2014's Beauty Moments

Twenty fourteen is coming to a close and seeing as this was the year this blog was born, it's only appropriate that I recap my favorite beauty moments of the past 12 months. Some focused on makeup, some on body image, some on inner beauty. All inspired or moved me in some way to experiment, continue to blog, laugh at the hilarious reality of this hobby, or even cry when thinking about the kind of beauty the matters most. In no particular order:

1. Joan Smalls's Purple Met Gala Lips 
I love following coverage of the Met Gala on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for moments like this one. I'm usually girl-crushing on Puerto Rican supermodel Joan Smalls, but when she showed up to the Met Gala with shocking purple lips, I fell in love. Purple lips are probably not the easiest thing to pull off in real life, but Joan paired them perfectly with a nude Vera Wang gown, the most elegant fishtail braid I've ever seen, and glowing skin. I hear the lip color was achieved using navy eyeliner and the Estée Lauder 'Pure Color Envy' Sculpting Lipstick in Insolent Plum. Now, I'm no Joan Smalls, but I may play around with this look solely for a quick selfie op.

2. Bruno Mars's Gold Take on the Doña Florinda Look
Bruno Mars had me at the sparkly, gold, custom Saint Laurent jacket he wore during the Super Bowl Half-Time Show earlier this year. And then came his and Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk performance on The Voice just a few weeks ago. He walked on stage in gold hair curlers that only he has the confidence and style to rock, and I actually screamed at the television. I need these in 1.5 inch diameter, ASAP.

3. Lupita Nyong'o's Essence Black Women in Hollywood Acceptance Speech
This one really struck a chord with me, as I'm sure it did for many women. I spend a large part of my life, outside of my full-time job, talking, writing and reading about beauty; buying and testing out beauty products; worrying about fine lines that are starting to show on my face; putting on lots of makeup to enhance my favorite features and hide my not-so-favorite features. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't vain. But you would also be wrong to think that someone like myself doesn't understand real beauty. The kind that, in Lupita's mother's words, "...doesn't feed you." The kind you can't "acquire or consume," but that you have to be. I'll leave my favorite quote from her speech right here, and hope you watch it in its entirety.

"...that you will feel the validation of your external beauty, but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful on the inside." 




4. Lupita Nyong'o named Lancome's Brand Ambassador
Because there was nobody more graceful or striking in 2014 than Lupita Nyong'o, in my opinion, she takes two spots in my favorite beauty moments for the year. In April, she announced she would be Lancome's newest brand ambassador, joining the likes of Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts. I not only loved this because I adore Lupita for her elegance, but because even in 2014, there really is so little representation in the media of black models or actresses who differ so much from our classic standards of beauty, the most recent being Alek Wek in the late 90s and early 2000s.

5. When Rihanna Tweeted About the Colombian Cutie at the World Cup
During the Colombia vs. Brazil World Cup game this summer, Rihanna Tweeted the below Vine with the caption "Colombian Cutie." I, like Rihanna, can appreciate a gorgeous Latina. Especially one who can seriously rock a red lip. I paid no attention to any of the World Cup events and mostly tuned in for a couple of the Mexico games because watching them is an unspoken requirement at my agency. But this moment was definitely the highlight for me. Can someone please find out what lip color this girl was wearing? Thanks.

6. Kylie Jenner's Lips
I'm not any of the Kardashians' or Jenners' number one fan, but there's no denying their influence on my and just about everyone's beauty (and fashion) choices. Or the fact that following them on Instagram is a favorite guilty pleasure. This year was huge, particularly for the Jenner girls, and it seemed strange to put this list together and not talk about Kylie Jenner's lips and all their glory. I can't lie and say I didn't sit in front of my mirror multiple times to practice the look. And that I didn't try at least once to buy MAC's Whirl lip pencil, only to find out it was out of stock. What was I expecting? In the end, I realized my lips just don't look good over-lined, unless it's with a darker color, but it was fun to at least try and take some absurd selfies which I then blew up (making them even more absurd) to more closely resemble Kylie's lips using FaceTune. And whether Kylie's lips were surgically enhanced or not (but c'mon), this was definitely their year.

7. Jennifer Lawrence's Wob and Beard on Jimmy Fallon
Of all the famous wavy bobs (wobs?) in 2014 (Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lauren Conrad), J Law's was definitely my favorite because it was the most effortless. My favorite J Law wob moment was when she made her appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in a fitted, high-waisted, back-baring Victoria Beckham dress, with her adorable wob and a faux beard that I'm pretty sure was a clip-in hair extension. I've never seen any woman be so hilarious and sexy simultaneously.

8. When Mindy Kaling Kept It Real 

I want a Mindy Kaling quote calendar on my desk. So many things she said, did and wore this year inspired many a beauty moment for me. And of course, the most amazing thing about Mindy is that she just keeps it real. Like when she showed Instagram exactly what happens before we, as women, actually look pretty.

Or when she talked about body image on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I'll leave my favorite bit here, but again, watch the entire thing. I laugh so hard every time.

"It's so refreshing that Mindy feels comfortable to, like, let herself go and be a fat sea monster...and by the way, I, like, run and work out. It takes a lot of effort to look like a normal slash chubby woman."

9. Oprah O Magazine December Issue Lips
Lips were clearly important in 2014 -- purple lips, nude lips, red lips. Oprah's O Magazine December cover was the catalyst for many red-lipped holiday looks for me this year, and you should already know how strongly I feel about them. I detailed the look and shared a couple of my own looks using some bright red not too long ago, here and here.

10. Esther Honig's Before and After

In June, Esther Honig's experiment Before and After went viral on Buzzfeed, and was reported on across 30 countries and many publications. Esther submitted an unaltered image of herself to 40 graphic designers across several countries including India, the United States and the Philippines, among others, and asked them to make her beautiful using Photoshop. The results were interesting and some even shocking. Some artists gave her entirely new hair, bigger eyes, colored eyes, bold makeup. I was most interested to see the Latin-American countries and India and was disappointed to see that Mexico wasn't represented. Some of the most interesting and telling include both versions that came out of the Philippines and Argentina's Barbie-esque look.

Sparkly Holiday Look

It's Christmas Eve so I'm really cutting it close with this post, unless you're looking for a last-minute look for tonight or tomorrow. However, New Year's Eve is still a few days away and we'll all be feeling festive a little while longer, so I wanted to shared details on the holiday makeup look I created this past weekend. It was so fun to do and one of my favorite looks...pretty much ever. I was inspired by one of my current favorite (and adorable) bloggers, Keiko Lynn. She put this beautiful look together featuring soft pinks and rose golds with glitter and a bright red lip. She alone is stunning, but this look was just a dream.

I've been wearing my Mac's Retro Matte lipstick in Ruby Woo quite a bit lately so obviously any opportunity to feature it in a look is one I'm going to jump on, and this one was too perfect. That, and when else is a 28-year-old woman allowed to throw glitter on her lids and sparkle this much? I don't usually need an excuse to put glitter on anything, but it's perfectly appropriate these days.

I'm definitely more olive-toned than Keiko, and my glitter wasn't quite as rosy and silver, but I was really happy with my final look (although I would kill for her fair, porcelain skin).


Here's how I achieved it, in great detail:

Base, Part 1

• I started with moisturized skin - I'm currently using Mario Badescu's Buttermilk Moisturizer, and created my foundation for my base using Benefit's POREFessional as primer.
• I applied Mac's Studio Fix foundation in shade NW30 to my entire face with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (only $6!!). 
• I then added a light layer of Tarte's Maracuja Miracle Foundation in the shade Light to the center of my face (nose, the insides of my cheeks, my forehead, etc.) to add a bit of a dewy finish. Mac's Studio fix is very matte and also a shade darker than the Maracuja Miracle foundation so it also helped add a bit of depth and highlight.
• When applying these I used a patting or bouncing motion, never an actual blending motion, to avoid lines and achieve a really sheer, and soft-focus finish. 

Eyebrows

• After the first part of my base was complete, I lightly filled in my eyebrows using the Flower Beauty Raise Some 'Brows Defining Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Dark Brown. I didn't want my eyebrows to compete with the glitter so I was very gentle with this application.
• I defined my brows by drawing a faint line underneath, and filling in with soft, upward strokes.
• I finished by cleaning up harsh lines, and brushing my eyebrows in place with a spoolie. 

Eyes

• I started with Too Faced's Shadow Insurance Primer all over my lid from lash line to brow bone and even under my eye. 
• I then covered my lid in the shade Dream (an opaque ivory shade) from the Lorac PRO Palette from lash line to brow bone, as a base color, using a wide base eyeshadow brush from Sephora's Smoke Machine Smokey Eye Brush Set. 
• My goal was to make the glitter the focus of the look, so I kept most of the eyeshadow simple. I added a combination of the Taupe and Mauve (both great transition shades) shades, also from the Lorac PRO Palette, to my crease and blended with a fluffy Laura Mercier blending brush. 
• To my lower lid, from lash line to just below my crease, I added the shade Light Bronze (a metallic shade) also from the Lorac PRO Palette. I patted this on with my finger, because I find the color applies bolder and adheres better. 
• I then blended the crease shade into the Light Bronze shade with the Laura Mercier fluffy, blending brush, to make sure the transition between the two was smooth.
• For the glitter, I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue over the Light Bronze and in the inner corner of my eye using my finger. 
• Using my finger, I applied a combination of Too Faced Glamour Dust Glitter Pigment in Light Pink, as well as a layer of translucent and silver glitter I found at Sally Beauty Supply. 
• To add depth to my lids, I finished by applying the shade Sable, also from the Lorac PRO Palette into the outer corner of my lid in a c shape using the from the smudge brush from the Sephora Smoke Machine Smokey Eye Brush Set and blended using the precision smudge brush from the same set. 
• To create the winged liner, I applied Nyx Cosmetics Gel Liner and Smudger with the angled liner burhs from the Sephora Smoke Machine set, and then applied Stila's Stay-All-Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Intense Black over that line to really define it because it can be difficult to draw a line over glitter. 
• For my bottom lash line I applied a combination of the Taupe and Sable shades from the Lorac PRO Palette, with the Sephora smudge brush from the Smoke Machine set and blended using the precision smudge brush. 
• I finished with a combination of Maybelline's Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara (in waterproof formula), followed by a coat of Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes mascara. 

Base, Part 2 

• To finish my foundation, I applied Benefits Lemon-Aid as a highlighter under my eyes and down the center of my nose. 
• I then added Nyx's Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer in Beige and blended everything with the pointed end of the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge in a patting motion. 
• I applied the Balm's Cindy Lou-Manizer to the apples of my cheeks using the Real Techniques tapered blush brush. 
• I contoured my cheeks, forehead and chin using the Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Sculpting Contour Trio in Sophisticated using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. 

Lips

• I started with Too Faced's Lip Insurance Lip Primer in Nude to prime my lips. 
• I outlined my lips using Milani's Easyliner in Sugar Plum.
• I patted Nyx's Matte Lipstick in Pure Red into the center of my lips, top and bottom. 
• Lastly, I applied my Mac Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo all over. 
• I blended the edges with a Laura Mercier lip brush. 

Face Mask Favorites

Like many women consider certain items - a little black dress, a classic trench - staples in their wardrobe, I consider face masks the staples of my skincare regimen. They not only supplement my skincare routine, they pretty much form the foundation for it. Masks keep my skin in-check allowing me to have good days, more beautiful makeup application, and carry me from spa facial to spa facial.

I do 1-2 masks weekly --it's actually alright to do multiple masks weekly, so don't be afraid to incorporate them often into your routine. The week's special occasions, the weekend's feasts, my menstrual cycle (sorry for the men reading this - I know there are few of you, but still), the weather, all determine what mask I'll be using. I have intense moisturizing masks for the winter, masks that do the opposite in the summer, facial-in-a-jar masks for really important events, masks for when I'm seeing a breakout coming on (or worse, when it's already happened), and I'm constantly trying new ones for redness, minimizing pores, you name it. I get many questions about my favorite masks and which I recommend for certain conditions, so I wanted to list a few of my favorites and go-tos. These are my tried-and-true and many I'm very well stocked on at the moment while some are favorites from the past - all have given me great results.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask
Good for clearing pores

I don't think I've rambled on enough about this one. I have a thousand selfies on Instagram wearing this and that I've mentioned it 10,000 more in this very young blog. And I currently have not one, but three bottles in stock - I'm always prepared and not taking risks with this one. I use this weekly, usually on Sundays, as a detox for my skin and to clear all the weekend's bad decisions, which always show. This is great for all skin types. It goes on like mud, with a creamy texture and dries hard. I always apply after cleansing with my Clarisonic, so the the product can get way in there. It always tingles a little, but is never irritating. I rinse off with very warm water and then finish with a splash of cold water to close my pores right back up. After using, my skin just feels clean, and like it can actually breathe.



Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask
Good for quenching dry skin

This is a super-charged version of Origins' Drink-Up mask and is perfect for the dry winter months. In Texas, winter lasts just a few short weeks, but already this year I've had to use this twice during a harsh* early-November cold front. This mask is ideal if you have dry skin or live in a cold climate. My skin isn't typically dry, but for those times that I do encounter a need for added moisture, I turn to this. My skin can actually get into the oily category, so I was worried about breaking out when I used this, as I do anytime I use moisture or oil-rich products. This mask is creamy and rich with avocado oil. I was pleasantly surprised to find this mask doesn't make me break out. The mask applies deliciously, and has a very sweet but subtle scent of apricot from the apricot kernel oil. Immediately after applying, it does feel heavy and almost sticky, but after time your skin actually begins to drink the moisture right up. In the morning, your skin will feel like a dream. I also love to use just a bit of this on my hands and elbows.


*Harsh winters in Texas have 30 to 40-degree days.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask with Red Clay
Good for controlling excess oil

The entire Skin Rescue collection is blemish fighting powerhouse. This mask is not slacking in the oil-control department, and it's my best friend during the summer when my skin is more prone to breakouts. Anytime I see a hint of a breakout or a blemish, I grab this out of my medicine cabinet and nip the problem right in the bud. The mask goes on very sticky, so you really have to work it into your skin and around your face. The color is a bit shocking at first - blood red. Every time I wear it, Andres either screams in terror or gives me a funny new nickname like Oompa Loompa. The mask dries into a film and peels right off, but unlike other masks that peel, the peeling process for this is very gentle and painless. It's very calming, refines pores and makes skin look and feel super smooth. I always get compliments after using this.



Boscia Luminizing Black Mask 
Good for brightening and detoxifying skin

Like the First Aid Beauty Red Clay mask above, the peeling process here is not painless. You've been warned. But it is tolerable. Our bodies were made to birth babies, so you can definitely handle this. This was actually one of my first forays into face mask territory and I have loved it since, despite that one con. It's a mask that does what it says it will do (detoxify, purify and even brighten). This stuff applies similarly to the First Aid Beauty Red Clay mask, except it's even thicker and stickier. It's a jet black color and goes on like paint. You have to layer this well and again, wait for it to dry and peel right off. Be careful near your hairline and eyebrows when using this. It's like pulling a bandaid. But worth the pain because it leaves skin super soft and definitely more radiant.



Glam Glow YouthMud 
Good for just about everything

This is the priciest of my favorites so this mask is definitely reserved for very special occasions. At $70 for 1.7 ounces, this is sadly not a mask I can afford to use weekly. This mask purifies, it clears pores, it makes you glow, glow, glow, it moisturizes, it gently exfoliates with volcanic rock, it tingles and your skin will feel soft for days after you use it. I used it last before my company's holiday party on a Saturday, and the following Wednesday I was still caressing my own cheek. It's meant to function as a facial in a jar, and I can really stand by that claim.



Lush Cosmetics Catastrophe Cosmetics and Brazened Honey//All Lush Masks
Good for whatever your needs may be

I've included these in my favorites because of the variety of recipes, the jar size and the price. These masks are each under $7 for 2.1 ounces, so they're great to buy in multiples to test or for when you're in a bind and need a quick, cost-efficient fix. These masks are all fresh-made and are kept in an in-store refrigerator, which you're also supposed to do when you take them home. I've tried the Catastrophe Cosmetic which comes with blueberries (great antioxidant), and chamomile to calm and cleanse the skin. I've also used the Brazened Honey which is great for tired skin. The honey in it is super moisturizing (leaves your skin oh-so-soft, I know because I just used it) and also a great cleanser. And since you keep them in the fridge, these are cold and extra calming when applied. And as a bonus, if you take 5 empty mask pots back to a Lush store, you'll get one mask free. You have to use these a couple times a week, they have a 3-week shelf life because they're made with fresh ingredients, and the scent is very strong. But if you can get past that, you'll love these.

Red Lip Moment

Red lips are having a major moment right now. I thought it was just me, but a few days ago, Vogue covered Kendall Jenner and Olivia Palermo, among others pairing bright red lips with winter whites for the holiday season. That, and just today, MAC Cosmetics announced the release of the 'Red, Red, Red' collection which includes four new, limited-edition, red shades to add to their repertoire of already perfect scarlet shades.

Red lips are never not having a moment - it doesn't get more classic or iconic than a red lip. It can be the mark a woman from the most daring to the most minimalistic. I grew up seeing red lipstick after red lipstick, and nothing but red lipstick in my mother's makeup drawer. I've owned a few myself and love them, but never thought they suited my personality like they do my mother's. My mom is serious and reserved and reminds me of Maria Felix. I'm rarely serious and hardly reserved and most of the time, I feel like I lack the grace to pull off bold red lips.

But over the past three weeks I've seen an onslaught of red lips and I'm really loving it. It all started over Thanksgiving, when I spotted the O Magazine December issue at my grocery store checkout line and actually squealed. This red and the combination of blue and orange undertones in it just captivated me.



And like any good beauty addict, I stalked tracked down Oprah's makeup artist (@Derrick4mkup), browsed his Instagram feed and begged him to tell me who this perfect red lip is by. On a post talking about the look, he wrote out a detailed description on how he achieved it:

"...now that lip that everyone has been asking about was achieved by using 3 diff red pencils, after applying lip balm. I used a warm brown red to trace along the lip line, a blue red pencil to fill in the lip, and an orange red to fill in the center of the lip. After blending all three colors with a lip brush, I then used a matte red gloss to give the lip richness."

While this was super helpful and actually useful (I created the red lip below using the same process), Derrick - these descriptions are too vague! I'd love to know the exact products used. I'm still waiting on response from him and something tells me I'll be waiting a while. Either way, I did my best to recreate the look.

For my red lip, which I wore this past weekend to my agency's holiday party - masquerade themed - I started with a tiny bit of foundation on the lips and primed with my holy-grail Too Faced Lip Insurance. I traced a line around my lips using Milani's Easyliner Mechanical Lip Pencil in Sugar Plum (great drug-store buy at just under $5). I then applied NYX's Matte Lipstick in Pure Red, which is actually more orange-red than red-red, to the center of my bottom lip and finished by filling in my lips with Ruby Woo (from my 2014 Holiday Gift Guide), which is blue-based red. Ruby Woo is a perfect matte red and almost looks like velvet when applied.





Because I struggle with redness and because Ruby Woo has blue undertones, it's difficult for me to wear it on its own. I tend to prefer orange, neon or crimson shades of red for this very reason. But I love Ruby Woo, and the hint of orange in NYX's Pure Red helped to brighten, as well as warm up my complexion. To really combat any redness that might have been emphasized by the blue tones in the lip color, I went pretty heavy on the Benefit LemonAid under my eyes, around my lips and on my forehead.

This was on a casual Tuesday evening, my first attempt at creating this look, my practice run for the holiday party.

 


Even at 28, I know I'm not nearly as graceful or mature as I should be to properly wear red. But over the winter and well into the spring, I know I'll be on the hunt for every great red I can get my hands on, including the colors from that 'Red, Red Red' collection. And I'll do my absolute best to do them grown-up, lady-like justice.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

The Holidays are upon us and every year I'm asked for advice from girlfriends, guy friends, colleagues, anyone, on what to gift the special ladies in their lives. I pride myself on giving good recommendations, so to put that to use, I created a gift guide for this holiday season with everything from makeup and skincare to extras and stocking stuffers at different price points. On top of this list being a compilation of things that are on my personal wish list (of course!), I've also put a ton of thought into my selections and did so thinking of many kinds of ladies from the minimalists to those who love a little beauty drama.

MAKEUP: 

1. NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette - $65

One of the top items on my list and the list of several friends. It includes some of Nars' best-selling blushes, highlighters and bronzer, 5 total, to create a number of different looks. Nars blushes are truly iconic and you can't beat the pigmentation. 

2. Too Faced Everything Nice Palette -$56 

This palette really is everything and it's very nice. I have owned this for a couple weeks and am finding it just as easy to use the bright pinks and purples, as I am to use the perfect neutrals. It comes with 20 shades total, 2 blushes, an exclusive and GORGEOUS highlighter, and the perfect Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.

3. Lorac Pro to Go Eye and Cheek Palette - $38
I recently tried and fell in love with the Lorac Pro palette and felt like I'd been living under a rock. The shadow consistency is like butter, they blend effortlessly, and the colors are so rich. The same applies for the Pro to Go palette. This is great size for someone who travels often or has a low-maintenance makeup routine, and includes classic shades that can still create bold looks.

4. The Balm Cindy, Mary, Betty-Lou Manizer - $24
These beautiful highlighters come in three different shades to suit anyone - Mary is a honey shade, Cindy is soft coral shade, and Betty is a bronze shade. These finish off any look with a perfect, subtle and youthful glow. They even do double or triple duty as an eyeshadow and blush.

5. Mac Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo - $16
There's no better time to gift THE classic red lipstick than during the holidays. Ruby Woo is the perfect shade of red, suits just about any skin tone and works just as well dressed up or dressed down. While it's especially perfect for winter, it looks amazing during any season. 

SKINCARE:



1. Glam Glow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment - $69
This face mask does it all, and considering it's not easy to drop $70+ on a 1.7 ounce face mask, this really makes this the best kind of gift. This works for all skin types, gives immediate, incredible and stunning results and is great to use before big events like weddings, vacations, holiday parties, etc.

2. Josie Maran Argan Oil - $48
This miraculous little concoction has received tons of praise and with reason.  It helps even skin tone, is a great moisturizer, has tons of anti-aging properties and can be applied to hair, nails and cuticles. And it's even great as an acne treatment. An oil? I know.

3. Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish - $30
This body polish is the perfect winter-time indulgence. Unlike many body scrubs or polishes that are oil based, this one is creamier and feels and smells delicious. It's a great exfoliator that also quenches dry skin's thirst when it most needs it. And did I mention that smell? I did. But still.

4. First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - $30 
These are great as toner and give skin a beautiful glow. When I use these I instantly see more even skin tone and much brighter complexion. They're great for nightly use and I also love to use prior to applying my face for the day.

5. Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask - $24
This mask has a huge following. I use it almost weekly and have converted even a few male friends into loyal fans. It calms the skin, clears pores and just feels like a really nice facial detox, especially on Sundays before you get your week started.

STOCKING STUFFERS: 

1. Caudalie Beauty Elixir - Travel Size $18

This part toner, part serum feels like luxury. It has bitter orange and peppermint, calms the skin and instantly makes your complexion more radiant. This can be used prior to makeup, after makeup for a dewy glow, or on bare skin that just needs a little freshening.

2. Lush Cosmetics Lip Scrub - $10
These are perfect for the winter when lips are feeling dry and need a little extra exfoliation. They're handmade and their many flavors are super yummy - my personal favorite is the Bubblegum.

3. Essie Nail Polish - $8.50

One of my favorites to give and receive. With so many iconic shades to choose from, you can easily find something to suit anyone. Holiday favorites for me include First Dance, Hors D'Ouvres and Good as Gold.

4. EOS Lip Balms - $3.50
These are just adorable, leave your lips feeling baby soft and come in great colors and flavors. With so many options to choose from and at such a great price, these are great to gift as multiples.

EXTRAS:

1. Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb - $45 - $215
I've never met a woman who didn't love this scent. Aside from it having major sentimental value for me - I wore it when Andres and I first started dating and then again at our wedding, gifted to me then by my best friend - it's a distinct, floral scent that's rich but not overpowering and great for both summer and winter.

2. Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings - $60+
If Dr. Mindy Lahiri loves these, then so do I. I still have yet to pick up a pair for myself, so they're definitely at the top of my wish list. With so many stone and metal combos to choose from, it's easy to find something that works for anyone or any occasion. I love them in green or emerald cat's eye.

3. Capri Blue Volcano Candle - $28
I have several of these in my home and can't get enough. I love a scent that works year-round (like the Flower Bomb above), and this is definitely one of those. I love lighting this when I'm having company or even when the apartment's clean, the laundry's done and I'm just feeling good.

4. West Elm Gilded Dapper Animal Mug - $10 
What could be more fun than having your morning coffee with a dapper, gilded gold accessory-wearing snowy owl? Nothing. There are 4 super cute furry friends to choose from and these regularly go for $10 but are currently $6.99 if you buy online.

Please let me know if you're looking for something for a special someone in a different category or if this list just absolutely did not help. I'm happy to do a little more digging for you. Happy Holidays!