Beauty Gifts: When to Splurge + What to Get + How to Save $

Beauty Gifts 2019

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A beauty lover or a makeup enthusiast might seem to be among the easiest people to shop for. There are so many gorgeous kits and beauty gift sets released this time of year, it’s almost overwhelming.

At the same time, those who are really into makeup or skincare tend to already have a large collection of products. You also have to take things like their skin type, skin tone or lifestyle into consideration (if someone is vegan or has allergies, for instance). Luckily, there’s a bit of something for everyone here- and gift receipts are always a good idea.

LUXURY BEAUTY GIFTS

When it comes to luxury makeup gifts the options are… well, pretty much endless. There are hundreds of beautiful products to pick from, but going for universally flattering colors is a good rule to stick to. Multi-product palettes like the Hourglass Ambient Lightighting Edit make for good gifts, but they’re not always a one-size-fits-all kind of a thing (as gorgeous of a product as it is though, as discussed in my review, the value isn’t there).

One luxury makeup brand that I will always have a soft spot for (both when shopping for myself and when shopping for gifts) is Chanel. It’s probably because one of my first luxury makeup products was a Chanel eyeshadow quad my mom bought me. I still remember how excited I was when I opened it. Their products not only come in beautiful packaging but usually also have beautiful formulas. The eyeshadow quads are perfect for someone who loves makeup but doesn’t own any high-end palettes, or someone who likes simple makeup and is a bit of a beauty minimalist. They make the day-to-night transition easy and even come with instructions for a few different eye looks. Les 4 Ombres come in multiple finishes and color combinations. Pictured above is #226 Tissé Rivoli.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder that comes in a limited-edition compact is another one of their products that makes a good beauty gift for someone who likes soft and minimal makeup. I’d try to avoid gifting base or powder products for those who have oily or picky skin though unless you know exactly what they like.

My new favorite brand in the minimal + effortless makeup department is lilah b. Their compacts alone are very heavy and sturdy and so far I’m loving everything I’ve tried. Every product is created to enhance the natural features and color palette. The b. Sun-Kissed bronzer duo gives that flawless glow without ever feeling heavy and it pairs perfectly with their Retractable Bronzer Brush. I couldn’t resist picking up their Limited Edition Mirror (it’s just too pretty!). The mirror, retractable brush, and Aglow Face Mist* all make for good handbag essentials, too.

Nail polish is a bit of a hit-and-miss territory as far as high-end brands are concerned. Some are just not worth the splurge, but Dior, Smith & Cult, Deborah Lipman and Nails Inc definitely do create good long-lasting formulas. Again, universally-flattering colors are the way to go. Think staples like black, white, sheer pink, orange-based reds, and grays, but avoid buying nudes, flesh-tones, and pigmented pinks.

Molton Brown makes some of the most beautifully scented and indulgent products, beauty gifts and sets. Perfume and cologne are often a very personal thing and unless you’re helping someone restock on their signature scent, it can be a huge miss. Candles and bath + body set beauty gifts are a safer option for a fragrance lover. The Bizarre Brandy* collection shown above is gorgeous and quite unique with a very warm and smokey, musky scent that’s perfect for this time of year. Personally, I’m particularly in love with the candle. It’s one of those scents that Mark finds himself to be as equally obsessed with as I am.

Speaking of candles, although not exactly beauty gifts, I definitely would throw them under the same category. During this time of year, I always stock up on a few nice candles. Sometimes you get an expected gift (like a new friend or coworker), or you forget someone on your list. A nice box of chocolates (or a bottle of wine) + a candle came to my “rescue” many times. I love Diptyque’s Figueier and Baies- it’s always nice to gift them to someone who loves candles, but maybe can’t splurge on the “fancier” ones. They aren’t intense scents, so you won’t risk giving anyone a headache. Maison La Bougie also make beautiful ones for those who like more delicate scents. Definitely stay away from anything that is overly sweet.

Multiple-product beauty gift sets are often my favorite, especially if you’re getting good value. Sol de Janeiro’s Bum Bum Carnaval Celebration Set has amazing value as it’s only 14 bucks more than the full-sized Bum Bum Cream. It comes with three other, generous travel size products. The Bum Bum Cream is absolutely worth the hype, by the way, and amazing for dry skin.

Mario Badescu Face Mist + Lip Duo also make for a cute stocking-stuffer, not to mention that it’s one of the most-loved face mists around. This three-piece set from Lancôme is another good deal with $65 value for only $35 and it includes, what I think most of us can agree, one of the best eye makeup removers.

ALL ABOUT THE LIPS

There are many beautiful lipstick products out there to pick and choose from, but I will never tire of MAC lipsticks and know many people who love them as well. They come in so many colors and different finishes- it’s easy to find something for everyone in the beauty gifts department. The trio pictured below are from the Powder Kiss collection and fair-skin friendly: Burning Love, Werk, Werk, Werk and Stay Curious. For those with a large collection of MAC lipsticks, I also can’t recommend these clear lipsticks caps enough. They save me SO much time when I’m looking for a particular shade.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Hot Lips 2 are not only stunning in a formula but also come house in gorgeous bullets. Unless you are gifting a beauty/makeup professional, keep the recipient’s coloring and beauty style in mind. For someone fair-skinned like my BFF, I gift similar colors that work with my (also fair) skin tone, like Glowing Jen, Jk Magic, and Patsy Red. Then, of course, there’s also the legendary Pillow Talk, which looks good on almost anyone.

I’ve been using a whole bunch of Lilah B. products and am currently in love with their tinted lip oils. A seriously stunning formula with a nice color payoff and the most comfortable wear, ever. This Love Your Lips Trio is a gorgeous set that any lip-product lover would appreciate.

SKINCARE LOVIN’

Similar to fragrance, skincare is an area where you have to take things like skin type and needs into consideration. Sheet mask sets, eye gels, lip gels- these are always good and safe options. Of course, my favorite brand for these is Patchology– no secret there. Love everything these guys release and, most importantly, their products work great and are perfect for anyone who is on the go a lot or doesn’t have much time to treat themselves to an indulgent skincare routine. They have this cute Winter Warm-Up set with a self-warming hand + cuticle mask and softening heel + foot mask, Down to Mask DIY Spa kit, or All The Feels MoodMasks (which are my favorite).

Lano make lovely, simple, one-size-fits-all kind of skincare products. Their Original 101 Ointment is a great multitasker anyone could use in the winter weather. I like their new Face Base Aussie Flyer Mask as well, which is a reboot + recovery leave-on mask. Perfect for anyone who travels often.

For a few years now I’ve been creating self-care boxes as gifts and realized that it’s just as much fun to create these with skincare bits. I like to customize them according to everyone’s needs but they all usually include little winter beauty staples like hand cream and lip treatment. Laneige’s Kiss Me All Day Set and the Lip Sleeping Mask are both wonderful. Once again, Lano comes to the rescue with their Rose Hand Cream Intense. The other two I like Chanel’s La Crème Main and The Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Cream.

If you’re very familiar with your beauty lover’s skin, you can also opt for “special treatment” gifts, as long as you know their skin can handle whatever is on the ingredient list. This is what I often get for the moms in my life since they rarely splurge on themselves. Special treatment products like Drunk Elephant’s TLC Sukari BabyFacial, Sunday Riley Good Genes, or the Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask all bring nearly instant results. Since they’re on the indulgent side, both in formula and price, they make for perfect gifts for anyone who doesn’t, or simply can’t treat themselves to a little skincare luxury. As we talked about in this post, I also really love my GloPro Microneedling Set, and it also makes for an awesome gift, although it might be a bit too intimidating for anyone who isn’t familiar with microneedling.

If you think that your beauty lover doesn’t want to receive any more makeup or skincare products, remember that there’s one thing a makeup enthusiast can never have enough. Good makeup brushes. Hourglass, Sigma, Sephora Collection, Zoeva, and IT Cosmetics make some of my favorite ones that last for years and years. Other non-product beauty gifts that I recommend are makeup bags or brush cases. When it comes to makeup bags, it does not get better than Henry Charles. I love their Celeste clutch makeup bag and don’t travel without it. It’s cute, sturdy, fits a ton of products, and it keeps them nice and safe. I’ve used mine for years and it still looks brand-new. The quality is really incredible and you can even customize it with the recipient’s initials. Their Brush and Makeup Case is also very handy- I usually keep in my backpack or handbag when traveling.

Celeste

On those occasions when I plan on bringing more makeup than I normally would when traveling (flying out for a wedding, for example) I bring my large Vasker bag. It has a ton of compartments and sections to store everything from your products to brushes, wipes, and other small tools.

Vasker Makeup Bag

SAVING MONEY ON BEAUTY GIFTS

I almost always do both my own and gift beauty shopping online. It’s just more convenient, saves me a lot of anxiety and frustration when the shopping malls are hot and crowded with shoppers who sometimes tend to be quite inconsiderate. And not always very well aware of their surroundings (or other people). If you work in retail just know that I’m sending tons of blessings your way.

Beauty products are often excluded from discount coupons, but a lot of online retailers offer a one-time discount when you join their email list. Right now you can also take advantage of the Green Monday sales.

• Lilah B. is running a 20% off sitewide sale
• Get up to 50% off at Ulta
• You can save 15% off beauty at Macy’s with the promo code “FRIEND”
• Nordstrom do price match and are also running a Beauty + Fragrance sale (up to 30% off)
• Sephora is running its Beauty Insider Holiday Hooray Event
• My code “PAULA25” will still save you 25% off your SkinStore purchase