Provided for review/Purchased by me
We're almost at the end of the Christmas guides series and nine days from Christmas - how did that happen?! I swear, December whizzes by faster every year. Today's gift guide is a general one to help you cross off those last few people on your Christmas shopping list. Let's get stuck in!
This Australis Strobe Lights Palette (RRP $16.99NZD at selected department stores & pharmacies) will be a hit with anyone who loves a super blingy, glittery highlight. It contains mini pans of all three of Australis' new High Life highlighting powders in a mirrored compact (the full-size versions are available separately for $16.99 each), perfect for getting your shine on on New Year's Eve. I can see this being a great gift for teens in particular (although glitter has no age limit!).
The ColourPop Kiss & Tell Ultra Glossy Lip Kit ($24USD at ColourPop.com) is one of three giant record sets ColourPop released in this year's holiday collection. They all contain full-size products and they're flipping amazing, but unfortunately they sold out really fast! Kiss & Tell is the only one left and it has five shades of their Ultra Glossy Lips - one repromote from the permanent line (Tight Fit), three exclusive shades and Furry, a limited edition one that's also available separately. It's a great introduction to their lipgloss formula (which is why I picked it up) and any lipgloss lover will be thrilled with this kit.
This Joy Nail Polish Set from Faby (RRP $30NZD at selected salons nationwide and www.faby.co.nz) is adorable, with four generously sized mini nail polishes in bright summer hues. Perfect for the nail polish lover on your Christmas shopping list! I reviewed it here, if you'd like to see swatches of all the shades.
How about some skincare stocking stuffers? These products are all universally friendly and can be picked up at your local supermarket or pharmacy, great for last minute Christmas shopping. There's the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water In Oil (RRP $13.99NZD) and accompanying Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Wipes (RRP $8.99NZD), both effective and gentle makeup removers - I already liked the original Micellar Water but the addition of oil really makes a difference! L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water (RRP $13.99NZD) is a grown-up take on micellar water, with chic and simple packaging and Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser (RRP $14.59NZD) is a reliable cleanser suitable for all skin types.
These palettes from Collection are real crowd-pleasers- there's the Highlight & Sculpt Contour Kit (RRP $21.99NZD at Countdown supermarkets), which should suit light-medium skin tones and delivers a beautiful glow and easy to work with contouring powder, or the Eyes Uncovered Nude Bronze Palette (RRP $22.99NZD), a must for warm neutral eyeshadow lovers.
Everyone loves great brows and the Billion Dollar Brows Brows On Point Micro Brow Pencil (RRP $34NZD at selected stockists or www.billiondollarbrows.co.nz) is sure to thrill anyone who craves a fleeky brow. It comes in four shades: Blonde, Light Brown, Taupe and Raven or if choosing the right shade stresses you out, BDB have a Universal Brow Pencil ($36NZD) I've heard great things about too!
LUSH has been cropping up through almost all of this year's gift guides and with good reason - their holiday collection game is as strong as ever. Fan favourite Snow Fairy has returned once again, not only in the usual shower gel format but also as a Body Conditioner ($18.90NZD/100g, $38NZD/225g), FUN ($12.90/200g) and in the form of the Magic Wand Reusable Bubble Bar ($12.50NZD). My kids love the sugary fragrance and anyone with a sweet tooth on your shopping list is sure to enjoy it too.
For something in a very traditional Christmassy scent, I'm also really liking Salt & Peppermint Bark Body Scrub ($14.50NZD) which is a gorgeous solid body scrub. A bit more compact and novel than tubs of body scrub!
MAC's Christmas collections never disappoint and this year's Nutcracker Sweet collection is spectacularly packaged in shades of blackened plum and hot pink, complete with gold accents. There's all sorts of covetable things in this collection, including mini lipstick gift sets and Extra Dimension cheek palettes - the much-lauded Whisper of Gilt even returned in one of the cheek palettes! There's something for everyone in this collection but bold and smokey makeup lovers will be particularly pleased by the colour range. I was sent two of the five lipsticks in the collection ($44NZD each), Kingdom of Sweets and So Good For You, Prunella Eye Kohl ($40NZD) and Dark Lullaby Magic Dust Eyeshadow ($56NZD) - keep an eye out for reviews soon!
Fans of the retro-inspired quirkily packaged brand TheBalm will be thrilled to hear that it's made its way to our shores at last and is now stocked in Life and Unichem pharmacies nationwide. The original Nude 'Tude Palette (RRP $79.99NZD) has been one of my favourites for the past few years - even my husband, who normally tunes out ye olde makeup hoard, looked over as I was writing this post, spotted the palette and said, "haven't you had that for ages?!" It's an oldie and a goodie and because you can't have too much of a good thing, TheBalm have followed it up with the new Nude Dude Palette (also RRP $79.99NZD). I've just got a wee sample shade from the palette but so far it feels like the same formula I know and love. If you've got a neutral obsessed beauty junkie on your shopping list, definitely consider one of these palettes!
Clarins have six value-packed gift sets out at the moment and I love the sugar cookie decorated packaging! This is the Intense Eye Collection (RRP $50NZD) which contains a full sized Supra Volume mascara and minis of the Instant Eye-Makeup Remover and black Khol Eye Pencil in a quilted cream coloured bag. I love when high-end beauty brands put out sets like this as it's a great way to splurge on a really nice mascara and score a few extras at the same time.
Here's an option perfect for anyone who still loves a full face of makeup in summer: Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer (RRP $95NZD at selected stockists & www.dermalogica.co.nz) contains SPF30 to boost your sun protection (although you still shouldn't slack off on regular sunscreen application!) and will help your makeup to stay on in the summer heat. It's a spendy option for sure, but if you're looking to really treat someone then it's an amazing pick!
How is your Christmas shopping coming along? We're in the home stretch now!
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Lani
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