Best in Beauty
I’ve been scouring the shelves (real and virtual) over the last two months to pluck some of the very best beauty and body care gift ideas from semi-obscurity and put them on your radar for gift-giving. While I’ve certainly covered a good number of beauty buys in the last month, these are super special, limited-edition gift ideas that are often tied to the holiday season. So without further ado…
SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set – $70 @ Sephora
Every makeup artist I’ve ever met has always told me, it doesn’t matter how good your makeup is if you’re using bad brushes. That means investing in a good quality set, cleaning them on a regular basis, and replacing them every couple of years. Luckily Sephora’s new limited edition Deco Daze Clutch is a worthy, covetable choice – five quality brushes to cover your cheeks to your eyes, all housed in a clutch you can actually wear to dress up your favourite ensemble come New Year’s Eve. She’ll squeal when she opens this one on Christmas morning.
Eye Studio Sampler – $39 @ Shopper’s Drug Mart
Sample seven luxury-sized mascara samples from high-end brands like Smashbox and Clarins to find the perfect fit to flatter your lashes. Once you’ve landed on a favourite pick, bring in the included voucher for a full-size version of your chosen mascara, most of which range around the $30 mark. This is basically a spin on Shopper’s perennially popular fragrance sampling gift sets, only very much geared to beauty-obsessed babes. What I appreciate about it is even if a few of the mascaras are misses, you can at least keep them for travel or stash them in your purse or gym bag for touch-ups.
Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits – $47.50 each @ M.A.C. Cosmetics
My EXTREME obsession with all things girly literally lost its mind when I saw these adorable, macaron-inspired pastel eyeshadow kits from beauty goddesses M.A.C. Each set – warm, cool, and neutral – includes five shadows with satin, lustre, frost, and velvet finishes to help you create the perfect party-ready look for the holidays. Aside from the obvious quality factor of the shadows themselves (which FYI, a shadow pot on its own retails around $17 at M.A.C.), the real wow factor here for me is the palette’s packaging – the satin tufted case and patent leather bow make this an absolutely scrumptious gift idea. I should note that although I’ve highlighted the eye kits here, there’s actually a number of M.A.C. holiday gifts in the same packaging – if shadow isn’t your thing, be sure to check out the other kits!
Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set – $59 @ Sephora
For some gals, it’s all about the nails – so let her change her mind every day of the week with this fun set of mini-polishes featuring standout shades with gloss, metallic, and glitter finishes. From bold brights like pink and orange to chill neutrals like pink and grey, every polish in the set can also be amped up with a top coat of the included full-size Only Gold For Me glitter. Truthfully you could break this bad boy up and toss a few bottles of polish into all of your gal pal’s gifts or daughter’s stockings…but really, the high-impact of the set comes from seeing it all in one neat little package.
Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set – $30 @ eBeauty.ca
Three vanilla-frosted products in one cute, girly package – including a sparkling shower gel, whipped body mousse, and shiny lip gloss – all from Canadian brand Cake Beauty. Like most of Cake’s products, you’ll definitely detect a hint of baked goods when you use this festive trio. Extra cool is the fact this is a scent that stays, particularly when you use the gift set in tandem. The price point is perfection if you’re shopping for your best friend or even your mother-in-law, so snap it up today!
Houndstooth Mani Kit – $24 @ Sephora
Keep your nails in tip top shape with this compact manicure kit that fits perfectly into your purse or luggage for touch-ups on the go. With clippers, files, tweezers, and scissors, you’ll have a salon-level collection of tools to ensure your fingers and toes always look absolutely polished – even without polish on them. Best of all it’s housed in a super cute glittery houndstooth case for a spin on a classic fashionable pattern. Consider gifting it to your sister-in-law or friend as an affordable set that looks like a million bucks.
Bumble & bumble Merry Masterpiece Gift Set – $54 @ Made You Blush
Although I covered a bevy of hair care goodies the other week, this cute gift set from mane experts Bumble & bumble is worth singling out on this list. Four trial-sized samples of four of the brand’s most beloved products (as hand-picked by stylists) are all housed in a reusable tote – making it an ideal set for travel, or for the gal that simply can’t get enough of luxury hair goodies. A wicked choice for your locks-obsessed sister.
Boscia Fashionably Matte – $26 @ Sephora
Hesitant to buy make-up because you don’t know what shades your giftee wears (or has), or you’re not even sure they wear a whole lot of makeup? Boscia might be your perfect pick. Inspired by Japanese art, this three-pack of blotting tissues includes two packages of the brand’s signature shine-removal linens in both ‘Fresh’ and ‘Green Tea’, as well as an adorable carrying case to make them easy to spot in your cavernous purse. The linens won’t smudge makeup, but they will kill any unintended glossiness from a night out on the town or an evening cooking over a hot stove. This uber-natural line boasts pretty much every awesome skincare product promise it can – including no animal testing, no preservatives, no parabens or sulfates, and they’re even biodegradable. The price point actually has them right in the hostess gift range as well!
Cargo Kit Beauté – $19 @ Murale
Spend less than $20 and scoop up four essential products from world-renowned Canadian brand Cargo. Featuring a neutral-toned eyeshadow duo, flattering pink blush, universally usable pink gloss, and a buttery-smooth brown eyeliner, this handy set has all the products you’ll need to create a classic, feminine face. Given that the products are quite neutral, I actually really love this is a choice for your niece or daughter that’s just getting into makeup. You won’t blow a bundle, but you will be gifting them with a beloved, quality brand.
Buxom Time To Shine Gift Set – $35 @ Sephora
Plump up your lips and add a kiss of colour with this collection of six glosses from Buxom – perfect for puckering up under the mistletoe. Each shade is lightly tinted (but enough so that you’ll definitely see colour) and offers a range of finishes from glittery to glossy, all while providing a tingling feeling that makes your lips look extra kissable. This is such a great bargain, when you consider a full-size bottle retails for $25, and you’re getting six mini-bottles (perfect for tossing in your purse or pocket) for just a little bit more. Again, consider splitting them up amongst your girlfriends or stockings, or give one gloss maven a dream set of long-lasting lip shine!
Pandora’s Polish & Perfume – $24.50 each @ Pandora’s Makeup Box
These two-packs make for great gifts for your girlfriends, nieces, or even as a slightly bigger Secret Santa gift swap, if you’re doing $30 and under. Each bottle of three-free polish is accompanied by a fun fragrance in a matching bottle, which can be applied to your body using the included brush applicator or your fingers. The colours are decidedly un-Christmasy, meaning they’re perfect to punch up your winter wardrobe with a splash of colour. And the fragrances themselves are surprisingly complex – Citrus Playful is predictably dominated by orange blossom, but it’s offset with delicate florals and woodsy base notes. Aqua Pretty is an exotic oriental floral with a hint of fresh ocean breeze, and Floral Passion is surprisingly fruit, with pineapple and honeydew melon playing nicely with jasmine and water lily.
Katy Perry Lashes by Eyelure – $8 each @ eBeauty.ca
Perfect the pin-up girl look a la Katy Perry with these false lashes from UK brand Eyelure. Katy herself has credited the brand for contributing to her wide-eyed glam gal look, and has now teamed up with them to release a collection of lashes to fill out any gal’s eyes. From thick and feathery to natural and full, these lashes are a snap to put on, and come in really cute packaging to boot. The price makes them an ideal choice for stocking stuffers, or to team up with one of the other gift ideas on this list.
Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette – $62 @ Sephora
First off, this pretty palette comes in a gorgeous reusable pink vintage-inspired tin – so you know it’s got girly wow factor potential right off the hop. Secondly, it contains sixteen shadows in various shimmery shades, from bold brights to twinkling neutrals, so you can be sure to suit any gal’s style. Thirdly, it contains a few of Too Faced’s classic products, from a delicate highlighter designed to give you a ‘Candlelit Glow’ to a duo of bronzers (one of which is exclusive to the set) to help you find the perfect shade – so you can test out the brand’s full line of offerings. Finally, it includes a few ‘face cards’ to give you some tips to create a full face effect. The result? A totally genius and amazingly priced gift set. Me like.
Origins Scents on the Go – $44 @ The Bay
Obviously I’ll be doing a fun fragrance rundown a bit closer to the holiday season, but this cute trio of travel perfumes from Origins was too fun not to feature as part of this post. Each capsule contains one of the brand’s fruity-floral fragrances, including Spring Fever, Gloomaway, and Ginger. Split them up amongst your friends, use them as stocking stuffers, or gift the whole set to your mom or mother-in-law for a high-class choice she’ll use year-round.
Holiday Gift Basket – $23.49 @ Kiss My Face
I’m a huge advocate for cruelty-free cosmetics, and it’s a brand promise skincare line Kiss My Face wears on its sleeve. Their biodegradable, paraben-free line of moisturizers and soaps is both a mind-easing and skin-pleasing gift idea, particularly when housed in a ready-to-gift basket like this one, which includes two moisturizers and hand soaps – making it an absolutely perfect hostess gift idea. This year Kiss My Face has launched two brand-new scents to whisk you away from frosty air and harried holiday events to a personal oasis with every use. Coconut actually has real ultra-moisturizing coconut oils and coconut water, to keep your skin’s moisture absolutely locked in and protected from the harsh winter weather. Pomegranate Acai actually improves your skin’s elasticity and skin tone, for an energizing lift every time you use it. Want to check out the full all-natural Kiss My Face line? You can also find their goodies at Loblaws stores nationwide.
Phew! 15 beauty buys from some really great brands and beauty boutiques – I don’t envy you having to narrow it down to just one or two, but I do suggest you use the Canadian Gift Guide for its reverse purpose: instead of shopping, definitely consider some of these ideas for your own wish list. And while you’re at, why not try to win a $100 gift basket of Kiss My Face products? Here’s how to do it:
1) Leave a comment by December 12th with your favourite beauty gift idea on this list.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 13th to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: Go on and learn more about Kiss My Face and their general awesomeness by either liking them on Facebook (leave a comment!) or following them on Twitter (Tweet & tag them!) You’ll earn bonus entries for doing either – just leave your Facebook username and Twitter handle in the comments below.
Canadian Gift Guide 
I believe that Mac eyeshadows are a great gift idea ……… I have been using Mac eyeshadow now for about 5 years, my daughter turned me onto Mac products, and I am hooked.
The (Holiday Gift Basket – $23.49 @ Kiss My Face) looks great come gift-giving time. Thank you.
I love the eye studio sampler. I’m a mascara addict so what an awesome way to try a bunch.
Origins scents on the go
I love the Holiday Gift Basket at $23.99.
I like the brush clutch 🙂
SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set is the best Christmas idea! What a great way to gift something so useful!
I’d have to vote for the MAC eyeshadows. All colours I’d love to try. I’ve Liked Kiss My Face and left a comment.
I like the Holiday Gift Basket from Kiss My Face. Love the fact that it is cruelty free and paraben free!
I really like the Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits
I liked Kiss My Face on facebook= fb name Louise gilbert
and I also follow kiss my face on twitter-wildcardacehigh
I’d love to try the eye studio sampler, what a great idea
I really like the cosmetic brush set – The clutch looks so pretty & they’re both something I’d use! Great ideas, thanks.
The Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette looks like a great gift with a variety of stuff in it, I would love to get this under my tree =)
Holiday Gift Basket is something I think most lady friends I know would prefer, heck I would too!!
I’m a slave for nail polish and I love the Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set! This is going on my Christmas list!!!!
Here’s my tweet:
https://twitter.com/retromusic/status/273469588006649856
The Katy Perry eyelashes made me go OH! how fun but I think the OPI Tinsel Town nail polishes from Sephora would make a great gift
I’d pick the Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set cause they have some cute colors!
I have liked them and commented on their wall on Facebook as Wendy Dickinson.
I would love to give as a gift ….
SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set …
Woohoo!
I love them all! The Too Faced Palette is my favourite if I had to pick one
This list is amazing! Too Faced is so good! I especially love the M.A.C. Holiday kits!! Ouu la la 🙂
the brush clutch
My Tweet: @ilovekissmyface I love that you are all natural!!
I really like SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set. I have “liked” Kiss my face,facebook page handle is my name. 🙂
I like the Bumble and Bumble Merry Christmas Set! Thanks.
I think the Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set would make a great gift idea probably because I love baths. Also the Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set . What girl doesn’t like nail colour options. 🙂 Thanks so much 🙂
Liked Kiss My Face on facebook and left a nice comment. 🙂
doreen lamoureux
I would put the Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette on my wishlist
Following Kiss My Face on Twitter @truthful
tweeted https://twitter.com/truthful/status/273562093008080896
I know that my daughter would love the Katie Perry Lashes!
Like Kiss My Face on Twitter
greeeneyedwhwom
I like the Bumble and Bumble set as well as the Cake Vanilla Snow Woman set! Actually, all of the products look great!
The mani kit looks great for my daughter
I like the Houndstooth Mani Kit.
Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette
The Holiday gift basket of Kiss My Face products is my favourite.
I Liked Kiss My Face on Facebook and commented on their Facebook page as Donna Lyn.
Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set
This is fabulous: Sephora’s new limited edition Deco Daze Clutch.
Thanks.
I follow Kiss My Face on Twitter as @Alexandrina_M and tweeted this message:
Love the Katy Perry lashes. Those are amazing!
Sephora Collection Brush set – they look beautiful!
My favourite beauty gift idea is the Bumble & bumble Merry Masterpiece Gift Set – $54 @ Made You Blush ‘cos it’s trial size which means I can travel with it & decide if I’d like to commit to the bigger full size version … what a sweet treat.
Bonus Entry: Liked Kiss My Face on Facebook & commented https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=415735191826866&id=38548723445 (Alison K) and followed them on Twitter https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/273649930705448960 (SoulSeeker0)
Thanks
I’m loving the Buxom lip gloss set, the Cake set, and Mac eye shadow sets, and the Too Faced set! Great options!!
Mmmm Cake!! Great ideas here to get me started.
Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set is the one for me.
Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set is what I’d love!
I’m following Kiss My Face on Twitter (@HappyGlowLucky7), for my bonus entry. 🙂
IF THE GIFT IS FOR SOMEONE ELSE I WOULD DEFINATLY GET THE OPI POLISH SET FOR MY NIECE WHO IS 12 AND SOOO INTO NAILS RIGHT NOW, IF IT IS FOR ME I WOULD PICK THE MERRY MASTERPIECE SET-DID YOU HEAR THAT SANTA?!-THANKS!
Oh crap, there’s no way I could choose just one fav! I love the Deco Daze Clutch/brush set, the Too Faced Sweet Indulgance Palette & the Snow Woman sets best of all!
The nail set.
I like the Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set
What a geat list!! too confused to pick favs.. i like them all 🙂
Luv the kiss my face kit
Eye Studio Sampler – $39 @ Shopper’s Drug Mart
I like the holiday gift basket from Kiss My Face.
Oh my so hard to choose 1 – I like Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits – $47.50 each @ M.A.C. Cosmetics
I can’t wait to try the Kiss My Face gift basket goodies!
i like the kiss my face set the best, although it was a tough choice!
HOLIDAY GIFT BASKET KISS MY FACE
My favorite gift idea is the Mac Holiday Eye Set. The design is so cute!
Its a tie between the Buxom Time To Shine Gift Set and the Kiss my Face Holiday Gift Basket
liked on fb and left comment (andrea amy)
I love the Eye Studio Sampler!
I love the Sephora Collection Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set!!
I want the Buxom Time to Shine lip kit.
I love the “Decco Daze clutch brush set” by sephora. Im off to do some liking on facebook. my username is Shamrock Snow
I like the OPI Tinsel set
like Kiss My Face on Facebook
like Kiss My Face on Twitter
@realclearcool
The Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits look amazing!
My favorite is the Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set – $59 @ Sephora
I like them on facebook and left a comment (Karla Sceviour)
The Kiss my Face gift basket is my favorite!
I love the eye studio sampler. I’m a mascara addict so what an awesome way to try a bunch.
I am already getting the eye studio sampler for Christmas, so I would choose the Bumble and Bumble set.
I have liked and commented on Kiss My Face’s Facebook page.
i like the bumble and bumble gift set!
So difficult to choose just one but I’m gonna go with Bumble & bumble Merry Masterpiece Gift Set.
I like Kiss My Face on Facebook (user name is Donna Lee).
Liked and commented on FB (Victoria Ess), followed and tweeted (@VictoriaEss2)
I like the eye studio sampler
I really like the original scents on the go!
SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set is my favourite
Liked Kiss My Face on Facebook as Margaret Imecs
I love the Buxom Time To Shine Gift Set!
rebthecatsitter at gmail dot com
I like Kiss My Face on Facebook! (Rebecca Roberts)
It all looks so beautiful. I have not worn any makeup for a few years, so had to throw out all I have. I am slowly getting back into it, so what is what really helps.
I think the Cake Vanilla Snow Woman gift set was awesome
I like the original scents
The Kiss My Face Holiday Gift Basket
everything is beautiful
ORIGINS SCENTS ON THE GO
My favourite is the Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette
Liked Kiss My Face on Facebook and commented: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151260629643446&id=38548723445
the vanilla snow woman is my favorite from the list
facebook handle is dawn chessman
twitter handle is mysticsmemoirs
The bumble and bumble merry masterpiece set is my favorite from the list.
Like kiss my face on facebook (Theresa Miller)
I like the Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set – $59 @ Sephora
I would buy the holiday gift basket Kiss My Face for ME & my best girls
They are all amazing but i love the sephora brushes!
I love them all! The holiday eye kit is very nice and the palette is amazing! Hope to get them in my stoking…..
Love the Pandora’s Polish & Perfume – $24.50 each @ Pandora’s Makeup Box
liked Kiss My Face on fb
Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard
following them on twitter and tweeted
@BeeWBedard
I love everything on this list – hard to choose but would go for the Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set
My sister adores nail polishes and there is so much here to love – she can have a matching color for every outfit. I am sure she would love it!
Katy Perry Lashes by Eyelure – $8 each @ eBeauty.ca
My favourite gift idea on this list is Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Gift Set , the style these days is different colour of nails now, this set would give a great variety and OPI is the best !
already liked on twitter – left comment @boot_lip https://twitter.com/boot_lip/status/275150265118756864
SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set if fabulous. Liked Kiss my Face of facebook and commented Janice E Cournoyer
So many great picks! Definitely the MAC ones, they came out with a great holiday collection this year!
My favourite is the Sephore Brush Clutch Kit. Very cute!
I like the Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like Kiss My Face on facebook as belinda m and posted
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favourite on this list is the Holiday Gift Basket – $23.49 @ Kiss My Face
Love the lashes!
sweet indulgence palette is my favorite
My favourite gift idea is the Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette
Like Kiss My Face on facebook; Ginette Dube Anger
love the tinsel town gift set!
I like the Origins Scents on the Go gift idea.
Buxom Time to Shine gift set!
I love the tinsel town gift set!
The Holiday Gift Basket of Kiss My Face products really appeals to me.
I love the Sephora Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set Beautiful!
I like the Eye studio ssampler
I followed on twitter as well as tweeted and tagged them in the tweet 🙂
@oddball2003
the Bumble & bumble giftset
I love the Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits – $47.50 each @ M.A.C. Cosmetics
Left a comment on Kiss My Face FB page!! woohoo
Pandora’s Polish & Perfume – $24.50 each @ Pandora’s Makeup Box
I wouls love to gift my daughter with the Two Faced Sweet Indulgence and the Eye Sampler…Id love them too!!
WOW alot of great items . The SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set is my favorite, I could really use some nice new brushes
I liked kiss my face on facebook and commented
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kiss-My-Face/38548723445#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151270631833446&id=38548723445
The Pandora’s Polish & Perfume would be a wonderful addition to my daughter’s stocking.
i love the sephora by opi gift set
I like the Two Face Sweet Indulgence Palette
I’ve liked Kiss my face on facebook 🙂
I’d love to win this! My fave pick is the Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits – $47.50 each @ M.A.C. Cosmetics!
Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette
i like the “too faced palette”
tweeted @tooliecat
My favourite is the MAC Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits. Love MAC.
kiss my face
While I’m totally a MAC afficionado I think that the Boscia Fashionably Matte set is the coolest! 🙂
Origins Scents on the Go – $44 @ The Bay is fantastic. Great contest.
I love the Houndstooth Mani Kit! Very convenient. And chic!
Okay the Deco Dazze Clutch is to die for….have to have it
the kiss my face gift baskets look great
i love the brush set
I love the too faced sweet indulgence face palette.
I really like the Pandora Polish and Perfume! I would love to try it 😀
OPI BY TINSEL TOWN
GIFT BASKET KISS MY FACE
Cake Vanilla Snow Woman Gift Set is my favourite! I liked on Facebook with comment (Andrea Power)
definitly a toss up. either the Eye Studio Sampler or the opi set
Bumble & bumble Merry Masterpiece Gift Set
I absolutely love the SEPHORA COLLECTION Deco Daze Clutch Brush Set!
like the tinseltown polish set.