Quite a few times in the last few weeks I’ve found myself wanting a little boost in color but I have just not been in the mood to smell the self-tanner. Then I met SAY HELLO TO SEXY LEGS Tinted Glow Gel ($38/5.1oz @ sephora.com, qvc.com). It’s a wash-away-with-soap-and-water gel lotion that gives skin instant color and once it dries down is completely transfer-resistant.

And this is great for two reasons – sometimes I just want instant color before heading out for the evening and it dries down in 3 to 5 minutes! Yup, you don’t have to stand there waiting and waiting to get dressed. The other reason is that the color itself is really nice and doesn’t look fake at all. I am usually hesitant when it comes to these instant tints because it’s a one-size-fits-all when it comes to the shade but I have to say they pretty much nailed it with this one.

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It seems like the holiday season arrives earlier and earlier each year, dontcha think? Or do I just say that each year? Since we are all so inundated, I don’t begin my holiday gift coverage until the day after Thanksgiving but I have been known to run an early post here and there, so consider this one of those posts.

So how did I pick these? I really looked at each selection as a, “would I love to receive this as a gift?” So below are ones that I so approve for anyone on your list.

1. BUXOM Stone Cold Babe Set ($42 @ sephora.com) – I’ve always said that if you are looking to buy yourself some new makeup, the holidays are some of the best times to do it and you can really score some serious deals like this set from Buxom. This set contains their limited edition Fire & Frost Eyeshadow Palette with 12 gorgeous shades and a Mini Buxom Lash Mascara.

2. ARTIS Palm Brush ($65 @ artisbrush.com, dillards.com, spacenk.com) – really any brush from the Artis line would be considered a gourmet gift to me. The latest release is this brush that can be used to apply lotion, self-tanner, face cream, really anything that needs max coverage. It was designed to fit comfortably in your hand and feels so luxe on the skin, like you’d expect only from Artis.

3. PIXI BEAUTY Rose Oil Blend ($24/1oz @ pixibeauty.com, target.com) – anything with roses is always an acceptable gift and this one is just so good for the skin. It contains almond, jojoba, rosehips, rose geranium, orange peel and pomegranate seed oils, among others. Use this as an additive to your existing moisturizer.  

4. J.O.I. Spotlite HD ($59.95) Spotlite HD Professional ($89.95) – what you use to put on your makeup is just as important as the makeup you use. Believe me, I know. I grew up with one of those 3-tiered poorly lighted  mirrors that probably did more harm than good! This J.O.I. portable mirror I wrote about a few months ago will make sure you to always have the right lighting at the tip of your fingers. Both @ wearejoi.com. 

5. MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Mini Lipstick Kit ($35 @ maccosmetics.com, dillards.com, nordstrom.com) – no makeup brand does holidays better than MAC! And every recipient on your list is sure to open this cute box with 4 lippies in it and say, “ohhhh!”. Guaranteed winning set here.

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

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5 Beauty Tools You Need

1. ARTIS Elite Oval 7 ($65 @ artisbrush.com, spacenk.com) – A new addition to the brand, this one is a little bit smaller than my beloved Oval 8 so it's a tad easier to maneuver and I've almost exclusively been using it to applying my liquid foundation these days.

2. BEAUTY BLENDER Sur.face Simple ($30 @ beautyblender.com) – known for their cult-favorite sponges, I’m really hot on this palette to mix my Cover FX Cover Drops with its medium, tap out some mineral powders out of their tubes, or play around with some different creams to create a new shade for my lids or face.

3. MUA MAKEUP ACADEMY Lash Separator ($10.50 @ cvs.com and CVS stores nationwide) – I recently broke my Holy Grail lash separator but glad I found this one in its place. It is curved the same as your eye so easy to quickly run it through lashes.

4. URBAN DECAY Iconic Eyeshadow Brush ($24 @ urbandecay.com, nordstrom.com) – if you get one eye brush in your collection, make it a great one like this. It’s the perfect width and length and can handle a lot of different products.

5. REAL TECHINQUES #301 Flat Contour Brush ($21 @ kohls.com) from the Bold Metals Collection – this short, compact, and dense brush is great for applying liquid or cream foundations, blush and bronzers.

And I think I'm ready to add one of these to my Holy Grail list! Yup, it's the MUA Makeup Academy Lash Separator. I had one just like it on my list but this one is less expensive than that one and easier to get hold of. As you read above, I was ready for a new one so help me welcome MUA Makeup Academy Lash Separator to the Holy Grail list of beauty products! What's on your list? 

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

Ok, I’m done. Done with being Joe-Jentle with my makeup brushes. I’ve been suffering from a bought of dermatitis brought on by bacteria in my makeup brush. Mind you, this has never happened before in my 20+ years of using makeup brushes to apply makeup.

The culprit? My beloved Artis Oval 8. Yes, everyone is bowing down to these brushes like they are Gods, and they are, but have you heard anyone discussing how to clean them? I know cleaning brushes is not that popular a topic besides the standard, “I need to clean mine more often,” however, I don't think the brands that make these brushes are being very informative on how to take care of them.

I noticed the ones shown here were performing as well as they could after a while and were due for a cleaning and not just a light cleaning. I’m pretty religious about cleaning mine but these denser ones are for sure more of a challenge. 

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