Christmas & Boxing Day Haul 2014

Since I love seeing what everyone got for Christmas I thought I would do the same and take some photos to share with you all :) Happy holidays!

 

$13 Boxing Day purchase from Sephora

Candles from William

Michael Kors hat set from my cousin

iPhone lenses! The coolest

$10 Boxing Day purchase frop Topshop

*heart eyes emoji*

Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette

$13 Boxing Day purchase from Sephora

$5 coin ring set from Topshop

This is a sleep mask! I'm aware it looks like a bra haha.

See you in 2015!

Last Minute Christmas Shopping Guide

Hey everyone! Since we're ten days away from Christmas, I thought I would put together some tips for last minute Christmas shopping.

First thing's first, Amazon is your best friend for last minute shopping. If you know exactly what you need to buy but are worried that you won't have time to get it in-store, check out Amazon. Their shipping is so fast and you'll probably receive your order within a few days. Amazon is really good for books, tech stuff, and so much more. Tech gadgets are a particularly good idea because most people have a cell phone or a laptop nowadays, right? I bought my mom an iPad keyboard for her birthday and she loves it. Also, they're having their 12 Days of Deals sales right now, so I would suggest having a browse there for some inspiration!

If you have no idea what you need to buy, visit a store that can be a one-stop-shop. One-stop-shops are ideal for gift exchanges, for bosses & teachers, and for anyone whom you're not quite sure what to buy.

My first one-stop-shop is Chapters/Indigo (or whichever bookstore chain is near you). Even if whoever you're buying for isn't a reader, bookstores tend to have a variety of knick-knacks. The Indigo near my house has great options for homewear, fashion accessories, and stationery. Also, their sale section is always especially good. You can pick up a few cookbooks for your foodie friend, an activity book for someone creative, or toys for children. Indigo is also especially good online and you only have to spend $25 to qualify for free shipping - check out the "gift" section on their website for inspiration!

My next one-stop-shop is Sephora. I know you wouldn't necessarily think of Sephora as a one-stop shop, but given their wide range of makeup, skincare, and perfumes, you can really find something for everyone. This year, I bought my father, brother, and two of my cousins their Christmas gifts with one stop at Sephora. You'd be surprised, but Sephora has some really good options for men. I would discourage you from using Sephora's online shop as their website is quite buggy, the shipping isn't great, and you have to spend $75 minimum to get free shipping.

If you're really in a pinch, i.e. it's Christmas Eve and you need a last-minute gift, a giftcard is pretty much your only option. BUT chances are stores are closing early or are already closed, so what do you do? Well, here are some ideas for e-giftcards you can buy, print out, and hand out to your friends.

1) Origrami. If the person you're buying for is active on Instagram, you can get them a giftcard to Origrami which is a place to order prints of Instagrams pics. The prints are beautiful quality and they'll enjoy receiving it in the mail. Take a look at the different kinds of print packages they offer and make the amount of the giftcard match it, and don't worry about shipping fees because shipping is free. I think this is a perfect idea for a teenager or really anyone into photography & Instagram.

2) Spa. If you're stuck on a gift for a mom or an aunt, a spa giftcard is a great idea because it accommodates a wide ranges of prices, and many spas allow you to print certificates online nowadays. Usually you can input the amount on the giftcard yourself. You can go less-expensive and have the giftcard be worth a manicure or mani-pedi, or you can go all out and have it cover the cost of a massage.

3) Audible. One of the greatest things I discovered in 2014 were audiobooks. Audible has the fantastic option to purchase 3-12 months of audiobook credits, where your recipient can choose from over 150,000 titles. The only requirement is that they have a device to which they can download the Audible app. This is a great idea for anyone you know that loves to read, or anyone you know that hates traffic and has an aux cable in their car. Seriously, an audiobook is the best company when you're stuck in traffic. I reviewed three of the audiobooks I read this year HERE.

So that's it! Hopefully if you're doing some last minute Christmas shopping I was able to help you. Happy holidays!

Christmas Wishlist 2013: Non-Beauty

Hey everyone! I thought I'd whip up a part 2 of my Christmas list to give you all some ideas for gifts to buy family/friends. Enjoy!

Canon DSLR: To be honest, I don't care which version, as long as it shoots in 1080p. I also don't care if it's secondhand. I just really want a nice DSLR for blogging and school purposes.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones: This exact model is kinda pricey, but I love the way it looks with the brown padding. This could also be a good gift for a man you need to buy for. But really, any noise cancelling headphones work. Just don't buy me Beats because I'm not Justin Bieber.

Jockery mini Portable iPhone charger: Anyone who has an iPhone (or phone that uses a USB charger) could find this handy. This one is relatively small and lightweight, and is good for a full charge. Super useful.

Macbook Pro decal: There are some really beautiful and inexpensive Macbook decals on Etsy. I chose this one because it would compliment by blue Incase quite nicely. My second choice are these Mickey Mouse hands, so cute!

Photojojo Lens Set: This is kind of geeky, but these Photojojo external iPhone lenses look soo nice. Perfect for any Instagram-obsessed person in your life!

Minecraft: Sometimes the 12 year-old boy in me emerges and I feel the need to play something like Minecraft. Unfortunately I feel like a big nerd paying $26.95 for a computer game so I've never hit "purchase"! Please, Santa?

Ikea wooden hangers: I intend on doing a full closet overhaul in my new room, and the first step are these wooden hangers from Ikea. Eight hangers for $5.99 is the cheapest I've seen them. Also I feel like anyone who uses wooden hangers really has their life together... Or is that just me?

Reclaimed wood tray: I'm obsessed with anything wooden (see above), and these reclaimed wood trays are just calling my name. I would probably use them as shelving instead of trays. For $16.41 on Etsy they seem really affordable too!

Neom or Diptyque candle: I think it's time to expand my candle collection beyond Bath & Body Works. A luxury candle for Christmas would be amazing. They sell these at Holt Renfrew, but I'm not sure which scent I'd want, so a gift card works too ;)

Simple silver ring: I've been wearing my high school grad ring for four years now and it's really time I upgrade. Nothing too fancy - something simple that won't tarnish works. I love the braid detail on this one.

Prescription Ray Ban sunglasses: I'd rather not be blinded when I'm driving so a pair of prescription sunglasses has become incredibly necessary.

Contacts: It's not that I don't love my glasses, but sometimes I'd like to have the option of wearing contacts - like to the gym, nights out, etc.

Crest Whitestrips: The last time I got my teeth whitened was at the end of high school and I feel like I need a refresher. These "gentle" Crest Whitestrips should to the trick.

Spa gift card: I don't care where, I don't care how expensive or inexpensive, I just really need a massage and a pedicure. Santa, help a girl out.

Topshop/The Bay gift card: So TopShop recently opened near my house and I've been meaning to check it out. A gift card would be lovely!

Sephora/Mac gift card: You can never go wrong with new makeup, as you might have guessed from part 1 of my wishlist.

And that's it! Hope you got some ideas :)

Sephora "Give Me Some Lip" Review/Swatches

Hey everyone! I got some requests to review and post swatches of the Sephora "Give Me Some Lip" set that I featured in a recent haul. I've had the opportunity to wear just about every product in the set so I thought I'd finally share my opinions.

In general, I think this is a really great set. The value-for-money ratio is awesome, since you basically get 6 products for the price of one (albeit sample sizes). I do think the set is better suited for lighter-skinned ladies, because most of these products are quite light themselves (some too light for me even).

I'll start off with the only full-sized product in the set, the Tarte LipSurgence Lip Luster in "Glitzy". I would characterize this as a pale berry color with a slight shimmer. You can only really detect the shimmer up close, but I'm assuming that's what makes this a "lip luster". This is one of the best products in the set, hands down. I think the shade looks great with my skintone, the "crayon" applicator is super easy to use, and it makes my lips look really full and healthy.

Next, the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in "Dolly". Let me start off by saying this is my favorite lip gloss of the entire set. The color is a smidge less "berry" than the Tarte one, but it has the same golden shimmer. This is the one product in the set that I truly feel gives me the whole "my lips but better" look. The Buxom lip glosses have a plumping effect, so if that bothers you then you won't like this. You can even see in the picture that my lips look a little more lumpy than the first one (that sounds so unflattering haha but it's not as noticeable in person). Also, the scent of this is really yummy - it smells like vanilla cake! I totally foresee buying the full-size version.

The Laura Mercier Lip Glace in "Bare Pink" is one of the lighter shades of the bunch. It's got more a peachy-pink tint than the previous two. I don't foresee myself using this one as much as the Tarte or Buxom, but it's still totally wearable. As you can see it blanks out my cupid's bow a little because it's a lot more similar to my skintone.

The infamous NARS "Turkish Delight"... I had high hopes for this. I really did, but unfortunately I won't be wearing this one at all. It's entirely too light and milky for my complexion. If you're a fan of the blanked out lip look, you might like this, but I hate the say it sits in the folds of my lips. I don't find it flattering at all. (I have to say it doesn't look entirely terrible in the photo but had I posted a full-face shot, you would have been disgusted LOL)

The only opaque lip color of the set is the Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in "Rhubarb". Although the shade is a little more on the brown side than I'd like, it's still a pretty lip color. It goes on smooth and is opaque with one swipe ("high pigment" is definitely an adequate description). The pencil itself is a bit fragile so be careful when applying it. I think it could work under lipstick or on its own.

From left-to-right: Bite lip pencil in "Rhubarb", Buxom lip gloss in "Dolly", Tarte LipSurgence in "Glitzy", NARS "Turkish Delight", Fresh Sugar Rose lip treatment, Laura Mercier lip gloss in "Bare Pink"

That concludes the review! Overall very pleased with this purchase (despite the mixup at checkout). Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite. :)

PS. how hard is it to take pictures of your lips?! Ugh haha

Sephora & Nail Polish Haul

Hey everyone! Tiny beauty haul for you today. Reviews to come!

The "Give Me Some Lip" set retails for $30 and contains 5 deluxe sample sized lip products, as well as one full-sized product (Tarte lip surgence in Glitzy). It's a great value because the full-sized product retails for $29, so you basically get the other 5 products for $1. I've quickly swatched them all and some early favorites are the Buxom gloss and the Tarte lip surgence!

The coupon code I used when getting the lip products off of Sephora.com allowed me to grab this Shaveworks shave gel which I'm really excited to try out. It's supposed to "treat ingrown hair, razor bumps, razor burn, and redness" and I'm pretty sure I'm prone to all those things, so hopefully it works! I tend to allow myself one new OPI nail polish per collection, so I chose Haven't The Foggiest from their new San Francisco collection. It's a lovely pewter foil - NOTD to come. I also picked up a new OPI Matte Nail Envy which I've been using consistently for about 8 months now. Let me know if you'd like a review on this! And I got a new bottle of the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray (review HERE).

Does anyone else have a burning hatred for packet samples? I'll probably use the Bumble & Bumble shampoo/conditioner but that's about it, because these things seriously annoy me lol.

Anything here that tickles your fancy?

What Bothers Me About Sephora (Canada)

Hey everyone! I have a bit of a rant for you guys today. I guess I'll be the first to admit that I don't always love shopping at Sephora. During the past few trips I've made, I've come to realize that I have more than a few problems with the store. It has absolutely nothing to do with the brands or products. All of their items are top notch for me, which is pretty much the only reason I continue to shop there.

My number one problem is that it's very clear that the Canadian branch of Sephora is poorly developed and managed in comparison to the American one. First of all, the prices are marginally more expensive than the US Sephora. Why? I'm not a business major so I can't rationalize this, but when I have to pay more than $15 extra in comparison to the US price, I get seriously turned off. We pay an extortionate amount of taxes in Quebec, so a trip to Sephora can really make a dent in your wallet.

Another problem I have with Sephora is their marketing tactics, which are clearly directed towards American customers. On multiple occasions I've received e-mails containing promotions that I could not take advantage of because they are only valid in the US. Also, their website is designed for American shoppers. The Canadian online Sephora store is the same website as the American one, except in choosing "Country: Canada" the prices are simply changed into their Canadian equivalents. You can imagine this might be problematic when I want to apply coupon codes to my order, or when shipping charges get mixed up, or when I add something to my cart that, oops!, isn't available in Canada. Additionally, Canadians do not have the option of applying a gift card to their order: what's up with that? All in all, the site is super glitchy and really unpleasant to use.

I guess this brings me to my main point of complaint. Yesterday night I came across an offer on their website that I couldn't pass up: the Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip box set. Let us all bask in the glory of this little bundle for one moment...

Image source

And for only $30! The Tarte LipSurgence costs $29 on its own, so basically you get the rest for $1. Honestly, I was genuinely surprised to see this available to Canadians at this time of the year. Usually these sets come out around Christmas time, but if I can recall last time this set was out it didn't include NARS Turkish Delight. ANYWAY. That's not my point :)

With shipping and taxes, the entire order would come out to $42... $12 more than anticipated. At that point, is it even a deal anymore? So I scoured the internet for a promo code that might help lower the shipping charge. Usually the deal is free shipping if you spend $75 (vs. $50 on the American site, just saying). Much to my surprise, I found a promo code that enabled free shipping after $50, and a deluxe sample! I was out of B&B Surf Spray so I added a new one to my cart and, with shipping, the order came to ~$64, so I punched in the promo code and right away, it added the deluxe sample, and reduced my order total to $49.50! Great.

You might notice the shipping & handling still said $7.95 (and taxes = $7.41), but I thought it was just being glitchy and not changing it. I refreshed a few times, no difference. Still $7.41 shipping and $49.50 order total. Weird, but I mean, it added the deluxe sample so the promo code must have worked, right? Wrong, of course. Wrong, wrong, wrong. When I got my receipt in the e-mail, my order total was in fact $64.88 (what you see in the yellow box).

And then I noticed that I didn't get my double points, which a recent promo email had promised me. Hell no. I called customer service and, of course, they didn't believe me when I said my order total was $49.50, not $64.88. "Ma'am, you're looking at the merchandise subtotal." No, no I'm not, sir. And then apparently the 2x points only kick in on October 15th (wtf?). AND as I was just back on their website to verify the prices as I was writing up this post, I noticed that they added a full-sized Deborah Lippmann nail polishes as a 100 point perk which is an absolute steal... I mean, totally not their fault, but way to dig the knife deeper, ya know?

All in all, I'm over shopping online at Sephora. Their awful website and poor Canadian marketing is frustrating at best. Maybe I'm a retail snob in the sense that I expect quality service. Or maybe I'm just a sensible shopper. I can't tell sometimes.

REVIEW: Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

The Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray has received a lot of hype within the online beauty world, and I figured I'd try it out for myself and get back to you guys!

I was searching for a product that would give my hair a little something extra. It felt a little dull and limp and needed some body, so I picked this baby up at Sephora. I paid $19 for it, which admittedly is a little pricey, but let's see how it fared...

I tried out the product on two different occasions. On the top right: third-day hair. I wanted to see if it would give my lifeless curls some body. It seems like the spray straightened it out somehow, but I like the way it de-frizzed and smoothed out my hair.

On the bottom left: You can see very clearly in this photo that the spray livened up my hair significantly. It added volume, controlled frizz, and defined the curls. This morning (see the next photo), I found my curls perfectly intact. Usually they deflate during the night, but the spray somehow managed to hold the curl. Incredible!

Note: The bottle says to use it on damp or dry hair - but I recommend using it on dry hair. It didn't do much for me when my hair was wet to be honest. I simply heat styled, and then used this in lieu of hairspray. Also, make sure you wash it out properly in the shower to avoid buildup.

VERDICT: I really, really love this product. I think it does wonders. If you feel like your hair is a little dull definitely give this a shot. I can't say it works for everyone but it definitely worked on me!

Birthday Presents to Myself (Haul!)

Hey everyone! So my birthday is not for another couple of weeks, but I've already done a little shopping for myself (naughty). I celebrated with my family who all gave me money (a little disappointing in all honesty because I love a good thoughtful gift, but it's okay), so I thought I'd go ahead and buy a couple items I've been wanting--none too expensive because I'm trying to save up for a new camera. Anyway - onto the haul!

iPhone 4: So turns out I didn't have to pay for this little guy at all! My dad's contract was over and he was able to upgrade to an iPhone 5, so he passed this one onto me! It's in perfect condition and I'm already loving it so far! :) PS - follow me on Instagram: abundanceerica!

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray: I popped by Sephora last Sunday just to have a browse around, and while I was looking at the hair stuff I noticed this and remembered someone on YouTube going on about it (Zoella I think). Anyhow, the sales lady persuaded me into buying it and although it was a little pricey ($19), I have been really loving it!

OPI Liquid Sand in "Get Your Number": I don't always fall into the "texture" nail polish trap because I usually get over them quickly (remember the OPI Shatter phase), but this one seems versatile enough that I probably won't get bored over it. It's basically a sparkly matte polish that dries into a sand texture - but I figure I could always use a shiny topcoat over it if ever I want a change :) Will do a NOTD asap!

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer: I've been on the market for a new concealer lately so I watched one of FleurdeForce's old videos and found out that this is one of her favorites. Thought I'd try it out for myself!

FYI: I purchased all of these online at nailpolishcanada.com - such an incredible online shop! They have any nail polish you could ever want! :D (Left to right: Essie Bikini So Teeny, Essie Fiji, Butter London Trout Pout, Butter London Wallis, OPI Liquid Sand Get Your Number)

Butter London "Trout Pout" & "Wallis": I've been meaning to try Butter London polishes for ages now - mostly because I love them in Allison's NOTDs. Trout Pout & Wallis are the ones I opted for because they both really caught my eye. Can't wait to try them out!

Aveeno Foaming Cleanser: This is a repurchase. I really like this product because it's a fuss-free cleanser that does the job quickly.

Bath & Body Works "Coconut Leaves" and "Beach Cabana" mini candles: So I also stopped by B&BW on Sunday to have a look at their new spring scents, and I was actually going to purchase two three-wick candles and a room spray instead, but it ended up coming out to over $40 at the till - which, if you're a Bath & Body Works fan like I am, is much too expensive. I was shocked they weren't having any promotions on and decided to leave them, because I know they will be on some sort of sale in a week's time. Instead I got two mini candles to satisfy my candle need, and I'm really loving Coconut Leaves so far!

Essie "Bikini So Teeny" and "Fiji": Again, these are two polishes I've been wanting for a while!

Hope you enjoyed the haul!

PS. I opened up a Facebook page and no one has liked it yet! It's a little lonely so come on over? :)

January Beauty Favorites (Finally!)

Hey everyone! Long time no blog! I'm finally finished my most hectic week of school (apart from final exams), so I thought I'd finally post my January favorites. I didn't have too many favorites this month because I didn't usually have time to focus on my makeup in the mornings, so most of these products would be nice to use if you're in a rush (and I'll tell you exactly how & why I use them).

Bioderma Micellaire Solution: I received this for Christmas and have used it almost every day since. It does an incredible job at removing eye makeup (waterproof as well!), and I also use it as a toner. If, let's say, I already washed my face in the morning, but I'm only getting ready in the afternoon, instead of washing my face again before makeup I'll put some Bioderma on a cotton pad and quickly sweep it onto my face. I'm kind of sad about how fast I'm using up this product considering how expensive it is, but I would definitely say it's worth it!

Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation: This foundation was on sale at Pharmaprix this month so I decided to pick it up instead of my Marcelle matte foundation, and I have been really enjoying it. My favorite part is the packaging. It's not a pump or a screw top, it's a squeeze tube, so you can control exactly how much product you need. It's super practical!

Blistex Lip Medex: I haven't been putting too much color on my lips lately because they've been sore and dry, so I mostly just reached for my Blistex. It does a really good job at moisturizing, and sometimes I'll put it on right before bed and wake up with really soft lips. Definitely a staple product.

Dual-Ended Sephora Face Brush: I picked this up at Sephora on Boxing Day for $12 and have found it very practical. I've been wanting to get the MAC 168 angled blush brush for a while now, but I really feel like this Sephora one has remedied that need. I don't use the round side as I find it too dense for powders, but the angled side is perfect for blush, bronzer, and contouring.

MAC 217 brush: Now I know why Tanya Burr has like 10 of these bad boys. They're so practical for eye makeup - be it for an all-over wash of color, contouring, or blending. I've even seen this used as a concealer brush which is just astounding. It's so multi-purpose and incredible, I highly recommend it.

NARS Laguna bronzer: I've said before and I'll say it again, I adore this bronzer. I've been going back and forth between this and my NYC Sunny bronzer, but I have to say there is really no comparison. This one is just 100% better. It's the perfect shade for my skintone, it's super sheer, and it makes my skin look really healthy. I swear by this stuff.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in "RSVP": I think I wore this almost every day in January. I patted some on to my lids with my finger, contoured a little with some matte brown eyeshadow - using my 217 ;), added some mascara and called it a day. I think it's really comparable to Urban Decay's Sin (but I'll probably do a full post on that). It's really convenient and a nice shimmery nude for every day.

So that's it for my January favorites! Now onto February (my birthday month)!

REVIEW: Stila One Step Corrector

Hey everyone! Today I bring to you guys my first ever product review! I purchased this product last year so I've been able to test it out for a long time and give you a well-rounded opinion. As you can see from my photo below, I've used quite a bit of it (at least half, I'd say).

PS. How rad do my nails look?

I had my makeup done at a Stila counter one day and the makeup artist used this on my face and it felt refreshing and nice. And then, of course, the presentation & packaging of the product is what sold me. How cool does it look?! It's meant to look like a strand of DNA, I guess, and each color is meant to do something different for your skin. Also, it has a really sturdy pump dispenser that definitely comes in handy.

Green: Minimizes redness. It does a pretty good job at minimizing redness but I do have a small problem with it. I only have redness on certain parts of my face but because the product pumps out as 3-in-1, I can't concentrate it on those areas specifically. I have to say the design is a bit of a flaw in this case. I've previously used the Makeup Forever HD Primer in the blue tone to eliminate redness and it works way better.

Lavender: Counteracts sallow undertones. That means it masks unhealthy yellow tones. To be honest I had no idea what "sallow" meant until now, so I can't really tell you guys if this worked because I wasn't looking out for it... LOL. I'll try to notice it next time and edit this post when I do.

Peach: Brightens, illuminates, and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots. I'd definitely say this part of the concoction works. I do find the product very brightening.

It does look a little green-cast in the third frame, but that's because I used a whole pump on a tiny surface area. The product would be evenly spread on your entire face so you don't have to worry about looking Grinch-like.

Diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles: I don't really have fine lines/wrinkles so I can't really vouch for this one. Sorry.

Minimizes pores: I have massive pores and I don't think this product really masked them whatsoever. I don't think it's thick enough to actually do this well. Again, I'd need a product that could be concentrated on the pores (i.e. not spread out over my entire face) to properly minimize pores.

Hydrates & Balances: This is actually one of the components that drew me into buying this. It eliminates having to use a moisturizer in the morning! I have to say this aspect of the product also really works.

Controls oil: Hmm, well, I wear my makeup all day and I definitely come home to some oil build-up when I use this. I can't say it completely controls oil throughout the entire day, but it does the job for a good portion of it.

The product is also meant to be used as a makeup primer so I'd like to address that for a little. Once the product dries into your skin it changes in consistency. If you take a look at the third panel in the above photo, you will see that it looks very wet. When it absorbs, it becomes a little tacky, and it gives your foundation a base to hold on to. It also creates a barrier between your skin and the makeup, which can be very beneficial if you have sensitive skin.

VERDICT: It's a nice product to own, but for the price ($47 - damn), it's a bit unnecessary. I'd say only about 3 of the billion "benefits" of this product are actually noticeable.

Have you tried this product? What did you think?

Wishlist Pt. 2: Christmas Edition!

Hey everyone! Long time no talk! To be honest, I thought I'd be posting on here way more this month... I guess it's just been a crazy couple of days. I finished off the last of my exams on Saturday and I was out yesterday, so today is looking like the opportune day to get back in the blogging game.

Anyhow, I have my second wishlist I've ever posted on this blog to share with you (click here to see the first one). These are some items I would love to receive for Christmas, and hopefully it gives you a few ideas for last-minute Christmas shopping. These are perfect for a friend or daughter or anyone into beauty (with perhaps the exception of the last three items).

OPI nail polish in "Golden Eye": This nail polish is from the OPI Skyfall collection (inspired by James Bond, of course), and it's a really pretty gold shimmer. I don't have one of these in my collection and I think it's just a nice, luxurious color to have. I would even treat it as a neutral because it could match so many different outfits.

Dior Shimmer Star in "Amber Diamond": I've been kind of obsessed with powder highlighters lately and it seems to me like this is just the ultimate. Everything about it seems incredible. The pigmentation (I've swatched it in-store many times), the pattern on the product, the packaging, everything. This is definitely more high-end given the price, but it would be such a lovely gift.

Bioderma Solution Micellaire: This product is hailed by the online beauty community as the best makeup remover in existence (lol). I guess the price is a point I'd like to address. This is not available in the United States, and can only be purchased in Europe (UK and France for sure, I'm not certain about other Euro countries) and Canada, and from what I know about exchange rates, it's marginally cheaper in Canada. That said, $22 for a makeup remover is a hell of a lot. It does seem like an incredible product, though, and I'm dying to try it.

Benefit POREfessional: The annoying thing about pores is that they're genetic, so any kind of serum that claims to remove pores is a scam. However, there are products available that reduce the look of pores, such as this one. I would be interested in trying it out to see how I'd make do with it, because it can be a hit or miss product. It's gotten generally good reviews, though, so I'm intrigued!

BeautyBlender: This is a product that is meant to seamlessly blend foundation. I don't know why it's $26; I can't really justify buying that for a sponge, but concept really peaks my interest. I still have a problem with streaky/patchy foundation if I don't spend ample time applying it, so this would be a wonder to have on days when I'm in a rush.

MAC 217 Brush: Okay, I love my Sigma blending brush, but this brush is likely one of the most-talked-about brushes in the beauty community. It seems more stiff than the Sigma one, so I bet it's a lot more precise. It can also be used to apply eyeshadow, and I think it would be an all-around great brush to own.

Giftcards: I think giftcards are a great gift, because it shows a person that you're atune to their needs and interests, while still giving them the opportunity to go shopping for themselves. Personally, I'm in serious need of a new bra (hope that's not TMI), and I've been having issues with Victoria's Secret lately, so Aerie is my new go-to. It's actually American Eagle's lingerie line. Really, though, I could make use out of any giftcard, be it Walmart, Pharmaprix, Sephora (of course), Bath & Body Works, Forever 21, etc.

Divergent by Veronica Roth: I'm in need of new books to read, and I've heard great things about this one. A lot of beauty gurus have read it (Tanya Burr and Amarixe, among the ones I can recall), but John Green has also recommended it, so I'm pretty confident that it's a good one.

H&M Braided Headband: So, I couldn't find the price on this because according to their website, it's sold out (!?), but I've seen it in-store many times so I'm sure they haven't completely vanished. American Apparel has similar styles but I'd rather not give them by business (or that of anyone shopping on my behalf). I just think it's very cute and a nice alternative to wearing a hat.

So that concludes my Christmas wishlist! Hope you enjoyed and please don't be shy to comment below! :)