amount of baby oil mixed with moisturiser to create a subtle shimmer.

MAC CREAM COLOUR BASE in Shell ($16.50)
Smooth and easy to apply with a brush, sponge, or fingers-colour effects range from a light veil to highly dramatic, depending on method of application. Jessica applies this around her temples, brow bones and cupids bow to open up her face and create a fresh, polished glow.