I love when I stumble upon a LUSH store as it doesn’t happen everyday. I was in Boston for the Holidays and came across one in Cambridge. Of course I had to stock up on my favorite BIG shampoo and try some new ones while I was sampling. One of my new favorites from this excursion is Fever ($10.45/2.2oz @ lush.com). It’s an oval moisturizing bar that you simply clutch and rub on. The scent is jasmine, rose, and sandalwood. So yum! And the red lips on the bar? They are slightly tinted to rub them on your lips.
I also recommend buying the Massage Bar Tin ($4.95) to keep it neat.

We’re always so head over heels with SHISEIDO’s cosmetics that we have not really devoted the time to their skin care line, until now. Their White Lucent Intensive Brightening Mask ($66/6sheets @ nordstrom.com) seems especially made for this time of year. Not only do these somewhat Friday the 13th looking sheets hydrate but they also claim to penetrate deep enough to fade pigment spots in the skin. From what I read, it just says that it fades them; it doesn’t get rid of them altogether. To what degree are they washed out? No concrete evidence on that or from what my naked eye could see in trying them out. I don’t think using one of these masks for 10-minutes a week for 6-weeks would be powerful enough to rid the skin of them anyway.

If you are looking for a refreshing boost to your sallow skin this season, this is a good one to use. It uses a Multi-Target Vitamin C, Spot Deacti-Complex, and Asian plant extracts that Shiseido developed especially for this line of White Lucent products and these really seemed to plump up my skin.

I’ve been wanting to write up this next item for some time but didn’t quite know what to say other than I’m in such awe over them. Could it be that they are just so fun to look at that I just didn’t want to ruin the look by *gasp* using them? MILANI Runway Eyes ($7.99 @ walgreens.com) are a great way to get creative on your lids. Each of the six colors in the palette sits like a 3-D bar so when you swipe, your brush really gets a nice dose of color on it. Like to layer color families? These make it easy to go from dark to light. Available in six haute couture palettes – Designer Browns, Fashionista Pinks, Couture In Pinks, Backstage Basics, Glamorous Gems and Beauty In Blues.

Big hair, smooth hair, straight hair? What is it that you want?? Here are a few that will give you what you want and now.

SEXY HAIR CONCEPTS Big Sexy Hair So Pumped Volumizing Mist ($14.95/5.1oz @ sexyhair.com) – this time of year, all we ask is that you give big hair a chance. Contains a gel and thickening agent that uniquely locks strands into place while giving a soft finish.

JOHNNY B Fuddy Matte Gel ($11/4oz @ johnnybhaircare.com) – made for men but I’m claiming it for women. Non-greasy water-resistant matte gel.

TIGI S-Factor Silky Smooth Moisture Serum ($20/8.45oz @ walgreens.com) – protects against heating tools and smoothes the hairs cuticle. Big recommendation.

I’m giving a lot of these this season. ANTICA FARMACISTA Home Ambiance Perfume ($88/16.9oz @ neimanmarcus.com) is such a nifty gift to give any host this season. This renowned Italian apothecary really pays attention to detail and delivers quality and they are really growing in popularity. The antique-like bottles house unique scents that you uncork, place the wooden reeds in the oils and moments later you have a subtly scents area. And their new scent, Champagne, is a festive delight that will get you through the New Year with parties you are attending.

I mailed one of LA COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE’s soaps to my father a few years ago for him to try. Since he’s French he already has very discerning tastes so I wasn’t sure if he would dig it. Wow, was I wrong! He really loved the Savonnette “155” Lavande and called to tell me all about it. So this season, I’m giving him more products from the line and venturing into the Extrait D’Olive (Olive Extract) collection, like the Shower Gel ($16/6.8oz) and Soap Bar ($5.50/3.5oz) I know I can’t lose! All @ compagniedeprovence-usa.com.

I love a man that wears a chain on their wallet. There’s just something about it that makes them cool. So how about this DIESEL Fuel For Life Pocket Chain ($75 @ macys.com)? What if I saw a man carrying this 18" chain on their beltloops? I think if you have a fashion forward boy in your life then he will appreciate this one. And it's not just for men as they make one for women too. Both are “inspired by the passion, emotion and sensuality that flows through each of our veins” and we really liked it when it came out. Give something totally unique this season.

I love getting a beauty products that have a reusable case and in this case, haha, it’s in my favorite color, baby pink! The Holidays are the perfect time to check out makeup kits because a lot of companies put them out now. This DuWOP Discovery Kit ($36 @ duwopcosmetics.com) is one for your sister who needs to update her makeup collection or your babysitter who just loves to try out new products. And it contains quite a bit inside - full size Lip Venom, minis of Trio Eye Shadow, Blush Therapy, Venom Gloss and Lashlacquer.

Give ‘em something different this season. I mean, how many bottles of wine can your host get? Our favorite gifts to give and receive has to be soaps and MOR COSMETICS Emperor Soaps ($14 @ morboutique.com) are some of the best out there. The detailing on the packaging of bygone days really makes you feel like you are gifting works of art. Each soap inside is triple milled and available in twelve different scents like Black Cherry Plum, Italian Blood Orange or Snow Gardenia.