holiday gift idea: gift sets from Le Couvent Des Minimes

the days left to shop for gifts are becoming less and less…are you ready? do you have all of your shopping done? i just picked up the "major" gifts for my kids today, and other than some stocking stuffers {i always wait until the last minute for those}, i'm done…

but i digress...

when it comes to gift giving, fragrance is a personal preference and can be a risky choice. one truly should only give scented gifts when the gift giver {you} knows that your recipient will enjoy it {not to mention it will save that awkward moment of "oh…wow…thanks…"}…

with that said, i will now proceed to share some scented gift sets!

these sets from Le Couvent des Minimes, a brand that boasts gorgeous, simple products inspired by the long tradition of plant-based care and well-being used at the convent of Mane in the south of france look fabulous, and should be considered...i mean, why not?

take a look...

Energizing Verbena Trio: an energizing offering of products that combine invigorating verbena with refreshing lemon for a formula that pays tribute to the ardent work of the inhabitants who brought the convent of mane to life. the set includes Gardener's Hand Healer Cream, Energizing Shower Gel in Verbena & Lemon Fragrance, plus Verbena & Lemon Revitalizing Body Lotion.


Eau des Minimes Trio {pictured at top}: features an original recipe combining three refreshing citrus fruits and seven beneficial plants the Botanical Cologne of the Minims invigorates and leaves a refreshing fragrance. this set includes Eau des Minimes Fragrance, Eau des Minimes Soap Bar and luxurious Eau des Minimes Shower Gel.

Soap Quartet: these pure, vegetable based soaps are suited for all skin types and gently cleanse without drying; the scent is described as graceful and chic. includes an Eau des Missions Vanilla Fragrance Soap Bar {vanilla, benzoin, and virginia cedar}; an Eau Amiable Fragrance Soap Bar bursting with sweet orange blossom essence; and two Eau Des Minimes Fragranced Soap Bars featuring the brand’s revitalizing blend of lemon, blood orange and grapefruit.

Rose Skincare Trio: give the gift of 4 Roses to indulge, moisturize, boost radiance, and preserve a youthful complexion. this elegant gift set includes Gentle Cleansing Milk to delicately purify skin, 3-in-1 Micellar Water, a multi-purpose cleanser, toner, and make-up remover, plus the Complete Moisturizing Cream to intensely hydrate and leave a hint of fresh rose scent.

Gardener’s Hand Healer Trio: these rich hand care recipes restore overworked hands to their softest, healthiest state, whether you tend a garden or navigating modern life. with a traditional blend of reparative botanicals, this repairing kit includes the ultra nourishing Gardener’s Hand Healer Cream, a travel sized Gardener’s Hand Cream to take on the go, and the gentle Exfoliating Cleanser to prep hands for receiving added moisture.

Hand Cream Trio: an essential gift set that includes the brand's most well loved hand creams! honey and shea butter-infused Nourishing Hand Cream, Lavender and Acacia Extract Soothing Night Hand Cream, and the award-winning, best-selling Gardener's Hand Healer with shea butter and 7 beneficial plants.


are these sets heavenly or what? i would love to receive any of them… {hint, hint..wink, wink…}

:)

all winking aside i have to say, if you're a fan of L'Occitane, chances are you'll fall in love with Le Couvent Des Minimes ~ it's definitely a fabulous brand. so, if you aren't already familiar with them, visit their website,  for more info and to order some gifts!

holiday 2013 gift ideas from shu uemura, blowpro, butter London and more!

in need of more beautylicious gifts ideas? take a look at the following products and sets from some very fabulous brands, sure to make any product-loving girl happy this holiday…


shu uemura:
6 Heart Princess collection by Takashi Murami includes beautiful palettes, lip glosses, polishes and everything in between you need to sparkle this holiday season.  i can't get over how girly and fun this collection looks! definitely in my beauty wheelhouse.

blowpro:
their spray, textstyle, is a lightweight, dry texture spray with a breakthrough formula that creates instant, big texture; my daughter and i have used it ourselves! it adds shine, leaves hair touchable and looking more refreshed ~ the mini size would be a fabulous stocking stuffer or secret santa gift!

Pacifica:
i love this brand, and they create some of the best, most gorgeously scented products; now available at everyone's fave store for practically everything {Target}, the "it’s a beautiful life” holiday kits also have something for everyone! choose from the delicious Quench Lip Trio {i received this to try out and love all the flavors: Blood Orange, Sugared Fig and Cocnut Nectar}, Natural Body Trio or the Natural Skincare Collection.

Desert Essence:
give the gift of more beautiful teeth! the brand new, all-natural Dental Care line offers 6 flavors and  was created to freshen breath as well as brighten that smile without harming the environment. and if your giftee loves minty holiday scents, the peppermint soap bar would be a fabulous gift or stocking stuffer {trust me when i say, it smells amazing!}.

Biotherm:
keep skin deliciously smooth and fabulously fresh ~ a fabulous treat in the winter! you may just consider buying the much-loved Lait Corporel body milk for yourself… :)

IT Cosmetics:
i dare you to pass up the QVC-exclusive 6-pc Limited Edition Heavenly Luxe Vanity Brush Set!  made from 100 percent ultra plush, cruelty-free bristles, the chic and innovative, travel-friendly set promises to give an airbrushed finish for your skin and keep you organized, even on the go! includes uber-soft Heavenly Luxe Travel Multi-Powder Brush,  Heavenly Luxe Travel Flat Foundation Brush, Heavenly Luxe Travel Flat Concealer Brush, No-Tug Travel Crease Brush, No-Tug Travel Allover Eye Shadow Brush and No-Tug Eyeliner and Brow Brush with Spooly, all in a sleek snap shut case.


butter London:
released the gorgeous Illusionists Lacquer Collection ~ perfect for the holiday season, the Illusionists Lacquer Collection delivers glamour and chic lacquers and overcoats with a bold and unique clash of texture and opulent hues. classic lacquers Come To Bed Red and Union Jack Black are paired with a new lacquer, Bramble, and three new overcoats, Petrol, Stardust, and Stratford Honey, to add glitter textures and shimmering shades to your nails.

another fab collection to consider is the Glam Rock 6-Piece Set; it offers small, fashionable, take-them-anywhere sizes to keep those tips looking fab. create your own bespoke looks with five cult classics {All Hail the Queen, Pillar Box Red, Slapper, Trout Pout, West End Wonderland} and one new shade, Buckie.



anything on this list catch your eye? what's on your holiday wish list?

gift sets from Votre Vu for holiday 2013

for the holiday season, Votre Vu has some amazing gift sets to consider. any of them will bring a smile to the face of its recipient ~ the best gift to get back, i think, when giving gift to some you love!

Holiday Rollaway:

ever appropriate and always appreciated, this gift of alluring aromas will land you a spot on her nice list. includes two new organic french parfums, the romantic and floral Sacré Coeur and energetic and citrusy Festival. 

Embrace Moi

give the gift of silky, smooth skin! Embrace Moi, Vu’s aromatic, french-crafted skin care trio promises to do this, and add a bit of style by including a chic, snuggly circle scarf to compliment her fashion-loving self. this team of hydrating products includes Amour D’Ore Petite Multi-Vitamin Oil, a vitamin-infused dry oil, a buttery-rich body creme {Tarte D’Amande Almond Pie Body Soufflé}, and lavish Bébé Duette Original Luxe Lips and Hand Crème treatment.

Snow Bunny:

for schussing pretty down the slopes, the Snow Bunny set is the perfect mix for the snow bunny. Vu’s multi-tasking, melt-proof Vu-On Rouge antioxidant-rich color for lips, lids, and cheeks makes the perfect and portable beauty tool to create an alpine glow while a few simple swipes of Eiffel Power mascara and a frosty Lip Lustre will complete her high-altitude allure.

Oh Come Let Us Adorn Yeux:

to make her holidays bright and shiny, gift this set of shimmering shadows {Palette Play Eye Shadow Single Palette in Champagne Gold and Palette Play Eye Shadow Single Palette in Heirloom Silver, both limited edition} and professional brushes {Shadow and Define dual sided},

all trimmed with a glistening, vintage-inspired Pearl and Crystal Cluster Kilt Pin.

which set would you ask for? these would all make fabulous gifts in my opinion! visit votrevu.com for more info or to order.

info and images courtesy of Votre Vu

holiday 2013: Mary Kay Purple Passion gift set

for this gift giving season, Mary Kay has some gorgeous sets that i think are definitely worth your time and consideration. one in particular i'd like to recommend {sent to me by the brand} is their Purple Passion set...i think it's beautiful!

the Purple Passion set is all about creating an uber-flattering plummy-purple eye ~ a fabulous look just in time for all of those parties you're planning to attend; it features products from MK's At Play™ range. "On the Horizon" Baked Eye Trio is versatile and can be used in so many ways to create a smokey eye. the Mary Kay At Play™ "Purple Smoke Eye Crayon" can be used both as a liner and a shadow, and it gives just the right amount of shimmer in its purple color ~ love that!

finally, one of my mascara faves, Lash Love, comes in the shade I ♥ Plum; it offers all the same lash-enhancing benefits in a beautiful, eye-catching color. the formula defines, adds volume and doesn't clump. the formula is a bit on the wet side, so i like to allow it to dry a bit between coats.

discover every awesome gift idea ~ contact your MK rep or visit the website, marykay.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

holiday 2013: gift ideas from mark.

happy november, beauties! have you started your holiday shopping yet? mark. has some gorgeous gift offerings that you can buy and stock away now!

these goodies are glamorous, multi-functional and affordable; enjoy this look at the mark. holiday 2013 collection, but a word of warning: don't be surprised if you want many of these everything for yourself...

:)

 Angled Kabuki Face Brush ~ super versatile brush perfect for loose powder, bronzer and blush for sheer to full coverage.

Fab Five Pressed Powder Eye Shadow Compact ~ Live Richly is a palette with five pigmented, pearlized shadows in a variety of blendable and easy to apply colors.

Gift of Gab Lip Gloss & Phone Case ~ this iPhone case has a removable wrist strap, will hold  up to three credit cards, cash, your iPhone and a Glow Baby Glow lip gloss!

Earn Your Metal Liquid Eyeliner ~ with its wand-style applicator, you'll be able to give your eyes the perfect pop of color; the easy-to-apply, stays-put-all-day formula includes shades Electric Blue and Copper Flash {pictured}.

Nailed It Trend Nail ~ these mini bottles house a fabulous, high gloss nail polish that stands up quite well under normal wear; duos include Tinseltown and Snowberry, Gleam Scene and Tuxedo {pictured}.

Light Show Illuminating Face Powder ~ pearlized powder formula that adds a warm glow to face, illuminates skin, hint of color and lasts for hours.

On the Dot Lip Color Compact ~ 9 sheer and glossy lip gloss shades the provide sheer coverage in a lightweight and non-sticky formula that makes lips feel soft.

Mini Juice Gems Gift Set ~ these gorgeous tinted liquid glosses provide conditioning with shimmery, transparent color for lips not to mention a yummy fruity-scent; available in Pomegranate, Fig, Raspberry and Honeydew {my fave!}.

Showcase Color & Clutch To Go ~ includes pressed powder, eye shadow; the blush lasts for hours and a variety of lip glosses boast sheer to medium coverage.

Rock This Nail File ~ gold and silver colored faux stones on one side and file sheet on the other; it's just as glamorous to use as it is to look at!

Super Color Box Total Face Palette ~ pressed powder eye shadow and blush in a variety of shades with sheer lip gloss shades and brushes for application.

Bath & Body Trio ~ set of Three’s a Charm 3-in-1 Body Cleanser, Hit Scent Solid Fragrance Pencil and Whipped Up Body Butter; scents offered Coconut Treat, Vanilla Cream, Lemon Sugar

Get Some Scents ~ this solid fragrance pencil gift set collection would be perfect as a stocking stuffer or secret santa gift! includes scents Very Sassy, Jewel Shine, Celebrate, and Jewel.

Cosmetics Bags ~ these chic small and medium makeup bags come in a snake print design and are available in Wild About Beauty and Wildly Organized

Toolin' Around Mini Brush Kit ~ this gift set includes a face brush as well as a variety of eye shadow and liner brushes perfect for travel and even everyday use.


see anything you like or think you know someone who'd love to receive any of these as a gift this holiday? visit meetmark.com for more info and to order. happy shopping...

collage images at top courtesy of mark.; all other pics taken by me and those products featured were sent to me for review consideration. all opinions my own. :)

NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday 2013 Collection

bonjour beauties!

do not adjust your screen, that is the word holiday in the title of this post!

yes, i know, we're barely halfway through october, but this is the time of year i personally start thinking about gifting. that said, i think it's time for you to do the same...

 if not, you wouldn't object to at least starting your holiday wish lists, right? :)

so let me introduce you to the NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday collection ~ it's fabulous!

the Color collection features 17 shades ~ 4 nail shades, 3 blushes, and a new formula seen in the form of 5 eyeshadows and 5 lipsticks; the Cinematic formulation was created exclusively for the NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection. each eyeshadow boasts a velvety soft texture that glides on smoothly for high-impact color and statement-making effects.

Cinematic Lipsticks impart brilliant, glossy shine with intense color saturation. monoï butter and vitamin E give them their creamy and comfortable texture as well as moisturizing and antioxidant/anti-aging properties ~ hello well-cared for and colorful lips!

along with the Color collection are eight Gifting options for the holiday 2013 season. each set displays a print on the box, created in the spirit of Guy Bourdin. these sets will be available at various retailers {like Sephora, NARS boutiques and department stores} beginning november 1 and will be exclusive to those retailers.

the Color collection launches on october 15, 2013 online and in NARS boutiques. visit narscosmetics.com for all the latest.

for more amazing pics and how-to videos, follow NARS on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube!

info and images courtesy of NARS