Recently in Cosmetics: Kits & Palettes Category

While everyone was oohing and ahhing over Sandra's super-shiny hair at the Oscars, we were busy obsessing over J Lo's  perfect eyebrows! Yes, there are many salons that can shape similar brows, but remember the recession?! Not everyone can afford a trip to the brow Dr every month. The best advice is to lighten your brows a shade with dye, but it isn't safe to recommend any at home kits, because the trick is to know how light to go. Worst case scenario you end up with no eyebrows, or disproportionate eyebrows...it can get scary. Second to dye, brow shaping kits are a must-have and the best way to perfect your arch. 

And the nominees for best eyebrow shaping kits are:



1. Tweezerman Mini Brow Kit, Sephora $25 2. Cle de Peau Beaute Eyebrow and Eyeliner Compact, Neiman Marcus $70 3. Too Faced Brow Envy Shaping and Defining Kit, Sephora $35 4. Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings, Benefit Cosmetics $30 5. Anastasia All About Brows Kit, Sephora $75 6. Sephora Collection Arch it Brow Kit, Sephora $35

The highly anticipated Alice in Wonderland movie is being released next month, and in celebration of the event, two of our favorite brands have launched goodies we think you'll be excited about.

 

 

OPI Alice in Wonderland Collection is a small, eclectic collection of shades, but we think it's the opposite of nonsensical. These magical glitters and cremes create a fantastic mix of eccentricity sure to delight any nail polish fanatic. Colors include Absolutely Alice (dreamy blue glitter), Mad as a Hatter (multi-coloured glitter), Thanks So Muchness! (shimmery red) and Off with Her Red (sizzling hot red). Limited Edition. Mini set, $10 at amazon.com

 

 

Urban Decay Disney Alice In Wonderland Palette features a top that opens to reveal a pop-up scene of Alice in the mushroom forest and just behind her, a makeup lover's dreamland: a fierce collection of 16 eyeshadows, 2 liners and a primer. Though we dream of seeing Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, we admit we're loving this palette just a hare more. Limited Edition. $52, sephora.com

 

 

The holiday season has officially started, and we are thrilled. It not only means the anticipation of getting glammed up for parties, but the arrival of fabulous gift sets, palettes and limited-edition products that scream "you must take me home-- I'll make a great gift".

The Too Faced Glamour Revolution makeup book caught our attention at first glance and we immediately added it to our wish list and thought of a few friends who would appreciate it at gift giving time.

This set contains:

• Milk Chocolate Single Eyeshadow
• George & Weezie Single Eyeshadow
• Boy Toy Single Eyeshadow
• Label Whore Single Eyeshadow
• London Calling Single Eyeshadow
• Glamazon Single Eyeshadow
• Dirt Bag Single Eyeshadow
• Party Girl Single Eyeshadow
• Neptune Single Eyeshadow
• 3 Lip Glosses
• Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
• Brightening Blush in La Vie En Rose
• Shadow Insurance (colorless application)

 

Too Faced Glamour Revolution (a $100 value)- Limited Edition. Sephora exclusive. $39.50, sephora.com

Bobbi Brown introduces her gorgeous new Nudes Eye Shadow Palette, an everything- but-boring set of neutrals that are flattering on everyone. These gorgeous shades will give your eyes a modern and sophisticated look, not to mention add a fabulous complement to the colorful prints and accessories you'll be wearing this Fall season. Limited-edition. $60, nordstrom.com

To our delight, and inspired by the upcoming film Confessions of a Shopaholic, Too Faced Cosmetics has created a beauty palette for every glamour girl on the go. We love palettes, and this one looks fabulous, not to mention it's something to distract us while we wait in anticipation for the movie's release on February 13.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This must-have palette features 15 products, including 2 concealers, Face Powder, 3 eyeshadows, Eyeliner Powder, Eyebrow Powder, Duo Bronzer Powder, Blush Powder, 3 lip glosses, 2 application tools, and even a checklist; everything needed for glamorous movie-star lips, eyes, and face. $29.50 ulta.com

It's official: You have found yourself with only a few gifts and still have names that have yet to be crossed off the list. You have to now choose gifts that are easy to find because ordering online at this point could be risky. Check out these amazing little goodies that can be found in your local drugstore or department store. Put the single items together, or take inspiration from our suggested gift pairings and create a one-of-a kind- gift she's sure to love!

 

 

MAC Softsparkle Eye Pencils are five mini-sized pencils for use on the eyes. Includes three Softsparkle Pencils in Peacocked, Mint and Olive, and Chocolight, and two Eye Pencils in Black Funk and Fab Orchid in a glossy red-orange patent cylinder-shaped gift box with a lift-off lid. We love this little gift set and know that whoever recieves it would use it for a long time! $ 22, macys.com

 

 

 

L'Oreal Infallible Lipstick is one we love because it looks and applies just like a lipstick. The no-fail formula stays on lips all day and the moisturizing topcoat keeps lips looking and feeling smooth. Pick up a few of these, tie them up in a bow, put them into a gift bag with her favorite beverage and your gift is sure to be a hit. $11.99, drugstore.com  

 

 

Pantene Pro-V Nourishing Moisture Replenishing Mask will give her incentive to nourish those locks she's been torturing with all of the heat styling she does. Wrap this up with a cute hair accessory and a gift certificate to pay for her next cut or blowout-- trust us...she'll love it! $3.59, drugstore.com 

 

 

 

philosophy Jump Starter Kit includes everything she'll need to get her skin back on track. We love Purity Made Simple for it's once-step cleansing abilities (it even removes mascara!), and its amazing smell. Hope in a Jar  and Hope In a Tube keeps our skin looking dewy and youthful without ever feeling too greasy. The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash will slough of the dry dead cells that make skin look dull. You'll find this at your local philosphy beauty counter and online, $55, at beauty.com

 

Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glistening Drops really helps to give our hair the shine and managability that we crave from hair products. It tames frizz and flyaways and works on wet or damp hair. She will love, Love, LOVE the way her hair looks after she uses it, as well as the uplifting citrus scent that is amazing, and you'll love the very small price tag! Pair this up with some sparkly bangles or chandelier earrings so she will shine her way into 2009. $4.29, drugstore.com

 

 

Burt's Bees Tips n' Toes Hand & Feet Kit is perfect if she loves to pamper herself, but has trouble finding long periods of time to do it in. We enjoy many of Burt's products, and find this kit to have so many great treats in it that we make time to use these. When we can't, they are small enough to fit into a purse, so a mid-day cuticle treatment is never too far away. $12.99, burtsbees.com

 

 

Benefit Bathina Body So Fine Balm is a favorite little luxury to have right out of the shower. We love this moisture-rich balm that leaves our skin luminescent and soft. Applying it with the body puff makes it an extra special product to have. The silky finish is flirty and totally irresistible, leaving skin smelling and looking absolutely incredible! Find it at your local Benefit counter or boutique. $30, macys.com

Over at StyleBakery, we featured Tarte The Vanity because we couldn't miss the chance to share such an amazing deal with you. Today we think it would make a great gift! 

So, if you're still looking for that perfect gift, we suggest you look into purchasing Tarte's The Vanity Limited Edition Palette, being sold exclusively at Sephora. This amazing little kit is packed with everything (except foundation) to create an amazing face for day, night and anything in between. Take it on a trip, or keep it on the countertop. Whether you give it to your mom, your daughter, your niece or your best friend, she is sure to love this palette!

 

 

 

As a follow-up to last years' best-selling 'we wish you wealth' palette this limited-edition beauty treasure chest is back and better then ever! In addition to eyeshadows, lip glosses, and brushes galore, this year's kit also includes deluxe sizes of Tarte's best-selling Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara and Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess. All products are loaded with skinvigorating™ ingredients: vitamin E, beeswax, rice bran wax, carnauba wax, and mineral pigments.

This set features:
- 16 brand-new eyeshadows
- 16 brand-new lipglosses
- Deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara
- Deluxe Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess
- Deluxe luminizer
- Four powder blushes
- Deluxe eyeshadow
- Eyelining brushes

A $494 retail value, $52, sephora.com 

Bare Escentuals Ruby Collection is a limited-edition, nine-piece bareMinerals collection perfect for giving this holiday season. Any of us would love to find this wrapped up with a pretty bow!

Infused with real ruby powder to enhance your beauty with the same authentic, fascinating qualities of the ruby, these 100% pure bareMinerals eye and face colors will capture the vitality of ruby gemstones. The warm color palette of this collection, including brushes and a lip polish, provides you with a daily dose of luxury and a naturally radiant way to express the real you!

This Sephora-exclusive collection includes:
- bareMinerals Ruby Radiance All-Over Face Color (pink rose) infused with ruby
- bareMinerals Golden Ruby Eye Color (peach gold) infused with ruby
- bareMinerals Vintage Ruby Eye Color (rose fawn) infused with ruby
- bareMinerals Wild Ruby Liner Shadow (plum chocolate) infused with ruby
- Double-Ended Classic Black Mascara & Ruby Beautifully Luminous Lashes
- Ruby Buxom Big & Healthy Full Color Lip Polish (jeweled mauve)
- Soft Sweep Cheek Brush with custom handle
- Double-Ended Tapered Shadow & Eyeliner Brush with custom handle
- Stylish faux-crocodile Ruby Clutch

A $145 value you can get it now for only $54! sephora.com