Philosophy The Holiday Cookbook ($35)

Stila Step Out & Shine Set ($50)

Miss Oops Holiday Survival Kit ($18)

This kit contains everything you need to keep screwy hemlines, lint, and deo marks at bay. Includes Miss Oops Mishap Tape, Rescue Sponge, and Lint Roller so she can ensure there will be no holiday party wardrobe malfunctions.

Bliss The Big Orange ($28) Bliss' new hit scent Blood Orange + White Pepper was actually based on a cocktail. It's a warm fruity fragrance, but is tempered with white pepper to add a bit of intrigue. I absolutely adore it. For $28, you can buy your pal a to go sized body butter and shower gel.

Bumble and bumble Creme de Coco Gift Box ($60)
This limited edition box set comes with a Creme de Coco Shampoo, Conditioner, Brilliantine, and a pinwheel of colorful bobby pins. The pinwheel was designed by artist Piet Houtenbos, son of hair hero Christiaan.

When you’re looking for lipsticks to create that perfect holiday lip, consider Estee Lauder’s Hot Kiss & Maraschino ($22.00 each).

Hot Kiss is a subtle mauve-berry-brown color with subtle shimmer.  It goes on more brown with hints of mauve in the color on the lips, but it is a very sophisticated lip color that doesn’t attract attention like a more traditional holiday red pout does.  It reminds me of how a nice coral lip can look in the summertime, but this is taken down to a deeper level ideal for the fall and winter, when lip color goes darker.

Maraschino is a sexy, sultry reddish color that looks red in the tube, but has a great pink base, which gives you a good mix between the two.  It’s a great alternative to the bright red lip often seen at holiday parties–it’s something to consider regardless of whether you’re a bit wary of red or if you’re looking to move away from a signature red.

See swatches & lip swatches!

Givenchy Prisme Again! Blush Quartet in Euphoric Orange ($40.00) looks intimidating at first, but it is really a great pop of coral for your cheeks. I truly thought, “No way!” when I first saw it, but lo and behold, it is a much subtler color when it’s actually used. What I’ve noticed isn’t that it isn’t pigmented, but the product itself is very silky and fine, so when it lays down on the face, it blends so effortlessly into your skin. This results in a very natural coral glow, nothing garish or clownish whatsoever. Also, the shimmer is very subtle; when you see it, it has more to do with how the light hits your face than seeing chunks of glitter or shimmery bits. Overall, it’s such a natural coloring that I often wear this on my minimal makeup days. I’ll pair it with lightly mascara-coated lashes and a Philosophy Lip Shine. I might have to try some more Givenchy blushes soon!

See a swatch… 

Calvin Klein Delicious Light Glistening Lip Gloss in Maven ($16.00) is a great night-on-the-town kind of color.  It’s a very pigmented gloss in a deep shade of burgundy-wine, so it gives lips a dramatic look without being too high maintenance.  The gloss formula itself is non-sticky as far as I could tell, but still thick enough that it’s not a balm or a sheer gloss.

When applied, the color goes on smoothly and looks almost like shimmering water (if water was burgundy and that was acceptable!).  The shimmer is just right; it’s obvious and noticeable, but it isn’t chunky or gritty.  I found the gloss lasted for several hours before fading, and I didn’t get the dreaded lipgloss ring at the end of the day.  I rarely like a gloss enough to wear it alone, but I find this one to be exceptional for that purpose.

This gloss is perfect for nights out, but you can definitely rock it during the day time.  Right now, I keep it in my purse, because its an easy grab-and-go color I can wear if I need to amp up my look while out and about.

Swatch + lip swatch…

Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer ($42.00) is just as lovely and pretty as my eternal favorite Amber Diamond.  Surprisingly enough, it has a good amount of pigmentation to give me not just shimmer, but a light rosy flush on my cheeks.  I alternate between using the 188 or the 129 brush to apply the Skin Shimmers, depending on the intensity of what I want.  I definitely see myself using this as an easy go-to blush for days when I’m pressed for time or prefer a very minimalistic look.  The shimmer is subtle and sophisticated–no chunky glitter bits here.

See a full face photo with this as a blush!

(I wore this look yesterday, I hope to post it later this week!  Yes, that’s All Mine lipstick, too!)

Here is trendy and stylish Rihanna wearing a strapless cream colored dress with heart shaped earrings.

And she’s Taylor Swift in a dazzling grey-silver colored dress with the blonde curly locks.

Annie Lennox here is having a tom boy look with black blazer and black hat.

Julianne Hough is looking simply terrific in a strapless white satin evening dress.

Christina Aguilera with some glittery studded work on her grey dress but the dark claret lipstick is just looking so tacky.

Miley Cyrus is posing for a photograph in a flicker golden and black dress.

Ashley Tisdale showing attitude in a grey strapless dress with a shimmer net is framing the dress.

And last are the PussyCat dolls. All the ladies are looking stunning aren’t they?

Presenting, the most adorable stocking stuffer for every beauty junkie out there! A shimmer powder lollipuff! Ahem, yes, the little puff contains body shimmer with sweet scents. So whenever you need extra shimmer, all you gotta do is simply tap on your body!

Comes in white and red, this lil indugence is available at Ulta for only US$8, you’d better grab it fast while it still lasts, girls!

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