Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas From: Lush, Philosophy, Eos & Dermalogica

There are just a few more days until Christmas...don’t panic! If you haven’t checked everyone off your shopping list, today’s post is dedicated to great gift ideas from brands that are easily accessible and very popular.

Our lips can take quite a beating in the winter so to keep your pout kissably soft eos has released a limited edition festive collection. These balms are my favorite because the formula is smooth, creamy, healing and long lasting plus I love the shape and design.

The trio ($12) includes yummy flavors like Passion Fruit, Wildberry and Honey Apple while the duo ($7.99) consists of warm Vanilla Bean and sweet Winter Berry. The all-natural organic formula is packed with rich butters, oils, extracts, vitamins and anti-oxidants to nourish, protect and deeply moisturize. You can find eos at major drugstores and supermarkets.

The holiday season is a special time at Lush and their natural products are always a hit with friends and family. One of my favorite sets is the Sugar Plum Fairy. The black currant Lip Scrub ($8.95) is infused with jojoba, wild orange and delicious sugar granules that buff away rough skin for smooth, supple results. After exfoliating you simply lick off the excess and apply the berry Lip Tint which provides moisture, radiant shimmer and a pop of vibrant color. It retails for $9.95 and is flattering on all skin tones.

The Christmas Penguin Bubble Bar ($7.45) is totally adorable, although I did mistake him for a melting snowman at first. Crumble him under the tap for a foamy, fragrant swirl of mandarin oil, bergamot and citrus. The Shoot for the Stars Bath Bomb ($6.95) creates colors of the night sky in your bathtub and the sweet, scrumptious scent and shimmering midnight blue swirls calms the senses as you soak the stress away. These items also make great stocking stuffers!

To help you relax before bed and heal rough winter skin, the Sleepy Hand & Body Lotion ($23.95) is rich, fragrant and soothing. Infused with lavender, almond oil and cocoa butter it makes skin feel soft and silky. You can find these great products at Lush stores and at lush.ca

This year Philosophy has some pretty gift sets inspired by the Nutcracker – a holiday classic.

The Fresh Cream Collection includes the all-in-one shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath which smells like sweet vanilla cupcakes and cleanses well to eradicate excess oil, sweat, build-up and impurities. You also get the Glazed Body Soufflé which is light, non-greasy and hydrating. This scrumptious skincare makes a fabulous treat for the season. It retails for $35.00 at Sephora, beautyboutique.ca and Hudson’s Bay.

Philosophy’s bestselling fragrance Amazing grace got a Christmas makeover and comes in a cute ballet inspired box with pink tulle around the bottle's nozzle – similar to a ballerina’s tutu. The composition includes bergamot, blossoms and musk for a fresh, clean scent that is light and refined. The perfume retails for $60.00.

Dermalogica is ideal for men, women and all skin types because the products are gentle, highly effective and formulated without fragrance, colors or parabens for a neutral aroma. The Power Rescue Masque Trio is a great starter kit for anyone who is new to the brand. It contains my personal favorite – the Charcoal Rescue Masque that draws out impurities, promotes cell turnover and brightens dull skin, the Multivitamin Power Recover Masque: fights free-radicals for damage recovery and the Hydrating Masque: infused with hyaluronic acid to relieve parched skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The gift set retails for $80.00 and is available at Dermalogica spas, salons and skincare centers or online at dermalogica.ca.

For more great gift ideas check out my precious posts

Happy Shopping!

2016 Holiday Gift Guide & Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Christmas is just around the corner so today I'm sharing a few great gift ideas including skincare, makeup, fragrance and awesome tools.

The Skittles Lip Smackers Set brings back fond childhood memories of my obsession for delicious lip products. Before I had Burberry and Mac lipsticks these colorful little balms kept my pout sufficiently hydrated and they were super trendy! With fun candy flavors like Strawberry Starfruit, Mango Tangelo, Green Apple, Raspberry and Banana Berry, you can slip one into to everyone’s stocking! The set retails for $9.95 at Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart.

I think pimple patches are the most ingenious treatments for nasty breakouts and MaskerAide has just released their own set! Unlike topical creams these don’t rub off, transfer or wear away which makes them highly effective and there are different sizes for optimum zit coverage. To use: simply cleanse the affected area, apply a patch and leave on for 8-12 hours. I usually wear them in the evening and while sleeping. The formula contains a blend of Salicylic Acid, Volcanic Ash and Tea Tree Oil to detoxify and absorb excess oil. Usually by morning my pimple has disappeared or greatly reduced in size and redness. There are 96 clear patches per box retailing for $25.00 at maskeraide.com.

I’ve tried a lot of skincare but the Body Butter by Mark is my favorite formula on the market. The ultra rich, creamy lotion is a dry skin savior and comes in decadent scents like Lemon Sugar, Dreaming of Jasmine, Crushing on Coconut and Passionate for Plumberry (my personal fave). The butters envelop rough, deydrated skin in layers of moisture so you feel soft and supple from head-to-toe. They also alleviate hands, feet and damaged cuticles. You can pick them up for $14.00 each at avon.ca or through independent consultants.

THEFACESHOP has some great sheet masks that make perfect stocking stuffers. The Character Masks ($4.00 ea) are moisturizing and refreshing with rejuvinating ingredients like honey, collagen and plant extracts. If you are looking for an anti-aging treatment to firm and tone, try the Wrinkle Care Face Mask ($2.00). (Available in store or at the thefaceshop.ca)

If you don’t want to spend a lot on a cleansing brush, these silicone pads exfoliate and refresh the skin. I take them on vacation instead of bringing along my expensive devices like the Clarisonic which could go missing if my luggage is lost. These are ideal for travel because the bristles don’t harbor bacteria, are easy to clean, fit nicely into any bag and can be wiped dry. They also have little suction attachments at the back for adhesion to almost any surface. I stick one on the shower wall for easy access and use it with my foaming cleanser. They retail for $10.00 but are now on sale for $3.99 at avon.ca.

While browsing avon.ca for luxurious skincare be sure to check out the Anew Ultimate Supreme Advanced Performance Creme. The jar is designed to resemble the rare Tahitian black pearl which is also one of the main moisturizing ingredients in the formula. The refreshing gel-cream texture melts in with no greasy residue and the silky finish creates a smooth makeup base. It also contains the highest concentration of Avon’s anti-aging complex which mom and grandma are sure to love! The cream retails for $60.00.

The Stila Bright & Bold Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set contains three mini lip colors in: Beso (true red), Viola (cool lavender) and Lume (deep fuchsia) for $20.00. These colors are vibrant, full-coverage and gorgeous which is perfect for any makeup junkie on your list. Stila can be found at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and beautyboutique.ca.

The Mani To-Go Deluxe Manicure Set makes a glamorous little gift for co-workers, teachers and friends. It comes in a chic glittery case with cuticle scissors, cuticle pusher, nail clipper, file and tweezers for $12.00 at avon.ca.

For the jetsetters on your list, the Travalo Refillable Fragrance Atomizer is great for any trip. The elegant packaging comes in different colors to suit your style and can be used with any standard perfume bottle. To use: simply remove the perfume spray head, pop off the bottom casing of the Travalo and pump to fill. This handy little tube allows you to travel with your favorite scents without having to pack an entire bottle of expensive fragrance! (Travalo retails for $19.99 at travalo.com). For gifting you can also pair the Travalo with a fun perfume like Private Show by Britney Spears. This composition is sweet, youthful and dessert-like with notes of whipped cream, coffee, dulce de lech, jasmine, amber and musk. It retails for about $32.00.

Slipping on a pair of Avon’s Pop of Plaid Memory Foam Slippers is like walking on a fluffy cloud! After a long day they support tired, achy feet and keep them warm and cozy. I wear these slippers everyday and all year, especially in the winter. They retail for $12.99.

A few more great stocking stuffers include the All Bundled up Collection with Hand Cream ($6.00) and Body Spray ($14.00). This soothing scent is perfect for the season with notes of crisp sparkling pear, warm vanilla bean and rich amber. I also love the sweet, fruity scent of the Avon Senses Hand Soap in Pomegranate & Mango. It makes a great gift paired with a few other skincare essentials and the formula cleanses effectively with natural extracts. The soap retails for $10.00 but is on sale at avon.ca for $4.99).

~Happy Holidays

Quo 2016 Holiday Collection: Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe and Cosmetics Pull-Crackers!

It's November! Which means its time to get an early start on your Christmas shopping and this year Quo has a beautiful array of gifts to make gift giving easy. Since the holiday collection is very extensive, I will be showcasing a few sets over the next several weeks to help you choose the perfect items for friends and family.

There is something traditional and exciting about seeing a pull-cracker sticking out of your stocking on Christmas morning and the simple joy of popping it open to reveal the surprise brings out the kid in all of us. The Hidden treasures Cosmetics Crackers come three per box for $18.00 (just $6 per gift!). Each cute little package contains an eye shadow duo and mini lip gloss.

The eye shadow compacts include a light shade paired with a deeper hue and both have sheer, subtle finishes. With a good primer I was able to achieve coverage bordering on medium saturation but the effect can be soft and pretty when applied well. The pigments aren't rich or intense but they are usable for quick looks and the texture is light and smooth. 

The other crackers include deep brown and champagne + brown and cream duos. Without some sort of base or primer for adhesion, the colors are susceptible to transfer or fading and heavier layering may be required. 

The glosses are simple, sheer and neutral which anyone can wear. I would have liked a bit more color for the season but for shine and moisture they work. The great thing about these cute pull-crackers is that you can add a few more goodies to them before gifting and I think there is just enough space for a couple small makeup items and a candy treat!

For the lipstick lovers on your list, the Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe includes 4 matte shades ranging from nude, soft pink, plum and bright red. The packaging is very elegant and the color pay-off varies from sheer, medium and full coverage with the bright red and plum appearing most vivid.

The lightweight, creamy formula enriched with mango butter is smooth and conditioning for supple comfort and no feathering. Although I may not get much wear from the sheer nude, the shades are quite pretty and using a lipstick primer helps minimize transfer. This set retails for $30.00.

The Quo Holiday Collection is available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart