The countdown is on! If you are still unsure of what you are gifting that loved one/friend/acquaintance/coworker, there’s always a store that will help you find the perfect gift. Why Sephora of course!
Although the beauty giant has mostly every brand you could possibly think of, they also have a fabulous in-house line of products that rival their beauty counterparts. I’ve tried numerous products from Sephora Collection and for the most part, have been impressed with their quality. Why spend almost $30 on one Beauty Blender, when you can get two for less than C$20?
With so many products and gift sets to choose from, anything from Sephora Collection would make a perfect gift. If you’re absolutely stumped on what to get that certain someone, I’ve always been super impressed with their brush sets, and the holidays are the perfect time to pick up new brushes, usually in affordable gift sets that cover a gamut of different uses. I don’t have any brush sets to show you today, but they do have some in store and online that always make fab choices.
So speaking of Beauty Blenders, Sephora Collection has had their own version of these for awhile. Although I didn’t actually like the quality of them when they first came out, they’ve definitely made great strides in improving the texture of the sponges.
There are a couple different sets to choose from depending on the size of the sponge. First up is the Sephora Collection Snow-Fetti Mini Sponge Set (C$15), which is a set of five mini sponges that you use for contouring, applying concealer, or anything else that requires precision for smaller areas. I actually have a set of these from a couple seasons ago and was always so impressed with how soft and bouncy they are. Make sure you wet them first as they expand in size and then also don’t absorb the product. Although I don’t think you necessarily need five of these guys, you may want to split them up. Also, if you’re wondering how these compare to their full-size counterparts, they just make applying product in smaller areas much more efficient.
Speaking of their larger counterparts, there is a two-sponge set, Blend ‘Til the End, for only C$15 that include a total coverage and detail-oriented sponge in red and green (so festive!). These work the same way as any other cosmetic sponge on the market, first wet them then blend the product into your skin for a flawless, total-coverage makeup application.
For brushes, like I said, they do have some brush sets available, but if you are looking to keep your shopping on a budget, the Sephora Collection Dark Rainbow PRO Flawless Airbrush #56 brush (C$40) comes in a limited-edition holographic colour that will surely get anyone’s heart beating faster. This brush can be used for a variety of different uses, foundation, contouring, blush, highlighting, etc. I love a good multi-use brush, and this one is perfect and comes in a show-stopping chrome finish.
For even more accessories (which are always a good idea), a good makeup bag is always needed and thankfully there are some majorly cute ones to choose from. When it comes to the holidays – or really anytime of the year – I am always partial to glitter, so clearly the Sephora Collection Let’s Disco makeup bag is a top choice. This makeup bag is perfect for the holidays, New Years, a vacation, really any day where you want to feel like partying. It’s a clear bag that has floating multi-coloured confetti in that that surprisingly holds a lot of makeup. I took it with me to the P&G Beauty Awards last month in Toronto and fit basically everything I needed in there. It’s quickly become my new favourite travel makeup bag.
Pair your glam makeup bag with an eye-catching mirror like the Sephora Collection Dark Rainbow Compact Mirror (C$15), the perfect stocking stuffer for your fave glam girl. This heavy-duty mirror is compact in size and opens to a normal and magnified reflection. The best part is obviously the coloured and gunmetal stones that are so sparkly that you’ll want to carry this with you everywhere you go, regardless if you’re wearing makeup or not.
More travel-friendly options include the Sephora Collection Z Palette, which is something part of their regular collection, but they have come out with a limited-edition version in the dark rainbow finish (C$38, but on sale for C$24). They also had this last year in gold and glitter and found it super useful since you can de-pan your single or duo eyeshadows/blushes/powders, and pop them in here so you have one palette instead of 20 different ones.
Also making a comeback for the holidays this year is the Sephora Collection Dark Rainbow Dual Boar Brush (C$19), which again, is something I got last holiday season. This brush is a mini size but perfect for travel (in fact, I always carry last year’s with me in my travel toiletry bag). It looks like the only changes from last year are the finish and it’s now available in a limited-edition oil-slick coating.
A favourite of mine from last year also made an appearance for 2017, the House of Lashes Holiday Gem Lash Set (C$33) is always a good idea since it comes with a beautiful pair of lashes, two lash glues (clear and black), and a stunning travel case which lets you hold three pairs of lashes and a compartment that opens up to carry the glue and tweezers for application. This particular set is a top choice for me this season.
Moving on to actual makeup, there are a variety of different palettes to choose from. The best part about Sephora’s palettes is that they come in every shape and price point.
First up is the Sephora Collection Wonderful Stars Eye and Face palette (C$23), which contains nine nude eyeshadows, two blushes, and a highlighter. Since the shade range in here is so neutral this is a universal palette to gift really anyone on your list. It’s also a fairly big size, so I was surprised to see that it was only $23. I tried it out in the photo below and was very happy with the pigmentation of the product. I did do a little glitter eyeshadow overtop from a separate palette, but everything in here is nice and silky.
The brand also has some other eyeshadow palettes available, but I was actually super impressed with the little mini one they put out that is perfect for those on the go. The Sephora Collection Midnight is Coming palette has three eyeshadows housed in the tiniest little compact complete with gold glitter on the top (it looks like a matchbook at first glance). This opens up to a silver and two brown-toned shadows that will give you the prettiest smoky eye. I have mini palettes from them from previous holiday collections, but this one is definitely the tiniest one I have seen them release yet.
As for blushes, there are a couple to choose from. Blush and face palettes are easy gifts to choose from since they are so universal. The Sephora Collection Winter Flush blush palette (C$20) has four duo blushes in a range of shades perfect for any skin tone. Each pan contains mattes and shimmers that can be worn alone or combined together for a custom look. The Sephora Collection Winter Queen Blush palette is a sparkly slim palette that opens up to four powders that make it easy to travel with. There are two blushes, a bronzer, and a highlight in here that make this the perfect palette to gift someone always on the go.
Finally, for the lips, there are a ton of options available, but if you’re like me and love a good matte lipstick, then you’ll definitely want to go with the Sephora Collection Mini Cream Lip Stain Set (C$15), which has four Sephora Collection best-selling Cream Lip Stains in on-trend colours. I reviewed these previously in the year and was super impressed with the formula and the price, so if you want to introduce someone to this particular formula, this is your chance. Although these are small, it gives the recipient a good idea of the product and lets them explore different shade ranges.
If you’re looking for a finisher gift, a lip balm is always a good idea. The Sephora Collection Emoji Lip Balm (C$6) comes in two different shades (pink and nude) and contains a nourishing and lightly tinted balm for everyday wear. Best of all, it comes in a super cute tin with an emoji on it.
Phew, another long blog post for the books! But seriously, I just touched on a few different gift ideas that Sephora Collection is offering up this season. I don’t know about you, but I love just walking around the store and taking in all that they have to offer. Regardless if it’s a branded product or one from their in-house line, anything you choose will certainly bring a huge smile to your recipient.
Are any Sephora Collection items on your wish list?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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When it comes to holiday beauty, a great time to try out a new skincare routine is definitely this time of the year.
Since I use a five-step skincare routine everyday (cleanser, toner, eye cream, moisturizer, serum), skincare can definitely add up over time. And let’s be real, I’m probably not going to buy a five-dollar moisturizer if I want to keep my face looking fresh and young. As a result, now is the time to try out something new since brands always come out with special value sets for the holidays.
Although I will be talking about a couple brands in general in posts to come, I had some lone items that I’ve compiled since they are all fantastic products and would make great gifts for someone who wants a new skincare routine or is always down for trying something new.
Estee Lauder Life + Firm set
Estee Lauder is known for their skincare items, and having used a few of them on constant rotation, I have to agree, they rock when it comes to this beauty category.
The Life + Firm set (C$116 at Hudson’s Bay) is perfect to gift to someone who wants to have a more lifted and firmer appearance (don’t we all!?). This collection contains a 50 ml (full size) of the Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme SPF 15 (retails for C$112 at Hudson’s Bay), a Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Eye Creme (5 ml), Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum (15 ml), and an Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Foam (30 ml).
Okay, so first off, let’s just mention how the moisturizer alone is C$112 and you get all this for C$116. Crazy, right?! Each of these products, when used together, significantly give you a more lifted, firmer look, translating into younger-looking skin.
I already use an Estee Lauder serum at night (not the same one in this set), and absolutely love the results on my skin. I was previously using one of their eye creams as well (I just ran out of it) and loved the results I’ve been getting from that as well.
Since this is an anti-aging set, I have to say it’s the perfect gift for mom. In fact, I totally gifted this to my mom for Hanukkah yesterday as she was mentioning that she needs more skincare and she’s always asking for stuff that will reverse the signs of aging (like sagging skin).
This set is available at Hudson’s Bay and department stores. I highly recommend this one!
FOREO Luna 2
When it comes to cleansing brushes, I have to say my absolute fave is the FOREO Luna 2. Although I have two Clarisonics, I have to say I use my FOREO Luna 2 way more.
Why you ask? Three reasons: you don’t need to replace the brush heads, the charge lasts forever, and it doesn’t spray water everywhere.
Do you find that you’re always having to charge your Clarisonic? I did (aside from the Mia Fit, that one has a cradle). What about brush heads? They are expensive and you’re *supposed* to replace them after three months? Also, do you get water all over your arms and your bathroom mirror? Yes, yes, and yes.
Then the FOREO Luna came into my life and I haven’t looked back. FOREO has a ton of different Luna options to try, some smaller than others, but I personally have the Luna 2 for normal skin (there’s also one for sensitive, oily, combination, and men -they are all different colours so you can tell the difference). This is a silicone gadget, making it more hygienic than just a plain-old brush head and is sonic powered that gives you a deep clean and delivers an anti-aging treatment for brighter, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin.
Once I take off my makeup at the end of the day I put a dollop of cleanser on the brush head and then press the button and go to work. It removes 98.5 per cent of dirt, oil, and makeup residue thanks to 8,000 T-Sonic pulsations per minute. As a result, you’ll notice smaller pores and less acne and blackheads. It also helps to smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles with lower-frequency pulsations, which helps to improve the absorption of your skincare products.
Best of all it literally lasts FOREVER. I probably got mine last summer and I’ve charged it once (when I went to Asia in January solely because I didn’t want it to die when I was there). It’s also 100 per cent waterproof, so you can use it in the bath or shower.
If you’re in the market for a Clarisonic, I highly recommend looking into the FOREO as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Clarisonic, but if I had to recommend just one, I would have to say this one. It’ll save you money in the long run, it’s cleaner, and will last forever.
The Luna 2 retails for C$229, however, there is a limited-edition holiday set that is a total steal (I’ve had a couple people already buy it on my recommendation). For C$159 at Sephora, you can get a Luna Mini 2, a Tarte Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer, a Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Deep Dive Cleansing Gel (tried this and loved it), and a Tarte Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost. Like I said, this is a steal and such a great gift if you’re thinking of purchasing a FOREO Luna anyways. I haven’t used the Mini 2, however, it retails for C$159 anyways, so the same price as the set, and it looks like it does the same thing as the Luna 2, just smaller.
I’ve seen this set in Sephora and it looks like it’s sold out online, however, if you can find it, jump on it, this is a steal!!!
Charlotte Tilbury Revolutionary Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask
Looking for a luxurious stocking stuffer? This is it.
Sheet masks are still all the rage, so why not gift something extra special. Inspired by technical innovations of Korean beauty, this sheet mask is actually dry. No you didn’t read that incorrectly.
With ingredients proven to reduce wrinkles, smooth, brighten, lift and hydrate your skin, since this is dry, you can actually reuse it up to two other times. The dry textile mask has active ingredients imprinted on it so it doesn’t harbour bacteria that a normal sheet mask would and it tailors to your skin, feeding it exactly what it needs. Because is has a higher content of active ingredients, the effects of the mask last for up to eight hours and it’s perfect to put on if you’re looking for glowing, camera-ready skin that is hydrated and nourished (perfect for New Years Eve).
Skin will feel more hydrated, look more brighter and smoother, wrinkles will be reduced and facial contours will be lifted. You can find this online at Charlotte Tilbury’s website if you’re like me and don’t have a counter nearby, for $27 each.
Caudalie Vinoperfect and Secrets of Makeup Artists gift sets
When it comes to skincare, France seems to know a thing or two. Caudalie, a Parisian skincare brand who actually has a spa inside the Shangra-La hotel in Toronto, has a number of gift sets available that will make anyone’s day.
The Secrets of Makeup Artists set (C$59) has their cult-fave Beauty Elixir, a soothing essential oil that can be used as a prepping or setting spray (or just when you need a little facial pick me up). Inspired by Queen Isabelle of Hungary’s famous youth elixir, this stuff is formulated with grape extracts and clarifying ingredients for a burst of radiance. It can also be used as an aftershave for men as the formula contains essentials oils and plant extracts to clarify and brighten complexions.
Also in this set is a French Kiss lip balm that will soften and hydrate lips, while providing anti-aging, antioxidant protection. It is also formulated with grapeseed polyphenols for anti-wrinkle protection, aloe vera to repair, and castor and sunflower oils to nourish the lips.
Another awesome set to pick up is the Vinoperfect set (or Brightening Blockbusters at Sephora), which contains the brand’s three-step solution to diminish the appearance of dark spots and to even skin tone. Included is a 30 ml of the Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum, which contains their patented Viniferine, a serum that reduces the appearance of dark spots, such as acne marks, scars and damage. There is also a 50 ml of the Brightening Essence, which combines glycolic acid, which supports natural cell turnover, and 100 per cent organic grape water to sooth and hydrate. It also makes your skin more luminous and refines skin texture. Finally, there is a 15 ml of the Vinoperfect Overnight Renewal Cream, which works overnight to resurface, brightens and detoxify the skin.
Both sets would make fabulous gifts, but I have to say the Caudalie Beauty Elixir is definitely a much talked-about product that retails for C$59 anyways, so for the same price you can get the lip balm extra. Total score!
Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye Masks and Lip Mask
I first saw Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Lip Masks on Kim Kardashian’s Instagram, and ever since she promoted it, Rodial has been popping up on my feed on the constant. The UK skincare brand has some holiday sets available which allows you to gift multiple packs of these lip hydrators, or split them up amongst friends.
The Dragon’s Blood Lip Masks contain replenishing bio-cellulose that give instant moisture and comfort and soothe the skin for younger-looking lips. I’m constantly carrying around lip balm since I get dry lips quite easily, so these are a nice treat for when I’m feeling extra chapped.
Also available are the Dragon’s Blood Eye Masks, which also contain bio-cellulose that you put on your under eyes, acting as a second skin as it adds moisture to the delicate eye area. As a result, eyes look de-puffed and the cooling effect is so relaxing, giving you more brighter and alert eyes.
Rodial has a special gift set with three of the lip masks and three of the eye masks available on their website.
Fresh Crème Ancienne Supreme Eye Serum and FreshFace Instant Glow Luminizer
Finally, and so sorry for the long post, but if you’re looking for an amazing eye cream, Fresh has you covered.
I’ll be delving into their actual holiday sets shortly, but if you are looking to gift something truly luxurious, the Fresh Crème Ancienne Supreme Eye Serum is a treatment for the under eye area to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness around the eye.
Handmade in a monastery in the Czech Republic (crazy, I know), this formula features silk tree bark blended along with other exotic roots and botanicals that work to correct the five signs of aging and protect against free radicals that can damage your skin. The highly concentrated formula (a little goes a long way) is enriched with galanda leaf and commiphora extract to enhance suppleness and the red ginger root extract protects, comforts and soothes the delicate under eye area.
This retails for a staggering C$220, so you get why it’s something truly special.
If you’re gifting this to someone who loves to show off their skin, try pairing it with the FreshFace Instant Glow Luminizer, a sheer illuminating cream that gives you that coveted no-makeup glow. Perfect for all skin types, this will make even the dullest appearance look more radiant thanks to its microshimmer particles that create a luster to the skin.
You can wear this alone, over makeup, or even as a highlight for a little extra glow. I personally love using it for hot-weather vacations, something perfect to gift if there is an all-inclusive on the horizon.
It retails for C$60 at Sephora.
I’ll have more skincare posts coming up next week on the blog, so keep a look out for sets from Fresh and Burt’s Bees. Skincare is always a good gift idea for those who are truly stuck on what to gift someone.
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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Looking for a set that will make any makeup lover blush? Then Make Up For Ever has you covered.
With every brand coming out with holiday sets, it’s so hard to choose the perfect one for all your friends/family. For something truly show-stopping, Make Up For Ever has come out with a number of value sets, including the Lustrous Blush palette.
Limited edition for the holidays this year, the Lustrous Blush Palette is a giant palette featuring 12 Artist Face Color powders in blush, highlights, and bronzers. I reviewed the Artist Face Powders earlier this year and they are a new customizable system from the French beauty brand that allows you to create your own palette. Each colour is super soft, pigmented, and blendable, guaranteeing you natural-looking colour that cooperates all day.
This particular set, which retails for C$178, has four highlighters, four blushes, and four sculptors, that will allow you to create any look, for any skin colour, for any season. A total win-win. Housed in a melted rose gold tin box that opens to the full-size products, this is a truly unique gift that will have any beauty lover speechless.
A solo Artist Face colour retails for $29 each, so for 12 of them that’s a value of $348, so you’re essentially getting this set for half price. Yes, at C$178, this is on the pricier side, but this is something that will last any makeup aficionado for years to come and basically stock you up on blushes, highlighters, and contours. Each powder is full size, so as you can imagine this palette is quite large, making it not so ideal for travel. I also don’t believe these guys pop out, but I may be wrong (in case you wanted to put them in a smaller palette).
I did try out a couple shades in here and found each to be incredibly blendable and beautiful. As I mentioned, I am quite a fan already of the Artist Color formula, so this set is definitely worth the price tag.
The Make Up For Ever Lustrous Blush palette is currently sold out on Sephora online, however, check in store, your local Sephora may have it. Also, Make Up For Ever does have it in stock on their site as well.
Please note, products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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