HOLIDAY 2016 GIFT GUIDE FOR BEAUTY LOVERS

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — limited edition holiday beauty releases are here! But seriously, I think this is the best time of year for beauty lovers and am thrilled to be sharing my hit list for Holiday 2016 in partnership with Sephora Canada. If you’ve been reading JustineCelina since last year, you may remember me covering holiday beauty releases in a series of posts — well, today I’m combining all my holiday beauty recommendations into one mega post to help inform all your holiday beauty purchases! Whether you’re doing a little pre-holiday shopping for yourself (hey, I’m not here to judge!) or choosing to give the gift of beauty this holiday season, my Holiday 2016 Gift Guide for Beauty Lovers is for you! This comprehensive guide for the beauty obsessed is an overarching look at my favourite holiday-exclusive products and value packed offerings across categories. Grab a pen and paper (and maybe your credit card!), fix yourself a festive cocktail and let’s chat about a few of my favourite beauty things this holiday season!

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HOLIDAY 2016 GIFT GUIDE FOR BEAUTY LOVERS

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Although I’m not big on unnecessary gift-giving during the holidays, one thing I’ve been doing for years is creating personalized beauty bundles for the ladies in my life. One of my favourite things to do in preparation for the holidays is to scout out the best limited edition sets with my favourite mini sized products, then divide them up in personalized gifts for family and friends based on their style and preferences! It’s a thoughtful gesture that doesn’t take a lot of time (or have to cost a lot of money). The best part is that each holiday season, I receive the gift of sharing a few of my favourite beauty goodies and helping the women in my life look and feel their best.

In addition to introducing you to my favourite value sets today, I’m also going to be sharing a few limited edition palettes that have wowed me this season. Keep in mind that these limited edition offerings tend to sell out fast (us beauty junkies are an impulsive bunch!) — so if you see something you’re interested in, don’t wait too long to grab it! Typically, items tend to sell out online before they sell out in-store, so if you fall in love with something you see here and find that it’s no longer available online, I encourage you to use the “FIND IN STORE” feature at sephora.com, where you enter your postal code to track it down at a location close to you. Let’s dive into the very best beauty products Holiday 2016 has to offer!

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LIPS

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We’re beginning with the largest section first today — lip products! I think limited-edition holiday gift sets are a great opportunity to test drive new products or shades with minimal commitment and they’re also the easiest items to gift. Everyone likes to try a few new lipstick shades this time of year and these minis are a fantastic way to sample the best a brand has to offer without the commitment of full-sized items. Now’s the perfect time to shake up your beauty routine this holiday season, or purchase these value sets to gift — either as a whole, or to divide up and create customized gifts!

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Bite Beauty 

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I love Bite Beauty so much that I’m giving them their very own section in my Holiday 2016 Gift Guide for Beauty Lovers! If you’re going to make one limited edition holiday purchase this season — make it something from edgy Canadian brand Bite Beauty (who make lip products, exclusively) and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Bite Beauty makes my all time favourite lip products and everyone I’ve turned onto Bite loves them just as much as I do. Whether you prefer a more traditional lipstick (just amplified!), a matte lip crayon or want to experiment with on-trend metallics — you really can’t go wrong with Bite Beauty’s holiday offerings for 2016! Check out this post if you’d like to learn more about the brand in general.

Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set

C $29.00

If you’re totally new to Bite Beauty and are looking for an introductory recommendation, start with the Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set — which includes 4 neutral, iconic shades of Bite’s bestselling Amuse Bouche lipsticks (my all-time-favourite lipstick formula!) ranging from nude to deep. Deluxe sized minis of Fig (review), Pepper (review), Honeycomb and Nori are housed in an adorable metal tin with a mirror. I pick this set every year and have never been disappointed! Looking for a more in-depth review of the Amuse Bouche formula? Hop over to this post. Note: this set is currently sold out online, so if you love the sounds of this Amuse Bouche set from Bite, be sure to track it down in-store at your local Sephora.

Bite Beauty Best Bite Redux Set

C $29.00

This is another one of my favourite limited edition sets from Bite — perfect for those who prefer a more matte finish to their lip products. The Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon formula is another one of my all-time-favourites and I’ve mentioned (and worn) it many times here at JustineCelina. This year, Bite is offering four bold, deluxe-size shades in their signature holiday tin — including Truffle, Red Velvet, Orchid, Fraise, which are all new shades to me, but they’re absolutely stunning. Looking for a more in-depth review of the Matte Crème Lip Crayon formula? Check out this post.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick Duos

C $17.00

When Bite Beauty is starting to make metallic lip products, you know it’s a major trend! These double-ended lipstick duos are another one of Bite’s holiday offerings that I pick up each year (they’re great for travel!) and for 2016 Bite has infused their classic lipstick duos with a metallic topcoat. Bite suggests swiping on the Amuse Bouche lipstick first, then applying the coordinating metallic topcoat on top if you so desire. I’ve been playing around with these festive duos and I think Bite really nailed it with this concept — they’re so much fun and a foolproof way to try the metallic lip trend without breaking the bank. I have 3 of the 4 duos offered for 2016, including Gold / Sour Cherry, Opal/ Jam and Bronze / Pepper. I’m missing Rose Gold / Fig (I already own Fig, but the metallic Rose Gold topcoat looks absolutely stunning!). Looking for a review of these mini duos from last year? Check out this post.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Mistletoe – Holiday Kiss Collection

C $30.00

If you’re a major Amuse Bouche lipstick fan and you’re looking for a full-sized holiday offering this season, look to further than the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Mistletoe. This exclusive shade for holiday 2016 is the ultimate festive lip — a deep, sensual red with a lustrous, creamy finish. This stunning lipstick screams holiday glam and I’ll be sharing a closer look at it in my upcoming 5 Festive Lipsticks to Try this Holiday Season post!

Bite Beauty Gold Crème Lip Gloss

C $25.00

Last but certainly not least from Bite Beauty is this wildcard — an ultra metallic Gold Crème Lip Gloss! If you’re looking for something totally outside of the box this holiday season, give this well-formulated, gold metallic gloss from Bite a whirl. Although it may look scary in the tube, I promise it’s totally wearable and absolutely stunning over top of any of your favourite lipsticks to infuse a healthy dose of holiday sparkle! Or, if you’re feeling daring, you can get it to look almost as intense as it does in the tube on your lips!

Psssst… are you totally obsessed with Bite Beauty? You may be interested in the Amuse Bouche Lipstick Vault Collection (C $225.00), which features 38 deluxe minis of the Amuse Bouche Lipsticks, or the Matte Crème Lip Crayon Collection (C $360.00) featuring 18 bestselling shades of full-sized Matte Crème Lip Crayons. These would be perfect to split up into separate gifts, or to purchase with your lipstick loving girlfriends and divvy up!

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Liquid Lipstick

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Myself (along with most of the beauty-loving world) has been obsessed with liquid lipstick this year, so I’m glad to see some fantastic sets from 2 of my favourite liquid lipstick brands for Holiday 2016. If these sets look familiar, it’s because I mentioned them in my 5 Liquid Lipsticks to Try This Fall Post, where I also reviewed both of these formulas if you’re looking for more information.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Mini Cream Lip Stain Set

C $15.00

If you’re looking to sample a few shades from a fantastic range of liquid lipsticks, the limited edition SEPHORA COLLECTION Mini Cream Lip Stain Set for holiday 2016 is my pick! These 4 Mini Cream Lip Stains in Always Red (which I review in detail here), Infinite Rose, Cherry Blossom, Blackberry Sorbet are an absolute dream to wear — plus the shades are gorgeous and universally flattering. Plus, the mini applicators make it simple to get a crisp lip line. Looking for a more in-depth review of the SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Lip Stain formula? Hop over to this post.

Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick Set

C $62.00

The Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks have been a long time favourite of mine and I own many shades from the range — all of which are incredible. If you’re looking to sample a range of liquid lipsticks from Kat Von D, pick up the limited edition Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick Set this holiday season, which offers 8 Mini Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks in 6 on-trend, permanent shades as well as 2 brand new shades which are exclusive to the set. Looking for a more in-depth review of the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick formula? Check out this post.

And if you absolutely love Kat Von D’s liquid lipsticks, she’s just released the Kat Von D Everlasting Obsession Liquid Lipstick Collector’s Edition Set (C $300.00), which contains 15 full sized liquid lipsticks (including 2 shades exclusive to this set!).

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Lip Gloss

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Buxom makes my all-time-favourite lip glosses and lip creams. They do these limited edition holiday sets so well — each season I pick up a set of minis and wear them throughout the year! I also pick up a set for beauty bundle gifting and everyone raves about these products. If you’re looking for a more in-depth review of the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish and Lip Cream formulas, give these posts a look.

Buxom Freezes Over Set

C $74.00

If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for lip gloss, lip creams and liquid lipsticks — this is the set for you! The Buxom Freezes Over Set includes 5 Mini Full-On Lip Polishes, 5 Mini Full On Lip Creams and 5 Mini Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipsticks (which are a new to me, but I absolutely love them — they’re so comfortable to wear!). The range of shades and finishes is fantastic — a great set to pick up either for yourself, or to purchase for gifting!

Buxom 6 Degrees Below Sexy Mini Full-On Lip Polish Collection

C $40.00

If you love the Buxom Lip Polish formula as much as I do, consider picking up the Buxom 6 Degrees Below Sexy Mini Full-On Lip Polish Collection — which features 6 classic shades. I can’t recommend these easy-to-wear glosses enough and have mentioned them many times here at JustineCelina.

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EYES

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Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night Style Eye Con No. 20 Eyeshadow Palette

C $124.00

There was really only one limited edition holiday eyeshadow palette that, well… caught my eye this season. Everything about the Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night Style Eye Con No. 20 Eyeshadow Palette oozes luxury — from the sleek, metallic gold casing to the beautifully formulated array of shadows. I’ve worn Marc Jacobs shadows since they first hit the market a few years ago (which is funny, because I’ve never mentioned them here at JustineCelina!) and think this limited edition palette is worth the investment. If you’re looking for a great, versatile eyeshadow palette to set you up for a gorgeous 2017, this is my pick! Hop over to this post for swatches and an eye look. 

Need more options in the eyeshadow department this season? Check out my Luxury Products Worth the Splurge post, where I included 3 of my current favourite eyeshadow palettes which are available permanently.

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FACE

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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Surreal Light

C $95.00

Every year, I pick up the Hourglass holiday palette — basically I find myself needing to replace it by the time the next season rolls around! I’ve mentioned last year’s palette so many times here at JustineCelina and still use it almost daily, so it was a no brainer to pick up the latest from Hourglass this holiday season. Everything about the Hourglass powders is truly luxurious and beautifully formulated. I love the versatility in this palette — it really is an all-in-one solution for bronzing, blush, finishing and highlighting. Compared to 2016’s palette, the blushes are a bit deeper, the bronzer has more warmth and the highlight is more golden — plus, they’ve including a larger size of the finishing powder, which is always the first to go in my palettes. Hourglass did a fantastic job with this palette, so if you’re interested in trying some limited edition offerings from the brand after hearing me rave about them for so long, pick the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Surreal Light up! If you’d like to learn more about how I use Hourglass powders, be sure to check out these posts. And for a review of this limited edition palette, hop over to my November Beauty Favourites.

BECCA Blushed with Light Palette

C $41.00

Here’s another product I mentioned in my Luxury Products Worth the Splurge post — and it seems that the beauty loving masses agreed, because it looks to be permanently out of stock online. Becca Mineral Blushes are a classic, staple product for me. They’re extremely creamy and pigmented, but very blendable. I love the unique shades in this palette — including Wisteria, Songbird (a long time favourite) and Snapdragon. If you can track this one down in store I encourage you to pick it up! Give these posts a glance for a review of the Becca Mineral Blushes.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Quartz

C $46.00

Give the gift of glowing skin this season with this absolutely stunning, soft pink highlighter with subtle golden undertones! Unfortunately, this is another one that’s sold out completely online — yes, it’s that pretty! The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Quartz is my more recent obsession and I love the way it subtly illuminates my complexion — it’s perfect for the holidays! It’s an unconventional shade for a highlighter, but a versatile one — very fair skintones could wear it as a blush, and up to tan skintones can wear it as a traditional highlighter. If you’ve been reading for awhile you’ll have heard me mention rose quartz — it’s one of the Pantone Colors of the Year for 2016. We’ll be taking a closer look at Rose Quartz later this month in my November Beauty Favourites — but if you can’t wait until then, I encourage you to try to track it down in-store (that’s where I found mine!).

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FRAGRANCE

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I published my Autumn / Winter 2016 Fragrance Edit early this autumn and am so happy to see some fantastic limited edition sets from my favourite brands popping up for the holidays! Fragrance sets are another great item to gift as-is or to break up into smaller, personalized gifts for friends. Here’s what’s on my fragrance hit list for Holiday 2016!

Elizabeth & James Find Your Nirvana Rollerball Set

C $35.00

This limited edition set of 4 rollerball fragrances from Elizabeth and James in Nirvana White, Nirvana Black, Nirvana Rose, and Nirvana Bourbon is a great gift idea this season. I’ve worn, loved and reviewed Nirvana White, Nirvana Black, and Nirvana Bourbon here at JustineCelina previously — Elizabeth & James makes some of my all-time-favourite scents. The Elizabeth & James Find Your Nirvana Rollerball Set is an exclusive offering for Holiday 2016 and the perfect way to test drive Nirvana fragrances without breaking the bank!

Commodity Cocktail Kit

C $26.00

I’ve been living in Commodity’s Wool this month (you’ll read more about it in my November Beauty Favourites!), so naturally I was intrigued by Commodity Cocktail Kit for Holiday 2016! All of Commodity’s 10 unisex fragrances are included — the five black collection fragrances are complex, moody, and intense (my favourite, Wool, is among them). The five white collection fragrances are bright, airy, and easy. Commodity encourages you to layer their scents to create your own signature fragrance, or cocktail (and this cute pairings card even gives you some ideas)! I love the playful concept behind this kit and think it would make a fantastic gift!

DEREK LAM 10 CROSBY Fragrance Collection Gift Set

C $115.00

If you read my Autumn / Winter 2016 Fragrance Edit, you’ll know how intoxicated I am by Something Wild — the most sophisticated, sensual, vanilla based scent I’ve ever worn (you can read my rave review in my October Beauty Favourites)! I was eager to pick up the DEREK LAM 10 CROSBY Fragrance Collection Gift Set this holiday season to play with the rest of the DEREK LAM scents and I can confirm that they’re all gorgeous. I’m such a fan of everything about this emerging fragrance brand and their minimalist take on luxury — this is another set that would make a great gift for a hard-to-buy-for friend, or to split up into smaller beauty bundles!

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EDUCATION

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Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin

C $26.00

And last but not least is my choice for those of you wanting to give the gift of education this season! Do you have someone in your life who’s an aspiring makeup artist, just getting into makeup, or looking to sharpen their skills? Kevyn Aucoin’s bestselling book, Making Faces, is a classic beauty resource — sharing the fundamental techniques and knowledge to create different looks, along with the tricks he’s learned over the years as a celebrity makeup artist. I’m a big fan of Aucoin’s philosophy — he believes trends come and go, but true beauty transcends time. Although Making Faces was originally published in 1997, it’s a timeless resource for beauty education that still remains relevant today. It also makes a gorgeous addition to any coffee table, bathroom or guest bedroom this holiday season!

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I hope you enjoyed my Holiday 2016 Gift Guide for Beauty Lovers! Are there any limited edition holiday beauty releases you have your eye on this season (or enjoyed last year)? If there are, please leave me a comment so I can check them out — I’m always on the hunt for awesome new products. If you pick up anything I’ve mentioned here today I’d love it if you let me know how you liked it or how you’re gifting it. Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season full of love, laughter and beauty!

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Disclaimer: Thank you to Sephora Canada for sponsoring this post. JustineCelina uses affiliate and referral links, which allow me to receive a small commission when you make a purchase through one of my links. Thank you for supporting the brands and businesses that support JustineCelina.com!