Michael Kors Wonderlust

Fragrance is an all time gift classic and there are a lot of good picks out there.
Michael Kors Wonderlust isn't a new fragrance but it's new to me. Somehow I had never tried it despite being a fan of MK perfumes in general.

The scent is slightly sweet with a creamy feel thanks to almond milk and dianthus ( carnation) notes. I don't detect any almond smell, just the creaminess and a little powder.  There are also musks and benzoin which adds  warmth and a touch of spice comes from cinnamon. It's a skinscent type of fragrance but has far more throw and strength than they generally have. It has a sexy quality about it without being too bold.

The bottle is a lovely, heavy one with ombre peach tones and a goldtone cap.

For holiday there are many gift sets available wherever the brand is sold inlcluding a cute mini duo at Ulta.

Michael Kors Wonderlust is 115$ for 3.4 oz

Dionis Goat's Milk Hand Cream Gift Sets

I've said many times that hand cream gift sets are among my favorite gift ideas. Most of us use and love hand cream plus when it's really brrr outside you need it. So it's a useful gift that can be personal and luxe too.  They are also a good last minute choice that  doesn't look it.

Dionis makes their hand creams using goat's milk , and they say that goat's milk is the same pH as our skin so it works especially well .

For gifting they have a couple great sets along with individual tubes, which are only $ 3.49 each .

There is a wide variety of fragrances and you can try many of them in the Inspire set.  Five  1 oz tubes in all including my favorite, Crisp Pear. ( $16.99)

The Reflections set has 3 larger tubes ( 2 oz) including Very Berry  ( $16.99)

The lotions all have nice scents , not strong but noticeable. And they do a good job of moisturizing  with a non greasy, easily absorbed formula.

Dionis is available at Dillards, Ulta and dionisgmskincare.com

Rodial Rose Gold Hand & Lip Set

It's cold out there so hand cream and lip balm are a must. They also make great gift because everyone pretty much needs and uses them. It's an easy pick , no size or color preference needed.

Rodial gets glowing with their Rose Gold  Hand and Lip Set. Inside is a Rose Gold Gand Cream and Rose Gold Lip Balm , both full size.

The lip balm is very creamy and moisturizing with a doe foot wand applicator. It  has a slightly opaque pearlescent tint. Shea butter, rosa canina fruit oil , sunflower seed oil and gold offer good for lip benefits.

The hand cream is nicely  moisturizing and softening while also using gold ,shea butter, glycerin, sunflower and grape seed oils  and peptides for a little anti aging boost.


Rodial Rose Gold Hand & Lip Set is $ 40 at Rodial and Saks

Burt's Bees Honey Pot Gift Set

Burt's Bees makes some of my fav gift sets every year.  There's a couple reasons- they have effective, good products , they are well priced, they're easily available and almost everyone loves/needs good body products in Winter.

So when you need gifts at the last minute , these sets don't look like a quick grab or afterthought.

Honey Pot  packages a Milk and Honey Body Lotion , a Honey Lip Balm and Honey and Grapeseed Hand Cream, all full size, in a festive box.

Pretty perfect for co-workers, grandma from the kids, or the cousin who decided last minute to drop in.

Burt's Bees Honey Pot Gift Set is 14.99 at Target, Walgreens, Amazon and more.

Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch Perfume

 
Kierin NYC is a new fragrance company with 4  new fragrances, all inspired by enjoying each part of a day in NYC and the stories that come out of it. 

Founded by Mona  Maine de Biran and the scents/brand are genderless and inclusive. They are also cruelty free and formulated without Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates and Formaldehyde.

Sunday Brunch  is the mid point of the day in the line and a bright blend of bergamot, citrus and a light waft of jasmine. The fragrance has a 15% concentration which gives the citrus notes a little more kick and lasting power.  It's very much  Earl Grey tea with lemon. Given my love of citrus fragrances (and tea) this is a win.  It's a fairly uncomplicated scent but very well done and blended. It's soft, pretty and uplifting. 

I also love the packaging graphics. They remind me of my days in NYC in the '80s . 

I am really liking this line, the scents and the aethestics . Check them out at   www.kierin-nyc.com 

Sunday Brunch is $ 78 for 1.7 oz EDP

Aromatherapy Associates Complete Wellbeing Collection

Aromatherapy Associates is a UK based company specializing in  therapeutic high quality essential oil blends.

They've got some lovely gift sets for holiday including this Complete Wellbeing Collection  featuring 6 face oils and 10 body oils.

Each bottle has an aromatherapeutic scent with oils made for de-stressing , relaxing, reviving while the facial oils are for plumping, mattifying and firming among others.  I used Deep Relax over the weekend ,  a nice soft ,light blend of vetiver and chamomile .

The set comes boxed in two parts- one box for body, one for face and there are cards included that describe each oil , contained in a small glass bottle.

With the body oils, you apply to torso and other areas, let sink in, inhale the aroma and then hit the bath or shower.

The facial oils get massaged into skin after cleansing for you to get both the fragrant and skincare benefits

The set is very elegant and the type of gift that should please almost anyone on your gift list. After all I'm pretty sure most of us can use to de-stress and relax, am I right ?

$ 97 at Aromatherapy Associates or Amazon

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Bi Phase Spray Oil

I do love a good spray oil for my hair and Kerastase's new Elixir Ultime is just that. This is a new updated spray version of the old formula ( which is still available) but this is my first time trying either one.

The new oil is bi phase ( shake before use to mix) with argan , camellia, corn germ and sunflower seed oils and myrrh extract. It's lightweight, doesn't weigh hair down and adds light to medium moisture while smoothing and de-frizzing. It's perfect for my hair's drier ends after I blow dry.  I have normal to oily hair otherwise so I only use it on ends and some mid lengths .

If you have very dry hair, I'm not sure this would be enough to really super hydrate your locks, but it will add a nice boost of moisture that's especially good for daytime when you don't want hair to look greasy or weighed down.

Elixir Ultime Bi Phase can be used on damp or dry hair and also as a pre -cleanse treatment and has a pleasant, light fresh floral fragrance . I need to mention the bottle too, since packaging matters. It's heavy glass , which I like , and it has a very sparkly gold background. Luxe all around.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime is $ 50 at Kerastase USA or salons where the brand is sold.

It Cosmetics Brush Believer Super Squad Gift Set

Every year It Cosmetics does great gift sets  and this year is no exception.

I especially love the brush sets , because,well you have tried their brushes right ? So, so soft.   I have to run my hands over the display every time I go to Ulta.

The Brush Believer Super Squad set is exclusive to  Ulta  and comes with 5 full size  Heavenly Luxe  brushes and a folding vanity  tray.

In a neat feature both the brushes and  tray are magnetic so you can stand the   tray  on one side and  place the brushes there. It makes for a nice look.

I'm   not sure that I'd call the folding piece a tray but it  can be laid flat and has a zip pocket in the middle also .  It folds up pretty thin so it'll  store away  or travel  easily .

It  Cosmetics  Brush Believer Super Squad  is  regularly $68 at Ulta but is currently on sale for $47.60

Chanel Biarritz Body Lotion & Shower Gel

I’ve professed my love for Chanel’s Paris- Biarritz many times, here and on social media. I can’t get enough of the fragrance and  all Summer wore it almost every day ( a rarity for me as I have so many frags and I like to change it up).

When I saw there was a coordinating body lotion and shower gel, I knew I had to have them and they don’t disappoint .

The lotion is creamy and pretty moisturizing for a  fragranced one. Often they are more scent oriented and less about moisture. It’s not heavy  moisture mind you, but a decent amount especially for day wear. The fragrance notes are a bit more diffused  in the lotion, it doesn’t smell exactly the perfume but it’s very noticeable  while not being too much and lingers for awhile.

The Shower gel is truer to the perfume and is a simply wonderful, luxe way to start or end the day.

A neat thing to note , is the bottles and how they open. Chanel even includes a little instruction paper. You twist the cap and the top slides open to reveal the opening where the product  comes out.

All three of the Les Eaux De Chanel fragrances have a matching lotion and shower gel, so if Biarritz is not your fav, one of the others may be.

Chanel Les Eaux Body Lotion and Shower Gels ( for hair also acc. to the packaging) are $ 50 each at Chanel.

Jane Iredale Let's Party Eyeshadow Palette

Jane Iredale gets the party season started with the new eye  Let’s Party eye palette.

With four deeply pigmented, vibrant colors and one champagne highlight shade these are not just party time perfect but also Winter time perfect to pop against the layers and neutral coats we bundle in this time of year.

It’s been awhile since I tried the line, although it has a special place in my heart as  Iredale was the first backstage I ever went to and I loved it.  Let’s Party has been the perfect way back to the brand. 

And while personally I’m not a blue eyeshadow fan I can’t deny the boldness and fun of the shade included here, if you wear blue well, this is  a beauty and will makes your eyes really pop.

The green applies a little more muted than it looks in the pan , the rest are color true . The shadows are smooth , creamy and blend well with minimal fallout and wear long.

I have to mention the shiny gold compact ,too. It’s shiny for magpies like myself and  easily fits in a small purse/evening bag or even a pocket .

The box is also done in festive gold , so a ribbon might be all you need to make it gift giving ready.  

Jane Iredale’s Let’s Party Eye Palette is $59 at janeiredale.com 

Chanel Le Lion de Chanel & Ombre Premiere Shadows - Holiday 2018

Chanel's Collection Libre for holiday this year comes in with a roar.  The new eyeshadows and highlighter are all embossed with a regal lion head .

Two of the new Ombre Premiere shadows are Cuivre Lame and Noir Lame. I've never met  a copper shadow I didn't like so this goes straight into the rotation. I am more uneasy with black , but decided to give Noir Lame a try and was pleasantly surprised at how wearable it is. It blends easily and well into a more dark charcoal look . I used all over my lid and didn't feel like it was too much on my pale self .  Of course  it's great as a liner or crease shade too.

Le Lion de Chanel is a star product of  holiday . A shimmering gold highlighter that's very creamy and soft. Yes it's similar to many highlighters there , but it's also Chanel . If you're a collector  you'll want this. It's hard not to admire the pretty here.

Chanel Le Lion de Chanel is $ 70
Chanel Ombre Premiere Eyeshadow is $ 30 and comes in 4 shades .

Arbonne Moisturizing Lip Balm Trio

I love lip balms, all kinds , and  you probably do too.  With gift giving season here along with cold weather, I'm ready to load up on them.

New from Arbonne is this cute trio of  balms . Each balm comes in an individual box inside the larger box and is festively decorated with a holiday symbol that's also in gold on the tube . With this, they can be given as a set or individually.

Vanilla has a light peachy shimmer tint and that makes it my favorite .  Rose has a barely there rosy tint, and Peppermint has light shimmer with no color.  They are well fragranced with true to their name scents.

These are very moisturizing with castor seed oil , shea butter sunflower , olive fruit and jojoba oils and the moisture lasts on lips.

This was my first time using anything from Arbonne .   I see they are a brand that is usually bought through reps/consultants which may not be everyone's cup of tea, so you can also buy online directly .

Arbonne Moisturzing Lip Balm Trio is $ 35 at Arbonne 

Rituals- The Ritual Of Ayuerveda Balancing Treat Gift Set

I love a good bath and body gift set at the Holidays. They are among my favorite gifts to give ( and get ).

Rituals has self care down inspired by Eastern traditions and their holiday sets are beautifully packaged  , ready to gift as is. No wrapping required.

The Ritual of Ayurveda set includes smaller but not mini shower foam, shower oil, body cream and dry oil. All musts for winter dry skin . The fragrance is a nice soft one  with Indian Rose, Sweet Almond Oil and a hint of spice. The dry oil has the least fragrance with the body cream having the most.

The box has a golden medallion  on the front and this 'ritual" comes in a red one wrapped with a pink ribbon and gift tag attached. Other varieties come in different colored boxes.

Rituals has many sets available across price points and fragrances.


Rituals- The Ritual Of Ayurveda Balancing Treat  Gift Set is $ 29.50 at Rituals online and in stores.

L'Oreal Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Balm & Honey Eye Gel

L'Oreal went to the hive for the newest skincare .

Age Perfect All Over Balm & Honey Eye Gel both use the ingredient to add some moisture along with calcium and antioxidants to help soothe and soften skin.

All Over Balm reminds me some of their Golden Balm line from years ago. There was a fab eye cream that sadly was dc'd.  This new balm is meant to be used anywhere you need some heavy duty moisture. Elbows, face , hands/knuckles, etc. It's thick , hydrating with shea butter, beeswax , apricot kernal and sunflower seed oils.  The fragrance is lightly floral with a little honey. I really like this and will be using it a lot now that cooler weather is coming. I also love that it's easily found at any drugstore . ( $ 24.99)

Honey Eye Gel has a neat triple rollerball to smooth over eyes . The gel is thin and adds light moisture with a slight firming/tightening feel. That makes it  a nice pick for day but the cooling feel of the rollerballs is welcome after a long day. This does have alcohol denat. in the ingredients ,I wish it didn't but I still like it overall. Coconut and jojoba seed oil along with glycerin add the moisturizing. ( $ 24.99)

Also part of the line is Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Nourishing Moisturizer which has a new look and the addition of honey . It's a nice thick, super creamy , highly moisturizing rich cream for day or night.