Holiday Gifts Under $50

Hi friends! I get a lot of questions about holiday gifts that you can *slyly* hint to your husband, boyfriend, mama that you want for Christmas! And some of you are making wish lists for Secret Santas and White Elephant gift exchanges and need some inspiration. So here are five suggestions (and three splurge ideas!) from Beautycounter that will get you high quality, safer skin care and makeup in your stocking or under the tree!

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For the makeup newbie:

Nude Eye Trio

$38 // Includes Volumizing Mascara, Liquid Eyeliner, Silk Cream Eyeshadow. Made with safer ingredients, this timeless eye trio delivers glimmering lids, dramatic definition, and full, fanned-out fringe.  All-new Liquid Eyeliner in black creates precise definition, from classic lines to cat eyes. Silky smooth with a hint of shimmer, new Silk Cream Eyeshadow glides on seamlessly, blends like a dream, and lasts all day (and night).

 

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For the makeup pro:

Smoky Eye Trio

$38 // Includes Volumizing Mascara, Liquid Eyeliner, Silk Cream Eyeshadow. Made with safer ingredients, this timeless eye trio delivers glimmering lids, dramatic definition, and full, fanned-out fringe.  All-new Liquid Eyeliner in black creates precise definition, from classic lines to cat eyes. Silky smooth with a hint of shimmer, new Silk Cream Eyeshadow glides on seamlessly, blends like a dream, and lasts all day (and night).

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(& if you’re looking to splurge…)

Ultimate Nudes Palette

$88 //  This ultimate anytime, anywhere eyeshadow palette includes 18 all new neutral shades, a double-ended brush, and a removable mirror. A trifecta of finishes—satin, metallic, and matte—creates endless looks for every skin tone. All shadows get their luxurious texture from naturally-derived cocoa seed butter.

 

Winter Jewels Palette

$58 // A jewel-toned color collection for the entire face, this limited edition palette includes 11 all-new shades —8 eyeshadows, 1 eyeliner, 2 highlighters—and a removable mirror. It’s an ideal palette for any occasion, day or night, all wrapped up in gold-foil artwork exclusive to Beautycounter.

 

Best of Brushes Set

$58 // These are the four brushes every beauty needs—in one giftable (or keepable) set. Powder Brush is designed for applying blush, bronzer, or finishing powder. Angled Blush Brush fits the angles of your cheeks for easy color application and contouring. All-Over Eye Brush blends base shadows over eyelids and brow bones, while Crease Brush precisely blends contour shadows. Each brush is made with soft, animal hair-free taklon bristles.

 

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For the no-makeup, let-the-skin-breathe junkie:

Glow and Go Mini Oils

$28 //Reveal your best skin yet with these potent treatment oils in take-anywhere, try-me sizes—all wrapped up in a red sliding-drawer gift box. No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil blends hydrating  marula oil with vitamin C, which helps illuminate and even skin tone. No. 2 Plumping Facial Oil contains jasmine oil to replenish moisture and omega-rich argan oil to help minimize the appearance of fine lines. No. 3 Balancing Facial Oil features ylang ylang flower oil and wild chamomile to calm and nourish skin.

Shop One, Share One. With every purchase of this set, Beautycounter will donate a set to patients at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC)—a trailblazing destination for research, education, and patient care.

 

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If you’re thinking you’re getting coal in your stocking:
(OR for the fella in your life)

Clean Slate CharCOAL Duo

$48 // Formulated with binchotan charcoal from Japanese ubame oak, this duo of best-selling products gently washes away impurities without harsh surfactants. No. 3 Balancing Facial Mask absorbs excess oil and unclogs pores. Charcoal Cleansing Bar detoxifies skin without drying it out, resulting in a smoother, clearer complexion. Both come packaged together in a red sliding-drawer gift box.

 

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For teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, etc:

Holiday Soap Trio

$30 // This is a GREAT gift set to buy and then break up, creating smaller gifts for teachers, stocking stuffers, or coworkers. Includes Lavender & Vanilla, Ylang & Mandarin, and Citrus & Chamomile scented soaps. Each finely milled formula contains organic shea butter, and organic coconut oil to gently cleanse, hydrate, and soften from head to toe.

Friday Faves #6

I’ve been suuuuper exhausted this week, so really my Friday Fave is that IT IS FRIDAY AND I CAN TAKE A NAP. God bless.

This week’s list is a teensy bit random, but hope you love it anyway.

1. NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita

I’m 27 years old. At some point last year, I decided that I had reached the ambiguous age at which a woman should know how to wear lipstick. I resisted at first, since basically ALL of the stinking lipsticks I bought dried out my lips. But then I met NARS.

This lipstick is essentially lip balm to me, but with the coverage of a lipstick. I can’t get enough. It comes in 34 different shades and these types of style: satin, sheer, shimmering, semi-matte, and matte. So basically anything you could ever want.

2. Jessica Simpson Mandalaye Ballet Flat

These shoes are insanely comfortable. I actually walked 3 miles in them a few days ago. And I get lots of compliments on how cute they are. They come in five different colors, and when I pulled up the link for them I realized they now come in navy soooooo I might have to buy those.

3. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

I have VERY sensitive skin. This was recommended by my dermatologist and I love it. It’s the one cleanser that I’ve found cleans my skin without leaving it dry. I also love that I can buy it at Target or CVS.

4. Panera Iced Green Tea

Okay, let’s not kid ourselves and think that this is *healthy* green tea, but it is *delicious* green tea. So refreshing. Add some Bacardi Limon and you’ve got a party!

5. American Eagle’s Soft and Sexy Line

When I was in middle school, American Eagle was allllllll the rage. So much so that I made my parents take me to Bealls Outlet, where I found a men’s XL graphic tee and bought it (it was orange. i hate orange.) just so that I could have SOMETHING with an AE logo on it. Bless those days.

I haven’t stepped foot in an American Eagle in years, but I magically stumbled upon their soft and sexy line when I found two incredible shirts at a local store (Urban Thread–go, you’ll love it). In fact, I’m wearing one of them now! I cannot describe how actually soft these fabrics are. It’s silly. The best part? MACHINE WASHABLE. <All the praise hands>

Doesn’t that shirt look comfy? Even with the wrinkles at the bottom? Yes! I also just found out they make dresses that are soft & sexy, too.

xo, A

Friday Faves #4

Here we are for week #4! This has been a crrraaazy week, so I’m pretty stoked that I had the presence of mind to get this post up. That’s a favorite thing, right?!

1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

You guys know how much I love books, and after finishing this in January, I think I can officially say it’s (possibly) my NEW FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME. A story about two sisters living in WWII France, The Nightingale illuminates the brave story of women in war. Each sister’s story is different, and the way they ebb and flow together is unbelievable (actually–it’s believable, which is what makes it so amazing). The emotion that is conveyed is unreal. I still think about this book and the story of Vianne and Isabelle some days when my mind shifts into neutral. Kristin Hannah’s writing (and research) is spectacular. I cannot recommend this book enough.

2. Real Simple Cutting Board

My BFF got us this off of our wedding registry, and I don’t know what I’ve been doing my whole life without a beautiful wood block cutting board. It stays out, so that’s really convenient.

I will say this: you can’t submerge it in water (so I just wipe it down with a damp cloth), it shows knife marks more than I thought it would, and I don’t cut raw meat on it since I can’t really wash it. But I love how beautiful it looks sitting on our counter, and it makes meal prep (or snack prep) super easy.

3. Po Campo Midway Weekender in Umber

For my Christmas present to myself (hah), I wanted a new weekender bag. I searched high and low, and finally landed on the Po Campo Midway Weekender. I LOVE IT. It’s smaller than most duffels, but I think it’s just the right amount of space for a weekend trip–plus it makes me be more intentional about what I pack, and I am a chronic overpacker. My favorite part? The separate shoe compartment. #winning

I bought it in Umber, but the Sky Stripe is also really cute.

4. “Making a Murderer” on Netflix

OKAY if you have not watched this, you need to take a day and get with it. The story of Steven Avery is un.be.lievable. This docu-series is about the injustice that he has faced, and how he spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit (thx, DNA) and now is in prison for a murder he *probably* didn’t commit.

Regardless of whether or not he did it, Steven Avery is the definition of reasonable doubt.

PS: I totally have a fan theory if you wanna hear it.

5. NARS Blush in Orgasm

I’ve heard it said that this is supposed to be the most universally flattering shade of blush, and I cannot disagree. It’s the perfect pink and shimmers just enough to make your skin look healthy. I’ve been sick for the last, oh I don’t know, FOREVER…so this blush helps me not look ill. Bless it.

xo, A.

Thrifting Finds

One of my favorite things in the whole, entire world is thrifting. I love antiques, I love finding new uses for old things, and I love not paying full price for things. Win, win, win.

Here are some of my more recent thrifting finds. The best part about these treasures is that it’s relatively easy to find things like these items at almost any thrift store. Happy thrifting!

Everything in this picture:

Trader Joe’s Finds

{Disclaimer: If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s in your city, don’t read this post, because you might cry out of jealousy #dontsayididnttellyouso}

My sweet momma got me a $50 gift card to Trader Joe’s for Christmas and today I spent $49.97 of that. #winning

TJ’s can be SUPER overwhelming to me, possibly because our location is so small, and there are tons of TJ diehards that live here (and possibly live there…at the store…). But it’s also really awesome because they have really good wine at really low prices. I don’t think I’ve actually shopped on any aisle besides the wine aisle until today.