S E P H O R A FAV O R I T E S H O L I D AY R O U N D - U P To gift or not to gift? That is the question. As fun as the holidays are, they are also known to induce stress ulcers. Gifting can be really hard. Somehow, it’s even more difficult if you buy your gifts early, because then you have to deal with the inner turmoil of whether or not to keep the gifts for yourself. Your intentions start out good, but then your present pile just looks so tempting to unwrap. The struggle is real. This Sephora Glossy post on our exquisite Sephora Favorites kits puts that challenge to the test. BECKY PEDERSON WHY YOU SHOULD GIFT IT This is a plush gift for someone who loves to pamper. Think: your friend whose bathroom could totally double as a day spa. It’s also easy to break apart if you’re looking to up your stocking stuffer game. WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP IT There are some nice, high-end products in this box. Do your loved ones even realize how generous you’re being by giving this stuff away for free? The Kate Somerville exfoliator is a premier at-home facial, and the Nude treatment oil is magical. The Jurlique mist is an interesting addition, because in addition to being a toner you can also use it as a makeup setter (just spray it on and pat into your skin to make your foundation look natural). While they are famous for their hand creams, the L’Occitane shower oil is the brand’s secret weapon. Its nutty smell is ideal for girls who want a fragrance but don’t like florals; also, it’s a great base for perfumes because the smell is very subtle and the oil will make whatever you spray stick to your skin longer. SUPERSTARS: a 12-piece makeup set with full sizes that covers all your beauty needs. WHY YOU SHOULD GIFT IT These products and colors are all really universal. They flatter every type of person, age group, and skin tone. While this is THE starter kit for the girl just getting into makeup (parents with teenagers, pay attention!), it’s also a great gift for a makeup junkie—yes, she probably owns all these products, but the smaller sizes would be a perfect addition to her travel bag. WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP IT You’d be giving away all your must-haves—makeup, moisturizer, SPF, hair, nails, and fragrance. It’s an entire, foolproof beauty routine in one box. (For this reason, it makes the case for keeping this box as a full set instead of breaking it apart to use as stocking stuffers.) The Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, paired with Anastasia’s Brow Wiz, will keep you on trend with textured hair and full brows. The NARS blush in Orgasm looks good on everyone, and the Formula X polish in dark burgundy looks beautiful whether you’re wearing a comfy fall sweater or a chic dress at a holiday party. PERFUME SAMPLER: a 14-sample set that includes a voucher for a full-size bottle. WHY YOU SHOULD GIFT IT This is choice for someone just getting into perfume, as well as people who want to experiment with layering
for a customized scent. The box covers all the scent families. Though you’ll find it full of popular, luxury brands, the fragrances featured are all outside of what these brands are known for. You’ll want to keep this together as a set, as you’ll want the recipient to be able to use the voucher for a full-size bottle. WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP IT This should be obvious. If the thought of spraying on fragrances in a store gives you anxiety, this is the box for you. COLOGNE SAMPLER: a 12-sample set that includes a voucher for a full-size bottle and comes with a toiletry bag. WHY YOU SHOULD GIFT IT Compared to us ladies, men seem to be a little more resistant to nailing down their scent selection, so this gift is a nice push in the right direction. This set contains mostly old standbys with a few newer scents thrown in. All the fragrances are from top brands that have stood the test of time. Because of this, whomever gets this set will fall in love with something in it. As with the women’s fragrance box, you’ll want to gift this box in full so the recipient can use the voucher. WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP IT The toiletry bag is awesome. GIVE ME MORE LIP: a 17-piece set—that includes some full sizes—of glosses, sticks, tints, and creams. WHY YOU SHOULD GIFT IT This is the queen of product assortments. It has it all: balms, high pigments, and glosses; classic products and new formulas; and a range of reds, pinks, berries, and nudes. Lip enthusiasts will undoubtedly love this box. In addition to the wide range of options, there is also lots of room to play. You can layer these products to create whole new looks. This also makes an ace gift for girls with a more basic beauty routine. With all the options, she will certainly find something in here she likes. For the everyday lip, there are low maintenance options from Fresh, Tarte, Benefit, and bareMinerals. But even women who wear the barest of makeup tend to break out a bold lip for New Year’s Eve, so she’ll be checking out the rest of the box. Of course, this set is also great to divvy up between everyone on your list. Classic brands like Laura Mercier and Hourglass will please the more conservative women, while brands like Bite, Kat Von D, and Too Faced will satisfy the younger crowd. WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP IT We don’t suggest you give everyone lumps of coal and keep the entire thing to yourself, but since this huge set was basically built to break apart, no one will be counting if a couple products wind up in your purse. SHOP SEPHORA FAVORITES EXCLUSIVELY with SEPHORA COUPONS 20 2014