With less than 5 weeks until Christmas, it’s time to start prepping for all the festivities and parties, shopping for gifts, and of course, taking a little time to relax and just enjoy the winter season. Fortunately, when it comes to beauty, Boscov’s has us covered with all the holiday essentials, from party-ready makeup and luxurious skincare, to sophisticated fragrances and bath and body treats.
So whether you’re on the hunt for new makeup to create glamorous holiday looks, unique gift ideas for your family and friends, or simple little ways to stay cozy and pamper yourself, here are some of my top picks to hopefully inspire you!
A Touch of Glam
When it comes to creating the perfect holiday makeup look, I love to play up the eyes. One palette that offers amazing versatility when it comes to creating a variety of looks is the Coastal Scents Revealed Smokey Eyeshadow Palette ($20). It includes 20 highly pigmented shades, including nudes and neutrals for everyday, plus smokey shades to wear for holiday and New Year’s parties, or days you just want to feel a bit egdy. 😉 Pair it with the Beauty Strokes Hi-Lite Blender Brush ($10) for a quick all over the lid application, or use it to smoke out shadow under the eye.
For the lashes, I can’t recommend Lancome enough – they make some of my all time favorite HG mascaras, and the Lancome Definicils Mascara ($27.50) in no exception. It creates amazing length, separation, and volume in just a few quick swipes. Layer it a few more times to build up more intense volume and drama for evenings out.
For even more drama, you can’t go wrong with Ardell’s classic Wispies Lashes ($6.49). They’re great for holiday parties, or whenever you want to add some extra drama to your look. If you’re new to falsies (or purchasing them for a false lash newbie) be sure to grab the dual pack that comes with glue and a handy applicator to help you put them on.
And for the lips, another favorite from Lancome is their Juicy Shaker ($22). These cute little cocktail shaker inspired bottles house a deliciously scented, tinted lip oil that adds a gorgeous wash of color to the lips while keeping dry lips smooth and hydrated. The shade ‘Berry in Love’ is my favorite – it’s a bright pink-berry that adds the perfect pop for that ‘my lip but better’ look.
Hydrating Skincare
No matter our age, luxurious skincare is always a treat. And especially with the colder, dryer months approaching, it doesn’t hurt to be stocked up on some effective, ultra-hydrating formulas to keep skin looking fresh and glowing.
My top picks from Boscovs’ beauty counter starts with the Elizabeth Arden SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster ($67). Apply this fast-absorbing gel at the very beginning of your skincare routine and it will help boost the effectiveness of all your other skincare products! Designed for all skin types and all ages, it also works to boost your skin’s natural defenses and ability to renew itself, making it a worthy addition to anyone’s skincare line-up.
Another pick of mine that’s designed for all skin types and ages is Clinique’s Smart Custom-Repair Serum ($89). It’s what you’d call a multi-talented serum, as it smooths, lifts, firms, evens, calms, and brightens for healthier and more youthful-looking skin. It absorbs in seconds and feels weightless yet hydrating on the skin, making it a perfect base for makeup.
If you’re on the hunt for an ultra-hydrating, anti-aging day cream this winter, either for yourself or someone special, the Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Face & Neck Cream SPF15 ($85) is definitely one to try out the next time you’re at the Boscovs’ beauty counter. It’s a luxuriously rich day cream formulated to smooth, lift, firm, and protect by supporting skin’s natural collagen and elastin production, and providing a 24-hour lift system plus SPF 15 sun protection. It’s the perfect addition to any winter skincare routine, and recommended especially for normal and combination skin types. I’ve been using it primarily as a neck cream and I love it!
The Perfect Scent
One of my favorite gifts to both give and receive around the holidays are scents. They’re also an essential for holiday parties and events. Here are four scents that are perfect for everyday in that they’re light and non-intrusive, but also transition well into the evening thanks to their deep, woodsy bases.
If you’re on the hunt for simple, minimal scents, definitely check out Demeter’s fragrances ($15). They offer a range of one note scents like Fig Leaf, Bulgarian Rose, Leather, and my favorite for wintertime – Sandalwood. They also work amazing as base layers for other scents.
For those who enjoy scents that offer a bit more complexity, I’d recommend trying out Estee Lauder Modern Muse ($68) and Vince Camuto Amore (available in a set for $25). Modern Muse is a great daytime scent for women in their 20’s and beyond. It features a beautiful balance of floral and woodsy notes that’s not too girly or sweet, but rather modern, down-to-earth, and elegant. For something a bit sweeter and fruitier, I’d recommend Amore. With tops notes of bergamot, passionfruit and clementine, and a floral bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, orchid, freesia, and lotus in the center, it makes for a brighter, more flirty fragrance.
And for the men (or women who prefer men’s fragrances), Azzaro Chrome Pure ($65) is an absolute favorite of mine. It opens with fresh, citrusy notes like mandarin orange and bergamot, followed by orange blossom. The middle is woodsy-aquatic, and the dry-down – my favorite part – mixes the slight sweetness of tonka bean with the earthiness of mate (an herbal tea) and cedar. It’s the perfect everyday scent that works all year round, and for any occasion.
Pampering Goodies
For a little pamper kit for yourself, friends, or family, you can’t go wrong with this incredibly cute Fizz & Bubble Milkshake Fizzer Cup ($15). The cup includes a loofah for exfoliation, and a ton of mini bath bombs that fizz and fill the tub with moisturizing oils. They come in a bunch of different scents, but my favorite is ‘Birthday Cake’ – it smells so delicious! Pop a few into a bath whenever a little relaxation and me-time is in order!
At the end of the day, our feet deserves a little attention too – especially in the winter and after all the shopping and high-heel wearing. For a little foot pamper, I’m loving this Tricoastal Plush Socks & Foot Cremes gift set ($8). It includes a pair of soft and cozy socks, along with a little bottle of foot creme in the scent ‘Snow Flurries’ which smells divine. Rub on a little creme, slip on the socks, and you’ll be in heaven!
You can find these and more beauty goodies at Boscov’s, in stores & online!
*This post is in collaboration with Boscov’s, one of my personal favorite places to shop for beauty, fashion, and more!
