Spoiled Pretty's Holiday Gift Guide

I know that many of you have started (and finished) your holiday shopping by now. So I apologize for the delay of this post. However, if you’re a procrastinator like me – you figure that there’s thirteen perfectly good days left to pick up what hasn’t already been snatched off the shelves. So, to the slackers of the world (you know who you are)…this one’s for you.

This is Spoiled Pretty’s Holiday Gift Guide, ’07 edition.

Fragrance is a very personal thing. Unless you know the recipient’s favorite scent (or he/she has requested something specific), fragrance can be a tricky gift. Even if you know the “notes” that the person likes, perfumes and colognes react to differently on everyone…so it could be a real hit, or a big miss. Instead, try The Sephora Scent Sampler; it includes samples of popular fragrances, plus a gift voucher of equal value that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full size bottle of any one of the samples included. Available for her (includes 10 samples) and for him (includes 8 samples).

Makeup, again, is a very personal thing. I typically don’t recommend buying cosmetics unless you really know the recipient. But even then…I mean, would you want someone just buying you some random makeup? I didn’t think so. Me neither. But if you insist on doing so, opt for a palette. Around the holidays, makeup companies flood the market with kits and gift sets in a plethora of price ranges. So it shouldn’t be hard finding one. The key, though, is to find one that includes products and colors that are universally flattering. You really can’t go wrong with Sephora's Supermodel Kit, a glamourous gift set filled with products worn by top models at Fashion Week Live. The set includes Stila Lip Glaze, Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, Smashbox O-GLOW, Dior Diorshow Mascara, and Sephora Blush Me! - all in a chic black sequined Sephora clutch. Or you could buy a lip gloss set. I love Stila’s Gift of Glaze set because it includes two limited-edition shades (nutmeg spice, candy cane) and favorites grapefruit, apricot, vanilla, and brown sugar. What woman would balk at that? You’d be hard pressed to find one.

Now onto bath & body products…there are so many pre-assembled gift sets out there right now – and while it’s a very sensible gift, some are just so generic and cheesy (especially those that come in a ceramic sleigh or awful wicker concoction). So look for sets with unique, pretty packaging. I absolutely adore the Sugar Tart Gift Set from Fresh; this festive set includes Sugar Lemon Eau de Parfum, Sugar Lemon Bath and Shower Gel, and Sugar Lemon Body Lotion in an elegant red, gold, and silver box. It’s a Sephora exclusive and it’s already sold out online – so visit your local store and hope you get lucky.

Finally, there’s gift cards. They’re practical and all, but c’mon…nothing says “I don’t really know you” or “I didn’t give this munch thought” quite like a gift card. All it takes is an extra step or two to show the recipient you truly care. Try a gift card to a nail salon, along with L’Occitane’s Lavender Hand Cream and a bottle of Pink Quartz Nail Shimmer from Bobbi Brown. Or slip a gift card into a chic cosmetic clutch, like this festive one from Stephanie Johnson.

These simple suggestions should help you find the gift guaranteed to spoil someone (or yourself) pretty. Happy shopping!