Gift Guide: 10 Beauty Gifts under $50 from Nordstrom

Recently Marianne told me that she pretty much only purchases beauty stuff from Nordstrom these days and I get it. What's not to love? They have free shipping and returns and the holiday stuff is SO GOOD this year. Plus they carry some interesting brands, like Kiehl's and Jo Malone. For this gift guide I upped the limit to $50 (though several of my picks are $25 and under because I like to stay in the realm of reasonable.) Here's what I picked:

Oh, Dior Lip Glow. I have this and I've also given it as a gift. It's stupidly expensive but it's so nice! There's just something about it - just a little bit of luxury and the packaging is really satisfying. Lip Glow is a great gift, especially for people who like a little bit of makeup but not too much. 

I don't really do my nails but I love the whole nail art trend and a little Butter London tool kit in a cute tin? What nail fanatic wouldn't love this? I mean, I kind of want it and I have no business near any kind of nail kit ever. 

I think Clinique was probably most everyone's entry into department store makeup, in part because the products are really wearable and not too expensive. This Chubby Stick set is not going to, like, rock anyone's world, but they're good, wearable colors. Hashtag #safegift

Oh, man. I love Jo Malone so much. So so much. My current favorite is still the wonderful Wood Sage & Sea Salt perfume. It's over $50, however, so instead I'm suggesting the Body & Hand Wash which is pretty luxurious stuff. (Or, if you really want to impress, just spring for the perfume. It's worth it. Nutmeg & Ginger is also awesome. You're welcome.) 

Julep polish is good stuff and the colors ink this set look perfect for winter! Plus, they all come in an adorable festive box. Done and done. You don't even really need to wrap it. (Am I the only one who hates wrapping gifts? Because I truly hate it.) 

Another scent I love is Kiehl's Coriander and this set of Coriander Body Lotion and Liquid Cleanser is a deal. Kiehl's Coriander is great - a gender neutral, herby/soapy, clean scent that I can't get enough of. I'd be super-delighted if someone gave this to me. Like SUPER delighted. 

More Kiehl's! This set includes minis of some of their most popular items in a gorgeous box featuring the artwork of FAILE. (Plus, 100% of net profits from the sale of this product benefits Feeding America® so you can feel all do-goodery about buying this.) Kiehl's is just killing it this holiday with lots of beautifully packaged, inexpensive gift sets. Wouldn't this little duo be a great stocking stuffer or teacher gift?

A few years ago Marianne gave me a small Lorac eyeshadow palette and I was really impressed by how nice it was. I haven't actually tried this one but I love that these colors would work on pretty much anyone and it includes matte and shimmer colors. Plus, a tiny tube of primer! If this is more than you want to spend on your SIL, check out this Lorac rose gold palette which is under $30.

A Beauty Blender sponge is a the kind of thing you can only give to someone who's a makeup fanatic because norms will be all, "Um, thanks for the pink...egg... thing?" It takes a while to figure out how best to use the Beauty Blender, but once you get the hang of it, it's a really good tool. You can use any damn soap you want to clean it but it makes for a nicer gift to give someone the set.

Finally, MAC has some really fun sets out for the holiday and this Nutcracker Suite set is SUCH a good deal - you get four full-size eye products and a cute bag for under $40! All the MAC holiday sets are on sale right now, just FYI. Get to it. 

A complete list of the products I featured:

Dior 'Addict Lip Glow' Color Reviver Balm - 001 Sheer Pink • Christian Dior • $33
Butter London 'Colour Hardware' Nail Art Tool Kit • Butter London • $30
Clinique Chubby Stick Sampler Set - No Color • Clinique • $25
Jo Malone(TM) 'Wood Sage & Sea Salt' Body & Hand Wash • Jo Malone • $40

Julep(TM) Royal Suite Holographics Nail Color Set - No Color • $24

Kiehl's Since 1851 Classic Scents Coriander Edition Duo • Kiehl's • $45
Kiehl's Since 1851 Faile Collection For A Cause • Kiehl's • $45
Lorac 'Unzipped' Shimmer & Matte Eyeshadow Palette - None • LORAC • $42

Beautyblender Original Makeup Sponge Applicator & Cleanser Duo • $25

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Plum Eye Kit - Plum • M·A·C • $31.88

Gift Guide: 10 Gifts Under $25 from Anthropologie.

Oh yes, it's that time of year when you're slapped in the face with blogger gift guides! Peppermint lattes for everyone! In truth, writing holiday gift guides helps me find gifts for people in my own actual life, so if I must suffer through it, so must you. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. That's why I went for the low gift amount of $25 because unless you reaaaaally like someone, that seems like a reasonable amount to spend on an adult. Let's do this:

When shopping for a gift at Antho I ask myself the old question, "what would I enjoy but wouldn't buy for myself?"  I think a seriously pretty agate bottle opener answers that question. I mean, who would really need such a thing?

But, also, who wouldn't? It's so pretty and frivolous and would fancy up any home bar. 

Next I'm going to recommend a mug, but not just any old mug. I've pretty much given everyone I know one of these awesome monogram mugs so it's time to up the game. With Llamas: 

 

RIGHT? If you have someone in your life who wouldn't love a llama mug (or narwhal or unicorn) just don't give that person anything. I mean it. The nice thing about mugs-as-gifts is that you can fill them with candy or mini booze bottles or cookies or whatever. It's a gift that holds a gift. 

Next, a zodiac candle: 

SNL did a bit on candle gifts last weekend and I get it - giving someone a dusty peach-scented Yankee Candle is really the best way to tell them exactly how much you despise them. BUT, giving someone a fancy zodiac candle in a beautiful container? That says, "I like you enough to remember your birthday." which is pretty special. Just go with it. 

Now, let's talk about hand lotion:

I pretty much never buy super-fancy lotion for myself (okay, occasionally L'Occitane) so I'd be pretty happy if someone gave me some really nice hand lotion, especially if it was rosemary mint in a hipstery apothecary bottle. 

Now, I'm going to make a suggestion that'll only work for someone you know well, because you can't just buy makeup for anyone. This Face Stockholm red lipstick though:

Right? If that isn't the perfect red lipstick, I don't know what is. I also very much enjoy the sleek packaging.  

Since we're being frivolous, I have to point out that every time I'm in Anthro I can't keep my little grubby mitts off these little fur pom keychains: 

Seriously, they are delightful and I have it on good authority that I'm getting one for Christmas. It didn't hurt that Kate said, "You know, when I was in Paris I saw these everywhere. Everyone had them." ORLY. (Yes, I am that impressionable.) 

Okay, hey. Let's take a break for a minute and talk about you. You know what you need? Guess. I'll wait. Nothing? Hm. Fine, I'll tell you then. YOU NEED A SEQUINED PELICAN ORNAMENT: 

What? You don't think so? You really think you don't need this? Uhhhhhh:

IT HAS A GLITTER FISH. A GLITTER FISH IN ITS BEAK. YOU NEED THIS. I'm starting to get upset. I'm going to move on. 

I haven't fallen prey to the adult coloring book thing (yet) but I totally get how it's fun and relaxing and I'd be pretty delighted if someone gave me the fashiony Vogue coloring book:

Related, I'd also be ridiculously happy if someone gave me this gloriously fun set of colored pencils:

It's a like the fancy adult version of school supplies but even better because HOW PRETTY. Also pretty, basically anything by the Rifle Paper Co who incidentally makes my favorite iPhone case. They also make adorable desk calendars which would make a fantastic gift: 

This one is for the traveler in your life and there's also an Alice in Wonderland version that's under $25! Rifle also makes gorgeous gift wrap and holiday cards. Just saying. I'm going to stop now and take a nap. Good luck with your shopping! Get yourself a sequin pelican!