Fabulous Finds Friday: Stocking Stuffer Edition

Let's face it- the holidays aren't cheap. Never mind you the joys of Christmas music, decorating & cookie baking- crossing everybody off your list really adds up & doesn't my VISA bill know it! My favorite part of presents is unwrapping the little treasures nestled deep into the needlepoint stocking my mom made for me. Now that I'm a grown-up too(that could be up for debate) we all pitch in on the stockings. Those little treats get expensive. Here are some great ideas, that you can break up into stocking stuffers or little gifts for girlfriends & coworkers. I always like to take advantage of value sets offered around the holidays & break them up. This Mally Deluxe Automatic Waterproof Liner Collection has 10 pencils for $50- that's a great deal at $5 a piece!
This Stila Holiday Lip Glaze set has 8 minis(still an ample amount, but not full size.) It's only $25- breaking down to an unbelievable $3.25 per gloss!

I received this all natural Biggs & Featherbelle body sampler set from a girlfriend recently- it's like a clown car full of body treats! Seriously packed inside are 18 soap samples, 2 lip balms, 3 bath salt samples, 2 milk salt samples, 5 body scrub samples & a partridge in a pear tree! Just kidding about the last part, but if you break up the set- you could have three stockings or 3 gifts easily completed for under $24!

I'm actually not one for hand creams, but in the winter my hands get especially dry with all the hand washing in between seeing clients. This travel Juara hand cream transports me to somewhere tropical, while the candlenut oil deeply hydrates & smells divine! I keep one on my desk & one in my purse- it's an affordable little luxury at $10

I read about these EcoTools brushes (I think) in Lucky Magazine & they're a steal! They feel amazing & are cruelty free to boot! Again with these, I would break up the kit & wrap them individually for more wow factor. Getting kabuki brushes for under $4 is pretty much unheard of- as is this line. They're found at Target, though you might have to search for them. I asked a salesperson who said they didn't carry it, then I found them. Grab them while you can as they're limited edition. What are you're favorite little treats to unwrap under the tree?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Kinara Red Carpet Facial Kit

What girl doesn't want to look like she's ready for a walk down the Red Carpet? Especially around the holidays, with all the parties- I know I want to get my glow on! Kinara's Red Carpet Facial Kit is a cult favorite among celebrities, because it reveals vibrant skin with no downtime. The kit involves a 3 step process. (1)On clean, dry skin a peel containing Lactic & Malic Acids is applied for about 5 minutes. (2) A soothing neutralizer with Argenine is then applied to stop the peel. (3) A deliciously frothy mask follows to hydrate & further soothe. Pikea Robusta & Lysate extract in the mask plump up fine lines & wrinkles, too.

Here are Lindsay & Jodi of the Beauty Team masking. {Um no I'm not putting a picture of myself in a mask on the internet, I'm so mean- he he!} I wanted to try the system on a multitude of skin types: Lindsay's extremely oily, I'm combination & Jodi's very dry. The whole gang felt like it worked on their skin type & revealed smooth glowing skin in under 20 minutes! This time of year everyone is so busy. Clients pop in to get their brows done, but time is a luxury most of us don't have when baking, cooking, decorating & wrapping tops our lists. This home kit is perfect to prevent those holiday stress induced breakouts! I did the system last night while decorating my tree- this morning, we're both merry & bright!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Easy Holiday Party Favors

As promised this is the easiest little tutorial to make holiday favors with peppermint bark! Besides holiday, you could easily change the cookie cutter to suit the themes of a baby or bridal shower.

First, I melted dark chocolate in the microwave. To cut down on mess, I used a gallon Ziplock bag for easy clean-up! When melting chocolate, microwave at medium heat at 30 second intervals. I massaged the bag at each interval to prevent the chocolate from burning & ensure even melting.

When it was uniformly heated, I snipped the end off the Ziplock & began piping the chocolate into the cookie cutters. This step will be covered, so it doesn't have to be gorgeous. You just want to make sure it's touching the sides of the cookie cutter.

Let the dark chocolate cool. Then on to the white chocolate, repeating the same melting process as with the dark. I used Wilton melting candies that I already had on hand for this step.

Same as before, you now pipe the white chocolate on top of the dark. Again, it doesn't have to look perfect since you'll be topping it with the peppermint. This is such a fun project to do with kids, too!

Unwrap & place candy canes in another Ziplock.

After unleashing the day's frustration out on the candy canes, this is what you are left with. I used a soup can to pound the bag out on the sidewalk.

Press the broken candy cane pieces into the white chocolate, while it's still warm.

Voila! To keep this project affordable, since I was making a lot of them I went to the Dollar Store for the cookie cutters. The metal tree cutter in the center was $1, but then I found the plastic ones you see in the tutorial that came 6 in a pouch for $1- score! Of course, on the other end of the spectrum you could do copper cookie cutters to make the favors more elegant.

Here they are wrapped & ready for holiday giving in a festive basket at the spa! For my first time making them, they turned out very pretty & they were a big hit. Let me know if you make these, I'd love to see your pictures!

Peace. Love. Peppermint Bark. M

Easy Holiday Hair How To

My areas of expertise lie in make-up & skincare, in fact I often say I'm hair challenged! However I do have a signature look & I'm always doing demos on clients. It's super easy- yes even I can do it! It's romantic & perfect for the holiday season- so of course I'm going to share it with my Beauties!

This easy updo works best with shoulder length hair or longer. Grab a stretchy headband- we carry Medusa's Heirlooms at the spa & that is what's shown in this tutorial. Start by placing the headband Olivia Newton John a la Let's Get Physical Music Video style across your forehead.

Back starting view.

Start at one end, by taking small sections & simply tucking it into the band of the headband.

Repeat with additional sections, to follow & cover up the previous section. It doesn't have to be perfect- that's the beauty of it- just keep tucking!

The updo will take shape before your eyes, with very little actual effort- that's the best part.

This style works with all hair types. I love it on hair with slight wave & highlights- it really brings the dimension of the color out.

You can leave the back section perfectly plain or can add easy embellishments! I tucked a feather in for one look.

For another look, I stuck a flower pin in her hair - the sky's the limit creatively speaking! I was even thinking a small, tasteful ornament could be gorgeous & unexpected for the holidays. To finish, just move the headband in the front to where you want it. For a Nicole Richie vibe, leave it as is. For a Grecian goddess vibe, pull it up like a traditional headband(refer to yesterday's post to see Brianne wearing it that way.) Whichever way you wear it, I promise you- you'll get tons of compliments. Now go forth & be pretty!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Holiday Soiree

Our spa holiday party was last week & since most of my fabulous readers don't live in glorious Baltimore- I wanted you all to still feel a part of it! Here were some of our treats to our guests: my beloved Thymes' Frasier Fir votives & candy cane bark. Stayed tuned for the tutorial on the bark, they were super easy & make the perfect party favor!

Warm spiced {& spiked!} apple cider resided in the snowman decanter. Champagne with a splash of cranberry{this concoction is called a Poinsettia} was our signature holiday drink.

For some reason my dipped pretzel rods are always a fan favorite- which are so easy to make & customize as to theme or holiday. Our Becca Make-up Event was that same weekend, so we left our display out so our guests could play with the products.

A closeup of the spice cupcakes in poinsettia baking cups, which were iced with buttercream frosting & dusted with opal sanding sugar. I piped a red & white striped dollop of icing in the center just to be fancy!

The small, but mighty La Papillon Beauty Team! From left: Esthetician Lisa, our Diva of Dermatology Dr. Noelle Sherber, yours truly, Esthetician & Spa Manager Brianne. Brianne is sporting the easy holiday hair look I taught her- stay tuned for a tutorial on that as well!

It was a super fun evening & a way to show our customers how much we appreciate them! Every guest also left with a sample of Kinara's Red Carpet Facial Kit. It is an at home facial peel system that we just got in & absolutely love! After all, we want all of our clients' skin to be Merry & Bright for the holiday season!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

LORAC Bejeweled Day & Night Jewelry Box

It's that time of the year *swoon* when some of my favorite lines launch their holiday collections! Armed recently with a 20% Sephora coupon, I did some major damage online. On my list of acquisitions: Lorac's Bejeweled Day & Night Jewelry Box Collection{$56}. I must say when I opened the box my first thought was, " Holy Toddlers and Tiaras!" It looked a little bit more, ahem, elegant online.

I wanted to keep an open mind, as I adore Lorac's buttery shadows. Opening the drawers my hopes lifted a little when I spotted the sparkly day & night palettes.

Upon lifting the top of the Steel Magnolia themed jewelry box, there was a bronzer meant for a giant & 2 rather frosted lipglosses.

Just to be honest, I do love some sparkle as seen here on my cell phone case. The shadow palettes were beautiful on the outside.

But when I opened them, I was disappointed to see how small the actual shadows were. I would have preferred less shades, for a little more product.

Lorac's shadows are lovely. I'm sporting some of the coppery colors from the Day compact.

The Night compact's color shades.

Here's a closer look at the gorgeous shades & actual size, which as you can see most shadow brushes wouldn't fit into completely! I felt like this entire collection had been put into production in a big rush. Quality of product aside(because it is there), this kit just isn't user friendly. Giant bronzers, tiny shadows- the layout is off. The box is not what I would call a keepsake, either. If you want tons of options, in one time use sizing- buy it. Otherwise, skip this one as there are tons of winners that I'll be showing you this holiday season!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Holiday Beauty Blogger Giveaway!

Can you believe the holidays are right around the corner? I can't! Yet my list of gifts to get keeps growing by the minute & we all know that can add up.  So myself, along with some of my favorite fellow beauty bloggers teamed up for an amazing Holiday Beauty Blogger Giveaway! That's right, a $500 Visa Gift Card is up for grabs!  If you win, it will definitely help you get those gifts for loved ones- just make sure you treat yourself to something fabulous & of course beauty related! Good Luck Beauties!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M