Holiday Gift Guide 2015

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I am sure there is one stressful holiday thought on your mind: what do I get the beauty lover in my life?! Or, what do I get my beauty-loving wife/best friend/boss/sister etc! If you are wracking your brain for ideas, you've come to the right place. Some of these gifts are perfect for that lady friend in your life, regardless of whether or not she's a major beauty-lover. I know that I'd be happy to receive any of these in my stocking, and nearly all of them HAVE ended up in a gift box of my own. 

There's something for every price point in my list, so look carefully! Pick up any of the gifts shown up and listed below and I can guarantee you'll put a smile on the recipients face. Here's to a stress-free shopping season. 

• Lush bath bombs ($5 - $10): Sadly, I don't have a Lush anywhere near me, so lushusa.com is my best friend! Their bath bombs are.... the bomb (ha.. ha...). They have adorable Christmas themed fizzies that smell amazing and will make any bath-owner super happy. If you're like me and don't have a Lush anywhere around you, you can find all their Christmas themed goodies here. 

• Sephora Liquid Luxuries Perfume Sampler ($65): This is one of the coolest gifts for the perfume lover in your life. This gift set comes with 15 mini samples of perfume. You're thinking, "how lame, a bunch of mini samples I can get for free?" Well just hold your horses! This set also comes with a coupon to get any of the 15 perfume samples in a full size bottle! Some of my personal faves from this set include Chloe, Prada Candy, and both of the Elizabeth and James scents. 

• Tangle Teezer ($15): If your gift recipient (or you) have long hair, he or she MUST posses a Tangle Teezer (and pick one up for yourself while you're at it!) Seriously, it's the greatest invention for long haired people since... well, detangler spray. I've done a whole review on this puppy, and I recommend it to everyone I know! 

• Jack Black It's The Balm Lip Quartet ($25): Jack Black Lip Balms are.... the balm (HAHAHA I'm on a roll!). Okay okay, all bad jokes aside, I gave this balm a go last year and have been hooked every since. It's the best deal to get these in a gift set because you get more for your money. They actually moisturize your lips, they don't just sit on top doing nothing like vaseline. Plus, with four of these heavenly balms, your recipient will be set all year long! 

• Beauty Blender with Mini Solid Cleanser ($25): Beauty Blenders are the "it" makeup applicator. Don't be fooled by all the knock offs in the drugstore, they don't compare. There is something magical about this pink sponge, and it makes any makeup application (beginner or expert!) look flawless and professional. They're normally $25 for just the sponge, but in this set you get a little cleaner, too! So good.

• StriVectin Oxygen Infusion Smoothing Mask ($62): Oxygen masks are all the rage lately. This bubbles and foams up, making tickly bubbles all over your face. This removes dirt, gently exfoliates thanks to beta-hydroxy acids, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This would make a fun, unique mask to gift to any pamper-loving friend.

• Bath & Body Works Candles ($12): So, actually, B&BW candles are like $22 but promise me you'll never spend that, OK? They ALWAYS... I repeat... ALWAYS go on sale. Candles may seem cliche, but these holiday scented candles are super nice and who doesn't appreciate getting a candle they didn't have to buy themselves? B&BW has a million different holiday scents, all with really adorable packaging. I recommend anything pine-y - it's never offensive and everyone loves the scent of pine at the holidays!

• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Mini Rollerball Set ($25): These perfumes are amazing. They work alone, or combined together - take your pick! I own both and they've become my favorite scent combo. Nirvana Black is an evening scent, woodsy and musky. Nirvana White is fresh and crisp and fancy. I think just about everyone would like these scents. They're wearable for all seasons and these little rollerballs last longer than you'd think! 

What are you hoping to get in your stocking this year? Let me know in the comments below!

October Favorites

How October has come and gone is beyond me, but it was a great month, and truthfully, I'm a little sad to see it go! The five products that made a favorites post this month are all so so great - I can hardly begin to put them in an order, so... I won't. I'd highly recommend all of them, and would love to know what you think of these products too! 

This month I loved:

• Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Plum Wine: I think this may have made a favorites post before? I rediscovered it again this month and fell back in love. This blush looks ridiculously natural when applied with a light hand, don't let the color fool you. It's the perfect "just in from the cold" flush to the cheeks, it has great lasting power... I love this stuff.

• Suave Refresh & Revive Dry Shampoo: This stuff is good... real good. Smells fruity, soaks up oil and makes my hair look fresh. I'll do a full review on this soon.

• BeautyBlender: The hype is real with this makeup tool. All you do is dampen it, and then apply your foundation. It makes my skin look flawless and provides even coverage that doesn't look cakey. They're expensive, but I will always have one of these in my beauty arsenal. 

• MAC Prep + Prime Spray: I like to set my makeup with a spritz of a setting spray to help everything look more natural, not powdery and dry. This is one of my go-to setting sprays. The smell is nostalgic for me, and reminds me of my wedding, and it does a good job of keeping my makeup in place. I'll always repurchase this. 

• Lush Let the Good Times Roll cleanser: Chances are you've heard many people rave about this. For good reason! It smells like cookies, has all natural ingredients, and is an awesome exfoliating cleanser, gentle enough to use every day. It smells so good, I want to eat it every time I use it! It looks like cookie dough, and all you have to do is break off a little hunk of it, massage it in your hands with some water to turn it in to a paste, and slather it all over your face. Amazing stuff.

What are your favorites this month? Let me know!