These days, it’s hard to get a great gift under $50.00, but if you think outside the box, you can find some really interesting items that are not just good for giving, they’re the type of item that won’t end up on a shelf or in the give-way box. Here are a number of nice options for every personality and interest on your gift list. These pamper, but they won’t blow out your budget:
For example, who doesn’t need Tweezers? No, I’m not crazy! I’m not talking about the utilitarian, boring ones from the drugstore. Hardly. $30.00 gets you the Red Glitter Petite Tweezer Set from Tweezerman. This is a bold red. real snakeskin case with magnetic snap closure, into which are nestled not one, but two, high quality tweezer minis. Tweezerman is a ‘Best of Beauty’ winner chosen by Allure editor, and perhaps the best general use tweezer in the world, beloved by eyebrow artists and everyone else who has tried Tweezerman vs. lesser tweezers. The perfectly aligned, hand-filed tips are slanted to grab every hair, every time with the smoothest, true precision. This duo arrives coated in shiny red enamel, and they’re glitzed with silver glitter. One has a slant tip, the other ,a sharp, pointy one. Both are mini-sized, about the length of an average woman’s pointer finger. Each has a protective plastic cap over the tip. The inside of the snakeskin case is bright red velvety plush. All that glitters isn’t gold! This has got to be the most elegant, glamorous tweezer set I’ve ever seen, and it is small enough to stuff into a makeup bag. Seriously luxe, and it is a reasonable price. Get it for someone special at tweezerman.com
We adore face in a case palettes or all sizes. We’ve just reviewed the big ticket Laura Mercier Glamour to Go palette a few days ago on advicesisters.net, but another amazing (and more affordable) option is the Colour to Go Face in a Case Palette — Warm (*Or Cool) Neutrals by Laura Mercier ($48.00). At just under $50, you are getting not just a great gift, but a lot of versatility in a color palette not much larger than a large size gum packette. This one is purse and pocket-friendly, not to mention a must-have to pop into your weekend tote.. This double-decker palette is housed in Laura’s signature chocolate brown plastic palette with interior mirror. The top offers Laura Mercier eye shadow lovers three silky, intense shadows that blend like a dream, in a symphony of browns, from light to dark (highlighter, midtone and definer). The actual limited edition colors are: Ballerina Pink (Luster formula, more like ivory pink); Rosy Taupe (Luster formula, shimmery golden taupe), Cocoa Brown (Sateen formula, soft slightly matte brown) and the Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Ground Espresso is a deep deep brown for added intensity. Pull down the bottom of the compact, and find more beauty booty! You’ll see a large rectangle of mid-tone, slightly golden-shimmered Bronzing Pressed Powder called: “Soft Bronze” that will flatter most but the lightest and darkest complexions; a Second Skin Cheek Colour called: “Pink Lotus” in a mid-tone pink, and a really gorgeous, pink and shimmery, silky, sensous, mini Lip Glacé called Baby Doll . If your complexion, or that of your gift recipient, is cool, there is also a palette featuring cool neutrals, and it’s equally lovely. High quality makeup creates glamorous face looks, but takes up just a tiny bit of space. We LOVE it!
For a Laura Mercier gift that “gives back” and is just under $50.00, consider the Bonne Mine Healthy Glow for Face & Cheeks Crème Colour Palette ($48.00). This ultra-sheer, blendable palette was inspired by Laura’s work with celebrity clients, who wanted a universal compact that would “wake-up” their skin and give them an immediate healthy glow. You’ll get a variety of natural, no makeup looks from the palette which includes: a Bronzer Veil, 2 Cheek Veils and 2 Glow Veils. 100 % of the profits from the sale of this product will be donated to the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund, to raise awareness and fund research and educational efforts that will help diagnose, treat and support women with ovarian cancer
Visit your favorite Laura Mercier Makeup Counter or Http://www.lauramercier.com
In A Pikle is a company created by friends, who realized that there were things no woman should ever be without. So they devised cute carry-alls to put in a tote, a car, or just to carry as-is, filled with little essentials. There are a number of cute styles, including this “Dill Pikle” style, filled without 20+ convenience items. This Dill Pikle style is about the width of a rolled up copy of Vogue (except for the September issue) and about half the length. The approximate dimensions, when laying flat, are 7″ X 10.5″ . “Dill With It” is available in three styles: a Green Circle Print Exterior with Black Interior, a Paisley Print with Coral Flap Exterior with Grey Interior, or Stripes with Green Flap Exterior with Grey Interior. They have a nice silver buckle flat that closes with a strong magnet. These In a Pikle items are attractive, and
and the styles are attractively priced at $29.99 – $39.99. The starter pack includes: 1 exterior cover of your choice; 4 double sided clear bags; 1 hand sanitizer pen; 1 spot remover pen; 3 individually wrapped antibacterial wipes; 1 credit card size mirror and floss combo; 1 pair of tweezers; 1 pair of fingernail clippers; 2 emery boards; 1 travel size sewing kit; 1 retractable mini scissors; 1 24″ tailor tape; 3 hair bands; 5 rubber bands; 5 bobby pins; 5 safety pins; 5 paper clips; 1 phillips head mini screw driver; 1 straight head mini screw driver; 1 mini pen; 1 “In A Pikle” sticky notepad; 10 adhesive bandages; 1 package travel tissues; and 1 pill box. But wait! There’s more (as they say in the InfoMercials): you can add to and personalize your Pikle with additional “paks” (most are $5.99) such as the Beauty Refill Pak, that contains: 1 credit card size mirror and floss combo; 1 pair of tweezers; 1 pair of fingernail clippers; 2 emery boards; 3 hair bands; 5 bobby pins; 1 mini pen and an “In A Pikle” sticky notebook. You may think you’ll never need all of these things, and maybe you won’t, But if you keep one of these in your car or suitcase, you never will be “lacking.” The minute my friend saw my green wallet, she begged me to hand it over (and reluctantly, I did). I was once told that on Survivor, contestants were allowed one personal item that they couldn’t live without. Whether on Survivor, or just traveling for pleasure, I’d select In A Pikle. Obviously, they make amazing and affordable gift ideas too. Visit http://inapikle.com
Looking for affordable glamour? AVON has got it! Paula Abdul has recently curated a new accessories line for the brand, called “Forever.” Looking at the collection during an Avon editor’s holiday preview the collection is opulent, but still kind of sassy and free spirited. I really could believe that Ms. Abdul would like and wear these items, although maybe hers would be in pricey, precious metals. Paula’s collection for Avon includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, and handbags. From the holiday collection, I’ve selected the Look of Fine Teardrop Earrings $25.00), Teardrop Ring ($20.00), bracelet ($25.00) and Necklace ($30.00) available in sparkling red crystals, purple crystals, and my choice, clear. The entire collection is really lovely, and you can’t go wrong with any of the pieces as a holiday gift idea, but wearing them all together (in my opinion) is overkill. If I had to pick one piece to suggest it would be the necklace, in clear crystal, that is nicely done in silver tone metal, with open-back bezel set “gems” and pave crystals, An extender chain lets you wear it as a chocker, or as a longer, 18″ piece. * the Spring “Forever” pieces are going to blow you away…and I can’t wait until 2013 to share some of them with you! Ask you favorite Avon representative about Forever, or visit www.avon.com or call 800-FOR-AVON
Do you know a beauty lover who also loves wine (or an oneophile who loves beauty products)? At The Daily Suite atop the Empire Hotel, during Fashion Week, I spied the Clos du Bois Rouge Cosmétique by Pixi . Also on hand was Pixi founder, Petra Strand, who was inspired by the deep ruby-red hues of Clos du Bois Rouge wine (the winery’s latest red). What could be more glam than this?! The Makeup collection Winery’s newest red-blend. The Rouge Cosmétique features three beauty essentials – Rouge Water Tint for cheeks, Nail Rouge polish and Gloss Rouge for lips, in a lovely zippered and quilted makeup bag with a gold plaque featuring the Clos du Bois logo. I particularly like the slim, travel-friendly, mini lip gloss that can be added to a cell phone or key chain. Include a bottle of Clos du Bois Rouge wine or $30.00, available on www.ClosduBois.com. The makeup kit alone, is just $19.00. As the holidays are as much about giving as they are about receiving, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Clos du Bois Rouge Cosmétique by Pixi will go to Step Up Women’s Network, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to igniting women and girls to fulfill their potential.
In the Winter, there’s nothing worse than the dry, itchy and sometimes, cracked, skin you can get on your hands and the rest of your body. Moisturizing often is the best way to keep your skin soft, supple and comfortable. To the rescue with a great gift for women and men, couples and even younger people is L’Occitane, beloved for their luxurious hand creams. Last holiday season, L’Occitane offered a boxed banquet of their most popular hand creams. But, rejoice! This year L’Occitane is offering another half-dozen “goodies” beautifully boxed for holiday 2012. A literal “bouquet” of hand creams, this gift is called the L’Occitane en Provence Hand Cream Bouquet ($50.00) . The 1 ounce minis are perfect for your purse or pocket, suitcase or tote. Six favorites are nestled into an impressive, hard-sided box feaaturing L’Occitane’s signature holiday design. Inside, the holiday hand delights include: Mini Hand Creams (1 ounce each) in Date Bouquet, Mango Flower, Rose Petal, Pivoine Flora, Shea Butter, and the newest, Almond. L’Occitane has gift-ables for everyone, in every price point, including stocking stuffers. The Advice Sisters have already covered these (or soon will) in other holiday features. You won’t want to miss them, so follow us @advicesisters on Twitter, or even better, subscribe to our feed at the top of this page. Visit your favorite L’Occitane Store, or http://usa.loccitane.com
Conair Quick Gems ($28.99) is definitely the sort of novelty item that will appeal most to young girls through teens and it is under $30.00 (how can you go wrong?)! But I think there are plenty of grown women who are going to want to play with this as well, even if they have to call it a “mom & daughter” activity. I’m not going to lie, this may be a bit silly, but it is a lot of fun. Inside the blister package is a purple applicator powered by 2 AAA batteries (not included). The gem applying device is already loaded with 18 spring-loaded “jewels” in thethe shape of pearl hearts, diamond teardrops pink flowers and turquoise ovals. You get a few additional replacement gems. Once you unscrew the battery case using a mini philips screwdriver (annoying!) and load the batteries, and screw the case back on, you’re ready to bejewel your hair. You simply place a small amount of hair in the slot on the applicator and press the “on” button. The jewel will automatically be affixed to your hair, and the round head full of gems will automatically advance.
Add as many gems as you like to a strand, just by moving the applicator with your hair strands in it, down a ou can add one or two, or use all of them, scattering them around your entire head like a halo of jewels. The effect is up to you, from subtle, to glitzy. The good news is that you don’t need to continue to buy new gems. When you’re finished with your party look you gently pull the jewel’s two sides apart to release the spring, and you can re-load it easily into the applicator. This is one of those little gifts that makes a huge impact. Your tween or teen girl can use this safely on her own, and do no damage to her hair. For the price, it really is a scene-stealing gem, for real. You can get the Bejeweler and lots of other lovely Conair hair tools and accessories, kn mass market and drugstores nationwide, or visit www.conair.com
