The pistachio-caramel scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is AMAZING! The scent is strong but sweet and intriguing. The cream is super-nourishing and has a slight shimmer that gives your skin a subtle glow.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Body Fragrance Mist is the same yummy scent of the cream but in a light body mist. The original bottle is HUGE and now there's a mini (which is still kinda big). You're gonna want to surround yourself with this scent.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter is one of my favorite lip balms - I have one in my bathroom, one at my computer and one in my handbag! The light, creamy texture is nourishing and the tube is BIG, so it will last a long time. If I had to choose my favorite new Cosmetic brand of 2017, it would be Sol Janeiro Brazilian.

If you've been living under a rock, you probably haven't heard of Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir. This product is up there with Sugarbearhair and (well) any of the multitude of detox teas taking over Instagram. It's worth its weight in gold! This beauty oil has forever changed my makeup routine and enhanced my look dramatically. I apply 'many' drops of the elixir to my damp beautyblender and gently blend my foundation, concealer, under eye brightener and cream-to-powder highlighter. This elixir is amazing. It's available in two sizes - the mini is perfect for travel.

This is intense hydration - Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream is a concentrated 30 percent hyaluronic acid cream. If water was creamy- this would be it. It's so refreshing and leaves your skin feeling silky and super-nourished. The non-greasy cream absorbs fairly quickly (a little goes a long way), and doesn't leave your skin shiny. Water Drench Hyaluronic Cream is available in two sizes.

Luxury hairstyling brand, IGK, was founded by in-demand stylists from Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. YOU GOTTA VIEW THESE GUYS ONLINE! These stylists are really fascinating. I'd fly across the country and break the bank to get an appointment with any of these stylists. I LOVE the IGK product line. I have too many IGK products in full-size and travel size. Product junkie here!

IGK Prenup Instant Spray Hair Mask is my favorite. The 360 aerosol spray allows for easy application. The scent is delicious, and your hair will feel nourished and silky after just one minute. I use this mask every time I wash my strands. This hydrating hair mask is a MUST HAVE!

Sephora's soothing Coconut Water Lip Balm is another one of my favorite balms. The scent is delicious and the product feels nourishing on your lips. This balm is available in Goji, Rose, Tangerine, Almond and Coconut Water.

Sephora Honey Lip Scrub is amazing! When I first applied the scrub, I thought this isn't working - how can a balm exfoliate your lips. After a few vigorous applications I reached the grains inside. I rub the balm in circular motions on my lips until they're drenched in product, then I use my finger and massage the grains onto my lips. The result - smooth lips in seconds. It tastes good too - not that you should eat it, but scrubs tend to get in your mouth. LOVE!

I would LOVE to receive any and all of these gifts this holiday season. Yes, I bought them all for myself - There's a lot of 'to me, from me' under the tree this year! The 'perfect gift' starts with great wrapping and a cute gift tag. I purchased these eighty seventh ST. gift tags at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. It's an all-in-one holiday tag. I keep my wrapping simple - red, white, black and gold (no cartoon Christmas characters). 

If you've been living under a rock, you probably haven't heard of Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir. This product is up there with Sugarbearhair and (well) any of the multitude of detox teas taking over Instagram. It's worth its weight in gold! At first, I was skeptical, but this beauty oil has forever changed my makeup routine and enhanced my look dramatically. I apply my foundation with a brush. Then I apply 'many' drops of the elixir to my damp beautyblender and gently blend my foundation for perfect coverage. I use the same beautyblender (and Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir) to blend my concealer, under eye brightener and cream-to-powder highlighter. This elixir is amazing. The 15 ml bottle retails for $35 and 30 ml for $54. WORTH THE MONEY!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit-Sureal Light limited edition palette is universally flattering. The palette includes a powder, bronzer, two blushes, and highlighter - this four-in-one palette is compact considering the product load. I love these shades. This product has everything you need to brighten, contour, highlight and finish your look. This palette retails for $80 and the oh so soft Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Brush for $46. This dual-ended brush is the perfect match to the palette. 

For the wine lover in your life - this mug is f**king awesome! Funny Guy Mugs has a great selection of witty mugs for just about any person. I don't drink coffee, but I definitely get excited at 'wine time'. I also purchased a tumbler that says 'shh.. there's wine in here'. I know many people who would love a Funny Guy Mugs tumbler - I bought three! These mugs retail for $14.99.

I couldn't survive without tea and am always promoting its consumption. I love green tea, green blends and white tea. Paired with a tea defuser, this Feelin' Good Wellness Tea Sampler from Teavana is the perfect gift for the 'health conscious'. Recover, Rev Up, Serenity, and Defense are all yummy teas that promote a healthy body. This tea sampler retails for $30.

Another Instagram sensation - HiSmile. This teeth whitening kit is different from others, because it doesn't contain peroxide and comes with a mouth tray and LED light for optimal results. The solution is a 'baking soda' gel form, minimizing tooth sensitivity. While this product has received harsh criticism, bloggers are loving this kit. Just ten minutes a day for a week and you should see big results. HiSmile also has a yummy Coconut Whitening Mouthwash - the box contains five 30 ml tubes, containing the same sodium bicarbonate blend (baking soda). Just another tasty step in your whitening routine. The whitening kit retails for $59.99 and mouthwash for $29.99. It ships from Australia, so consider shipping times before purchasing.  

I've comprised a small list of 'on a budget' gifts for her. These trending products are all AMAZING! Gift them alone, mix-and-match, or create the ultimate stocking for the girl who's obsessed with cosmetics. 

Sugarbearhair is no different than any other 'healthy hair' vitamin as far as ingredients go. These little chewy bears are taking over Instagram simply cause they're cute, and the vibrant color looks great in photos. These mini turquoise bears are fun and taste yummy (like eating gummy bears). Most of us have 'hair struggles' and would appreciate berry flavored gummies that promote healthy hair. One jar (60 bears) retails for $29.99. 

I've been raving about Glossier products for the last few weeks and Balm Dotcom (the universal skin salve) is my favorite. The dense salve is perfect for any and every dry patch on your skin. Apply to your nails, face, body.. There are five to choose from and retail for $12. 

It's Skin Cookie Body Ice Cream is AMAZING! The mint, original and strawberry flavors smell just like (JUST LIKE) ice cream. This body ice cream is lighter than a body butter but thicker than body cream. The soft cookie chip pieces melt upon application and add to the 'ice cream effect'. Each 2.7 oz pot (small enough for travel) retails for $10 at Sephora. LOVE!

MILK Makeup Limited Edition Triple Threat Glow Set contains three travel size, best selling products. The mini Face Mist contains rice and ginger water that calm and nourish skin. The Sunshine Oil comes in a little rollerball pen - perfect purse/travel size. Body and face oil are essential during the cold season. And.. my favorite is the super tiny Highlighter Cream Stick. The color is universally flattering and brightens your skin for the perfect highlight. This mini highlighter is a great travel replacement for my Benefit Watt's Up! Cream to Powder Highlighter (you all know this one). These three mini's come in a plastic box, retail for $30 and will make just about anyone happy!

Most people who wear makeup, own a beautyblender® makeup sponge (or some other brand). If not, GO GET ONE! Another innovative product by beautyblender® is the liner.designer. The triple-edged eyeliner guide works with all eyeliner formulas to create the perfect look. It's like eyeliner application for dummies. The silicon guide comes with a mini plastic case and suction cup (not sure why there's a suction cup?). liner.designer retails for $16 and is available in pink or clear. 

There ya have it! The ultimate gifts under $30 for the product junkie(s) in your life. 

Brightening, Setting, Retouching.. And this is after you've applied foundation, concealer, bronzer, blush.. As I age, my multitude of skin issues are more apparent and that means more product. Often, too much has the adverse effect and you end up looking like a art project gone wrong, but setting powders is a necessary step to perfect makeup.

After applying topical medication (rosacea), serums, moisturizer, corrective creams, and sometimes foundation, my face is rather shiny. Thanks to my 'angry', combination skin, I'm having to deal with an oily complexion too. Bobbi Brown White Skin Correcting Powder is meant to 'brighten and illuminate' fair skin tones, but I use it to slightly mattify my look. It's the last step in my makeup routine, but if I'm having one of those 'dry' days, the powder will magnify my dehydrated skin. Decisions - oily or flakey?

I apply Bobbi Brown Skin Correcting Powder in peach to add a little warmth to my complexion. Focusing my cheeks, this subtle shade looks great on my super-fair skin. I don't feel like either of these retouching powders are drastically enhancing my makeup, but Bobbi Brown is about subtlety!

Move over BB, there's newbies in the Cosmocube! Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is like magic fairy dust. The transparent powder is formulated with light-reflecting micronized pigments that illuminate your under eye area while setting your concealer. Apply concealer, blend with a damp beautyblender, be sure there's no creasing, dab your damp makeup sponge into the powder and lightly pat it onto your under eye area. Too much is ok - it will settle and you can sweep off the excess product in a few. AMAZING results! My concealer is set, there's little-to-no creasing and my under eye area appears significantly brighter. LOVE!

The mint green tint of Laura Mercier Shine Control Pressed Setting Powder tones down redness (I NEED THAT) while reducing shine. The 'Shine Control Complex' gives you a shine-free, fresh, mate finish - a much-needed addition to my cosmetic bag for on-the-go touchups. While we're on the topic of green - Sephora Collection Bright Future Color Correctors are super light and great for combating discoloration, blemishes.. I use the green shade to neutralize the redness on my nose. The formula is lightweight and blends nicely. 

Six months ago, I was anti-sparkle, but since discovering the benefits of highlighting my face, I'm officially addicted. My highlighting products are growing faster than anything else in my CosmoCube (best makeup organizer).

After applying foundation, I apply Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter down the bridge of my nose, on my cheekbones, cupid's bow (to make your lips appear bigger) and blend with a damp beautyblender and a little Farsali Rose Gold Elixir. Then I apply setting powder, blush, maybe bronzer and all-over illuminating powder. All those powders on top of the Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter will lessen the illuminating effect and using a damp (oily) sponge to apply more is a no-no for me (I'm oily enough and gotta hold back on the Elixir). In enters my new favorite cosmetic - highlighting 'powder'. 

Of course, I opted for my favorite cosmetic brand! The Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Pink Glow is perfect for a little extra light-reflective glow. The pink highlights are nice on pale skin tones and the effect is subtle (if applied lightly). I use the Sephora Pro Fan Brush #65 to little dust the highlighter on my check bones. For more precise application on my nose and cupid's bow, I use the Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep brush - it's more dense and allows you to apply more product. If you want a high-impact glow, apply a little Farsali Rose Gold Elixir to your cheekbones, bridge of your nose and cupids bow, then lightly apply Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder - super glow! I LOVE this highlighting powder.

I already have a blotterazzi and many beauty blenders, but I couldn't resist the beautyblender + Too Faced holiday kit. I'm like a deer in headlights when it comes to light pink! I love this set, especially the mini highlighting compact by Too Faced.

I'm lovin' the light pink original beautyblender. Good to know - wash your beautyblender prior to the first use and after each makeup application, and always wet your beautyblender before applying makeup - I wet my beautyblender in water, squeeze out excess water and then apply a few drops of oil (Farsali Rose Gold Elixir is amazing).

The blotterazzi compact is super cute and the teardrop shaped makeup sponges are more subtle than the original bright fuchsia blotterazzi. The blotterazzi is a reusable oil absorbing sponge. There are two pink sponges inside the plastic mirrored compact. The water drop shaped compact has a vent at the back and a clear, hygienic separator to keep the sponges fresh. The unique shape (a flat version of the beautyblender) allows you to blot the contours of your face with ease while removing excess oil. 

The Too Faced Candlelight Glow highlighting powder duo comes in a small custom-designed compact. The Rosy Glow highlighting powder diffuses light, creating a subtle glow. Apply to your cheekbones, nose and brow line for a lit-from-within look. This mini Candlelight Glow compact is perfect for on-the-go touchups and travel.

I am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown makeup brushes and am super excited that the latest limited edition travel brush set includes a blush brush. This is unheard of for Bobbi Brown! For every regular sized makeup brush I own (except the blush brush), I had a travel size to match and have been on the hunt for a appropriately sized, good quality brush. YAY! My set is complete - and then some.. The blush brush is amazing and reminds me that a new blush brush allows for perfect application, so of course, now I want a new regular sized! 

This set includes an ultra-fine eye liner brush, eye shadow brush, concealer blending brush, eye sweep brush, foundation brush and blush brush. Combined with travel brushes from my previous BB sets, I am stocked and ready for makeup application on the road. The travel case can hold many more brushes, is slim and chic. The quality of these brushes is excellent. The brush heads are soft, natural feeling and rarely do the hairs fall out. What's great about this set, is the brass plated handles are compact, but the brush heads are full size. 

One thing I should mention is that after the first wash, the blush brush had a really pungent smell. It was unbearable, so I washed it again and then again with beautyblender liquid cleanser. The smell has diminished, but remains. I'm still gonna use it (funny scent and all).

I have reservations about beautyblender and until recently was quite content using Bobbi Brown brushes. It seems like everyone who's anyone (worth taking beauty advice from) uses the beautyblender, so I decided to give it a try and you know me - I don't half ass anything! I purchased two beautyblender's (pro and pure), beautyblender micro.mini and the blotterazzi. 

The blotterazzi is a reusable oil absorbing sponge. There are two pink sponges inside the plastic mirrored compact. The water drop shaped compact has a vent at the back and a clear, hygienic separator to keep the sponges fresh. I couldn't figure out if I was meant to carry both sponges or just one. I decided one is enough and keep the hygienic film on top, so the residue doesn't get on the mirror. After all, you should wash the sponge each night and I can't imagine producing enough oil to soak both sponges in one day! Oh, and these sponges should be washed prior to the first use (very important). 

The unique shape (a flat version of the beautyblender) allows you to blot the contours of your face with ease. Just press and hold for a second. Compared to blotting papers, this sponge is much easier to use. Your makeup will not come off on the sponge and I find it allows you re-set your makeup. If you have oily skin, you know that makeup separates throughout the day and while traditional blotting papers pick-up oil, they don't help with this issue. As your pressing and holding this squishy sponge against your face, kinda give it a wiggle to diminish makeup separation. The blotterazzi does remove quite a bit of oil from your face, but it is not as affective as blotting papers. You are still left with a little glow and if you want a matte result, this is not the product for you. While the original beautyblender may be a tiny bit more dense, these sponges are the same material, so I suggest using your 'dry' beautyblender to remove your facial oil and see if you like the result before purchasing the blotterazzi. 

I will continue to use the blotterazzi, but on those super oily days, I'm going back to blotting papers. On that note, I don't think I would re-purchase this product. I still have not mastered the original beautyblender, but will get back to you soon with my review..