Gift Ideas For The Beauty Junkie

Do you have a beauty junkie on your gift list?
Make your shopping easy by checking out some of the fabulous beauty gifts available at beauty emporium Space NK. Everything is available online.

The Oribe Gold Lust Collection $95 is designed to restore hair to it's most beautiful,  glossy, healthy state with luxurious healing oils and extracts. Nothing smells as beautiful as Oribe in your hair.

The Rodial Bee Venom Collection The bee venom paired synergystically with plant stem cells in these incredible products visibly improves skin tone and elasticity, giving firmer, younger looking skin. This one is on the cutting edge of skin care technology. 

Laura Mercier Kiss Of Color Lip Glace Collection $50
is a set of high shine glosses that are moisturizing, anti-aging and lip plumping.

Kat Burki Body Collection $85
Exclusive to Space NK this collection hellps heal weather damaged hands, scrub away dead skin cells, and restore dry lips.

Nudestix Go Nude Collection $49 these creamy all in one lip liner, lipstick and cheek color pencils give a soft, subtle, natural tint.

Me Smooth At Home Hair Removal System $395 
Me' is the only at-home hair removal device to use patented elos technology that is clinically proven and FDA cleared to be safe and effective for all skin types and tones. Gentle, easy to use and just minutes a treatment, now you can experience the freedom of silky, smooth skin without the hassles of shaving and waxing.

Great Gift Ideas For The Traveler In Your Life

Great Gift Ideas For The Traveler 

Do you have an intrepid traveler on your gift list? 

Regardless of whether your person travels for pleasure or travels for work, here are  great gift ideas

Eagle Creek Packing System

Eagle Creek Packing Cubes

Packing and staying organized on the road is so much easier with the Eagle Creek packing system! Mix and match the different sized cubes, and make sure you throw in the little one, which is perfect for power adapters, iPhone cords, chargers etc. The folders are fantastic for shirts and pants and dresses - anything you want to keep smooth and flat. Check the system out here
Available online at The Container Store

See the video below:

Matching Luggage Tag And Passport Cover

French Goatskin Leather Luggage Tag and Passport Cover from graphicimage.com

Travel stylishly with matching French Goatskin Leather luggage tags and passport cover.

I found this company on Instagram of all places. I am obsessed with their gorgeous travel products. I wish I could get my hands on a set before my next trip! Pictured above are the luggage tag and passport cover in hydrangea.

Find them at www.graphicimage.com in their With Love From Kat collection.

A Leather Travel Journal

A leather travel journal demands that you make a diary of your trip, and keeps your memories forever. 

I journal every trip I take and put photos, museum tickets, restaurant business cards and all kinds of momentos in there. I love looking back through them.

This one is also from GraphicImage.com

A Personal Photo Printer

The Prynt Photo Printer

Just like Polaroids from the good old days, the Prynt printer gives you instant photos. just insert your smartphone and print them out.

Check out the video here on Amazon

RFID Blocking Wallet

RFID Blocking Wallet

Protect credit cards from radio frequency I.D scanning with either a protective sleeve that fits inside a wallet, or an RFID blocking wallet.

These are not just for travel, but are also good to use in your hometown too. Available online at The Container Store

An External Power Pack

Charge up cellphones and iPads on the road with an external power pack. Great for use on airplanes and in airports or anywhere on the road that you can't find a power point to plug in to.
Check out this one (shown above) available at The Container Store

Kindle Paperwhite 

There's no need to drag heavy, luggage stealing books around anymore when you travel. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers around, small and lightweight, it can hold 1000 books and can go weeks I between charges.

All-New Kindle Paperwhite, 6" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers

Available at Amazon.

Thick, Fluffy Socks

Unless you are flying first class, or on some routes business class, amenity pouches are now a thing of the past. As such, so are the complimentary fluffy socks. Airplane cabins get cold so warm socks are wonderful on a long haul flight.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Whether you are tuning out the sounds of snoring passengers, loud talkers, screaming babies or just the airplane buzz, noise cancelling headphones are a must on long flights.

Try the Bose Quiet Comfort 25 

Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones  -  Apple devices, Black - Wired

A Pashmina

Airplanes get cold, and airline blankets can be a little sketchy - who knows how clean they really are? A Pashmina is very lightweight but super warm. It packs down to nothing, so is great to travel with. It also doubles up as a scarf and you can wear it instead of a coat in cold weather. Win win win.

Just make sure you are buying real pashmina and not a nylon blend scarf.

Travel Sized Candles

Arriving late and tired to find your hotel room smells like industrial cleaner or the previous occupant's secret cigarettes is awful, and changing rooms isn't always an available option. Other times you just want to personalize your space, and mini scented candles can make all the difference in the world.
Try this limited edition Jo Malone Travel Candle Set available at Nordstrom

Holiday Gift Guide - Great Books To Give

Holiday Gift Guide ~ Great Books To Give

original image found on theberry.com

Books make great holiday gifts. What's not to love about a winter afternoon spent curled up on the couch with blankets and pillows and a good book? Drinking tea or hot mulled wine and exploring a new world within the pages - it's perfect!

Here are.  fabulous reads that make wonderful gifts

For fashion lovers

Gods And Kings, The Rise And Fall Of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano by Dana Thomas.

I went to a soiree that Dana Thomas gave to celebrate this book and it was wonderful. As an insider who knew both Lee McQueen and John Galliano she had fascinating insight into their lives, their creative forces and the business machine that ate both of them up. Initially New York based, the author has lived in Paris for the past 15 years. Which is thrilling in and of itself.

Blow By Blow, The Story Of Isabella Blow by Detmar Blow

Isabella Blow was both a legendary figure in fashion and a very important one. She is credited with discovering both Alexander McQueen, and launching his career by buying his entire first collection, and also Philip Treacy who launched his career from the basement of her home.
Her 30 year career in fashion included being assistant to Anna Wintour at American Vogue as well as fashion editor at Tatler and The Sunday Times magazine.
Written by her husband after her death at age 48, this book gives a behind the scenes look at high society and fashion, as well as her incredible life and body of work.

Empress Of Fashion: A Life Of Diana Vreeland by Amanda McKenzie Stuart

This biography not only covers Vreeland's career as one of the most influential fashion editors ever, but also looks at her deeply unhappy childhood and the fearless, imaginative, hard working woman she became.

This biography is both interesting and inspiring.

Grace: A Memoir

Grace Coddington is easily one of the greatest fashion editors ever. The body of work she has completed with Anna Wintour is staggering and brilliant. This autobiography is fascinating and lovely. Just like Grace.

Vice Dos And Donts 2: 17 Years Of Street Fashion Critique

By the editors of Vice Magazine

For 17 years Vice magazine has been putting out hilariously captioned photos of street fashion, calling each a do or a don't. This is a laugh out loud book with some pretty interesting street style.

Anatomy Of A Disappearance by Hisham Matar

This beautifully, beautifully written story about a young boy orphaned when his father is disappeared in the middle of the night in Geneva. The story crosses Egypt, Switzerland and England, and weaves a tale of political intrigue fleshed out by the palpable aching of a teenage boy set adrift in the world.

Best Sellers

Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwall is the 23rd book in the Kay Scarpetta series. Scarpetta books are always a great read.

A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George.

It seems like forever since we last saw Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers. I can't wait to get time to read this one!

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.

At this point I may just be the only person who hasn't  read this NY Times best seller, but there could still be someone on your list who loves books and hasn't read this one.

7 Beauty Gift Sets From Nordstrom

My workload is insane at the moment, and with the exception of the Thanksgiving break I am working every day until mid December. Which means my Christmas shopping is happening online for the time being. I've been scrolling around on Nordstrom.com checking out what's on offer, and these are my favorite beauty based gift sets for this year.

Beauty gift sets make the ideal gift for any makeup lover, they are great for co-workers and make wonderful business gifts. They are also a fabulous way to treat yourself, and allowing for the discounted prices when you buy a set, you'd be kind of mad not to treat yourself. Right?

From MAC there is the Nordstrom exclusive Enchanted Eve Copper Eye and Lip Set is a steal at $59.50. Valued at $88.50 it contains Pearlfusion eye shadow set in Copperluxe,  Technakohl liner in Photogravure, lipstick in The Right Note and lipglass in Rocket To The Moon, together with this cool little MAC bag.

Check out the Enchanted Eve Copper Gift set here

The limited edition Jo Malone Cologne Collection ($115) lets you try out some of Jo Malone's most loved colognes. Each one can be worn alone, or you can layer them and create your own fragrance.

Included in the set are the following fragrances:
Lime Basil and Mandarin cologne
Pomegranate Noir cologne
English Pear and Freesia cologne
Peony and Blush Suede cologne
Wood Sage and Sea Salt cologne

Check out the details on the Jo Malone gift set here

The Legacy Palette from Kevyn Aucoin Beauty is a $280 value that will only cost you $165.
This is the absolute perfect palette that transcends any seasonal look. This should be the backbone of your makeup wardrobe. With Celestial highlighting powder in Candlelight and Sculpting powder in medium (made up not of bronzing tones but instead in brown, red and grey, giving you contour perfection), and the ideal assortment of neutral eye shadows, you can  build, shape and add drama to any eye. I love this!

Read about the Kevyn Aucoin Legacy Palette here

The Diptique Mini Candle Set ($130) is a fantastic business gift, hostess gift, candle lovers gift, and self gift! I would love this.

A mixtures of Diptique's iconic scents and some seasonal scents, these french made candles have a 15 hour burn time, of the loveliest candle fragrances ever.
Check out the list of fragrances here

Also from Diptique the Sapin candle.

This is a pine scent with a soft infusion of mandarin, and smells like the holidays, albeit luxe holidays. There are two sizes available, check them out here.

The Laura Mercier Kiss Of Colour Lip Gloss Collection is a limited edition valued at $83 but available for just $50.

This set makes a perfect stocking stuffer, and is a great gift for any girl who likes her lips to look luscious. 
Check out the list of colors here.

The Tocca Crema Voloce Handcream Set ($16) is a great stocking stuffer, and is also a lovely gift for co-workers, hostess gifts or for someone who you don't know well enough to buy fragrances for.

It feels and looks luxurious and the price point makes it super affordable.
Read about it here

The Gift List For The Girl Who Loves Skin Care ~ Tatcha

Have you started making your holiday gift lists yet? 
Both to give and to receive?

Today's post is perfect for anyone who loves skin care products.
These gift sets make gorgeous business gifts, if you are getting married they are perfect bridesmaids gifts, they are ideal for the traveler - both business travelers and recreational travelers (I buy them for myself, these are actually the products that I travel around the country and around the  world with), and they are just wonderful for any beauty maven to open under the tree. 
You just can't go wrong!

Japanese luxury skin care brand Tatcha makes the most beautiful gift sets. The products are incredible and the packaging is lovely. You always feel special when you are opening their gift boxes, even when you are gifting them to yourself!

All the gift sets in this post can be ordered online at Tatcha.com

The Tatcha Hakken Set $95 contains trial sizes of their world famous beauty ritual, their eye cream and their SPF.

The Hakken Set

Get products details here.

At only $25 the Yuki / Pure As Snow Set makes a fabulous stocking stuffer!

Yuki / Pure As Snow Gift Set

Yuki contains a travel sized Camellia Cleansing Oil and a Polished Rice Enzyme Powder. These two products give you skin as smooth as freshly fallen snow.
Check out the products in the Yuki Set Here.

Did you know that Indigo has healing properties? Ancient Samurai used to wear a layer of indigo cotton under their war uniforms, so that if they found themselves on the wrong end of an opponent's sword the indigo could start the healing process immediately.
Tatcha has an entire line of Indigo skin care products. In fact the first time I ever used Tatcha I used the Indigo line to heal and sooth my winter-stung skin. I was hooked from day one and have since become their biggest fan (along with every celebrity I ever work with!)

Aiiro / Soothing Blue Gift Set

The Tatcha Aiiro / Soothing Blue Gift Set $79 is a fabulous winter gift, with it's Indigo Handcream and luxe Indigo Body Butter.
Read about the Aiiro / Soothing Blue gift set here.
Find out about the healing Indigo product line here.

In the mood for something super-luxe? 
The  Tabi / Ultimate Journey Gift Set features a hand-finished calfskin suitcase which was crafted by artisans in Kyoto, with genuine kimono fabric woven in a pattern reserved for the Japanese Imperial Family. The case is filled with full size Tatcha skin care treasures.

Tabi / Ultimate Journey Gift Set

See the details on the Tabi Gift Set here


All Tatcha gift sets come with free shipping, samples and gift wrapping.

How To Buy A Beauty Gift

Need some help choosing a beauty gift? 

( ahem, husbands, boyfriends and significant others!) 

Here's a 6 step road map for you:

How To Buy A Beauty Gift

1. Be careful of the message your gift is sending.
Never buy anything that says "anti-aging" or that addresses a specific problem. It's likely to offend, even if the item matches her needs perfectly. 
Instead opt for something with overtones of luxury. 
Like Creme de la Mer. 

2. Stay Away From Weight Loss Products or Services 
Or anything to do with size reduction. If she's desperate to have Cool Sculpting, buy her a gift card for the Medi Spa she wants to go to. Let her buy her own cellulite cream, and know that weight loss products of any form are a slap in the face, not something lovely to open.

3. Ask for help choosing makeup products.
Rather than guess which color set is right for her, ask the sales clerk for help. With all the makeup gift sets that hit the market for the holiday season there is something for everyone. If you don't know whether she is a cool tone or a warm tone, the sales assistant can help you figure it out.
Check out some eyeshadow gift sets here

4. Spoil Her.
Buy her something luxurious.
There's magic in opening a box of anything from Tatcha. The detail in the packaging alone is completely luxurious, and the product themselves are spectacular.

I've loved everything I've ever received from Tatcha. Check out their gift sets on my Luxe List here

5. You cant go wrong with bath and body products.
Unless she doesn't have a bath. 

via Getty images

But assuming she is a girl who likes to take long soaks at the end of the day you cannot go wrong with bubble bath, beautiful bath oils and bath bombs, and its easy to pair them with matching body washes and body lotions.

6. Buying fragrances or perfumes can be tricky.
Fragrance is such a personal thing, and even if you know that she likes a given perfume on someone else it doesn't mean it will work with her body chemistry.
Rather than trying to pioneer a new fragrance for her, find out what she wears and loves and buy her products to layer with it.
If you are dead set on finding her something new figure out if she is a floral girl, a green scent girl or a woody/spicy/musky girl and go from there.
A good sales associate at a fragrance bar can walk you through it, or better still go to a Jo Malone store or counter and create some layered magic.

The Gift List ~ Love Looks Not With The Eyes

Oh how I love Alexander McQueen!

When the runway schedules post each season

I rearrange my life so that I can watch the live feed

of the Alexander McQueen show.

I also love coffee table books, both to have for myself,

and to give as the perfect chic gift, be it for birthdays,

holidays or as a hostess gift.

Love Looks Not With The Eyes ~ 13 Years With Alexander McQueen

Now at the top of my list is this beautiful, beautiful book

that celebrates the sheer brilliance of the designer.

Love Looks Not With The Eyes.

For 13 years, from September 1997 until his final show in 2010,

Alexander McQueen only allowed one photographer, Anne Deniau, backstage at his spectacular and legendary runway shows.

Love Looks Not With The Eyes chronicles the torture, the toughness and the tenderness of Alexander McQueen (quoted from New York Times) as we watch him working behind the scenes with his close circle of collaborators to create his senstational shows.

For those who love McQueen, or for those who love fashion,

this book is a visceral experience. 

The reviews below lend credence to my feelings when slowly, slowly turning the beautiful pages.

I love him still.

To order Love Looks Not With The Eyes online, click here

Un-Fallen Angel

Alexander McQueen backstage with Kate Moss

Backstage with McQueen

Praise for Love Looks Not With the Eyes: Thirteen Years With Lee Alexander McQueen:

The pictures are evocative of the torture, the toughness and, most of all, the tenderness of Mr. McQueen.” —New York Times

“Deniau’s close connection to McQueen and her appreciation for his formidable talent is like many of the pieces he created: breathtaking.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“Thekinetic color and black-and-white photographs document the fantastical,shocking spectacle of a McQueen show in action: hairdos trussed up with birdsof prey; hubcaps strapped to foreheads; faces enhanced by extraterrestrialcheek prostheses. The images are sensual, spooky, and whimsical, playing up thedrama of McQueen’s vision; like one of the designer’s fabulous garments, thephotographs transform fashion into high art. The book is both an homage and amemorial; this celebration of McQueen’s vast, unique talent is also a eulogyfor his tragic loss.” — “Haute couture has a reputation for spectacle, but Anne Deniau’s photographs remind us that it’s also the last bastion of craftsmanship in fashion—or it was, as practiced by designer Alexander McQueen (1969–2010).” —Wall Street Journal

“Lush, previously unpublished backstage photographs from many of the late designer’s provocative fashion shows.”—The Los Angeles Times

“The kinetic color and black-and-white photographs document the fantastical, shocking spectacle of a McQueen show in action: hairdos trussed up with birds of prey; hubcaps strapped to foreheads; faces enhanced by extraterrestrial cheek prostheses. The images are sensual, spooky, and whimsical, playing up the drama of McQueen’s vision; like one of the designer’s fabulous garments, the photographs transform fashion into high art. The book is both an homage and a memorial; this celebration of McQueen’s vast, unique talent is also a eulogy for his tragic loss.” —Publishers Weekly

“Love Looks Not with the Eyes document[s] the intense work and equally intense emotions that played out behind the scenes of McQueen’s poetic, passionate, and provocative shows. . . . The intimacy is evident in the pictures.” —Vogue

“The haunting images offer a rarefied glimpse into the designer’s inner world.” —Harper’s Bazaar

“Deniau, in the process of documenting 26 McQueen presentations, captured images which, too, transcend photography—matching the decadent and grand world created by the hands of McQueen.” —Time.com

“Haute couture has a reputation for spectacle, but Anne Deniau’s photographs remind us that it’s also the last bastion of craftsmanship in fashion—or it was, as practiced by designer Alexander McQueen (1969–2010).” —Wall Street Journal
 

20 Beauty Themed Stocking Stuffers

Its always fun to find beauty items in your Christmas stocking.

Here are 20 perfect pieces to give (or to receive!)

with online shopping links where possible.

xo

1. Skin

Stocking Stuffers For Your Skin

Starting at the top left Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming eye Gels order online here
Neal's Yard White Tea Facial Mist order online here
La Mer Travel Size order online here
Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture mask. Order online here

2. Face

Stocking Stuffers For Your Face

Travel sized Makeup Forever Sens'Eyes eyemakeup remover. Gets even the most stubborn waterproof makeup. Order online here
Diorshow Blackout Mascara still my absolute favorite. Order online here
Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curler. Order online here

3. Lips

Stocking Stuffers For Your Lips

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish order online here
Julie Hewett Camellia Lip Balm order online here
Makeup Forever Longwear Lipsticks
MAC Cherry Lipliner. Order online here

4. Brows

Stocking Stuffers For Your Brows

Tweezerman Tweezers. Order online here
Anastasia Dipbrow. Order online here
MAC Eyebrow Pencils. Order online here

5. Bath

Stocking Stuffers for Your Bath

Jo Malone Bath Oil. Order online here
Bath Bombs. Order online here
Bath And Bodyworks Paris Bubble Bath, Travel Size.
Fresh Slices Of Luxury Soap

6. Hands and Nails

Stocking Stuffers For Your Hands And Nails

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream, Order online here
Gwen Stefani for OPI Just BeClaus, Order online here