Holiday Beauty

gift guide

The Prettiest Makeup Palettes For Holiday Giving

When you're just not sure what to give this year, go with the gift of a makeup palette.

When you're just not sure what to give this year, go with the gift of a makeup palette. Because palettes contain so many shades and products in one convenient case, there's something inside to please just about anyone on your list. We compiled the best palettes available right now, whether that person on your list loves lipstick, eye shadow, or both. On Kirbie: Dolce Vita dress.

Holiday

10 Bold Lip Colors Under $10

Whether it's to get festive or just a way to add some color to your look, a standout lip shade is the quickest way to make a beauty statement.
Best Drugstore Lipsticks Under $10

Whether it's to get festive or just a way to add some color to your look, a standout lip shade is the quickest way to make a beauty statement. When going for a bold lip hue, all you really need are a touch of foundation and a good dose of mascara. These 10 lip shades range from pinks to extra-dark plums, and there's an affordable color for every skin tone and personality. Click on to find your perfect match.

Source: Getty
Holiday Beauty

Beauty Tips to Get You Through Winter's Worst

It's the first day of Winter, and despite talk of an apocalypse, you'll have to endure three more months of bitter cold.

It's the first day of Winter, and despite talk of an apocalypse, you'll have to endure three more months of bitter cold. That means you need to take extra care with your skin even though most of your body will be shrouded in sweaters, boots, and hats. Celebrate the Winter solstice with our best cold-weather beauty tips from hair to toes. Because there is no excuse for neglecting yourself this season (not even the impending end of the world).


5 Ways to Get Glowing, Even in the Winter

Stop Dry, Split Nails Before They Start This Season

How to Protect Your Hair From the Cold

Have a Pair of Happy Feet — Even When It's Cold Out

10 Moisturizers to Get You Through the Winter Chill

4 Cold-Weather Skin Care Tips You May Not Know
gift guide

Over 270 Gift Ideas For the Beauty Lover

'Tis the season to gift beautiful, pampering presents.

'Tis the season to gift beautiful, pampering presents. From nail art kits and designer fragrance sets to pretty bottles and supersized palettes, we've sifted through just about everything to create your one-stop place for all things beautiful. Whether it's for giving or coming up with your on wish list, you won't want to miss out on the nearly 300 beauty gifts we've curated this season.

Note: due to the holiday shopping rush, products often sell out quickly and fluctuate in price. If one of your favorite items is no longer available, let us know in the comments, and we'll help find you a similar replacement.

Source: Shutterstock
gift guide

10 Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers

The cookies are baked, the tree is lit, and the presents are wrapped .

The cookies are baked, the tree is lit, and the presents are wrapped . . . and then you remember that one last person who you forgot to pick up a gift for. Time to panic, right? Lucky for you, we've rounded up 10 beauty buys perfect for last-minute stocking stuffers. So pour yourself some eggnog and browse the following picks. You've got this covered.

Holiday

How to Choose Perfume as a Gift

The holidays are a time for giving, and if you're hitting the fragrance counter, Allure has the steps to sniffing out the right scent for anyone on your list.

The holidays are a time for giving, and if you're hitting the fragrance counter, Allure has the steps to sniffing out the right scent for anyone on your list.

Does anyone like patchouli? What exactly is the difference between Damask rose, English rose, and black rose? And does it even matter? Choosing a fragrance to give someone as a gift can be tough. Just ask anyone who has received a gorgeous, expensive bottle and immediately stuck it on the back of their vanity to collect dust. But the same thing that makes scent so subjective — namely, how personal it is — makes giving one worth the risk. Hey, there aren't many presents that are thoughtful, indulgent, and can be used every day. I'm not the only one who thinks so: A recent survey from the consumer market research firm NPD Group shows that fragrance ranks at number six on holiday shopping lists. If that sounds familiar, follow these expert pointers:

Beauty Interview

Giada De Laurentiis Dishes Her Holiday Beauty Secrets

When it comes to creating a festive mood for the holidays, Giada De Laurentiis knows a little something about spicing things up.

When it comes to creating a festive mood for the holidays, Giada De Laurentiis knows a little something about spicing things up. And that's not just in the kitchen, but in the beauty department, too. Giada, a spokesperson for Clairol Natural Instincts, recently switched her hair color to the brand's Navajo Bronze shade. "It's a little redder than normal," Giada said of her new color. "Last time I did Toasted Almond, but I thought in the Winter it's kind of nice to have darker hair."

The Food Network chef also shared a clever way to lighten up a delicious chocolate mousse. Taking out the dairy and replacing it with avocado, Giada made a decadent chocolate dessert far better for you than its traditional counterpart. And this smart, healthy-thinking attitude marks what Giada is all about. "Natural Instincts wants to empower women through their hair color," she said, "and I want to empower women in the kitchen."

In terms of making wise food choices a constant during this festive time, Giada has even more helpful advice: "When you go to a holiday party, make sure you eat a little something before you go. Never go hungry, or else you are going to be eating everything in front of you." And one thing she does recommend indulging in is a little bubbly. "Champagne is alcohol, but it has very low calories and low sugar, so it's actually a really great one to have during the holidays," she says. "But add a spoonful of puréed raspberries to it and all of a sudden you've added accents to your drink." Want the easy recipe? Watch Giada show us how to create the perfect holiday cocktail.

And in case you're the host of a holiday soiree, Giada has another tip for keeping it all together. "When I have a party at my house, I have a drawer in my kitchen where I keep a little mascara, a little powder, and a little lip gloss in case I need a quick touch-up." The chef also prefers "lots of shimmer eye shadow" and her hair pulled up in a bun with a sparkling elastic. Quips Giada, "My daughter loves it, so we both wear our hair the same way, and then we pull our bangs down."