The holiday season is coming, and I know some of you are already doing your Christmas shopping. Some might be having a hard time as to what to give out to their beauty junkies friends and family. So I thought of doing this segment in my blog. This may help in your holiday gift shopping. I tried my best to give an affordable option as well as a high-end one.
Let's begin!
1. CUSTOM MINI-MERGENCY KIT

This is a great option for those who want a personal touch to their gifts. Plus, you can really adjust the contents of your mini-mergency kit depending on your budget. You can go really affordable or really fancy with this.
How to assemble your gift-able mini-mergency kit:
1. You need a VANITY/COSMETICS POUCH : If you're on a tight budget, I'm sure you can find these in the stalls of 168 or Divisoria (Philippines) or in your local dollar/thrift shop (US) for a dollar or less. You can find some with cute patterns and print and even handmade ones. I went to bazaars and markets and I found cute pouches for just P20 ($0.4)! If you really want it personalized, you can have the recipient's name embroidered in the pouch.
2. Just fill the pouch with contents! You can put a mini tweezers, nail clippers, disposable mini combs, cute pocket mirror, band-aids (the ones with cute patterns gives a nice touch) , matchbox sewing kit, wet and dry tissue, mini fast drying topcoat (ESSE, OPI, ORLY have mini versions of their nail treatments), lipbalm (Carmex or Blistex in a jar are good options, since both are versatile than other lipbalms), a packet of pantyliner or tampon, oil blotting sheets, disposable makeup brushes, nail polish removing pads, etc. The possibilities are really endless. Just open up your imagination! As I have said before, you can adjust depending on your budget. You can put things you have found on the thrift shop or put branded items! You can even add cosmetic items to it. Including a mini lipgloss keychain is a great idea too (An affordable lipgloss charm can be found at ELF, you get 8 lipgloss charm for $3. For a more expensive options are from Bloom or Clinique.) You can't go wrong with this MINI-MERGENCY KIT!
2. CUSTOM EYESHADOW/BLUSH QUAD

Another way you can personalize your gift, is creating an eyeshadow / blush quad. I recommend MAC and Stila, as you can buy empty quads and refills. BTW Stila's blush and eyeshadow are the same size so you can create quads with both eyeshadows and blushers.
3. EYESHADOW PRIMER

I personally think you can't maximize the potential of any eye makeup without a good primer! It will keep the eyeshadow from creasing, helps eyeliners and mascara from smudging. I recommend Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, or Art Deco Eyeshadow Base.
4. KORRES JASMINE BUTTER TO GO SET

This would be a great gift, specially for those with dry skin! The Korres body butter is amazing, and the lip butter moisturizes well too! My favorite scent in the Korres line is Jasmine, the scent is to die for! Love it! This set is just $15! Pretty affordable! Both the rich and not so rich will surely appreciate this!
5. YSL Rouge Volupte and Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick

You might have already know how I love love love the YSL Rouge Volupte. I think these are the perfect lipstick as of today. Creamy, pigmented, and moisturizing, plus the extravagant gold packaging, what more can you ask more? I'm sure anyone who receives a Rouge Volupte would have a happy and pretty lips!
However, not all have the money to give out YSL Rouge Volupte's so a more affordable lipstick is the Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick. This is not as creamy, nor as pigmented or moisturizing as the YSL Rouge Volupte but this one is fairly good lipstick, but do take note that this is still creamy and non-drying, and the pigmentation is decent. I think this is one of the best lipstick in the drugstore makeup scene if not the best. The packaging looks nice too, reminds me a bit of Dior. For the price, you can't go wrong.
6. MakeUp Forever 25th Anniversary Aqua Eyes Kite / Maybelline 2in1 Impact Shadow Liner by EyeStudio / L'oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliner

These are 3 of the best pencil liners in the market. MUFE Aqua Eyes is best staying power wise, but pigmentation wise the Maybelline and the L'oreal one are a little bit better. Though MUFE Aqua Eyes has the best staying power, the others have a great staying power just lagging behind abit to the MUFE . I must say that these liners works almost the same to each other. For the budget conscious, I suggest just getting the Maybelline and the L'oreal ones.
7. ELF Studio Brushes

Another great gift is the ELF Studio Line brushes. These are really soft and the quality is great! Plus it's just $3 to $5 a pop. If you're feeling generous, you can give out the complete brush set, and you might as well include the brush case also available from ELF.
8. China Glaze Loves you snow much collection

These are gorgeous, glittery goodness! Nail fanatics will surely love these! Perfect for the holidays too!
9. Bare Minerals Get Started Kit / Bare Naturals Mineral Makeup Starter Kit

Mineral makeup enthusiasts will surely enjoy these makeup kits. I recommend the Bare Minerals Get Started kit for international readers, while for local readers may enjoy the same high quality and affordable mineral makeup by Bare Naturals. Bare Naturals also have kits/sets available. Visit
http://barenaturals.multiply.com for more info.
10. Urban Decay Book of Shadows 2 / NARS Pleasures of Paris / Smashbox WISH Eye Wish Palette / 88 Color Palette

I'm sure any makeup junkie will go gaga over these palettes! I recommend the NARS Pleasures of Paris for those who likes neutrals, Urban Decay Book of Shadows 2 and Smashbox Eye Wish Palette for the ultimate eye makeup galore. For an affordable option, you might opt for the 88 eyeshadow palette (available at
http://fourkikays.multiply.com and Dollface in the Philippines).
11. Guerlain Illuminating Pressed Powder

A nice gift for those who loves the glowy look without the disco ball appearance. I'm positive they'll like the luxurious texture and formula.
12. Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System / Neutrogena Wave

A cleansed face before going to bed is the most important/first step to having a perfect skin. Share the blessing of having a great skin by gifting the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System or the Neutrogena Wave for a cheaper alternative.
13. La Mer The Essentials + La Mer The Balm


I'm sure some of you want to give luxury and opulent gifts to their loved ones this holiday season. Why not give the gift of youth? For those people that money is no object, I recommend giving out La Mer the Essentials. La Mer is known as one of the most luxurious brand available under cosmetics and skincare. The Miracle Broth contained in the La Mer products promises to give a youthful appearance in continuous use. For those who want to still give fancy gifts but still in a budget, I suggest La Mer lipbalm. It's the most affordable out of the La Mer line but still luxurious.
14. Temptu Airbrush System

I'm sure everyone want's that perfect skin you see in the magazines, but we all know it's pretty difficult to achieve that unless you have the perfect set of genes and you have all the time and money in the world for those beauty treatments. One way to get that flawless look is by faking it! The TEMPTU Airbrush system will make a perfect gift! It will blow the beauty junkies' minds away :)
15. All expense paid trip to the SPA!

Another wonderful gift will be an all expense paid trip to the spa! I'm positive they will enjoy being pampered, and why not get pampered yourself too? It can be a great bonding moments for the both of you!