Today I am turning things over to my friend, graphic designer and beauty enthusiast Jackie Cummings. Jackie was my right hand gal when I was heavily involved in custom stationery design. She would help me with my client design proofs and, more importantly, save my sanity. Now that my wedding biz is closed, I asked Jackie to lend a helping hand for this holiday’s beauty gift guide. Take it away Jackie…
Hi, everyone! This is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp feel of the morning air on my skin as I walk to work. I love going into Starbucks and ordering a warm Caramel Apple Spice, thankful that it’s cool enough outside that I won’t start sweating profusely as soon as I begin to drink it. And most of all, I love hearing the little *ding* from my inbox as it fills up with emails announcing the commencement of the makeup and beauty holiday shopping season.
For makeup junkies such as myself, the “O.M.G., I cannot believe it’s October and I’m thinking about holiday shopping!” is soon followed by “O.M.G., I cannot wait to start making a list of all the products I want need!” I wasn’t always like this. Before I classified myself as a makeup junkie, I used to walk into stores like Sephora or ULTA and not know where to begin. I can only imagine the stress of feeling this way, AND having to buy a gift for someone. Well, have no fear, because I’m here to guide you on how to shop for beauty products for any lady on your list.
Buying for this giftee can be tricky because you don’t know what products they’ve already discovered. A great gift for this type is something that offers a variety of brands so you’ll be sure to introduce them to something new, while simultaneously adding more of what they love to their collection. The Sephora Favorites product line contains different collections of tried and true brands (in full and deluxe sizes) your giftee will be sure to love. Here are a few great ones:
1) Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip 2) Sephora Favorites Draw The Line 3) Sephora Favorites Superstars
Okay, so they’ve narrowed down the brand(s) you should focus on, but now what? You’re in luck. During the holidays, makeup and beauty brands create limited edition collections/gift sets that are only available for a short time. These collections include exclusive shades and formulas that are not offered in a brand’s permanent collection and are often in high demand. Purchase one of these special beauties and just wait for the hug/excitement/deafening scream you’ll receive in return.
Prestige brands such as Tarte, Too Faced, and Benefit (among many others) all have great holiday-inspired collections that any beauty brand loyalist will be thrilled to open. Here are a few great ones:
4) Tarte Sweet Dreams Holiday Collection 5) Too Faced 2014 Holiday Collection 6) Benefit Holiday Gift Sets
Don’t panic. Although you both might not have much makeup and beauty knowledge, there is an excellent product that I believe was developed for this specific situation: The Palette. Palettes are AMAZING. They come in many forms (eye/cheek/face) and contain a range of product types and formulas to create a multitude of looks. Palettes are also an affordable way to build a collection without breaking the bank. They’re some of the most sought out beauty products on the market.
Here are some cult favorites that are sure to please:
7) Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2, Naked 3 8) Lorac Pro Palette, Pro Palette 2 9) Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
This one is simple: the Gift Card. While some feel a gift card is an impersonal gift, to a beauty enthusiast, it is one of the best gifts ever. The thrill of walking up and down the aisles of a makeup store, exploring and experimenting with new and beautiful products, is a treasured experience. You can’t go wrong here, trust me.
Here are some great places to purchase a holiday gift card (in no particular order):
10) Nordstrom *^ 11) Sephora *^ 12) ULTA *+^
* Carries prestige brands
+ Carries drugstore brands
^ Allows you to return opened beauty products you are unsatisfied with.
I hoped this run-down helped to cross off some holiday to-dos and maybe even sparked your interest within the beauty category. It’s a magical place!