Christmas is no longer just coming; it has pulled up in the driveway, unloaded its suitcases, and is about ready to ring your doorbell. Ready? Neither are we. So this week, we'll bring you present pretty picks that won't make it look like somehow, you completely forgot about the holiday.

Juicy Loves Sephora Bowler Lip Gloss Charm

Wondering what to get the guys on your holiday list? Never thought of shopping Sephora for men's gifts? Well, Sephora actually has a sleigh full of masculine and sophisticated gifts for all the men on your list. I should know—I’m making my masculine and sophisticated gift list right now.

To make your guy buying easier, I’m sharing my list with you: Each week through December, I’ll bring you something from Sephora that I’m putting on my wish list. Here’s hoping “Santa” reads this:

This Week: Anthony Logistics For Men - A Clean Start Kit ($56 Value)


Everyone knows men can be tough on their skin. What's worse is that we tend to say "the heck with it" and storm out the door in the morning, neglecting our skin needs. Every man should have a set skin regimen included as part of his morning ritual.

Getting a guy to shop for facial skincare products can be a task too, especially considering the overwhelming number of choices on the shelf. That's why I've put A Clean Start Kit from Anthony Logistics on my Christmas wish list. The kit has all the essentials necessary for a clean, healthy, groomed appearance and it's from a brand I know I can trust. I don't have to think about it.

The set includes everything a man needs to start his skins' day. The Facial Scrub and aloe- and vitamin-enriched Glycolic Facial Cleanser gently and effectively clean and refresh the skin. The Shave Cream preps the face for a perfect, ingrown-hair-free shave, while the After Shave Balm contains apricot kernel oil, allantoin, aloe, and benzocaine to prevent razor burn and soothe freshly shaved skin. Finally, the set includes a Lip Balm that contains shea butter and sesame seed, avocado, and grape seed oils—all of which will soothe chapped lips like nothing else on the shelf.

With my morning skin regimen solidly in place, I'll be able to focus on other morning priorities like actually waking up or eating breakfast—you know you can't skip it! Well, at least my skin will look healthy!

I've raved about this in the past, but that was over the summer when the darkest place I was applying my gloss was by dwindling sunset on a patio (pool party!).  Now it's winter.  Meaning touch-ups in the car are no longer happening past 5 p.m. 

Let's say you've spent a long, difficult day at the mall, and you feel like rewarding yourself.  

Last month, we started giving away the holiday cards Stila created just for us. Here's your LAST chance to win a dozen of them! (Remember, each card has a full-size Kitten Eye Shadow inside, too!) The winner will be chosen from the comments section of this post. The final round starts now!

Since it's officially holiday party season, let's celebrate Stila's soiree-perfect set, the Step Out And Shine Color Collection and Clutch. This uber stylish clutch holds all of your Stila faves: a Montmartre Eye Shadow Quad and full-size Convertible Color in Orchid, plus Multi-Effect Mascara, All Over Shimmer Illuminizer, and the new Pomegranate Crush in a deluxe travel size.

Those smart Stila girls made the sumptuous clutch big enough to hold all of these evening essentials AND your nighttime necessities, like keys, credit cards, and money. Toss in some blotting papers, and I'm ready to revel. How about you?

I want to know: What's your party clutch makeup must-have?

Leave your answer in the comments section. We'll pick a winner on Friday!

I already found out what certain Hollywood stars are getting this year (celebs, don't peek here.  It'll only ruin the surprise).

Now, straight from Carol Shaw, makeup artist for every red carpet event from the Oscars to the Emmys, I got the scoop on what clients on her good list are getting: The Lorac Croc Case Full Face Collection.

I'm finding this to be an infinitely steal-able idea. First, it's $250 of makeup piled onto an under-$50 pricetag. Plus, the two-tiered makeup palette comes in its own glossy, enameled hard shell croc case. Which means you can either keep that for yourself (oops! Did I say that?) or your recipient gets a bonus jewellery case with her makeup palette.  Thirdly, the glosses are removable.  Genius!  No lugging around the entire palette for a lip service after dinner.  

To make your guy buying easier, I’m sharing my list with you: Each week through December, I’ll bring you something from Sephora that I’m putting on my wish list. Here’s hoping “Santa” reads this:

This Week: Scent Sampler Best Sellers For Him

Hey, it's been a while since I've purchased a fragrance for myself, and this sampler set is going to help me pick the perfect scent. It comes with sample-sized versions of 10 top-selling men's fragrances and is perfect for trying them out when you just aren't sure what you like—or if what you think you like turns out not to be what everyone else likes on you! Yeah, we've all been there. Plus, they are perfect for us jet setters too!

What's even better? The set includes a gift voucher that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full-sized bottle of any one of the scents included! So, once you do decide the perfect fragrance for you, just go pick it up. Now, that's like having your holiday cake and eating it too!

You won't believe the range of sophisticated and classic scents included in this set: Bulgari Aqua Pour Homme Marine, Canali Canali, Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy Men, Diesel Fuel For Life Men, Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme, Hugo Boss Boss Pure, Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male, Lacoste Essential, Prada Infusion D'Homme, and Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme.

Now that I think about it, it still might not be an easy task choosing which of those great men's fragrances I prefer. But I'm going to enjoy the challenge!

See what was on my list last week, too.

You've got a friend who already has subscriptions to OK!, US Weekly, and People magazine, who collects shoes like the Jolie-Pits collect kids, and who owns more headbands than Blair Waldorf.

In short, she is a celeb hound. So get her what celeb stylist Jenn Falik is getting her celeb clients: Stila Paint Your Pout Red Palette , $45 (further impress your friend by telling her who else in Hollywood loves Stila)

If you haven't already seen our holiday Beauty Central makeover story, here's a quick take of the before and afters. Click on the pics below to see which sets each gal used to glam up!

I'm all about becoming a Recessionista this season, and I'm not the only one: trendcentral published a list of 20 gifts under $50..and guess what their pick is for the girls on your gift list?

Philosophy The Recipe Box, $18

Here's why they like it:

This trio of dessert-inspired shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath smell good enough to eat, with scents including Red Velvet Cake, Sweet Creamy Frosting and Strawberry Shortcake. The set comes housed in a keepsake holiday recipe box with corresponding recipe cards for each of the scents. Yummy!

For even more price-accommodating ideas, try Sephora's Gifts Under $25 guide, or take a peek at the FedEx-friendly Gifts That Ship Free guide.

Sure, everyone has something pretty on their gift list this year. But as they say, it's the thought that counts--so I put on my crafty cap and whipped up ways you can put even more pretty in your presents through presentation.

-Spritz the blank side of wrapping paper with your signature scent. That way, when the recipient opens the gift, they get a perfumed surprise with a personalized touch.

-Lacquer up your lips with lipstick and leave kiss marks on all your gift tags and holiday cards. Take it to the next level and create DIY greeting cards using your favorite makeup shades.

-If you know of a product your giftee wants to try or would love, go to a Sephora store and ask for a free sample of it. Attach the sample to the inside of a gift card or as a gift topper.

-Fill clear ornament balls with beauty minis. My favorites of the season are the On10 lip balms, SEPHORA by OPI nail polishes, and Tweezerman's mini snowflake tweezers.


If any of you have more brilliant gifting ideas to share, please do!

Happy Black Friday!

Even if you're not out shopping (moment of silent respect for the girls who got up at 4 a.m. to hit the sales. Go, economic stimulus, go!), today is like a holy day of obligation for shoppers.

Marathon shoppers know it's best to hit the malls with a list. Here's mine:

1. Best girlfriend aka major league beauty junkie who has as many, if not more, shelves of makeup than Sephora itself
2. Super-picky girlfriend who practically asks for the receipt before she's unwrapped your gift
3. Pal who is long overdue for a beauty update
4. Boy who, let's face it, stinks

Behold the perfect present for all these peeps: Sephora's Scent Sampler! It comes with 10 deluxe (deluxe=cute mini bottles. Not those easy-spill vials) samples of Sephora's best selling spritzes, plus a coupon for a full-sized fragrance of the giftee's choice.

And you don't have to pick up 4 of the same sample pack, either: the Scent Samplers come in varieties of best-selling, trendsetting, and deluxe spritzes, plus a best sellers for him, too.

Check, check, check, and check!

Dear Martin,

Hi honey! I know you read this blog (such a supportive guy!), so I thought this would be a nice spot for a relationship service announcement.

I'm flipping through my new Cosmo mag, and it says guys show love by fixing things; therefore I should expect my holiday gift to be something terribly practical like a remote or a new showerhead. Really...I'm trying to contain my joy at this thought.

Babycakes, let me first tell you that the holidays are not about finding me World's Most Perfect Present (tm).

But...you're shopping for me anyway, right? This year, let's make it something that won't require fishing through your wallet for the receipt.

I know you like to wait until December 24th to tackle your gift list, but I thought you might like a subtle hint as to what I'd really like. Because loveyoumeanit, I do not want a remote.

HINT #1
Bliss You Look 'Spa'-velous kit
Isn't this cute? No? Anyway, I mostly want this for the Triple Oxygen Energy Mask, but you only have to peep in our bathroom cabinet to find out: I Love Bliss. Perfect gift!

STAY TUNED, honey! I'll be bringing you plenty more ideas this month...

Technically, Thanksgiving is next...but visions of sugar plums are already knocking around upstairs.

You know what that means...time for a mistletoe makeover!

Sephora teamed up with TAAZ to create a site where you can upload your photo, give yourself a makeover in Holiday's hottest trends, and turn it into an e-card you can send to your friends. Merry!

Wanna try it? Click here!

Yesterday, we gave you a sneak peak at the holiday cards Stila created just for us. Here's your first chance to win a dozen of them! (Remember, each card has a full-size Kitten Eye Shadow inside, too!) The winner will be chosen from the comments section of this post. Here we go!

You've seen Stila's ingenious talking palettes, right? Well, their newest one--the Surprise & Shine - Record A Message Talking Gift Palette--fills us with glee, because it lets you record your own message! It's pretty. It's personalized. It's perfect.

So, we want to know: Who would you give this palette to, and what would you say in your recorded message?

Leave your answer in the comments section. We'll pick a winner on Friday!

’Tis the season to gift pretty—so we enlisted Stila to create yet another gift card we could make available exclusively to our Beauty and the Blog readers. (Remember last year’s downloadable e-card?) This year, we’re spinning things a little differently. Each week through December 12, we’re giving away a set of these gift tags to one lucky commenter picked at random.

About the cards: Created especially for BTB readers, these exclusive Stila drawings feature two of holiday Get the Looks, Santa Baby and Holly Jolly. The inside of the cards are blank, allowing you to add your customized gifting wish. Inside of each card, you’ll ALSO find a single eye shadow pan in Kitten, the cult-fave shade. Now THAT’S gifting pretty!

Yesterday, Lena Korres, Korres' co-founder, made an appearance at the Powell Street Sephora in San Francisco. (Later, she made a cameo at Sephora University for Brand Founders' Day--more on that later!) Sugar Plums was the topic dancing in everyone's heads--and sparking on their eyes, lips, and cheeks, too--thanks to Korres' new holiday kit, a trio of purple products that are just plum pretty.

Korres National Makeup Artist Deb Svarc tipped us off on some tricks tied to this verry-merry-berry set. "Most women are so caught up trying to find the perfect red or the perfect pink, but actually it's berry that looks good on everyone," she explained. "I love the Plum Cherry Lip Gloss because it's shiny without being sticky." For a more intense plum pout, Deb recommends layering the Plum Lip Butter (which doubles as a cheek color!) under the gloss. For the "instant holiday smoky eye," use the Plum Sunflower & Evening Primrose Shimmering Eyeshadow in the outer corners and crease, line the top lashes with Silver Soft Eye Liner Pencil, and smudge. You can also layer the shadow over a light base color for a lilac look.

Now that you've scored some sweet expert tips, feast your eyes on some snaps from the store event.

OK, so it's a teensy bit early to be talking holiday.

But think about it: Friday is Halloween, and after that Party Season swings into high gear. Just like you may already be raiding the racks for perfect party dresses, organized beauty addicts are doing the same with their looks. Here, we're calling the top 5 trends for the holiday season. From purple lips (so Spring '09 Zac P) to metallic lids, green eyes and a sexy santa baby pout, you'll be the belle of all your balls.

So watch it, file the trends away in your head, and rock your parties.

If you’re a Too Faced fan (hello, Lash Injection!), you’re going to flip for their World Domination Tour All Access Backstage Beauty Collection for holiday 2008. It’s pretty much a showstopper, I mean, what more could a girl ask for? This glamorous music-box-inspired kit, complete with secret compartments, is crammed with color: eight eye shadows, bronzer, illuminator, six lip glosses, brow powder, eyeliner cake and blush. It’s a major value too, at $42, this baby really gives you bang for your buck. I don’t know about you, but I’m planning on tossing at least two or three in my holiday shopping bag. A glam girl’s got to keep her friends dolled up, too.

Too faced World Domination Tour All Access Backstage Beauty Collection, $42; exclusively at Sephora and sephora.com