‘Tis the season: for socializing, merrymaking, and, of course, finding the perfect gift for every person on that very long list of yours. I’ll admit that I’m not necessarily the best or most original gifter in the world — I mean, what does one get one’s beloved father-in-law who neither wants nor needs anything? — but, I have learned one thing when it comes to gifting the ladies in my life, and that is that no female child or adult will ever hate a fun beauty gift.
I know I may be biased, but I really think that beauty gifts always seem to hit the spot around the holidays. Despite the fact that many women would love to, say, invest in a good set of makeup brushes, find a new signature scent, or experiment more with their lip color, I’ve found that many ladies are hesitant to indulge in these items for themselves. That’s why I’ve rounded up my picks for the best beauty gifts of 2014 — trust me that you can’t go wrong with these winning sets!
Sephora Favorites Superstars Set
If there’s a woman in your life that’s curious about the beauty world but overwhelmed by the possibilities, this set of miniature versions of Sephora’s bestselling products is the perfect way to ease her into primping. Cult classics like NARS Blush in Orgasm, Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, and Fresh Sugar Rosé lip tint are surefire wins for even the beauty novice — they’re simply tried and true.
L’Occitane Memoirs Of A Hand Cream Collection
As soon as I locked eyes on this set of eight (eight!) travel-sized hand creams from L’Occitane, I knew that not only would it go in this gift guide, but I also needed it. For myself. During this time of the year, hand cream is my saving grace — and I would love, love, love to stash these lotions all over my house, at my office, in every bag, etc. etc.
Tom Ford Holiday Lip Color Set
A $200 lipstick set? I know it seems totally over-the-top, but I’m telling you, this is one beauty indulgence that is more than worth it. Give this set to your lipstick-obsessed best friend, and you will make. Her. Life.
Atelier Cologne Miniature Discovery Collection
Fragrance seems like it would be a great holiday gift — but, this can be tricky territory, as selecting a fragrance can be such a personal thing. Instead of buying one full-size fragrance for a loved one, I’d recommend gifting a set of a few mini fragrances, like this fragrance flight from hip new brand Atelier Cologne. This way, your lucky gift recipient will be able to try out the different scents over time — and, if one stands out as the runaway favorite, you can always gift them the full-size version of their pick next year!
Urban Decay Vice 3 Limited Edition Palette
We all love eyeshadow in theory, but in reality, most of us tend to grab the same neutral-ish shade day in and day out (for me, it’s my trusty bronze shadow from Lancôme), and where’s the fun in that? This palette of 20 new shades by cult-favorite eyeshadow brand Urban Decay is the perfect gift for a beauty-obsessed teen — or, for a grown-up lady that could use some extra color in her life.
For the natural beauties that you know, this is the perfect minimalist-chic makeup wardrobe that will simply enhance the glow they already have. Stila is one of those brands that I’ve loved since I was a kid — their products are both universally flattering and fun to use.
For your mother-in-law/your boss/someone you want to both pamper and impress, may I offer up this delightful collection of skin care superstars from Fresh? In my mind, this company can do no wrong; every product that they make is luxurious, gentle, and totally nourishing.
Yves Saint Laurent Eye Essentials Set
Have a friend that’s a new mom? Treat her to this set of fatigue-hiding luxe concealer and eye-defining mascara — she’ll be thrilled, trust me.
Sephora Collection Alexis Bittar Liquid Gold Beauty Brush Set
I literally can’t think of a woman in my life who wouldn’t be in love with this super-sleek and sculptural set of brushes by jeweler Alexis Bittar for Sephora. This beautiful and useful set will only exist for a limited amount of time, so no one would blame you for buying an extra set for yourself!
