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!

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!

Good Clean Fun

Sometimes, it's super-fun getting dirty. Shouldn’t it be as enjoyable getting clean again? With these soap stars, it can be!


Soap Leaves by Trace Elements
Only Mother Nature could form soaps this beautiful. Genuine dried and cured leaves form a pretty, latice frame for a gentle soap resin that has been mixed according to a secret Thai formula. Each honey-scented soap leaf will last for one to two washings. Available in Ivory or Green. Box of 20.


Sapone da Viaggio Assorted Gift Soap Set by Tocca
A charming gift set of three Sapone bar soaps in Stella (Blood Orange), Florence(Orris Rose), and Cleopatra (Grapefruit Cucumber), Sapone Da Viaggio makes the perfect gift. A gentle, moisture-rich bar soap that uses key ingredients like Kukui Nut oil, blue-green algae extract and Vitamin E to hydrate, firm and repair skin, leaving it soft and glowing.


Bar Soap by Pure & Basic
It was only recently discovered that green tea has deodorant properties that are surprisingly effective. In formulating their exclusive soaps, Pure & Basic used Green Tea extracts that provide natural deodorant protection. For the first time, health-conscious consumers can buy a gentle deodorant soap that really works. Ingredients include tea tree oil, lotus leaves, and shea butter. Available in five fragrances: Fresh Fig, Green Tea, Honey Shea Butter, White Tea, and Wild Banana Vanilla (my fav!).


La Source Triple-Milled Soap by Crabtree & Evelyn
La Source cleansing bars are formulated with shea butter to moisturize and condition your skin. The relaxing sea air fragrance smells so good, I get compliments from friends and strangers.


Original Soaps by Fresh
These soaps have a pure vegetable oil base enhanced with nourishing shea butter. Because the bars are milled twice, there are no air pockets - which makes the soap dense, luxurious, and long-lasting. My favorite scents are Verbena, Vanilla, and Mangosteen.


Let's Circulate Salt Rub Soap by Origins
Massaging nubs and purifying Dead Sea Salts buffered in moisture-grabbing Glycerin lather up to release surface toxins and get positive energy circulating throughout your whole being.


Exfoliating Body Soap by L'Occitane
Enriched with exfoliating apricot kernel powder, nourishing grape-seed oil and revitalizing organic grape juice from Provence, this exfoliating soap cares for your skin and reveals all its beauty. It smoothes rough areas and effectively sloughs away dead cells and traces of ink, adhesive bandages, self-tanners, etc.

Good Clean Fun

Sometimes, it's super-fun getting dirty. Shouldn’t it be as enjoyable getting clean again? With these soap stars, it can be!


Soap Leaves by Trace Elements
Only Mother Nature could form soaps this beautiful. Genuine dried and cured leaves form a pretty, latice frame for a gentle soap resin that has been mixed according to a secret Thai formula. Each honey-scented soap leaf will last for one to two washings. Available in Ivory or Green. Box of 20.


Sapone da Viaggio Assorted Gift Soap Set by Tocca
A charming gift set of three Sapone bar soaps in Stella (Blood Orange), Florence(Orris Rose), and Cleopatra (Grapefruit Cucumber), Sapone Da Viaggio makes the perfect gift. A gentle, moisture-rich bar soap that uses key ingredients like Kukui Nut oil, blue-green algae extract and Vitamin E to hydrate, firm and repair skin, leaving it soft and glowing.


Bar Soap by Pure & Basic
It was only recently discovered that green tea has deodorant properties that are surprisingly effective. In formulating their exclusive soaps, Pure & Basic used Green Tea extracts that provide natural deodorant protection. For the first time, health-conscious consumers can buy a gentle deodorant soap that really works. Ingredients include tea tree oil, lotus leaves, and shea butter. Available in five fragrances: Fresh Fig, Green Tea, Honey Shea Butter, White Tea, and Wild Banana Vanilla (my fav!).


La Source Triple-Milled Soap by Crabtree & Evelyn
La Source cleansing bars are formulated with shea butter to moisturize and condition your skin. The relaxing sea air fragrance smells so good, I get compliments from friends and strangers.


Original Soaps by Fresh
These soaps have a pure vegetable oil base enhanced with nourishing shea butter. Because the bars are milled twice, there are no air pockets - which makes the soap dense, luxurious, and long-lasting. My favorite scents are Verbena, Vanilla, and Mangosteen.


Let's Circulate Salt Rub Soap by Origins
Massaging nubs and purifying Dead Sea Salts buffered in moisture-grabbing Glycerin lather up to release surface toxins and get positive energy circulating throughout your whole being.


Exfoliating Body Soap by L'Occitane
Enriched with exfoliating apricot kernel powder, nourishing grape-seed oil and revitalizing organic grape juice from Provence, this exfoliating soap cares for your skin and reveals all its beauty. It smoothes rough areas and effectively sloughs away dead cells and traces of ink, adhesive bandages, self-tanners, etc.