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2015 Holiday Gift Guide – Under 15

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I’ve thrown out some things here-and-there that could make decent gifts, but I haven’t set out to make a whole guide. But because I’m a skeptic, I have to look past the enticing glittery packaging.

Maybe you’re looking for gifts for your friends or family. Maybe it’s a gift exchange with a coworker you don’t know so well. If you need to stuff a stocking, too, there’s a lot of good ideas in the 2015 Holiday Gift Guide – Under $15.

Also, before we get into the list – if you’re in the United States, don’t go shopping tomorrow. It’s a dick move. Tomorrow is a day for a lot of things, and shopping isn’t one of them. Happy Thanksgiving!

wetbrush

The Wet Brush, $9

I’ve sung the praises of this brush, and even gave one away. If your recipient that has hair that requires brushing, this is a win.

Turbie Twist Stock Photo

Turbie Twist, $12.50, pack of 2

Keeping to the theme of haircare, this is something I think many people (at this point) might not buy for themselves (because of the understandable As Seen on TV stigma). That said, it is an inexpensive, practical beauty tool that I’m really satisfied with. If you wanted to make this part of a larger gift solution, maybe pair it with a leave-in treatment and a facial masque.

More after the jump…

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TBT: Sephora’s Jem and the Holograms Collection

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So there’s a Jem and the Holograms movie that’s come out recently. Apparently it has more-or-less bombed in the theatres, but old fans riding the nostalgia wave are still sure to appreciate all the tie-ins it has generated.

Truth be told, Jem is before my time. So I won’t wax faux-fangirl with you – I’m pretty sure I never saw so much as an episode in my childhood.

That said, Sephora has come out with a Jem and the Holograms Collection. Before I restate it on EACH item in the collection, if you’re buying these for a Jem fan, it will likely go over well, regardless of any other factors, even if for the novelty/nostalgia factor.

First up, the Truly Outrageous Palette:

Sephora Jem and the Holograms Collection - Truly Outrageous Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora Jem and the Holograms Collection – Truly Outrageous Eyeshadow Palette

Housed in glittery black cardboard-style packaging with very 80s-feeling lightning bolt motifs inside, the Jem and the Holograms Truly Outrageous shadow palette features 24 shades with a variety of finishes. Looking at it, it’s pretty loud – which falls in line with the show and, arguably, the decade, with a few neutral shades thrown in. To me, it feels very much like a Vice palette from Urban Decay – but I’m fine with this (after all, UD did not release it). As it turns out, though, it is much smaller – the pans are roughly the size of the pans you’d find in a Lorac PRO or Lorac PRO2.

What I am wholly skeptical of, though, is the quality of the shadows. Some Sephora shadows are great, but others lackluster (a challenge many house-brands have). Couple that with the fact that this is a limited edition promotional tie-in, and… well, I’m doubting these shades, pretty though they are, are knocking it out of the park with pigmentation and performance. Reviews on Sephora’s site are mixed. Unless you’re a die-hard fan, memorabilia collector, or gifting this to someone, I would personally pass.

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St Tropez at Costco

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Do you use self-tanner?

St Tropez at Costco
St Tropez at Costco

I haven’t tried popular self-tanning favorite St Tropez, but I think calling it a cult item would be plenty fair. This recent find might make me give it a shot once I finish up my Million Dollar Tan Cabana Tan lotion(s).

I found that Costco.com carries the 8oz St Tropez mousse for $26 + $2.99 shipping – a steal, compared to Sephora’s $42 and $5.95 shipping unless you have Sephora Flash or spend $50+ to get free shipping. Hell, even Amazon only has the 8oz priced at $38! Unfortunately, this is one of the items on their site that does require a membership (not all items do), but if you have one anyway it’s a no-brainer.

If you’re attached to your tan, in the market, not thrilled with drugstore tanners, want to trim the fat from your tanning budget, this might be a good deal to check out.

Also hey – I realize the timing of this is pretty close to my Kirkland Makeup Wipes post, but Costco doesn’t know who I am. I mean, I bought a membership so they know who I am in that sense but there’s no relationship other than…I buy their stuff with money I earn at my non-blog-related day job.

Sephora Glitter Happy Brush Set

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Even though I’m not blown away by the big brands’ holiday mega sets, the approaching holidays mean that Sephora tends to have a lot of interesting stuff (like the Bite duo minis).

During my routine browsing, I came across the Sephora Glitter Happy Brush Set.

Sephora Glitter Happy Brush Set
Sephora Glitter Happy Brush Set

Featuring six brushes with rosy handles and a cute (what appears to be) acrylic holder stand with rosy glitter embedded in it. Going at $85, it is not an inexpensive gift, but it is pretty and at least somewhat practical (the third brush from the left looks like it wants to be a blending brush, but I think the bristles might be a smidge long for controlled blending – but that’s a preference thing, that doesn’t make it bad).

But doesn’t it look familiar?

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2015 Holiday Sets

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Now that we’re nearly in October (tomorrow!), most (if not all) of the 2015 Holiday Sets have been announced.

I’m not impressed, unfortunately.

Actually, that’s not true – the Kat von D Mi Vida Loca Remix palette ($59) is so awe-inspiring that it is about beyond words, actually. Pretty sure it’s been out of stock since it hit the shelves and site though. Just look at it, though. It is colorful, but not jarring like UD Electric can be – and it. has. neutrals. to help balance out the brights. Santa?

2015 Holiday Sets - KvD Mi Vida Loca

Otherwise, though – not impressed. No one is killing it this year!

Too Faced always goes cutesy, but Jarrod’s vision this year is just weird. French-inspired cutesy. With sets like Le Grand Palais at Sephora for $59 (that looks oddly familiar)…

2015 Holiday Sets - Le Grand Palais

and La Petite Maison at Ulta ($39; actually has many of the same shades as Everything Nice; pretty sure none of them are unique to this palette)… meh.

2015 Holiday Sets - Too Faced La Petite Maison

I’ve already talked about Vice-however-many, $59. I’ve been over it. No need to go into it more, here.

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