Not sure what to get that special ‘makeup loving’ someone on your Christmas list this year? Don’t worry! I am here to help. As a responsible beauty blogger (read makeup addict), I have tested A LOT of the products, and have taken the time to narrow down my top beauty picks for the holidays.

It’s hard for me to pick my favourite category of makeup. I love it all! However, if someone were to put a gun to my head and ask me to choose, I’d have to go with eyeshadow. For me, doing my eye makeup is the most creative part of my getting ready process. I enjoy experimenting with
different shadows, and love how the same shadows can be used to create a neutral, a colourful or a smoky look.

Below are my top five eyeshadow palette picks, perfect for any makeup newbie or novice on your holiday list:

Urban Decay Naked Palette ($58 CND at Sephora):
As dramatic as it may sound, this eyeshadow palette has changed my life. As someone who always wore bright and colourful eyeshadow, I was stunned by how many gorgeous looks I could achieve using more neutral and smoky shadows. I use this palette on a weekly basis and find that it is the only palette I need when travelling. Whether your special someone is a makeup pro or is just getting into the world of beauty, this palette will truly make the perfect holiday present.

Too Faced Matte Eyeshadow Palette ($44 CND at Sephora):
While I love the way super shiny or glittery eyeshadows look on others, I find that those types of shades sometimes make my wrinkly lids look even more creased. That’s why I love the Matte Eyeshadow Palette from Too Faced. With nine completely matte shadows, this palette can be used for a variety of looks including a day, a classic and a fashion eye look. This is the perfect present for any makeup newbie as cue cards with instructions on how to achieve each of the three looks are included with the palette.

The Balm Shady Lady Vol. 2 Eyeshadow Palette ($39.99 at Pharma Plus):
With both colourful and neutral eyeshadows, this gorgeous and versatile palette is perfect for the extreme makeup junkie on your holiday list. Although less well known than some of the other companies mentioned in this post, The Balm’s products are are all of super high quality. Not only are their shadows super pigmented (what you see in the pan is what you get on the skin),
they are so soft and buttery making them really easy to apply and blend.

Tarte NeutralEYES Eyeshadow Palette ($47 CND at Sephora):
With it’s super trendy clutch-like packaging, this neutral shadow palette is perfect for the ‘stylish fashionista’ on your list. With light, medium and dark shadows, this palette is great for creating both day and night looks. As a nice little bonus, this palette comes with an eyeshadow primer and a super creamy brown eyeliner.

Charlotte Ronson All Eye Need Eyeshadow Palette in ‘Drea’ ($26 CND at Sephora):
New to the world of beauty, Charlotte Ronson (NYC Fashion Designer) has created the perfect smoky eye palette for the major party girl on your list. With four super creamy shadows, this teeny-tiny palette is great for tucking in your purse, making it easy to spice up your makeup on the way to dinner and drinks after work.

xo Alicia

Not sure what to get that special ‘makeup loving’ someone on your Christmas list this year? Don’t worry! I am here to help. As a responsible beauty blogger (read makeup addict), I have tested A LOT of the products, and have taken the time to narrow down my top beauty picks for the holidays.

A girl can never have too many lipsticks, lip glosses, lip anythings, really. What you choose to wear on your lips can change the way you feel. Pink lips can give you that sexy & spicy feel; nude lips, a more demure and angelic look; bright red lips, a boost of confidence. Below are five of my favourite lip sets for the holidays, perfect for any of the special ladies on your list:

Lise Watier Collection 5 Mini Plumpissmo Le Gloss ($33 CND at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Containing five of Lise Watier’s famous, non-sticky glosses, this holiday set is the perfect gift for any gloss lover on your list. The five glosses (bronze, rose, opalescence, coral and nude) all contain a plumping agent which gives the lips a fuller and more lustrous look.

Stila Lip Glaze Set ($33 CND at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Containing eight of Stila’s high-shine, deliciously flavoured lip glazes, this set is a steal. This set, which contains four of Stila’s most popular shades and four brand new, limited edition colours, will wow even the most difficult to buy for individual on your list.

Smashbox Snap You’re Fab Lipgloss Set ($33 CND at Shoppers Drug Mart):
With six limited-edition shimmering lip glosses, this set is perfect for the most ‘fabulous’ diva on your list. This set contains two full sized glosses and four mini glosses (perfect for slipping in your purse). The glosses, ranging in colour from a bright red to a shimmering gold toned nude, are packed with finely milled glitter and give the lips a stunning and dazzling effect.

Buxom Mix and Mingle Lip Set ($49 CND at Sephora):
With four of Buxom’s Big & Healthy lip glosses and four of their Big & Healthy lipstick pencils, this is the most versatile set. Each gloss is matched with a co-ordinatingly coloured pencil, making it the perfect gift for the makeup novice on your list. All of Buxom’s lip products contain a plumping agent, which gives the lips a cool, minty tingle.

Tarte Lip Service Limited-Edition LipSurgence Collection ($38 CND at Sephora):
While I love all of the sets listed above, I have to admit that this limited-edition set, containing five of Tarte’s super glossy, extremely moisturizing lipstick pencils, is my favourite. This set, which contains five full sized pencils, is valued at $156 CND. With five gorgeous and unique colours (red, hot pink, nude, gold and coral) this set will be sure please the biggest makeup addict on your list.