11.09.2015

TOP 10 | Holiday Gift Recommendations + My Wishlist


This Bath Treasures Set is perfect for splitting up as stocking stuffers!
The holiday season is the best time to shop for gifts because you get lots more value for the price! Nordstrom just posted a slew of new goodies on their site, so I went through and picked out the items that I think are most worthwhile. This is the perfect time to splurge on a purchase you've been debating or to stock up on your favorite products!


Nordstrom stocks the most sets, meaning you'll have tons of options at every price point in every category from makeup to skin to fragrance. I highly recommend shopping for gifts now because last year, all the best value items were sold out before December rolled around. Below are my top ten selections, but do check out the rest of the Nordstrom Beauty Deals here. There are hundreds of items to choose from already!


Diptyque Holiday Candle Set, $100 :: The decorations for this limited edition trio are inspired by trees, just like the scents themselves. Each small candle is housed in colored glass, so they will light up beautifully as the wax burns! I purchased this trio for my mom because she prefers the variety as well as the smaller sizing. Since each candle is priced at $35, you save $5 by purchasing the set. I like Sapin the best, so I will likely splurge on the larger version this Christmas!


Jo Malone Cologne Collection, $115
 :: Most of my readers are big Jo Malone fans so I had to include this precious set! I am a huge fan of her layering concept, and I find almost all her colognes very pleasing. This collection of five includes her most popular. Keep them all or share with your friends!


YSL Black Opium Set, $92 ($115 Value) :: This is my favorite evening scent. It's unique and memorable, sweet yet sexy thanks to the balance of mandarin and pear with coffee and cedarwood. You essentially get the pouch and travel sized spray for free! If I didn't already own the fragrance, I would buy this for myself in an instant!


Burberry My Burberry Set, $132 :: I wear My Burberry every day. It has been my signature scent ever since I first tried it on, and the Eau de Parfum lasts a good 6 to 8 hours (one to two spritzes). The body lotion and bath gel are excellent travel companions for a winter vacation.


Molton Brown Rhubarb and Rose Hand Set, $65 ($77 Value) :: I discovered the Rhubarb and Rose scent last year. I've never been one to spend a frivolous amount of money on hand wash or hand lotion, but the yuzu fruit accord in the fragrance is what won me over! The packaging is feminine but chic. I've also shown the hand cream multiple times in my travel videos! It's one of the best I've tried. I recommend the Orange + Bergamot Body Lotion as well, especially if your skin/hands require more moisture or if you are looking for a new body lotion to try.


Kiehl's Travel Ready Delights Set, $45 ($55 Value) :: I always look forward to perusing though the Kiehl's many holiday offerings. Of the two dozen available on Nordstrom, I like this one best because it is unisex and covers hair, body, face and hands. You get to try all the iconic Kiehl's formulas for less than $50, and it makes a practical yet adorably packaged gift!


YSL Kiss + Love Collection, $85 :: The best of the Rouge Pur Couture shades is offered in mini sizes and paired with matching nail lacquers in this adorable set. My favorite of the three lipsticks is the Fuchsia shade, and the Beige Leger nail polish is perfect for the colder months. The mini lipsticks are not stamped with the kiss embossments of the full-size collector's versions, but the formula is the same!

Cle de Peau Bal Masque Makeup Coffret, $210 :: No one can top Cle de Peau during the holidays. Their exquisite themes and packaging always leave me breathless, but it's the value that gets me to pull the trigger. The eye palette isn't your typical festive neutrals; I very much like the masquerade-themed green and silver tones! The mini lipstick in Intense Crimson is a very glamorous shade that contrasts beautifully against the eyeshadows, and the mini Perfect Lash Mascara (one of my HGs) comes in a special bordeaux color.
Kevyn Aucoin The Legacy Palette, $165 ($280 Value) :: This is one of the best neutral palette launches I have seen in 2015. It is a full-size collection of KA's famed highlighter and contour powders, as well as twelve classic eyeshadows. The palette was designed to work on all skin tones. All his powders are creamy, long-lasting and richly pigmented. If I didn't own most of them individually, I would definitely buy this!


Burberry Fresh Glow Compact, $52 :: This pick is not a value item, but it is the very best makeup item that I can recommend you this season. It makes getting ready in the morning so much easier. The coverage is on the sheerer end for a powder foundation, but it has a lightweight, creamy texture that provides nearly undetectable 8-hour coverage. Apply it to oily bits or all over the face!


Bonus :: I always buy my grandmother and her friends Shiseido gift sets for Christmas because they offer the most incredible values out of any skin care brand. You get nearly double what you paid for! If you use Shiseido, this is the time to stock up. With the increasing costs of skin care, no one will fault you for hoarding!

SHOP MY RECOMMENDATIONS


MY HOLIDAY WISHLIST
1.  I have been a Diptyque loyalist for nearly half a decade now, but the Bond No9 NY Candles that have been released this holiday season are too cute! I love how they come equipped with matching decorated lids, which keeps unsightly dust and puppy hair out for a cleaner burn. I have my eyes on the pink Madison Square Park, lilac Scent of Peace and blue Nuit de NoHo.
2.  Since I have mentioned seeing my fine lines start to deepen, the search for a new Holy Grail evening night cream has been my top priority. I've found several that I like, but "the one" still eludes me. Cle de Peau's skin care has consistently performed well on my skin, so I'm interested in the Bal Masque Intensive Eye Contour Collection as it includes the full-size eye cream and travel-sized samples of serum and famed creme.


3.  The Laura Mercier Kiss of Color Lip Glace Set is my go-to gift for friends and family every holiday. I buy about a dozen a year, but funny enough, I have never been given a set or purchased one for myself. These wearable little glosses contain 0.1oz each, about half the size of the full-size version (0.16oz), perfect for handbags and makeup bags!

4.  Urban Decay's impressive Eyeliner Vault is a gorgeous limited edition gem, but it comes with a very heavy price tag. It sells out every year! Although their eyeliners are not smuge-proof on my eyes, I do like to use them as eyeshadow bases and along the lower lash lines for a pop of color. The vast range of textures, from matte to shimmer to glittery, is every makeup junkie's dream.


5.  SK-II released three limited edition Facial Treatment Essence "Wings of Change" bottles recently. I showed the blue Perseverance design in my October Favorites video, but I am now lusting after the pink Encouragement version because it's so beautiful. I usually do not gravitate toward bright pink, but the hummingbird and butterfly motif is highly collectible and brightens up any bathroom counter or vanity!
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3 comments:

  1. would love to know see what you find as a new holy grail night cream as im also on a hunt for one as well :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loving all your picks Rae!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cle de Peau 아이섀도우 색상이 참 특이하네요
    저런 색갈들 갖고 어떻게 메이크업을 할수있는지 궁굼
    Urban Decay Eyeliner Vault 가격보고 쓸어짐.....
    SK-II 트리트먼트 에센스 쓸때 디자인보면 기분이 좋아질거같네요
    저도 개인적으로 핑크 그렇게 좋아하지 않지만 너무 이쁘네요ㅠ

    ReplyDelete

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