Today’s gift guide is one of my most anticipated of the season! That’s right, it’s time for my annual beauty gifts roundup, filled with tons of amazing gift ideas for the gals in your life who love to primp and pamper themselves. Let’s get right to it!
Teeez Cosmetics – From $15 @ Hudson’s Bay
Have you heard of Teeez? This relative newcomer to Canada hails from Europe and has some of the cutest darn packaging I’ve ever seen – making it perfect for gifting. With a huge range of products from lip stains and dual-ended lip glosses to trendy eyeshadow quads and of course, the basics, Teeez pulls inspiration from the catwalks and infuses them into their line of totally on trend makeup. With everything under $50, it’s a lock for great gifting, no matter what combination of items you pick up!
Maybelline The Blushed Nudes – $13.99 @ Drugstores + Mass Market Retailers Across Canada
Some high end makeup brands have made a name for themselves with their nude-themed makeup palettes. But if you balk at the idea of spending close to $70 on a palette you won’t use every single day, no fear – brands like Maybelline have swept in to save the day and release palettes that have a similar vibe and some truly stunning colours. The Blushed Nudes is Maybelline’s softest nude palette, featuring rosy tones of pink, plum, and taupe, with a rose gold shimmer. You can mix and match them for endless looks (some inspo here) that go from daytime innocent to sultry romance goddess at night. Plus seriously guys – that price is unreal.
Sephora Collection Sparkle & Shine Line – From $25
My favourite part of all the holiday edition items has to be all the sparkles involved! Each year Sephora releases a lineup of coordinating brushes, bags and more with a different theme, and this year’s fun glitter chevron print in dazzling blue, gold, and pink is a total knockout. There’s an amazing travel bag that has different compartments for everything you want to bring, a small pouch for an overnight at a friend’s place, a few different brush sets, and cool little accessories like compact mirrors or standalone brushes. Buy one or two pieces that you know someone really needs, or outfit a beginner beauty babe with a cool set for everywhere she wants to look good.
Burt’s Bees Face Essentials – $22.99 @ Drug, Grocery and Mass Retailers
There are always a multitude of Burt’s Bees gift ideas available – and the price points are unbeatable, with everything come in under $25. I’m a huge advocate for this natural care brand that puts good-for-you products in the hands of consumers at an affordable price point. This little set is aptly named; it has everything you could want to take care of your face. Wipe off the daily grime with the included facial cleansing wipes, and exfoliate with a deep pore cleanser. Finish things off with a deep cleansing cream and a quick slick of Coconut & Pear lip balm for a touchably soft complexion before bedtime.
Atelier Cologne Necessaire Nomade III – $52 @ Sephora
Why gift just one perfume at Christmas when you can hand over an entire set? This charming collection of eight purse-friendly sprays is a total steal – and a dreamy gift idea! These cool little sprays are perfect to break up if you’re a traveler, or can be kept together so you can change things up whilst on the road. With internationally inspired aromas like Vanille Insensée (which has some surprisingly earthy, woodsy notes) and Cèdre Atlas (inspired by the Atlas mountains in Morocco and Sicilian lemons), there’s a perfume to go with every outfit in your closet – and every destination you’re headed to.
Paul & Joe Lipstick Cases – $7 each @ beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and select Shoppers Drug Mart locations
While many brands draw inspiration from the runway, Paul & Joe is a unique makeup brand that’s actually an extension of the designer brand’s quirky chic aesthetic. Each season, they release new lipstick cases for their lipsticks to allow you to change your lipstick to match the newest trends, patterns, and colour schemes – or possibly even your outfit! The latest iterations range from funky animal prints to gorgeous florals. Not only do they look lovely, they’ll keep your lipstick nice and safe in your bag too – no more crushed lippy or marked up interiors!
Benefit Gals Just Wanna Have Fun Set – $58 @ Sephora
I already featured one of Benefit’s ultra cute doll-inspired beauty sets this season, but I couldn’t resist highlighting another one! This full face makeup kit features luxury sample sizes of some of Benefit’s longtime top sellers, including their Hoola bronzer (great for contouring), their versatile Benetint, the best mascara ever (They’re Real!), and one of their newer products, their Gimme Brow filler. Plus, the kit itself comes with three shadows built right into it for a soft, shimmery smokey eye look. It’s a wonderful travel set for the Beneholic in your life – or a great intro to the brand.
Pai Skincare Everyday Hero Collection – $75
Ladies with sensitive skin may be wary about receiving beauty gifts for Christmas – but they don’t have to be left out! Many brands, like Pai, are making an effort to create products specifically for women with sensitive or acne-prone skin. This cool trio of products contains three full-size products and a cleansing cloth, as a fantastic introduction to the brand’s uber natural and soothing products. With a cleanser, day cream, and the brand’s signature BioRegenerate Oil, not only is this a great way to get to know Pai, it’s also a great deal – you’ll save $40 off the regular retail price of buying the items separately! Now that’s a merry gift idea. Fun fact – you can also buy Pai products at The Detox Market!
ArteStile XO Holiday Beauty Kit – $55
Good quality beauty tools are just as important – if not moreso – than the products themselves. ArteStile is a Toronto-based beauty brand with a top notch line of grooming tools handcrafted in Italy, and sold here on their website or on retailers like Walmart.ca or Amazon.ca. This pint-sized set contains four essentials any woman will use endlessly to create the perfect brow: a set of tweezers, scissors (to trim those pesky longer hairs to be the same uniform length), a pencil, and a brush – the latter of which is great for evening out eyebrow colour for a more natural look. All four items fit neatly into a little red faux croc pouch, making this superb luxe stocking stuffer or a refined pick for the minimalist makeup wearer.
Too Faced The Chocolate Shop Palette – $72 @ Sephora
I really think Too Faced takes the cake when it comes to cuteness. And cake is a fine word here, given this cute collection is infused with real cocoa powder and gives off a pleasant, sugary scent when you use it. Containing 21 decadent eyeshadows that can be mixed and matched for tons of great looks, a blush, bronzer, eyeshadow primer, mascara, and luminizer, it’s a truly sweet gift that any beauty bombshell will treasure.
Stila Bright & Bold Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set – $26 @ Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale, Sephora, beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and Sephora.ca
I love this little collection for two reasons: the price point makes it an easy choice for any friends on your list, but it can also be split into three gifts as well. Stila’s liquid lipstick means business too. One brush of it over your lips and it will truly stay put and saturate your lips, no matter how many glasses of eggnog you sip or lips you kiss under the mistletoe my friends. This cute mini-collection contains three vibrant hues from a bright sugarplum to a classic holiday party-ready red. It even works as a fab stocking stuffer for one very lucky lady!
bareMinerals Be Beautiful Ready Face and Eye Palette – $58 @ Sephora
This one caught my eye because it’s rare to see face makeup and eyeshadow packaged together so nicely – but this collection is fully meant to play nicely together. Loaded up with four eye shadows, a finishing powder, a blush, and two all-over face colours, this perfect-for-travel gift set has a soft, rosy tone throughout. Beauty mavens will appreciate the fact the kit only features matte colours, which is sort of a must-have when you’re going for that natural, fresh-faced appearance. Plus, the all-over face colours are perfect for contouring and highlighting to bring out your very best features!
essie Winter Collection 2016 – $9.99 each at Drugstores, Salons & Beauty Destinations
This holiday season has trendsetting nail brand essie garnering inspiration from the swinging 60s in London! While there are spins on classic holiday shades – Satin Sister is a teal-green and Party on a Platform is definitely a merry pop of red – there are also some unexpected shades in the mix too. I flipped for the peachy sparkle of Oh Behave, while Ready to Boa has a posh, dramatic vibe. Bonus points for new spins on classic festive metallics; a shimmery dove grey called Go With The Flowy and a bright champagne gold called Getting Groovy. Buy the entire set for a manicure maven, or split ’em up for fun stocking stuffers.
Pretty Woman Gift – $134.95 @ Lush
Swoon alert! This feminine and fun gift from Lush is jam-packed with over a dozen products designed to make any woman feel (and look, and smell) beautiful. With seven bath bombs and bubble bars to choose from, she can further lather up with one of a few soaps, body lotions, shower gels and more. Infused with rich scents of rose and strawberry, this cute set is finished off with a Bubblegum lip scrub and Passion Fruit lip balm for that perfect mistletoe-ready pucker.
Quo Ultimate Beauty Eye, Lip & Cheek Collection – $35 @ Shoppers Drug Mart
Sometimes a girl just needs some options in her life – and that’s exactly what you get with this compact little beauty collection from Quo Cosmetics. Jam-packed with a shopping 12 eyeshadows, 4 blushes, 2 powders, five lip colours, a mascara, and a mini set of beauty tools, this sliding case folds up into a shockingly small package that’s great for your gym bag, purse, or carry-on. The colours are totally universally appealing too; nothing too off the wall and a nice mix of both cool and warm finishes. A fantastic find for the gal who doesn’t have a ton of space but has a lot of love for beauty products!
Fresh Mini Mask Spa – $115
This little collection costs about the same as a one or two facials in most cities…yet will keep you in the facial business for the entire year! With five of Fresh’s best-selling face masks, it’s a sumptuous treat for any lady that likes to lavish her skin. Each 30 ml mask has its own potent benefits. Exfoliate with the Sugar Face Polish and hydrate with the Rose Face Mask (a personal fave). More frequent use-friendly masks include the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask and the Umbrian Clay Mattifying Mask. One particularly neat offering? The Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask, that gives you a more youthful glow come morning. A wonderful option for anyone that already knows and loves Fresh’s face care line!
Sephora Collection Glitter Happy Brush Set – $74
This year’s marquee brush collection from Sephora is almost too pretty to use – but use it you will. Featuring an Art Deco-inspired glittery brush stand, this cool set comes with six essential brushes – lip, precision concealer, blush, powder, allover shadow, and crease. Made from a silky smooth, animal-friendly fabrication, the base is actually surprising durable, ensuring your brushes are always within arm’s reach and not even a pesky cat or toddler can send them a-flying.
The Detox Market Gift Guide Sets – From $92.99
This year, Canada’s favourite natural beauty and lifestyle retailer is helping you make gift-giving easier than ever with their gift set ideas. Note that these sets aren’t actually available to purchase as is, however, you can use them as a jumping off point for creating the perfect gift set based on your recipient’s tastes. Are they into coffee? Include a bag of Bean Head Organic Coffee next to that On A Branch handcrafted soap. Looking for a way to zen out? A layered drop-and-go soup makes a wonderful complement to Bath Fizzie by Inspired Soap Works and a box of tasty Zimt chocolate truffles. While you can certainly pull inspiration from their gift sets – and even request them to be packaged up together by name – honestly just browsing The Detox Market website is sure to get your creative gifting juices flowing.
Paul & Joe Eye Color CS – $26 each @ beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and select Shoppers Drug Mart locations
I love shimmery, satiny shadows for the holidays, and these trios from Paul & Joe are all tops to get an easy smokey eye at home. Start with the base pale shade, spread the middle shade on the centre of your lid, and finish with the darkest shade for contouring. The price makes each palette a great choice for a gift for your closest friends – customizing which palette they receive based on their personal makeup preferences. From coppery bronze to soft pink to evergreen, there’s a Paul & Joe palette for everyone – and as per usual, you can tuck it into your favourite fashionable case too!
Who wants to win almost $500 in amazing beauty gift ideas? You do? Well, if you win today’s giveaway, you’ll score:
Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette
Burt’s Bees Face Essentials Set
Paul & Joe Lipstick Case
ArteStile XO Holiday Beauty Kit
Stila Bright & Bold Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set
essie’s 2016 Winter Collection
Quo Cosmetics Ultimate Beauty Eye, Lip & Cheek Collection
Paul & Joe Eye Color CS in ‘Stroll in the Park’
$250 Prize Package from The Detox Market (Featuring products from One Love Organics, Pai Skincare, Odacite, W3ll People, MV Skincare, and Babo Botanicals)
Eek! Want to take all these goodies home my pretties? Here’s how to enter for your shot at winning it all!
1) First off my friends! You must be a Canadian Gift Guide subscriber to enter this giveaway. Just find the ‘Gift of Gab’ box on the righthand side of this page and either hit ‘Follow’ or enter your email address. Once you’ve done that, leave me a comment by December 11, 2016 telling me your 3 favourite beauty gift ideas highlighted in this post.
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 December12, 2016 to select the winner(s), 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 for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry Opportunities:
Follow Maybelline Canada on Twitter and send out a Tweet about this giveaway and gift guide that links back to this post, and tags both them and me (@cdngiftguide). Leave a link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Burt’s Bees Canada on Twitter and send out a Tweet about this giveaway and gift guide that links back to this post, and tags both them and me (@cdngiftguide). Leave a link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Paul & Joe Beaute on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo of your favourite product of theirs onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them + me in your post, and leave a link back to it in a separate comment below.
Follow ArteStile on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo of their XO Holiday Beauty Kit (above) onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them + me in your post, and leave a link back to it in a separate comment below.
Follow Stila Canada on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo of their Bright & Bold kit (above) onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them + me in your post, and leave a link back to it in a separate comment below.
Follow essie Canada on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo of their Winter Collection (above) onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them + me in your post, and leave a link back to it in a separate comment below.
Follow @ShopprsDrugMart on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway, tagging me (@cdngiftguide), using the #QuoCosmetics and linking back to this post. Be sure to leave a separate comment below that links to your Tweet!
Follow Detox Market Canada on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo of your favourite gift idea on their site onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them + me in your post, and leave a link back to it in a separate comment below.