Holiday Gift Guide: Lorac Bejeweled Day & Night Gift Box

I'm so excited to begin presenting you with some great holiday gift ideas for the ladies and gentlemen on your list.  Throughout the next month on BeautySweetSpot, I'll be sharing some of my fave picks out of crazy amounts of holiday loot I've been scoping out in hopes it makes your holiday shopping a bit less stressful.  I'll also be giving away a ton of what I feature so stay tuned!  First up: Lorac Bejeweled Day & Night Gift Box. As soon as I saw this masterpiece at a Lorac holiday event in the beginning of November I knew it was going to make my gift guide. Created by Lorac's Celebrity Makeup Artist, Carol Shaw, it's full of universally wearable shades and the cosmetic trays are removable so you're left with an embellished, silver jewelry box.

It includes:

• two eyeliners in black and dark brown
• two high-shine lip glosses in rose and peach
• bronzer
• face palette for day (16 eyeshadows plus blush)
• face palette for night (16 eyeshadows plus blush)

Exclusive to Sephora, the set retails for $56 (a $415 value)

BeautySweetSpot's Fave 5 Lip Glosses

Lip glosses are like men – so many options, so little time. With so many types how's a girl supposed to decide which is her perfect match? After testing countless glosses, we rounded up our top five faves for achieving soft, luxurious lips for well, you know what.  MWAH! Bachelor Number 1: Lancome Juicy Tubes in Magic Spell, $18

This bachelor can put a love spell on you, what you see is what you get. It has little color, lots of shine, not to sticky, and easy to apply. This future lover comes in shades of browns, pinks, and neutrals; which will make you want to explore a variety of flavors.

Bachelor Number 2: Neutrogena Moisture Shine, $8.49

This stud comes in 20 different shades, and ladies get this – he's Brazilian. Made with Brazilian butter this gloss keeps your pucker super moisturized and has an SPF 20. Perfect for smooching under the sun!

Bachelor Number 3:  Nars Lipgloss, $24

Just like a great man, Nars lipgloss last for hours. Not sticky, it's just right. Available in a variety of colors, (Easy Lover, is my favorite, a sheer hot pink) and easy to use. A bit pricey, but a great relationship is worth the investment.

Bachelor Number 4: Avon Glazewear Lipgloss, $6

This bachelor may be the cheapest of them all, but has the quality of a gentleman. This lip gloss keeps your lips soft and smooth while giving you the confidence that you need for any hot date.

Bachelor Number 5: Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Lipgloss, $7

Get mega-shine that every man in the room will notice. Last for hours, not sticky, and comes in numerous yummy flavors and colors. This lipgloss will have you reaching for seconds, not because you need to reapply, but because it tastes so delicious.

Estee Lauder Introduces New Pure Color Lipgloss

What if there was a lip gloss that had the strong pigment of a lipstick, and the smooth application and luster of a gloss?  Estee Lauder’s new Pure Color Gloss has just that. I've always been a fan of Pure Gloss, which provides long-lasting color and hydration (minus the stickiness)! The new collection has a spectrum of 34 hues in shine, shimmer, or sparkle finishes so you can choose your desired look for any occasion.  It also features six colors created by Tom Pecheux, Estee Lauder’s Creative Makeup Director and beauty guru to the fashion world. As someone who has worked with countless celebrities, Pecheux’s custom colors are stylish and playful—and still classy reflecting the brand etiquette of Estee Lauder..

The new gloss is available at nationwide Estee Lauder counters and online for $18.

#1 Lip Gloss in America

The average American women goes through 1-2 tubes of lip gloss per month.  And if it's her favorite lip gloss, you know she's scraping the case.  But let's be honest, we all have way more than 2 tubes of lip gloss on hand at all times.  I have one in each bag, probably eight on my dresser, one at my desk, a few in my vanity, not to mention the whole basket of it that's waiting for me to try out in my closet. Everyone has their favorite, some for color, some for texuture, some for glossiness, but I'm proud to announce America's #1 lip gloss: Avon Glazewear.  My favorite color is Iced Pink Rose Glace, but there are so many different options, you'll definitely find one to fall in love with.  The best part, they're super inexpensive so if you find your shade, you can purchase several to meet the needs of all of your clutches.

What's your fave lip gloss?

Treat Your Pout to More Kisses

Did you know the lips are one of the most sensitive areas of your body?  Because your lips are an extension of your inner mouth, they don't produce their own oil like your skin. Therefore, you need to exfoliate and moisturize to keep them luscious. Here are some tips on how to get a pair of soft, healthy pink lips just begging to be kissed:

Exfoliate

Your skin lips are is the thinnest on your whole body so they tend to flake and peel.  Exfoliate at least once a week with a lip exfoliator.  They tend to be gentle.  Try Lush Lip Scrub in Bubble Gum, $8.95.  It's made with vegan flavored sugar that you can simply lick off when you're done. Trust me, you'll want to, it tastes that good!

Moisturize

You should never leave your lips bare.  Like you moisturize your face in the am and pm, you should do the same for your lips.  During the day use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sun damage on your lips can lead to burnt, peeling lips, thinner lips and yes, even skin cancer. Try Blistex Massage Lip Balm SPF 15, $2.99.  For night, try Sally Hansen Overnight Lip Recovery, $10.49, is loaded with antioxidants and keeps moisture in your pout while you sleep so you wake up with a perfectly plump, supple smile.

Paint or Plump

Post treatment, every girl needs a little color to her pucker.  If you just like gloss sans the plump, check out Rimmel Royal Gloss, $3.99 (my favorite color is Twinkle Pink).  However, if you're looking for a bit of a volume go big or go home with Maybelline Volume XL Seduction Lip Plumper, $7.09.