What can you get for under $30 these days that makes a decent gift?
There are tons of gift-worthy items under $30 to use as a stocking stuffer or a modest gift.
Here are 14 of our favorites to give, to get, or to buy for yourself!
Decadence is Good!
Mark Jacobs Decadence Mini .13 fl oz ($14.99 .13 oz.) is a replica of the larger sized bottle, down to the soft touch outer carton.
The little “handbag” with gold rope handle holds the Eau De Parfum with notes of Italian Plum, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine Sambac, and Liquid Amber for a sensual day to day scent.
Top notes are Italian plum, iris flower, and saffron leading to a romantic heart of Bulgarian rose, jasmine sambac, and orris.
The bottom soothes the way to sensuality with vetiver, papyrus woods, and liquid amber.
Find Marc Jacobs Decadence fragrance at many retailers. Our sample was from Fragrance.com
Mehron’s Giltzy Metallics:
Mehron has been the leader in professional makeup for over 90 years supplying products stage, movies, runways and for beautistas around the world.
For glitzy glamour, there are 6 colors of Mehron Metallic Powder ($10.95 for 0.5 oz) to be used alone for a subtle sheer color or mixed with Mehron’s Mixing Liquid to create the intense effect of real metals.
Mehron’s Metallic Powders are vegan and never tested on animals. Ours in gold l made us want to channel our inner Bond Girl in James Bond’s “Goldfinger” but we just used a bit on eyes and lips!
To get the most out of this “gilty” makeup Mehron suggests pouring a small amount on a clean dry surface, applying it with a brush, sponge or finger.
You can also combine it with Mehron Mixing Liquid to form a water-resistant vibrant liquid that dries completely.
We found Mehron at Amazon and at select beauty stores, but we suggest you visit Mehron.com
Nyakio’s Cold Pressed Oils:
Handmade with cold-pressed, multi-functional oils in small batches, a good gift is this Cold Pressed Oils Discovery Kit is from Nyakio (Neh-Kay-Oh) ($19/$25 value).
A few drops of one of these precious oils, massaged onto face and neck after cleansing, can brighten, soothe and firm the skin.
They’re made with ethically, sustainably- sourced ingredients, each oil has been blended in small batches.
Inside the box are 3 cold-pressed oils: Manketti & Mafura Anti-Aging Oil (0.15 oz.) from Zambia and Zimbabwe; Marula & Neroli Brightening Oil from Mozambique & Morocco (0.15 oz.); and: Maracuja & Yangu Soothing Oil Soothing Oil from Rwanda and South Africa (0.15 oz.).
A gift of these internationally-sourced oils makes a nice thank-you gift for just about anyone.
Find this attractive and unique set at ULTA Beauty and Ulta.com.
Festive Fragrance Ornament
Exclusive to Sephora is an Atelier Cologne Perfume Ornament with 0.24 fl. oz. bottles of Orange Sanguine & Vanille Insensée housed in a festive box with peek-a-boo-window and an orange ribbon ornament tag.
The fresh-smelling Orange Sanguine fragrance features top notes of blood orange from Italy, bitter orange from Spain, red mandarin from Italy and a heart of jasmine from Egypt, geranium from South Africa, black pepper from Madagascar.
Following an international theme, the base notes include tonka bean from Brazil, sandalwood from Indonesia, cedarwood from Texas.
Vanille Insensée is a soft, sensual gourmand we would call gourmand lite.”
It features top notes of coriander from Russia, cedrat from Italy, lime from Mexico, a heart of jasmine from Egypt, Haitian vetiver, oakmoss from Slovenia and a base of vanilla from Madagascar, oakwood from England, and amber.
Wear orange for day, vanilla for the evening!
At press time we didn’t have an exact price on this lovely little gift, but we estimate to be under $20.
For more information visit Sephora stores and sephora.com
New For Nails:
We have already reviewed the Little Miss Nutcracker Nail Lacquer Collection for Holiday 2017 from Morgan Taylor and Gelish Mini, but here are two more fabulous holiday “Little Miss Nutcracker” gift ideas for the nail-obsessed!
Morgan Taylor REACT Base & Top Coat Pack ($19.95) is housed in their holiday “Little Miss Nutcracker” collection finery, and also with a mini nail kit in glittery silver!
Inside the mini mani kit are four essentials: a nail scissor, clipper, metal file, and two tools to trim and push cuticles.
The Advice Sisters Beauty and Style reviewed these products in 2016 (read our review) of the Gelish-Infused Technology that “cures” polish with natural light.
The process bonds with nail lacquer for up to 10-days of wear and loads of shine.
If you’re wearing nail colors that might normally tend to stain your nails, this also helps keep your natural nails from turning colors.
We have already reviewed the Little Miss Nutcracker Nail Lacquer Collection for Holiday 2017 from Morgan Taylor and Gelish Mini, but there’s MORE! Check out these two amazing Morgan Taylor 4-Piece Mini Packs ($14.95) .
One features four mini glitter polishes (It’s My Party, Glitter & Gold, Rare as Rubies, Make a Statement – multi-color, silver, red, blue glitters).
The other offers four mini-sized bottles of colors from the Little Miss Nutcracker Nail Lacquer Collection for Holiday 2017 (Plum-Thing Magical, Don’t Toy With My Heart, Just Tutu Much, and Silver in My Stocking – purple, berry, gold and a chunky silver top coat).
For more information visit http://www.morgantaylorlacquer.com/
Burts Bees at ULTA:
Burts Bees under $10? We have two lip-loving gift ideas.
Burt’s Bees Must Have Moisture Kit ($9.99) has a festively boxed set of three moisturizing lip balms from Burts Bees: Beeswax Lip Balm, Coconut & Pear Lip Balm, and a Red Dahlia Tinted Lip Balm Tinted Lip Balm with a hint of color that keeps hydrating up to 8 hours.
Another cute boxed set with a red cord to hang it as an ornament is the Burt’s Bees Mistletoe Kiss Kit (9.99). This set has tree.uh...three favorites: popular Pomegranate Lip Balm, sheer pink Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm, and a slim Lip Shimmer in minty, pink Peony Shimmer.
These are all 100% natural varieties. The Pomegranate Lip Balm revitalizes features beeswax to condition dry lips. The Peony Lip Shimmer contains Shea Butter and antioxidant-rich Fruit Oils to moisturize, nourish and soften lips.
The tinted lip balm adds just a touch of color and up to 8 hours of hydration (great for casual days).
Find Burts Bees Gifts at ULTA Stores and ulta.com
Don’t misseltoe out on even more holiday gift ideas for less than $30! — Use the “Click Here to Read More” link below
Handbag Hair Goodie!
A large, pop-off cover works as a bristle protector and the mirror inside helps you touch up on the go but it looks like a big luscious “macaron.”
Radial bristles really do untangle even long hair and wet hair (we tested it). Milk & Sass says it will also work wonders on extensions and wigs we didn’t test this).
The velvety feel is as sweet as a genuine macaroon. Cookie-tinted colors make this a really cute stocking stuffer.
Treat yourself –get this handbag goodie for your own purse! For more information visit: https://www.milkandsass.com/
Three Creative Calendars!
For the cat lover gift the chance to uncover an adorable cat or kitten every day of 2018!
An inexpensive gift they’ll love is the Cats 2018 Mini Day-to-Day Calendar Calendar by Andrews McMeel Publishing ($14.99)
The square calendar is smaller than some of the other cat-centric desk calendars, but it saves space on your desk, to and this one has a built-in easel for display.
You don’t just get a kitty photo, you also get a “daily bonus” of a maze, a design to color, the fact of the day, soduku, and more.
Cat calendars are the purrfect gift.
Q: Why is the cover of the Secret Garden 2018 Wall Calendar: An Inky Treasure Hunt and 2018 Coloring Calendar by Andrews McMeel Publishing) almost all in black and white?
A: It is an adult coloring book and a calendar in one!
The large, 12″ x 12″ calendar has a beautiful, intricate design for every month that is designed for you to color it any way you want.
What’s your mood for May? Try all pastels or the colors of Spring bouquets. Moody in March? Greys and blues might help cheer you as the weather warms up again.
Color any way you want each month.
This calendar features a lucky 13 of author Johanna Basford’s intricate illustrations from Secret Garden, her best-selling adult coloring book. None of the 2018 calendar designs have appeared in her previous wall calendars!
Are you a fan of Thomas Kinkade or know someone who is?
The Thomas Kinkade Lightposts for Living 2018 Wall Calendar ($14.99) Andrews McMeel Publishing is a slam-dunk great gift that’s affordable and also good for the office grab bag.
The 12″ x 12″ calendar is beautifully illustrated in full color.
Check out the tranquil, light-infused paintings that like other beloved painters (e.g. Norman Rockwell) affirm the basic values of family, home, faith, and the luminous beauty of nature.
You can get this calendar in a variety of places–we found ours on Amazon.
For the Cat:
Pets like to get gifts on the holidays, too! SmartyKat Mer Mouse ($7.00) is a “kicker” type toy that encourages wrestling and hugging, part a cats’ natural hunting behavior.
While the luxurious and genuine feathers were quickly “hunted” by our test subjects, the “MERmouse” continues to delight making crinkling sounds cats like.
The toy is safe for pets with stuffing (for those who want to know) made from recycled plastic.
It’s such a cute toy you might just want to keep it on your desk. We got ours from Amazon but they’re also available from your favorite pet store.
Discovery Crafts for Kids & Adults
At a TTPM Holiday Toy expo, we discovered the Discovery 3DMotioSandscape ($19.00).
The round rotating frame arrives empty with bags of colored sand.
You put it together (set up time is about 10 mins) and if you did it correctly, you’ll delight in the endless combinations of sand in the sandscape you created.
A simple, two-piece set makes it easy for kids (8+) and fun for the entire family. In full disclosure, ours didn’t look quite like the package, but turning it around helps us stay calm at home or at work.
Inside the big colorful box is: Sandscape set (2 pieces), 1 plastic funnel (5.0” x 2.38” ), 1 157gsm poster (18” x 24”) and 4 bags of tinted sand (1 oz. each).
Get yours at stores like Michaels Crafts and also at http://www.discoverykids.com
*thanks to our amazing advicesisters.com staff for help with this big holiday gift review
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